| 1. |
- Jin, Yuesheng, et al.
(författare)
-
Distinct mitotic segregation errors mediate chromosomal instability in aggressive urothelial cancers.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - 1078-0432. ; 13:6, s. 1703-1712
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Chromosomal instability (CIN) is believed to have an important role in the pathogenesis of urothelial cancer (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether disturbances of mitotic segregation contribute to CIN in UC, if these processes have any effect on the course of disease, and how deregulation of these mechanisms affects tumor cell growth. Experimental Design: We developed molecular cytogenetic methods to classify mitotic segregation abnormalities in a panel of UC cell lines. Mitotic instabilities were then scored in biopsies from 52 UC patients and compared with the outcome of tumor disease. Finally, UC cells were exposed in vitro to a telomerase inhibitor to assess how this affects mitotic stability and cell proliferation. Results: Three distinct chromosome segregation abnormalities were identified: (a) telomere dysfunction, which triggers structural rearrangements and loss of chromosomes through anaphase bridging; (b) sister chromatid nondisjunction, which generates discrete chromosomal copy number variations; and (c) supernumerary centrosomes, which cause dramatic shifts in chromosome copy number through multipolar cell division. Chromosome segregation errors were already present in preinvasive tumors and a high rate mitotic instability was an independent predictor of poor survival. However, induction of even higher levels of the same segregation abnormalities in UC cells by telomerase inhibition in vitro led to reduced tumor cell proliferation and clonogenic survival. Conclusion: Several distinct chromosome segregation errors contribute to CIN in UC, and the rate of such mitotic errors has a significant effect on the clinical course. Efficient tumor cell proliferation may depend on the tight endogenous control of these processes.
|
|
| 2. |
- Pietras, Alexander, et al.
(författare)
-
HIF-2 alpha maintains an undifferentiated state in neural crest-like human neuroblastoma tumor-initiating cells
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 1091-6490 .- 0027-8424. ; 106:39, s. 16805-16810
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2 alpha) protein levels predict poor outcome in neuroblastoma, and hypoxia dedifferentiates cultured neuroblastoma cells toward a neural crest-like phenotype. Here, we identify HIF-2 alpha as a marker of normoxic neural crest-like neuroblastoma tumor-initiating/stem cells (TICs) isolated from patient bone marrows. Knockdown of HIF-2 alpha reduced VEGF expression and induced partial sympathetic neuronal differentiation when these TICs were grown in vitro under stem cell-promoting conditions. Xenograft tumors of HIF-2 alpha-silenced cells were widely necrotic, poorly vascularized, and resembled the bulk of tumor cells in clinical neuroblastomas by expressing additional sympathetic neuronal markers, whereas control tumors were immature, well-vascularized, and stroma-rich. Thus, HIF-2 alpha maintains an undifferentiated state of neuroblastoma TICs. Because low differentiation is associated with poor outcome and angiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth, HIF-2 alpha is an attractive target for neuroblastoma therapy.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bexell, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
-
Bone Marrow Multipotent Mesenchymal Stroma Cells Act as Pericyte-like Migratory Vehicles in Experimental Gliomas.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Molecular Therapy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1525-0024 .- 1525-0016. ; 2008:Nov 4., s. 183-190
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) have emerged as cellular vectors for gene therapy of solid cancers. We implanted enhanced green fluorescent protein-expressing rat MSCs directly into rat malignant gliomas to address their migratory capacity, phenotype, and effects on tumor neovascularization and animal survival. A single intratumoral injection of MSCs infiltrated the majority of invasive glioma extensions (72 +/- 14%) and a substantial fraction of distant tumor microsatellites (32 +/- 6%). MSC migration was highly specific for tumor tissue. Grafted MSCs integrated into tumor vessel walls and expressed pericyte markers alpha-smooth muscle actin, neuron-glia 2, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta but not endothelial cell markers. The pericyte marker expression profile and perivascular location of grafted MSCs indicate that these cells act as pericytes within tumors. MSC grafting did not influence tumor microvessel density or survival of tumor-bearing animals. The antiangiogenic drug Sunitinib markedly reduced the numbers of grafted MSCs migrating within tumors. We found no MSCs within gliomas following intravenous (i.v.) injections. Thus, MSCs should be administered by intratumoral implantations rather than by i.v. injections. Intratumorally grafted pericyte-like MSCs might represent a particularly well-suited vector system for delivering molecules to affect tumor angiogenesis and for targeting cancer stem cells within the perivascular niche.Molecular Therapy (2008); doi:10.1038/mt.2008.229.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Calcagnile, O., et al.
(författare)
-
Telomere dysfunction and telomerase activation in cancer - a pathological paradox?
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Cytogenetic and Genome Research. - : S. Karger AG. - 1424-859X .- 1424-8581. ; 118:2-4, s. 270-276
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Telomerase is expressed in more than 90% of human cancers. Telomere maintenance by this enzyme is believed to safeguard genomic integrity in neoplastic cells. Nevertheless, many telomerase-expressing tumours exhibit chromosomal instability triggered by short, dysfunctional telomeres, implying that active telomerase is not sufficient for preserving a functional telosomic nucleoprotein complex in cancer cells. We here examine three possible solutions to this ostensible paradox. First, prior to telomerase activation, telomere erosion may have evolved to a level where telomeric repeat sequences are too short to provide a functional substrate for telomerase enzyme activity. Second, mechanisms other than the continuous telomere erosion counteracted by telomerase may contribute to rapid shortening of telomere repeats. Third, dysfunction of telomere-regulating proteins may result in direct telomere uncapping. Moreover, telomerase may contribute to tumour development also through mechanisms unrelated to telomere length maintenance. Taken together, the available data on the role of telomerase in cancer strongly support that inhibition of this enzyme is a feasible strategy for cancer therapy. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
|
|
| 6. |
- Davidsson, Josef, et al.
(författare)
-
Array-based genotype-phenotype correlation in a case of supernumerary ring chromosome 12
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Clinical Genetics. - : Wiley. - 0009-9163. ; 73:1, s. 44-49
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Supernumerary ring chromosomes (SRC) account for approximately 10% of prenatal marker chromosomes and 60% of these SRCs are associated with an abnormal phenotype of the patient carrying them. SRCs have, with few exceptions, not been characterized at the molecular genetic level. Here, we present the first case of a SRC 12 thoroughly investigated with tiling resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH); multicolor, centromere, subtelomeric and whole chromosome painting fluorescence in situ hybridization. In addition, to be able to correlate phenotypic manifestations with a possible pathogenetic outcome of the SRC 12, we retrospectively compared and reviewed all 14 cases of SRC 12 reported, including our present case. Our analyses revealed that the SRC comprised 25.53-46.40 Mb of chromosome 12, a region known to harbor 47 annotated genes of which nine were of putative pathogenetic relevance. Reviewing the previously described cases of SRC 12, we could not establish any specific recurrent features associated with this type of SRC. This most probably reflects heterogeneity in break-point distribution among the reported cases, resulting in differently sized ring chromosomes and hence varying phenotypic traits of the patients. Detailed genomic evaluation, by array CGH or similar techniques may thus be of importance to predict the clinical course in individual cases.
|
|
| 7. |
- Ellaithi, Mona, et al.
(författare)
-
A case of Cornelia de Lange syndrome from Sudan
- 2007
-
Ingår i: BMC Pediatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2431. ; 7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Brachmann de Lange syndrome (BDLS) is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by a distinctive facial appearance, prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, psychomotor delay, behavioral problems, and malformations of the upper extremities. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present for the first time a case of BDLS from Sudan, a 7-month-old female infant, who was referred as a case of malnutrition. The patient was from a Sudanese western tribe. Clinical investigation showed that the child was a classical case of BDLS, but with some additional clinical findings not previously reported including crowded ribs and tied tongue. CONCLUSION: Reporting BDLS cases of different ethnic backgrounds could add nuances to the phenotypic description of the syndrome and be helpful in diagnosis.
|
|
| 8. |
- Ellaithi, M, et al.
(författare)
-
A del(X)(p11) carrying SRY sequences in an infant with ambiguous genitalia
- 2006
-
Ingår i: BMC Pediatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2431. ; 6:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: SRY (sex-determining region, Y) is the gene responsible of gonadal differentiation in the male and it is essential for the regular development of male genitalia. Translocations involving the human sex chromosomes are rarely reported, however here we are reporting a very rare translocation of SRY gene to the q -arm of a deleted X chromosome. This finding was confirmed by cytogenetic, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-month infant was clinically diagnosed as an intersex case, with a phallus, labia majora and minora, a blind vagina and a male urethra. Neither uterus nor testes was detected by Ultrasonography. G-banding of his chromosomes showed 46,X,del(X)(p11) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed a very small piece from the Y chromosome translocated to the q-arm of the del(X). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed the presence of material from the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the phenotype of the patient was caused by activation of the deleted X chromosome with SRY translocation, which is responsible for gonadal differentiation.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ellaithi, M, et al.
(författare)
-
Female genital mutilation of a karyotypic male presenting as a female with delayed puberty
- 2006
-
Ingår i: BMC Women's Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6874. ; 6:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is commonly practiced mainly in a belt reaching from East to West Africa north of the equator. The practice is known across socio-economic classes and among different ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. Few studies have been appropriately designed to measure the health effects of FGM. However, the outcome of FGM on intersex individuals has never been discussed before. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient first presented as a female with delayed puberty. Hormonal analysis revealed a normal serum prolactin level of 215 Micro/L, a low FSH of 0.5 Micro/L, and a low LH of 1.1 Micro/L. Type IV FGM (Pharaonic circumcision) had been performed during childhood. Chromosomal analysis showed a 46, XY karyotype and ultrasonography verified a soft tissue structure in the position of the prostate. CONCLUSION: FGM pose a threat to the diagnosis and management of children with abnormal genital development in the Sudan and similar societies.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
