Expression of LLT1 and its receptor CD161 in lung cancer is associated with better clinical outcome.

Co-stimulatory and inhibitory receptors expressed by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment modulate the immune response and cancer progression. Their expression and regulation are still not fully characterized and a better understanding of these mechanisms is needed to improve current immunotherapies. Our previous work has identified a novel ligand/receptor pair, LLT1/CD161, that modulates immune responses.

Clinical pharmacology of anti-angiogenic drugs in oncology.

Abnormal vasculature proliferation is one of the so-called hallmarks of cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitor therapies are one of the major breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last two decades. Two types of anti-angiogenics have been approved: monoclonal antibodies and derivatives, which are injected and target the extracellular part of a receptor, and protein kinase inhibitors, which are orally taken small molecules targeting the intra-cellular Adenosine Triphosphate -pocket of different kinases.

Inactivation and Mutation Drive a Convergence toward Loss of Function of H3K36 Writers in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas.

Extensive dysregulation of chromatin-modifying genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has been uncovered through next-generation sequencing. However, a scientific understanding of the cross-talk between epigenetic and genomic aberrations remains limited. Here we identify three ccRCC epigenetic clusters, including a clear cell CpG island methylator phenotype (C-CIMP) subgroup associated with promoter methylation of VEGF genes (, and ).

Repositioning FDA-Approved Drugs in Combination with Epigenetic Drugs to Reprogram Colon Cancer Epigenome.

Epigenetic drugs, such as DNA methylation inhibitors (DNMTi) or histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), are approved in monotherapy for cancer treatment. These drugs reprogram gene expression profiles, reactivate tumor suppressor genes (TSG) producing cancer cell differentiation and apoptosis. Epigenetic drugs have been shown to synergize with other epigenetic drugs or various anticancer drugs.

Chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer achieves a high rate of R0 resection.

Background: To assess local control, survival and conversion to resectability among locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients treated with induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by chemoradiotherapy treatment using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Material And Methods: Between 2007 and 2012, 134 LAPC patients were treated with ICT followed by IMRT. After chemoradiotherapy, 40 patients received maintenance chemotherapy.

Unique Transcriptomic Profile of Collecting Duct Carcinomas Relative to Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinomas and other Kidney Carcinomas.

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a kidney cancer subtype that is thought to arise from principal cells in distal parts of the collecting ducts. Some studies suggested an overlap of CDC with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), making the pathological diagnosis challenging. Herein, we performed for the first time transcriptome sequencing of CDC and compared them to UTUC and renal cell carcinoma subtypes.

Cancer subtypes classification using long non-coding RNA.

Inter-tumor heterogeneity might explain divergent clinical evolution of cancers bearing similar pathological features. In the last decade, genomic has highly improved tumor subtypes classification through the identification of oncogenic or tumor suppressor drivers. In addition, epigenetics and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new fields for investigation, which might also account for tumor heterogeneity.

Can We Predict the Lateral Compartment Lymph Node Involvement in RET-Negative Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma?

Background: Lateral lymph node dissection (LND) in the absence of macroscopic nodal metastasis remains controversial in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

Objectives: The aims of our study were to determine the risk of lateral lymph node (LN) metastases with a focus on lateral contralateral N1, and to define a risk-adapted surgical treatment for these patients.

Methods: All patients who underwent surgery from 1980 to 2012 for previously untreated RET-negative MTC were reviewed.

DNA Methylation Signature Reveals Cell Ontogeny of Renal Cell Carcinomas.

Purpose: DNA methylation is a heritable covalent modification that is developmentally regulated and is critical in tissue-type definition. Although genotype-phenotype correlations have been described for different subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), it is unknown if DNA methylation profiles correlate with morphological or ontology based phenotypes. Here, we test the hypothesis that DNA methylation signatures can discriminate between putative precursor cells in the nephron.

The zinc finger transcription factor PW1/PEG3 restrains murine beta cell cycling.

Aims/hypothesis: Pw1 or paternally-expressed gene 3 (Peg3) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor that is widely expressed during mouse embryonic development and later restricted to multiple somatic stem cell lineages in the adult. The aim of the present study was to define Pw1 expression in the embryonic and adult pancreas and investigate its role in the beta cell cycle in Pw1 wild-type and mutant mice.

Methods: We analysed PW1 expression by immunohistochemistry in pancreas of nonpregant and pregnant mice and following injury by partial duct ligation.

Does the T1 subdivision correlate with the risk of recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer?

Background: Based on the AJCC seventh TNM classification, T1 intraglandular tumors are subdivided into T1a (≤10 mm) and T1b (11-20 mm), but the differences in prognosis remain controversial. The present study aimed to determine the clinicopathological features and outcomes of T1a and T1b patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of 2518 T1 patients, including 1840 T1a (73 %) and 678 (27 %) T1b patients who underwent surgery for PTC from 1978 to 2014, was conducted.

Female sexual function and fertility after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Purpose: A potential complication in women after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is sexual impairment and reduced fertility. The aim was to evaluate sexual function and fertility after IPAA.

Methods: All female patients who underwent an IPAA between 2004 and 2013 were retrospectively included.

Antroduodenectomy with Gastroduodenal Anastomosis: Salvage Emergency Surgery for Complicated Peptic Ulcer Disease--Results of a Double Institution Study of 35 Patients.

Background: Endoscopic and interventional techniques are currently the mainstay of management of bleeding duodenal ulcer. As well, for patients with perforated duodenal ulcer, laparoscopic simple closure is nowadays usually performed. Although indications for emergency antroduodenectomy have declined, this procedure is still necessary as a salvage option when conservative management has failed or is not practicable.

Recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma with lateral cervical node metastases: Predictive factors and operative management.

Background: Lateral neck lymph node (LN) metastases (N1b) have been identified as independent risk factors of recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Objective: This study aimed to determine the predictive factors of recurrence in N1b PTC patients and to clarify the postoperative event patterns.

Methods: All patients who underwent operation for N1b PTC between 1978 and 2012 were reviewed.

Long non-coding RNA profiling links subgroup classification of endometrioid endometrial carcinomas with trithorax and polycomb complex aberrations.

Background: Integrative analysis of endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) using multiple platforms has distinguished four molecular subgroups. However, the landscape of expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and their role in charting EEC subgroups and determining clinical aggressiveness remain largely unknown.

Results: Using stringent criteria, we identified 1,931 expressed lncRNAs and predicted potential drivers through integrative analysis.

Akt2 knock-down reveals its contribution to human lung cancer cell proliferation, growth, motility, invasion and endothelial cell tube formation.

The Akt/PKB serine/threonine protein kinase consists of three isoforms: Akt-1, -2 and -3. Their overexpression has been detected in human cancers, but their roles in cancer progression are unclear. We investigated the impact of specific silencing of Akt1 and Akt2 on human lung cancer cell proliferation, colony growth, motility, and invasion in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo using human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer cells LNM35, and on the vascular tube formation using HUVEC cells.

Nasal obstruction and male gender contribute to the persistence of mouth opening during sleep in CPAP-treated obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background And Objective: During continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, some patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) require an oronasal mask (ONM) to prevent excessive mouth leakage. Factors contributing to sleep-related mouth opening under CPAP treatment remain known. We compared mouth opening during sleep in patients treated with CPAP by nasal mask (NM) versus ONM.

Comprehensive analysis of long non-coding RNAs in human breast cancer clinical subtypes.

Accumulating evidence highlights the potential role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in solid tumors. However, the role of lncRNA expression in human breast cancer biology, prognosis and molecular classification remains unknown. Herein, we established the lncRNA profile of 658 infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast from The Cancer Genome Atlas project.

Characterization of long non-coding RNA transcriptome in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma by next-generation deep sequencing.

Introduction: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) have proven to play key roles in cell physiology from nuclear organization and epigenetic remodeling to post-transcriptional regulation. Last decade, gene expression based-classifications have been developed in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) to identify distinct subtypes of disease and predict patient's outcome. However, there are no current lncRNA comprehensive characterizations in ccRCC.

Identification of soluble 14-3-3∊ as a novel subchondral bone mediator involved in cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.

Objective: Mechanical stress plays an important role in cartilage degradation and subchondral bone remodeling in osteoarthritis (OA). The remodeling of the subchondral bone could initiate cartilage loss in OA through the interplay of bone and cartilage. The aim of this study was to identify soluble mediators released by loaded osteoblasts/osteocytes that could induce the release of catabolic factors by chondrocytes.

Fronto-striatal atrophy correlates of neuropsychiatric dysfunction in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Unlabelled: Behavioural disturbances in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are thought to reflect mainly atrophy of cortical regions. Recent studies suggest that subcortical brain regions, in particular the striatum, are also significantly affected and this pathology might play a role in the generation of behavioural symptoms.

Objective: To investigate prefrontal cortical and striatal atrophy contributions to behavioural symptoms in FTD.

Stress-induced cartilage degradation does not depend on the NLRP3 inflammasome in human osteoarthritis and mouse models.

Objective: The main feature of osteoarthritis (OA) is degradation and loss of articular cartilage. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is thought to have a prominent role in shifting the metabolic balance toward degradation. IL-1β is first synthesized as an inactive precursor that is cleaved to the secreted active form mainly in the "inflammasome," a complex of initiators (including NLRP3), adaptor molecule ASC, and caspase 1.

Statistical methods in recent HIV noninferiority trials: reanalysis of 11 trials.

Background: In recent years the "noninferiority" trial has emerged as the new standard design for HIV drug development among antiretroviral patients often with a primary endpoint based on the difference in success rates between the two treatment groups. Different statistical methods have been introduced to provide confidence intervals for that difference. The main objective is to investigate whether the choice of the statistical method changes the conclusion of the trials.