Expression of P-Akt, NFkappaB and their correlation with human papillomavirus infection in cervical carcinoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the expression of P-Akt and NFkappaB and their correlation with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical carcinoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Expression of P-Akt and NFkappaB was detected by an immunohistochemical SP technique with HPV DNA detetion by PCR in 26 cases of cervical carcinoma tissues, 18 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia tissues (CINI / n = 5, CINII / n = 3, CINIII / n = 10) and 19 cases of chronic cervicitis tissues. The different expressions of P-Akt and NFkappaB were compared in different pathological types of cervical carcinoma (cervical squamous cell carcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma), different pathological grading (high, medium, poorly differentiated) and different clinical stage (FIGO I to IV). The relationships between P-Akt and NFkappaB, respectively, with HPV infection in cervical carcinoma were analyzed.

RESULTS

The positive expression rate of P-Akt in chronic cervicitis tissues, CIN and cervical carcinoma tissues was 21.05%, 66.67%, and 92.31%, respectively. There was no obvious difference in the expression of P-Akt in cervical carcinoma in different pathological types or in pathological grading and no obvious difference in different clinical stages. The positive expression rate of NFkappaB in chronic cervicitis tissues, CIN and cervical carcinoma tissues was 10.52%, 72.22% and 96.15%, respectively; there was no statistically significant difference among the groups for different pathological types and there was no obvious difference in different pathological grading or different clinical stage. There was an obviously positive correlation between P-Akt and NFkappaB expression rate and degree of disease (r = 0.998, p < 0.05). Cervical carcinoma and CIN cases totaled 44; the positive expression rate of P-Akt was 87.55% in 32 cases of positive HPV-DNA of the 44 cases, and the positive expression rate of P-Akt was only 16.70% in 12 cases of negative HPV-DNA of the 44 cases. The positive expression rate of NFkappaB was obviously higher in the HPV DNA positive than in the HPV-DNA negative cases. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The positive expression rate of P-Akt and NFkappaB was closely related with cervical disease extent, and closely related with HPV infection in cervical carcinoma. This study suggests that P-Akt and NFkappaB more probably play an important role in the occurrence of cervical carcinoma.

Spatial-temporal expression of pum1 and pum2 in medaka Oryzias latipes

Two pumilios, pum1 and pum2, were identified in medaka Oryzias latipes. Oryzias latipes pum1 and pum2 are ubiquitous in the adult tissues but with specific expression in the germ cells of gonads, ovary and testis. Pum1 is expressed in the spermatogonia to spermatocytes whilst pum2 presents in spermatocytes of testis only. Oryzias latipes pum1 and pum2 are maternally supplied RNA with ubiquitous expression in the early stages, and embryonic expression of pum1 and pum2 may begin from early gastrula. Both pum1 and pum2 are expressed in the tissues including brain, eye and trunk, and both are expressed in the gonads after hatching. Taken together, Pum1 and Pum2 may play important roles in embryonic and germ cell development of O. latipes.

The effect of second coagulant dose on the regrowth of flocs formed by charge neutralization and sweep coagulation using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4)

Characteristics of flocs formed by charge neutralization and sweep coagulation using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl(4)) were investigated with humic acid-kaolin suspension by continuous optical monitoring. This paper focused on the regrowth ability of broken flocs after addition of second TiCl(4) dose. Variation of floc size and the fractal dimension of flocs versus second TiCl(4) dose after regrowth were investigated. Second TiCl(4) dose was added during the floc breakage period, and addition time of second TiCl(4) dose was also investigated. The results showed that, when coagulated by charge neutralization at pH 6, an appropriate second TiCl(4) dose improved regrowth ability of broken flocs at low initial TiCl(4) doses. While for high initial TiCl(4) doses, second TiCl(4) dose lowered floc re-growth ability. When coagulated by sweep coagulation at pH 10, second TiCl(4) dose made regrown flocs larger than those without second TiCl(4) dose. Floc structure analysis showed that it was determined by not only the fractal dimension of flocs, but also the chemical characteristics of floc surface. Addition time of second TiCl(4) dose had a great effect on floc regrowth ability, suggesting that the broken flocs had better regrowth when second TiCl(4) dose was added at the end of the breakage period.

Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for the spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata (Buccinidae)

The spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, is one of the most extensively cultured marine mollusks in southeast Asia. Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for this species, from a microsatellite-enriched library. These markers, characterized in 32 individuals from a hatchery population, were polymorphic, with allele numbers ranging from 6 to 18 per locus, expected and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.68 to 0.94 and 0.56 to 0.81, respectively. One locus (HUBA09) showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, probably due to the presence of null alleles. These microsatellite loci should be useful for future population genetic studies and marker-assisted breeding in this species.

P3-02-02: Novel Ranpirnase-Based ImmunoRNases Display Potent Cytotoxicity in Diverse Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Ranpirnase (Rap) is an amphibian ribonuclease originally isolated from the oocytes of Rana pipiens. Rap shows anti-tumor activity in diverse cancers and its potency can be enhanced by chemically linking or recombinantly fusing Rap to a tumor-targeting antibody, as demonstrated for CD22- or CD74-expresing hematological malignancies, as well as a variety of Trop-2-expressing cell lines derived from breast, cervical, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. The Dock-and-Lock (DNL) platform enables the design and generation of targetable therapeutics that are multivalent, multispecific, and multifunctional. Here, we report the successful application of the DNL method to generate a novel class of Rap-based immunoRNases, each of which features a pair of dimeric Rap molecules covalently tethered to a select monoclonal antibody at the carboxyl termini of the heavy chains. Two such constructs, designated E1-Rap and 22-Rap, were developed with hRS7 (humanized anti-Trop-2) and epratuzumab (humanized anti-CD22), respectively, purified to near homogeneity, and evaluated in a panel of human breast cancer lines, including the basal-like, triple-negative subtype (MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, BT20, HCC1806, and HCC1395), the luminal B, HER2−negative subtype (MCF-7), and the HER2−positive subtype (SKBR3), all except HCC1395 expressing high to moderate levels of Trop-2, and none expressing CD22. As demonstrated by flow cytometry, E1-Rap and hRS7 bound equivalently to MDA-MB-468, indicating the affinity of E1-Rap for Trop-2 is not compromised. Surprisingly, 22-Rap, but not epratuzumab, also bound substantially to MDA-MB-468, albeit to a lesser extent than E1-Rap. We thus postulate that the four highly basic Rap molecules in the DNL conjugate may confer a spatial configuration to largely enhance their interaction with negatively-charged cell surface proteins, such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Whereas the individual DNL component (IgG or Rap) alone or in combination showed negligible in vitro cytotoxicity in all seven breast cancer cell lines examined, E1-Rap exhibited EC50 values of 1 nM or less in MDA-MB-468 (0.03 nM), MCF-7 (0.1 nM), BT20 (0.18 nM), HCC1806 (0.19 nM), and SKBR3 (1.29 nM). In comparison, the potency of 22-Rap was at least 10-fold lower than E1-Rap in MDA-MB-468, BT20 and HCC1806, with an EC50 of ∼2 nM. Neither E1-Rap nor 22-Rap was very effective in inhibiting the proliferation of the more aggressive MDA-MB-231, with an EC50 above 50 nM. In the Trop-2-negative HCC1395, the dose-response curves obtained for E1-Rap and 22-Rap were nearly identical (EC50 ∼100 nM), as they should be if the cytotoxicity was mediated mainly through the Rap component. The results of Immunofluorescence microscopy showed E1-Rap was effectively internalized and localized in the cytosol. Thus, these ImmunoRNases are potentially new cancer therapeutics for breast and other solid tumors.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-02-02.

P1-07-04: Gene Expression Module Biomarkers To Stratify Multiple Clinical and Therapeutic Endpoints for Universal Breast Cancer Companion Diagnostic

Gene expression patterns are increasingly capable of stratifying patients based on prognosis and response to therapy. Given the limited availability of sample tissue, however, it is not feasible to run many tests, suggesting the need for a universal companion diagnostic assay that is informative with respect to multiple clinical and therapeutic endpoints. Key challenges are identification of appropriate gene expression biomarkers, translation of biomarkers to clinical assays, and development of reliable gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed clinical specimens. Here, we describe a meta-analysis approach that identifies novel biomarker modules that results in multiple clinical and therapeutic read-outs.

A co-expression meta-analysis of 5,339 breast tumors from 56 microarray datasets identified highly co-expressed sets of genes (modules) across multiple datasets. These module based biomarkers were tested for their ability to associate with prognostic and predictive targets in published datasets. In addition, each module was reduced from 10 - 1,000 genes to the top performing 2–3 genes based on the degree of co-expression across the meta-analysis and validation by quantitative PCR in an independent panel of FFPE tumor samples. This study demonstrates that a single 96 gene qPCR test utilizing multiple module biomarkers is not only capable of stratifying patients by standard histopathological parameters (ER, PR and Her2), but also stratifies by other diverse elements of the disease (cell lineage, dysregulated core biological functions, factors of cell growth, underlying genomic aberrations and the tumor microenvironment). Taken together, these biological variables represent the major biological diversity present within the breast cancer population. A series of retrospective analyses demonstrated that different single module and combinations of modules were capable of predicting a variety of clinical endpoints, including 5-year survival, neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in ER- patients and targeted therapy response in model systems.The molecular heterogeneity of breast cancer can be summarized by discrete gene expression modules that individually represent distinct biological pathways, and that collectively can be represented by as few as 96 genes. These breast cancer modules, together with outlier genes, allow for summation of the entire transcriptional program and provide a universal assay with broad application to companion diagnostics development.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-04.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the neck: CT findings

We report a case of DDL with an osteosarcomatous component affecting the right neck. CT showed a lipomatous region with thick septa, a low-attenuation high-water-content component, and a sporadic heterogeneous high-attenuation calcified area.

High-power polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm

We report on the efficient operation of a high-power erbium-doped polycrystalline Er:YAG ceramic laser at 1617 nm resonantly pumped by a high-power 1532 nm Er,Yb fiber laser. Lasing characteristics of Er:YAG ceramics with different Er3+ concentrations are evaluated and compared. With an output coupler of 15% transmission and 0.5 at. % Er3+-doped YAG ceramic as the gain media, the laser generates 14 W of output power at 1617 nm for 28.8 W of incident pump power at 1532 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency with respect to incident pump power of 51.7%.

P5-01-18: Identification of Pax6 as a Human Breast Cancer-Testis Antigen

Background

Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are specifically expressed in the normal testis and various types of cancer cells, but not or expressed with very low level in the other normal tissues. CTAs are considered to be promising targets for immunotherapy. Little is known on CTAs which specifically expressed in breast cancer. Studies show that the transcriptional activation by CpG island hypomethylation is believed to be an important mechanism of their increased expression.

Objective: To find CTAs which specifically expressed in breast cancer; prove the increase of its expression in human breast cancer, and explore the possibility for it to be developed as target for the immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of breast cancer.

Methods and results Genomic DNAs were isolated from testis tissue, breast cancer and normal breast tissues respectively. To perform CpG island microarray assays, genomic DNAs were prepared from 15 paired breast cancer biopsies and their normal controls. After obtaining sequence information for those clones from the CpG island database, they were then used to search for surrounding genes in the gene banks. We found several testis specific genes, such as, Pax6, NDRG3 and Synaptojanin 2. Since the last two genes had been extended investigated, they were not the subjects of this study. The Pax6 Gene Was Activated in Established and Primary Breast Cancer Cell Lines. First, we examined Pax6 gene expression levels in a breast cancer cell line panel that included Hs578T, MDA-231, MDA-436, MDA-468, T47D, MCF7 and MCF7/Adr, by performing RT-PCR where b-actin served as control. In addition, the RNAs obtained from normal breast and testis tissues were used as negative and positive controls.We found that Pax6 was re-expressed in MDA-436, MDA-468, T47D, and MCF7/Adr. To further test the Pax6 gene's behavior in primary breast cancer cells, we isolated breast cancer epithelial cells from the effusions of 8 patients (E4, E5, K151, K259, K473, K573, K596 and K605). cRNAs were prepared from those cells and the normal human breast cell line (NHBEC) for RT-PCR assays, where cRNAs of paired MCF7 cells and b-actin served as controls. Results showed that Pax6 was expressed in K259, K573, K596 and K605 cells to various degrees. Pax6 Was Expressed in a Majority of Breast Cancer Biopsies. To test if Pax6 was also expressed in breast cancer tissues, IHC assays were carried out using 19 patients’ biopsies where human testes served as positive controls. We found that the Pax6 protein existed mainly in the cytoplasm of breast cancer cells, but was not detectable in normal breast tissue sections.

Conclusion CpG islands of pax6 promoter region were hypomethylated in human breast cancer. The mRNA level of Pax6 in human breast cancer was significantly increased contrast to normal breast tissue, contrast to all other analyzed normal tissues, suggesting Pax6 is a CTA for breast cancer and might be applied as molecular target in immunotherapy against human breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-01-18.

P4-07-12: Identification of p53 Mutation in Whole Genome DNA from Single Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Primary Breast Cancers (BC) from Patients (pts) with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)

Background: CTCs represent the source of distant metastases, and are also implied in the growth/re-growth of primary BC. Molecular/gene-level characterization of similarities and discordances between CTCs and BCs in pts with MBC may provide useful information for individualized treatment. Since somatic p53 mutations are frequently observed in primary BCs, we set out to assess the feasibility of identifying such mutations in CTCs from pts with MBCs, and compare the findings with those of the primary BCs from the same pts. Material and Method: Fiber-optic Array Scanning Technology (FAST) was used for identification and location of CTCs on large glass substrates. CTCs were identified after blood samples (10 ml) from MBC pts were stained to detect CTCs via automated digital microscopy by morphology, based on immunofuorescence staining for cytokeratin and nucleus, and the absence of CD45. Single CTCs from 10 pts with MBC were identified and removed from the glass substrates. DNA was extracted, and the whole genome of isolated CTCs was amplified by using whole genome amplification method (Sigma). P53 mutations in exon 5, exon 6, exon 7 and exon 8 were assessed. As comparison, genomic DNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) from primary BCs of the same pts, was amplified using the same method.

Results: p53 mutations were found in 8 out of 10 CTCs, and in 4 out of 10 in primary BC samples. Of 8 mutations detected in CTCs, one silent mutation and 7 missense mutations were seen. One particular point mutation, R181L, previously assessed as functional mutation, was observed in 4 out of 8 CTCs. None of the 4 mutations (a silent mutation, one missense mutation and two different deletions) detected in tumor samples were found in CTCs. We validated that the mutations detected in CTCs were not artifacts occurring during genome amplification, by comparing p53 mutations between unamplified tumor genomic DNA vs. amplified samples.

Conclusion: Whole genome amplification based on extracting DNA from single CTCs using FAST, and identification of mutations such as those in p53, is feasible. The quantitative and qualitative discordance in detecting p53 mutations between CTCs and primary BCs may be due to CTCs acquiring new -possibly epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like-characteristics with metastatic potential as they evolve from the primary tumors or metastatic sites, or, technical issues (analyzing FFPE-preserved vs. CTCs, tumor heterogeneity) may contribute to our findings. Further assessment of the functionality of high frequent functional mutations such as R181L is warranted.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-07-12.

P3-14-21: Neoadjuvant Therapy Response, Subtype and BRCA Status in an Underserved Population

Background

Preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy is typically used for larger operable breast cancer cases, and the degree of pathological response correlates with long term outcome. Therapeutic response also depends on biological and molecular subtype and is increasingly studied in the research setting to identify prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Little is known about the interactions of neoadjuvant response with biomarker subtypes and genetic predisposition in underserved and minority populations.

Methods: IRB approval was obtained to capture demographic, clinicopathological and genetic testing data on patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and treated with preoperative chemotherapy and definitive surgery between 2005 and 2010 at Los Angeles County Medical Center, which serves a primarily Hispanic and indigent population. Treatment followed NCCN guidelines with the exception that not all patients with HER2+ disease received trastuzumab. Genetic counseling and testing has been available at this center since 2007. Pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as no residual invasive disease in breast or nodes. Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test was used to examine associations between pCR and clinical factors, and logistic regression analyses were applied to assess each variable's contribution to pCR.

Results: Among 104 patients, of whom 79% were Hispanic, the overall pCR rate was 27%. Significantly higher pCR rates were seen in age ≥50, clinical N0, HER2+, triple negative, and lumpectomy cases. No differences in pCR rate was seen in Hispanics vs. others, Grade III vs. I and II or in the 9 BRCA mutations carriers among 45 tested compared to no mutation or those not tested. Of the 43 patients with HER2+ disease, the pCR rate was higher in the 32 patients who received trastuzumab (pCR 50.0 vs. 27.3%). Subset pCR rates and odds ratios (OR) of achieving pCR are shown below:

Association between the Interleukin 10-1082G>A polymorphism and coronary heart disease risk in a Caucasian population: a meta-analysis

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with anti-inflammatory and B-cell-stimulating activity. IL-10 is expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques and studies have shown the involvement of IL-10 in the atherosclerotic process. The IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism is one of the most commonly studied polymorphisms in this gene because of its association with coronary heart disease (CHD) risks, but previous results have been conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis using six eligible case-control studies (including 14 data sets) with a total of 5006 patients and 3968 controls to summarize the existing data on the association between the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism and CHD risk. Compared with the common IL-10-1082G/A GG genotype, the carriers of variant genotypes (IL-10-1082GA/AA) had a 1.12-fold elevated risk of CHD (95% CI = 1.01-1.23, P = 0.03) under the dominant genetic model, as estimated using a random effect model. The effect of the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism was further evaluated using stratification analysis. In the three disease of artery studies, with the variant genotypes had a not obvious increased risk of disease of artery (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.98-1.44, P = 0.08) as estimated using a fixed effect model. Similar results were found in the nine myocardial infarction studies (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.00-1.27, P = 0.05). It was also demonstrated that the increased risk of CHD associated with IL-10-1082G/A variant genotypes was more pronounced in Caucasians (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.23, P = 0.03). Our meta-analysis suggests that the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism genotypes (GA+AA) might be associated with an increased risk of CHD, especially in Caucasians.

Nocardia infection in kidney transplant recipients: case report and analysis of 66 published cases

Nocardiosis is a rare but life-threatening opportunistic infection, especially in immune compromised patients, including kidney transplant recipients. Primary pulmonary infection is the most common clinical pattern, and can easily result in disseminated Nocardia infection if treatment therapy is not adequate at the beginning. In this article, we report a new case of disseminated nocardiosis (lungs, skin, and pericardium) after renal allograft transplantation. We also review the English literature published from 1980 to 2010 and analyze the clinical characteristics of nocardiosis in kidney transplant recipients.

Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 6 modulates the radiation sensitivity of glioblastoma

Increasing the sensitivity of glioblastoma cells to radiation is a promising approach to improve survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This study aims to determine if serine/threonine phosphatase (protein phosphatase 6 (PP6)) is a molecular target for GBM radiosensitization treatment. The GBM orthotopic xenograft mice model was used in this study. Our data demonstrated that the protein level of PP6 catalytic subunit (PP6c) was upregulated in the GBM tissue from about 50% patients compared with the surrounding tissue or control tissue. Both the in vitro survival fraction of GBM cells and the patient survival time were highly correlated or inversely correlated with PP6c expression (R²=0.755 and −0.707, respectively). We also found that siRNA knockdown of PP6c reduced DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity in three different GBM cell lines, increasing their sensitivity to radiation. In the orthotopic mice model, the overexpression of PP6c in GBM U87 cells attenuated the effect of radiation treatment, and reduced the survival time of mice compared with the control mice, while the PP6c knocking-down improved the effect of radiation treatment, and increased the survival time of mice. These findings demonstrate that PP6 regulates the sensitivity of GBM cells to radiation, and suggest small molecules disrupting or inhibiting PP6 association with DNA-PK is a potential radiosensitizer for GBM.

A New Approach to the Detection of Lesions in Mammography Using Fuzzy Clustering

Breast cancer is a leading cause of female mortality and its early detection is an important means of reducing this. The present study investigated an approach, based on fuzzy clustering, to detect small lesions, such as microcalcifications and other masses, that are hard to recognize in breast cancer screening. A total of 180 mammograms were analysed and classified by radiologists into three groups ( n = 60 per group): those with microcalcifications; those with tumours; and those with no lesions. Twenty mammograms were taken as training data sets from each of the groups. The algorithm was then applied to the data not taken for training. Analysis by fuzzy clustering achieved a mean accuracy of 99.7% compared with the radiologists' findings. It was concluded that the fuzzy clustering algorithm allowed for more efficient and accurate detection of breast lesions and may improve the early detection of breast tumours.

Cognitive impairment using education-based cutoff points for CMMSE scores in elderly Chinese people of agricultural and rural Shanghai China

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate cognitive impairment (CI) in rural China using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (CMMSE) and compare the prevalence of CI using two different cutoff points.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A population-based survey was conducted of 2809 people aged 60 years and above in a community of two towns (Huaxin and Xujing) in the Qingpu district, located in the western suburb of Shanghai. Face-to-face interviews were carried out to collect relevant information with questionnaires. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination with either a 23/24 cutoff point or a cutoff point varying according to education level (AEL) was used to screen subjects for CI.

RESULTS

Among these subjects, the mean age was 70.6 years (SD = 6.6) and ranged from 60 to 92 years and included 1010 (36.0%) men and 1799 (64.0%) women. The mean age was 70.7 years (SD = 6.4) for men and 70.5 years (SD = 6.7) for women. Of the 2809 subjects, 2010 (71.5%) had no formal education, 607 (21.6%) completed 1-6 years of education, and 173 (6.2%) completed more than 6 years of school education. The prevalence of CI was 35.6% (95% CI: 33.8-37.4) for both genders when the cutoff point of 23/24 was used. However, when the cutoff point was altered with respect to different education levels, the prevalence of CI was 7.0%. For each item of the CMMSE, increased years of education correlated with a higher item score, with the exception of the 'Naming' item score.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that screening of CI using the AEL cutoff scores is feasible in a low-education population. Determining whether the 23/24 cutoff point is suitable for the Chinese people requires future prospective studies in a large Chinese population.