Rethinking the Relationship between Insulin and Cancer

In addition to being a major metabolic hormone, insulin is also a growth factor with a mitogenic effect on all cells, more marked in malignant cells that often overexpress the insulin receptor. In patients with metabolic diseases characterized by hyperinsulinemia (obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome), the incidence of several types of cancer is increased, as is cancer-related mortality. Because of the worldwide growing prevalence of metabolic diseases and the diffuse use of insulin and its analogs for treating diabetes, the relationship between insulin and cancer has become a clinically relevant issue. Clinical studies have not clarified the degree to which hyperinsulinemia can influence cancer occurrence and prognosis. To better understand this issue, an improved scientific approach is required, with more careful consideration of the mechanisms related to hyperinsulinemia and carcinogenesis.

Heavy metals in the volcanic environment and thyroid cancer

In the last two decades thyroid cancer incidence has increased worldwide more than any other cancer. Overdiagnosis of subclinical microcarcinomas has certainly contributed to this increase but many evidences indicate that a true increase, possibly due to environmental factors, has also occurred. Thyroid cancer incidence is markedly increased in volcanic areas. Thus, the volcanic environment is a good model to investigate the possible factors favoring thyroid cancer. In the volcanic area of Mt. Etna in Sicily, as well as in other volcanic areas, a non-anthropogenic pollution with heavy metals has been documented, a consequence of gas, ash and lava emission. Soil, water and atmosphere contamination, via the food chain, biocontaminate the residents as documented by high levels in the urines and the scalp hair compared to individuals living in adjacent non-volcanic areas. Trace amounts of metals are essential nutrients but, at higher concentrations, can be toxic for living cells. Metals can behave both as endocrine disruptors, perturbing the hormonal system, and as carcinogens, promoting malignant transformation. Similarly to other carcinogens, the transforming effect of heavy metals is higher in developing organisms as the fetus (contaminated via the mother) and individuals in early childhood. In the last decades environment metal pollution has greatly increased in industrialized countries. Although still within the "normal" limits for each single metal the hormesis effect (heavy metal activity at very low concentration because of biphasic, non linear cell response) and the possible potentiation effect resulting from the mixture of different metals acting synergistically can explain cell damage at very low concentrations. The effect of metals on the human thyroid is poorly studied: for some heavy metals no data are available. The scarce studies that have been performed mainly focus on metal effect as thyroid endocrine disruptors. The metal concentration in tissues has been rarely measured in the thyroid. Heavy metal accumulation and metabolism in the thyroid or the carcinogenic activity of different doses and different speciation of metals has not been investigated. These studies are now warranted to better understand thyroid biology and heavy metal role in human thyroid carcinogenesis.

Preventive Effect of Cow's Milk Fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 on Common Infectious Diseases in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Fermented foods have been proposed to prevent common infectious diseases (CIDs) in children attending day care or preschool. Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of dietary supplementation with cow’s skim milk fermented with the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 in reducing CIDs in children attending day care or preschool. Methods: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on healthy children (aged 12–48 months) consuming daily 7 grams of cow’s skim milk fermented with L. paracasei CBA L74 (group A), or placebo (maltodextrins group B) attending day care or preschool during the winter season. The main outcome was the proportion of children who experienced ≥1 episode of CID during a 3-month follow-up. Fecal biomarkers of innate (α- and β-defensins, cathelicidin) and acquired immunity (secretory IgA) were also monitored. Results: A total of 126 children (71 males, 56%) with a mean (SD) age of 33 (9) months completed the study, 66 in group A and 60 in group B. At intention to treat analysis, the proportion of children presenting ≥1 CID was 60% in group A vs. 83% in group B, corresponding to an absolute risk difference (ARD) of −23% (95% CI: −37% to −9%, p < 0.01). At per-protocol-analysis (PPA), the proportion of children presenting ≥1 CID was 18% in group A vs. 40% in group B, corresponding to an absolute risk difference (ARD) of −22% (95% CI: −37% to −6%, p < 0.01). PPA showed that the proportion of children presenting ≥1 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) was significantly lower in group A (18% vs. 40%, p < 0.05). The ARD for the occurrence of ≥1 AGE was −22% (95% CI: −37% to −6%, p < 0.01) in group A. Similar findings were obtained at PPA regarding the proportion of children presenting ≥1 upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), which was significantly lower in group A (51% vs. 74%, p < 0.05), corresponding to an ARD of −23% (95% CI: −40% to −7%, p < 0.01). Significant changes in innate and acquired immunity biomarkers were observed only in subjects in group A. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with cow’s skim milk fermented with L. paracasei CBA L74 is an efficient strategy in preventing CIDs in children.

Clinical and molecular mechanisms favoring cancer initiation and progression in diabetic patients

Cancer incidence and mortality are higher among diabetic patients. This review examines the mechanisms, both general and site-specific, for this increase. Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, which are the major abnormalities that characterize diabetes, can promote cancer via both independent and synergic mechanisms. Insulin is both a metabolic hormone and a growth factor that promotes cell proliferation. When insulin levels are increased due to either insulin resistance or insulin treatment, their mitogenic effect is more marked in malignant cells that frequently overexpress the insulin receptor and, more specifically, its A isoform that has predominant mitogenic activity. Hyperglycemia provides energy for malignant cell proliferation and, via the peculiar energy utilization of cancer cells, favors cancer growth and neoangiogenesis. Additionally, diabetes-associated obesity has cancer-promoting effects due to mechanisms that are specific to excess fat cells (such as increased peripheral estrogens, increased pro-mitogen cytokines and growth factors). Also fat-associated chronic inflammation can favor cancer via the cell damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and via the production of inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors that stimulate cancer growth and invasiveness. Finally, the multiple drugs involved in the treatment of diabetes can also play a role. Diabetes-associated comorbidities, tissue-specific inflammation, and organ-specific dysfunctions can explain why the risk of cancer can differ by tissue type among diabetic patients. The increased risk of cancer-related mortality is moderate among individual patients with diabetes (RR = 1.25), but the pandemic nature of the disease means that a considerable number of lives could be spared through a better understanding of the factors associating diabetes and cancer.

BRIT1/MCPH1 expression in chronic myeloid leukemia and its regulation of the G2/M checkpoint

BRIT1 (BRCT-repeat inhibitor of hTERT expression), also known as microcephalin (MCPH1), is a crucial gene in the complex cellular machine that is devoted to DNA repair and acts as a regulator of both the intra-S and G2/M checkpoints. The most important role of BRIT1/MCPH1 in the regulation of cell cycle progression appears to be the G2/M checkpoint. The K562 and peripheral blood cells of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients at diagnosis were found to downregulate BRIT1/MCPH1. However, we could not find any correlation between bcr/abl activity and the BRIT1/MCPH1 level. In order to study the genomic instability of CML cells, we evaluated the ability of these cells to arrest mitotic division after exposure to hydroxyurea, a known genotoxic agent. We showed that CML cells continue to proliferate without the activation of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint arrest or of the apoptotic mechanism. This behavior may predispose the cells to accumulate genomic defects. In conclusion, we found that CML cells have a low BRIT1/MCPH1 level and show a defective G2/M arrest, confirming that these cells have a constitutive genomic instability.

Survivin silencing sensitizes imatinib-resistant CML cells to the cytotoxic effect of hydroxyurea

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Background: Imatinib Mesylate (IM), a semi-specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, is currently the treatment of choice for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). However, about one third of CML patients treated with IM develop resistance to the drug because of reactivation of BCR-ABL kinase activity. This phenomenon is usually ascribed to the amplification of the BCR-ABL gene or to the selection of leukemic clones harboring point mutations that abrogate IM binding. To identify novel anti-apoptotic signaling pathways employed by BCR-ABL and devise strategies capable of killing IM-resistant CML cells, we investigated the interplay between BCR-ABL and the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Survivin. Methods: Murine hematopoietic cells (32D) transduced with p210 BCR-ABL and human cell lines either positive (K562, KCL22, KYO1 and LAMA84) or negative (HL60) for the BCR-ABL oncoprotein, were analyzed for Survivin expression by western blot before and after IM treatment. Three different pathways (MAPK, PI3K and JAK2/STA3) potentially involved in BCR-ABL-mediated induction of Survivin were studied using inhibitors specific for each signaling cascade. The effect of Survivin on the proliferation and viability of IM-sensitive and IM-resistant CML cells was investigated after silencing Survivin expression with small interfering RNAs. Results: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase activity induced an over-expression of Survivin in both human and murine hematopoietic cell lines. This over-expression was both at the transcriptional and the translational level and required the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Survivin silencing by siRNA increased IM cytotoxicity in IM-sensitive cells but failed to restore IM efficacy in IM-resistant cells. However, Survivin silencing sensitized CML cells to the cytotoxic effect of hydroxyurea and enhanced the efficacy of this compound on three different murine cell lines are insensitive to IM because of point mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain (Ba/F3p210Y253F, Ba/F3p210D276G and Ba/F3p210T315I). Conclusions: Reduction of Survivin expression improves the efficacy of IM and increases the sensitivity of IM-resistant CML cells to hydroxyurea. Survivin may represent an attractive therapeutic target for both IM-sensitive and IM-resistant CML patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 enhances thyroid cancer cell motile response to Hepatocyte Growth Factor

The Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and its receptor Met are physiological regulators of cell migration. HGF and Met have also been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. We show here that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 has a stimulatory effect on HGF-induced migration and branching morphogenesis in thyroid cancer but not in primary or immortalized thyroid epithelial cells. These stimulatory effects of STI571 are observed at a concentration that is clinically relevant. The STI571-enhanced motile response can be correlated with an increase in the Met receptor tyrosine phosphorylation as well as ERK and Akt activation by HGF. Interestingly, one of the targets of STI571, namely the c-Abl tyrosine kinase, is activated by HGF and is recruited at the migrating edge of thyroid cancer cells. These data suggests that c-Abl and/or STI571-inhibited tyrosine kinases can negatively regulate the Met receptor to restrain the motile response in thyroid cancer cells.

Induction of apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells through nuclear entrapment of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase

The chimeric BCR-ABL oncoprotein is the molecular hallmark of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). BCR-ABL contains nuclear import and export signals but it is localized only in the cytoplasm where it activates mitogenic and anti-apoptotic pathways. We have found that inhibition of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, either by mutation or by the drug STI571, can stimulate its nuclear entry. By combining STI571 with leptomycin B (LMB) to block nuclear export, we trapped BCR-ABL in the nucleus and the nuclear BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase activates apoptosis. As a result, the combined treatment with STI571 and LMB causes the irreversible and complete killing of BCR-ABL transformed cells, whereas the effect of either drug alone is fully reversible. The combined treatment with STI571 and LMB also preferentially eliminates mouse bone marrow cells that express BCR-ABL. These results indicate that nuclear entrapment of BCR-ABL can be used as a therapeutic strategy to selectively kill chronic myelogenous leukemia cells.

Expression of angiogenesis stimulators and inhibitors in human thyroid tumors and correlation with clinical pathological features

Experimental evidence has shown, both in vitro and in animal models, that neoplastic growth and subsequent metastasis formation depend on the tumor's ability to induce an angiogenic switch. This requires a change in the balance of angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors. To assess the potential role of angiogenesis factors in human thyroid tumor growth and spread, we analyzed their expression by semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in normal thyroid tissues, benign lesions, and different thyroid carcinomas. Compared to normal tissues, in thyroid neoplasias we observed a consistent increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-C, and angiopoietin-2 and in their tyrosine kinase receptors KDR, Flt-4, and Tek. In particular, we report the overexpression of angiopoietin-2 and VEGF in thyroid tumor progression from a prevascular to a vascular phase. In fact, we found a strong association between tumor size and high levels of VEGF and angiopoietin-2. Furthermore, our results show an increased expression of VEGF-C in lymph node invasive thyroid tumors and, on the other hand, a decrease of thrombospondin-1, an angioinhibitory factor, in thyroid malignancies capable of hematic spread. These results suggest that, in human thyroid tumors, angiogenesis factors seem involved in neoplastic growth and aggressiveness. Moreover, our findings are in keeping with a recent hypothesis that in the presence of VEGF, angiopoietin-2 may collaborate at the front of invading vascular sprouts, serving as an initial angiogenic signal that accompanies tumor growth.

Rearrangements of RET and NTRK1 tyrosine kinase receptors in papillary thyroid carcinomas

A combined cytogenetic and molecular analysis of thyroid tumours has indicated that these neoplasms might represent a significant model for analysing human epithelial cell multi-step cancerogenesis. Thyroid tumours comprise a broad spectrum of lesions with different phenotypes and variable biological and clinical behaviour. Molecular analysis has detected specific genetic alterations in these different tumour types. In particular, the well-differentiated carcinomas of the papillary type are characterised by the activation of the tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) RET and NTRK1 proto-oncogenes. Cytogenetic analysis of these tumours has contributed to defining the chromosomal mechanisms leading to the TKRs' oncogenic activation. The results have shown that, in the majority of the cases, intra-chromosomal inversions of chromosome 10 and of chromosome 1 lead to the formation of RET-derived and NTRK1-derived oncogenes, respectively. Exposure to ionizing radiation is associated with papillary carcinomas, and RET activation has been suggested to be related to this event. All these findings are contributing to the definition of genetic and environmental factors relevant to the pathogenesis of thyroid tumours. Moreover, the molecular characterisation of specific genetic lesions could provide significant information about the association between ionising radiation and RET oncogene activation.

Iodide symporter gene expression in human thyroid tumors

Expression of the Na+/I- symporter (NIS) gene was investigated by RT-PCR in a selected series of 26 primary thyroid carcinomas (19 papillary, 5 follicular, and 2 anaplastic). Fifteen follicular adenomas (11 "cold" and 4 "hot" adenomas) were also studied. Five of 19 papillary thyroid cancer did not express NIS messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). In all but 1 follicular cancer, NIS transcript was fully detected. In anaplastic tissue, NIS mRNA was only barely detected in 1 case. All of the follicular thyroid adenomas except 1 expressed the NIS gene. In contrast, all tumors studied excluding the anaplastic histotype fully expressed thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase mRNA transcripts. In 2 patients, a lower expression (3- to 5-fold) of NIS mRNA was found in metastasis by dot blot analysis compared with those in both normal and primary neoplastic thyroid tissue. Four of 8 differentiated thyroid cancer patients selected for the presence of metastases with negative posttherapy 131I total body scan showed the lack of NIS gene expression in their primary cancer. This defect, at least in these cases, is a somatic and intrinsic lesion of the primary cancer cells and is not due to a dedifferentiation process in the metastatic tissue. The early detection of the loss of NIS gene expression in the primary cancer, therefore, may provide useful information for the management of differentiated thyroid cancer patients.

RET/NTRK1 rearrangements in thyroid gland tumors of the papillary carcinoma family: correlation with clinicopathological features

The papillary carcinoma family (PCF) of thyroid tumors includes a wide variety of neoplastic entities regarded as well-differentiated, poorly differentiated, and undifferentiated papillary thyroid carcinomas. Recent studies have established the presence of alternative oncogenic rearrangements of the RET and NTRK1 genes in a consistent fraction (< or = 50%) of papillary thyroid tumors. RET oncogenic rearrangements are also very frequent (approximately 60%) in Chernobyl radiation-associated papillary thyroid neoplasias, which show an increased aggressiveness in terms of pathological stage at disease onset. These observations prompted us to study the relationship between the presence or absence of RET and NTRK1 oncogenes and the clinicopathological features (age, sex, histopathology, and pTNMC2 staging) of 76 consecutive, non-radiation-related tumors of the PCF. As previously reported, statistical univariate analysis revealed a correlation between the combination of RET and NTRK1 (RET/NTRK1) positivity and young age of patients at diagnosis. In addition, a significant association was found between RET/NTRK1 positivity and locally advanced stage of disease at presentation (pT4: P < 0.015). The multivariate analysis confirmed that RET/NTRK1 activation parallels an unfavorable disease presentation, which may correlate with a less favorable disease outcome. Furthermore, within the PCF, the frequency of RET/NTRK1 positivity was not influenced by the different neoplastic subtypes or the tumor versus degree of differentiation.

Insular carcinoma: a distinct de novo entity among follicular carcinomas of the thyroid gland

We reclassified 720 nonmedullary invasive thyroid carcinomas diagnosed and treated between 1975 and 1993. Twenty-seven cases met the criteria of insular carcinoma and 29 cases those of widely invasive follicular carcinoma. Comparison of these histotypes with respect to pathologic stage and overall, relative, and visceral metastasis-free survival showed a significant association between histotype and pT and pN categories. In particular, pT4 (p < 0.001) and pN1 (p < 0.001) categories were more frequent in the insular carcinoma histotype. By contrast, no significant differences in overall, relative, or visceral metastasis-free survival were observed between insular carcinoma and widely invasive follicular carcinoma. Molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism demonstrated RAS gene family point mutations in five of eight cases analyzed in each of the two histotypes, with a high proportion of CAA-->AAA transversion at codon 61 of the N-RAS gene in insular carcinoma. These findings suggest that insular carcinoma represents a de novo entity distinct from widely invasive follicular carcinoma, that widely invasive follicular carcinoma has biologic characteristics more consistent with poorly differentiated than well-differentiated carcinomas, and that both insular carcinoma and widely invasive follicular carcinoma share similar molecular alterations.

Detection of an activating mutation of the thyrotropin receptor in a case of an autonomously hyperfunctioning thyroid insular carcinoma

Thyroid carcinomas, even when well differentiated, usually appear as hypofunctioning at scintigraphy. We report a case of an aggressive insular thyroid carcinoma presenting as an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule and causing severe thyrotoxicosis. The tumor was metastatic to a cervical lymph node and both lungs. An activating mutation of the TSH receptor gene in both the primary tumor and the lymph node metastasis was found, due to a base substitution at codon 633 (normal guanine at position 1896 replaced by cytosine CAC for GAC causing aspartic acid substitution by histidine). Other known oncogenes (gsp, ras, PTC/ret, trk, met, and p53) were not involved. This is the first description of an activating TSH receptor mutation in a thyroid hyperfunctioning carcinoma in which an aggressive malignant phenotype coexisted with activation of the cAMP cascade and differentiated thyroid functions.

Overexpression of membrane glycoprotein PC-1 in MDA-MB231 breast cancer cells is associated with inhibition of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity

MDA-MB231 human breast cancer cells are unresponsive to insulin and contain a glycoprotein inhibitor of insulin-stimulated insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase activity. Prior studies in both fibroblasts from insulin- resistant non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients and transfected cells indicate that overexpression of membrane glycoprotein PC-1 reduces IR tyrosine kinase activity. In the present study, we measured PC-1 content and activity in MDA-MB231 and four other human breast cancer cell lines. We observed that PC-1 expression was 3- to 30-fold higher in MDA-MB231 cells when compared with the other breast cell lines. Wheat germ agglutinin extracts of MDA-MB231 cells inhibited IR tyrosine kinase activity. Treatment of these extracts with an antibody to PC-1 significantly reduced their ability to inhibit insulin-stimulated IR tyrosine kinase activity. In addition, when cell clones with different PC-1 activity were selected from MDA-MB231 cells, we found an inverse correlation (r = -0.741, P = 0.006) between the PC-1 activity and the insulin-stimulated IR autophosphorylation. A similar inverse correlation was observed in cell clones derived from the insulin-responsive breast cancer cell line MCF-7. By both immunoprecipitation and cross-linking studies we found PC-1 to be associated with IR. These studies indicate, therefore, that overexpression of PC-1 in MDA-MB231 cells may account, at least in part, for the reduced IR tyrosine kinase activity and suggest that PC-1 is a specific modulator of the IR activity in breast cancer cells.

Age-related activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor protooncogenes RET and NTRK1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Oncogenic rearrangements of RET and NTRK1 proto-oncogenes are frequently detected in papillary thyroid carcinomas. Several studies have shown an association between ionizing radiation and development of this tumor type. In addition in vitro irradiation of tumor cell lines induced rearrangements of RET similar to those observed in human papillary thyroid carcinomas. These two observations could be related to the reported increased incidence of papillary thyroid carcinomas in children living in contaminated areas around Chernobyl, given that it has been demonstrated that about 60% of them presents a RET oncogenic activation. However, this high frequency of RET positivity in radiation exposed children does not rule out the possibility that age could also play a role in the development of RET positive tumors. To assess this possibility we looked for a relationship between the presence of RET and NTRK1 oncogenic rearrangements and age at surgery in a sample of 92 consecutive patients. Our results show that, in papillary thyroid carcinoma, the frequency of RET and NTRK1 activation is significantly higher in the group of patients aged 4-30 years, thas supporting the concept that age could be contributing to this thyroid specific carcinogenic process.

Age-related activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor protooncogenes RET and NTRK1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Oncogenic rearrangements of RET and NTRK1 proto-oncogenes are frequently detected in papillary thyroid carcinomas. Several studies have shown an association between ionizing radiation and development of this tumor type. In addition in vitro irradiation of tumor cell lines induced rearrangements of RET similar to those observed in human papillary thyroid carcinomas. These two observations could be related to the reported increased incidence of papillary thyroid carcinomas in children living in contaminated areas around Chernobyl, given that it has been demonstrated that about 60% of them presents a RET oncogenic activation. However, this high frequency of RET positivity in radiation exposed children does not rule out the possibility that age could also play a role in the development of RET positive tumors. To assess this possibility we looked for a relationship between the presence of RET and NTRK1 oncogenic rearrangements and age at surgery in a sample of 92 consecutive patients. Our results show that, in papillary thyroid carcinoma, the frequency of RET and NTRK1 activation is significantly higher in the group of patients aged 4-30 years, thas supporting the concept that age could be contributing to this thyroid specific carcinogenic process.

Localization and protection of kidneys in radiation treatment planning using computed tomography

Irradiation treatment portals of the upper abdomen must limit the dose to the kidneys. Sparing one-third of the parenchyma of each kidney will prevent late clinical sequelae. One hundred CT scans of the abdomen were studied to evaluate using the vertebrae as landmark for treatment planning. In lateral fields, using the anterior border of the vertebral column as a landmark for the posterior high isodose line will limit treatment to less than 60% (mean 22%) of a single kidney. Placing the edge of an anterior/posterior field 2 cm lateral to the vertebral column will limit the dose to less than 44% of a single kidney (mean 11%).