Expression of KIT and PDGFR is associated with a good prognosis in neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcome of neuroblastoma (NB) depends on age, stage, and MYCN amplification. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) promote cell growth, migration, and metastasis in cancer cells, including NB. However, the correlation of the expression profile of RTKs with prognosis in NB remains controversial. PROCEDURE: Expression and mutation analysis of KIT, PDGFR, FLT3, RET, and TRKA mRNAs were performed in 24 NB cell lines and 40 tumor samples using RT-PCR followed by direct sequencing. Immunohistochemical analysis of KIT and PDGFR protein expression was also examined in 38 paraffin sections of NB tumor samples. RESULTS: The expression of KIT, PDGFRbeta, and FLT3 mRNA was associated with NB in patients under 1 year (P < 0.02) and TRKA expression (P < 0.001). The loss of expression of these kinases was associated with MYCN amplification (P < 0.02) and advanced stages of disease in patients over 1 year of age (P < 0.005). PDGFRalpha mRNA expression was detected in all cell lines and tumor samples, and RET mRNA expression was not associated with any clinical parameters. Immunohistochemistry results showed the similar findings. We did not find any activating mutations in KIT, PDGFR, FLT3, or RET. Notably, the GNNK(-) isoform of KIT was predominant in all cell lines and clinical samples. CONCLUSION: Expression of KIT, PDGFRbeta, and FLT3 was associated with a good prognosis in NB. The loss of expression of these RTKs might correlate to the disease progression of NB.

Effect of working status on tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among adolescents in urban area of Thailand.

To examine the relationship between working status and behavior of substance use such as tobacco, alcohol, and drug among adolescents, a survey of 215 students in the seventh to ninth grades was conducted in urban area of Thailand. The sample consisted of 100 workers (46.5%) and 115 nonworkers (53.5%). The percentages of participants with some experiences of smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use were 17.2%, 48.8%, and 3.3%, respectively. The participants with experiences of smoking and drinking alcohol in the working group were significantly higher than in the nonworking group (P<0.001), while the relationship between working status and drug use was weaker than the other relationships between working status and tobacco or alcohol use. The backward logistic regression analysis was refined until it included three independent variables: tobacco use, alcohol use, and household income. On the other hand, it was found that working condition, including working hours and working at night, had little impact on smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use. However, the type of job was significantly related to tobacco use (P<0.05) by binary analysis and multiple regression analysis. These findings suggest that employment of young adolescents in urban area of Thailand has an influence on smoking and drinking alcohol. Especially, working status probably affect smoking behavior among young adolescents in the urban area of Thailand.

Imatinib mesylate treatment for platelet-derived growth factor receptor alfa-positive choroid plexus carcinoma.

We herein report a female child with choroid plexus carcinoma treated with standard dose of imatinib at disease recurrence. This patient failed initial twice-surgical resections, central nervous system (CNS) irradiation, and adjuvant chemotherapies and high-dose thiotepa and melphalan with auto peripheral blood stem cell rescue. Finally, imatinib treatment was undergone as a palliative setting, however the tumor did not reduce and the patient died of tumor bleedings. We consider that the reasons for the failure are as follows: i) adequate CNS level of imatinib were not obtained because of the blood brain barrier, ii) the lack of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta expression in our case may have a crucial role.

Incidence, severity and factors related to drug-induced keratoepitheliopathy with glaucoma medications.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence, severity, and factors related to drug-induced keratoepitheliopathy in eyes using antiglaucoma eye drops. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 749 eyes from 427 patients who had used one or more antiglaucoma eye drops were examined at Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital or related facilities. The incidence and severity of superficial punctate keratitis (SPK), patient gender and age, type of glaucoma, and type of eye drops were recorded. SPK was graded according to the AD (A, area; D, density) classification. The severity score (SS) was calculated from A x D. RESULTS: SPK was observed in 382 (51.0%) of 749 eyes that had received any type of antiglaucoma eye drops. While 254 eyes (33.9%) were classified as A1D1 (SS 1), 34 eyes (4.6%) had severe SPK with SS 4 or more. The number of eye drops and the total dosing frequency per day were significantly greater in SPK-positive eyes than in eyes without SPK. The number of eye drops was proportional to the frequency and severity of SPK. Among eyes that were treated with three or more eye drops, SPK was more severe and more frequent in older patients (>/=71 years). In addition, a considerable difference was detected for each type of glaucoma. CONCLUSION: Drug-induced keratoepitheliopathy is often observed in eyes that have received recent antiglaucoma eye drops. The number of eye drops, the total dose frequency per day, patient age, and type of glaucoma may affect this condition. We have to consider not only the effects on intraocular pressure but also the incidence and severity of drug-induced keratoepitheliopathy as a frequent side effect of glaucoma medications.