Comment on 'Tumour antigen expression in hepatocellular carcinoma in a low-endemic western area'

We comment on the recent study by Sideras et al (2015) that combines tissue microarrays (TMAs) and immunohistochemistry to investigate the expression pattern of 15 antigens belonging to different categories, including cancer-testis antigens and oncofetal proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because current therapies for HCC are far from ideal (Ilan, 2014) and immunotherapy has been suggested as a potential therapeutic option, the Authors aimed at identifying a panel of biologically relevant tumour antigens with broad expression in a western European population of HCC patients and specific expression in the tumour tissue with no, or little, expression in surrounding non- tumoral tissue (Sideras et al., 2015)

Fusobacterium nucleatum and the Immune System in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose of Review To summarize the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC), immunity, and the gut microbiome, focusing on the population of Fusobacterium, particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum, which may mediate CRC initiation and progression by inhibiting host anti-tumor immunity. Recent Findings The onset and advancement of CRC involves genetic and epigenetic alterations and are modified by dietary and environmental factors. There is increasing evidence suggesting that gut bacteria, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, may promote CRC development. The mechanisms through which Fusobacterium nucleatum from the oral cavity colonizes the gut mucosa and affect CRC development and progression remain unclear. Data from metagenomics analyses have shown an enrichment of Fusobacterium nucleatum in CRC tissues, which has been confirmed by quantitative PCR for the 16S ribosomal RNA gene DNA sequence of Fusobacterium nucleatum. Recent studies also suggest that Fusobacterium nucleatum may preferentially bind to cancerous cells, aided by Annexin A1, specifically expressed in proliferating CRC cells. This is consistent with a previous report that although Fusobacterium nucleatum is detected in both colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma tissues, the fadA gene levels are significantly higher in the latter than in the former. Other potential mechanisms include the ability of Fusobacterium to produce cancer-associated metabolites or genotoxic factors and possibly a direct interaction with the host immune system. Supporting a possible interaction with the host immune system are recent data indicating that overload of Fusobacterium nucleatum elicits high levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum-specific antibodies in CRC patients, suggesting that Fusobacterium nucleatum may escape host humoral immune responses by evolving inside host cells. Additionally, it has been found that the interaction of Fusobacterium nucleatum with immune response to CRC differs by tumor microsatellite (MS) status, suggesting that Fusobacterium nucleatum and MS status interact to influence anti-tumor immune functions

Computer-aided assessment of the extra-cellular matrix during pancreatic carcinogenesis: a pilot study

Abstract Background A hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the desmoplastic reaction, but its impact on the tumor behavior remains controversial. Our aim was to introduce a computer -aided method to precisely quantify the amount of pancreatic collagenic extra-cellular matrix, its spatial distribution pattern, and the degradation process. Methods A series of normal, inflammatory and neoplastic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded Sirius red stained sections were automatically digitized and analyzed using a computer-aided method. Results We found a progressive increase of pancreatic collagenic extra-cellular matrix from normal to the inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The two-dimensional fractal dimension showed a significant difference in the collagenic extra-cellular matrix spatial complexity between normal versus inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A significant difference when comparing the number of cycles necessary to degrade the pancreatic collagenic extra-cellular matrix in normal versus inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was also found. The difference between inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was also significant. Furthermore, the mean velocity of collagenic extra-cellular matrix degradation was found to be faster in inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma than in normal. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that inflammatory and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are characterized by an increased amount of pancreatic collagenic extra-cellular matrix and by changes in their spatial complexity and degradation. Our study defines new features about the pancreatic collagenic extra-cellular matrix, and represents a basis for further investigations into the clinical behavior of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the development of therapeutic strategies