Non-Coding RNAs in Glioma.

Glioma is the most aggressive brain tumor of the central nervous system. The ability of glioma cells to migrate, rapidly diffuse and invade normal adjacent tissue, their sustained proliferation, and heterogeneity contribute to an overall survival of approximately 15 months for most patients with high grade glioma. Numerous studies indicate that non-coding RNA species have critical functions across biological processes that regulate glioma initiation and progression. Recently, new data emerged, which shows that the cross-regulation between long non-coding RNAs and small non-coding RNAs contribute to phenotypic diversity of glioblastoma subclasses. In this paper, we review data of long non-coding RNA expression, which was evaluated in human glioma tissue samples during a five-year period. Thus, this review summarizes the following: (I) the role of non-coding RNAs in glioblastoma pathogenesis, (II) the potential application of non-coding RNA species in glioma-grading, (III) crosstalk between lncRNAs and miRNAs (IV) future perspectives of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for glioma.

Penile Metastasis from Rectal Carcinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis of rectal cancer to the penis is a very rare condition with less than 40 cases found in the literature. CASE REPORT: We here report a case of a 41-year-old man who was diagnosed with rectal cancer which later metastasized to the penis. The patient was treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy, underwent rectal resection, had adjuvant chemotherapy, and, despite that, had penile metastasis 2 years later. Palliative penectomy as well as bilateral orchiectomy with suprapubic cystostomy were performed. The patient died 2 months after the diagnosis. All the previous cases mentioned in the literature are reviewed as well. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of penile metastasis from rectal cancer is poor and life expectancy is short. The mechanism of rectal cancer metastasis spread to the penis is unknown. The most acceptable theory is retrograde venous spread. There are several treatment options; however, no single treatment option is associated with superior results.

Bacterial ghosts as adjuvants in syngeneic tumour cell lysate-based anticancer vaccination in a murine lung carcinoma model.

Instead of relying on external anticancer factors for treatment, immunotherapy utilizes the host's own immune system and directs it against given tumour antigens. This study demonstrated that it is possible to overcome the documented immunosuppressive properties of tumour cell lysate by supplementing it with appropriate adjuvant. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)­challenged C57BL/6 mice were treated with LLC cryo­lysate mixed with either bacterial ghosts (BGs) generated from E. coli Nissle 1917 or B. subtilis 70 kDa protein as adjuvants. Median and overall survival, the size of metastatic foci in lung tissue and levels of circulating CD8a+ T cells were evaluated and compared to the untreated control mice or mice treated with LLC lysate alone. After primary tumour removal, a course of three subcutaneous vaccinations with LLC lysate supplemented with BGs led to a significant increase in overall survival (80% after 84 days of follow­up vs. 40% in untreated control mice), a significant increase in circulating CD8a+ T cells (16.57 vs. 12.6% in untreated control mice) and a significant decrease in metastasis foci area and incidence. LLC lysate supplemented with B. subtilis protein also improved the inspected parameters in the treated mice, when compared against the untreated control mice, but not to a significant degree. Therefore, whole cell lysate supplemented with BGs emerges as an immunostimulatory construct with potential clinical applications in cancer treatment.

CD8(high)CD57(+) T-cell population as an independent predictor of response to chemoradiation therapy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Tangible clinical benefit is achieved in only a relatively small proportion of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients receiving current treatment strategies. Therefore, a more personalized use of current and novel treatment approaches is of critical importance. Individualized therapy relies on the identification of specific biomarkers predictive of response to a particular type of cancer treatment. Immune-related parameters emerge as powerful biomarkers among a variety of predictors of clinical response to various types of cancer treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using multicolor flow cytometry, we evaluated a predictive value of CD8(high)CD57(+) T-cell population and its immunosuppressive (FOXP3(+), NKG2A(+)) and cytotoxic (Perforin(+)) subsets in the peripheral blood of extensive-stage SCLC patients (n=82) treated with either chemotherapy-alone (n=24), or chemoradiation therapy (n=42), or receiving best supportive care (n=16). RESULTS: The low level (<20%) of CD8(high)CD57(+) T cells within the peripheral blood CD8(+) T-cell population and the low level (<3%) of the immunosuppressive FOXP3-positive subset within the CD8(high)CD57(+) T-cell population were independent predictors of a better response to treatment with chemoradiation therapy, but not with chemotherapy alone or best supportive care. Importantly there was no significant survival difference between SCLC patients who were: (i) treated with chemoradiation, but had an unfavourable immune profile (≥20% of CD8(high)CD57(+) T cells and ≥3% of its FOXP3-positive subset), (ii) treated with chemotherapy alone, or (iii) received best supportive care. CONCLUSIONS: We show that only a combination of chemotherapy with radiation therapy offered a considerable survival benefit that was confined to a subset of extensive-stage SCLC patients with a favourable predictive immune profile in the peripheral blood.

Cystic lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer, especially papillary carcinoma, metastasizes most often into cervical lymph nodes. Cervical ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy are the most sensitive modalities in detecting locoregional neck recurrence. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to illustrate the ultrasound spectrum of lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 1998-2002 years due to suspicion of recurrence of thyroid cancer, 75 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies of regional lymph nodes were performed. Ultrasound examination of 75 patients with thyroid cancer (56 women and 19 men; mean age of patients was 54.67+/-12.89 years) was performed. All biopsies were performed on nonpalpable lesions (lymph node short axis < or =1.5 cm). RESULTS: A total of 75 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies of regional lymph nodes under suspicion of malignancy were performed. Only 5 (6.7%) of the 75 lymph nodes were cystic with internal septation. Other 70 (93.3%) lymph nodes were solid. Cytopathological results of 75 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies from regional cervical lymph nodes were noninformative in 4 (5.3%) cases, benign - 40 (53.4%), suspicion - 4 (5.3%), and malignant - 27 (36.0%) cases. Eighteen patients underwent surgery for regional lymph nodes. All cystic metastases were confirmed to be papillary thyroid carcinoma on pathologic examination. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound cannot exactly distinguish benign from malign lesions, but sonographic appearance can suggest malignancy and help in selection of the correct lymph nodes to aspirate with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Cystic lymph node metastases may occur in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cystic neck lesion patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma should always be verified with fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

[The frequency of malignant disease in cytological group of suspected cancer (ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of nonpalpable thyroid nodules)]. / Piktybines ligos daznumas itariamo vezio (suspitio) citologineje grupeje (nepalpuojamu skydliaukes mazgu ultragarsu kontroliuojama aspiracine biopsija plona adata).

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is the most important procedure for differentiating benign thyroid nodules from malignant ones. Traditionally, findings of fine-needle aspiration biopsy are divided into four categories: nondiagnostic, benign lesions, suspected cancer, and malignant lesions. Group suspicious for cancer largely involves follicular neoplasms as well as lesions with cytological features of malignancy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish the value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of nonpalpable thyroid cancer and to assess the frequency of malignant disease in the group of suspected cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 184 patients with nonpalpable thyroid nodules (less than 1.5 cm in diameter) were examined by means of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Patients were included in the study based on sonographic findings implicating possible malignant nature of nodules. RESULTS. During 1997-2002, 204 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules were performed; findings were nondiagnostic in 5.9% of cases. In 59.8% of cases, cytological examination revealed benign lesions; in 11.8%, suspected cancer; and in 22.5%, malignant lesions. Eighty-five patients underwent subsequent surgery with histological examination of specimens obtained. In 45 cases, cytological diagnosis of malignant or suspected thyroid cancer was confirmed by histological examination after surgery. CONCLUSION: We conclude that ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy has a high accuracy in the diagnostic evaluation of nonpalpable thyroid nodule with cytological features of malignancy. However, fine-needle aspiration biopsy is not effective diagnostic method for differentiating benign thyroid nodules from malignant ones in follicular neoplasm group.

Increasing thyroid cancer incidence in Lithuania in 1978-2003.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to analyze changes in thyroid cancer incidence trends in Lithuania during the period 1978-2003 using joinpoint regression models, with special attention to the period 1993-2003. METHODS: The study was based on all cases of thyroid cancer reported to the Lithuanian Cancer Registry between 1978 and 2003. Age group-specific rates and standardized rates were calculated for each gender, using the direct method (world standard population). The joinpoint regression model was used to provide estimated annual percentage change and to detect points in time where significant changes in the trends occur. RESULTS: During the study period the age-standardized incidence rates increased in males from 0.7 to 2.5 cases per 100,000 and in females from 1.5 to 11.4 per 100,000. Annual percentage changes during this period in the age-standardized rates were 4.6% and 7.1% for males and females, respectively. Joinpoint analysis showed two time periods with joinpoint in the year 2000. A change in the trend occurred in which a significant increase changed to a dramatic increase in thyroid cancer incidence rates. Papillary carcinoma and stage I thyroid cancer increases over this period were mainly responsible for the pattern of changes in trend in recent years. CONCLUSION: A moderate increase in thyroid cancer incidence has been observed in Lithuania between the years 1978 and 2000. An accelerated increase in thyroid cancer incidence rates took place in the period 2000-2003. It seems that the increase in thyroid cancer incidence can be attributed mainly to the changes in the management of non palpable thyroid nodules with growing applications of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in clinical practice.