Traditional v. modern dietary patterns among a population in western Austria: associations with body composition and nutrient profile.

Objective: The present study aimed to identify dietary patterns, compare dietary patterns regarding nutrient profile and investigate the association between dietary patterns and body composition in a population in western Austria.

Design: In a cross-sectional study, eating habits, anthropometric measurements and body composition were assessed. Food intake was collected by two non-consecutive 24 h recalls.

Differential Utilization of Dietary Fatty Acids in Benign and Malignant Cells of the Prostate.

Tumor cells adapt via metabolic reprogramming to meet elevated energy demands due to continuous proliferation, for example by switching to alternative energy sources. Nutrients such as glucose, fatty acids, ketone bodies and amino acids may be utilized as preferred substrates to fulfill increased energy requirements. In this study we investigated the metabolic characteristics of benign and cancer cells of the prostate with respect to their utilization of medium chain (MCTs) and long chain triglycerides (LCTs) under standard and glucose-starved culture conditions by assessing cell viability, glycolytic activity, mitochondrial respiration, the expression of genes encoding key metabolic enzymes as well as mitochondrial mass and mtDNA content.

Attenuation of nucleoside and anti-cancer nucleoside analog drug uptake in prostate cancer cells by Cimicifuga racemosa extract BNO-1055.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative effects of the ethanolic Cimicifuga racemosa extract BNO-1055 on prostate cells and evaluate its therapeutic potential. BNO-1055 dose-dependently attenuated cellular uptake and incorporation of thymidine and BrdU and significantly inhibited cell growth after long-time exposure. Similar results were obtained using saponin-enriched sub-fractions of BNO-1055.

Distinct ERG rearrangement prevalence in prostate cancer: higher frequency in young age and in low PSA prostate cancer.

Background: The TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion resulting in ERG overexpression has been found in around 50% of prostate cancers (PCa) and is a very early event in tumorigenesis. Most studies have reported on selected surgical cohorts with inconsistent results. We hypothesized that ERG gene rearrangements impact tumor development and investigated the frequency of ERG overexpression in the context of clinicopathological tumor characteristics.

Clinically insignificant improvement of prostate cancer prediction by addition of sex steroid hormones and SHBG serum levels to serum PSA, fPSA%, and age in a screening setting.

Abstract Various findings implicate sex hormones in prostate growth and development and also in prostate carcinogenesis. We investigated if addition of sex steroid hormone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) serum levels to standard risk assessment parameters [prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA percentage (fPSA%), and age] improves prostate cancer prediction in a PSA screening setting. Steroid hormones testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), and estradiol (E2), and binding protein SHBG levels were measured in 762 men undergoing prostate biopsy due to suspect PSA serum levels.

Quality of life during dendritic cell vaccination against metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing cytokine or targeted therapies may show a remarkable decline in quality of life (QoL). We wanted to evaluate QoL in patients with metastatic RCC undergoing therapeutic vaccination with dendritic cells (DCs). In a cross-sectional analysis, QoL was therefore assessed in RCC patients participating in three consecutive clinical trials of DC vaccination.

Increased incidence of Leydig cell tumours of the testis in the era of improved imaging techniques.

Objective: To report an observed high frequency of Leydig cell tumours (LCTs) diagnosed at our centre.

Patients And Methods: Charts of all patients who underwent surgery for a testicular tumour between 1999 and 2008 at our department were searched and data from patients with LCT were collected. Before surgery all patients underwent ultrasound and complete staging.

C-reactive protein is a strong predictor for anaemia in renal cell carcinoma: role of IL-6 in overall survival.

Objective: • To elucidate the association of progression of advanced renal cell carcinoma with anaemia and investigate factors influencing tumor-associated anaemia.

Patients And Methods: • We analyzed different clinical variables to study associations with anaemia in 86 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients. • 45 (52%) of patients had already developed anaemia prior to therapy.

Serum IgG against Candida predict survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Background And Aim: In contrast to hematologic malignancies, little is known about the role of fungi in the development and progression of solid tumors. This prompted us to analyze and correlate serum levels of different fungal IgG with survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Serum IgG to Candida sp.

Serum antibodies against Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a new prognostic indicator in metastatic renal-cell carcinoma.

Purpose: A recent study reported that a diet rich in bread and refined cereals might have an unfavorable role in the development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To test whether an underlying intolerance of bread ingredients is responsible for the unfavorable influence of bread on RCC, we examined patient sera for the presence of food-specific IgG.

Experimental Design: A commercial test was used to detect food-specific IgG directed against a panel of 113 food antigens in sera of 54 patients with metastatic RCC.

Pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers in the low and intermediate range of prostate-specific antigen level: is there a difference?

Objective: To assess the pathological features of Gleason score 6 prostate cancers after radical prostatectomy in the low (<4 ng/mL) and intermediate range of prostate-specific antigen level (4-10 ng/mL), as such prostate cancers are considered to be well differentiated tumours with a low risk for recurrence after therapy.

Patients And Methods: In all, 1354 patients with T1c prostate cancer and PSA levels of <10.0 ng/mL had a radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Interleukin-4 promoter polymorphisms: a genetic prognostic factor for survival in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered a cytokine-responsive tumor. The clinical course of a patient may thus be influenced by the patient's capacity to produce distinct cytokines. Therefore, cytokine gene polymorphisms in RCC patients were analyzed to determine haplotype combinations with prognostic significance.

Antigen-independent immune responses after dendritic cell vaccination.

The ability of cultured, antigen-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) to induce antigen-specific T cell immunity in vivo has previously been demonstrated and confirmed. Immune monitoring naturally focuses on immunity against vaccine antigens and may thus ignore other effects of DC vaccination. Here we therefore focused on antigen-independent responses induced by DC vaccination of renal cell carcinoma patients.

Bee venom secretory phospholipase A2 and phosphatidylinositol-homologues cooperatively disrupt membrane integrity, abrogate signal transduction and inhibit proliferation of renal cancer cells.

Bee venom secretory phospholipase A2 (bv-sPLA2) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) act synergistically to induce cell death in tumour cells of various origins with concomitant stimulation of the immune system. Here, we investigated the mechanisms involved in such actions and examined structural requirements of PtdIns-homologues to inhibit tumour cells in combination with bv-sPLA2. Renal cancer cells were treated with bv-sPLA2 alone or in combination with PtdIns-homologues.

IL-4 inhibits the TNF-alpha induced proliferation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and cooperates with TNF-alpha to induce apoptotic and cytokine responses by RCC: implications for antitumor immune responses.

Objective: While previous reports clearly demonstrated antiproliferative effects of IL-4 on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in vitro, the administration of IL-4 to patients with metastatic RCC in clinical trials could not recapitulate the promising preclinical results. In the present study we wanted to examine the context of IL-4 action and to establish conditions of enhanced IL-4 efficacy.

Methods: Primary and permanent human RCC cells were cultured in either serum-supplemented or chemically defined, serum-free culture medium in the presence or absence of cytokines.

Antitumor action and immune activation through cooperation of bee venom secretory phospholipase A2 and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate.

We evaluated tumor cell growth modulation by bee venom secretory phospholipase A2 (bv-sPLA2) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate as well as potential cooperative effects. In addition, the immunomodulatory impact of tumor cell treatment was examined by monitoring changes in phenotype and function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) cocultured with pretreated tumor cells. Bv-sPLA2 or phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-bisphosphate alone displayed moderate effects on the proliferation of A498 renal cell carcinoma cells, T-47D breast cancer cells, DU145 prostate cancer cells and BEAS-2B transformed lung cells.

Allogeneic dendritic cell vaccination against metastatic renal cell carcinoma with or without cyclophosphamide.

In this phase I/II study, we evaluated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of allogeneic dendritic cells (DCs) with or without cyclophosphamide in the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Immunomagnetic beads were used to isolate CD14(+) monocytes from healthy donor leukapheresis products, and CD83(+) antigen-pulsed monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) loaded with tumor lysate and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were generated. Twelve patients were treated with allogeneic moDCs alone, while ten patients also received cyclophosphamide on days 4 and 3 prior to vaccination.

Up-regulation of functional chemokine receptor CCR3 in human renal cell carcinoma.

There is increasing evidence that chemokines and chemokine receptors are causally involved in tumorigenesis by facilitating tumor proliferation and metastasis. Little is known about the possible function of chemokine receptors in the development and progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We, therefore, analyzed the expression of chemokine receptors in tumor specimens and adjacent healthy kidney tissues [normal kidney cell (NKC)] from 10 RCC patients.

Small G-protein RhoE is underexpressed in prostate cancer and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Background: RhoE/Rnd3, a recently described novel member of the Rho GTPases family, was discussed as a possible antagonist of the RhoA protein that stimulates cell cycle progression and is overexpressed and/or overactivated in prostate cancer. We investigated the expression of RhoE and its role in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis in the human prostate.

Methods: RhoE expression in cell lines and tissue specimens was assessed by immunoblot analysis, real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry.

The cyclopentenone prostaglandin PGA2 costimulates the maturation of human dendritic cells.

Objective: Dendritic cells (DCs), also referred to as the sentinels of the immune system, induce and coordinate important functions of immune surveillance. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a member of the eicosanoid family of arachidonic acid derivatives, is widely used to enhance the TNF-alpha-driven maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) both in basic research and in clinical settings. However, PGE2 is known to rapidly undergo nonenzymatic dehydration to produce PGA2, a member of the cyclopentenone PGs, which have been implicated in anti-inflammatory processes.

Measurement of intracellular versus extracellular prostate-specific antigen levels in peripheral macrophages: a new approach to noninvasive diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Although prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a useful screening marker in prostate cancer, it has limited specificity. Previously it was shown that the amount of surface-bound PSA present on circulating macrophages was different between patients with localized prostate cancer and those with metastatic prostate cancer. It was recently demonstrated that intracellular PSA in macrophages can be measured by flow cytometry.

Monitoring of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses after dendritic cell-based immunotherapy using CFSE dye dilution analysis.

CFSE dye dilution analysis and [3H] thymidine incorporation were used side by side to assess proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after vaccination of renal cell carcinoma patients (n=6) with antigen-loaded dendritic cells. Immune responses against the control antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were induced in all patients. While [3H] thymidine incorporation revealed a 4 to 977-fold increase in KLH-induced proliferation (mean: 209-fold), CFSE-labeling experiments demonstrated that the KLH-responsive population of postvaccination PBMCs represented 7-53% (mean: 23%).

Generation of clinical-grade monocyte-derived dendritic cells using the CliniMACS system.

We describe the generation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) from leukapheresis products using the CliniMACS system from Miltenyi Biotec. In a clinical setting, the method turned out to be feasible for the generation of clinical-grade MoDC from patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. MoDC generated with this system exhibited a fully mature phenotype as well as high migratory and T-cell stimulatory capacity.

Dendritic-cell activation by secretory phospholipase A2.

Dendritic cells (DCs), also referred to as the sentinels of the immune system, induce and coordinate important functions of immune surveillance. DCs acquire immunity-initiating capacity only after a process of maturation usually induced by ligands that bind to members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or toll-like receptor families. Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), which hydrolyzes the sn-2 ester bond of glycerophospholipids, regulates a variety of cellular functions including migration of endothelial cells and neurite outgrowth.