Gene expression profiling of the synergy of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and paclitaxel against renal cell carcinoma

We previously demonstrated that 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) could significantly increase the susceptibility of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells to Paclitaxel (PTX) treatment in vitro, and showed the synergy of DAC and PTX against RCC. However, the gene expression profiling and the pathways involved in the synergy of these two agents remain unknown. In this study, we performed cDNA microarray, which was coupled with real-time PCR, to identify critical genes in the synergistic mechanism of the both agents against RCC cells. Various patterns of gene expression were observed by cluster analysis, and results indicated that lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1), transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI), C-X-C motif ligand 5 (CXCL5) and myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene (c-myc) may play a pivotal role in the synergy of DAC and PTX. In addition, network analysis using IPA software, suggested that the PI3K/Akt pathway and some other pathways associated with cyclins, DNA replication and cell cycle/mitotic regulation were also associated with the synergy of DAC and PTX against RCC.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology

More focus required on hospice care for heart failure patients

End-stage heart failure patients enter hospice care closer to the time of their death, are more often referred from acute care facilities, and are more likely to die in acute care settings compared with cancer patients, show study results.

via Med Wire News

Arsenic induces acute promyelocytic leukemia remission

Elderly patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia have a high rate of response to arsenic trioxide, say researchers who believe the drug should be a first-line treatment in this population.

via Med Wire News

Predictors for pain after breast cancer surgery unveiled

Researchers have identified that chronic preoperative pain, axillary surgery, and psychologic robustness significantly predict acute pain outcomes after breast cancer surgery.

via Med Wire News

Pediatric central line infections reduced by ‘best practice’ guidelines

The number of central line-associated bloodstream infections sustained by hospitalized children with cancer can be substantially reduced by encouraging staff to follow simple “best practice” regulations, say researchers.

via Med Wire News

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma: report of two cases

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH) is a rare benign tumor of the lungs. These tumors are composed of cuboidal surface cells and polygonal stromal cells and show four histological manifestations: hemorrhagic, papillary, solid, and sclerotic. PSH predominantly affects asymptomatic middle-aged women. The tumor often occurs at the intralobar site, and less commonly in the bronchus and mediastinum. PSH is easy to be misdiagnosed preoperatively. In this study, we present in detail the treatment procedures followed for two atypical cases of PSH. Case 1 was a 62-year-old woman bearing a tumor for 15 years. The tumor lesion was found to be located in the oblique fissure of the left lung. PSH was confirmed by surgical resection and postoperative pathological diagnosis. There was no sign of recurrence and metastasis 1.5 years after surgery. Case 2 was a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with bilateral multiple nodules by physical examination. This patient was diagnosed with definite PSH through computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy. Surgical resection was not performed. The patient also showed no sign of enlarged tumor and metastasis after 2 years of follow-up. Although PSH can be cured by surgical resection, the findings in our cases indicate that surgical resection need not be considered the preferred course of treatment. If PSH is diagnosed before surgery, the patients may survive while bearing the tumor.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Successful treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in a patient with Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is an extremely rare neoplasm that appears toarise most commonly at visceral (especially gastrointestinal and uterine), retroperitoneal, andabdominopelvic sites. Malignant PEComas exist but are very rare. These tumors represent afamily of mesenchymal neoplasms, mechanistically linked through activation of the mTORsignaling pathway. Metastatic PEComa is a rare form of sarcoma for which no effectivetherapy has been described previously and that has a uniformly fatal outcome. Although thereis no known effective therapy, the molecular pathophysiology of aberrant mTOR signalingprovides a scientific rationale to target this pathway therapeutically. The difficulty indetermining optimal therapy, owing to the sparse literature available, led us to present thiscase. On this basis, we report a case of metastatic retroperitoneal PEComa treated with anoral mTOR inhibitor, with everolimus achieving significant clinical response.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology