Circulating tumor cells as Trojan Horse for understanding, preventing, and treating cancer: a critical appraisal.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as harbingers of metastases. Their ability to predict response to therapy, relapse, and resistance to treatment has proposed their value as putative diagnostic and prognostic indicators. CTCs represent one of the zeniths of cancer evolution in terms of cell survival; however, the triggers of CTC generation, the identification of potentially metastatic CTCs, and the mechanisms contributing to their heterogeneity and aggressiveness represent issues not yet fully deciphered.

PIWI family proteins as prognostic markers in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: P-element-induced-wimpy-testis-(PIWI)-like proteins are implicated in germ cells' regulation and detected in numerous cancer types. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to associate, for the first time, the prognosis in cancer patients with intratumoral expression of PIWI family proteins.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Knowledge databases were searched, and studies investigating the association between intratumoral mRNA or protein expression of different PIWI family proteins and survival, metastasis, or recurrence of various cancer types were reviewed.

Phase I/II prospective trial of cancer-specific imaging using ultrasound spectrum analysis tissue-type imaging to guide dose-painting prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: To assess the technical feasibility, toxicity, dosimetry, and preliminary efficacy of dose-painting brachytherapy guided by ultrasound spectrum analysis tissue-type imaging (TTI) in low-risk, localized prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen men with prostate cancer who were candidates for brachytherapy as sole treatment were prospectively enrolled. Treatment planning goal was to escalate the tumor dose to 200% with a modest de-escalation of dose to remaining prostate compared with our standard.

Interactions of sex hormone-binding globulin with target cells.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was initially described as a plasma protein synthesized in, and secreted by, the liver. It was discovered by its ability to bind certain androgens and estrogens and, for many years, was believed to serve as a transporter/reservoir for the steroids which it bound. Subsequently, it became clear that the cell membranes of selected tissues contained a receptor for SHBG (R(SHBG)).

Human sex hormone-binding globulin gene expression- multiple promoters and complex alternative splicing.

Background: Human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) regulates free sex steroid concentrations in plasma and modulates rapid, membrane based steroid signaling. SHBG is encoded by an eight exon-long transcript whose expression is regulated by a downstream promoter (P(L)). The SHBG gene was previously shown to express a second major transcript of unknown function, derived from an upstream promoter (P(T)), and two minor transcripts.