A novel method to detect hPG (human circulating progastrin) in the blood.

hPG (human circulating progastrin) is produced and released by cancer cells. We recently reported that hPG is detected in the blood of patients with cancers from different origins, suggesting its potential utility for cancer detection. To accurately measure hPG in the blood of patients, we developed the DxPG test, a sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Prognostic Value of Plasma hPG (Circulating Progastrin) in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Precise management of kidney cancer requires the identification of prognostic factors. hPG (circulating progastrin) is a tumor promoting peptide present in the blood of patients with various cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of plasma hPG in 143 prospectively collected patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC).

The oncogenic and druggable hPG80 (Progastrin) is overexpressed in multiple cancers and detected in the blood of patients.

Background: In colorectal cancer, hPG80 (progastrin) is released from tumor cells, promotes cancer stem cells (CSC) self-renewal and is detected in the blood of patients. Because the gene GAST that encodes hPG80 is a target gene of oncogenic pathways that are activated in many tumor types, we hypothesized that hPG80 could be expressed by tumors from various origins other than colorectal cancers, be a drug target and be detectable in the blood of these patients.

Methods: hPG80 expression was monitored by fluorescent immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression in tumors from various origins.

Targeting the Wnt Pathway and Cancer Stem Cells with Anti-progastrin Humanized Antibodies as a Potential Treatment for K-RAS-Mutated Colorectal Cancer.

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer suffer from disease relapse mainly due to cancer stem cells (CSC). Interestingly, they have an increased level of blood progastrin, a tumor-promoting peptide essential for the self-renewal of colon CSCs, which is also a direct β-catenin/TCF4 target gene. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel targeted therapy to neutralize secreted progastrin to inhibit Wnt signaling, CSCs, and reduce relapses.

Real-time atrial wall imaging during radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model.

Background: Real-time monitoring of radiofrequency (RF) ablation remains challenging.

Objective: We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to describe atrial wall changes during RF ablation and to assess the extent of RF-induced lesions.

Methods: In 9 piglets, RF and IVUS catheters were coupled and introduced into the right atrium.