Research on HER family's receptors in invasive breast carcinomas

Introduction Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in regulating cell growth in breast carcinomas. Its activated form, phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR), is correlated with poor prognosis in lung cancer, but it has not yet been fully investigated in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of EGFR and pEGFR and theirCorrelation with overall and disease-free survival, clinicopathological parameters and biological markers of invasion and angiogenesis (phosphorylated Akt [pAkt], urokinase plasminogen activator receptor [uPAR], matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-14, vascular endothelial growth factorReceptor [VEGFR]-1/Flt-1).Methods A three-step immunohistochemical method was applied to paraffin-embedded sections from 154 patients with invasive breast carcinoma in order to detect expressions of the proteins EGFR, pEGFR, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, c-erbB-2, pAkt, VEGFR-1/Flt-1, MMP-14 and uPAR.The results were evaluated statistically using the χ2 test. Overall and disease-free survival distribution curves were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier test and log-rank statistics, followed by Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results EGFR and pEGFR proteins were immunodetected in the membrane of the malignant cells (11.3% and 35.7%, respectively). EGFR expression was positively correlated with nuclear grade (P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with the hormonal receptor estrogen receptor (P = 0.005). pEGFR waspositively related to the Akt pathway (P = 0.008) and appeared to participate in invasion and metastasis (uPAR, P = 0.049; MMP-14, P = 0.025; VEGFR-1/Flt-1, P = 0.016). Univariate analysis showed that the EGFR/pEGFR phenotype was associated with poor overall survival (P = 0.019), a findingfurther supported by multivariate analysis (P = 0.013).Conclusion These data provide evidence that pEGFR expression is related to angiogenesis (via VEGFR-1/Flt-1, MMP-14 and pAkt pathways) and invasiveness (via uPAR, MMP-14 and pAkt pathways) and that the EGFR/pEGFR phenotype is associated with poor patient survival in invasive breast cancer.Εισαγωγή : Ο EGFR εμπλέκεται στη ρύθμιση της κυτταρικής ανάπτυξης καρκινωμάτων μαστού. Η ενεργοποιημένη μορφή του (p EGFR) σχετίζεται με φτωχή πρόγνωση στον καρκίνο του πνεύμονα, αλλά δεν έχει ερευνηθεί ακόμη ενδελεχώς στον καρκίνο του μαστού. Σκοπός της μελέτης αυτής είναι η διερεύνηση της έκφρασης των EGFR και p EGFR και η σχέση τους με την ολική επιβίωση και την ελεύθερη νόσου διαβίωση, κλινικοπαθολογικές παραμέτρους και τους βιολογικούς δείκτες διηθητικότητας, αγγειογένεσης (φωσφορυλιωμένο Akt [p Akt], urokinase plasminogen activator receptor [Upar], matrix metalloproteinases [MMP]-14, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR]-1/Flt-10. Μέθοδοι : Ανοσοϊστοχημική μέθοδος τριών βημάτων εφαρμόστηκε σε κύβους παραφίνης από 154 ασθενείς με διηθητικό καρκίνωμα μαστού για την ανίχνευση της έκφρασης των πρωτεϊνών του EGFR και p EGFR, των υποδοχέων προγεστερόνης και οιστρογόνων, του cerbB2, p- Akt, VEGFR-1/Flt-1, MMP-14,και uPAR.Τα αποτελέσματα αξιολογήθηκαν στατιστικά με τη μέθοδο του χ2 test.Οι καμπύλες κατανομής της συνολικής επιβίωσης και της ελεύθερης νόσου επιβίωσης προσδιορίστηκαν με τη μέθοδο Caplan-Meier και long run statistics με το μοντέλο Cox proportional hazards regression.Αποτελέσματα : Οι πρωτεΐνες των EGFR και p EGFR ανοσοανιχνεύτηκαν στις μεμβράνες των κακοηθών κυττάρων (11,3% και 35,7% αντίστοιχα). Η έκφραση του EGFR συσχετίστηκε θετικά με τον πυρηνικό βαθμό κακοηθείας (Ρ= 0,001) και αρνητικά με τους ορμονικούς υποδοχείς οιστρογόνων (Ρ=0,005). Ο p EGFR συσχετίστηκε θετικά με το μονοπάτι p- Akt (Ρ=0,008) και φαίνεται να συμμετέχει στη διηθητικότητα και τις μεταστάσεις (uPAR, Ρ=0,0049, MMP-14, Ρ=0,025, VEGFR-1/Flt-1,Ρ=0,016).Μονοπαραγοντική ανάλυση έδειξε ότι ο φαινότυπος EGFR/p EGFR συσχετίζεται με πτωχή ολική επιβίωση (Ρ=0,019) και επιπλέον αυτό υποστηρίχτηκε από πολυπαραγοντική ανάλυση (Ρ=0,013). Συμπεράσματα : Τα δεδομένα παρέχουν ενδείξεις ότι η έκφραση του p EGFR συσχετίζεται με την αγγειογένεση (μέσω των μονοπατιών VEGFR-1/Flt-1, MMP-14 και p- Akt) και ότι ο φαινότυπος EGFR/p EGFR συσχετίζεται με πτωχή επιβίωση των ασθενών με διηθητικό καρκίνωμα μαστού

Transanal polypectomy using single incision laparoscopic instruments

Transanal excision of rectal polyps with laparoscopic instrumentation and a single incision laparoscopic port is a novel technique that uses technology originally developed for abdominal procedures from the natural orifice of the rectum. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well established surgical approach for certain benign or early malignant lesions of the rectum, under specific indications. Our technique is a hybrid technique of transanal surgery, a reasonable method for polyp resection without the need of the sophisticated and expensive instrumentation of TEM which can be applied whenever endoscopic or conventional transanal surgical removal is not feasible

The Knowledge and Application of Sedimentary Conditions of Shallow Marine and Tidal Waters of Ionian Islands, Greece: Implications for Therapeutic Use

This study delves into the sedimentation mechanisms governing mud deposits in shallow marine and tidal environments, with a particular focus on elucidating the versatile therapeutic applications of these muds. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing the selection of mud as a cosmetic resource that can positively influence human health and well-being by utilizing a comprehensive analysis involving CaCO3, TOC, grain size, and statistical parameters across six outcrops situated on the Kefalonia and Corfu islands. The research reveals that the CaCO3 content of mud deposits on both islands is comparable. Despite the average value (26.71%) significantly exceeding the recommended value (10%) for optimal plasticity, no discernible impact on the mechanical behavior and plasticity of the clay was observed, rendering it a neutral quality criterion. Notably, the TOC content is higher on Corfu Island, suggesting its potential superiority for mud therapy. However, all samples exhibit a TOC content (<0.77%) considerably below the threshold required (2–5%) for material maturation in mud therapy. Consequently, an enrichment of samples with organic matter is imperative. The application of statistical parameters, analyzed through graphical methods, facilitated the creation of various bivariate diagrams, offering insights into the prevailing environmental conditions during deposition. Linear and multigroup discriminant analyses categorize two sediment types: a unimodal type, characterized by mud grain-size dominance, deposited in a shallow water environment, and a bi-modal type, featuring mud and sand content, deposited in a tidal-affected environment. This classification underscores the potential of shallow marine muds (Kefalonia Island) for therapeutic use, given their optimal grain size. In contrast, the tidal mud (Corfu Island), while also suitable for mud therapy, necessitates processing as a cosmetic product to minimize sand content, as coarser fractions may induce skin irritations or injuries

The Emerging Role of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Cervical Cancer Therapy

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most common cancers among women globally. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) constitute anticancer drugs that, by increasing the histone acetylation level in various cell types, induce differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. The aim of the current review is to study the role of HDACIs in the treatment of cervical cancer. A literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases with a view to identifying relevant studies. By employing the search terms “histone deacetylase” and “cervical cancer”, we managed to identify 95 studies published between 2001 and 2023. The present work embodies the most up-to-date, comprehensive review of the literature centering on the particular role of HDACIs as treatment agents for cervical cancer. Both well-established and novel HDACIs seem to represent modern, efficacious anticancer drugs, which, alone or in combination with other treatments, may successfully inhibit cervical cancer cell growth, induce cell cycle arrest, and provoke apoptosis. In summary, histone deacetylases seem to represent promising future treatment targets in cervical cancer