No abstract

A unique microRNA signature is associated with prognostic factors and disease progression in CLL. Mutations in microRNA transcripts are common and may have functional importance.

These results suggest that alteration in microRNA expression is related to endocrine and acinar neoplastic transformation and progression of malignancy, and might prove useful in distinguishing tumors with different clinical behavior.

The Testin (TES) gene was previously identified as a putative human tumor suppressor gene at 7q31.2, a region that is frequently deleted in hematopoietic malignancies, as well as in epithelial tumors. To determine whether TES acts as a tumor suppressor in vivo, we generated a Tes knockout mouse and then used it in an established model of carcinogen-induced gastric cancer. In mice a zinc-deficient (ZD) diet enhances cellular proliferation in the forestomach and susceptibility to N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced carcinogenesis. Five-week-old Tes wild-type (؉͞؉), heterozygous (؉͞؊), and homozygous (؊͞؊) mice were divided into four groups: mice fed a zinc-sufficient diet (ZS); mice fed a ZD diet; ZS fed plus NMBA-treated mice (ZS؉NMBA), and ZD fed plus NMBA-treated mice (ZD؉NMBA). After 4 weeks, the ZS؉NMBA and ZD؉NMBA groups were treated with three intragastric doses of NMBA. Animals were killed 8 weeks after NMBA administration: 25% of ؉͞؉ mice developed benign lesions; 88% of ؉͞؊ showed multiple papillomas, atypical glandular metaplasia, and squamous cell carcinomasl; and 81% of ؊͞؊ mice displayed very large papillomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas. A statistically significant difference in tumor incidence was found between ؉͞؊ versus ؉͞؉ and ؊͞؊ versus ؉͞؉ (P < 0.0001). These data suggest that Tes functions as a tumor suppressor gene in vivo.carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis ͉ gastric cancer ͉ TES ͉ gene targeting

Background and study aims  Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with biennial fecal occult blood test has been shown to reduce CRC mortality. For the effectiveness of the CRC screening program is crucial that a high-quality colonoscopy with a high adenoma detection rate (ADR) be performed. To improve ADR, various endoscopic devices have been developed. Endocuff, an endoscopic cap with finger-like projections, has been shown to improve ADR. The aim of this study was to compare in an organized CRC screening program ADR, advanced adenoma detection rate (AADR) and mean number of adenomas per patient (MAP) using standard colonoscopy (SC) and Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy (EAC). Patients and methods  We compared performance of SC (in 2014) and EAC (in 2015) in consecutive participants in an organized CRC screening program. Results  SC and EAC were performed in 546 (284 males) and 519 (293 males) subjects, respectively (mean age 60 years). Cecal intubation rate was 97.4 % for SC and 97.1 % for EAC and not significantly different ( P  = 0.7). ADR was 47 % for SC and 52 % for EAC, P  = 0.1. MAP in SC and EAC were 0.87 (range: 0 – 7) and 1.11 (range: 0 – 13) respectively, P  = 0.02. AADR rate was 25 % and 23 % for SC and EAC, respectively, P  = 0.5. Conclusion  Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy does not improve the number of patients with at least one adenoma but it may increase the number of detected adenomas per procedure.

CDX-2 is a homeobox gene product essential for intestinal development and differentiation. It can be used as a specific marker of colorectal adenocarcinomas and other tumors with intestinal differentiation, but little is known about its expression in endocrine and neuroendocrine (NE) cells and NE primary and metastatic tumors. Using the Cdx-2-88 monoclonal antibody, we evaluated CDX-2 expression in routine samples of 20 normal endocrine/NE tissues and of 299 samples of well-differentiated NE tumors (WDNET) and high-grade NE carcinomas (NEC) from different sites. For 17 cases, we examined primary and corresponding metastatic lesions. We also examined 8 cytologic samples of liver metastases derived from 4 ileal WDNETs, 1 lung WDNET, and 3 pancreatic endocrine tumors. CDX-2 mRNA expression with RT-PCR technique on frozen material was evaluated in 5 WDNETs. CDX-2 was expressed in normal NE cells of the intestine and gastric fundus. High CDX-2 expression was seen in all ileal and appendiceal WDNET, while low levels were seen in WDNETs from stomach, duodenum, and rectum; no reactivity was seen in other WDNETs. Low levels of CDX-2 expression were seen in one third of nonfunctioning pancreatic WDNET where it was more frequently observed in cases with metastatic disease (P = 0.002). CDX-2 was identified in all cytologic specimens of metastatic ileal WDNETs. CDX-2 mRNA analysis confirmed immunohistochemical results. CDX-2 was expressed at high levels in 81% of intestinal NEC. Unexpectedly, variable levels of expression of CDX-2 were seen also in 39% of NEC of other sites, without any relation with the site of origin. This reactivity frequently overlapped TTF-1 expression, suggesting deregulated expression of homeobox genes in NEC. The restricted pattern of CDX-2 expression may have diagnostic value in the identification of the primary site of a metastatic WDNET. Conversely, a limited diagnostic role is suggested for CDX-2 in NEC because of its frequent expression in nongastrointestinal tumors.

No abstract

No abstract