C-MYC, HIF-1α, ERG, TKT, and GSTP1: an Axis in Prostate Cancer?

To analyze putative biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCA) characterization, the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in men. Quantification of the expression level of c-myc and HIF-1α was performed in 72 prostate cancer specimens. A cohort of 497 prostate cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was further analyzed, in order to test our hypothesis. We found that high c-myc level was significantly associated with HIF-1α elevated expression (p = 0.008) in our 72 samples. Statistical analysis of 497 TCGA prostate cancer specimens confirmed the strong association (p = 0.0005) of c-myc and HIF-1α expression levels, as we found in our series. Moreover, we found high c-myc levels significantly associated with low Glutatione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) expression (p = 0.01), with high Transketolase (TKT) expression (p < 0.0001). High TKT levels were found in TCGA samples with low GSTP1 mRNA (p < 0.0001), as shown for c-myc, and with ERG increased expression (p = 0.02). Finally, samples with low GSTP1 expression displayed higher ERG mRNA levels than samples with high GSTP1 score (p < 0.0001), as above shown for c-myc. Our study emphasizes the notion of a potential value of HIF-1α and c-myc as putative biomarkers in prostate cancer; moreover TCGA data analysis showed a putative crosstalk between c-myc, HIF-1α, ERG, TKT, and GSTP1, suggesting a potential use of this axis in prostate cancer.

A 4-year evaluation of toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in the general population and in women of reproductive age in central Italy.

This study aimed to estimate possible changes in seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in people living in the area of Massa and Carrara (central Italy), in recent years. Serum samples from over 13 000 individuals were tested for both IgG and IgM anti- Toxoplasma antibodies using an immunoenzymatic method (Access® Toxo IgG, and Access® Toxo IgM II, Beckman Coulter Inc., USA). Our survey showed a decreasing trend of overall seroprevalence of 24.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 22.62­25.71] in 2010 compared to 31.0% (95% CI 29.29­32.72) in 2007. A positive trend according to age was found, with low positivity observed in younger age groups. For women of reproductive age the prevalence of IgG antibodies was 30.2% (95% CI 28.44­31.96) in 2007 and 23.6% (95% CI 22.05­25.20) in 2010. IgM seroprevalence in women of this age group also progressively decreased from 1.6% to 0.97% during the study period. Our study confirms a decline of toxoplasmosis in Western countries.

[Role of adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of rectal carcinoma]. / Ruolo della radioterapia adiuvante nel trattamento del carcinoma rettale.

Radiotherapy (RT) either pre or postoperative is widely accepted as the standard adjuvant treatment in rectal carcinoma invading the perirectal tissues. The main effect of RT was to decrease the incidence of local recurrence by 30%-50%; there was however no evidence of any impact on survival. With preoperative RT a large range of doses was tested; a dose of 35 Gy or more with fractions of 1.8-2.0 Gy five times per week (or a biologically equivalent regimen) is required to affect the local recurrence rate; with postoperative RT a more uniform dose of 45-50 Gy in 5 five weeks was used. Wether RT is better to be given pre or postoperatively has been the object of a continuing debate. The preoperative option seems at present preferable: the main advantages of this option are the lower morbidity and the possible increase of sphincter saving surgery; the availability of the intrarectal imaging modalities made the clinical staging very reliable, eliminating the major concern of preoperative RT represented by the possible overtreatment of early intraparietal tumours. For tumours located in the range of applicability of intrarectal US or MR (extraperitoneal rectum) preoperative RT should be considered the first choice adjuvant treatment. For tumours located in the intraperitoneal part of the rectum postoperative RT, on the basis of pathological staging, is probably preferable. Two randomized trials reported an improvement of the overall survival when postoperative RT was given concomitantly with 5 Fluorouracil but at the expense of a higher morbidity and a lower compliance. The most promising approach to be explored seems therefore the concomitant combination of preoperative RT and 5 Fluorouracil. Future studies should also define the more effective modality of this combination and wether 5 Fluorouracil has to be given alone or combined with other drugs.