Downregulated expression of Cdc25A gene in MCF-7 breast cancer cell

Significance of P16INK4A hypermethylation gene in primary head/neck and colorectal tumors: it is a specific tissue event? Results of a 3-year GOIM (Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale) prospective study

Background Methylation of the p16 promoter is one of the most frequent mechanisms of gene inactivation; its incidence is extremely variable according to the type of tumor involved. Our purpose was to analyze the hypermethylation of the p16 promoter in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC), salivary gland (SG) tumors and in colorectal cancer (CRC), to detect any possible association with the clinicopathological features and to determine the prognostic significance of the p16 gene in the tumors analyzed. Patients and methods The hypermethylation of the p16 promoter was prospectively analyzed, by MSP, in a consecutive series of 64 locally advanced LSCC patients, in a consecutive series of …

Historical aspects of a frequent anal disease: haemorrhoids Chir Ital. 2004 Sep-Oct;56(5):745-8. Italian.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants of uncertain clinical significance and their implications for genetic counseling

I tumori stromali gastrointestinali (GIST): presentazione di sei casi e revisione della letteratura

Specific codon 13 K-ras mutations are predictive of clinical outcome in colorectal cancer patients, whereas codon 12 K-ras mutations are associated with mucinous histotype

Background: K-ras mutations, one of the earliest events observed in colorectal carcinogenesis, are mostly found in codons 12 and 13, and less frequently in codon 61, all three of which are estimated to be critical for the biological activity of the protein. Nevertheless the prognostic significance of such mutations remains controversial. Our purpose was to assess whether any or specific K-ras mutations in primary colorectal cancer had prognostic significance and were linked to clinico-pathological parameters. Patients and methods: Paired tumor and normal tissue samples from a consecutive series of 160 untreated patients (median of follow up 71 months), undergoing resective surgery for prima…

The impact of the patient's Adjustment to breast cancer of the burden and distress of the caregiver.

The subway tunneling technique for distal shunt catheter insertion.

Dear Editor,We read with interest the article by Osman et al. titled ‘Trocar assisted distal shunt tube insertion with intra-operative X-Ray confirmation’. The authors purpose their technique to pl...

Longevity: Lesson from model organisms

Research on longevity and healthy aging promises to increase our lifespan and decrease the burden of degenerative diseases with important social and economic effects. Many aging theories have been proposed, and important aging pathways have been discovered. Model organisms have had a crucial role in this process because of their short lifespan, cheap maintenance, and manipulation possibilities. Yeasts, worms, fruit flies, or mammalian models such as mice, monkeys, and recently, dogs, have helped shed light on aging processes. Genes and molecular mechanisms that were found to be critical in simple eukaryotic cells and species have been confirmed in humans mainly by the functional analysis of…

BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in sicilian breast and/or ovarian cancer families and their association with familial profiles

EGF Induces STAT3-Dependent VEGF Expression in HT-29 colon cancer cells

Early stage nasal vestibule tumors: safety and efficacy of HDR brachyterapy in elderly patients

I tumori stromali gastrointestinali: presentazione di sei casi e revisione della letteratura

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) represent the most common kind of mesenchymal tumours that arise from the alimentary tract. GISTs express a growth factor receptor with tyrosine kinase function, which causes cellular proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. GISTs are generally found in the stomach (40-70%), and less commonly in the small intestine, colon-rectum, esophagus and peritoneum. Clinical and instrumental diagnosis is still very difficult to make. Surgery remains the standard treatment for nonmetastatic tumours. For non resectable and metastatic tumours seems to be effective the therapy with Imatinib mesylate, a specific inhibitor of tyrosine kinase receptor (KIT). Are ong…

Meta-analysis on the application of the ERAS protocol in high-risk patients in colorectal surgery

III-Po/35) The role of the left choleic artery in the rectum anterious resection with colo-anal anastomosis: technique and considerations of anastomosis oxigenation through nitric oxide valutation.

DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction, but not p53 or NM23-H1 expression, predict outcome in colorectal cancer patients. Result of a 5-year prospective study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine TP53 and NM23-H1 immunoreactivity, DNA ploidy, and S-phase fraction (SPF) in a series of 160 patients undergoing resective surgery for primary operable colorectal cancer (CRC) and to establish whether these alterations have any clinical value in predicting CRC patients' prognosis. Methods: TP53 and NM23-H1 expressions were evaluated on paraffin-embedded tissue by immunohistochemistry and DNA-ploidy and SPF on frozen tissue by flow-cytometric analysis. Results: The median follow-up time in our study group was 71 months (range 34-115 months). P53 protein expression was associated with distal tumors (P < 0.05) and DNA aneuploid tumors (P < …

Videofluorografia digitale ed acalasia esofagea: dalla diagnosi al follow-up postoperatorio

Antiemetic prophylaxis containing Palonosetron (P) alone or in combination with Aprepitant (A) in the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients with epirubicin and ifosfamide

Trans-visceral migration of retained surgical gauze as a cause of intestinal obstruction: a case report

AbstractIntroductionA retained surgical sponge in the abdomen is uncommon although it is likely that this finding is underreported in the medical literature. The intravisceral migration of retained surgical gauze is even rarer, as demonstrated by the very few cases reported.Case presentationThree years after undergoing anterior resection of the rectum, a 75-year-old man presented with symptoms of small bowel obstruction. Plain abdominal radiography and CT showed a radio-opaque marker; a foreign body was suspected, probably a piece of retained surgical gauze. An ileotomy of about 5 cm. was performed to confirm this diagnosis and remove the gauze.ConclusionAlthough rare, retained gauze in the…

Validity of shape memory NiTi colon ring BioDynamix ColonRingTM (or NiTi CAR 27TM) to prevent anastomotic colorectal strictures. Preliminary results

PURPOSE: Anastomotic strictures occur in 3-30% of colorectal anastomosis and one of the main causes may be a reaction to the presence of the metal staples used for suturing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a compression anastomosis ring using the memory shaped device in initial, i.e. nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi) for the prevention of colorectal anastomotic strictures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A compression anastomosis ring device (NiTi CAR 27) was used to perform compression anastomosis in 20 patients underwent left hemicolectomy and anterior resection of the rectum for carcinoma. An endoscopic check of the anastomosis was carried out at one month and at six months after …

Low dose splenic irradiation in myelofibrosis: outcomes and toxicity of three radiation schedule

Gists eredo familiari e pediatrici: aspetti biomolecolari e clinici.

UN CASO DI SINDROME DA RIVASCOLARIZZAZIONE SUCCESSIVA A INNESTO DI PROTESI DELL’AORTA PER LESIONE JATROGENA

La sindrome da rivascolarizzazione (SR) comprende un insieme di eventi metabolici ed emodinamici che insorgono in un arto rivascolarizzato dopo un periodo più o meno lungo di ischemia, caratterizzata da specifiche manifestazioni cliniche sia a livello locale che sistemico. Riportiamo qui di seguito un caso di SR occorsa in una giovane donna di anni 20 con Sindrome di Turner e tiroidite autoimmune la quale veniva sottoposta ad intervento di giuntopieloplastica sinistra Robot assistita, poiché affetta da stenosi del medesimo giunto ed idronefrosi sinistra.

Analysis of Germline Gene Copy Number Variants of Patients with Sporadic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Reveals Specific Variations

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The rapid fatality of pancreatic cancer is, in large part, the result of diagnosis at an advanced stage in the majority of patients. Identification of individuals at risk of developing pancreatic adenocarcinoma would be useful to improve the prognosis of this disease. There is presently no biological or genetic indicator allowing the detection of patients at risk. Our main goal was to identify copy number variants (CNVs) common to all patients with sporadic pancreatic cancer. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We analyzed gene CNVs in leukocyte DNA from 31 patients with sporadic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and from 93 matched contr…

Molecular detection of TP53, Ki-Ras and p16INK4A promoter methylation in plasma of patients with colorectal cancer and its association with prognosis. Results of a 3-year GOIM (Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale) prospective study

BACKGROUND:Despite the improvement in detection and surgical therapy in the last years, the outcome of patients affected by colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains limited by metastatic relapse. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of free tumor DNA in the plasma of CRC patients in order to understand its possible prognostic role. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ki-Ras, TP53 mutations and p16(INK4A) methylation status were prospectively evaluated in tumor tissues and plasma of 66 CRC patients. RESULTS: In 50 of the 66 primitive tumor cases (76%) at least one significant alteration was identified in Ki-Ras and/or TP53 and/or p16(INK4A) genes. Eighteen of the 50 patients presented the same …

Axillary Nodal Burden in Breast Cancer Patients With Pre-operative Fine Needle Aspiration-proven Positive Lymph Nodes Compared to Those With Positive Sentinel Nodes

BACKGROUND/AIM: Recent years have seen a considerable shift to a more conservative management of the axilla in patients with positive axillary sentinel lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to determine whether some breast cancer patients with a preoperative ultrasound-guided needle aspiration biopsy proven positive node could potentially be spared an axillary lymph node dissection according to the ACOSOG Z0011 trial criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed involving 623 breast cancer patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection after either ultrasound-guided needle aspiration biopsy proven positive node or sentinel lymph node biopsy. RESULTS: Patients …

Predictive Factors of Response to Sunitinib in Imatinib-Resistant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs): A Multi-Institutional Study

Imatinib 400 mg is the standard of care for medical treatment of advanced GISTs. In the majority of cases, however, GISTs eventually develop resistance to imatinib. The optimal second line treatment has not been established yet and imatinib dose escalation (800 mg) or sunitinib represent two feasible options. The objective of this retrospective, multi-institutional, study is to analyze the validity of several parameters as possible predictive factors of response to sunitinib after imatinib failure. We reviewed 128 metastatic GISTs treated with sunitinib between January 2007 to June 2017. Primary tumour site, metastatic site, c-KIT/PDGFR-α mutational status, PET-FDG status and type…

Nm-23-H1 expression does not predict clinical survival in colorectal cancer patients

The gene Nm23, which encodes for a nucleoside diphosphate kinase, has been defined as a metastasis-suppressor gene because of the inverse correlation between its expression and the metastatic capacity of the tumor cells. For colorectal cancer, however, the findings are equivocal. The aim of our study was to assess, in 160 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC), the expression of the Nm23-H1 protein and to evaluate its possible associations with traditional clinicopathologic variables, with DNA-ploidy and proliferative activity (S-phase fraction, SPF), and with disease-free and overall survival of patients. Nm23-H1 expressions were evaluated on paraffin-embedded tissue by im…

I MOMENTI STORICI DI UNA FREQUENTE PATOLOGIA ANALE: LE EMORROIDI

In this report the authors outline the main historical aspects of haemorrhoids after a thorough review of the literature. The first texts concerning haemorrhoids are the ancient Egyptian papyruses. The twenty centuries of the history of haemorrhoids are marked by multiple pathogenetic theories, and of these the vascular and the sliding of the anal mucosa are still valid. From an analysis of the historical texts and the most recent publications, we deduce that the principles of therapy are substantially unchanged since the days of Hippocrates. In conclusion, we can say that, as in ancient times, the therapy of haemorrhoids is based on three fundamental approaches: surgical treatment, ambulat…

I tumori della mammella e/o dell’ovaio di tipo eredofamiliare: strategie di prevenzione nelle donne ad alto rischio

Numerosi fattori sono stati coinvolti nell’insorgenza del carcinoma mammario e dell’ovaio tra cui l’età, fattori ormonali e riproduttivi come l’età e il numero di gravidanze e l’utilizzo di contraccettivi orali e, in minor misura, fattori ambientali e stili di vita. Le possibilità per la gestione clinica delle pazienti considerate ad alto rischio di sviluppare carcinoma della mammella e/o dell’ovaio includono chirurgia profilattica (es. mastectomia bilaterale profilattica o ovarosalpingectomia bilaterale), chemioprevenzione (principalmente tamoxifene e raloxifene ma anche, più recentemente, inibitori dell’aromatasi nelle donne ad alto rischio in postmenopausa), cambiamenti nelle abitudini d…

La consulenza genetica in oncologia: implicazioni biomolecolari e cliniche.

LA SURRENALECTOMIA LAPAROSCOPICA: NOSTRA ESPERIENZA

Risk factors for bile leakage after liver resection for neoplastic disease.

Biliary leakage (BL) remains the most frequent and feared complication after hepatoresective surgery. Placement of the abdominal drainage at the end of liver surgery remains controversial due to the delicate balance between risks and potential benefits in case of BL. The study was aimed to detect possible risk factors for BL occurrence after liver surgery. We enrolled all oncologic patients who underwent liver resection from June 2016 to March 2021. BL was diagnosed according to the ISGLS definition. We have examined demographic characteristics of the patients, type of neoplasia, presence of cirrhosis, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and type of intervention. Uni- and multivariable analyses were p…

Isolated Metachronous Splenic Metastasis from Colon Cancer: Possible Explanations for This Rare Entity

The incidence of splenic metastases secondary to colorectal cancer is very low; these lesions have been more frequently reported as secondary to breast, lung, and ovarian cancer. Splenic metastases are particularly common in melanoma; their incidence has been reported as being as high as 34% at autopsy [1]. Most cases of secondary splenic metastases have been described in patients with tumors of the left colon while only few cases being reported as originating from right colon tumors (Table 1). The finding of a splenic mass in the absence of a history of malignancy suggests a primary lesion (lymphoma, hematoma, etc.), while a history of oncological disease raises the possibility of a second…

Specific TP53 and/or Ki-ras mutations as independent predictors of clinical outcome in sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas: results of a 5-year Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale (GOIM) prospective study

BACKGROUND: Although Ki-ras and TP53 mutations have probably been the genetic abnormalities most exhaustively implicated and studied in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, their significance in terms of disease relapse and overall survival has not yet clearly been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on paired tumor and normal colon tissue samples from a consecutive series of 160 previously-untreated patients, undergoing resective surgery for primary operable sporadic CRC. Mutations within the TP53 (exons 5-8) and Ki-ras (exon 2) genes were detected by PCR-SSCP analyses following sequencing. RESULTS: Mutation analyses of exons 5 to 8 of the TP53 gene showe…

L'impiego del linfonodo sentinella nel carcinoma del colon-retto. Considerazioni e proposta di tecnica

La via linfatica è una delle principali vie di diffusione metastatica di molte neoplasie. I linfonodi sono gli "snodi" di questo intricato sistema e in alcuni distretti assumono il ruolo di veri e propri check point, meglio ancora di "sentinella", in quanto il loro mancato coinvolgimento nella diffusione metastatica sembrerebbe poter escludere l'interessamento di quelli posti a monte. L'applicazione della tecnica di ricerca e identificazione del linfonodo sentinella, comunemente impiegata nei casi di melanoma e cancro della mammella, anche al carcinoma del colon-retto ha suscitato molto interesse ma, nonostante i molti studi compiuti al riguardo, non sono stati ancora ottenuti risultati tal…

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the rectum: Report of a case and review of literature

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a rare tumour of the gastrointestinal tract which does not generally originate in the rectum. The authors describe a case of a 70-year-old man who underwent an anterior resection of the rectum for a low-risk GIST. The patient was not given adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib and is still disease-free 30 mo after surgery. The authors conclude that although rectal GIST is extremely uncommon, it should be included in differential diagnosis when a tumour in the rectum is detected. Biopsy of the tumour is essential, since this makes it possible to reach a sure preoperative diagnosis based on the immunohistological features of the CD117 and CD34. Although…

Clinical presentation and treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Aims and background Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), although rare, are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. We present our experience in the treatment of localized and metastatic disease and a review of literature. Patients and methods Nine patients were observed from April 2002 to July 2004. Eight tumors were in the gastric area and J was in the small bowel. In 5 cases, complete surgical removal was performed, and none of these patients underwent adjuvant therapy. The remaining 4 cases, with locally advanced or recurrent disease, were treated with imatinib. Results The patients with localized disease treated only by surgery did not relapse. I…

A literature-based meta-analysis of the comparison between Gemcitabine-based combination and monochemotherapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in elderly patients