Frequency and genome load of Epstein-Barr virus in 509 breast cancers from different geographical areas

Since the few data exploring a possible association between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and breast cancer are conflicting, we investigated this association together with the influences of geographical areas. 509 breast cancers were sampled from areas with varying risks of nasopharynx carcinoma (NPC) such as North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia, high-risk area); southern France (Marseille, intermediate-risk area); and northern Europe (northern France, the Netherlands and Denmark; low-risk areas). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a subregion of EBV BamHIC encoding the EBERs demonstrated that 31.8% of the tumours contained the viral genome. No significant differences were observed among the geographical areas. However, positive samples showed higher loads of the EBV genome in the NPC high- and intermediate-risk areas than in the low-risk areas. EBV type 1 was the dominant strain. In situ hybridization studies using a35S-labelled riboprobe for EBER1 and a laser capture microdissection, combined with quantitative PCR, showed that EBV localization was restricted to some tumour epithelial cell clusters. EBV could not be detected in the stroma. Considering the whole population covered, the presence of the EBV genome was not correlated with age, menopausal status, tumour, size, nodal status or histological grade. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www. bjcancer.co

Evidence for a precursor for TRH in the neonatal rat pancreas

International audienc

Evidence for high peptide α-amidation activity in the neonatal rat pancreas

International audienc

[Methods of hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal blood collection].

International audienceIt is possible to assay hypothalamic factors in hypophysial portal blood from several species. However, hypophysial portal blood collection must be performed after anesthesia and surgical stress which can both modify the regulation of hypothalamo-pituitary secretion. However, this method has allowed some progress in our knowledge of the hypothalamic control of pituitary secretion. The methodology, advantages and limits of hypophysial portal blood collection are briefly described in this review

Ontogenetic expression of peptidyl-glycine α-amidating monooxygenase mRNA in the rat pancreas

International audienc

Ontogenesis of TRH mRNA in the rat pancreas

International audienc

Human Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes in Acromegaly: Distinct Patterns of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression and Hormone Suppression Identify Different Tumoral Phenotypes 1

International audienc

Mutation analysis in the coding sequence of thymidine kinase 1 in breast and colorectal cancer.

International audienceWe report the first mutational study of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) performed in human solid tumors. We sequenced cDNAs representing the complete coding region of TK1 in human breast (n=22) and colorectal (n=26) cancer. Codon 106 near the ATP binding site constantly differed (ATG --> GTG; Met --> Val) from the one deposited by Bradshaw and Deininger in the Genbank database (Accession number NM_003258). Silent polymorphisms at codon 11 (CCC --> CCT; Pro --> Pro) and codon 75 (GCG --> GCA; Ala --> Ala) were frequently detected in tumors as well as in normal tissues. In breast cancer the two polymorphisms were observed in 63.6% of the samples analyzed. No significant association could be found between polymorphisms and TK activity. In colorectal cancer the incidence of the two changes was 73.1% and 69.2%, respectively. Interestingly, one colon cancer with high cytosolic TK activity displayed two missense mutations located in and near the putative phosphorylation site by tyrosine kinase (s) (TAT --> CAT; Tyr --> His) and by cAMP-, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (TAC --> TGC; Tyr --> Cys), respectively; adjacent normal mucosa showed no mutation. This may open new avenues that imply TK1 activity in tumor cell proliferation