GOLPH2 protein expression as a novel tissue biomarker for prostate cancer: implications for tissue-based diagnostics

GOLPH2 is coding the 73-kDa type II Golgi membrane antigen GOLPH2/GP73. Upregulation of GOLPH2 mRNA has been recently reported in expression array analyses of prostate cancer. As GOLPH2 protein expression in prostate tissues is currently unknown, this study aimed at a comprehensive analysis of GOLPH2 protein in benign and malignant prostate lesions. Immunohistochemically detected GOLPH2 protein expression was compared with the basal cell marker p63 and the prostate cancer marker alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) in 614 radical prostatectomy specimens. GOLPH2 exhibited a perinuclear Golgi-type staining pattern and was preferentially seen in prostatic gland epithelia. Using a semiquantitative staining intensity score, GOLPH2 expression was significantly higher in prostate cancer glands compared with normal glands (P<0.001). GOLPH2 protein was upregulated in 567 of 614 tumours (92.3%) and AMACR in 583 of 614 tumours (95%) (correlation coefficient 0.113, P = 0.005). Importantly, GOLPH2 immunohistochemistry exhibited a lower level of intratumoral heterogeneity (25 vs 45%). Further, GOLPH2 upregulation was detected in 26 of 31 (84%) AMACR-negative prostate cancer cases. These data clearly suggest GOLPH2 as an additional ancillary positive marker for tissue-based diagnosis of prostate cancer.

A standardized, comprehensive magnetic resonance imaging protocol for rapid and precise quantification of HIV-1-associated lipodystrophy

OBJECTIVES

Although multiple methods have been proposed, there is no current gold standard for assessing HIV-1-associated lipodystrophy.

METHODS

HIV-1-infected participants were randomly enrolled and surveyed about changes in the abdomen, thigh, cheek and neck areas. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences of these sites were obtained. Participants were grouped according to survey results, and the MRI measurements were compared between groups.

RESULTS

One hundred participants were included in the study, of whom 79% reported any body fat changes. Persons reporting increased abdominal girth had higher visceral ([mean+/-standard deviation] 142+/-75 vs. 59+/-48 cm2; P<0.0001) and total abdominal adipose tissue than those reporting no change (344+/-119 vs. 201+/-95 cm2; P<0.0001). The amount of localized fat was less for persons reporting sunken cheeks and reduced diameter of the legs compared with those who noted no changes (5.9+/-3.6 vs. 9.3+/-3.8 cm2; P<0.0001, and 35+/-28 vs. 112+/-56 cm2; P<0.0001). Participants reporting increased neck girth had a thicker fat layer in the dorsocervical region compared with those reporting no change (4.0+/-1.8 vs. 2.3+/-1.4 cm; P<0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is a precise method for rapidly surveying body regions affected by HIV-1-associated lipodystrophy. Our proposed protocol provides a rapid, comprehensive survey of these areas, without the need to combine multiple modalities or to expose subjects to radiation.

Phase-preserving amplitude regeneration for a WDM RZ-DPSK signal using a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror

We propose a modified nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM) for phase-preserving 2R regeneration of wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) return-to-zero differential phase-shift-keyed signals. As proof of principle the regeneration capability of this NALM setup has been investigated experimentally for two 10 Gbit/s wavelength channels. A significant eye-opening improvement and a negative power penalty of 1.2 dB have been observed in both channels.

Histone deacetylases 1, 2 and 3 are highly expressed in prostate cancer and HDAC2 expression is associated with shorter PSA relapse time after radical prostatectomy

High activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) causes epigenetic alterations associated with malignant cell behaviour. Consequently, HDAC inhibitors have entered late-phase clinical trials as new antineoplastic drugs. However, little is known about expression and function of specific HDAC isoforms in human tumours including prostate cancer. We investigated the expression of class I HDACs in 192 prostate carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlated our findings to clinicopathological parameters including follow-up data. Class I HDAC isoforms were strongly expressed in the majority of the cases (HDAC1: 69.8%, HDAC2: 74%, HDAC3: 94.8%). High rates of HDAC1 and HDAC2 expression were significantly associated with tumour dedifferentiation. Strong expression of all HDACs was accompanied by enhanced tumour cell proliferation. In addition, HDAC2 was an independent prognostic marker in our prostate cancer cohort. In conclusion, we showed that the known effects of HDACs on differentiation and proliferation of cancer cells observed in vitro can also be confirmed in vivo. The class I HDAC isoforms 1, 2 and 3 are differentially expressed in prostate cancer, which might be important for upcoming studies on HDAC inhibitors in this tumour entity. Also, the highly significant prognostic value of HDAC2 clearly deserves further study.

Both long-term HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy are independent risk factors for early carotid atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

There is controversy over whether or not chronic HIV infection contributes to atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between HIV infection, antiretroviral medication and ultrasound evidence of early atherosclerosis in the context of vascular risk factors.

DESIGN

A case-control design with 292 HIV-positive subjects and 1168 age- and sex-matched controls.

METHODS

We assessed vascular risk factors, blood pressure, serum lipids and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in cases and controls. With multivariate regression models, we investigated the effects of HIV status and antiretroviral medication on IMT.

RESULTS

The common carotid artery (CCA) IMT value was 5.70% (95% confidence interval [3.08-8.38%], p<0.0001) or 0.044 mm [0.021-0.066 mm] (p=0.0001) higher in HIV-positives, adjusted for multiple risk factors. In the carotid bifurcation (BIF), the IMT values were 24.4% [19.5-29.4%] or 0.250 mm [0.198-0.303 mm] higher in HIV patients (p<0.0001). An investigation of antiretroviral substances revealed higher CCA- and BIF-IMT values in patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV infection and HAART are independent risk factors for early carotid atherosclerosis. Assuming a risk ratio similar to that in large population-based cohorts, the observed IMT elevation suggests that vascular risk is 4-14% greater and the "vascular age" 4-5 years higher in HIV-positive subjects. The underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified.

Early detection of cancer: ideas for a debate

Even if the overall number of cancer is increasing, the mortality has started to decrease in the Western World. The role of early detection in this decrease is a matter of debate. To assess its impact on mortality it is important to distinguish between diagnosis of cancer in symptomatic patients, and early detection in asymptomatic individuals who may self-refer or who may be offered ad hoc or systematic screening. The policies for early detection and screening vary greatly between European countries, despite many similarities in their cancer burden, and this partly reflects the uncertainties surrounding asymptomatic testing for cancer. A Task Force of European expert, held in Azzate (VA), Italy, established to address these issues, acknowledged the need for more research in the field of individual risk assessment since general statistics are more and more perceived as inadequate to design personal early detection plans. The group also recognised that combinations of early detection and screening will enforce the effectiveness of new treatments in curbing mortality curves, although policies will vary with different cancers.

[Motivational interviewing of unemployed acceptance and effects of counselling to improve health-related behaviour]

PURPOSE

Conception, implementation and evaluation of a risk-reducing and health-promoting brief intervention addressed to unemployed.

METHOD

Control-group-study with repeated measurement. 131 unemployed took part in the intervention group and 95 persons were matched according to age and sex and served as a reference group. The intervention group were recruited via flyers, press articles and several institutions, the reference group via the journal of a health insurance company. The reference group received a questionnaire twice assessing the same health-related variables as the intervention group.

INTERVENTION

In the intervention group, life style-related variables - eating habits, exercising, smoking, alcohol consumption - were assessed via questionnaire. In a one-hour counselling session based on Motivational Interviewing, participants received an individual feedback on their results of the questionnaire, including a comparison against standards and a review of their personal risks and negative consequences as well as advice and recommendations, while the decision for or against a behaviour change was left to the participant.

RESULTS

85.2 % of the participants of the intervention reported that the counselling met their expectations, and 86.2 % would recommend the intervention to a friend. Statistically significant effects for the intervention group compared to the control group from pre- to post-measurement could be shown for alcohol consumption, eating habits, and exercise (p <or= 0.0125 with a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons). Differences were also shown for the subjective state of health; however, they failed to attain statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that this kind of intervention might have positive effects regarding the promotion of health and a healthy life-style and that it might sensitize participants regarding their subjective state of health. The results of the pilot study will have to be substantiated by further studies.

The HUPO Brain Proteome Project – No need to hurry?

The HUPO Brain Proteome Project (HUPO BPP) is dedicated to the analysis of the brain proteome and has initiated two pilot studies in order to elaborate a standardised system for data collection and reprocessing. Samples of mouse brains (different developmental stages) and human brain tissue (biopsy and post-mortem samples) were shipped to different laboratories in Europe, Asia and the US that were invited to identify as many proteins as possible using their own approaches. In addition, a centralised data reprocessing strategy has been elaborated in an iterative way to generate highly reliable lists of identified proteins. This consortium could be a good example for a standardized proteomics workflow.

Loss of the tissue-specific proapoptotic BH3-only protein Nbk/Bik is a unifying feature of renal cell carcinoma

We report for the first time inactivation of a tissue-specific Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3)-only protein as a common aspect in human cancer. In detail, we show that loss of the BH3-only protein natural born killer (Nbk)/Bcl-2-interacting killer (Bik) is a common feature of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). While strong Nbk expression is found in the renal tubuli and the epithelial lining of the glomerula, a consistent loss of Nbk expression was observed in primary RCC tissue and RCC cell lines. Mutation of Nbk is, however, rare, whereas deletion of the Nbk gene at 22q13.2 is frequent. In addition to loss of heterozygosity (LOH), DNA methylation mediates transcriptional silencing of the Nbk gene. The conditional restoration of Nbk/Bik expression led to apoptotic death of RCC but not of nonmalignant renal epithelia. A broader expression analysis of RCC cell lines for BH3-only proteins revealed that loss of Nbk coincides with failure to express Bim, whereas Puma, Bid and BNIP3 are readily detectable and, in case of Puma, inducible by p53. These data delineate a role for defects in BH3-only proteins as tumor suppressors in RCC and may explain at the same time the impressive clinical apoptosis resistance of RCC.

Expression of human Kallikrein 14 (KLK14) in breast cancer is associated with higher tumour grades and positive nodal status

Human kallikrein 14 (KLK14) is a steroid hormone-regulated member of the tissue kallikrein family of serine proteases, for which a prognostic and diagnostic value in breast cancer has been suggested. To further characterise the value of KLK14 as a breast tumour marker, we have carefully analysed KLK14 expression in normal breast tissue and breast cancer both on the RNA level by real-time RT-PCR (n=39), and on the protein level (n=127) using a KLK14-specific antibody for immunohistochemistry. We correlated KLK14 protein expression data with available clinico-pathological parameters (mean follow-up time was 55 months) including patient prognosis. KLK14 RNA expression as quantified by real-time RT-PCR was significantly more abundant in breast tumours compared to normal breast tissue (P=0.027), an issue that had not been clarified recently. Concordantly with the RNA data, cytoplasmic KLK14 protein expression was significantly higher in invasive breast carcinomas compared to normal breast tissues (P=0.003). Furthermore, KLK14 protein expression was associated with higher tumour grade (P=0.041) and positive nodal status (P=0.045) but was not significantly associated with shortened disease-free or overall patient survival time in univariate analyses. We conclude that KLK14 is clearly overexpressed in breast cancer in comparison to normal breast tissues and is positively associated with conventional parameters of tumour aggressiveness, but due to a missing association with survival times, the use of KLK14 immunohistochemistry as a prognostic marker in breast cancer is questionable.

The Protease Inhibitor Transfer Study (PROTRA 1): abacavir and efavirenz in combination as a substitute for a protease inhibitor in heavily pretreated HIV-1-infected patients with undetectable plasma viral load

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of abacavir (ABC) and efavirenz (EFV) instead of a protease inhibitor (PI) in HIV-1-infected subjects treated with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and one PI with undetectable viral loads (< 50 HIV -1 RNA copies/mL). To be eligible for inclusion, patients had to have a history of viral load < 400 copies/mL for at least 3 months and had to be naive to treatment with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and ABC, but multiple pretreatment and treatment failure were allowed.

DESIGN

An open-label, single-centre pilot study of duration 48 weeks was conducted. ABC was added to the original treatment with two NRTIs and one PI at baseline, and at week 6 the PI was replaced by EFV. At each study visit, CD4 cell count, viral load [measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and clinical chemistry were measured. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and at weeks 12, 24, 36 and 48 to measure levels of cholesterol [high-density lipoprotein (HDL)/low-density lipoprotein (LDL)], triglycerides, insulin and C-peptide. Additionally, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. A bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and a single slice abdominal and mid-thigh computed tomography (CT) scan were carried out to assess changes in body composition.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were included in the study. Three patients experienced ABC-hypersensitivity and one patient demonstrated virological failure caused by nonadherence. At week 48, all remaining patients had viral loads < 50 copies/mL with stable CD4 counts. The fasting metabolic parameters and abdominal fat distribution remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

In heavily pretreated patients, ABC and EFV in combination provide an effective, simplified and well-tolerated alternative to PI treatment.