[EGFR protein is a negative prognostic and predictive factor in wild-type RAS colorectal cancer].

Negative predictive markers of the anti-EGFR antibody therapies are RAS or BRAF mutations, while left sidedness can be considered as a positive predictor. Here we analyzed 97 wild type RAS metastatic colorectal cancers looking for the prognostic and predictive roles of EGFR protein expression. We found that right-sided colorectal cancers are characterized by significantly higher EGFR protein expression as compared to left-sided ones, irrespective of the primary or metastatic tissue analysis.

EGFR Protein Expression in KRAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Is Another Negative Predictive Factor of the Cetuximab Therapy.

The selection of colorectal cancer patients for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody therapy is based on the determination of their RAS mutation status-a strongly negative predictive factor-since the protein target, EGFR, is not a reliable predictor of therapeutic response. In this study, we revisited the EGFR protein issue using a cohort of 90 patients with KRAS exon2 wild-type colorectal cancer who have been treated with cetuximab therapy. Twenty-nine of these patients had metastatic tissue available for analysis.

Characterization of cellular and humoral immune responses to alkaline phosphatase from fertile hydatid cysts in the human peripheral blood.

Hydatid cyst, the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus and a causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, possesses a vast number of antigenic peptides that are constantly presented in the host immune system during infection. Here, we sought to provide more information about the cellular/humoral components engaged in the peripheral immune reactions to the fertile-cyst-derived Echinococcus alkaline phosphatase (E.ALP) in human hosts.

EZH2 is upregulated in the proliferation centers of CLL/SLL lymph nodes.

Lymph node involvement of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is characterised by the diffuse infiltration of small neoplastic lymphocytes, which is accompanied by the presence of proliferation centres (PCs) comprising prolymphocytes and paraimmunoblasts. There is increasing evidence of accumulation of various molecular alterations in the tumour cells of PCs, which may explain why extended PCs are related to a less favourable prognosis. To further characterize PCs, we compared the expression level of EZH2 protein, the overexpression of which has recently been recognized as poor prognostic factor in CLL/SLL, in the PCs and the intervening small cell areas in lymph nodes of 15 patients with CLL/SLL.

Quantitative miR analysis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma - proliferation centres are characterized by high miR-92a and miR-155 and low miR-150 expression.

Proliferation centres (PCs) are histological hallmarks of lymph nodes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). Chromosomal abnormalities have already been described to accumulate preferably in the PCs as opposed to the intervening small cell areas. To further characterize the pathogenic role of PCs, the expression levels of 17 selected miRs known to be involved in the development of CLL/SLL were compared in the PCs and the intervening small cell areas in lymph nodes of 15 patients with CLL/SLL.

Region Specific Differences of Claudin-5 Expression in Pediatric Intracranial Ependymomas: Potential Prognostic Role in Supratentorial Cases.

Ependymomas are common pediatric brain tumors that originate from the ependyma and characterized by poor prognosis due to frequent recurrence. However, the current WHO grading system fails to accurately predict outcome. In a retrospective study, we analyzed 54 intracranial pediatric ependymomas and found a significantly higher overall survival in supratentorial cases when compared to infratentorial tumors.

[The prognostic role of expression of p16 tumor suppressor gene in Hungarian patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Beside smoking and alcohol consumption, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common risk factor of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region (HNSCC). The latter group of patients associates with better prognosis. During HPV infection, the level of p16 tumor suppressor elevates, which could give an additional opportunity for diagnosis: instead of molecular diagnostic tools, the application of immunohistochemistry is acceptable.

Evaluation of Histological and non-Invasive Methods for the Detection of Liver Fibrosis: The Values of Histological and Digital Morphometric Analysis, Liver Stiffness Measurement and APRI Score.

Prognosis and treatment of liver diseases mainly depend on the precise evaluation of the fibrosis. Comparisons were made between the results of Metavir fibrosis scores and digital morphometric analyses (DMA), liver stiffness (LS) values and aminotransferase-platelet ratio (APRI) scores, respectively. Liver biopsy specimens stained with Sirius red and analysed by morphometry, LS and APRI measurements were taken from 96 patients with chronic liver diseases (56 cases of viral hepatitis, 22 cases of autoimmune- and 18 of mixed origin).

EGFR autophosphorylation but not protein score correlates with histologic and molecular subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma.

Established clinicopathologic characteristics of non-small cell lung cancer patients define a subgroup responding better to EGFR-TK inhibitors: adenocarcinoma histology, ethnicity, sex, smoking status, presence of activating EGFR mutation, and/or K-RAS wild type. However, EGFR mutation does not automatically lead to increased activity of the protein influenced by several factors. As adenocarcinoma can be further divided into histologic subclasses, we compared adenocarcinomas without lepidic growth pattern (NLAC) to those characterized by pure or predominant lepidic growth (LAC) for EGFR protein expression and autophosphorylation activity (Y1173), as determined by immunohistochemistry.

Angiogenesis and angiogenic tyrosine kinase receptor expression in pediatric brain tumors.

Tumor angiogenesis and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are major novel targets in anticancer molecular therapy. Accordingly, we characterized the vascular network and the expression pattern of angiogenic RTK in the most frequent pediatric brain tumors. In a retrospective collection of 44 cases (14 astrocytoma, 16 ependymoma and 14 medulloblastoma), immunohistochemistry for VEGFR1, VEGFR2, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and c-Kit as well as microvessel labeling with CD34 and SMA were conducted on surgical specimens.