Role of regulatory miRNAs of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common tumors in women. Current data indicate that the overexpression of some microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with breast cancer, in relation to stage, tumor size and potential for metastasis. Some studies have reported that miRNAs have critical roles in cellular processes implicated in breast cancer cell growth, migration and metastasis by targeting the PI3K/AKT oncogenic signaling pathway. Therefore, identifying novel regulatory miRNAs for this oncogenic pathway and discovery of their related target genes may represent a promising therapeutic approach for breast cancer therapy. This review highlights the recent findings about the potential role of PI3K/AKT signaling regulatory miRNAs in breast cancer tumorigenesis

Head and Neck Cancers in North-East Iran: A 25 year Survey

Introduction Cancers are among the worst noncommunicable diseases around the world. Head and neck cancers are ranked as the fifth most common cancers worldwide. As there are different distributions of risk factors around the world, the incidence of these cancers varies from one place to another. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive analytic cross-sectional study, based on census-based records from the private oncology clinic in Mashhad, Iran. Data from 1,075 patients with head and neck cancers were analyzed from 1986 to 2010. We categorized the duration of study into five periods: 1986–1990, 1991–1995, 1996–2000, 2001–2005, and 2006–2010. Head and neck cancers refers to cancers originating from seven sites in the head and neck including the nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses, and thyroid. Results: Data of 1,075 patients were analyzed. 66.2% were male. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) age at the time of diagnosis was 55.37±15.55 years. The most frequent type of head and neck cancer was larynx cancer (36%), followed by pharynx (28.5%), oral (17.5%), thyroid (6.8%), sinus (6.4%), salivary gland (4.10%), and nasal cancer (0.70%). although larynx cancer was the most frequent cancer over the whole study duration, there was a significant (P=0.04) difference in the relative frequency of these cancers across the five time periods. There was a significant difference in mean age between cancer categories (

A genetic variant in CDKN2A/2B locus was associated with poor prognosis in patients with 1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the leading causes of cancer related death. Despite extensive efforts in identifying valid cancer prognostic biomarkers, only a very small number of markers have been identified. Several genetic variants in the 9p21 region have been identified that are associated with the risk of multiple cancers. Here, we explored the association of two genetic variants in the 9p21 region, CDKN2A/B, rs10811661 and rs1333049 for the first time in 273 subjects with, or without ESCC. We observed that patients with ESCC had a higher frequency of a TT genotype for rs10811661 than individuals in the control group, and this polymorphism was also associated with tumor size. Moreover, a CC genotype for the rs1333049 polymorphism was associated with a reduced OS of patients with ESCC. In particular, patients with a CC (rs1333049) genotype had a significantly shorter OS (CC genotype: 34.5±8.9 months vs. CG+GG: 47.7±5.9 months; p value= 0.03). We have also shown the association of a novel genetic variant in CDKN2B gene with clinical outcome of ESCC patients. Further investigations are warranted in a larger population to explore the value of emerging markers as a risk stratification marker in ESCC. Key word: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, risk marker, CDKN2A/B, polymorphis

Opium use and risk of bladder cancer : A multi-centre case-referent study in Iran

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide and the fourth most common type of cancer in Iran. Opium use is considered as one of the risk factors for BC. We aim to assess the association between various parameters of opium use, which in Iran is mainly ingested or smoked in various forms, and the risk of BC. Method: In this multi-centre case-referent study in Iran, 717 BC cases and 3477 referents were recruited to the study from May 2017 until July 2020. Detailed histories of opium use (duration, amount, frequency) and potential confounders were collected by trained interviewers. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression models were used to measure adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The ORs were adjusted for age, gender, place of residence and pack-years of cigarette smoking. Results: Regular opium consumption was associated with an increased risk of BC (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.8, 4.3) compared with subjects who never used opium. Compared with continuous users, the risk decreased to one-Third for those who stopped opium more than 10 years ago. The adjusted OR for those who used both crude opium (teriak) and opium juice was 7.4 (95% CI: 4.1, 13.3). There was a joint effect of opium and tobacco (OR for users of both opium and tobacco 7.7, 95% CI: 6.0, 9.7). Conclusions: Regular opium use is associated with an approximately 4-fold risk for BC. The OR decreases along with the increasing time since stopping opium use.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Long term follow up of recurrent uterine cervical cancer: A Case Report

Background and Aim: Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a significant cause of mortality because of malignancy in women. Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality for invasive cervical cancer with good treatment outcome in early-stage patients. However, substantial treatment failures still occur in the advanced-stage patients. In this case report a long term follow up of a 58 years old woman with stage II cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), who was considered inoperable due to her general condition, cardiac poor function and ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been reported. After full dose external radiotherapy the patient became disease free till 6 years and after local recurrence, she was treated successfully with total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) as well as adjuvant chemotherapy with favorable results during a long term follow up of 14 years. It is concluded that long term favorable outcome may be achieved by intensive radiotherapy of uterine cervix SCC and probable recurrence could be managed successfully by surgical excision

Gestational throphoblastic diseases in North East of Iran: 10 years (2001-2010) prospective epidemiological and clinicopathological study

Background: Many aspects of epidemiological and clinicopathological features of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), one of the important subject in gynecology oncology, needs to be defined so as to recommend the best approach and management toward it. In the present study, we evaluated 10-years incidence of throphoblastic diseases in north east of Iran in prospective epidemiological and clinicopathological study. Materials and Methods:We reviewed the registered histopathology database archive (120 records) related to throphoblastic diseases of the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2001 to 2010. Results:Evaluation of the pathological reports revealed 5 (4.2%) choriocarcinom and 115 (95.8%) of hydatidiform mole (HM), with complete and partial HM diagnosis in 29 (25.2%) and 86 (74.8%) patients, respectively. The pregnancy rate of HM patients (2.72 ± 1.86) and choriocarcinoma patients (3.56 ± 2.8) was not significantly different ( P = 0.61). There was no statistical significant difference between the number of pregnancies in HM (2.90 ± 3.13) and choriocarcinoma (3.84 ± 3.80) patients ( P = 0.46). The ratio of complete to partial mole increased with age, although this correlation was not significant. Most patients in both the groups had no history of abortion. O positive was the predominant blood group among the studied patients. Conclusion:Throphoblastic diseases occur during the fertility age mostly, and there is an increased risk with more previous pregnancies; ultrasound sonography is a useful method for primary diagnosis of this disease. Further pathological studies are needed to define the mole type

The Effects of Humor Therapy on the Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing External Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms reported among women with breast cancer and is the most prominent side effect of cancer treatments. This complication leads to a number of problems in the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of humor therapy on the fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing external radiation therapy. METHODS: This study was a clinical trial with parralel planning and before and after. The experiment was conducted on 58 cancer patients receiving radiation therapy in 5 weeks -from the beginning of July 2013 until early October 2013 for a period of 3 months. The research was assigned to two groups of humor therapy and control group (each group consisting of 29 subjects who were randomly assigned to their group). The patients in the experimental group attended the humor therapy sessions twice a week for a month (a total of 8 sessions). The sessions were held using approaches like playing comedy clips, telling jokes and taking part in fun games. Fatigue questionnaires were completed at the end of the first, second and the fifth week as  the post-test. The control group patients  received routine care. Ultimately, the two groups were put to comparison. FINDINGS: Fatigue in the laughter therapy group rose from 0.93±0.74 in the first week to 3.36±1.35 in the fifth. In the control group, on the other hand, it went from 1.01±0.96 in the first week to 7.29±2.67 in the fifth week (p=0.001). Thus, fatigue in the first, second, third, fourth and the fifth week was of significant statistical difference. (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that humor therapy is largely effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue. The health system could enhance cancer patients’ well-being and improvement by providing them with a delightful, joyous environment