Differential Markers of Subpopulations of Epithelial Cells of the Larynx in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

In squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, the population of epithelial cells in the tumor tissue is initially heterogeneous and, in addition to tumor cells invading the organ mucosa, includes normal epithelial cells of protein-mucous glands and cells of the stratified epithelium covering the mucous membrane. A search for differential markers to separate these subpopulations was carried out. The surface marker CD44 and cytokeratins 5 and 17 that are often used to verify carcinoma cells, are common markers for all epithelial cells of the larynx. In highly differentiated carcinoma, subpopulations of normal and tumor epithelial cells can be separated by the level of expression of cytokeratins 10 and 18 and nuclear markers Ki-67 and p63. However, in moderately differentiated carcinoma, tumor cells and normal cells of the basal layer of the stratified epithelium covering the mucous membrane of the larynx have similar phenotypes, which should be taken into account when conducting experimental studies.

[Surgical management of cancer patients within the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Strategiya khirurgicheskogo lecheniya onkologicheskikh bol'nykh v usloviyakh pandemii COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review of the world literature data on surgical management and preoperative screening of cancer patients within the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and resumption of elective surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Literature data searching included Pubmed, MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, and RSCI databases. We enrolled literature data published for the period from March 2020 to June 2020. RESULTS: Retrospective and prospective clinical trials have been analyzed. The review ensures up-to-date data on surgical management of cancer patients under the pandemic, recommendations for resuming the elective surgery, preoperative screening and prevention of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: To date, the COVID-19 pandemic is still not resolved, and infection continues spreading around the world. Thus, there is an urgent need for more thorough research of the strategies for mitigating the effects of pandemic. To date, the recommendations for optimal surgical management of cancer patients within the pandemic are still actively developed considering the benefits of treatment and risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Resumption of elective surgery should be progressive and cautious, especially in pandemic areas. For safety reasons, all patients eligible for surgical treatment should be carefully selected according to stratification of risk factors. Thorough preoperative screening, monitoring of symptoms of infection, and use of appropriate adapted personal protective equipment are extremely important.

Primary 3D Culture of Human Thyroid Follicle-Like Structures in Platelet Lysate-Based Gel.

The results of 3D culturing of human thyroid follicle-like structures in a gel based on platelet lysate at the gel-air interface are presented. During culturing up to 4 months, no new follicle-like structures were formed and none were destroyed. During the first 2 months, most follicle-like structures increased in size; then, their grown decelerated, but they retained viability. Ki-67+ cells were observed in the majority of follicle-like structures. Most of them produced thyroglobulin. Follicle-like structures get closer, the number of contacts between them increased, and cluster appeared. Thus, the developed 3D culturing system in a gel based on platelet lysate is an adequate approach for maintaining structure and functional activity of human follicle-like structures in vitro for at least 2 months.

[Detection of Epstein-Barr virus genome in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma samples of russian patients.]

INTRODUCTION: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OC-SCC) is the most common and aggressive malignancy of the oral cavity. Recent studies have revealed infections with human papilloma virus (HPV) as an additional risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma development, while distinguished role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) remains still uncertain. However, the evidence for association between virus infection and risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma is controversially and varies significantly by geographic regions and race. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prevalence of HPV and EBV in OC-SCC samples of Russian patients from Moscow region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated fresh-frozen tumor tissue fragments obtained from 11 patients with OC-SCC. DNA was extracted and the viral genome was examined by quantitative PCR assays with highrisk type-specific HPV and EBV specific markers followed by sequencing-based analysis. RESULTS: No HPV infection in analyzed OC-SCC samples was observed, while EBV was identified in 70.0% (7/10) of patients. Further based on Q-PCR amplification of the EBV targets including BamHI-W, EBNA1 and C-terminal fragment of LMP1 gene, EBV infection and measurement of virus load in the tumor samples was assessed. Sequencing LMP1-positive products revealed that the most samples (5/6) contained variants LMP1 with Cao deletion characterized by an increased transforming potential. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that prevalence of EBV infections is common and may influence cancer development, although detected LMP1 variants of EBV are not necessarily associated with the pathogenesis of OC-SCC. Further studies are necessary to determine the potential role of EBV and its possible importance as an infection factor in OC-SCC.

[Hydrogel microchip as a tool for studying exosomes in human serum].

Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that are secreted by both normal and cancer cells. Over the last decade, a few studies have revealed that exosomes cross talk and/or influence major tumor-related pathways such as angiogenesis and metastasis involving many cell types within the tumor microenvironment. The protein composition of the membrane of an exosome reflects that of the membrane of the cell of origin. Because of this, tumor-derived exosomes differ from exosomes that are derived from normal cells. The detection of tumor exosomes and analysis of their molecular composition hold promise for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Here, we present hydrogel microarrays (biochips), which contain a panel of immobilized antibodies that recognize tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, CD81) and prognostic markers for colorectal cancer (A33, CD147). These biochips make it possible to analyze the surface proteins of either isolated exosomes or exosomes that are present in the serum samples without isolation. These biochips were successfully used to analyze the surface proteins of exosomes from serum that was collected from a colorectal cancer patient and healthy donor. Biochip-guided immunofluorescent analysis of the exosomes has made it possible for us to detect the A33 antigen and CD147 in the serum sample of the colorectal cancer patient with normal levels of CEA and CA19-9.