Association of HER1 and HER2 Gene Variants in the Predisposition of Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health concern worldwide. A series of sequential accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes are responsible for the initiation and progression of diseases via the normal > adenoma > carcinoma sequence. Genetic variants in crucial cancer-causing genes are known to mediate the risk of cancer.

NOTCH Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Predisposition of Breast and Colorectal Cancers in Saudi Patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease and is one of the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide while colorectal cancer (CRC) is estimated to be the third common cancer and second leading cause of cancer related death globally. Both BC and CRC involve multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in genes belonging to various signaling pathways including NOTCH that has been implicated in the development of these cancers. We investigated four single nucleotide polymorphisms, each in genes encoding NOTCH1-4 receptors for their role in susceptibility to breast and colorectal cancers in Saudi population.

The protective effects of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase rs1801131 variant among Saudi smokers.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism plays a fundamental role in susceptibility to various diseases, including cancers and autoimmune diseases. In the current study, we aimed to compare genotype and allele frequency variations of rs1801131, one of the most common variants found in the MTHFR gene, among Saudi smokers and non-smokers. We hypothesized that genetic variations of this gene are responsible for many diseases, particularly those caused by cigarette smoking (CS) such as pulmonary diseases, oral cancer and lung cancer.

Human papillomavirus, gene mutation and estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: recent studies show a good relationship between breast cancer (BC) and human papillomaviruses (HPV) wich is responsible for about 18% of BC cases. This study aimed to assess the relationship between different genotypes of HPV and the expression of P53 and retinoblastoma (RB) genes and estrogen and progesterone receptors in BC among Sudanese women.

Methods: one hundred and fifty tissue blocks were obtained from females diagnosed with BC.

Human beta-defensin-1 rs2738047 polymorphism is associated with shisha smoking risk among Saudi population.

Human β-defensin (HBD), a member of the antimicrobial peptides, is essential for respiratory epithelial cells' microbial defense, and is affected by cigarette smoking (CS). Its expression is upregulated by stimulation from microbes or inflammation. Genetic polymorphisms in the HBD-1 gene have been implicated in the development of various smoking-related diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

A novel biocompatible formate bridged 1D-Cu(ii) coordination polymer induces apoptosis selectively in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells.

Copper compounds are promising candidates for next-generation metal anticancer drugs. Therefore, we synthesized and characterized a formate bridged 1D coordination polymer [Cu(L)(HCOO)], (L = 2-methoxy-6-methyl-3-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)chroman-4-ol), PCU1, wherein the Cu(ii) center adopts a square pyramidal coordination environment with adjacent CuCu distances of 5.28 Å.

Association between tobacco substance usage and a missense mutation in the tumor suppressor gene P53 in the Saudi Arabian population.

The tumor suppressor gene TP53 and its downstream genes P21 and MDM2 play crucial roles in combating DNA damage at the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. Polymorphisms in these genes can lead to the development of various diseases. This study was conducted to examine a potential association between tobacco substance usage (TSU) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the exon regions of the P53, P21, and MDM2 genes by comparing populations of smokers and non-smokers from Saudi Arabia.

Targeted sequencing of crucial cancer causing genes of breast cancer in Saudi patients.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, causing 15% of cancer-related deaths among women. Breast cancer incidence rate is increasing in most countries. In Saudi Arabia, breast cancer constitutes nearly 22% of the newly diagnosed cancer cases in women.

Frequent Activation of Notch Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancers and Its Implication in Patient Survival Outcome.

Colorectal cancer is a major health concern as it ranks third in incidence and second major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A leading cause of treatment failure has been attributed to cancer stem cells that can invariably resist existing chemotherapeutic regimens. Notch signaling pathway has been involved in the maintenance of stem cells besides being crucial in cell fate decision and embryonic development.

Association between polymorphisms in PRNCR1 and risk of colorectal cancer in the Saudi population.

LncRNA Prostate cancer non-coding RNA (PRNCR1) is downregulated in many types of cancer. The current case-control study was performed on 144 patients with colorectal cancer and 130 matching controls. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan assays for four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in PRNCR1.

Genetic variants in the WNT signaling pathway are protectively associated with colorectal cancer in a Saudi population.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has been etiologically implicated in the development and progression of colorectal cancer. We studied thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in SFRP3 (rs7775), CTNNB1 (β-catenin) [rs4135385, rs13072632], APC (rs454886, rs459552), LRP6 (rs2075241, rs2284396), DKK4 (rs3763511), DKK3 (rs6485350), TCF4 (rs12255372) and AXIN2 (rs3923086, rs3923087, rs4791171) in patients with colorectal cancer (n = 122) and controls (n = 110). Evaluation of WNT pathway SNPs showed protective association for rs4135385, located in β-catenin.

Toll-like receptor 6 expression, sequence variants, and their association with colorectal cancer risk.

This is the first study to examine the potential correlation of the rs3796508 and rs5743810 SNPs of the TLR6 gene in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a subset of the Saudi population. TLR6 gene expression was studied by real-time PCR assaysin 10 matching normal and cancer colon tissues. TLR6 expression at the protein level was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Novel Associations between BRCA1 Variants C.181 T>G (Rs28897672) and Ovarian Crisk in Saudi Females.

Background: Mutations in BRCA1 gene have been implicated in ovarian cancers, and BRCA testing may be conducted in high-risk women. This study was designed to determine the frequency of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) variants in BRCA1 gene and BRCA1 expression in Saudi females with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Expression levels of mRNA of BRCA1 gene were studied in 10 ovarian cancer and 10 normal ovarian tissues, by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

MEG3: an Oncogenic Long Non-coding RNA in Different Cancers.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently considered as central regulators in diverse biological processes and emerged as vital players controlling tumorigenesis. Several lncRNAs can be classified into oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes depending on their function in cancer. A maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) gene transcripts a 1.

Potential role of Toll-like receptor 2 expression and polymorphisms in colon cancer susceptibility in the Saudi Arabian population.

Background: Inflammation is a fundamental factor that contributes to the development and progression of several types of cancer including colon cancer. Toll-like receptors () and their signaling pathways have been reported to be associated with chronic inflammation and thereby induced cancer. Our aim was to investigate the expression and polymorphisms of and their association with colon cancer.

The heterotrophic eubacterial and archaeal co-inhabitants of the halophilic in solar salterns fed by Bay of Bengal along south eastern coast of India.

Halophilic microbes are studied to understand the metabolic pathways adopted by organisms in such extreme environment and for their biotechnological exploitation. In thallosohaline environments worldwide, the autotrophic alga Teodoresco is omnipresent, but it is being recently realised that the heterotrophic components vary in different regions. The unexplored eastern coastline of India abutted by Bay of Bengal was investigated for the heterotrophic halophilic microbes in this region.

Characterization of oral mucosa lesions and prevalence of yeasts in diabetic patients: A comparative study.

Background: There is no data available on the prevalence of oral mucosal lesion and candida infection among DM patients which necessitate conducting a local or nation-wide study to assess the oral mucosa lesions and candida prevalent in diabetic patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to characterize oral mucosa lesions, and the prevalence of yeasts in diabetic patients and their association with the risk factors in comparison with a group of non-diabetic controls.

Methods: Study design: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted assuming 50% of the diabetic patients have oral lesions compared to nondiabetic patients and a power of 80% with 5% level of significance, the minimum required sample size was estimated to be 115 in each group.

The expression of telomere-related proteins and DNA damage response and their association with telomere length in colorectal cancer in Saudi patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Saudi Arabia. Cancer has a multifactorial nature and can be described as a disease of altered gene expression. The profiling of gene expression has been used to identify cancer subtypes and to predict patients' responsiveness.

Potential of diatom consortium developed by nutrient enrichment for biodiesel production and simultaneous nutrient removal from waste water.

Because of the decreasing fossil fuel supply and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, microalgae have been identified as a viable and sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. The major effect of the release of wastewater rich in organic compounds has led to the eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems. A combined approach of freshwater diatom cultivation with urban sewage water treatment is a promising solution for nutrient removal and biofuel production.

gene polymorphism and colorectal cancer etiology in Saudi population: case-control study.

Background: Considerable interest is directed toward the enzyme aromatase (CYP19A1) and the development of cancer, due to CYP19A1's role in estrogen biosynthesis. Several cancers display excessive intra-tumor accumulation of estrogens, and aromatase inhibitors are used for treatment. The CYP19A1 gene exhibits polymorphism and mutations that can alter its expression or aromatase activity and influence estrogen production.

No genetic relationship between rs4696480, rs3804100, and rs3804099 gene polymorphisms and female breast cancer in Saudi populations.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An association between the dysregulation of innate immunity, primarily the deregulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and BC development was described a long time ago. Several studies have reported that BC risk factors appear to be related to the interaction between certain genes and exposure to various environmental factors.

Toll-like receptor 4 as a predictor of clinical outcomes of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer in Saudi women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the common polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) with breast cancer development in the Saudi Arabian population. Four TLR-4 polymorphisms (rs2770150, rs10759931, rs10759932, and rs4986790) were studied using 127 breast cancer patients and 117 controls. Relative expression of TLR-4 protein in the breast tumor and the matched normal breast tissues was determined in a large cohort of 70 clinical breast samples in a tissue micro-array format by immunohistochemistry using a specific anti-TLR-4 antibody.

Two SNPs in the promoter region of Toll-like receptor 4 gene are not associated with smoking in Saudi Arabia.

Defects in the innate immune system, particularly in Toll-like receptors (TLRs), have been reported in several cigarette smoke-promoted diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of tobacco smoke on allelic frequencies of TLR4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to compare the genotypic distribution of these SNPs in a Saudi Arabian population with that in previously studied populations. DNA was extracted from 303 saliva samples collected from smokers and nonsmokers.

Association between polymorphisms and colon cancer susceptibility in Saudi Arabian female patients.

Objective: The authors aimed to explore the relationship between the expression/polymorphisms of and susceptibility to colon cancer development in the Saudi Arabian population.

Methods: In total, blood samples from 115 patients with colon cancer and 102 participants without colon cancer were analyzed in this study. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from the gene, including two sites within the gene's promoter region (rs352144 and rs187084) and one site in a intron region (rs5743839).

Effect of smoking on the genetic makeup of toll-like receptors 2 and 6.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for lung cancer, asthma, and oral cancer, and is central to the altered innate immune responsiveness to infection. Many hypotheses have provided evidence that cigarette smoking induces more genetic changes in genes involved in the development of many cigarette-related diseases. This alteration may be from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in innate immunity genes, especially the toll-like receptors (TLRs).