Telomeres: a Nobel Prize at the beginning… of the end

The 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack K. Szostak for their work on telomeres and telomerase. This prize acknowledges their pionneering discoveries on chromosomal extremities. Telomeres are the nucleoproteic complexes that may be found at the ends of linear chromosomes. They are essential for genomic stability and are involved in aging and tumorogenesis.     

Is the Use of QOL Data Really Any Different than Other Medical Testing?

QOL data and routine clinical data such as laboratory data, whether used in clinical practice or research, can be viewed by clinicians in the same way. Both provide important patient-related information using instruments which are reliable and valid. Both require that the clinician or researcher understand how to utilize and interpret the data and gain comfort with doing so through experience. It is through this repeated usage of QOL data that clinicians will, hopefully, come to accept QOL data as a routine and invaluable part of their practice and view it just as they view other clinical data. Whether it is a clinician looking at QOL data or laboratory data for the first time, or a clinical researcher including QOL data in a clinical trial for the first time, training, repetitive use, and experience is necessary to feel comfortable with integrating the data to recommend an appropriate clinical action or to capture the meaningful effect.     

On the origins and development of the P-postlabelling assay for carcinogen–DNA adducts

The ³²P-postlabelling method for the analysis of carcinogen–DNA adducts originated 30 years ago from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and was the work of a team comprised of Kurt and Erica Randerath, Ramesh Gupta and Vijay Reddy. With subsequent modifications and developments, it has become a highly sensitive and versatile method for the detection of DNA adducts that has been applied in a wide range of human, animal and in vitro studies. These include monitoring human exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens, investigating genotoxicity of chemicals, elucidating pathways of metabolic activation of carcinogens, mechanistic studies of DNA repair, analysing the genotoxicity of complex mixtures and in ecotoxicology studies. Its use has been instrumental in providing new clues to the aetiology of some cancers and in identifying a new human carcinogen.     

Are Agonistic Autoantibodies against G-Protein Coupled Receptors Involved in the Development of Long-Term Side Effects of Tumor Chemotherapy?

Metabolic syndrome and cardiomyopathies are long-term consequences of chemo- and radiotherapy and develop long after completing the initial tumor treatment. The slow progression of such late effects might be an indication of the involvement of autoimmune processes in the development of such follow-up consequences. Functionally active autoantibodies, which permanently stimulate relevant cell receptors, might be a crucial component. Here, we report the detection of functionally active agonistic autoantibodies such as the autoantibody against the adrenergic alpha1-receptor, the muscarinic M2-receptor, and the newly discovered autoantibody against the Mas-receptor in the plasma of a cancer survivor following chemotherapy treatment.Key words: Agonistic autoantibodies, G-protein coupled receptor autoantibodies, Chemotherapy, Tumor therapy, Cardiomyopathy, Metabolic syndrome, Long-term disturbances     

Isolation of Side Population Cells and Detection of ABCG2 from SW480

Objective:Side population cells(SP cells)are a new type of stem cells.They mainly express ABCG2/BCRP1 and have the ability to eliminate DNA dye Hoechst33342.Many studies showed that side population cells were able of self-renewal,differentiation and carcinogenesis in cancers.Our investigation aimed at isolation of side population cells and ABCG2 positive subpopulation from colon cancer cell line SW480 and identification of their characteristics of cancer stem cells.Methods:side population cells and non-side population cells of colon cancer cell line SW480 were isolated with DNA dye Hoechst33342 and their cell cycles were measured by flow cytometry.Expression of ABCG2 of SW480 was measured by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence,and its proportion was measured by flow cytometry.Results:SW480 contained 2.29% side population cells.The fraction of side population cells decreased greatly to 0.40% by treatment with verapamil.The fraction of side population cells in S-G2M cell cycle was 16.14%,which was much lower than the fraction(34.05%)of non-side population cells in S-G2M.In SW480,ABCG2 positive cells,which proportion was 9.66%,were small,circular or oval,lack of psuedopods,similar to poor differentiation.On the contrary,the ABCG2 negative cells were large,polygonal,with many psuedopods,similar to high differentiation.Conclusion:our assay identified that side population cells did exist in SW480 and had a quiescence characteristic of stem cells.ABCG2 positive subpopulation occupied about 9.66% of SW480 and may have the ability to promote cell self-renewal and inhibit cell differentiation.Therefore,to isolate ABCG2 positive subpopulation from side population cells may be an alternative to study colorectal cancer stem cells.     

Real-world Data for High-risk Stage II Colorectal Cancer – The Role of Tumor Side in the Adjuvant Setting

BackgroundThe impact of sidedness in the high-risk stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) setting is uncertain. Although controversial, available data suggest a possible modest benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) in the adjuvant scenario. The aim of this study is to analyze the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) according to the tumor side.Patients and MethodsIn this single-center retrospective cohort, we analyzed patients treated between January 2011 and December 2018. We evaluated OS and RFS of high-risk patients according to the tumor side and considering adjuvant CT exposure and clinical and molecular features.ResultsA total of 1047 patients with stage II CRC were evaluated. Of these, 540 had high-risk criteria and microsatellite stability (MSS) or unknown status. One hundred fifty-seven (29%) patients had right-sided tumors, and 352 (65.2%) had left-sided tumors. Most patients received adjuvant CT, and the majority of them had T3 stage tumors, ≥ 12 lymph node resection, left tumor, MSS, and moderate differentiation. OS did not differ according to tumor side (5-year OS rates: 81.9% for right-sided tumors vs. 83% for left-sided tumors; hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.53; P = .744). Adjuvant CT was associated with a superior RFS and OS, with 5-year OS rates of 87.7% versus 76.1% in the no-adjuvant group (hazard ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28-0.73; P = .001).ConclusionThe tumor side did not influence the outcomes in this study. Adjuvant CT was associated with improved RFS and OS in patients with high-risk stage II CRC, with a total gain of 11.6% in 5-year OS.     

On the role of transforming growth factor-β in the growth inhibitory effects of retinoic acid in human pancreatic cancer cells

Background  

Retinoids are potent growth inhibitory and differentiating agents in a variety of cancer cell types. We have shown that retinoids induce growth arrest in all pancreatic cancer cell lines studied, regardless of their p53 and differentiation status. However, the mechanism of growth inhibition is not known. Since TGF-β2 is markedly induced by retinoids in other cancers and mediates MUC4 expression in pancreatic cancer cells, we investigated the role of TGF-β in retinoic acid-mediated growth inhibition in pancreatic cancer cells.     

On the status of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance of breast cancer patient without history of diabetes after systemic treatment

In the present study, we investigated the associations of polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 gene (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1 and GSTT1) with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A total of 126 patients with CML and 172 healthy volunteers were genotyped, and the DNA was isolated from their blood samples. The polymorphisms were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism-based methods and multiplex PCR. Logistic regression analyses showed significant risk of CML associated with CYP1A1 Val allele [odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 1.96–5.53], (p < 0.0001) while CYP1A1 Val/Val homozygotes were observed only in the CML patients. There was statistically significant difference in the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes. The GSTT1-null genotype was slightly higher in 27 % of CML cases and 16.7 % of controls (OR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.12–3.5) (p < 0.020). The GSTM1 null was higher in 42.8 % of CML cases and 22.7 % of controls (OR 2.55, 95 % CI 1.54–4.22) (p < 0.00024). The individuals carrying CYP1A1 Ile/Val (AG) and GSTM1 null genotype have 9.9 times higher risk to be CML than those carrying CYP1A1 Ile/Ile (AA) and GSTM1 present genotype (OR 9.9, 95 % CI 2.7–36.3) (p < 0.0001). This suggests that the association of the GSTM1 null genotype, either alone or in combination with GSTT1 null, with CYP1AI heterozygous leads to the CML risk.     

Salvage Systemic Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma: On the Cusp of a Sea Change?

This commentary addresses salvage therapy of advanced urothelial carcinoma and the importance of prognostic classification. Patients should be referred to one of the important clinical trials of salvage therapy rather than treatment with marginally active chemotherapeutic agents.     

Total vs proximal gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma of the upper third of the stomach: a propensity-score-matched analysis of a multicenter western experience (On behalf of the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer–GIRCG)

Background

The aim of this study is to compare surgical outcomes including postoperative complications and prognosis between total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) for proximal gastric cancer (GC). Propensity-score-matching analysis was performed to overcome patient selection bias between the two surgical techniques.

Methods

Among 457 patients who were diagnosed with GC between January 1990 and December 2010 from four Italian institutions, 91 underwent PG and 366 underwent TG. Clinicopathologic features, postoperative complications, and survivals were reviewed and compared between these two groups retrospectively.

Results

After propensity-score matching had been done, 150 patients (75 TG patients, 75 PG patients) were included in the analysis. The PG group had smaller tumors, shorter resection margins, and smaller numbers of retrieved lymph nodes than the TG group. N stages and 5-year survival rates were similar after TG and PG. Postoperative complication rates after PG and TG were 25.3 and 28%, respectively, (P = 0.084). Rates of reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stricture were 12 and 6.6% after PG and 2.6 and 1.3% after TG, respectively (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002). 5-year overall survival for PG and TG group was 56.7 and 46.5%, respectively (P = 0.07). Survival rates according to the tumor stage were not different between the groups. Multivariate analysis showed that type of resection was not an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusion

Although PG for upper third GC showed good results in terms of survival, it is associated with an increased mortality rate and a higher risk of reflux esophagitis and anastomotic stricture.

     

Comparison of the Long-Term Risk of Recurrence and Other Clinical Outcomes in GIST Patients Receiving Imatinib as Adjuvant Therapy—A Retrospective Chart Extract-Based Approach

Purpose

To compare characteristics of patients, the risk of recurrence, and mortality among adult patients with primary resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) receiving short-term (6–12 months) versus long-term (≥?24 months) imatinib therapy.

Methods

Detailed information on primary resectable KIT-positive GIST patients initiated on imatinib adjuvant therapy was retrospectively collected for short- and long-term imatinib patients from 318 US oncologists using an online data collection form. Patient characteristics were compared using Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests. Disease recurrence and mortality rates were compared using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Among the 406 short-term and 406 long-term imatinib patients, the median follow-up was 916 and 970 days, respectively. While patients generally had similar demographic characteristics, the short-term group had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular and ischemic heart diseases and patients in the long-term group had a higher pre-surgery risk profile. This finding was consistent with the main reason reported by oncologists for prescribing adjuvant imatinib over longer duration, i.e., patient risk profile. Disease recurrence [5.9 versus 1.2 %, (p?<?.001)] and mortality rates [7.1 % versus 2.0 %, (p?<?.001)] were higher in short- versus long-term patients. The adjusted risk of recurrence was 5.30 times (p?<?.001) higher, and mortality risk was 4.02 times (p?<?.001) higher in short- versus long-term patients.

Conclusions

Patient risk profile is an important factor in oncologists’ decisions to prescribe adjuvant imatinib. Despite the higher risk profile observed in long-term patients, the long-term use of imatinib was associated with a reduction in long-term risk of disease recurrence and mortality.