442 research outputs found
p16 mutations/deletions are not frequent events in prostate cancer.
Cyclin-dependent kinase-4 inhibitor gene (p16INK4) has recently been mapped to chromosome 9p21. Homozygous deletions of this gene have been found at high frequency in cell lines derived from different types of tumours. These findings suggested therefore, that p16INK4 is a tumour-suppressor gene involved in a wide variety of human cancers. To investigate the frequency of p16INK mutations/deletions in prostate cancer, we screened 20 primary prostate tumours and four established cell lines by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis for exon 1 and exon 2. In contrast to most previous reports, no homozygous deletions were found in prostate cancer cell lines, but one cell line (DU145) has revealed to a mutation at codon 76. Only two SSCP shifts were detected in primary tumours: one of them corresponds to a mutation at codon 55 and the other one probably corresponds to a polymorphism. These data suggest that mutation of the p16INK4 gene is not a frequent genetic alteration implicated in prostate cancer development
A retrospective study of high mobility group protein I(Y) as progression marker for prostate cancer determined by in situ hybridization.
In a previous study using RNA in situ hybridisation (RISH), we found a significant correlation between high mobility group protein I/Y, [HMG-I(Y)] mRNA expression and tumour stage and grade in prostate cancer patients, suggesting that HMG-I(Y) might be a potential prognostic marker in prostate cancer. However, our clinical follow-up was limited because cryopreserved material was used. Assessing the potential prognostic value of this molecule is of importance because the clinical course of prostate cancer patients remains unpredictable. Here we describe our results on paraffin-embedded archival material from a group of 102 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. These were evaluated for the presence of HMG-I(Y) using RISH, and a follow-up of 12-92 months (average 53 months) was available. In 2 of 14 prostate cancers in which the predominant histological pattern was of Gleason grade 1-2, a high HMG-I(Y) expression was observed, whereas in 19 of 23 Gleason grade 3, and 34 of 35 Gleason grade 4-5 tumours, high HMG-I(Y) mRNA levels were detected (chi-square = 38.78, P < 0.0001). Moreover, of tumours that expressed high HMG-I(Y) levels, 25% were organ confined (T1-2), in contrast to 74.5% of the invading tumours (T3, chi-square = 15.8, P < 0.001). Furthermore, 87% of recurrent tumours showed high HMG-I(Y) expression. However, a multivariate regression analysis including Gleason grade, clinical tumour stage, HMG-I(Y) expression and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels showed Gleason grade as the most accurate predictor of progression. High HMG-I(Y) levels measured by RISH were indicative of a worse prognosis, albeit that additional value over the more subjective grading methods was not evident
Meson Exchange Currents in (e,e'p) recoil polarization observables
A study of the effects of meson-exchange currents and isobar configurations
in reactions is presented. We use a distorted wave
impulse approximation (DWIA) model where final-state interactions are treated
through a phenomenological optical potential. The model includes relativistic
corrections in the kinematics and in the electromagnetic one- and two-body
currents. The full set of polarized response functions is analyzed, as well as
the transferred polarization asymmetry. Results are presented for proton
knock-out from closed-shell nuclei, for moderate to high momentum transfer.Comment: 44 pages, 18 figures. Added physical arguments explaining the
dominance of OB over MEC, and a summary of differences with previous MEC
calculations. To be published in PR
Paclitaxel for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a phase II study of the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
The EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group undertook a phase II study of paclitaxel in 25 chemotherapy-naive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Paclitaxel was given intravenously at a dose of 200 mg m-2 as a 3 h infusion every 3 weeks, after standard premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines. This regimen was well tolerated, with < 4% of cycles resulting in severe toxicity. No major objective responses were observed and ten patients had stable disease. Median survival time was 39 weeks and the 1 year survival rate was 30%. In conclusion, paclitaxel at the dose and schedule investigated in this trial had no major activity in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma
Can Campylobacter coli induce Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Campylobacter jejuni enteritis is the most frequently identified infection preceding the Guillain-Barr\ue9 syndrome (GBS) and neural damage is thought to be induced through molecular mimicry between C. jejuni lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) and human gangliosides. It has been questioned whether or not other Campylobacter species, including C. curvus, C. upsaliensis and C. coli, could be similarly involved. This is relevant because it would imply that bacterial factors considered important in the aetiology of GBS crossed species barriers. Two prior reports have appeared where C. coli was putatively associated with a case of GBS.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye
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