Background: Natural-killer group 2 (NKG2), a characteristic receptor of natural killer (NK) cell family, assumes a vital role in modulating NK cytotoxic function. We aimed to detect mRNA expression of both NKG2A and NKG2D in serum NK cells obtained from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: We enrolled 36 patients with newly diagnosed CRC, as well as 15 group matched healthy individuals. The patients were further classified into: 23 non-metastatic CRC (group 1) and 13 metastatic CRC (group 2). We detected the expression of NKG2A and NKG2D serum levels for all participants utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: NKG2D and NKG2A mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were significantly elevated in patients with CRC compared to controls (P<0.01). NKG2D or NKG2A showed sensitivity (77.8, 83.33%) and specificity (73.33, 100%) respectively using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for discrimination between patients and controls, whereas group 1 and group 2 showed no statistical significant difference in NKG2D and NKG2A levels (P>0.05). Conclusions: Our work is one of the first research that could detect an increase in NKG2D in CRC. In spite of their defensive role in tumor immune surveillance, NKG2D and NKG2A and their ligands could have misused as tumor survival tool, empowering immune avoidance and suppression.
The combined immunohistochemical evaluation of EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) and ERRα (estrogen-related receptor α), in relation to clinicopathological prognostic factors and patients' outcome, has not been performed yet in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In order to achieve this aim, 120 samples were extracted; 60 cases of CRC; and 60 samples from normal colonic tissue. Our study showed that 63.3% and 38.3% of CRC cases reveal high EZH2 and high ERRα nuclear expression, respectively. 6.6% and 8.3% of normal colonic mucosa samples express low EZH2 and low ERRα nuclear expression, respectively. High EZH2 and high ERRα expression correlate with late tumor stages (p = 0.001 each), high grade (p = 0.001, p = 0.009 respectively), positive lymph node involvement (p = 0.001, p = 0.002 respectively) and larger tumor size (p = 0.001 each). There is a moderate highly statistically significant agreement (κ = 0.467, p = 0.001) between EZH2 and ERRα immunohistochemical expression. By Kaplan Meier analysis, high EZH2 and high ERRα show statistically significant shorter overall survival, and progression free survival than cases with low EZH2 and low ERRα immunohistochemical expression, respectively. Thus, EZH2 and ERRα might serve as potential promising prognostic markers in CRC.
Introduction: Gastric carcinoma represents the third leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. Most of cases are diagnosed at the time of tumor metastasis. There is a discrepancy in the results regarding the role of Ki-67 proliferation index as a prognostic factor in gastric carcinoma. Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of Ki-67 proliferation index and correlate Ki-67 expression with the overall survival (OS) in patients with gastric carcinoma. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included fifty cases collected randomly from archival paraffin blocks of gastric carcinoma. Cases were collected during the period from 2013 to 2018. Sections were prepared and the slides were immunohistochemically stained with Ki-67 antibody. Results: This study showed a statistically significant correlation between higher percentage of Ki-67 expression and cases with tumors located in the fundus and body of the stomach and with distant metastasis. Also a statistically significant correlation between higher mean of Ki-67 positive cell % and cases of adenocarcinoma with pT1 tumors and with loco-regional recurrence (P < 0.001, P=0.02). A higher percentage of Ki-67 expression was found in cases of adenocarcinoma grade III and cases with positive perineural invasion compared to other cases, yet the correlation was statistically insignificant. According to survival analysis, OS rate was 34.0% and the median OS time was 14.6 months. There was no statistically significant association between Ki-67 proliferation index and disease free survival (DFS) and OS. Conclusion: Ki-67 proliferation index can be used as a predictor for distant metastasis and loco-regional recurrence of gastric cancer.
Background: Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults and comprise a wide array of varying biological aggressiveness. Though the data regarding the epidemiology of gliomas is presented in the literature, but they could vary according to other factors and consequently affecting the outcome.
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