ERβ-specific agonists and genistein inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in the large and small intestine

Epidemiological data indicate that intake of estrogens and isoflavones may be beneficial for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). Based on this data, the aim of the study was to investigate estrogen receptor (ER) subtype-specific effects on intestinal homeostasis. Ovariectomized (OVX) female Wistar rats were either treated with 17β-estradiol (4 μg/kg body wt/day) (E2), an ERα-specific agonist (ALPHA) (10 μg/kg body wt/day), an ERβ-specific agonist (BETA) (100 μg/kg body wt/day) or genistein (GEN) (10 mg/kg body wt/day) for three weeks. Vehicle-treated OVX and SHAM animals and those cotreated with BETA and the pure antiestrogen Fulvestrant (ICI 182780) (100 μg/kg body wt/day and 3 mg/kg body wt/day) served as controls. GEN and BETA treatment but not E2 and ALPHA administration reduced proliferation in ileal and colonic mucosa cells. The rate of apoptosis in the small intestine and colon was increased by treatment with BETA and GEN, but not by E2. BETA induced antiproliferative and proapoptotic activity also in SHAM animals. The effects were antagonized by the pure antiestrogen Fulvestrant. Polymerase chain reaction gene array analysis revealed that BETA resulted in the downregulation of the oncogene transformation-related protein 63 (p63). Our data indicate that activation of the ERβ by specific ERβ agonists and GEN induces antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in the intestinal tract. This observation can be taken as an indication that intake of GEN and specific ERβ agonists may protect the ileal and colonic epithelium from tumor development via modulation of tissue homeostasis.     

CCR7 and CXCR4 Expression in Primary Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Nodal Metastases – a Clinical and Immunohistochemical Study

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common head and neck malignancies demonstrating lymph node LN involvement. Recently chemokine receptor overxpression has been reported in many cancers. Of particular interest, CCR7 appears to be a strong mediator of LN metastases, while CXCR4 may mediate distant metastases. Any relations between their expression in primary HNSCCs and metastatic lymph nodes need to be clarified. Aims: To investigate CCR7 andCXCR4 expression in primary HNSCCs of all tumor sizes, clinical stages and histological grades, as well as involved lymph nodes, then make comparisons, also with control normal oral epithelium. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of primary HNSCCs, 77 others of metastasi-positive lymph nodes, and 10 of control normal oral epithelial tissues. Sections were conventionally stained with H&E and immunohistochemically with monoclonal anti-CCR7 and monoclonal anti-CXCR4 antibodies. Positive cells were counted under microscopic assessment in four fields (X40) per case. Results: There was no variation among primary HNSCC tumors staining positive for CCR7 and CXCR4 with tumor size of for CCR7 with lymph node involvement. However, a difference was noted between primary HNSCC tumors stained by CXCR4 with a single as compared to more numerous node involvement. CXCR4 appear to vary with the clinical stagebut no links were noted with histological grades. Staining for primary HNSCC tumors and metastatic lymph nodes correlated.     

Physical and emotional well-being and support in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads

The purpose of this study was to examine the physical and emotional well-being and social support in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC) patients and caregivers and identify sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors associated with compromised well-being in patients and caregivers. Newly diagnosed HNC patients and their primary caregivers (N = 72 dyads) completed questionnaires before treatment assessing physical and mental well-being, depression, cancer worry, and open-ended support questions. Patients reported worse physical well-being than caregivers (p < 0.05) but similar levels of mental well-being. Caregivers reported providing emotional and instrumental support most frequently with an emphasis on nutrition and assistance with speech, appearance, and addictions. Both patients and their caregivers reported suboptimal mental well-being and depression. Smoking was associated with compromised well-being in patients, caregivers, and dyads. Compromised well-being in patients and their caregivers was more likely when patients were younger, had worse symptoms, and smoked/consumed alcohol (p < 0.05). While patients face more physical strain than caregivers, both equally confront emotional challenges. Results highlight risk factors for compromised well-being in both patients and their caregivers that should be assessed at diagnosis to guide identification of needed dyadic-focused supportive care resources.     

Iron intake and markers of iron status and risk of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Objective  

To investigate the association between iron intake and iron status with Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).     

Circulating leptin levels and risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma: a case–control study and meta-analysis

Purpose

Equivocal results regarding the role of leptin in colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma (CRA) have been reported. A case–control study investigating the association of leptin with CRC risk and clinicopathological characteristics along with meta-analysis of published data on both CRC and CRA were conducted.

Methods

Pubmed and Embase were searched for the meta-analysis, comprising 28 case–control studies amounting 3,614 CRC and 1,215 CRA cases, along with 5,220 controls. Meticulous contact with the authors of individual studies was undertaken for the provision of additional data. Pooling of standardized mean differences (SMD), relative risks (RR) and 95 % CI (random effects models), subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The meta-analysis suggested positive association of serum leptin with CRA (RR, 95 % CI 1.35, 1.03 to +1.76), but not CRC either at the pooled analysis on SMDs or RRs (SMD, 95 % CI 0.18, ?0.04 to +0.40; RR, 95 % CI 1.04, 0.65 to +1.65). Significant heterogeneity between studies on CRC as well as between studies on CRA providing SMD was noted. Subgroup, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses highlighted potential methodology-, design-, size- and quality-related effect modifiers.

Conclusions

Meta-analysis of current evidence suggests positive association of serum leptin with CRA but not with CRC risk. Given the case–control nature of available studies, the limited number of studies on serum leptin and CRA, and the heterogeneity of CRC studies, carefully designed, prospective studies preferably reporting RRs adjusted for a variety of confounders may be warranted.     

TGF-β signalling and its role in cancer progression and metastasis

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) system signals via protein kinase receptors and SMAD mediators to regulate a large number of biological processes. Alterations of the TGF-β signalling pathway are implicated in human cancer. Prior to tumour initiation and early during progression, TGF-β acts as a tumour suppressor; however, at later stages, it is often a tumour promoter. Knowledge about the mechanisms involved in TGF-β signal transduction has allowed a better understanding of cancer progression, invasion, metastasis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, several molecular targets with great potential in therapeutic interventions have been identified. This review discusses the TGF-β signalling pathway, its involvement in cancer and current therapeutic approaches.     

Abstracts and Travel Grants

Abstrats We look forward to receiving abstracts from all over the world on a wide range of cancer related topics All accepted     

Supraglottic and glottic carcinomas. clinically and biologically distinct entities?

This study aimed to examine the clinical and biological differences in 198 patients with either T1-T2 local glottic or supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas. The patients with supraglottic cancer had a poorer prognosis, as well as more advanced and histologically aggressive tumours than the patients with glottic tumours. They also had lower levels of haemoglobin and a poorer nutritional and performance status. Expression of alpha-catenin, hyaluronan, CD44, p53, p21/WAF1 and bcl-2 in the primary tumour were not associated with the site of the laryngeal carcinoma. In supraglottic tumours, the rate of spontaneous apoptosis and mitotic indices were significantly higher than in glottic tumours. The results suggest that clinical parameters including the haemoglobin level of the patient together with the tumour cell kinetics (mitotic and apoptotic rates) may contribute to the aggressive nature of supraglottic carcinoma.     

Endoscopic and Endosonographic Diagnostic

Endoscopy together with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are the most important diagnos-tics for esophageal cancer and staging of the primary.The results have important clinical consequencesconcerning type of resection or multimodal approach.Further refinements of endoscopy will increase itssignificance especially for early cancer.EUS has an accuracy of 80% for the primary compared to 60%for the N-staging.Therefore EUS represents the gold standard for T-staging but it is of little value fordetection of lymph node metastasis.     

MicroRNA and Brain Tumors

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)were first described in 1993 by Lee and col eagues,and the term microRNA was only introduced in 2001 in a set of three articles in Science[1].One of the biggest surprises in the past few years has been the emergence of miRNAs as a major new class of gene expression regulators.Recent studies suggest that miRNA alterations are involved in the initiation and progression of human cancer.The brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme,is the most malignant and deadly form of gliomas. The prognosis is poor and the median survival with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy is only 14.6 months.With the discovery of miRNA,the miRNA profiles may become useful biomarkers for brain tumor diagnostics, and miRNA therapy could be a powerful tool for brain tumor prevention and therapeutics.This review outlines the background of miRNA and its expression and therapeutic potential for brain tumors.     

Rab23 activities and human cancer—emerging connections and mechanisms

Unlike founding members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases that are prominently known for oncogenic signaling, members of the Rab subfamily are key regulators of cellular membrane traffic. However, a number of Rabs have in recent years also been strongly implicated as tumorigenic or metastatic biomarkers. Rab23 is an emerging example whose differential expression in tumor cells and functional association with proliferation and invasiveness is attracting attention as a useful cancer marker and a potential therapeutic target. Rab23 is ubiquitously expressed but appears to be particularly enriched in the adult brain. It has important developmental functions in vertebrates and has been shown to modulate Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Nodal signaling. Although its exact cellular role in membrane traffic regulation remains elusive, its known role in Shh signaling, in conjunction with several recent findings, has clearly implicated a role for Rab23 in transport processes to the primary cilium. In this review, we summarize what is currently known about Rab23 as a cancer marker and discuss possible mechanism by which this Rab GTPase may act as an oncogenic or metastatic driver, while exhibiting tumor suppressive activity in some cases.     

The role and status of fuzheng in cancer prevention and treatment

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of cancer has a long history, and is an important part of cancer prevention and control in China. Fuzheng, also cal ed reinforcing healthy qi and supplementing the root, is the most funda-mental principle of TCM in cancer prevention and control. In recent decades, this treatment has been thoroughly studied and widely applied, and played a crucial role in cancer prevention and treatment. With regard to the treatment of malignant tumors, Chinese medicine is mainly used in the fol owing areas:improving symptoms, enhancing the quality of life, reducing postop-erative recurrence and metastasis, increasing ef icacy and decreasing toxicity together with radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, and to some extent prolonging the survival of advanced tumors.