Unusual recurrent rectal carcinoma: a cancer field theory viewpoint.

Aim: The rate of rectal cancer locoregional recurrence following radical surgery varies from 4% to 33%. Though the causes are unclear, likely factors include microscopic tumor residues in the lymphatics, positive resection margins and exfoliation of tumor cells and their subsequent intraluminar spread during operation. Other significant factors include type and technique of surgical procedure.

Analysis of Snail-1, E-cadherin and claudin-1 expression in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas.

We report the expression of Snail-1, E-cadherin and claudin-1 by indirect immunohistochemistry in colonic neoplasia. Snail-1 is a zinc finger transcription factor expressed in cells that already have undergone almost complete epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and have already evaded from the tumor. The main mechanism by which Snail induces EMT is downregulation of E-cadherin, of which expression was shown to be frequently downregulated in many different types of tumors, where it accompanies the invasiveness and metastatic behavior of malignant cells.

Immunohistochemical assessment of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in trichofolliculomas and trichoepitheliomas.

Background: Trichofolliculomas and trichoepitheliomas are benign skin neoplasms originating from hair follicle cells. They result from defects in the signaling pathways that regulate hair follicle morphogenesis and regeneration. Thus they seem to be an excellent model of these processes.

Nestin expression in cutaneous melanomas and melanocytic nevi.

Background: Nestin is one of the intermediate filaments that are expressed in proliferating neural progenitor cells during development of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system. Postnatal re-expression of the protein occurs mainly under pathological conditions, including injury and neoplasia. In this study, nestin expression was detected in both benign and malignant melanocytic skin lesions and its diagnostic relevance was then evaluated.

The metabolic syndrome: relationship between insulin sensitivity and the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in saccharide and lipid metabolism.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are subgroups of nuclear hormonal receptors of transcripting factors mostly found in adipose tissue. They are described as important regulators of lipid and saccharide metabolism including insulin sensitivity; therefore they are taken as marker of metabolic syndrome. Their synthetic ligands could be used as drugs for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.