Initial experience with the Oncotype DX assay in decision-making for adjuvant therapy of early oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in Hong Kong

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Oral health conditions and medical complications of type 2 diabetics

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The Impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay on Treatment Decisions for Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Hong Kong

Background The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay is validated to assess risk of distant recurrence and likelihood of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in estrogen receptor-positive ESBC in various populations. In Hong Kong, > 80% of breast cancers are early stage breast cancer (ESBC) and > 60% of these women receive CT. This prospective study measured changes in CT type and recommendations, as well as physician impression of assay impact in a homogenous Chinese population. Methods Consecutive patients with estrogen receptor-positive, T1-3 N0-1mi M0 ESBC were offered enrollment. After surgery, physicians discussed treatment options with patients, then ordered the assay, then reassessed treatment recommendation considering assay results. Changes in treatment recommendation, CT utilization, physician confidence, and physician rating of influence on their treatment recommendations were measured. Results A total of 146 evaluable patients received pre- and post-testing treatment recommendations. CT recommendations (including changes in intensity of CT) were changed for 34 of 146 patients (23.3%; 95% confidence interval, 16.7%-31.0%); change in intensity occurred in 7 of 146 (4.8%). There were 27 changes in treatment recommendations of adding or removing CT altogether (18.5% change; 95% confidence interval, 12.6%-25.8%). CT recommendations decreased from 52.1% to 37.7%, a net absolute reduction of 14.4% (P < .001; 27.6% net relative reduction). Pre-assay, 96% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that they were confident in their treatment recommendation; post-assay, 90% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed with the same statement. Thirty percent of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that the test had influenced their recommendation, similar to the proportion of changed recommendations. Conclusions The Oncotype DX Assay appears to influence physician ESBC adjuvant treatment recommendations in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Enhancement of the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells by overexpressing p73α

Radiation therapy is the most effective therapy for cervical cancer in advanced stages. p53 plays a critical role in the cellular response to radiation-induced DNA damage. However, p53 function is often impaired in the presence of the oncoprotein E6 from human papillomavirus, which is often associated with the development of cervical cancer. p73, a p53 family member, is highly similar to p53, but is resistant to the degradation by human papillomavirus E6. In this study, we investigated the role of p73α in relation to cellular radiosensitivity in the p53-impaired cervical cancer cells. Radiosensitivity and irradiation-induced apoptotic cell death were examined in the exogenous overexpressed p73α- and p53-impaired cells. Our results showed that the endogenous p73α expressed only in the radiosensitive cervical cancer C4-1 cells, but not in the radioresistant SiHa, Caski, and HeLa cells. Overexpression of exogenous p73α by transfection in the radioresistant cells resulted in a significant increase of cellular sensitivity to radiation. Enhanced radiosensitivity in p73α-transfected cells was attributed by increase of cellular apoptosis. Coactivation of p21 was also observed in the p73α-transfected cells upon radiation treatment. In summary, our findings suggested that p73α is an important determinant of cellular radiosensitivity in the p53-impaired cervical cancer cells. Copyright © 2006 American Association for Cancer Research.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Somatostatin inhibits (D-Arg6, Pro9-NEt) salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone- and dopamine D1-stimulated growth hormone release from perifused pituitary cells of chinese grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

In this study, a heterologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) for grass carp GH has been validated and used to monitor the kinetics of GH release from perifused grass carp pituitary cells. To establish the anatomical specificity of GH antiserum used in this RIA, immunohistochemical staining was performed in grass carp pituitary sections. Somatotrophs recognized by this GH antiserum were located mainly in the proximal pars distalis without overlapping with gonadotrophs located in the same area or with lactotrophs located in the rostral pars distalis. The immunoreactivity of somatotrophs was abolished by preabsorbing GH antiserum with purified grass carp GH, suggesting that the possibility of a cross-reactivity of antiserum with other grass carp pituitary hormones is unlikely. Using 125I-labeled carp GH as the RIA tracer, parallelism was observed among the displacement curves of grass carp GH standard, grass carp serum, and culture medium conditioned by grass carp pituitary cells, suggesting that this RIA can be used to quantitate grass carp GH levels in biological samples. Using an in vitro column perifusion system, a superactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog (D-Arg6, Pro9-NEt)-sGnRH (sGnRHa, 0.3-30 nM), dopamine (DA, 0.1-10 μM), and the nonselective DA agonist apomorphine (0.1-10 μM) stimulated GH release from grass carp pituitary cells in a dose-dependent manner. The GH- releasing effect of DA was mimicked by the D1 agonists SKF38393 (0.1-10 μM) and SKF77434 (0.1-10 μM), but not by the D2 agonist LY171555 (3 μM). In addition, the GH response to DA (1 μM) was blocked by the D1 antagonist SCH23390 (5 μM) but not by the D2 antagonist (±) sulpiride (5 μM), suggesting that the GH-releasing action of DA is mediated through receptors resembling mammalian D1 receptors. Somatostatin-14 (SRIF14, 0.01-100 nM), unlike sGnRHa and DA, induced a dose-dependent suppression on basal GH release. At a high dose (100 nM), SRIF14 also abolished the GH responses to sGnRHa (100 nM), DA (10 μM), and the D1 agonist SKF38393 (3 μM). These results, as a whole, provide evidence that GH release in the grass carp is under the direct regulation of GnRH, DA, and SRIF at the pituitary cell level. The present study also suggests that DA D1 receptors are present in grass carp pituitary cells mediating the GH-releasing action of DA.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Aberrant miRNA expressions associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection contribute to cervical carcinogenesis

Session: Basic Science Transformation and carcinogenesisOBJECTIVES: The causative role of HPV infection in cervical carcinogenesis is well established. However, additional host genetic alternation is required. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of human cancer, and aberrant miRNA expression has been found to be associated with some virus infections. We aimed to explore HPV associated miRNA involved in cervical carcinog..