MiRNA-145 increases therapeutic sensibility to gemcitabine treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the most leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although recent advances provide various treatment options, pancreatic adenocarcinoma has poor prognosis due to its late diagnosis and ineffective therapeutic multimodality. Gemcitabine is the effective first-line drug in pancreatic adenocarcinoma treatment. However, gemcitabine chemoresistance of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells has been a major obstacle for limiting its treatment effect. Our study found that p70S6K1 plays an important role in gemcitabine chemoresistence. MiR-145 is a tumor suppressor which directly targets p70S6K1 for inhibiting its expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, providing new therapeutic scheme. Our findings revealed a new mechanism underlying gemcitabine chemoresistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells

An investigation of the progression from Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma

Barrett's esophagus is a metaplasia of the epithelium of the lower esophagus from a normal squamous appearance to a columnar appearance more typically found in the stomach. It is normally caused by prolonged gastric reflux. While Barrett's esophagus is not usually the direct cause of adverse symptoms, it does put a person at greater risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, one of the least treatable cancers currently known. While the progression from gastric reflux to Barrett's esophagus is fairly clear, the relationship between Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma is not as well understood. Not all patients diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus will go on to develop esophageal adenocarcinoma. There are several factors that may have some impact on this progression, including obesity, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the literature to determine the potential impacts of each of these factors on development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. While obesity and lifestyle clearly have some impact on development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, it was found that the exact nature of that impact is still unclear. Obesity leads to several consequences, including increased gastroesophageal reflux, hormonal changes, and reduction in the bacterium H. pylori, all of which have been shown to have some impact on metaplasia in the esophagus. Lifestyle choices, including alcohol or tobacco use, also have been shown to have at least some effect on development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The literature also reveals that inherited risk factors, namely genetic predisposition, may play a role in development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Genetic predisposition to obesity may have some impact, but other studies have identified genetic variations that seem to directly influence development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. While it is clear that there are several factors that influence development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, we do not yet understand the complete etiology. By continuing to study these risk factors, we will be able to develop new treatments to combat the rising incidence of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Combination of gastric atrophy, reflux symptoms and histological subtype indicates two distinct aetiologies of gatric cardia cancer.

<b>INTRODUCTION</b> Atrophic gastritis is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric cancer, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) for oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The role of atrophic gastritis and GORD in the aetiology of adenocarcinoma of the cardia remains unclear. We have investigated the association between adenocarcinoma of the different regions of the upper gastrointestinal tract and atrophic gastritis and GORD symptoms. <b>METHODS</b> 138 patients with upper GI adenocarcinoma and age and sex matched controls were studied. Serum pepsinogen I/II was used as a marker of atrophic gastritis and categorised to five quintiles. History of GORD symptoms, smoking and H.pylori infection was incorporated in logistic regression analysis. Lauren classification of gastric cancer was used to subtype gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. <b>RESULTS</b> Non-cardia cancer was associated with atrophic gastritis but not with GORD symptoms; 55% of these cancers were intestinal subtype. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma was associated with GORD symptoms, but not with atrophic gastritis; 84% were intestinal subtype. Cardia cancer was positively associated with both severe gastric atrophy [OR, 95% CI: 3.92 (1.77 – 8.67)] and with frequent GORD symptoms [OR, 95% CI: 10.08 (2.29 – 44.36)] though the latter was only apparent in the nonatrophic subgroup and in the intestinal subtype. The association of cardia cancer with atrophy was stronger for the diffuse versus intestinal subtype and this was the converse of the association observed with non-cardia cancer. <b>CONCLUSION</b> These findings indicate two distinct aetiologies of cardia cancer, one arising from severe atrophic gastritis and being of intestinal or diffuse subtype similar to non-cardia cancer, and one related to GORD and intestinal in subtype, similar to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Gastric atrophy, GORD symptoms and histological subtype may distinguish between gastric versus oesophageal origin of cardia cancer

Analysis Expression of ZIP1 and Caspase-3 Protein in Adenocarsinoma of the Prostate

Background: Carcinogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate occurs due to dysregulation of zinc level within the cells. Intracellular zinc molecules influx is regulated by a transporter protein ZIP1, whose non-presence is predicted to inhibit apoptosis, thus leads to the development of prostate adenocarcinoma. Methods: This study was aimed to analyse the correlation of ZIP1 and Caspase-3 expression in prostate adenocarcinoma on its grading as represented by Gleason Score. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective analytical study on 31 Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue that meets inclusion criteria. The specimen was stained using the immune-histochemistry technique for ZIP1 and Caspase-3. Protein expression of each case was counted using ImageJ analysis. Gleason score was acquired as secondary data from the cases' reports. The correlation of their expression with respect to Gleason score was analysed with Pearson's correlation using SPSS 11.5. Results: Mean expression level of ZIP1 and Caspase-3 in prostate adenocarcinoma were 35% and 33%, respectively. There was a significantly positive correlation between ZIP1 and Caspase-3 expression (r=0.379; p=0.018). However, their correlation was stronger in intermediate-grade group (r=0.73; p=0.01) and the correlation was much weaker in high-grade group (r=0.04; p=0.48). Conclusions: There was a positive correlation between ZIP1 and Caspase-3 expression in prostate adenocarcinoma.&nbsp

Massive malignant pleural effusion due to lung adenocarcinoma in 13-year-old boy

A 13-year-old boy with no risk factors for lung cancer presented with a massive left-sided pleural effusion and a mediastinal shift on chest radiography and computed tomography. A chest tube drained bloody pleural fluid with an exudative pattern. A pleural biopsy and wedge biopsy of the left lower lobe revealed mucinous adenocarcinoma in the left lower lobe wedge biopsy and metastatic adenocarcinoma in the pleural biopsy. The patient is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is planned after shrinkage of the tumor. Adenocarcinoma of the lung is very rarely seen in teenagers or children, especially in the absence of risk factors. © SAGE Publications

Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to Metastasis from Adenocarcinoma of the Parotid Gland

BACKGROUND: Metastatic involvement of pericardium producing cardiac tamponade is rare. When occurs it is mainly from the lung, breast and the neoplasms of the lymphoreticular system. Hematogenous spread of parotid adenocarcinoma to heart is extremely rare and only two cases have been reported in literature so far. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual case of a patient with adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland, which presented with cardiac tamponade and was treated urgently with pericardial drainage and intrapericardial injection of cisplatin. CONCLUSIONS: Our case demonstrates the possibility of metastatic pericardial involvement and cardiac tamponade in patients with parotid adenocarcinoma. The patient was successfully treated with pericardial drainage and intrapericardial injection of chemotherapeutic agent to control recurrent pericardial effusion

Metachronous Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct and Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas in a Patient Diagnosed With Mucinous Adenocarcinoma.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a rare biliary tumor, which shares some radiologic and histologic similarities with pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). IPNB is a recognized precursor lesion of invasive adenocarcinoma. We present a case of metachronous IPNB and IPMN lesions in a patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who presented with jaundice and abdominal pain. The patient was treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and characterization of solid pancreatic nodules: an update

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the pancreas. The remaining pancreatic tumors are a diverse group of pancreatic neoplasms that comprises cystic pancreatic neoplasms, endocrine tumors and other uncommon pancreatic tumors. Due to the excellent soft tissue contrast resolution, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently able to readily separate cystic from noncystic tumors. Cystic tumors are often easy to diagnose with MRI; however, noncystic non-adenocarcinoma tumors may show a wide spectrum of imaging features, which can potentially mimic ductal adenocarcinoma. MRI is a reliable technique for the characterization of pancreatic lesions. The implementation of novel motion-resistant pulse sequences and respiratory gating techniques, as well as the recognized benefits of MR cholangiopancreatography, make MRI a very accurate examination for the evaluation of pancreatic masses. MRI has the distinctive ability of non-invasive assessment of the pancreatic ducts, pancreatic parenchyma, neighbouring soft tissues, and vascular network in one examination. MRI can identify different characteristics of various solid pancreatic lesions, potentially allowing the differentiation of adenocarcinoma from other benign and malignant entities. In this review we describe the MRI protocols and MRI characteristics of various solid pancreatic lesions. Recognition of these characteristics may establish the right diagnosis or at least narrow the differential diagnosis, thus avoiding unnecessary tests or procedures and permitting better management

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

A 61-year-old gentleman who lives with his wife and 20-year-old son, presented to the polyclinic with a four week history of pruritus. On examination he was found to be jaundiced and his LFTs were high. Consequently he was referred to Mater Dei Hospital where, following ERCP and MRCP, he was found to have a tumour of the head of the pancreas, causing a stricture of the common bile duct, with consequent obstructive jaundice. The patient was planned for Whipple’s operation (pancreatico-duodenectomy), which was extended to total pancreatectomy, splenectomy and cholecystectomy. The operation was successful and the patient is recovering.peer-reviewe