[Study of the association between the polymorphism of the TNF-α gene and prostate cáncer].

Background: Prostate cancer is the third cause of cancer death in men in the Western hemisphere and the second cause of cancer death in Zulian men from Venezuela.

Objective: To determine whether polymorphisms 308 and 238 of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene are associated with prostate cancer.

Methods: The DNA that was extracted from the peripheral blood of 40 patients with prostatic specific antigen and 40 controls was amplified by PCR plus digestion with enzymes NcoI and MspI.

[HLA DRB1*, DQB1*, DPA1*, and DPB1* and their association with the pathogenesis of leukemia in the population of Venezuela].

Background: The HLA complex involved is a factor in the pathogenesis of leukemia.

Objectives: The presence of class II HLA alleles DRB1 *, DQB1 *, DPA1 *, and DPB1 * was evaluated in 47 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 48 with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for comparison with 48 healthy volunteers in Zulia, Venezuela, and to evaluate potential associations of HLA with leukemia.

Methods: Low- and high-resolution PCR-SSP was used for class II HLA regions DRB1 *, DQB1 *, DPA1 *, and DPB1 * following the instructions of KIT Olerup SSP Genovision.

[Autoreactive TCD8+ lymphocytes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in association with HLA and adenovirus infection].

Background: A possible interaction between a specific HLA type and Adenovirus has been postulated as a promoter in leukemia clonal evolution. The HLA-DRB1*14, specifically DRB1*14:21, 14:22, 14:45, 14:26, 14:33, 14:51, 14:35 subtypes was the most frequent in CML Venezuelan patients.

Objectives: It is interesting to evaluate the molecular mimicry between the Adenovirus and the DRB1*14 subtypes which exhibit the same change in the amino acid position of the DR53 epitope.

A phase II study of saracatinib (AZD0530), a Src inhibitor, administered orally daily to patients with advanced thymic malignancies.

Objectives: Thymic malignancies are rare, and options are limited for metastatic disease. Src plays a role in normal thymic epithelial maturation, and its inhibition with the oral compound saracatinib was postulated to be effective in controlling thymic malignancy.

Materials And Methods: Patients with unresectable thymic malignancy were treated with saracatinib 175mg by mouth daily in 28 days cycles with radiographic evaluation at cycle 2 day 1 for safety, then cycle 3 day 1 and every 8 weeks thereafter.

Maintenance bevacizumab is associated with increased hemoglobin in patients with advanced, nonsquamous, non-small cell lung cancer.

We retrospectively analyzed hematologic parameters in 22 patients with advanced, nonsquamous, NSCLC undergoing VEGF inhibition on a phase II clinical trial of bevacizumab, carboplatin, and gemcitabine. We also examined TTP in relation to hemoglobin changes. Median hemoglobin increased significantly from a 12.

A phase II first-line study of gemcitabine, carboplatin, and bevacizumab in advanced stage nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Bevacizumab improves responses and progression-free survival when added to first-line paclitaxel/carboplatin or cisplatin/gemcitabine for patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. This study was designed to evaluate toxicities and efficacy of gemcitabine/carboplatin/bevacizumab.

Methods: Patients with untreated advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, with no evidence of brain metastases and not on anticoagulation were eligible.