Automated analysis of cervix images to grade the severity of cancer

This paper discusses a method to objectively analyze the severity of cancer in images obtained from cervix. We propose a novel method to identify the transformation zone in post Lugol's iodine images and acetic acid images that are obtained from the cervix to grade the severity of cancer. We segment the Lugol's iodine image to identify the abnormal tissues and map them to acetic acid images to accurately identify the abnormal tissues in post acetic acid images as well. This information is further used to obtain an opacity difference score that could be used for grading the cancer.

Gene-specific methylation: potential markers for colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Aberrant methylation of the promoter region is associated with silencing of many genes in neoplasia. CpG island methylation is an epigenetic mechanism for transcriptional silencing that occurs at various stages of colon tumorigenesis. In this study, we tested the promoter methylation and expression of seven genes from various pathways of DNA repair, apoptosis and inflammation, i.e., sFRP1, MLH1, RASSF1A, CDA, v-fgr, LYN-B, and TNFR10d.

METHOD

The genes were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the level of gene expression. The promoter methylation status of the genes was studied by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

RESULT

The correlation of promoter methylation status with suppressed gene expression patterns suggested a potential role for the silencing these genes in colon cancer progression.

CONCLUSION

Promoter methylations of the studied genes could be explored as promising biomarkers for new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets of colorectal cancer.

Assessment of microsatellite instability in colorectal carcinoma at an Indian center

AIM

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancers in an Indian cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Paraffin embedded tissue samples of colorectal cancers from 46 patients were assessed for mismatch repair protein expression (hMLH1 and hMSH2) by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, MSI analysis was done after PCR amplification of five Bethesda markers.

RESULTS

Amongst 46 cases studied, only 5 patients (10.8%) showed MSI. Out of these, two (4.3%) had high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and three (6.5%) showed low microsatellite instability (MSI-L). Out of 46 cases, 41 were microsatellite stable (MSS). In the 46 cases tested by immunohistochemistry, 7 (15.7%) showed the absence of hMLH1 and 1 case showed the absence of hMSH2.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates a similar rate of incidence of MSI in colorectal cancers in the Indian cohort compared to the West (10-15%) despite lower incidence of colorectal cancers and predominance of rectosigmoid tumors in the Indian population.