Association of TNFα-308, IFNγ+874, and IL10-1082 gene polymorphisms and the risk of non-small cell lung cancer in the population of the South Indian state of Telangana.

BACKGROUND: Cytokine-mediated inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genetic polymorphisms in cytokine genes and their association with lung cancer in the Indian population have not been reported. METHODS: For the first time, we analyzed genetic polymorphisms of TNFα -308, IFNγ +874, and IL10 -1082 genes in 246 NSCLC patients and 250 healthy controls in the South Indian population from Telangana using ARMS PCR. RESULTS: IFNγ+874 A/T and IL10-1082 G/G gene polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with NSCLC with 1.56- and 1.68-fold disease risk, respectively. There was no association between the risk of NSCLC and TNFα-308 polymorphism. Gene polymorphisms stratified according to smoking revealed that IFNγ+874 A/T polymorphisms in smokers increased the disease risk by 2.91 fold. IL10-1082 G/G polymorphisms showed 2-fold increased risk among patients who were smokers when compared to the controls. However, there was no association between TNFα-308, IFNγ+874, and IL10-1082 gene polymorphism and the stage of the NSCLC patients. The overall risk associated with the combination of these polymorphisms indicated that the TNFα-308 G/A + IFNγ+874 A/T + IL10-1082 G/G genotype increased the risk by 1.5 fold. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate an association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and the risk of NSCLC in an Indian population.

Assessment of 8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde levels as oxidative stress markers and antioxidant status in non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was taken up to evaluate the 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde as markers of oxidative stress, the levels of antioxidants and the correlations between these oxidative stress markers and antioxidants in lung cancer patients. METHODS: The study included 222 patients (158 men and 64 women, age ranging from 32 to 85 years) and 207 control subjects (153 men and 54 women, aged 30-80 years) for the analysis of urinary excretion of 8-oxodG using an ELISA assay, plasma malondialdehyde using spectrophotometer and red cell Cu-Zn SOD and GPx activities by kit methods. RESULTS: The levels of 8-oxodG and malondialdehyde were significantly higher (p < 0.001) and red cell superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in lung cancer patients than in controls. There was a significantly positive correlation between 8-oxodG and malondialdehyde (r=0.912, p < 0.001) and a negative correlation between 8-oxodG and antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that an increased rate of oxidative stress might play a role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer as evidenced by a failure in the oxidant/antioxidant balance in favour of lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.

FISH for EWSR1 in Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors: Experience from a tertiary care cancer center.

BACKGROUND: : Molecular confirmation of histologic diagnosis has become mandatory for the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT). AIM: To validate the diagnosis made by morphology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for EWSR1 rearrangement on formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues. Settings and design: A retrospective and prospective observational study. Material and methods: All patients who had FISH studies for EWSR1 rearrangement for small round cell tumors during 10 years period were included. Demographic, clinical and radiological details were obtained from medical records. Morphology was reviewed with IHC by CD99, FLI1 and others. FISH studies were performed using the break apart probe. Additional molecular studies and IHC were done to resolve the diagnosis in EWSR1 rearranged tumors. Final diagnosis was made by integrating clinical, morphology, IHC and molecular features. RESULTS: There were 81 patients (M: F 45:36, median age 21 years) with 32 skeletal and 49 extra skeletal tumors. CD 99 was positive in 94.52%. FISH for EWSR1 were positive in 59, negative in 13 and failed in 9. The final diagnosis was made as ESFT in 67, angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma in 3, desmoplastic small round cell tumor in 3, myxoid chondrosarcoma in 2, unclassified in one, synovial sarcoma in 3, and one each of lymphoma and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. FISH was positive for ESFT in 89.83% of EWSR1 rearranged tumors. FISH validated the diagnosis made on IHC in 79.10%. FISH resolved the diagnosis in 1.49% CD99 negative tumors. CONCLUSION: FISH is a reliable ancillary technique for the diagnosis of ESFT on FFPE tissues.

Association of eNOS and ACE gene polymorphisms and plasma nitric oxide with risk of non-small cell lung cancer in South India.

INTRODUCTION: The role of ACE and eNOS gene polymorphisms and their association with various cancers were reported. However, their role in the lung cancer is unclear. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we analyzed eNOS and ACE gene polymorphisms and the risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in South Indian population. RESULTS: For the eNOS gene, the homozygous "AA" genotypic frequency was significantly associated with NSCLC with an overall risk of 3.6-fold (P = 0.006, odds ratio = 3.58, 95% confidence interval = 1.66, 7.723). The heterozygous "I/D" genotypic frequency of ACE gene was significantly higher in NSCLC patients when compared to the controls with a 2.29-fold risk for NSCLC. Multiple regression analyses indicated that gender, smoking status, and polymorphisms in eNOS and ACE genes as the strongest predicting factors for an increased susceptibility to NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: We report for the first time that polymorphisms in the eNOS "A/A" (homozygous mutant) and ACE "I/D" genotypes might contribute to the increased risk of NSCLC in the South Indian population.

Association of CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms with risk of non-small cell lung cancer in Andhra Pradesh region of South India.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most preventable causes of death globally both in developed and developing countries. Although it is well established that smokers develop lung cancer, there are some smokers who are free from the disease risk. The predisposition to lung cancer is attributed to genetic polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolizing genes. Reports on assessment of xenobiotic metabolizing genes like Cytochrome P 450 1A1 (CYP1A1), Glutathione -S -transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) polymorphisms from India are meagre, and reports from Andhra Pradesh are lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: Assessment of polymorphisms in CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 in NSCLC patients and healthy individuals specific to population of Andhra Pradesh, a South Indian state was attempted by multiplex PCR and RFLP, and this is the first study which tried to correlate oxidative stress with the polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolizing genes. Results showed that CYP1A1 m1 'CC' genotype was significantly associated with lung cancer susceptibility with a 2.3-fold risk, CYP1A1 m2 'AG' gene polymorphisms with 8.8-fold risk and GSTT1 (-/-) genotype demonstrated a twofold risk of disease susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: A combined role of genetic polymorphisms and smoking status can be attributed for the cause of lung cancer. Further, the association between oxidative stress and genetic polymorphisms showed a correlation between GSTT1 and super oxide dismutase activity; CYP1A1 m1, m2 and GSTT1 with glutathione peroxidase activity; CYP1A1 m1 and GSTM1 with melondialdehyde levels; and CYP1A1 m1 and GSTT1 with 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine. A higher risk of lung cancer seems to be associated with combined gene polymorphisms of phase I and phase II enzymes than that ascribed to single gene polymorphism.

A near tetraploid clone in acute myeloid leukemia with CD56 expression.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by specific morphology, immunophenotype and genetic rearrangements. Multiple recurrent chromosomal aberrations have been identified by conventional cytogenetic analysis, which are now widely recognized as one of the most important diagnostic and prognostic determinants in AML. Here, we present a case with unusual cytogenetics, which has been described in very few patients.

Oral hybrid verrucous carcinoma: a clinical study.

Hybrid Verrucous Carcinoma is an uncommon tumour wherein Verrucous Carcinoma (VC) is coexisting with conventional Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) within same maternal field. The heterogeneous nature, infrequency of occurrence and the difficulties associated with diagnosis and management of this tumor is discussed through a retrospective study. Patients of primary hybrid VC treated from Jan 2010 to May 2013 at a tertiary institute were analyzed on multivariate cox regression model. During the above mentioned period; 37 patients of hybrid VC were reported; 18(48.6 %) were male and 19(51.3 %) were female. Age ranged between 33 years to 78 years. Median follow up period was 32 months. T stage status and Stage grouping was not statistically significant for mortality (p value: 0.338). In the multivariate cox-regression model, the presence of second primary oral cancer was significantly associated with mortality, adjusted HR; 23.10 (95 % CI: 1.73, 307.65) (p = 0.017). Tumour staging is often unreliable in predicting prognosis of hybrid VC, occurrence of second primary oral cancer and recurrence appears to be significant factors effecting prognosis.

Genetic instability in peripheral lymphocytes as biological marker for non-small cell lung cancer patients in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims, first, at evaluating the DNA and chromosomal damage in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and then at correlating these results with possible confounding factors that might potentially play a role in causing genetic damage. METHODS: The study included 246 NSCLC patients (177 men and 69 women) and 250 healthy controls (180 men and 70 women) for the analysis of DNA and chromosomal damage using the comet assay and micronucleus test. RESULTS: Both DNA and chromosomal damage were found to be increased in NSCLC patients compared to healthy controls, and the extent of the damage was higher in males than female patients. The smoking status had a profound effect on the extent of DNA and chromosomal damage in NSCLC patients. The degree of genetic damage correlated with the stage of the disease. However, the histological status had no effect on the extent of DNA and chromosomal damage among NSCLC patients. CONCLUSIONS: We here report, for the first time, that the NSCLC patients selected form the Andhra Pradesh population had increased DNA damage and higher mean micronucleus frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes, indicating a strong background level of genetic instability.

Mutational analysis of JAG1 gene in non-syndromic tetralogy of Fallot children.

BACKGROUND: JAG1 is an evolutionarily conserved ligand for Notch receptor and functions in the cell fate decisions, cell-cell interactions throughout the development of heart especially right heart development. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is essentially a right sided heart disease with characteristic features of ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, aortic dextroposition and right ventricular hypertrophy. Hence, the present study was investigated to identify mutations of JAG1 gene in an Indian cohort of patients with TOF. METHODS: The clinical data and blood samples from 84 unrelated subjects with TOF were collected and evaluated in comparison with 87 healthy individuals. PCR based single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and subsequent bidirectional DNA sequencing of conformers was carried in the exon 6 of JAG1 gene. RESULTS: The DNA sequences aligned with NCBI-BLAST led to the identification of four novel variations including one nonsense 765 C>A, two missense 814 G>T, 834 G>T; and one silent alteration 816 G>T in TOF patients. The protein structure of JAG1 predicts that these variations effect first and second epidermal growth factor like repeat and might disturb ligand-receptor binding ability. The presence of similar variations was not observed in healthy controls. The software CLUSTAL-W showed the inter species conservation of altered amino acids in missense mutations. CONCLUSION: Disease-associating novel JAG1 gene variations were found in TOF patients, and seem to play an important role in the causation of the disease.