| 1. |
- Andreyev, HJN, et al.
(författare)
-
Kirsten ras mutations in patients with colorectal cancer : The 'RASCAL II' study
- 2001
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 85:5, s. 692-696
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researchers worldwide with information about the Kirsten ras (Ki-ras) tumour genotype and outcome of patients with colorectal cancer were invited to provide that data in a schematized format for inclusion in a collaborative database called RASCAL (The Kirsten ras incolorectal-cancer collaborative group). Our results from 2721 such patients have been presented previously and for the first time in any common cancer, showed conclusively that different gene mutations have different impacts on outcome, even when the mutations occur at the same site on the genome. To explore the effect of Ki-ras mutations at different stages of colorectal cancer, more patients were recruited to the database, which was reanalysed when information on 4268 patients from 42 centres in 21 countries had been entered. After predetermined exclusion criteria were applied, data on 3439 patients were entered into a multivariate analysis. This found that of the 12 possible mutations on codons 12 and 13 of Kirsten ras, only one mutation on codon 12, glycine to valine, found in 8.6% of all patients, had a statistically significant impact on failure-free survival (P=0.004, HR 1.3) and overall survival (P=0.008, HR 1.29). This mutation appeared to have a greater impact on outcome in Dukes' C cancers (failure-free survival, P=0.008, HR 1.5, overall survival P=0.02, HR 1.45) than in Dukes' B tumours (failure-free survival, P=0.46, HR 1.12, overall survival P=0.36, HR 1.15). Ki-ras mutations may occur early in the development of pre-cancerous adenomas in the colon and rectum. However, this collaborative study suggests that not only is the presence of a codon 12 glycine to valine mutation important for cancer progression but also that it may predispose to more aggressive biological behaviour in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. ⌐ 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bergman-Jungeström, Malin, 1967-, et al.
(författare)
-
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism and breast cancer risk in young women
- 2001
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 85:6, s. 859-862
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Oestrogen exposure has long been considered to be a main risk factor of breast cancer. More recently, interest has also focused on the possible carcinogenic influence from oestrogen metabolites, such as catechol oestrogens. O-methylation, catalysed by Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT), is one pathway by which the potentially carcinogenic catechol oestrogens can be inactivated. The gene coding for COMT protein contains a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), resulting in an amino acid shift Val Met, which has been shown to determine high- and low-activity configuration of the enzyme. We hypothesized that the low-activity allele, COMTMet, may be implicated in early onset breast cancer. In the present case–control study, including 126 young breast cancer patients ( 36 years) and 117 healthy female blood donors, we analysed the association between COMTMet genotype and risk of breast cancer. No significant difference in the frequency of low-/high-activity alleles was found between cases and controls, indicating that the polymorphism, as a single factor, may not contribute to breast carcinogenesis in young women.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bernsen, MR, et al.
(författare)
-
On the biological relevance of MHC class II and B7 expression by tumour cells in melanoma metastases
- 2003
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 88:3, s. 424-431
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A large number of studies have indicated that specific immune reactivity plays a crucial role in the control of malignant melanoma. In this context, expression of MHC I, MHC II and B7 molecules by melanoma cells is seen as relevant for the immune response against the tumour. For a better understanding of the biological relevance of MHC II and B7 expression by tumour cells in metastatic melanoma, we studied the expression of these molecules in melanoma metastases in relation to the inflammatory response, regression of the tumour and survival from 27 patients treated with biochemotherapy (30 mg m-2 Cisplatin and 250 mg m-2 decarbazine (dimethyl-triazene-imidazole-carboxamide, DTIC) on days 1-3 i.v., and 107 IU IFN-a2b 3 days a week s.c., q. 28d). In 19 out of 27 lesions studied, we found expression of MHC II by the tumour cells, while only in one out of II tumour biopsies obtained from untreated metastatic melanoma patients, MHC II expression was detected. Expression of B7.1 and B7.2 by tumour cells was found in nine out of 24 and 19 out of 24 lesions, respectively. In all cases where B7.1 expression was found, expression of B7.2 by the tumour cells was also seen. In general, no or only few inflammatory cells positive for B7 were found. Expression of MHC II by tumour cells was positively correlated with the presence of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, regression of the lesion, and with time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of the patient. However, no significant correlation between B7.1 or B7.2 expression and regression of the tumour, TTP or OS was found. In light of other recent findings, these data altogether do support a role as biomarker for MHC II expression by tumour cells, however, its exact immunological pathomechanism(s) remain to be established. ⌐ 2003 Cancer Research UK.
|
|
| 4. |
- Birringer, M, et al.
(författare)
-
Vitamin E analogues as inducers of apoptosis : Structure-function relation
- 2003
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 88:12, s. 1948-1955
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent results show that a-tocopheryl succinate (a-TOS) is a proapoptotic agent with antineoplastic activity. As modifications of the vitamin E (VE) molecule may affect its apoptogenic activity, we tested a number of newly synthesised VE analogues using malignant cell lines. Analogues of a-TOS with lower number of methyl substitutions on the aromatic ring were less active than a-TOS. Replacement of the succinyl group with a maleyl group greatly enhanced the activity, while it was lower for the glutaryl esters. Methylation of the free succinyl carboxyl group on a-TOS and d-TOS completely prevented the apoptogenic activity of the parent compounds. Both Trolox and its succinylated derivative were inactive. a-tocotrienol (a-T3 H) failed to induce apoptosis, while ?-T3 H was apoptogenic, and more so when succinylated. Shortening the aliphatic side chain of ?-T3 by one isoprenyl unit increased its activity. Neither phytyl nor oleyl succinate caused apoptosis. These findings show that modifications of different functional moieties of the VE molecule can enhance apoptogenic activity. It is hoped that these observations will lead to the synthesis of analogues with even higher apoptogenic and, consequently, antineoplastic efficacy.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bjellerup, P, et al.
(författare)
-
Limited neuropeptide Y precursor processing in unfavourable metastatic neuroblastoma tumours
- 2000
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 83:2, s. 171-176
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found at high concentrations in neural crest-derived tumours and has been implicated as a regulatory peptide in tumour growth and differentiation. Neuroblastomas, ganglioneuromas and phaeochromocytomas with significant concentrations of NPY-like immunoreactivity were investigated for different molecular forms of NPY and for significance of proNPY processing. Gel-permeation chromatography identified intact NPY (1-36) in all tumours, whereas proNPY (69 amino acids) was detected only in control adrenal tissue and malignant neuroblastomas. Purification of NPY-like immunoreactivity in tumour extracts and structural characterization revealed that both NPY (1-36) and the truncated form NPY (3-36) was present. The degree of processing of proNPY to NPY in tumour tissue was lower in advanced neuroblastomas with regional or metastatic spread (stage 3 and 4) (n = 6), (41%, 12-100%, median, range), compared to the less aggressive stage 1, 2 and 4S tumours (n = 12), (93%, 69-100%), (P = 0.012). ProNPY processing of less than 50% was correlated with poor clinical outcome (P = 0.004). MYCN oncogene amplification was also correlated to a low degree of proNPY processing (P = 0.025). In summary, a low degree of proNPY processing was correlated to clinical advanced stage and poor outcome in neuroblastomas. ProNPY/NPY processing generated molecular forms of NPY with known differences in NPY-receptor selectivity, implicating a potential for in vivo modulation of NPY-like effects in tumour tissue. (C) 2000 Cancer Research Campaign.
|
|
| 6. |
- Dabrosin, Charlotta, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Oestradiol enhances tumour regression induced by B7-I/IL-2 adenoviral gene transfer in a murine model of breast cancer
- 2003
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 89:2, s. 385-390
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The majority of breast cancers are oestrogen dependent and although current treatment strategies have improved, approximately 50% of the patients will develop metastasis. New treatments that result in long-term systemic immunity are therefore being developed. We have previously shown that adenoviral gene transfer of B7-I/IL-2 to murine breast cancer induces a high rate of complete turnout regression and systemic immunity. Since oestrogens not only affect breast cancer but also have been shown to modulate immune function and secretion of immune-regulatory cytokines, we explored whether administration of oestradiol altered the immune response induced by an adenoviral vector expressing B7-I/IL-2. An oestrogen-dependent murine breast cancer tumour was used in ovariectomised mice, supplemented either oestradiol or placebo. We report the somewhat unexpected finding that intratumoral injection of adenovirus expressing B7-I/IL-2 induces complete turnout regression in 76% of oestradiol-supplemented mice, while only 18% of the tumours regressed in the oestrogen-depleted group. Cured mice in both groups exhibited a similar CTL response against the tumour antigen. However, intratumoral IFN-? levels, 2 days after B7-I/IL-2 injection, were significantly higher in mice treated with oestradiol compared to placebo. This may be one mechanism explaining the higher response rate of tumours in oestradiol-replenished mice.
|
|
| 7. |
- Dalen, Helge, et al.
(författare)
-
a-tocopheryl succinate sensitises a T lymphoma cell line to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by suppressing NF-?B activation
- 2003
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 88:1, s. 153-158
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Activation of nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) can interfere with induction of apoptosis triggered by the tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL, Apo2L). Therefore, agents that suppress NF-?B activation may sensitise cells to TRAIL-dependent apoptosis. Exposure of Jurkat cells to TRAIL resulted in massive and saturable apoptosis induction, following an initial lag time. This lag was abolished by pretreatment of the cells with subapoptotic doses of a-tocopheryl succinate (a-TOS) or the proteasome inhibitor MGI32. Exposure of the cells to TRAIL led to a rapid, transient activation of NF-?B, a process that was suppressed by cell pretreatment with a-TOS or MGI32. Activation of NF-?B by TNF-a prior to TRAIL exposure increased resistance of the cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. We conclude that a-TOS sensitises cells to TRAIL killing, at least in some cases, through inhibition of NF-?B activation. This further supports the possibility that this semisynthetic analogue of vitamin E is a potential adjuvant in cancer treatment, such as in the case of TRAIL-mediated inhibition of cancer.
|
|
| 8. |
- Håkansson, Annika, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
-
Biochemotherapy of metastatic malignant melanoma. Predictive value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes
- 2001
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 85:12, s. 1871-1877
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The therapeutic efficacy of biochemotherapy in metastatic malignant melanoma still carries a low remission rate, but with some durable responses. It would therefore be of considerable importance if patients with a high probability of responding could be identified using predictive tests. The response to interferon-alpha (IFN-a) correlates with the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes identified by fine-needle aspirates from melanoma metastases (Hσkansson et al, 1996). The present investigation studies a possible correlation between tumour-infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes in malignant melanoma metastases and the therapeutic effect of biochemotherapy. A total of 25 patients with systemic and 16 with regional metastatic melanoma were analysed before initiation of biochemotherapy (cis-platinum 30 mg/m2 d.1-3, DTIC 250 mg/m2 d.1-3 i.v. and IFN-a2b 10 million IU s.c. 3 days a week, q. 28d.). A monoclonal antibody, anti-CD4, was used to identify tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in fine-needle aspirates before start of treatment. The presence of these lymphocytes was correlated to response, time to progression and overall survival. A statistically significant correlation (P = 0.01) was found between the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes and tumour regression during biochemotherapy in patients with systemic disease. Out of 14 patients with moderate to high numbers of infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes, 12 achieved tumour regression. In contrast, among patients with low numbers of these cells in metastatic lesions, 8 out of 11 had progressive disease. We also found a significantly longer time to progression (P < 0.003) and overall survival (P < 0.01) among patients with moderate to high numbers of these cells compared to patients with low numbers of these cells before initiation of biochemotherapy. Furthermore, in patients with regional disease, we found a significantly longer time to progression (P = 0.01) and a trend toward a longer overall survival time (P = 0.09). Based on these results and as previously shown with IFN-a therapy alone, there seems to be a need for CD4+ lymphocytes infiltrating the tumours before the start of biochemotherapy to make the treatment successful. Determination of these cells in fine-needle aspirates seems to be a method to predict responders to biochemotherapy, thus increasing the cost-benefit of this treatment strategy considerably, both in terms of patient adverse reactions and health care costs. ⌐ 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.
|
|
| 9. |
- Neuzil, Jiri, 1958-
(författare)
-
Vitamin E succinate and cancer treatment : A vitamin E prototype for selective antitumour activity
- 2003
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 89:10, s. 1822-1826
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Great hope has been given to micronutrients as anticancer agents, since they present natural compounds with beneficial effects for normal cells and tissues. One of these is vitamin E (VE), an antioxidant and an essential component of biological membranes and circulating lipoproteins. In spite of a number of epidemiological and intervention studies, little or no correlation between VE intake and incidence of cancer has been found. Recent reports have identified a redox-silent analogue of VE, a-tocopheryl succinate (a-TOS), as a potent anticancer agent with a unique structure and pharmacokinetics in vivo. a-TOS is highly selective for malignant cells, inducing them into apoptotic death largely via the mitochondrial route. The molecule of a-TOS may be modified so that analogues with higher activity are generated. Finally, a-TOS and similar agents are metabolised to VE, thereby yielding a compound with a secondary beneficial activity. Thus, a-TOS epitomises a group of novel compounds that hold substantial promise as future anticancer drugs. The reasons for this optimistic notion are discussed in the following paragraphs. ⌐ 2003 Cancer Research UK.
|
|
| 10. |
- Pérez-Tenorio, Gizeh, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
-
Activation of AKT/PKB in breast cancer predicts a worse outcome among endocrine treated patients
- 2002
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 86:4, s. 540-545
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Akt/PKB is a serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates cell cycle progression, apoptosis and growth factor mediated cell survival in association with tyrosine kinase receptors. The protein is a downstream effector of erbB-2 with implications in breast cancer progression and drug resistance in vitro. We aimed to examine the role of Akt-1 in breast cancer patients, by determining whether the expression (Akt-1) and/or activation (pAkt) were related to prognostic markers and survival. The expression of erbB-2, heregulin β1 and Bcl-2 was also assessed by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. This study comprised 93 patients, aged < 50 who were treated with tamoxifen and/or goserelin. We found that pAkt was associated with lower S-phase fraction (P = 0.001) and the presence of heregulin β1-expressing stromal cells (P = 0.017). Neither Akt-1 nor pAkt was related with other factors Turnout cells-derived heregulin β1 was found mainly in oestrogen receptor negative (P = 0.026) and node negative (P = 0.005) cases. Survival analysis revealed that pAkt positive patients were more prone to relapse with distant metastasis, independently of S-phase fraction and nodal status (multivariate analysis; P = 0.004). The results suggest that activation of Akt may have prognostic relevance in breast cancer
|
|
