Interleukins,laminin and epstein - barr virus latent membrane protein 1 (EBV LMP1) Promote metastatic phenotype in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background  

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of neoplasm that is highly prevalent in East Asia and Africa with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), genetic, and dietary factors implicated as possible aetiologic factors. Previous studies suggested the association of certain cytokines with the invasion and metastatic properties of NPC. The present study examined the roles of EBV latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and laminin in the regulation of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in NPC. The effects of these factors on bmi-1, an oncogene, and ngx6, a tumour suppressor gene, were also investigated.     

Limited Margins Using Modern Radiotherapy Techniques Does Not Increase Marginal Failure Rate of Glioblastoma

PURPOSE: We investigate the patterns of failure in the treatment of glioblastoma(GBM) based on clinical target volume(CTV) margin size,dose delivered to the site of initial failure,and the use of temozolomide and intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT).METHODS: Between August 2000 and May 2010,161 patients with GBM were treated with radiotherapy with or without concurrent temozolomide.Patients were treated with CTV expansions that ranged from 5 to 20 mm using a shrinking field technique.Patterns of failure and time to progression and overall survival were compared based on CTV margin,use of temozolomide,and use of IMRT.Kaplan Meier analysis was used to estimate survival times,and χ test was used for comparison of cohorts.RESULTS: For patients treated with 5-,10-,and 15-to 20-mm CTV,79%,77%,and 86% experienced failures in the 60 Gy volume,respectively.Forty-eight percent,55%,and 66% of patients with 5-,10-,and 15-to 20-mm CTV experienced failures in the 46 Gy volume,respectively.There was no statistical difference between patients treated with 5-,10-,15-to 20-mm margins with regard to 60 Gy failure(P=0.76),46 Gy failure(P=0.51),or marginal failure(P=0.73).Eighty percent of patients receiving temozolomide experienced failures in the 60 Gy volume.There was no increased likelihood of marginal failures in patients receiving IMRT(P =0.97).CONCLUSIONS: Modern treatment techniques including use of concurrent temozolmide,limited CTV margin size,and IMRT have not greatly changed the patterns of failure of GBM.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of intraoral minor salivary glands

We present a retrospective multicentric study of 67 patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas of the intraoral minor salivary glands, who were diagnosed and treated between 1986 and 2004 in the Operative Units of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Parma and of the Bellaria Hospital in Bologna. There were 28 males and 39 females with a mean age of 54.5 years (range 28-84 years). The palate was the most common site of involvement, with 71.6% of cases. All the patients were treated with surgery as the primary modality. Neck dissection was performed in 9% of the patients, and more than half (59.7%) were treated with adjuvant radiation therapy. All surviving patients had a minimum of 2 years follow-up, with a range of 2-20 years (median: 12 years). Of the 67 patients examined in this study, 19 were dead at the end of the follow-up, 16 of them due to tumor disease. Distant or loco-regional recurrence was documented in 29 of the 67 patients (43.3%). Disease-free intervals ranged from 1 month to 12 years. Twenty-two percent of patients had loco-regional failure, whereas 29.8% had distant metastases. The disease specific survival rates were 76.1% at 5 years and 74% at 10 and 15 years.The actuarial loco-regional control rates at 5-, 10- and 15-years were 79.7%, 74.8% and 70%, respectively. The actuarial freedom from distant relapse was 76.5% at 5 years, 64.9% at 10 years and 61.1% at 15 years. Stage T, cervical lymph node metastasis and surgical margin status proved to make a statistically significant contribution when describing the outcome.     

Molecular analysis of p53 tumor-suppressor gene and microsatellites in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the colon and esophagus.

Mutations in exons 4-8 of the p53 gene by the PCR-SSCP analysis in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the colon (n=11) and esophagus (n=18) were screened. p53 overexpression by immunohistochemistry in 11 colonic lesions and 13 microsatellites, in all the patients (n=29), were also studied. A positive result concordancy between the three techniques was found in 1 adenoma and 2 adenocarcinomas of the colon, each with loss of heterozygocity of microsatellites. Metaplastic lesions of esophagus showed biallelic mutations and low frequency of microsatellite alterations. The relationship between genetic alterations in p53, microsatellites and type of colon and esophageal lesions is discussed.