miRNA-145、Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b在喉鳞状细胞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨miRNA-145、Ki-67、生存素(survivin)、Aurora-b在喉鳞状细胞癌(LSCC)中的表达及临床意义.方法 采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-PCR)检测85例LSCC组织及85例癌旁正常组织中miRNA-145的表达量,采用免疫组化法检测LSCC组织中Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b的表达水平,分析miRNA-145、Ki-67、survivin、Au-rora-b表达情况与LSCC患者临床特征的关系及四者的相关性.结果 LSCC组织中miRNA-145的表达量明显低于癌旁正常组织(P﹤0.01).LSCC组织中Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b的阳性表达率明显高于癌旁正常组织,miRNA-145的阳性表达率明显低于癌旁正常组织,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).miRNA-145、Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b的阳性表达率与LSCC患者的TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况有关(P﹤0.01),而与患者的年龄、性别、肿瘤直径及分化程度无关(P﹥0.05).LSCC组织中miRNA-145与Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b的表达均呈负相关(P﹤0.01),Ki-67、survivin及Aurora-b的表达两两之间呈正相关(P﹤0.01).结论 miRNA-145在LSCC组织中低表达,Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b在LSCC组织中高表达,miRNA-145、Ki-67、survivin、Aurora-b的阳性表达率与LSCC患者的TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况密切相关,四者联合检测可能成为LSCC诊断的有效指标.     

claudin1和E-cadherin蛋白在大肠癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨密封蛋白1(claudin 1)和上皮钙黏素(E-cadherin)在大肠癌组织中的表达情况及其与大肠癌患者临床特征的关系。方法收集80例大肠癌患者的大肠癌组织标本和癌旁组织标本,采用免疫组织化学染色法检测大肠癌组织和癌旁组织中claudin 1 和E-cadherin 蛋白的表达情况,分析大肠癌组织中claudin 1 和E-cadherin蛋白表达与大肠癌患者临床特征的关系。结果大肠癌组织中claudin 1蛋白的阳性表达率为65.0%(52/80),明显高于癌旁组织的27.5%(22/80),差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01);大肠癌组织中E-cadherin 蛋白的阳性表达率为42.5%(34/80),明显低于癌旁组织的75.0%(60/80),差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。TNM分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、低分化、有淋巴结转移、侵及浆膜的大肠癌患者大肠癌组织中claudin 1 蛋白的阳性表达率均高于TNM分期为Ⅰ~Ⅱ期、中高分化、无淋巴结转移、未侵及浆膜的患者,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。有淋巴结转移、侵及浆膜的大肠癌患者大肠癌组织中E-cadherin 蛋白的阳性表达率均明显低于无淋巴结转移、未侵及浆膜的患者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。结论 claudin 1蛋白在大肠癌组织中高表达,E-cadherin蛋白在大肠癌组织中低表达,并且与大肠癌的发生发展关系密切。     

survivin与c-MYC在胃癌组织中的表达及意义

目的 探讨胃癌组织中survivin和c-MYC的表达及意义.方法 采用免疫组化法检测24例胃癌组织及其癌旁正常组织中survivin和c-MYC的阳性表达情况,分析其与临床特征的关系.结果 胃癌组织中survivin和c-MYC的阳性表达率明显高于癌旁正常组织(P﹤0.01).低分化癌组织中survivin的阳性表达明显高于高、中分化癌(P﹤0.01),Ⅲ～Ⅳ期癌组织中survivin的阳性表达高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期(P﹤0.05),有淋巴结转移的癌组织中sur-vivin的阳性表达高于无淋巴结转移者(P﹤0.05).低分化癌组织中c-MYC的阳性表达明显高于高、中分化癌,Ⅲ～Ⅳ期癌组织中c-MYC的阳性表达明显高于Ⅰ～Ⅱ期,有淋巴结转移的癌组织中c-MYC的阳性表达明显高于无淋巴结转移者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).胃癌组织中survivin与c-MYC、分化程度、TNM分期呈正相关(r=0.856、0.973、0.630,P﹤0.01),与淋巴结转移亦呈正相关(r=0.472,P﹤0.05);胃癌组织中c-MYC与分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移呈正相关(r=0.714、0.734、0.590,P﹤0.01).结论 在胃癌组织中survivin和c-MYC表达较高,对胃癌的发生、发展起到促进作用,可成为胃癌诊断的判断指标.     

表皮生长因子受体、自噬相关蛋白5、p62蛋白在甲状腺乳头状癌合并颈部淋巴结转移中的表达及临床意义

目的分析表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)、自噬相关蛋白5(ATG5)、p62在甲状腺乳头状癌(PTC)合并颈部淋巴结转移患者中的表达及意义。方法取80例PTC患者的PTC组织及相应的癌旁正常组织,同时取其中合并颈部淋巴结转移的45例患者的转移淋巴结组织标本。免疫组化法检测PTC组织、转移淋巴结组织和癌旁正常组织中EGFR、ATG5、p62蛋白的表达情况,及其与PTC患者临床特征及生存情况的关系。结果PTC组织和转移淋巴结组织中EGFR、p62蛋白的阳性表达率均高于癌旁正常组织,ATG5蛋白的阳性表达率低于癌旁正常组织,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。不同TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况PTC患者PTC组织中ATG5蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05);不同分化程度、TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况PTC患者PTC组织中p62蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。Spearman相关分析结果显示,PTC组织和转移淋巴结组织中,ATG5的表达与p62呈负相关(P﹤0.01)。对80例PTC患者进行为期3年的随访,病死22例,3年生存率为72.50%(58/80)。p62阳性表达PTC患者的3年生存率为65.52%,低于阴性表达患者的90.91%,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。Cox风险比例回归模型结果显示,TNM分期、淋巴结转移、EGFR阳性表达、p62阳性表达为PTC患者预后的独立危险因素(P﹤0.05),ATG5阳性表达为PTC患者预后的独立保护因素(P﹤0.05)。结论PTC组织及淋巴结转移组织中EGFR、p62的阳性表达率较高,ATG5的阳性表达率较低,此外,ATG5及p62与PTC生物学行为有关,可能成为PTC诊断的潜在指标。     

结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白和微小RNA-132的表达情况及与患者临床特征的关系

目的探讨结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白和微小RNA-132(miRNA-132)的表达情况及与患者临床特征的关系。方法选择80例结肠癌患者的结肠癌组织标本及其癌旁组织标本,分别采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应和免疫组织化学染色方法检测两种组织中miRNA-132和Musashi 1蛋白的表达情况,并分析结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白和miRNA-132表达情况与患者临床特征的关系。结果结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白的阳性表达率为68.75%,明显高于癌旁组织的28.75%,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。结肠癌组织中miRNA-132的相对表达量为(0.448±0.104),明显低于癌旁组织的(2.167±0.551),差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。TNM分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移、侵及浆膜的结肠癌患者结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白的阳性表达率分别高于TNM分期为Ⅰ~Ⅱ期、无淋巴结转移、未侵及浆膜的结肠癌患者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05)。TNM分期为Ⅰ~Ⅱ期、高+中分化的结肠癌患者结肠癌组织中miRNA-132的相对表达量分别明显高于TNM分期为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、低分化的结肠癌患者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。结论结肠癌组织中Musashi 1蛋白表达上调,miRNA-132表达下调,且其表达情况与结肠癌的恶性程度有关。     

p-MTOR在结肠癌中的表达及与患者病理学特征的关系

目的 探讨结肠癌组织中磷酸化雷帕霉素靶蛋白(p-MTOR)表达的变化及其对患者预后的影响.方法 选取结肠癌组织标本110例及其对应的癌旁组织110例,采用免疫组化染色法检测两组标本中的p-MTOR蛋白表达水平,分析p-MTOR蛋白表达与患者临床病理特征及远期预后的关系.结果 结肠癌组织中p-MTOR蛋白阳性表达率为54.55%,明显高于癌旁组织的10.00%,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01);不同TNM分期、浸润深度及是否有淋巴结转移患者结肠癌组织中p-MTOR蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异有统计学意义(P﹤0.01);结肠癌组织中p-MTOR蛋白阳性表达患者的3年生存率(28.33%)明显低于p-MTOR蛋白阴性表达患者(55.00%),差异有统计学意义(χ2=8.364,P=0.004);TNM分期增高、发生淋巴结转移、浸润肌层、p-MTOR蛋白阳性表达是结肠癌患者不良预后的独立危险因素(P﹤0.05).结论 结肠癌组织中p-MTOR蛋白的表达水平上调,并且与患者的TNM分期、淋巴结转移及浸润深度有关,是患者不良预后的独立危险因素.     

成纤维细胞生长因子受体1和血管内皮生长因子在肺鳞癌中的表达及与预后的关系

目的 观察成纤维细胞生长因子受体1(FGFR1)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在肺鳞癌中的表达,并分析其与预后的相关性.方法 收集肺鳞癌组织标本135例和癌旁组织标本125例.采用免疫组织化学染色法检测不同肺组织中FGFR1和VEGF的表达水平,分析两者表达与临床病理参数的关系.肺鳞癌患者预后的影响因素采用Cox多因素分析.结果 肺鳞癌组织标本中FGFR1和VEGF的阳性表达率和表达水平均高于癌旁组织(P﹤0.05);在肺鳞癌组织中,FGFR1阳性表达与肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移、远处器官转移及TNM分期有关(P﹤0.05),VEGF阳性表达与肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移及TNM分期有关(P﹤0.05);Cox多因素分析结果显示,肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移、TNM分期、FGFR1及VEGF均为肺鳞癌预后的独立因素(P﹤0.05).结论 肺鳞癌患者的FGFR1和VEGF表达水平升高,并在肿瘤分化、淋巴结转移、TNM分期及预后中发挥重要作用.     

肝激酶B1在小细胞肺癌中的表达及与患者临床特征的关系

目的 探讨肝激酶B1(LKB1)在小细胞肺癌（SCLC）中的表达及与患者临床特征的关系。方法 选取45例SCLC患者,取其SCLC组织及相应癌旁组织,采用免疫组化法检测LKB1蛋白的表达情况。比较不同临床特征SCLC患者SCLC组织中LKB1蛋白的表达情况。结果 SCLC组织中LKB1蛋白的阳性表达率为71.1%,明显低于癌旁组织的95.6%,差异有统计学意义（P﹤0.01）。不同性别、吸烟史SCLC患者SCLC组织中LKB1蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均无统计学意义（P﹥0.05）;有淋巴结转移、TNM分期为Ⅲ～Ⅳ期SCLC患者SCLC组织中LKB1蛋白阳性表达率分别低于无淋巴结转移、TNM分期为Ⅰ～Ⅱ期的患者,差异均有统计学意义（P﹤0.05）。结论 LKB1蛋白在SCLC中低表达,其表达与淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关,有望作为SCLC患者潜在的治疗靶点和预后评估指标。     

细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶12、聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶1在胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的 探究细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶12(CDK12)、聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶1(PARP1)在胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义.方法 收集76例胃癌患者的胃癌组织标本及相应癌旁正常胃黏膜组织标本(距离肿瘤组织﹥5 cm).采用免疫组化法检测CDK12蛋白、PARP1蛋白在胃癌组织及癌旁正常胃黏膜组织中的表达.利用Ualcan和GEPIA数据库对胃癌组织及癌旁正常胃黏膜组织中CDK12、PARP1 mRNA表达差异进行比较,并分析胃癌组织中CDK12、PARP1 mRNA表达相关性;采用Cox回归分析对胃癌患者预后影响因素进行分析.结果 Ualcan和GEPIA数据库显示,胃癌组织中CDK12、PARP1 mRNA表达水平均明显高于癌旁正常胃黏膜组织(P﹤0.05).CDK12 mRNA和PARP1 mRNA表达呈正相关(P﹤0.05).胃癌组织中CDK12、PARP1阳性表达率均明显高于癌旁正常胃黏膜组织,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).不同TNM分期、分化程度、淋巴结转移情况的胃癌患者的胃癌组织中CDK12和PARP1蛋白表达情况比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05).CDK12、PARP1蛋白阳性表达组胃癌患者5年生存率均明显低于阴性表达组,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).CDK12蛋白阳性表达、PARP1蛋白阳性表达、TNM分期Ⅲ～Ⅳ期、分化程度低、淋巴结转移是影响胃癌患者预后的独立危险因素(P﹤0.01).结论 胃癌组织中CDK12、PARP1蛋白呈高表达,二者表达水平与TNM分期、分化程度、淋巴结转移有关,可能作为提示胃癌患者预后不良的潜在生物标志物.     

Yes相关蛋白1在胃癌组织中的表达及与患者临床特征和预后的关系

目的 探讨Yes相关蛋白1(YAP1)在胃癌组织中的表达及与患者临床特征和预后的关系.方法 选取104例胃癌患者,均接受手术治疗,取胃癌组织和相应的癌旁组织,采用免疫组化法检测YAP1的表达情况,分析YAP1的表达与患者临床特征及预后的关系.YAP1与胃癌患者临床特征的相关性采用Spearman相关分析.结果 胃癌组织中YAP1蛋白的阳性表达率为68.27%,明显高于癌旁组织的13.46%(P﹤0.01).不同浸润深度、分化程度、TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况胃癌患者胃癌组织中YAP1蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,浸润深度为T3～4、分化程度为低分化和未分化、有淋巴结转移、TNM分期为Ⅲ～Ⅳ期均是胃癌患者胃癌组织中YAP1蛋白表达的独立危险因素(P﹤0.05).Spearman相关分析结果显示,YAP1阳性表达与胃癌患者浸润深度、分化程度、淋巴结转移、TNM分期均呈正相关(P﹤0.05).随访6个月,104例胃癌患者病死9例,病死率为8.65%,其中YAP1阳性表达患者的病死率为9.86%,与YAP1阴性表达患者的6.06%比较,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05).结论 胃癌组织中YAP1的阳性表达率高于癌旁组织,且其表达与胃癌患者TNM分期、分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移有关,可能成为临床治疗胃癌的新靶点.     

49. Biological dose assessment by the analyses of chromosomal aberrations and CB micronuclei in two victims accidentally exposed to 60Co gamma-rays

Biological doses were estimated by using the yields of dicentrics plus rings(dic+r) and cytokinesis-block micronuclei (CBMN) for two victims of the 60Co radiation source accident occurred on Mar 6,2001 in the City of Xuchang(victim A), and Jun 26,2001 in the City of Kaifeng(victim B), Henan Province, respectively. The whole blood of the victim A (male, 37 years old) and the victim B (female, 27 years old)     

Physical activity and head and neck cancer risk

Objective  To investigate the relation of physical activity to head and neck cancer. Methods  We prospectively examined the association between physical activity and head and neck cancer in 487,732 men and women, who, at baseline in 1995–1996, were 50–71 years old and free of cancer and emphysema. Follow-up occurred through 31 December 2003. Results  During follow-up, 1,249 participants developed head and neck cancer, of which 42.0%, 18.9%, and 32.5% were located in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, respectively. In analyses adjusted for age and gender, the relative risks (RR) of head and neck cancer for increasing frequency of physical activity (0, < 1, 1–2, 3–4, and ≥5 times per week) were 1.0 (reference), 0.76, 0.66, 0.57, and 0.62 (95% CI = 0.52–0.74), respectively (p for trend < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment including smoking, the relation was attenuated and became statistically non-significant (RR comparing extreme physical activity categories = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.74–1.06; p for trend = 0.272). In analyses of head and neck cancer subtypes, the corresponding RRs for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx were 0.98 (95% CI = 0.75–1.29), 0.70 (95% CI = 0.45–1.08), and 0.82 (95% CI = 0.59–1.13), respectively. Conclusions  Our findings suggest that physical activity is unlikely to play an important role in the prevention of head and neck cancer.     

XRCC1 and XRCC3 variants and risk of glioma and meningioma

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting DNA repair capacity and modifying cancer susceptibility have been described. We evaluated the association of SNPs Arg194Trp, Arg280His, and Arg399Gln in the X-ray cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and Thr241Met in the X-ray cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) DNA repair genes with the risk of brain tumors. The Caucasian study population consisted of 701 glioma (including 320 glioblastoma) cases, 524 meningioma cases, and 1,560 controls in a prospective population-based case–control study conducted in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the UK. The studied SNPs were not significantly associated with the risk of brain tumors. The highest odds ratios (ORs) for the associations were observed between the homozygous variant genotype XRCC1 Gln399Gln and the risk of glioma (OR = 1.32; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.97–1.81), glioblastoma (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 0.98–2.24), and meningioma (OR = 1.34; 95% CI, 0.96–1.86). However, in pair-wise comparisons a few SNP combinations were associated with the risk of brain tumors: Among others, carriers of both homozygous variant genotypes, i.e., XRCC1 Gln399Gln and XRCC3 Met241Met, were associated with a three-fold increased risk of glioma (OR = 3.18; 95% CI, 1.26–8.04) and meningioma (OR = 2.99; 95% CI, 1.16–7.72). In conclusion, no significant association with brain tumors was found for any of the polymorphisms, when examined one by one. Our results indicated possible associations between combinations of XRCC1 and XRCC3 SNPs and the risk of brain tumors.     

HIV and HPV infections and ocular surface squamous neoplasia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

The frequency of ocular surface squamous neoplasias (OSSNs) has been increasing in populations with a high prevalence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). We aimed to quantify the association between HIV/AIDS and HPV infection and OSSN, through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

The articles providing data on the association between HIV/AIDS and/or HPV infection and OSSN were identified in MEDLINE, SCOPUS and EMBASE searched up to May 2013, and through backward citation tracking. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute summary relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Heterogeneity was quantified with the I² statistic.

Results:

HIV/AIDS was strongly associated with an increased risk of OSSN (summary RR=8.06, 95% CI: 5.29–12.30, I²=56.0%, 12 studies). The summary RR estimate for the infection with mucosal HPV subtypes was 3.13 (95% CI: 1.72–5.71, I²=45.6%, 16 studies). Four studies addressed the association between both cutaneous and mucosal HPV subtypes and OSSN; the summary RR estimates were 3.52 (95% CI: 1.23–10.08, I²=21.8%) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.57–2.05, I²=0.0%), respectively.

Conclusion:

Human immunodeficiency virus infection increases the risk of OSSN by nearly eight-fold. Regarding HPV infection, only the cutaneous subtypes seem to be a risk factor.     

Breast and cervical cancer screening and disease incidence and stage in New Mexico

Objective: Data on the health impact of breast and cervical cancer screening programs for low-income women are limited. We sought to determine whether a statewide program to provide breast and cervical cancer screening services influenced trends in disease incidence and stage. Methods: We assessed trend data regarding breast and cervical cancer incidence and stage gathered by the New Mexico Tumor Registry and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program before (1975 through 1990) and during (1991 through 1998) implementation of the New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Results: The incidence of cervical carcinoma in-situ increased rapidly in 1991. The incidence per 100,000 population for in-situ breast cancer (2.9 in 1975–1982, 8.5 in 1983–1990, and 16.8 in 1991–1998) and local breast cancer (39.9 in 1975–1982, 46.5 in 1983–1990, and 61.3 in 1991–1998) also increased during the program operation. Notably, a significant increase in incidence per 100,000 population for regional and distant breast cancer from 1975–1982 (31.5) to 1983–1990 (36.0) declined during the 1991–1998 (33.2) period of program operation. Conclusions: The statewide screening program improved detection of breast and cervical cancer and helped reduce the incidence of advanced stages of breast cancer in a relatively short time period.     

Quality of life and care in leukemia,myeloma and non-malignant disease. Opinions of patients and relatives,and effects of geography and time

In a questionnaire study 140 subjects answered 4200 questions in 1980 and 1986. They consisted of patients with myeloma, acute leukemia, lung carcinoma, and non-malignant disease and their relatives. In 22 additional cases the questionnaire was not answered. The results show that myeloma patients are less content with the general care than leukemia patients (P < 0.05). Similarly, relatives of deceased myeloma patients are less satisfied with the information given to them than relatives of deceased leukemia patients (P < 0.001). The information has improved with time, however, since the patients were more satisfied in 1986 than in 1980 (P < 0.001) and relatives of myeloma patients still alive were more satisfied than relatives of patients who had died earlier (P < 0.001).     

Hepcidin and ferroportin expression in breast cancer tissue and serum and their relationship with anemia

ObjectiveOur correlation study investigated the relationships of the expression of hepcidin and ferroportin (fpn) in tissues and serum from breast cancer (bca) patients and the relationships of hepcidin and fpn with anemia.MethodsWe used elisa and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of hepcidin and fpn in tissue and serum from 62 individuals with bca, and we analyzed correlations between hepcidin and fpn expression in tissue and in serum. At the same time, we evaluated the relationships between hepcidin, fpn, and anemia.ResultsMean serum hepcidin was 8.18 ± 3.75 μg/L in bca patients with anemia and 4.53 ± 2.07μg/L in those without anemia, a statistically significant difference (t = 3.7090, p < 0.01). Mean serum fpn was obviously lower in the anemia group than in the non-anemia group (1.77 ± 0.51 μg/L vs. 2.46 ± 0.52 μg/L, t = 3.5115, p < 0.01). Serum hepcidin and hemoglobin were negatively correlated (r = −0.502, p < 0.01); however, serum fpn was positively correlated with hemoglobin, and serum hepcidin was negatively correlated with fpn. The rates of hepcidin and fpn expression in bca tissues were 50.0% and 61.2% respectively, but no association with anemia was observed. We also observed no relationship between expression of hepcidin and fpn in serum and in tissue.ConclusionsIn bca patients, expression of hepcidin in serum was high, but expression of fpn was low, suggesting that serum hepcidin plays a major role in anemia in those patients. Expression of hepcidin and fpn in bca tissue showed no correlation with their expression in serum and no clear relationship with anemia.     

Body size and composition and prostate cancer risk: systematic review and meta-regression analysis

The evidence that measures of obesity and stature are associated with prostate cancer is weak and inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between body mass index (BMI), height, weight, waist circumference and waist-to-hips ratio (WHR) and the risk of prostate cancer. Study-specific dose-response slopes were obtained, and random effects rate ratios (RRs) were computed from linear meta-regression models. We included 55,521 cases identified among 2,818,767 men from 31 cohort studies, and 13,232 cases and 16,317 controls from 25 case–control studies. The overall RR for BMI was 1.05 per 5 kg/m² increment, 95% CI 1.01–1.08. For studies that reported results by stage of disease, the RRs were stronger for advanced disease (RR 1.12 per 5 kg/m² increment, 95% CI 1.01–1.23) compared with localized disease (RR 0.96 per 5 kg/m² increment, 95% CI 0.89–1.03), p = 0.02. Height was also positively associated with risk (RR 1.05 per 10 cm increment, 95% CI 1.02–1.09), but the evidence was weak for weight (RR 1.01 per 10 kg increment, 95% CI 0.97–1.04), waist circumference (RR 1.03 per 10 cm increment, 95% CI 0.99–1.07), and WHR (RR 1.11 per 0.1 unit increment, 95% CI 0.95–1.30). Stronger associations were observed among cohort studies compared with case–control studies for BMI (p = 0.006), height (p < 0.001) and weight (p = 0.02). This meta-analysis indicates that obesity is weakly associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (particularly advanced stage tumors). While increased stature may also increase risk, there is little evidence for an association with central obesity.     

Early and more advanced unifocal and multifocal breast carcinomas and their molecular phenotypes

Background

I examined the relationship between the recently established prognostic parameter, molecular tumor phenotype and tumor size, lesion distribution (unifocal, multifocal, diffuse growth), and lymph node status.

Materials and Methods

I analyzed 660 consecutive invasive breast carcinomas documented in large-format histology sections. Immunohistochemistry was used to phenotype the tumors on the basis of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression, HER2 (human epithelial growth factor receptor 2) overexpression, and expression of basal markers.

Results

The proportion of luminal A tumors (84.8% vs. 71.6%; P < .0001) and basal-like tumors (5.0% vs. 14.8%; P < .0001) were significantly different in early (<15 mm) and more advanced invasive breast carcinomas, whereas the proportion of luminal B and HER2 type tumors (4.2% vs. 7.8%, and 5.7% vs. 4.8%, respectively) were not. All the phenotypes had similar percentages of multifocal tumors, whereas most diffuse invasive carcinomas were luminal A type. Early luminal A carcinomas had significantly fewer lymph node metastases (LNM) than more advanced carcinomas but luminal B and HER2 type tumors showed no such difference. This difference was evident (15.4% vs. 42.4%) but statistically not significant in the basal-like category. Multifocal tumors of all phenotypes had significantly higher frequencies of LNM compared with unifocal tumors.

Conclusion

Multifocality of the invasive component represents a negative prognostic parameter associated with significantly increased LNM in all phenotype, whereas larger tumor size was such a parameter only in the luminal A category. HER2 overexpression occurs early in the natural history of tumors and is associated with high LNM rates.     

Breast-feeding and neuroblastoma,USA and Canada

Objective: Researchers have suggested an inverse association between breast-feeding and risk of childhood cancer. We investigated the association between breast-feeding and neuroblastoma in a large case–control study in the United States and Canada. Methods: Maternal reports of breast-feeding were compared among 393 children six months or older who had neuroblastoma and were identified through the Children's Cancer Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group and 376 age-matched controls identified by random-digit telephone dialing in a telephone interview case–control study. Results: Children with neuroblastoma were less likely to have breast-fed than control children (odds ratio (OR) = 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5–0.9). The association between breast-feeding and neuroblastoma increased with breast-feeding duration (0–3 months OR = 0.7, CI = 0.4–1.0; 13+ months OR = 0.5, CI = 0.3–0.9). Conclusion: Breast-feeding was inversely associated with neuroblastoma and should be encouraged among healthy mothers. Additional research on possible mechanisms of this association may be warranted.