14 research outputs found
Role of cyclooxygenase-2 in cervical cancer
Concurrent radiation and chemotherapy is a standard treatment of patients with
cervical cancer in FIGO stages IB2-IVA. Chemotherapy given in the same time as
irradiation improved survival significant, but not involves all patients. Cancer
recurrence is the most common treatment failure in patients with advanced
tumor. Further improvement in the treatment of advanced cases is essential.
The increasing knowledge about new biologic markers and better ability to predict
risk of cancer recurrence is very important for construction of more effective
treatment strategies. Currently, there is considerable interest of role of cyclooxgenase-2 in cervical neoplasia. A lot of cancers in different localizations appear
to overexpress the cyclooxygenase-2, which may have an important role in
carcinogenesis. Ongoing clinical trials, clinical studies have shown the positive
therapeutic effect of COX-2 inhibitors and may allow to increase understanding
of this novel targeted approach for cervical cancer control
Endometrial carcinoma: Preliminary assessment of postoperational tolerance in pulsatile brachytherapy
W grupie 110 chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy oceniono tolerancję uzupełniającej pulsacyjnej brachyterapii dopochwowej. Wczesny odczyn popromienny o lekkim przebiegu w pochwie i w odbytnicy wystapił łąpznie u 9 chorych (8.2%), późny u 6 chorych (5.5%). U jednej chorej wystapił odczyn popromienny w odbytnicy w stopniu czwartym. W okresie obserwacji nie stwierdzono wznowy w pochwie.Pulsacyjna brachyterapia dopochwpwa jest bezpieczną i skuteczną metodą uzupełniającego leczenia chorych operowanych z powodu raka trzonu macicy.In a group of 110 patients operated on for endometrial carcinoma the tolerance of a supplementary pulsatile intravaginal brachytherapy was assessed. Early light post-radiation reaction in the vagina and in the anus was found in a total of 9 (8.2%) patients, whereas late reaction occurred in 6 (5.5%) patients. One patient showed the fourth degree post-radiation reaction in the anus. During the follow-up no remission was observed in the vagina.Pulsatile brachytherapy is a safe and effective supplementary method of treatment in patients operated on for endometrial carcinoma
Free Radicals, Salicylic Acid and Mycotoxins in Asparagus After Inoculation with Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum
Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to monitor free radicals and paramagnetic species like Fe, Mn, Cu generation, stability and status in Asparagus officinalis infected by common pathogens Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum. Occurrence of F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum, level of free radicals and other paramagnetic species, as well as salicylic acid and mycotoxins content in roots and stems of seedlings were estimated on the second and fourth week after inoculation. In the first term free and total salicylic acid contents were related to free radicals level in stem (P = 0.010 and P = 0.033, respectively). Concentration of Fe3+ ions in porphyrin complexes (g = 2.3, g = 2.9) was related to the species of pathogen. There was no significant difference between Mn2+ concentrations in stem samples; however, the level of free radicals in samples inoculated with F. proliferatum was significantly higher when compared to F. oxysporum
Radiotherapy as sole treatment of endometrial cancer. Analysis of treatment outcome
Radiotherapy was used as a stand-alone therapeutic modality in 155 patients with endometrial cancer, treated at the Cracow Branch of the Center of Oncology since 1988 thru 1999. In these patients surgical excision was impossible due to far-advanced cancer (clinical stages III and IV) (n=50), severe comorbidity and poor performance status (n=105). In this patient population, 50 persons in clinical stage I received intracavitary brachytherapy, while the remaining 105 patients in clinical stages II, III and IVA received external beam irradiation followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. In the entire group (n=155), cumulative symptom-free 5 year survival rate was 51% (n=79). In relation to tumour grade, 5 year symptom- free survival rate was 70.3% in patients with well differentiated tumour, 43.5% in those with intermediate- grade tumour and only 20% in persons with poorly differentiated cancer. In patients with stage I endometrial cancer, symptom-free 5 year survival rate was 82% (n=41/50); in clinical stage II – 54.5% (30/55), in clinical stages III and IVA – 16% (8/50). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that independent prognostic factors were clinical stage and tumour grade. Cure rates were 82%, 54.4% and 16% in clinical stages I, II and III/IVA, respectively. Symptom-free 5-year survival rates were 70.3%, 43.5% and 20% in well-differentiated, intermediate- and poorly-differentiated tumours, respectively. Severe late complications of radiotherapy (3rd and 4th degree) developed in 3.5% of patients.W latach 1988-1999 w krakowskim Oddziale Centrum Onkologii (COOK) leczono pierwotnie napromienianiem 155 chorych na raka endometrium (RE), u których niemożliwe było wykonanie zabiegu operacyjnego z powodu zbyt dużego zaawansowania raka (stopnie III i IV) (50 chorych), ciężkich chorób towarzyszących i złego stanu sprawności (105 chorych). U 50 chorych na RE w I stopniu zaawansowania zastosowano wyłącznie brachyterapię dojamową, u pozostałych 105 (stopnie II, III i IVA) brachyterapię dojamową skojarzono z uprzednią teleradioterapią. Spośród 155 chorych badanej grupy 79 pacjentek (51%) przeżyło 5 lat bez objawów nowotworu. Pięć lat bez objawów nowotworu przeżyło 70,3% chorych na wysoko zróżnicowanego, 43,5% na średnio zróżnicowanego i 20% na nisko zróżnicowanego raka. Spośród 50 chorych na raka w I stopniu zaawansowania 5 lat bez objawów choroby przeżyło 41 (82%) pacjentów, spośród 55 chorych na raka w II stopniu zaawansowania - 30 (54,5%), a spośród 50 chorych na raka w stopniach III i IVA - tylko 8 (16%). W wielocechowej analizie Coksa niezależnymi czynnikami prognostycznymi były zaawansowanie kliniczne i stopień zróżnicowania raka. Wyleczono 82% chorych na RE w I stopniu zaawansowania, 54,5% w II stopniu i tylko 16% w stopniach III i IVA. Pięć lat bez objawów nowotworu przeżyło odpowiednio 70,3%, 43,5% i 20% chorych na wysoko, średnio i nisko zróżnicowanego raka. Odległe, ciężkie powikłania (stopnie 3. i 4.) radioterapii wystąpiły jedynie u 3,5% chorych
HPV infection and HPV-related malignancies
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most frequent sexually transmitted disease. According to current estimates, there are about 5 500 000 new infections diagnosed annually. Among about 100 known types of HPV, 40 are designed as genital due to their preferential affinity to vulvar, vaginal, cervical, penile and anogenital epithelium. Chronic infection with types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58 and 59 is associated with an elevated risk of malignant transformation, whereby the type 16 is detected in 50-55% of cases of invasive cervical cancer. Certain diagnosis of HPV infection at every stage of viral life cycle is provided by molecular virological techniques, while detection of viral DNA gains a novel significance as an adjunct to cytological study. Promising diagnostic potential in the setting of chronic HPV infections is associated with the test based on analysis of mRNA transcripts, enabling detection of active oncogenes E6 and E7 of the virus. This enables not only to confirm the presence of virus as such, but also to determine its activity gauged by initiation of transcription, i.e. the earliest phase of carcinogenesis. This is most useful the management of women infected by non-highly oncogenic HPV types. Most vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers are associated with HPV infection. Recently, the incidence of anogenital malignancies is increasing significantly. In view of continuously increasing number of HPV infections, it is reasonable to expect an increased number of anogenital malignancies and precursor lesions thereof, being diagnosed in the near future. Therefore, current epidemiological studied focus on inclusion of HPV testing (HPV DNA, HPV mRNA and early HPV genes) into large-scale screening programs for cervical cancer.Zakażenie HPV jest najczęstszą chorobą przenoszoną drogą płciową. Rocznie rozpoznaje się około 5 500 000 nowych zakażeń. Spośród 100 typów wirusów HPV 40 określa się mianem genitalnych z uwagi na ich preferencyjne występowanie w nabłonku okolic sromu, pochwy, szyjki macicy, penisa i okolicy anogenitalnej. Przetrwałe zakażenie wywołane przez typy 16., 18., 31., 33., 35., 39., 45., 51., 52., 56., 58., 59. wiąże się z wysokim ryzykiem rozwoju raka, przy czym typ 16. jest wykrywany w 50-55% przypadków inwazyjnego raka szyjki macicy. Pewne rozpoznanie zakażenia HPV w każdym stadium cyklu życiowego wirusa zapewniają molekularne metody wirusologiczne, a oznaczenie DNA HPV nabiera znaczenia jako procedura uzupełniająca badanie cytologiczne. Obiecujące możliwości diagnostyczne rozpoznania przetrwałego zakażenia HPV niesie ze sobą test oparty na wykrywaniu aktywnych onkogenów E6 i E7 wirusów HPV poprzez analizę transkryptów mRNA. Pozwala on określić nie tylko obecność, ale również aktywność wirusa, w tym rozpoczęcie transkrypcji, czyli najwcześniejszy etap karcinogenezy. Ma zastosowanie również wśród kobiet zakażonych typami wirusów HPV nienależącymi do grupy wysokoonkogennych. Przeważająca większość przypadków raka sromu, pochwy oraz odbytu związana jest z zakażeniem wirusem HPV. Częstość występowania nowotworów okolicy płciowo-odbytniczej znacząco zwiększyła się w ostatnich latach. Z uwagi na stały wzrost liczby zakażeń HPV należy w przyszłości spodziewać się diagnozowania większej liczby przypadków raków okolicy anogenitalnej i ich zmian prekursorowych. Dlatego też obecne badania epidemiologiczne koncentrują się na włączeniu testowania HPV (DNA HPV, mRNA HPV oraz genów wczesnych HPV) do programu masowych badań skryningowych raka szyjki macicy
The Role of Saccharides in the Mechanisms of Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini in Yellow Lupine (Lupinus luteus L.)
The primary aim of this study was to determine the relationship between soluble sugar levels (sucrose, glucose, or fructose) in yellow lupine embryo axes and the pathogenicity of the hemibiotrophic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Schlecht lupini. The first step of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous saccharides on the growth and sporulation of F. oxysporum. The second one focused on estimating the levels of ergosterol as a fungal growth indicator in infected embryo axes cultured in vitro on sugar containing-medium or without it. The third aim of this study was to record the levels of the mycotoxin moniliformin as the most characteristic secondary metabolite of F. oxysporum in the infected embryo axes with the high sugar medium and without it. Additionally, morphometric measurements, i.e., the length and fresh weight of embryo axes, were done. The levels of ergosterol were the highest in infected embryo axes with a sugar deficit. At the same time, significant accumulation of the mycotoxin moniliformin was recorded in those tissues. Furthermore, it was found that the presence of sugars in water agar medium inhibited the sporulation of the pathogenic fungus F. oxysporum in relation to the control (sporulation of the pathogen on medium without sugar), the strongest inhibiting effect was observed in the case of glucose. Infection caused by F. oxysporum significantly limited the growth of embryo axes, but this effect was more visible on infected axes cultured under sugar deficiency than on the ones cultured with soluble sugars. The obtained results thus showed that high sugar levels may lead to reduced production of mycotoxins by F. oxysporum, limiting infection development and fusariosis