Evaluation of commercial kits for isolation and bisulfite conversion of circulating cell-free tumor DNA from blood.

Background: DNA methylation biomarkers in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) have great clinical potential for cancer management. Most methods for DNA methylation analysis require bisulfite conversion, causing DNA degradation and loss. This is particularly challenging for cfDNA, which is naturally fragmented and normally present in low amounts.

Targeted genetic and epigenetic profiling of esophageal adenocarcinomas and non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus.

Background: Despite the efforts to describe the molecular landscape of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor lesion Barrett's esophagus (BE), discrepant findings are reported. Here, we investigated the prevalence of selected genetic (TP53 mutations and microsatellite instability (MSI) status) and epigenetic (DNA promoter hypermethylation of APC, CDKN2A, MGMT, TIMP3 and MLH1) modifications in a series of 19 non-dysplastic BE and 145 EAC samples. Additional biopsies from adjacent normal tissue were also evaluated.

miR-486-5p expression is regulated by DNA methylation in osteosarcoma.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumour of bone occurring in children and young adolescents and is characterised by complex genetic and epigenetic changes. The miRNA miR-486-5p has been shown to be downregulated in osteosarcoma and in cancer in general.

Results: To investigate if the mir-486 locus is epigenetically regulated, we integrated DNA methylation and miR-486-5p expression data using cohorts of osteosarcoma cell lines and patient samples.

Evaluation of commercial DNA and RNA extraction methods for high-throughput sequencing of FFPE samples.

Nucleic acid material of adequate quality is crucial for successful high-throughput sequencing (HTS) analysis. DNA and RNA isolated from archival FFPE material are frequently degraded and not readily amplifiable due to chemical damage introduced during fixation. To identify optimal nucleic acid extraction kits, DNA and RNA quantity, quality and performance in HTS applications were evaluated.

Cathelicidin peptide LL-37 increases UVB-triggered inflammasome activation: possible implications for rosacea.

Background: In patients with rosacea, environmental stressors, especially UVB radiation, trigger disease flares that are characterized by inflammation and vascular hyperactivity. An altered innate immune detection and response system, modulated to a large extent by the aberrant production and processing of human cathelicidin LL-37, is thought to play a central role in disease pathogenesis.

Objective: To investigate whether the proinflammatory and proangiogenic effects of UV radiation are enhanced in the presence of cathelicidin LL-37.