Macrophage-Derived IL1β and TNFα Regulate Arginine Metabolism in Neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the most common childhood solid tumor, yet the prognosis for high-risk disease remains poor. We demonstrate here that arginase 2 (ARG2) drives neuroblastoma cell proliferation via regulation of arginine metabolism. Targeting arginine metabolism, either by blocking cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1)-dependent arginine uptake or therapeutic depletion of arginine by pegylated recombinant arginase BCT-100, significantly delayed tumor development and prolonged murine survival.

Expression analysis of the MCPH1/BRIT1 and BRCA1 tumor suppressor genes and telomerase splice variants in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation of hTERT splice variant expression with MCPH1/BRIT1 and BRCA1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) samples.

Background: Telomerase activation can contribute to the progression of tumors and the development of cancer. However, the regulation of telomerase activity remains unclear.

Proliferation index: a continuous model to predict prognosis in patients with tumours of the Ewing's sarcoma family.

The prognostic value of proliferation index (PI) and apoptotic index (AI), caspase-8, -9 and -10 expression have been investigated in primary Ewing's sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT). Proliferating cells, detected by immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, were identified in 91% (91/100) of tumours with a median PI of 14 (range 0-87). Apoptotic cells, identified using the TUNEL assay, were detected in 96% (76/79) of ESFT; the median AI was 3 (range 0-33).

Impact of EWS-ETS fusion type on disease progression in Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor: prospective results from the cooperative Euro-E.W.I.N.G. 99 trial.

PURPOSE EWS-ETS fusion genes are the driving force in Ewing's sarcoma pathogenesis. Because of the variable breakpoint locations in the involved genes, there is heterogeneity in fusion RNA and protein architecture. Since previous retrospective studies suggested prognostic differences among patients expressing different EWS-FLI1 fusion types, the impact of fusion RNA architecture on disease progression and relapse was studied prospectively within the Euro-E.

The promise of telomere length, telomerase activity and its regulation in the translocation-dependent cancer ESFT; clinical challenges and utility.

The Ewing's sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT) are diagnosed by EWS-ETS gene translocations. The resulting fusion proteins play a role in both the initiation and maintenance of these solid aggressive malignant tumours, suppressing cellular senescence and increasing cell proliferation and survival. EWS-ETS fusion proteins have altered transcriptional activity, inducing expression of a number of different target genes including telomerase.

Ploidy and karyotype complexity are powerful prognostic indicators in the Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors: a study by the United Kingdom Cancer Cytogenetics and the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group.

Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT) are characterized by the presence of EWSR1-ETS fusion genes. Secondary chromosome changes are frequently described, although their clinical significance is not clear. In this study, we have collected and reviewed abnormal karyotypes from 88 patients with primary ESFT and a rearrangement of 22q12.

The use of real-time reverse transcription-PCR for prostate-specific antigen mRNA to discriminate between blood samples from healthy volunteers and from patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: A clinical role for nonquantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) using prostate-specific antigen in blood samples from patients with prostate cancer remains undefined. Assay variation and detection of prostate-specific antigen mRNA illegitimate transcription may explain inconsistent results between studies. Defining levels of prostate-specific antigen mRNA expression in blood samples from healthy volunteers and patients with prostate cancer would allow cutoffs to be established to distinguish the two groups.