Diagnostic Value and Prognostic Significance of Pleural C-Reactive Protein in Lung Cancer Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusions

Purpose

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been implicated in various inflammatory and advanced malignant states. Increased serum CRP (s-CRP) levels have been shown to be associated with independent prognostic factors for survival in patients with advanced lung cancer. However, only few studies have focused on the role of CRP in pleural effusions. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of pleural CRP (p-CRP) in lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE).

Materials and Methods

Pleural effusion (PE) samples were collected from patients with MPE (68 lung cancers; 12 extrathoracic tumors), and from 68 patients with various benign conditions (31 with pneumonia; 37 with tuberculosis). Concentrations of p- and s-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CRP level in pleural fluid and its association with survival were examined.

Results

p-CRP levels correlated with s-CRP levels (r=0.82, p<0.0001). For the differential diagnosis of MPE and benign PE, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was greater for p-CRP (0.86) than for s-CRP (0.77). High p-CRP expression significantly correlated with shorter overall survival (p=0.006). P-CRP was independent prognostic factor significantly associated with overall survival on multivariated analysis (p=0.0001). The relative risk of death for lung cancer patients with high p-CRP levels was 3.909 (95% confidence interval, 2.000-7.639).

Conclusion

P-CRP is superior to s-CRP in determining pleural fluid etiology. Quantitative measurement of p-CRP might be a useful complementary diagnostic and prognostic test for lung cancer patients with MPE.     

Polytomous diagnosis of ovarian tumors as benign,borderline, primary invasive or metastatic: development and validation of standard and kernel-based risk prediction models

Background  

Hitherto, risk prediction models for preoperative ultrasound-based diagnosis of ovarian tumors were dichotomous (benign versus malignant). We develop and validate polytomous models (models that predict more than two events) to diagnose ovarian tumors as benign, borderline, primary invasive or metastatic invasive. The main focus is on how different types of models perform and compare.     

Determining the date of diagnosis – is it a simple matter? The impact of different approaches to dating diagnosis on estimates of delayed care for ovarian cancer in UK primary care

Background  

Studies of cancer incidence and early management will increasingly draw on routine electronic patient records. However, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. We developed a generalisable strategy for investigating presenting symptoms and delays in diagnosis using ovarian cancer as an example.     

Haplotype analysis suggest common founders in carriers of the recurrent BRCA2 mutation, 3398delAAAAG, in French Canadian hereditary breast and/ovarian cancer families

Background  

The 3398delAAAAG mutation in BRCA2 was recently found to recur in breast and/or ovarian cancer families from the French Canadian population of Quebec, a population that has genetic attributes consistent with a founder effect. To characterize the contribution of this mutation in this population, this study established the frequency of this mutation in breast and ovarian cancer cases unselected for family history of cancer, and determined if mutation carriers shared a common ancestry.     

NCX-4040, a nitric oxide-releasing aspirin,sensitizes drug-resistant human ovarian xenograft tumors to cisplatin by depletion of cellular thiols

Background  

Ovarian carcinoma is the leading cause of mortality among gynecological cancers in the world. The high mortality rate is associated with lack of early diagnosis and development of drug resistance. The antitumor efficacy and mechanism of NCX-4040, a nitric oxide-releasing aspirin derivative, against ovarian cancer is studied.     

The occurrence of germline <Emphasis Type="Italic">BRCA1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">BRCA2</Emphasis>sequence alterations in Slovenian population

Background  

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation spectrum and mutation detection rates according to different family histories were investigated in 521 subjects from 322 unrelated Slovenian cancer families with breast and/or ovarian cancer.     

New Strategy for Overcoming Resistance to Chemotherapy of Ovarian Cancer

Background

Ovarian cancer is one of the most sensitive solid tumors, with objective responses ranging from 60 to 80% even in patients with advanced stage. However, most patients ultimately recur and develop resistance to chemotherapy. As a result, the survival rate for patients with ovarian cancer has not improved over the past 20 years. Resistance to chemotherapy presents a major obstacle to attempt to improve the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. A new strategy is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods

The mechanism of chemoresistance was reviewed to get over the resistance. Additionally, the biological characteristics of ovarian cancer and molecular-targeted agents including signal-transduction inhibitors and anti-angiogenesis were discussed.

Results

Genetic diagnosis for chemosensitivity with drug-resistance genes may be a useful predictor. Unfortunately, molecular-targeted therapy alone has been insufficient to improve the prognosis for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Molecular molecular-targeted therapy should be carried out together with conventional cytotoxic agents. On the occasion of the use of the molecular targeted-agents, care of the appearance of the unexpected adverse effect should be important.

Conclusion

The future research in this field will enable to develop an effective strategy for conquest of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.     

Interactions of ficolin-3 with ovarian cancer cells

Background

Ficolin-3 is a pattern-recognition molecule with the ability to activate the lectin pathway of complement. It is found in lung, liver and blood, but its physiological role is unclear. We have investigated interaction of recombinant ficolin-3 with malignant cells and tissues.

A PARK2 polymorphism associated with delayed neuropsychological sequelae after carbon monoxide poisoning

Background

The PALB2 c.2323C>T [p.Q775X] mutation has been reported in at least three breast cancer families and breast cancer cases of French Canadian descent and this has been attributed to common ancestors. The number of mutation-positive cases reported varied based on criteria of ascertainment of index cases tested. Although inherited PALB2 mutations are associated with increased risks of developing breast cancer, risk to ovarian cancer has not been fully explored in this demographically unique population.

Methods

We screened the PALB2 p.Q775X variant in 71 families with at least three cases of breast cancer (n=48) or breast and ovarian cancers (n=23) that have previously been found negative for at least the most common BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations reported in the French Canadian population and in 491 women of French Canadian descent who had invasive ovarian cancer and/or low malignant potential tumors of the major histopathological subtypes.

Results

We identified a PALB2 p.Q775X carrier in a breast cancer family, who had invasive ductal breast carcinomas at 39 and 42 years of age. We also identified a PALB2 p.Q775X carrier who had papillary serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma at age 58 among the 238 serous subtype ovarian cancer cases investigated, who also had breast cancer at age 52.

Conclusion

Our findings, taken together with previous reports, support adding PALB2 c.2323C>T p.Q775X to the list of cancer susceptibility genes for which founder mutations have been identified in the French Canadian population.     

rIFN-γ-mediated growth suppression of platinum-sensitive and -resistant ovarian tumor cell lines not dependent upon arginase inhibition

Background  

Arginine metabolism in tumor cell lines can be influenced by various cytokines, including recombinant human interferon-γ (rIFN-γ), a cytokine that shows promising clinical activity in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).     

Monocyte/macrophage and T-cell infiltrates in peritoneum of patients with ovarian cancer or benign pelvic disease

Background  

We previously showed that tumor-free peritoneum of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) exhibited enhanced expression of several inflammatory response genes compared to peritoneum of benign disease. Here, we examined peritoneal inflammatory cell patterns to determine their concordance with selected enhanced genes.     

Disaggregation and invasion of ovarian carcinoma ascites spheroids

Background  

Malignant ascites often develops in advanced stages of ovarian carcinoma, consisting of single and aggregated tumor cells, or spheroids. Spheroids have commonly been used as tumor models to study drug efficacy, and have shown resistance to some chemotherapies and radiation. However, little is known about the adhesive or invasive capabilities of spheroids, and whether this particular cellular component of the ascites can contribute to dissemination of ovarian cancer. Here, we examined the invasive ability of ascites spheroids recovered from seven ovarian carcinoma patients and one primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) patient.     

Loss of BMP-10 is correlated with poor survival in ovarian cancer

Introduction

The expression of bone morphogenetic protein-10 (BMP-10) is downregulated in some cancer types, but its function and mechanism in ovarian cancer remains unclear.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a mature cystic ovarian teratoma with bladder invasion: a case report

Background

Malignant transformation in a mature cystic ovarian teratoma is rare. Except in cases with high index of suspicion or overt metastasis, oophorectomy is the mainstay of treatment for ovarian teratoma.

Method

A 46-year-old perimenopausal woman who had salpingo-oophorectomy following a clinical diagnosis of benign ovarian tumour that was subsequently reported histologically as mature cystic ovarian teratoma with malignant transformation is presented.

Results

She was referred to our facility based on the histopathology report and haematuria two weeks after surgery. Cystoscopic biopsy done was reported as metastatic squamous cell carcinoma most probably from the ovary. Patient was thereafter referred for radiotherapy but was lost to follow-up after the first course.

Conclusion

Adequate evaluation prior to surgery in suspected ovarian teratoma with malignant transformation is critical to determine extent of surgery and adjuvant therapy. Prognosis in advanced disease condition such as the case presented is generally poor although radical pelvic surgery with resection of the adjacent involved bladder before radiotherapy would probably have improved her prognosis.     

LncRNA MEG3 impacts proliferation,invasion, and migration of ovarian cancer cells through regulating <Emphasis Type="Italic">PTEN</Emphasis>

Objective and design

We investigated the expressions of lncRNA MEG3 and PTEN in ovarian cancer tissues and their effects on cell proliferation, cycle and apoptosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods

Expression levels of MEG3 in ovarian cancer cell lines and normal ovarian cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were measured by flow cytometry. Cell invasion capability was tested by transwell assay. Cell migration capacity was tested by wound healing. The xenograft model was constructed to explore the effect of lncRNA MEG3 on ovarian cancer in vivo.

Result

Compared with normal ovarian cells, expression levels of MEG3 and PTEN were relatively lower in ovarian cancer cells. There was a positive correlation between the expression of PTEN and the expression of MEG3. Enhanced expression level of PTEN suppressed SKOV3 cell proliferation, increased cell apoptosis rate, and decreased cell invasion and migration.

Conclusion

LncRNA MEG3 and PTEN were down-regulated in ovarian cancer cells. LncRNA MEG3 regulated the downstream gene PTEN in ovarian cancer cells to prohibit cell proliferation, promote apoptosis and block cell cycle progression.

     

Anticancer activity of extracts derived from the mature roots of Scutellaria baicalensis on human malignant brain tumor cells

Background  

Flavonoid-rich extracts from the mature roots of Scutellaria baicalensis have been shown to exhibit antiproliferative effects on various cancer cell lines. We assessed the ability of an ethanolic extract of S. baicalensis root to inhibit the proliferation of malignant glioma cells.     

Years of life lost due to malignant neoplasms characterized by the highest mortality rate

Introduction

The analysis of premature deaths measured with years of life lost between the studied and referential populations helps to emphasize the social and economic aspect of a loss caused by deaths due to malignant neoplasms. The aim of the study was to analyze years of life lost by inhabitants of the Lodz province due to malignant neoplasms.

Material and methods

The study material included a database which contained information gathered from 313,144 death certificates (including 66,899 people who died of malignant neoplasms) of inhabitants of the Lodz province who died between 1999 and 2008. The SEYLLp (Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per living person) method was used to determine years of life lost. Jointpoint models were used to analyze time trends.

Results

In males the diseases which mostly contributed to death were tracheal, bronchial and lung malignant neoplasms (SEYLLp = 170.7) and cancer of the large intestine, rectum and anus (SEYLLp = 47.5). In females the principal diseases were tracheal, bronchial and lung malignant neoplasms (SEYLLp = 61.6), breast cancer (SEYLLp = 60.4) and cancer of the large intestine, rectum and anus (SEYLLp = 42.3). The years of life lost were growing in the period under study.

Conclusions

The number of years lost due to malignant neoplasms in the Lodz province between 1999 and 2008 was growing. The main reasons for deaths in females were tracheal, bronchial and lung malignant neoplasms as well as breast cancer and in males – cancer of the large intestine, rectum and anus as well as prostate cancer.     

Cancer risks in first degree relatives of BRCA1 mutation carriers: effects of mutation and proband disease status

Background

Mutations in the BRCA1 (MIM 113705) gene are found in many families with multiple cases of breast and ovarian cancer, and women with a BRCA1 mutation are at significantly higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer than are the general public.

Methods

We obtained blood samples and pedigree information from 3568 unselected cases of early‐onset breast cancer and 609 unselected patients with ovarian cancer from hospitals throughout Poland. Genetic testing was performed for three founder BRCA1 mutations. We also calculated the risk of breast and ovarian cancer to age 75 in the first degree relatives of carriers using Kaplan‐Meier methods.

Results

The three founder BRCA1 mutations were identified in 273 samples (187 with 5382insC, 22 with 4153delA, and 64 with C61G). A mutation was present in 4.3% of patients with breast cancer and 12.3% of patients with ovarian cancer. The overall risk of breast cancer to age 75 in relatives was 33% and the risk of ovarian cancer was 15%. The risk for breast cancer was 42% higher among first degree relatives of carriers of the C61G missense mutation compared to other mutations (HR = 1.42; p = 0.10) and the risk for ovarian cancer was lower than average (OR = 0.26; p = 0.03). Relatives of women diagnosed with breast cancer had a higher risk of breast cancer than relatives of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (OR = 1.7; p = 0.03).

Conclusions

The risk of breast cancer in female relatives of women with a BRCA1 mutation depends on whether the proband was diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer.