International Journal of Cancer Management
Volume:15 Issue: 9, Sep 2022

The role of tumor-associated tissue eosinophils and mast cells in the biological behavior of tumors remains unclear.

This study was performed to compare the eosinophil and mast cell counts in the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the head and neck and to evaluate their relationship with clinicopathologic factors.

The current descriptive-analytical study was conducted on the histopathologic slides of 46 BCC and 30 cSCC samples prepared by using Sirius red and toluidine blue staining techniques for eosinophil and mast cell counts, respectively. The data were analyzed, using Pearson’s correlation, t test, and ANOVA test.

The BCC and cSCC samples had mean eosinophil counts of 35.43 ± 35 and 331.27 ± 321.68 eosinophil/10 HPF, respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The levels of the mast cell infiltration were obtained as 55.33 ± 39.90 and 63.67±40.86 in BCC and cSCC, respectively. However, this variable was not significantly different between the two groups of BCC and cSCC samples (P = 0.380). In addition, the mean eosinophil and mast cell counts were higher in cSCC grade 3 than in other grades; however, this difference was statistically significant only for the mast cells. Furthermore, the mean eosinophil/mast cell count in cSCC and BCC showed no significant relationship with age and gender.

Considering the greater presence of eosinophils in cSCC than in BCC, eosinophils may be concluded to be among the factors responsible for more biologically and clinically invasive behaviors of cSCC, compared to those of BCC.

Developing asymmetries are uncommon mammographic findings with a chance of being associated with malignancy.

The current study aimed at correlating ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and histopathology of patients with developing focal asymmetry in opportunist screening mammograms setting, and presents a diagnostic approach to developing asymmetry.

This was a cross-sectional study on a database of opportunist screening mammography at the Breast Clinic, Cancer Center, at Tehran University of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to December 2018. Mammogram screenings (n = 12,169) were evaluated for developing asymmetry. Findings of mammography, ultrasound, MRI findings, and histopathology of patients with developing asymmetry were collected and analyzed.

Fifty-four cases (0.44%) had developed asymmetry in screening mammograms. After excluding 18 patients with considering exclusion criteria, the data of 36 patients were analyzed. The summation artifact was the etiology of developing asymmetry in 11 (30.5%) patients. Ultrasound was performed in 28 patients, and 14 (38.8%) patients had no correlated findings. All 3 malignant cases had ultrasound correlates, and a significant association existed between sonography and the risk of malignancy in patients having developing asymmetry (P = 0.003). Three malignant cases of the study underwent MRI, 1 with segmental clumped non-mass enhancement, and 2 showed a mass with rim enhancement. A significant association was revealed between a family history of breast cancer (P = 0.04) and developing asymmetry. The positive predictive value of developing asymmetry for malignancy was 8.3%.

Patients having developing asymmetry should be evaluated for malignancy, using supplementary techniques, such as additional mammographic views, ultrasound primarily, or MRI. A biopsy is required for indeterminate findings.

Oncolytic virotherapy can serve as a novel therapeutic strategy in oncology. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the oncolytic activity of the mumps virus RS-12 strain after its adaptation to cancer cells via serial passaging.

To adapt the RS-12 strain-based vaccine to cancer cells, it was passaged eight times in the HT1080 cell line and was isolated via two terminal endpoint dilutions. The genetic homogeneity of isolated cancer cell-adapted RS-12 variant was confirmed by direct sequencing of regions, encompassing four known heterogeneous genomic positions. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of viruses was assessed in two different cancer cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis-inducing effects of the cancer cell-adapted variant and its parental virus on cancer cells were quantified by flow cytometry.

According to the chromatograms, the RS-12 strain vaccine seed exhibited two peaks at the genomic nucleotide positions 1591, 2417, 3774, and 12977. On the contrary, cancer cell-adapted RS-12, isolated by terminal endpoint serial dilutions, contained no viral subpopulations in these positions. A significant improvement was observed in the oncolytic potency of our cancer cell-adapted variant compared to its parental virus vaccine seed in vitro. Besides, the variant efficiently induced apoptosis in the human fibrosarcoma and adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Considering the increased oncolytic potency and apoptosis-inducing capacity of this variant in cancer cells, it can be a promising option for future experiments.

Aberrant activation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in various types of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), which is a prevalent malignancy. Targeting the Wnt signaling pathway has gained a reputation as an attractive therapeutic strategy, mainly because of its potential for regulating cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis.

The aim of the current research was to investigate the effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and bovine alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (BAMLET), a complex of oleic acid with bovine α-lactalbumin protein, on colon cancer cells focusing on the Wnt signaling pathway.

For this purpose, HT-29 and HCT116 cells were treated with 5-FU and BAMLET, and the expression levels of Wnt signalingrelated proteins (β-catenin andE-cadherin) andVEGF as angiogenesis regulators were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western Blot analysis.

Bovine alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (BAMLET) treatment down-regulated the expression of β-catenin and up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin significantly compared to the 5-FU (P < 0.0001). The reduced mRNA levels of VEGF in treated cells revealed the effectiveness of 5-FU and BAMLET on angiogenesis.

Bovine alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (BAMLET) can be considered for targeting the Wnt signaling pathway and angiogenesis. It is amenable to further investigation in the development of CRC treatment.

Numerous studies have shown an association between hormones secreted by adipose tissues and cancer development.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of body mass index (BMI) and genetic variation of leptin and adiponectin on serum concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, and estradiol among untreated breast cancer.

This case-control study was performed on 350 women (175 women with breast cancer and 175 healthy controls), who had not taken any medications. Serum levels of estradiol (17-beta estradiol), leptin, and adiponectin were measured, using the ELISA technique. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of leptin gene (LepG2548A), leptin receptor (Q223, K109R, and K656N), and adiponectin gene (T45G, G276T, C11377G, and 11391A) in blood-isolated DNA were evaluated, using RFLP-PCR technique.

Body mass index can affect serum concentrations of hormones and is associated with breast cancer. Also, except for adiponectin C11377G polymorphism, other all genetic variations showed significant relationships with breast cancer. In both groups, BMI was significantly correlated with the mean serum concentrations of hormones, and the risk of breast cancer increased in G2548A, Q223R, K656N, and G276T polymorphisms. The effect of risk allele genotypes on serum concentration of hormones showed that changes in serum concentration of estrogen and leptin in all studied polymorphisms were associated with breast cancer in postmenopausal women. But adiponectin level was only affected by polymorphisms K109R, K656N, and G276 and G11391A.

High BMI and genetic variation can affect cancer development by changing the serum concentrations of hormones in different genotypes. Studying various populations’ genetics and lifestyle can help definitive conclusions about genetics and obesity

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can occur after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and can affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, and vulvovaginal areas.

This case report described a 65-year-old multiparous patient with myelodysplastic syndrome who underwent a matched unrelated donor transplant approximately 3 years before her surgery. After her BMT she developed GVHD. She underwent anterior and posterior repair and uterosacral ligament suspension for stage III post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. Her postoperative course was complicated by mental status changes, abnormal liver function tests, and increasing abdominal distention. All her post-operative symptoms were resolved with conservative management.

This case presentation highlights the potential atypical post-operative course of BMT patients with GVHD. The management of patients with GVHD relies heavily on the early involvement of hematologists.