Presence of an oestradiol receptor-related protein in the skin: changes during the normal menstrual cycle

Second Primary Neoplasms in Patients With Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Eyelid: A Population-based Study, 2000 to 2016

PURPOSE

To investigate the risk of second primary neoplasms (SPNs) after primary sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid (SCE).

METHODS

Data on patients diagnosed with primary SCE as their first malignancy were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2000 to 2016. Observed-to-expected ratios of SPNs were calculated to estimate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). Patients were compared with a reference population (RP) matched for age, gender, and race.

RESULTS

Five hundred fifty-nine patients with primary SCE were identified, 16% of whom developed SPNs. SCE patients displayed a 61% increased risk of developing SPNs compared with the RP (p < 0.001). Overall, the risk of SPNs of the lungs (SIR = 1.82; p < 0.05), pancreas (SIR = 2.94; p < 0.05), salivary glands (SIR = 41.65; p < 0.001), and skin (SIR = 8.33; p < 0.05) was elevated. Only non-Hispanic Whites were at an increased risk (SIR = 1.51; p < 0.05). Patients 40-54 years old at the time of diagnosis were at the highest risk of developing SPNs compared with the RP (SIR = 3.15; p < 0.05). Women with SCE experienced an increased risk of breast cancer (SIR = 3.6; p < 0.05) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (SIR = 8.8; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

SCE patients are more likely to develop SPNs of the lungs, pancreas, salivary gland, and skin than the RP. Forty to fifty-four years old Caucasian patients are at the highest risk. Women are at an increased risk of developing breast malignancies and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinicians should be cognizant of these risks when managing SCE patients.

The combined influence of oral contraceptives and human papillomavirus virus on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The vast majority of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) will occur in those with fair complexion, tendency to burn, and high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. Organ transplant recipients also are an important population at great risk for CSCC. An association has been reported between oral contraceptive (OC) use, human papillomavirus virus (HPV) and cervical cancer, and there could be a similar association for CSCC. The cutaneous HPV β-E6 protein, a close cousin of the transformative E6 protein underlying anogenital cancers, has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in response to UVR damage and stimulate morphologic transformation in rodent fibroblast cell lines. Furthermore, OC use has been shown to enhance HPV transcription and may contribute to CSCC risk through this pathway.

Potential risk factors for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma include oral contraceptives: results of a nested case-control study

Recently, a population-based case-control study observed a 60% increased odds ratio (OR) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among women who had ever used oral contraceptives (OCs) compared with non users (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0-2.5). To further characterize the putative association between OC use and SCC risk, we conducted a nested case-control study using a large retrospective cohort of 111,521 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and CIs adjusting for known and hypothesized SCC risk factors. Pre-diagnostic OC use was associated with a statistically significant increased OR for SCC in univariate analysis (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.2-4.8), with borderline statistical significance in multivariable analysis (CI = 2.0, CI = 0.91-4.5). Given the high incidence of SCC in the general population and the prevalent use of OCs among women in the United States, there is a need for more large, carefully designed epidemiologic studies to determine whether the observed association between OC use and SCC can be replicated and to better understand the etiologic basis of an association if one exists.

Oral contraceptives and skin cancer: is there a link?

The skin expresses estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors. In the presence of steroid hormones, such as those contained in oral contraceptives, the skin likely responds to hormonal signals that control the cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA replication, and other cellular functions. Some estrogen-responsive pathways have the potential to promote tumor development, including the augmentation of epidermal growth factor signaling, the expression of proto-oncogenes, and inhibition of apoptosis. The question of whether oral contraceptives increase the risk for the development of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, is still an area of concern. This paper reviews the available evidence, the bulk of which suggests that while the skin responds to estrogens, progestins, and androgens, these responses do not significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer when estrogen exposure is not excessive.

Facilitated tissue expansion with topical estriol

Tissue expansion is a helpful technique in reconstructive plastic surgery. Unfortunately, tissue expansion still needs to be improved. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were used to evaluate the effect of estriol on tissue expansion. The agents hyaluronidase, estriol, and base cream (as a control) were applied topically to separate animal groups for 5 weeks, and their effects were studied on tissue expansion. Both hyaluronidase (p < 0.05) and estriol (p < 0.001) enhanced the rate of expansion when compared with control animals. Estriol was more effective than hyaluronidase (p < 0.05). Breaking strengths were measured in the estriol and the control groups. Breaking strength was not evaluated in the hyaluronidase group because of the necrotic changes seen at the end of the fifth week. The breaking strength was higher in the control group than in the estriol group (p < 0.05). The authors suggest that topical estriol be used as an adjunctive agent to facilitate tissue expansion.

High incidence of chemotherapy-induced acral erythema in female patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with the VACOP-B regimen

Seven patients, all females out of 29 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (16 males and 13 females) treated with the VACOP-B regimen utilizing granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support developed chemotherapy-induced acral erythema (CAE). In contrast, none of 32 patients with NHL who were treated with CHOP, MACOP-B, or biweekly CHOP regimens without G-CSF developed CAE. Total dose intensities of VACOP-B regimen were higher than those of the three other regimens. However, no significant difference in dose intensities of each drug in the patients treated with the VACOP-B regimen was found between male and female patients and between female patients with or without CAE. The cause of the high incidence of CAE (7/13) in the female patients treated with VACOP-B regimen remains unknown. However, female sex hormones may increase susceptibility to CAE. Since the occurrence of CAE interrupts intensive chemotherapy and reduces the cure rate, high risk patients for CAE should be carefully monitored for early symptoms and signs of CAE and should be treated early and appropriately.

Relationship of HSP27 and oestrogen receptor in hormone sensitive and insensitive cell lines

A 27 kDa heat shock (HSP27) has been analysed by immunoassay and immunoblotting in oestradiol sensitive and insensitive cells. Oestradiol growth responsive MCF7 and T47D human breast cancer cells and growth unresponsive variants derived therefrom have unaltered levels of HSP27 as well as retaining their oestradiol receptor phenotype. MCF7 cells induced to become doxorubicin resistant in culture lose both HSP27 and oestradiol receptor. Thus, in these three pairs of cells, HSP27 content parallels oestradiol receptor (ER). Analysis of a range of ER positive and negative human cell lines supports the positive relationship between HSP27 and ER. This included six ER positive and two ER negative breast tumour lines, one ER positive and one ER negative endometrial tumour cell line and seven ER negative human lines from other sites. One ER negative osteosarcoma line (HTB96) had appreciable levels of HSP27 that were unaffected after stable transfunction with an ER cDNA. Heat shock increases HSP27 levels in some but not all cell lines tested, the effect being inversely proportional to the basal (37 degrees C) content. In a mouse mammary tumour cell line, loss of androgen sensitivity was accompanied by loss of HSP27. Loss of HSP27 occurred in MCF7 cells made drug resistant to Novatrone, vincristine and etoposide as well as doxorubicin; no detectable change was seen in cells made resistant by 5 fluorouracil or X-irradiation. In ER positive ZR75 human breast tumour cells and in both ER negative and positive variants of the HTB96 human osteosarcoma line, the intracellular distribution of HSP27 was analysed. Over 96% of the HSP27 was in the cytosol fraction and the distribution was unaffected by incubation with oestradiol. HSP27 has been discussed in the literature under three different names p29, p24 and HSP27. The data presented in this paper are reviewed in the context of the previous data. It is concluded that there is a good but not absolute correlation between the presence of ER and high amounts of HSP27 but that low amounts of HSP27 are present in many ER negative cells. The correlations between HSP27 and drug resistance are more complex.