Droplet digital PCR as a novel dia-gnostic tool.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, modern treatment methods for cancer patients are based on targeting specific molecules involved in cellular signaling system associated with tumor initiation and progression. The success of such approach depends on a correctly chosen dia-gnostic test with high sensitivity that identifies the occurrence and level of bio-markers in patients to select those who will respond and benefit from the treatment. The development of new technologies and the upgrades of the known ones contribute to the innovations in molecular characterization of cancer, which allows the detection of patients mutational status with high sensitivity and specificity. PURPOSE: Here, we discuss the utilization of the third-generation type of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), in the molecular dia-gnostics of oncology diseases. According to the studies reported in our review, ddPCR represents a promising tool in genetic profiling of cancer patients. Therefore, the optimization and precise validation may enable gradual implementation of ddPCR into clinical practice in the field of oncology.

[Oncogenic potential of papillomaviruses]. / Onkogénny potenciál papilomavírusov.

Papillomaviruses belong to a group of viruses with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). These viruses are believed to induce benign as well as malignant tumour growth. Thanks to professor zur Hausen, the connection between the infection by human papillomaviruses (HPV) and cervix cancer was described in detail a few years ago. However, there exist certain types of HPV viruses, in which no association with malignancies was ever demonstrated. Hence, we can divide HPV into "high-risk" (HR) and "low-risk" (LR) group. Our work describes the life cycle of HPV, molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis and aims to compare HR HPV and LR HPV within these terms.