Zinc finger protein 32 promotes breast cancer stem cell-like properties through directly promoting GPER transcription.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. Due to the existence of a small fraction of stem cell-like subpopulations, some breast cancer subtypes exhibit very high malignancy and resistance to multiple therapies. The underlying mechanisms of how these subtypes acquire stem cell-like properties and progress more aggressively remain largely unknown.

Management of resectable esophageal and gastric (mixed adeno)neuroendocrine carcinoma: A nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to provide insight in accuracy of diagnosing, current treatment and survival in patients with resectable esophageal and gastric neuroendocrine- and mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC, MANEC).

Methods: All patients with esophageal or gastric (MA)NEC, who underwent surgical resection between 2006 and 2016, were identified from the Dutch national registry for histo- and cytopathology (PALGA). Patients with a neuroendocrine tumor lower than grade 3 were excluded.

Effect of Hospital Volume With Respect to Performing Gastric Cancer Resection on Recurrence and Survival: Results From the CRITICS Trial.

Objective: We examined the association between surgical hospital volume and both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) using data obtained from the international CRITICS (ChemoRadiotherapy after Induction chemotherapy In Cancer of the Stomach) trial.

Summary Background Data: In the CRITICS trial, patients with resectable gastric cancer were randomized to receive preoperative chemotherapy followed by adequate gastrectomy and either chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Patients in the CRITICS trial who underwent a gastrectomy with curative intent in a Dutch hospital were included in the analysis.

International Survey on the Management of Anastomotic Leakage After Esophageal Resection.

Background: Anastomotic leakage is one of the most severe complications following esophageal surgery, leading to significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, considerable costs, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality. Management of anastomotic leakage is complicated and has currently not been standardized. The objective of this research is to gain insight into the different opinions on anastomotic leakage management among upper gastrointestinal surgeons and verify the need for diagnostic and treatment guidelines.

Extracellular Influences: Molecular Subclasses and the Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent form of pancreatic cancer and carries the worst prognosis of all common cancers. Five-year survival rates have not surpassed 6% for some decades and this lack of improvement in outcome urges a better understanding of the PDAC-specific features which contribute to this poor result. One of the most defining features of PDAC known to contribute to its progression is the abundance of non-tumor cells and material collectively known as the stroma.

Stromal SPOCK1 supports invasive pancreatic cancer growth.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is marked by an abundant stromal deposition. This stroma is suspected to harbor both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing properties. This is underscored by the disappointing results of stroma targeting in clinical studies.

Arl13b regulates Shh signaling from both inside and outside the cilium.

The regulatory GTPase Arl13b localizes to primary cilia, where it regulates Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Missense mutations in ARL13B can cause the ciliopathy Joubert syndrome, while the mouse null allele is embryonic lethal. We used mouse embryonic fibroblasts as a system to determine the effects of Arl13b mutations on Shh signaling.