Burden of gynaecological cancers in developing countries

Gene Expression Analysis for Uterine Cervix and Corpus Cancer Characterization

The analysis of gene expression quantification data is a powerful and widely used approach in cancer research. This work provides new insights into the transcriptomic changes that occur in healthy uterine tissue compared to those in cancerous tissues and explores the differences associated with uterine cancer localizations and histological subtypes. To achieve this, RNA-Seq data from the TCGA database were preprocessed and analyzed using the KnowSeq package. Firstly, a kNN model was applied to classify uterine cervix cancer, uterine corpus cancer, and healthy uterine samples. Through variable selection, a three-gene signature was identified (VWCE, CLDN15, ADCYAP1R1), achieving consistent 100% test accuracy across 20 repetitions of a 5-fold cross-validation. A supplementary similar analysis using miRNA-Seq data from the same samples identified an optimal two-gene miRNA-coding signature potentially regulating the three-gene signature previously mentioned, which attained optimal classification performance with an 82% F1-macro score. Subsequently, a kNN model was implemented for the classification of cervical cancer samples into their two main histological subtypes (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). A uni-gene signature (ICA1L) was identified, achieving 100% test accuracy through 20 repetitions of a 5-fold cross-validation and externally validated through the CGCI program. Finally, an examination of six cervical adenosquamous carcinoma (mixed) samples revealed a pattern where the gene expression value in the mixed class aligned closer to the histological subtype with lower expression, prompting a reconsideration of the diagnosis for these mixed samples. In summary, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of uterine cervix and corpus cancers. The newly identified gene signatures demonstrate robust predictive capabilities, guiding future research in cancer diagnosis and treatment methodologies.

Survival rate of vaginal cancer in Asian countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Vaginal cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in women, which mostly takes place in low- and middle-income countries. Assessing the survival rate of vaginal cancer is essential to investigate the success rate of current treatments and screening tools. This study aims to determine the survival rate of vaginal cancer in Asia.

Methods

This systematic review was carried out using four international databases, including Medline/Pubmed, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and also Google Scholar. Articles were investigated up to the end of August 2021. The authors utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to evaluate the quality of the articles. Evaluating the papers for heterogeneity was performed using the Cochrane test and I² statistic. Meta-regression analysis was also applied based on the year of the study.

Results

Three articles (13 records) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Based on the random model, the overall 5-year survival rate was 74.63%. Also, the rates of survival in relation to the type of treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other modalities, were 78.53, 78.44, and 68.54%, respectively. According to meta-regression analysis, no correlation was found between the survival rate and the year of the study.

Conclusion

The vaginal cancer survival rate is lower in Asian countries compared to that of developed countries. Increasing patient survival rates in such countries is crucial by implementing newer diagnostic tools, advanced surgical techniques, and goal-oriented treatments. Early diagnosis in lower stages and educating the populations about risk factors and preventative measures are also necessary for raising the rate of survival.

Investigating the Effects of RBBP6 Gene Expression on Telomerase Activity in Cervical Cancer Cells

Background

RBBP6 is one of the genes identified as a proliferative gene that plays a role in cancer development, On the other hand both RBBP6 and telomerase activity have been shown to be increase in various cancers. E6 protein of HPV and RBBP6 is known to enhance the progression of cancer cells by interacting with p53 and presenting it to be ubiquitinated by the proteasome thereby promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. Studies also show that HPV E6 protein can increase telomerase activity by activating the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), thus enabling the immortalization of the cells. With RBBP6 and hTERT showing a similar profile in cancer cells, we seek to investigate any possible effect of RBBP6 on telomerase activity.

Results

Using real-time qPCR and TRAPeze RT Telomerase detection kit (Merc) respectively. We used cervical cancer cell lines in which CaSki cell showed the reduction of hTERT expression and reduction in telomerase activity significantly in RBBP6-knockdown cells. While no significant changes were observed in HeLa cells. Real-time growth assay revealed a significant drop in cell growth in co-silenced RBBP6 and hTERT cells substantiating our observation that RBBP6 might be playing a role in cell proliferation.

Conclusion

Taken all together, the observed effect of RBBP6 gene silencing on telomerase activity in cervical cancer is cell line dependent.

The Challenges of Managing Ovarian Cancer in the Developing World

Ovarian cancer has high morbidity and mortality rates among cancers of the reproductive system. The disease typically presents at late stage when the 5-year relative survival rate is only 29%. Similarly, access to prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care for cancer-related disease is insufficient. The availability of cancer treatments in Africa is especially poor. Case. A 17-year-old lady, nulliparous, was admitted with complaint of abdominal swelling and loss of weight and a huge left ovarian cyst revealed by ultrasound scan. Laparotomy was done, and a mass which resembled a hemorrhagic solid tumor was found. Grossly, the left ovarian mass measured 15.0 × 20.0 × 8.0 cm and a left salpingectomy was performed. Two months later, she came back with lower limb swelling progressively increased in a week with vulvar edema, with a palpable mass. She was discharged on request by her relatives for traditional medicine. One year later, she passed on in an unrevealed picture. The management of ovarian cancer is too challenging in low-resource countries, from hospital settings to the communities with poor cancer awareness. It is therefore imperative that healthcare resources, policies, and planning focus to be coordinated in a rational way.

Increased expression of FAK isoforms as potential cancer biomarkers in ovarian cancer

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed in most human cell types (example: Epithelial cells, fibroblasts and endothelial), it serves a key role in the control of cell survival, proliferation and motility. The abnormal expression of FAK has been associated with poor prognosis in cancer, including ovarian cancer. However, although FAK isoforms with specific molecular and functional properties have been characterized, there are a limited number of published studies that examine FAK isoforms in ovarian cancer. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression level of FAK and its isoforms in ovarian cancer. The expression of FAK kinase and focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domains was determined with immunohistochemistry in healthy ovary, and serous and mucinous cystadenoma, borderline tumor and carcinoma samples. Additionally, the expression of FAK and its isoforms were investigated in three ovarian cancer-derived cell lines with western blotting and reverse transcription-semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. An increased expression of FAK kinase domain was determined in serous tumor samples and was associated with advancement of the lesion. FAK kinase domain expression was moderate-to-low in mucinous tumor samples. The expression of the FAK FAT domain in tumor samples was reduced, compared with healthy ovary samples; however, the FAT domain was localized to the cellular nucleus. Expression of alternative transcripts FAK°, FAK^28,6 and FAK²⁸ was determined in all three cell lines investigated. In conclusion, FAK kinase and FAT domains are differentially expressed among ovarian tumor types. These results indicated the presence of at least two isoforms of FAK (FAK and the putative FAK-related non-kinase) in tumor tissue, which is supported by the cells producing at least three FAK alternative transcripts. These results may support the use of FAK and its isoforms as biomarkers for ovarian cancer.

Proteomics approaches in cervical cancer: focus on the discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis and drug treatment monitoring

INTRODUCTION

The HPV virus accounts for the majority of cervical cancer cases. Although a diagnostic tool (Pap Test) is widely available, cervical cancer incidence still remains high worldwide, and especially in developing countries, attributed to a large extent to suboptimal sensitivities of the Pap test and unavailability of the test in developing countries.

AREAS COVERED

Proteomics approaches have been used in order to understand the HPV virus correlation to cervical cancer pathology, as well as to discover putative biomarkers for early cervical cancer diagnosis and drug mode of action. Expert commentary: The present review summarizes the latest in vitro and in vivo proteomic studies for the discovery of putative cervical cancer biomarkers and the evaluation of available drugs and treatments.

Reliability and Validity of Amharic Version of EORTC QLQ-C 30 Questionnaire among Gynecological Cancer Patients in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a growing public health problem worldwide. The focus of cancer treatment, in addition to curation, is improving the quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of Amharic version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) among gynecological cancer patients in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted using the Amharic version of EORTC QLQ-C30 on 153 gynecological cancer patients in Tikur Anbassa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression were employed in statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The Amharic version of EORTC QLQ-C30 had a Cronbach's α value of 0.81. The internal consistency for each domain of EORTC QLQ-C30 was also acceptable (Cronbach's α >0.7) except for cognitive function domain (Cronbach's α = 0.29). Stepwise multivariable linear regression analysis showed that emotional functioning (p<0.001), fatigue (p<0.001) and social functioning (p = 0.004) were the determinative scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 on global health status (GHS). The clinical validity test (Known group validity) showed that there were significant differences in score for twelve out of 15 domains, between surgery and radiation scheduled patients. All items of emotional function, role function, fatigue, and GHS meet the discriminate validity criterion.

CONCLUSION

The Amharic version of EORTC QLQ-C30 found to be reliable and had an acceptable validity to assess the QOL for gynecological cancer patients. We recommend further work on the validity and responsiveness of the EORTC QLQ-C30 with stronger design.