Amphiregulin and Epiregulin mRNA expression in primary colorectal cancer and corresponding liver metastases

Background

A single nucleotide polymorphism located in the 3'-untranslated region of the KRAS oncogene (KRAS variant; rs61764370) disrupts a let-7 miRNA binding and was recently reported to act as a genetic marker for increased risk of developing human cancers. We aimed to investigate an association of the KRAS variant with sporadic and familial breast cancer and breast tumor characteristics.

Methods

Genotyping was accomplished in 530 sporadic postmenopausal breast cancer cases, 165 familial breast cancer cases (including N = 29, who test positive for BRCA1/2 mutations) and 270 postmenopausal control women using the flurogenic 5' nuclease assay. Information on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and tumor characteristics in sporadic breast cancer cases was ascertained from a postal questionnaire and pathology reports, respectively. Associations between the KRAS genotype and breast cancer or breast tumor characteristics were assessed using chi-square test and logistic regression models.

Results

No evidence of association was observed between the KRAS variant and risk of sporadic and familial breast cancer - either among BRCA carriers or non-BRCA carriers. The KRAS variant was statistically significantly more often associated with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) - positive tumors and tumors of higher histopathologic grade. However, both associations were detected only in HRT users.

Conclusion

Our data do not support the hypothesis that the KRAS variant rs61764370 is implicated in the aetiology of sporadic or of familial breast cancer. In postmenopausal women using HRT, the KRAS variant might lead to HER2 overexpressed and poorly-differentiated breast tumors, both indicators of a worse prognosis.     

Collision Tumors of Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma

A 65-year-old woman with a history of treatment for splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A reddish elevated lesion was found in the fundus of the stomach. On image-enhanced endoscopy, several findings, such as glandular structures of varying sizes suggesting well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, pruned blood vessels, and dilated blood vessels in deeper mucosa suggesting MALT lymphoma, were observed. The final pathological diagnosis after surgical resection was collision tumors of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma. The features of both tumors could be observed simultaneously with image-enhanced endoscopy.     

The role of canonical WNT signaling pathway in oral carcinogenesis: a comprehensive review

Oral cancer is a common neoplasm worldwide. The incidence and mortality have also increased in recent decades. It is characterized by poor prognosis and a low survival rate despite sophisticated surgical and radiotherapeutic modalities. The WNTs comprise a large family of highly conserved growth factors associated with a number of functions. In this review, we focus largely on the canonical pathway, revealing the recent findings, in oral cancer research, thereby raising our understanding of the mechanisms of this crucial signaling in several cellular activities.     

A case of endocrine carcinoma of the cecum treated with CDDP/VP-16

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of multiple liver tumors. Colonoscopy showed a mass lesion in the cecum. He was given a diagnosis of endocrine cell carcinoma by immunostaining technique, and received chemotherapy of CAPOX regimen for 3 courses. After that, he underwent second-line chemotherapy of EP(CDDP/VP-16)regimen due to deterioration of his performance status(PS), and his tumor marker NSE. He then showed dramatically improved PS, and improvement in the size of liver mets and NSE(4. 3mg/mL).