Towards a circular economy in virgin olive oil production: Valorization of the olive mill waste (OMW) "alpeorujo" through polyphenol recovery with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) and vermicomposting.

Virgin olive oil (VOO) production generates large amounts of a harmful by-product, olive mill waste (OMW) or alpeorujo, which has a strong environmental impact and that must be recycled to adapt VOO production to a circular economy model. Here, the valorization of OMW was studied by considering three consecutive stages: Stage 1 involves the generation of OMW; Stage 2 the recovery of bioactive phenolic compounds from the fresh OMW using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), generating a valuable phenolic extract and a new by-product, a dephenolized OMW named "alpeoNADES"; and Stage 3 involves vermicomposting alpeoNADES with Eisenia fetida earthworms. Six NADES were formulated and tested, selecting a NADES composed of citric acid and fructose (CF) derived from food grade and biodegradable substances. CF was the most effective solvent to obtain phenolic extracts for nutraceutical and agronomical purposes, extracting 3988.74 mg/kg of polyphenols from fresh OMW. This alpeoNADES is a non-palatable substrate for E. fetida earthworms, as the residual CF gives it an acidic pH (pH 2). Its palatability was improved by mixing it with horse manure and straw for vermicomposting, in a 1:1 and 3:1 dry weight ratio. When these substrates were precomposted for 3 weeks they reached pH 5.5-6 and they could then be vermicomposted for 23 weeks (using OMW as a control). The best substrate for vermicomposting was determined by the worm biomass, growth rate, carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio, and N and P content. AlpeoNADES and manure 3:1 produced the highest quality vermicompost in the shortest time, generating a product that complied with European standards for organic fertilizers. Hence, alpeoNADES was recycled to a low-cost, organic balanced fertilizer in Stage 3, enabling the olive oil industry to transition to sustainable production through this integrated circular economy design.

Correction: Monitoring EGFR-T790M mutation in serum/plasma for prediction of response to third-generation EGFR inhibitors in patients with lung cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25478.].

Monitoring EGFR-T790M mutation in serum/plasma for prediction of response to third-generation EGFR inhibitors in patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib is efficacious in lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and acquired resistance (AR) to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors due to EGFR-T790M mutation (T790M). We sought to describe T790M changes in serum/plasma during osimertinib therapy and correlate these changes with treatment outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum/plasma from EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients with T790M-AR was collected before and during osimertinib treatment. Changes in T790M were evaluated using a peptide-nucleic acid-PCR assay, and correlated with clinical and radiographic response. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included. Median time on osimertinib treatment was 10.6 months with a median progression-free survival of 13.6 months. Best response to osimertinib was partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) or progression (PD) in 46.1%, 30.8% and 23.1% of patients, respectively.Most of the patients were paucisymptomatic at baseline. Symptom improvement was reported in 66.6% of responder patients; while symptoms remained stable in 75% of patients with SD, and 66% of patients with PD had clinical deterioration.Three patterns of T790M changes during osimertinib treatment were identified. T790 remained detectable with PD or a short-lasting SD in 15.4% of the patients. T790M disappeared in 69.2% of patients with PR or SD. T790M disappeared, despite clinical and/or radiographic progression in 15.4% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Changes of T790M in serum/plasma in EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients with T790M-AR might be a useful marker of symptomatic and radiographic outcome to osimertinib. Longer follow-up is needed to establish if subsequent emergence of T790M could be a marker of resistance.

IDH mutation status trumps the Pignatti risk score as a prognostic marker in low-grade gliomas.

Management of low-grade gliomas (LGG) is based on clinical and radiologic features, including the Pignatti prognostic scoring system, which classifies patients as low- or high-risk. To determine whether molecular data can offer advantages over these features, we have examined the prognostic impact of several molecular alterations in LGG. In a cohort of 58 patients with LGG, we have retrospectively analyzed clinical and molecular characteristics, including the Pignatti criteria, IDH mutations, TP53 mutations, the 1p/19q deletion, and MGMT methylation, and correlated our findings with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Mean age of patients was 45 years; 71% were classified as low-risk by the Pignatti system. IDH mutations were detected in 62%, p53 mutations in 17%, the 1p/19q codeletion in 46%, and MGMT methylation in 40% of patients. Survival analyses were performed in the 49 patients without contrast enhancement. In the univariate analysis, IDH mutations, the 1p/19q codeletion, and the combination of IDH mutations with the 1p/19q codeletion were associated with both longer PFS (P = 0.006, P = 0.037, and P = 0.003, respectively) and longer OS (P < 0.001, P = 0.02, and P < 0.001, respectively). The multivariate analysis identified absence of IDH mutations as a factor for greater risk of progression [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.1; P = 0.007]and death (HR = 6.4; P < 0.001). We suggest that IDH mutations may be more effective than the Pignatti score in discriminating low- and high-risk patients with LGG.

Co-activation of STAT3 and YES-Associated Protein 1 (YAP1) Pathway in EGFR-Mutant NSCLC.

Background: The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited by adaptive activation of cell survival signals. We hypothesized that both signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Src-YES-associated protein 1 (YAP1) signaling are dually activated during EGFR TKI treatment to limit therapeutic response. Methods: We used MTT and clonogenic assays, immunoblotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the efficacy of EGFR TKI alone and in combination with STAT3 and Src inhibition in three EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines. The Chou-Talalay method was used for the quantitative determination of drug interaction. We examined tumor growth inhibition in one EGFR-mutant NSCLC xenograft model (n = 4 mice per group). STAT3 and YAP1 expression was evaluated in tumors from 119 EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients (64 in an initial cohort and 55 in a validation cohort) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between survival and gene expression. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: We discovered that lung cancer cells survive initial EGFR inhibitor treatment through activation of not only STAT3 but also Src-YAP1 signaling. Cotargeting EGFR, STAT3, and Src was synergistic in two EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines with a combination index of 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54 to 0.63) for the PC-9 and 0.59 (95% CI = 0.54 to 0.63) for the H1975 cell line. High expression of STAT3 or YAP1 predicted worse progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.54 to 5.93, P = .001, and HR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.30 to 5.09, P = .007, respectively) in an initial cohort of 64 EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients treated with firstline EGFR TKIs. Similar results were observed in a validation cohort. Conclusions: Our study uncovers a coordinated signaling network centered on both STAT3 and Src-YAP signaling that limits targeted therapy response in lung cancer and identifies an unforeseen rational upfront polytherapy strategy to minimize residual disease and enhance clinical outcomes.

Correlation of DNA Repair Gene Polymorphisms With Clinical Outcome in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) and ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) polymorphisms influenced clinical outcome in patients with stage IIIA-B non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with neoadjuvant gemcitabine/cisplatin/docetaxel followed by surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 109 patients with stage IIIA and IIIB NSCLC were prospectively genotyped to examine a potential association between XPD 312 (aspartic acid [Asp]/asparagine [Asn]), XPD 751 (lysine [Lys]/glutamine [Gln]), and RRM1 (-37 C/A) polymorphisms with response and survival. RESULTS: The median survival was 32.14 months for carriers of XPD 312 Asp/Asp and 12.04 months for those with the variant Asn allele (P = .05). In addition, event-free survival was longer for patients with the XPD 312 Asp/Asp genotype compared with patients with Asp/Asn or Asn/Asn (P = .03). A similar but nonsignificant trend was observed for the XPD 751 genotype. In a multivariate analysis, complete resection and age emerged as prognostic factors for overall survival; in patients with incomplete resection or exploratory thoracotomy, XPD 312 was the most significant prognostic factor (P = .03). CONCLUSION: The XPD 312 single nucleotide polymorphism is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with locally advanced NSCLC receiving induction chemotherapy followed by surgery. The Asn allele is associated with unfavorable outcome and could be used for better stratification of patients.

Low RAP80 mRNA expression correlates with shorter survival in sporadic high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Homologous recombination (HR) is frequently impaired in sporadic high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (sHGSOC) due to deficiencies in BRCA1/2 genes, a situation associated with hypersensitivity to platinum compounds. Alterations in other genes can also cause HR deficiency. Preclinical data show that RAP80 is an HR-pathway-related gene that influences BRCA1 activity. RAP80 has been reported to affect outcome in some solid neoplasms. This study investigates the role of RAP80 in sHGSOC survival. METHODS: mRNA expression of RAP80 was analyzed in tumor samples from 35 patients who postoperatively received standard platinum-based chemotherapy. The effects of RAP80 expression on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were examined by means of Cox regressions. The clinical variables known to have prognostic value (FIGO stage, residual disease at surgery, and debulking surgery) were included as covariates in the analysis. BRCA1 was analyzed given the moderate correlations with RAP80. RESULTS: Median follow-up, PFS and OS were 61.3, 20.2 and 62.8 months, respectively. Low RAP80 expression levels were associated with shorter PFS (HR = 1.449, p = 0.007) and OS (HR = 1.331, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show a potential prognostic role of RAP80 expression in patients with HGSOC. The results suggest that HR deficiency due to low RAP80 expression is not associated with hypersensitivity to platinum compounds in sHGSOC.

Association of EGFR L858R Mutation in Circulating Free DNA With Survival in the EURTAC Trial.

IMPORTANCE: The EURTAC trial demonstrated the greater efficacy of erlotinib compared with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of European patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation in exon 21) in tumor tissue. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using circulating free DNA (cfDNA) from blood samples as a surrogate for tumor biopsy for determining EGFR mutation status and to correlate EGFR mutations in cfDNA with outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prespecified analysis was a secondary objective of the EURTAC trial using patients included in the EURTAC trial from 2007 to 2011 with available baseline serum or plasma samples. Patients had advanced NSCLC, oncogenic EGFR mutations in the tumor, and no prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease and were treated with erlotinib or chemotherapy. EGFR mutations were examined in cfDNA isolated from 97 baseline blood samples by our novel peptide nucleic acid-mediated 5´ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan) assay. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and response to therapy were correlated with type of EGFR mutations in cfDNA. RESULTS: In samples from 76 of 97 (78%) patients with usable blood samples, EGFR mutations in cfDNA were detected. Median OS was shorter in patients with the L858R mutation in cfDNA than in those with the exon 19 deletion (13.7 [95% CI, 7.1-17.7] vs 30.0 [95% CI, 19.3-37.7] months; P < .001). Univariate analyses of patients with EGFR mutations in cfDNA identified the L858R mutation in tumor tissue or in cfDNA as a marker of shorter OS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.70 [95% CI, 1.60-4.56]; P < .001) and PFS (HR, 2.04 [95% CI, 1.20-3.48]; P = .008). For patients with the L858R mutation in tissue, median OS was 13.7 (95% CI, 7.1-17.7) months for patients with the L858R mutation in cfDNA and 27.7 (95% CI, 16.1-46.2) months for those in whom the mutation was not detected in cfDNA (HR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.09-4.52]; P = .03). In the multivariate analysis of the 76 patients with EGFR mutations in cfDNA, only erlotinib treatment remained an independent predictor of longer PFS (HR, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.23-0.74]; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The peptide nucleic acid-mediated 5´ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan) assay used in this study can be used to efficiently assess EGFR mutations in cfDNA. The L858R mutation in cfDNA may be a novel surrogate prognostic marker. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00446225.

Clinical validation of a PCR assay for the detection of EGFR mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer: retrospective testing of specimens from the EURTAC trial.

The EURTAC trial demonstrated that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib was superior to chemotherapy as first-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) that harbor EGFR activating mutations in a predominantly Caucasian population. Based on EURTAC and several Asian trials, anti-EGFR TKIs are standard of care for EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. We sought to validate a rapid multiplex EGFR mutation assay as a companion diagnostic assay to select patients for this therapy. Samples from the EURTAC trial were prospectively screened for EGFR mutations using a combination of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), and tested retrospectively with the cobas EGFR mutation test (EGFR PCR test). The EGFR PCR test results were compared to the original LDT results and to Sanger sequencing, using a subset of specimens from patients screened for the trial. Residual tissue was available from 487 (47%) of the 1044 patients screened for the trial. The EGFR PCR test showed high concordance with LDT results with a 96.3% overall agreement. The clinical outcome of patients who were EGFR-mutation detected by the EGFR PCR test was very similar to the entire EURTAC cohort. The concordance between the EGFR PCR test and Sanger sequencing was 90.6%. In 78.9% of the discordant samples, the EGFR PCR test result was confirmed by a sensitive deep sequencing assay. This retrospective study demonstrates the clinical utility of the EGFR PCR test in the accurate selection of patients for anti-EGFR TKI therapy. The EGFR PCR test demonstrated improved performance relative to Sanger sequencing.

Pretreatment EGFR T790M mutation and BRCA1 mRNA expression in erlotinib-treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations.

PURPOSE: Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (deletion in exon 19 or L858R) show an impressive progression-free survival of 14 months when treated with erlotinib. However, the presence of EGFR mutations can only imperfectly predict outcome. We hypothesized that progression-free survival could be influenced both by the pretreatment EGFR T790M mutation and by components of DNA repair pathways. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We assessed the T790M mutation in pretreatment diagnostic specimens from 129 erlotinib-treated advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations. The expression of eight genes and two proteins involved in DNA repair and four receptor tyrosine kinases was also examined. RESULTS: The EGFR T790M mutation was observed in 45 of 129 patients (35%). Progression-free survival was 12 months in patients with and 18 months in patients without the T790M mutation (P = 0.05). Progression-free survival was 27 months in patients with low BRCA1 mRNA levels, 18 months in those with intermediate levels, and 10 months in those with high levels (P = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of the T790M mutation (HR, 4.35; P = 0.001), intermediate BRCA1 levels (HR, 8.19; P < 0.0001), and high BRCA1 levels (HR, 8.46; P < 0.0001) emerged as markers of shorter progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Low BRCA1 levels neutralized the negative effect of the T790M mutation and were associated with longer progression-free survival to erlotinib. We advocate baseline assessment of the T790M mutation and BRCA1 expression to predict outcome and provide alternative individualized treatment to patients based on T790M mutations and BRCA1 expression.

Detection of EGFR mutations with mutation-specific antibodies in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with mutation-specific antibodies may be an ancillary method of detecting EGFR mutations in lung cancer patients. METHODS: EGFR mutation status was analyzed by DNA assays, and compared with IHC results in five non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and tumor samples from 78 stage IV NSCLC patients. RESULTS: IHC correctly identified del 19 in the H1650 and PC9 cell lines, L858R in H1975, and wild-type EGFR in H460 and A549, as well as wild-type EGFR in tumor samples from 22 patients. IHC with the mAb against EGFR with del 19 was highly positive for the protein in all 17 patients with a 15-bp (ELREA) deletion in exon 19, whereas in patients with other deletions, IHC was weakly positive in 3 cases and negative in 9 cases. IHC with the mAb against the L858R mutation showed high positivity for the protein in 25/27 (93%) patients with exon 21 EGFR mutations (all with L858R) but did not identify the L861Q mutation in the remaining two patients. CONCLUSIONS: IHC with mutation-specific mAbs against EGFR is a promising method for detecting EGFR mutations in NSCLC patients. However these mAbs should be validated with additional studies to clarify their possible role in routine clinical practice for screening EGFR mutations in NSCLC patients.

Blood-based CHRNA3 single nucleotide polymorphism and outcome in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are associated with resistance to gemcitabine, cisplatin and paclitaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHRNA3, CHRNA5 and LOC123688 increase lung cancer risk. These SNPs may have influenced outcome in patients treated in our phase III trial. Stage IV NSCLC patients were treated with customized chemotherapy based on ERCC1 (excision repair cross-complementing 1) mRNA expression. Patients in the control arm received docetaxel/cisplatin; patients in the genotypic arm with low levels of ERCC1 received docetaxel/cisplatin; patients in the genotypic arm with high levels of ERCC1 received docetaxel/gemcitabine. DNA was extracted from lymphocytes, and CHRNA3 (rs1051730), CHRNA5 (rs16969968) and LOC123688 (rs8034191) SNPs were genotyped with the Taqman allele discrimination assay. A significant interaction was found for CHRNA3 and PS (P=0.02). In patients with PS 0, CT patients had a better response than both CC (P=0.01) and TT (P=0.02) patients, and patients in the low genotypic group also had a better response (P=0.01). When the CHRNA3 genotype was added in the multivariate analysis for progression-free survival, an improvement was observed in the low genotypic group in PS 0 patients (P=0.02). PS 0 patients in the low genotypic group with the CT genotype attained an 84% response rate, 12.1-month progression-free survival, and 19-month median survival. CHRNA3 (rs1051730) genotyping can improve customized chemotherapy based on tumor assessment of ERCC1 mRNA in stage IV NSCLC with PS 0.

[Differential aspects in children and adult patients with medulloblastoma]. / Meduloblastoma: aspectos diferenciales entre el tumor infantil y del adulto.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Medulloblastoma is the more frequent malignant cerebral tumor in childhood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an observational study of a retrospective cohort in which there were included all the patients diagnosed of medulloblastoma in the last 19 years (1989-2007) in Hospital de Cruces of Baracaldo, Vizcaya, Spain. RESULTS: There were included 37 patients, 20 men and 17 women, with ages between 1 and 48 years (average age 13.7 years with standard deviation 11.4). Tumor site and mortality according to initial dissemination were variables of statistic significance. Metastases were detected at diagnosis in two patients. The surgical resection was total in 75% of the patients. A relapse was diagnosed in the follow-up in 59.5% of the patients, with a positive spinal fluid in 27%. Sequelae were detected in 100% of the survivors, mainly with cerebellar and ocular alterations. One patient developed a meningioma and a maxillary sarcoma at the long term follow-up. It is important to emphasize the aggressiveness of medulloblastoma in both children and adults, with a global mortality of 56.8% and 48,6% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: It is considered necessary a multidisciplinary treatment and a long term monitoring of the patients and the sequelae of the survivors, including the possibility of second tumours.

Translational research in glioblastoma multiforme: molecular criteria for patient selection.

In spite of the dismal outcome of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we are in a position to provide a ray of hope to patients and families. Methylation of MGMT in tumor occurs in approximately a third of patients and predicts meaningful response and survival to adjuvant radiotherapy plus temozolomide. Limited access to tumor tissue in some patients could be circumvented by examining MGMT methylation in circulating serum DNA, although this approach needs to be validated. Molecular signatures are also promising prognostic and predictive markers, and clinical trials should be carried out to validate their use in the selection of patients for specific targeted therapies. Gene expression by quantitative PCR of key components of these molecular signatures could pave the way for easy identification of different subgroups of patients. Translational clinical trials are warranted in order to detect the subgroups of patients resistant to radiotherapy who may derive benefit from novel therapies, including antiangiogenic drugs.

LKB1 mutation in large cell carcinoma of the lung.

Germline inactivation of LKB1 is responsible for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by benign hamartomas of the GI tract and an increased predisposition to certain cancers, including lung. Acquired mutations in LKB1 are rarely observed in most sporadic tumor types except for adenocarcinomas of the lung where up to 50% harbor inactivating mutations. In this study, we focused on LKB1 mutations in lung cancer cell lines originating from large cell carcinomas. We identified a novel 1.5kb interstitial deletion within LKB1 gene in H157 cancer cells. Homozygosity mapping-of-deletion analysis (HOMOD) analysis showed that the deletion is accompanied by LOH of one parental allele, indicating biallelic inactivation of LKB1. This deletion results in an LKB1 transcript lacking exons 2 and 3 and a predicted in-frame deletion of 58 amino acids within the kinase domain of the LKB1 protein. The truncated transcript was expressed at relatively low levels, and the truncated LKB1 protein was virtually undetectable in this cell line. To determine the impact of LKB1 protein truncation on its function, we examined AMPK-alpha, a downstream target of LKB1 kinase activity triggered by low energy stress conditions. Phosphorylation of AMPK-alpha was attenuated in H157 cells treated with 2-deoxyglucose, and could be rescued by expression of an exogenous GFP-LKB1 fusion protein. Therefore, our data suggest that LKB1 function is compromised in H157. Of the four cell lines and six primary tumors of large cell lung carcinoma origin that have been evaluated in this and other studies, LKB1 mutations have been found in three cases. These results suggest that, in addition to adenocarcinomas, acquired loss of function mutations in LKB1 may also be frequently involved in the pathogenesis of large cell lung carcinomas.

c-Met Mutational Analysis in the Sema and Juxtamembrane Domains in Small-Cell-Lung-Cancer.

BACKGROUND: c-Met mutations play a critical role in the development and progression of primary tumors and metastases. Activation of the HGF/SF-c-Met pathway determines a poor prognosis in non-small-cell and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Missense mutations of c-Met have been identified in SCLC patients located in the juxtamembrane (JM) and in the Sema domain. To determine the role of the c-Met pathway in SCLC, we have investigated the presence of c-Met mutations in SCLC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four tumor tissue samples from SCLC patients were obtained with bronchoscopy before beginning treatment. Analysis of c-Met mutations was performed in exon 2 and exon 14. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients included in this study, 23 were classified as limited disease and were treated with sequential or concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy. Twenty-one patients with extensive disease received chemotherapy alone, the majority with cisplatin or carboplatin plus etoposide. The median survival was 14 months (95% CI: 9.4 to 18.5 months) and the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 24% and 15%, respectively. Previously identified missense mutations E168D, R988C and T1010I in c-Met were not found in our study. However, novel mutations were identified, including T995I in the juxtamembrane domain (T995I) and a mutation which does not change amino acid in codon 178 in the Sema domain. CONCLUSION: In SCLC patients, the presence of mutations in c-Met gene is a rare event. Other genetic alterations involved in the HGF/SF-c-Met pathway should be assessed to define the role of this signaling pathway in SCLC.

Methylation patterns and K-ras mutations in tumor and paired serum of resected non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Gene methylation and K-ras mutations were examined in tumor and paired serum DNA of 50 resected non-small-cell lung cancer patients. RASSF1A, death associated protein kinase and target of methylation-induced silencing were methylated in 17/50 (34%), 23/50 (45%) and 18/50 (35%) tumors, respectively, and in 17/50 (34%), 20/50 (40%) and 17/50 (34%) sera, respectively. Methylation in tumor and serum were closely correlated (P=0.001), but no correlation was found with survival. Twelve K-ras mutations (cysteine) were found in serum and nine mutations were found in tumor (five cysteine, one alanine, one aspartic, one arginine, and one valine). K-ras mutations in serum correlated significantly with survival (P=0.01).