RESUMEN
The ubiquitous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the primary cause of infectious mononucleosis and is etiologically linked to the development of several malignancies and autoimmune diseases. EBV has a multifaceted life cycle that comprises virus lytic replication and latency programs. Considering EBV infection holistically, we rationalized that prophylactic EBV vaccines should ideally prime the immune system against lytic and latent proteins. To this end, we generated highly immunogenic particles that contain antigens from both these cycles. In addition to stimulating EBV-specific T cells that recognize lytic or latent proteins, we show that the immunogenic particles enable the ex vivo expansion of cytolytic EBV-specific T cells that efficiently control EBV-infected B cells, preventing their outgrowth. Lastly, we show that immunogenic particles containing the latent protein EBNA1 afford significant protection against wild-type EBV in a humanized mouse model. Vaccines that include antigens which predominate throughout the EBV life cycle are likely to enhance their ability to protect against EBV infection.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos Virales/inmunología , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr/inmunología , Herpesvirus Humano 4/inmunología , Vacunas contra Herpesvirus/inmunología , Linfocitos T Citotóxicos/inmunología , Animales , Ratones , Latencia del VirusRESUMEN
AIMS: To perform pelvimetry in nulliparous and primiparous women using 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI). METHODS: Twenty-five nulliparous volunteers and 25 primiparous women underwent pelvic 3T MRI within one week after vaginal childbirth in a prospective clinical single-center trial. The pelvimetric parameters interspinous distance (ISD), intertuberous distance (ITD), sagittal outlet (SO), obstetric conjugate (OC), and coccygeal curved length (CCL) were adapted from anthropometric measurements as well as from sonographic and computed tomography-based pelvimetry performed on high-resolution T2-weighted images. We compared the results of the two study groups to one another, recent literature and postpartum-diagnosed levator ani muscle (LAM) injuries. RESULTS: The mean values for primipara/nullipara were ISD 107 ± 8.3/105 ± 8.4 mm, ITD 119.8 ± 10.2/118.4 ± 13.1 mm, OC 129.4 ± 10/130.8 ± 6.9 mm, SO 114.3 ± 7.8/112.5 ± 8.9 mm, and CCL 37.3 ± 7.4/39 ± 8 mm. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the results for OC, SO, and CCL (primipara) and ISD, ITD and OC (nullipara) and the values in the literature. No significant difference in pelvimetric values was found between the groups. A significant correlation was found between the pelvimetric parameters and five types of LAM injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Two-dimensional 3T MRI combines high-resolution images with objective pelvimetric measurements applicable in a postpartum setting. Our results provide a good foundation for further MRI-based studies evaluating the bony pelvis and its relation to LAM injuries during vaginal childbirth.
Asunto(s)
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Paridad , Pelvimetría , Pelvis/diagnóstico por imagen , Adulto , Antropometría , Cóccix/diagnóstico por imagen , Estudios Transversales , Parto Obstétrico , Femenino , Humanos , Diafragma Pélvico , Pelvis/lesiones , Estudios Prospectivos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
AIMS: Measurements indicating a loss of integrity of the levator ani muscle, which is an integral part of the pelvic floor, have been subject of recent studies using translabial ultrasound and 3D-MRI-models. We transferred these measurements into 2D-3 T-MR-images for clinical routine, as it is objective and does not need exhaustive post-processing. METHODS: The trial was accepted by the local ethics committee. 25 healthy volunteers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and gave written informed consent. Using high-resolution T2-weighted images (TE 5030-7810 ms, TR 88-112 ms, matrix 512, FOV 280-300 mm, ST 2-3 mm), measurements of anteroposterior hiatus (APH), laterolateral hiatus (LLH), hiatal area (HA), hiatal circumference (HC), levator area (LA), maximum muscle thickness (MMT) and levator urethra gap (LUG) were transferred from ultrasound, iliococcygeus width (IW), puborectalis attachment width (PAW), and levator symphysis gap (LSG) were transferred from 3D-MRI-models. We compared our results to previous studies in the literature. RESULTS: Mean value was 52.22 ± 6.97 mm for APH, 33.15 ± 4 mm for LLH, 13.22 ± 3.05 cm(2) for HA, 14.19 ± 1.61 cm for HC, 7.14 ± 1.85 cm(2) for LA, 6.45 ± 2.07 mm for MMT, 19.47 ± 2.38 mm for LUG, 45 ± 3.97 mm for IW, 33.94 ± 3.34 mm for PAW, 20.54 ± 5.29 mm for LSG. Our results for APH, HA, LUG, and with limitations LA, were comparable to the literature, while HC, LLH, and MMT showed anatomical variances. Results for IW and LSG were comparable, but challenging to measure. We newly proposed a cutoff value for PAW. CONCLUSIONS: 2D-3 T-MRI combines high-resolution images with objective measurements of parameters regarding pelvic floor integrity, without resorting to exhaustive post-processing methods. Our results may provide a good foundation for further 2D-MR-studies.
Asunto(s)
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Paridad , Diafragma Pélvico/diagnóstico por imagen , Adulto , Puntos Anatómicos de Referencia , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Voluntarios Sanos , Humanos , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Vaginal bleeding may be present in up to 30% of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of a rupture of the fetal membranes (ROM). The presence of blood may lead to false positive results with biochemical markers. The data presented in this study came from a multi-centric prospective observational clinical study that, for the first time, systematically evaluated the performance of placental alpha microglobulin-1 (PAMG-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) detecting tests in 151 women with vaginal bleedings as well as signs and symptoms indicative of ROM. Our data showed better performance for the PAMG-1 compared with the IGFBP-1 detecting tests in all quality parameters evaluated. In detail, sensitivity (SN) was 97.8% (91.0%), specificity (SP) was 91.5% (75.0%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 94.6% (83.5%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 96.4% (85.7%) for PAMG-1 tests (and IGFBP-1 tests, respectively). A major difference between both tests was related to the number of non-evaluable test results (e.g., hidden bands due to blood smear on the test strips). While 2% of all results were not evaluable for PAMG-1 tests, this artifact appeared in 11% of the results obtained with IGFBP-1 tests. This difference and also those in Specificity and PPV were statistically significant, demonstrating superiority of PAMG-1 over IGFBP-1 detecting tests. In conclusion, the PAMG-1 detecting test was significantly less susceptible to interference by blood than the IGFBP-1 detecting test.
Asunto(s)
alfa-Globulinas/análisis , Sangre , Rotura Prematura de Membranas Fetales/diagnóstico , Proteína 1 de Unión a Factor de Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/análisis , Adolescente , Adulto , alfa-Globulinas/metabolismo , Femenino , Rotura Prematura de Membranas Fetales/metabolismo , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Placenta/metabolismo , Embarazo , Estudios Prospectivos , Frotis Vaginal , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the treatment of breast cancer during pregnancy. We aimed to determine whether treatment for breast cancer during pregnancy is safe for both mother and child. METHODS: We recruited patients from seven European countries with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer during pregnancy; data were collected retrospectively if the patient was diagnosed before April, 2003 (when the registry began), or prospectively thereafter, irrespective of the outcome of pregnancy and the type and timing of treatment. The primary endpoint was fetal health for up to 4 weeks after delivery. The registry is ongoing. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00196833. FINDINGS: From April, 2003, to December, 2011, 447 patients were registered, 413 of whom had early breast cancer. Median age was 33 years (range 22-51). At the time of diagnosis, median gestational age was 24 weeks (range 5-40). 197 (48%) of 413 women received chemotherapy during pregnancy with a median of four cycles (range one to eight). 178 received an anthracycline, 15 received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil, and 14 received a taxane. Birthweight was affected by chemotherapy exposure after adjustment for gestational age (p=0·018), but not by number of chemotherapy cycles (p=0·71). No statistical difference between the two groups was observed for premature deliveries before the 37th week of gestation. 40 (10%) of 386 infants had side-effects, malformations, or new-born complications; these events were more common in infants born before the 37th week of gestation than they were in infants born in the 37th week or later (31 [16%] of 191 infants vs nine [5%] of 195 infants; p=0·0002). In infants for whom maternal treatment was known, adverse events were more common in those who received chemotherapy in utero compared with those who were not exposed (31 [15%] of 203 vs seven [4%] of 170 infants; p=0·00045). Two infants died; both were exposed to chemotherapy and delivered prematurely, but both deaths were thought not to be related to treatment. Median disease-free survival for women with early breast cancer was 70·6 months (95% CI 62·1-105·5) in women starting chemotherapy during pregnancy and 94·4 months (lower 95% CI 64·4; upper 95% CI not yet reached) in women starting chemotherapy after delivery (unadjusted hazard ratio 1·13 [95% CI 0·76-1·69]; p=0·539). INTERPRETATION: Although our data show that infants exposed to chemotherapy in utero had a lower birthweight at gestational age than did those who were unexposed, and had more complications, these differences were not clinically significant and, since none of the infants was exposed to chemotherapy in the first trimester, were most likely related to premature delivery. Delay of cancer treatment did not significantly affect disease-free survival for mothers with early breast cancer. Because preterm birth was strongly associated with adverse events, a full-term delivery seems to be of paramount importance. FUNDING: BANSS Foundation, Biedenkopf, Germany and the Belgian Cancer Plan, Ministry of Health, Belgium.
Asunto(s)
Anomalías Inducidas por Medicamentos/epidemiología , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Peso al Nacer/efectos de los fármacos , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades del Recién Nacido/epidemiología , Resultado del Embarazo/epidemiología , Adulto , Puntaje de Apgar , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/cirugía , Carcinoma Ductal/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Ductal/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Ductal/patología , Carcinoma Ductal/secundario , Carcinoma Lobular/diagnóstico , Carcinoma Lobular/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Lobular/patología , Carcinoma Lobular/secundario , Carcinoma Lobular/cirugía , Estudios de Cohortes , Parto Obstétrico/estadística & datos numéricos , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Europa (Continente) , Femenino , Humanos , Incidencia , Recién Nacido , Metástasis Linfática , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Preservación de Órganos , Embarazo , Complicaciones Neoplásicas del Embarazo/tratamiento farmacológico , Sistema de Registros , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
According to present estimations, the unfavorable combination of alleles with low penetrance but high prevalence in the population might account for the major part of hereditary breast cancer risk. Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 (DMBT1) has been proposed as a tumor suppressor for breast cancer and other cancer types. Genomewide mapping in mice further identified Dmbt1 as a potential modulator of breast cancer risk. Here, we report the association of two frequent and linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with increased breast cancer risk in women above the age of 60 years: DMBT1 c.-93C>T, rs2981745, located in the DMBT1 promoter; and DMBT1 c.124A>C, p.Thr42Pro, rs11523871(odds ratio [OR]=1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.21-2.29, P=0.0017; and OR=1.66; 95% CI=1.21-2.28, P=0.0016, respectively), based on 1,195 BRCA1/2 mutation-negative German breast cancer families and 1,466 unrelated German controls. Promoter studies in breast cancer cells demonstrate that the risk-increasing DMBT1 -93T allele displays significantly decreased promoter activity compared to the DMBT1 -93C allele, resulting in a loss of promoter activity. The data suggest that DMBT1 polymorphisms in the 5'-region are associated with increased breast cancer risk. In accordance with previous results, these data link decreased DMBT1 levels to breast cancer risk.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple/genética , Receptores de Superficie Celular/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Neoplasias de la Mama Masculina/genética , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Proteínas de Unión al ADN , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Factores de Riesgo , Proteínas Supresoras de TumorRESUMEN
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, development, and apoptosis by degradation of target mRNAs and/or repression of their translation. Although the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNAs target sites have been studied, the effects of SNPs in miRNAs are largely unknown. In our study, we first systematically sequenced miRNA genes reported to be involved in breast cancer to identify/verify SNPs. We analyzed four SNPs, one located in the pre-miRNA and the other three located in miRNA flanking regions, for a putative association with breast cancer risk. The SNP rs895819, located in the terminal loop of pre-miRNA-27a, showed a protective effect. In a large familial breast cancer study cohort, the rare [G] allele of rs895819 was found to be less frequent in the cases than in the controls, indicating a reduced familial breast cancer risk ([G] vs. [A]: OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-0.99, P = 0.0287). Furthermore, age stratification revealed that the protective effect was mainly observed in the age group < 50 years of age ([G] vs. [A]: OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.98, P = 0.0314), whereas no significant effect was observed in the age group >or= 50 years of age, indicating a possible hormone-related effect. It has been shown that artificial mutations in the terminal loop of miR-27a can block the maturation process of the miRNA. We hypothesize that the G-variant of rs895819 might impair the maturation of the oncogenic miR-27a and thus, is associated with familial breast cancer risk.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , MicroARNs/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Salud de la Familia , Femenino , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad/genética , Alemania/epidemiología , Humanos , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the prognosis of patients with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy (BCP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cohort study, a multicentric registry of patients with BCP (from Cancer in Pregnancy, Leuven, Belgium, and GBG 29/BIG 02-03) compiled pro- and retrospectively between 2003 and 2011 was compared with patients who did not have associated pregnancies, using an age limit of 45 years. Patients with a diagnosis postpartum were excluded. The main analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) on exposure (pregnant or not), adjusting for age, stage, grade, hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor 2 status, histology, type of chemotherapy, use of trastuzumab, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. RESULTS: The registry contained 447 women with BCP, mainly originating from Germany and Belgium, of whom 311 (69.6%) were eligible for analysis. The nonpregnant group consisted of 865 women. Median age was 33 years for the pregnant and 41 years for the nonpregnant patients. Median follow-up was 61 months. The hazard ratio of pregnancy was 1.34 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.91; P = .14) for DFS and 1.19 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.93; P = .51) for OS. Cox regression estimated that the 5-year DFS rate for pregnant patients would have increased from 65% to 71% if these patients had not been pregnant. Likewise, the 5-year OS rate would have increased from 78% to 81%. CONCLUSION: The results show similar OS for patients diagnosed with BCP compared with nonpregnant patients. This information is important when patients are counseled and supports the option to start treatment with continuation of pregnancy.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/mortalidad , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Causas de Muerte , Complicaciones Neoplásicas del Embarazo/diagnóstico , Complicaciones Neoplásicas del Embarazo/mortalidad , Adulto , Bélgica , Biopsia con Aguja , Neoplasias de la Mama/terapia , Estudios de Cohortes , Terapia Combinada/métodos , Intervalos de Confianza , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Alemania , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Persona de Mediana Edad , Embarazo , Complicaciones Neoplásicas del Embarazo/terapia , Pronóstico , Modelos de Riesgos Proporcionales , Valores de Referencia , Sistema de Registros , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Análisis de Supervivencia , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To estimate the risk for contralateral breast cancer in members of BRCA1- and BRCA2-positive families and to determine predictive risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study was performed from 1996 until 2008 and comprised 2,020 women with unilateral breast cancer (index patients, n = 978; relatives, n = 1.42) from 978 families who had a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Cox regression analysis was applied to assess the association of age at first breast cancer with time from first to contralateral breast cancer, stratified by the affected BRCA gene. RESULTS: The cumulative risk for contralateral breast cancer 25 years after first breast cancer was 47.4% (95% CI, 38.8% to 56.0%) for patients from families with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Members of families with BRCA1 mutations had a 1.6-fold (95% CI, 1.2-fold to 2.3-fold) higher risk of contralateral breast cancer than members of families with BRCA2 mutations. Younger age at first breast cancer was associated with a significantly higher risk of contralateral breast cancer in patients with BRCA1 mutation, and a trend was observed in patients with BRCA2 mutation. After 25 years, 62.9% (95% CI, 50.4% to 75.4%) of patients with BRCA1 mutation who were younger than 40 years of age at first breast cancer developed contralateral breast cancer, compared with only 19.6% (95% CI, 5.3% to 33.9%) of those who were older than 50 years of age at first breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Contralateral breast cancer risk depends on age at first breast cancer and on the affected BRCA gene, and this risk should be considered in treatment planning.
Asunto(s)
Proteína BRCA1/genética , Proteína BRCA2/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Mutación , Neoplasias Primarias Secundarias , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/terapia , Femenino , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Alemania , Humanos , Estimación de Kaplan-Meier , Persona de Mediana Edad , Linaje , Modelos de Riesgos Proporcionales , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
The spectrum of genetic alterations in primary male breast cancer is not well established. We analyzed chromosomal imbalances in 39 tumor samples from primary male breast cancer by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and correlated CGH findings with clinicopathological factors. Chromosomal gains were most frequent at 1q (46%), 8q (46%), 16p (36%), 17q (36%), Xq (28%), 20q (26%) and Xp (18%). Losses were most commonly observed at 8p (36%), 16q (28%), 13q (28%), 6q (18%), 11q (18%) and 22q (18%). Gains at 16p, 20q and Xq and losses at 13q correlated significantly with higher degree of cytogenetic complexity. Significant associations with clinicopathological factors were observed for +8q and -16q with larger tumor size and -16q with lower proliferative activity and lower grade of malignancy. A comparison with reported CGH data from female breast cancer showed a similar pattern of chromosomal imbalances, including +1q, -8p, +8q, -13q, +16p, -16q, +17q and +20q. Our results indicate that male breast cancer shares a common pattern of imbalances with female breast cancer, suggesting that similar genetic events may underlie the development and progression of male and female breast cancer.