The Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors in Endometrial Cancer.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the female genital tract in the United States. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptor proteins which regulate gene expression. In order to investigate the role of PPARs in endometrial cancer, we conducted a literature review using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases and were able to identify 27 relevant studies published between 2000 and 2023.

EPH/Ephrin-Targeting Treatment in Breast Cancer: A New Chapter in Breast Cancer Therapy.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptors (EPHs), receptor tyrosine kinases binding the membrane-bound proteins ephrins, are differentially expressed in BC, and correlate with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. With a view to examining available therapeutics targeting the EPH/ephrin system in BC, a literature review was conducted, using the MEDLINE, LIVIVO, and Google Scholar databases.

Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms: Focusing on the Epigenetic Alterations.

Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms (TENs) represent the most common tumors of the thymus gland. Epigenetic alterations are generally involved in initiation and progression of various cancer entities. However, little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in TENs.

High Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) expression is a strong and independent prognosticator in invasive breast carcinoma.

Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor superfamily member, is related with bile acids, glucose and lipids metabolism and recently with cancer. In the present study the clinical significance of FXR expression in invasive breast carcinoma was evaluated. FXR protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues obtained from 115 breast cancer patients and was statistically analyzed with clinicopathological parameters, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, as well as with tumor cells' proliferative capacity and overall and disease-free patients' survival.

Clinical Significance of EphB4 and EphB6 Expression in Human Malignant and Benign Thyroid Lesions.

Ephrin receptors (Ephs) are frequently overexpressed in a wide variety of human malignant tumors, being associated with tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of EphB4 and EphB6 protein expression in human malignant and benign thyroid lesions. EphB4 and EphB6 protein expression was assessed immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues obtained from 127 patients with benign (n = 71) and malignant (n = 56) thyroid lesions.

Expression and promoter methylation status of hMLH1, MGMT, APC, and CDH1 genes in patients with colon adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women worldwide. CRC development is the result of genetic and epigenetic alterations accumulation in the epithelial cells of colon mucosa. In the present study, DNA methylation, an epigenetic event, was evaluated in tumoral and matching normal epithelium in a cohort of 61 CRC patients.

DNA repair mechanisms in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Colon cancer is among the most common cancers and the third cause of cancer deaths worldwide. If detected at an early stage, treatment might often lead to cure. The present review adduces the so far studied alterations in the expression of genes, as well as polymorphisms of genes engaged in DNA repair systems, with particular emphasis on indirect ones that are correlated with colorectal cancer.

Cell death induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, a model S(N)1 methylating agent, in two lung cancer cell lines of human origin.

New therapeutic approaches are needed for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death. Methylating agents constitute a widely used class of anticancer drugs, the effect of which on human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been adequately studied. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), a model S(N)1 methylating agent, induced cell death through a distinct mechanism in two human NSCLC cell lines studied, A549(p53(wt)) and H157(p53(null)).

DNA methylation-independent regulation of p16 in epithelial cells during mouse mammary gland development.

p16 (INK4a) is a known negative regulator of the cell cycle acting up-stream of Rb to inhibit cellular growth. While the contribution of p16 to the tumorigenic process has been extensively studied, little is known about its role in the cellular differentiation process of normal cells. p16 expression in mammary gland epithelial cells and its possible mediation by DNA methylation was explored.

Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter region of the p15INK4B gene in childhood acute leukaemia.

It has been reported that the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) gene p15INK4B is frequently inactivated by genetic alterations and may be responsible for various malignant tumours. Another way of inactivation of this CDKI is by hypermethylation of 5'CpG islands in the promoter region of the p15INK4B gene and this inactivation seems to be a frequent event in various haematological malignancies. In the present study, we investigated the methylation status of the p151NK4B gene to clarify its role in the pathogenesis of childhood acute myeloid (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Kirsten ras mutations in patients with colorectal cancer: the 'RASCAL II' study.

Researchers worldwide with information about the Kirsten ras (Ki-ras) tumour genotype and outcome of patients with colorectal cancer were invited to provide that data in a schematized format for inclusion in a collaborative database called RASCAL (The Kirsten ras in-colorectal-cancer collaborative group). Our results from 2721 such patients have been presented previously and for the first time in any common cancer, showed conclusively that different gene mutations have different impacts on outcome, even when the mutations occur at the same site on the genome. To explore the effect of Ki-ras mutations at different stages of colorectal cancer, more patients were recruited to the database, which was reanalysed when information on 4268 patients from 42 centres in 21 countries had been entered.

Glucocorticoid receptor alpha and beta isoforms are not mutated in bipolar affective disorder.

The periodically hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in bipolar affective disorders, as well as the reported changes in the binding characteristics of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), suggest the possible involvement of the GR in the aetiopathology of this disease. This was investigated by screening the coding sequences of both GR isoforms, GRalpha and GRbeta, for the presence of mutations. As a genetic predisposition has been implicated, we included in this study bipolar patients who were siblings.

Human papilloma virus DNA detection in oral lesions in the Greek population.

HPVs (Human Papilloma Viruses) are small DNA "epitheliotropic" viruses, implicated in cervical carcinogenesis, particularly the "high-oncogenic-risk" types HPV-16 and HPV-18. Data concerning oral carcinogenesis are however, contradictory. We examined the presence of HPV and subsequently HPV-16 and HPV-18 in 102 specimens of paraffin-embedded oral tissue blocks--81 oral squamous cell carcinomas and 21 oral hyperplasias--using PCR technique followed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

Cytogenetic analysis and RAS mutations in primary myelodysplastic syndromes.

Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 60 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes--diagnosed, treated, and followed in our department. In 41 cases, the presence of the NRAS mutation was also evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of chromosomal abnormalities and NRAS mutation.

Immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein in HPV positive oral lesions.

Oral cancer provides a unique model system for the study of the multistep nature of cancer. The influence of viruses and tumor suppressor gene inactivation are of major importance in this HPVs are small oncogenic viruses which are implicated in epithelial carcinogenesis, and p53 is a tumor suppressor gene with a central role in the prevention of genomic injury. p53 protein detection is usually a synonym for p53 mutation.

K-ras mutation in Greek patients with poorly and moderately differenciated tumours of the lower intestinal tract.

The K-ras protooncogene is activated via mutations in approximately 40% of primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. This finding suggests that these genetic alterations are important events in the genesis of colon cancer and should be correlated with other parameters in order to infer some conclusions relevant to the etiology and the pathogenesis of this type of cancer. In our study we examined whether the incidence of K-ras mutations detected in 23 samples with colorectal adenocarcinomas, was related to different anatomical sites within the lower intestinal tract (transverse colon, descending colon and rectosigmoid region) and also the correlation between K-ras mutations and depth of invasion, level of tumour cell differentiation and metastasis to the regional lymph nodes.

Human papillomaviruses in cervical cancer: II. Application of PCR and in situ hybridization and HPV significance.

Human papillomaviruses especially type 16 and 18 are associated with cervical cancer. These viruses encode transforming proteins which are capable of binding and form complexes with p53 protein. Tumour-tissue samples from women with cervical cancer as well as normal controls were analysed for the presence of HPV and the expression of p53 by in situ hybridization and PCR analysis.

A rapid method for the screening and typing of high risk HPVs using molecular biology techniques.

To date over 60 different human papilloma virus (HPV) types have been described and novel HPV genomes are still being identified. The identification and taxonomy of papilloma viruses has become increasingly complex However, some types, especially HPV-16, -18 and to a lesser extent HPV-31 and -33, which are found in a high proportion of invasive cervical cancers and their metastases, are classified as high risk types For preventive reasons it is important to identify and classify the different HPV types in clinical specimens. Many of the methods used until recently are cumbersome.

Comparative study of mutagenesis by O6-methylguanine in the human Ha-ras oncogene in E. coli and in vitro.

Single residues of O6-methylguanine (O6-meG) were introduced into the first or second position of codon 12 (GGC; positions 12G1 or 12G2, respectively) or the first position of codon 13 (GGT; position 13G1) of the human Ha-ras oncogene in phage M13-based vectors. After transformation of E.coli, higher mutant plaque frequencies (MPF) were observed at 12G1 and 13G1 than at 12G2 if O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) had been depleted, while similar MPF were observed at all three positions in the presence of active AGT.

Haplotype VI associated beta + thalassaemia intermedia. First Italian case.

We report the study of a family originating from eastern Sicily with mild beta thalassaemia intermedia which is similar both at a molecular level and in clinical form to that called "beta + thalassaemia intermedia-Portuguese type". Our patients were homozygous beta + thalassaemics with high HbA2 and low HbF levels. The mild clinical course was as a result of their age and because regular blood transfusion was established only in adulthood.

A leftward deletional alpha+ thalassemia found in East Sicily in conjunction with heterozygous beta-thalassemia.

Two types of alpha+ thalassemia (-alpha l) have been described, respectively termed leftward and rightward, which correspond to nonhomologous crossing-over in different homology zones X and Z within the alpha-globin gene cluster. Up to now the leftward type has been described only in Asiatic populations, whereas the rightward type is universally distributed. We report here a first case of leftward deletion observed in a Sicilian male.