Clinical relevance and prognostic significance of PD-1/PD-Ls in non-metastatic bladder cancer: A role for PD-L2.

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) can be successfully treated by manipulating immune responses with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation or targeting the PD-1/PD-L signaling pathway. In the present study we investigated the prognostic significance of the immune checkpoint inhibitor PD-1 and its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 on tumor cells and infiltrating lymphocytes, in the tumor microenvironment and draining lymph nodes in patients with non-metastatic BC.

Patients And Methods: Cells were mechanically isolated from tissues and draining lymph nodes from 58 patients, and surface-stained for CD45, PD-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2.

Effect of Acupuncture on Pregnancy-Related Insomnia and Melatonin: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on sleep quality and overnight melatonin secretion, measured as urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, in pregnant women.

Patients And Methods: This randomized, parallel, single-blinded (participant), controlled trial was conducted on 72 pregnant women with insomnia. Study participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention, 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment over a 3-week period, or control group by block randomization (1:1).

Differential expression of drug resistance genes in CD146 positive dental pulp derived stem cells and CD146 negative fibroblasts.

Introduction: The stem cell portion of the dental pulp derived cultures (DPSCs) showed a higher resistance to cytotoxic effect of restorative dental materials compared to pulpal fibroblasts (DPFs). Here, we aimed to compare the expression of some drug resistant genes between these cells.

Methods And Materials: To separate DPSCs from DPFs, we used magnetic cell sorting technique based on CD146 expression.

Insufficient lymph node assessment in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the sufficient (≥ 16) lymph node assessment in 449 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and literature review.

Methods: Four hundred and forty-nine patients with pathologically confirmed locoregional invasive gastric adenocarcinoma from 2004 to 2013 were included. A standard surgical resection was performed for all the patients with (n = 16) or without (n = 433) neoadjuvant treatment.

The rs217727 Polymorphism Is Associated with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Susceptibility in Iranian Population.

Lack of protein-coding capacity is a main characteristic of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) which, as molecular biomarkers, have found a novel pharmacological application in cancer and are reported to be important regulators of gene expression. is reportedly involved in cancer progression and tumorigenesis. One of the most common types of head and neck cancers is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

The Significance of Biobanking in the Sustainability of Biomedical Research: A Review.

Biobank, defined as a functional unit for facilitating and improving research by storing biospecimen and their accompanying data, is a key resource for advancement in life science. The history of biobanking goes back to the time of archiving pathology samples. Nowadays, biobanks have considerably improved and are classified into two categories: diseased-oriented and population-based biobanks.

KIR Variation in Iranians Combines High Haplotype and Allotype Diversity With an Abundance of Functional Inhibitory Receptors.

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that eliminate infected and transformed cells. They discriminate healthy from diseased tissue through killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) recognition of HLA class I ligands. Directly impacting NK cell function, polymorphism associates with infection control and multiple autoimmune and pregnancy syndromes.

Effects of different quantities of antibody conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles on cell separation efficiency.

Antibody-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles (Ab-MNPs) have received considerable attention in bioseparation and clinical diagnostics assays due to their unique ability to detect and isolate a variety of biomolecules and cells. Because antibodies can be expensive, a key challenge for bioconjugation is to determine the optimal amount of antibodies with reasonable antigen-capturing activity. We designed an approach to determine the minimum amounts of antibodies for efficient coating.

CD8-positive memory T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer.

Background: Human immunological memory is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system and plays an important role in the development of effective immune responses against tumors. In the present study, we aimed to determine the frequencies of CD8 memory T cell subsets including T stem cell memory (TSCM) in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Mononuclear cells were obtained from axillary lymph nodes of 52 untreated patients with BC and stained for CD8, CCR7, CD45RO, CD95 markers to detect different subtypes of memory cells in the CD8 lymphocyte population.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Traditional Medicinal Herbs on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Backgrounds: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is among the most frequent oral cancers in individuals under 40. Documents have endorsed that a diet enriched with fruit and vegetables can banish the risk of developing major cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of four medicinal herbs including saffron, ginger, cinnamon and curcumin on OSCC cell line.

Association of elevated interleukin-33 serum levels with tumorstages in patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Inflammation has a prominent role in cancer development and interleukin (IL)-33 has both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to measure IL-33 quantities and genetic alterations in the rs1929992 SNP within IL-33 gene in patients with prostate cancer (PC).

Methods: This investigation was conducted on blood specimens from 150 newly diagnosed PC patients and 150 healthy age-matched controls.

Positive association of Bx genotype, KIR2L5, KIR2DS5 and full-length KIR2DS4 with the risk of meningioma.

Background: NK cells as a part of innate immune system, are controlled by a set of activating and inhibitory KIR receptors (aKIR, iKIR) which are implicated in tumor microenvironment immunity through a variety of activating and inhibitory immune signals. KIRs are multi gene family receptors that differ in the number and type of genes among individuals. In the current research we determined the KIRs genes and genotypes impact on predisposition to meningioma development in Iranians.

Significance of TC9 and TH9 in Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis.

Background: H pylori plays a critical role in the development of stomach cancer, especially in people affected by the bacteria at an early stage of life. Th9 cells and IL-9 play major roles in immune responses against various infections. IL-9 is influential in chronic or acute inflammation of the mucosa.

KIR2DS4, KIR2DL2, and KIR2DS4del are linked with basaloid tumors, lymph node metastasis, advanced stage and metastatic risk in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Backgrounds: Our previous study has suggested that KIR2DS1, 2DS5, 3DS1 and KIR2DL5 are associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible association of killer cell immunoglobulin like receptors (KIRs) gene with the clinicopathological features of patients.

Methods: We reviewed the pathological reports of 285 pathologically confirmed cases of HNSCC and analyzed the association of KIR system with pathological characteristics.

Production and Preliminary In Vivo Evaluations of a Novel in silico-designed L2-based Potential HPV Vaccine.

Background: L2-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines, containing epitopes from HPV minor capsid proteins, are under investigation as second-generation HPV vaccines. No such vaccine has passed clinical trials yet, mainly due to the low immunogenicity of peptide vaccines; so efforts are being continued. A candidate vaccine composed of two HPV16 L2 epitopes, flagellin and a Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 agonist (RS09) as adjuvants, and two universal T-helper epitopes was designed in silico in our previous researches.

Efficacy and Feasibility of Adding Induction Chemotherapy to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Phase II Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Currently, neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) followed by total mesorectal resection is considered the standard of care for treating locally advanced rectal cancer. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of adding induction chemotherapy to neoadjuvant CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: This phase-II clinical trial included 54 patients with newly diagnosed, locally advanced (clinical T3-4 and/or N1-2, M0) rectal cancer.

Helios, CD73 and CD39 Induction in Regulatory T Cells Exposed to Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have prominent immunomodulatory roles in the tumor microenvironment. The current study intended to elucidate Treg subsets and their cytokines after exposing naïve T lymphocytes to adiposederived MSCs (ASCs).

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, to obtain ASCs, breast adipose tissues of a breast cancer patient and a normal individual were used.

Atypical Memory and Regulatory B Cell Subsets in Tumor Draining Lymph Nodes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Correlate with Good Prognostic Factors.

Research on the role of B cells in the development and modulation of antitumor immunity has increased in recent years; however, knowledge about B cell phenotype and function in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) is still incomplete. This study aimed to investigate changes in the phenotypic profile of B cells in TDLNs of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) during disease progression. Mononuclear cells were isolated from TDLNs and stained with antibodies for CD19 and other B cell-related markers and analyzed by flow cytometry.

Cytokine profile of CD4CD25FoxP3 T cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer.

Background: A T cell subtype with the CD4CD25FoxP3 phenotype was recently described. We aimed to investigate the frequency of these cells and their ability to produce cytokines in tumor-draining lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer (BC).

Materials And Methods: Mononuclear cells from lymph nodes of 20 patients with BC were activated and stained for appropriate markers.

Expression of major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence B in adipose-derived stem cells from breast cancer patients and normal individuals.

Context: Through the expression of different immunomodulatory molecules, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a significant role in the regulation of immune responses against tumor cells. Herein, the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence B (MIC B) as an immunomodulatory molecule was investigated on adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) isolated from breast cancer patients (Stage II and III) and healthy individuals.

Materials And Methods: ASCs were isolated enzymatically, and the expression of MIC B was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method before and after treatment with interferon γ (IFN-γ).

Molecular Cloning, Expression and Purification of G-CSF Isoform D, an Alternative Splice Variant of Human G-CSF.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the major regulator of hemopoiesis and granulopoiesis. However, overexpression of G-CSF has been implicated in several important processes in tumor biology such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Four different mRNA isoforms resulting from alternative splicing have been reported for G-CSF (transcript variants 1, 2, 3 and 4).

In vitro cytotoxic effect of Trastuzumab in combination with Pertuzumab in breast cancer cells is improved by interleukin-2 activated NK cells.

Targeting erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) using the combination of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab has demonstrated promising results in breast cancer therapy. It has further been revealed that interleukin-2 (IL-2) can activate Natural Killer cells (NK cells) and elevate their cytotoxic potency against tumor cells. In this study, we explored the cytotoxic effect of recombinant human IL-2 in combination with Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab on the ERBB2 positive (SK-BR-3) and negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines.

Granzyme B production by activated B cells derived from breast cancer-draining lymph nodes.

B lymphocytes with regulatory or effector functions synthesize granzyme B (GZMB). We investigated the frequency and phenotype of GZMB-producing B cells in breast tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs). Mononuclear cells were isolated from 48 axillary lymph nodes and were stimulated with anti-BCR (B cell receptor), recombinant interleukin (IL)-21 and CD40 L alone or in combination.