Expression of HLA class I antigen and proteasome subunits LMP-2 and LMP-10 in primary vs. metastatic breast carcinoma lesions.

Malignant transformation of breast epithelia is frequently associated with an altered expression of MHC products and of antigen processing molecular machinery. The consequent impairment of tumor immune recognition is thought to confer to tumor cells a selective advantage with respect to survival and metastatization. In order to understand if metastatic breast cancer lesions might be associated with a defective proteasome subunit expression that, in turn, might limit the peptide availability and prevent stable cell surface HLA class I-tumor antigen expression, we studied by immunostaining the expression of beta2-microglobulin, HLA class I antigens and proteasome subunits LMP-2 and LMP-10 in 35 matched primary and metastatic human breast carcinoma lesions.

An open, randomized comparison study of cyclosporine A, cyclosporine A + methotrexate and cyclosporine A + hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of early severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: To determine whether a regimen of cyclosporine (CSA) and methotrexate (MTX), or CSA and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) introduced in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can produce a significant improvement in clinical outcome and/or retard radiographic damage in comparison with standard monotherapy with CSA alone.

Methods: One hundred five patients with active RA of less than 36 months duration, who had never previously been treated with immunosuppressive agents, were included in a 12-month, multi-center, open, randomized trial. Patients who fulfilled the criteria for early severe RA were randomized to receive either combination therapy (CSA + MTX n = 34, CSA + HCQ n = 35) or CSA alone (n = 36).

Frequent loss of hMLH1 by promoter hypermethylation leads to microsatellite instability in adenomatous polyps of patients with a single first-degree member affected by colon cancer.

The first-degree relatives of patients affected by colorectal cancer, who do not belong to familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families, have a doubled risk of developing tumors of the large intestine. We have previously demonstrated that subjects with a single first-degree relative (SFDR) with colon cancer have a doubled risk for developing colorectal adenomas, and in these cases, polyps recur more frequently. The mechanism underlying this predisposition has not been clarified.

Correlation of the score for subjective pain with physical disability, clinical and radiographic scores in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: To analyse the relationship between subjective pain score and other measures of clinical, radiographic and functional status; in particular Larsen radiographic scores and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ); in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a disease duration of less than 3 years.

Methods: In this cross sectional study of 105 patients with RA (76 women, 29 men: mean age 50.93; mean disease duration 15.

Long-term safety and efficacy of low-dose cyclosporin A in severe psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of long-term treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Sixty patients with PsA were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomised study of CsA. Patients with hypertension or hypercreatinemia were excluded.