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The article presents an analysis regarding the role of the methylation status genes associated with aberrant DNA hypermethylation in benign, premalignant, and malignant endometrial lesions. It examines human MutL homolog-1 (hMLH1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2a/p16 with regard to their epigenetic alterations in endometrial cancer. It concludes that simultaneous hypermethylation of both genes may represent an early event in endometrial carcinogenesis.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of autophagy in oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma and to correlate with clinical pathological features, as well as, the evolution of these lesions. Methodology 7 Normal oral mucosa, 51 oral leukoplakias, and 120 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) were included in the study. Histological sections of the mucosa and leukoplakias were evaluated throughout their length, while the carcinomas were evaluated using Tissue Microarray. After the immunohistochemical technique, LC3-II positive cells were quantified in the different epithelial layers of the mucosa and leukoplakias and in the microarrays of the squamous cell carcinomas. The correlation between positive cells with the different clinical-pathological variables and with the evolution of the lesions was tested using the t test, ANOVA, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results We observed increased levels of autophagy in the oral squamous cell carcinomas (p < 0.001) in relation to the other groups, but without any association with poorer evolution or survival of these patients. Among the leukoplakias, we observed a higher percentage of positive cells in the intermediate layer of the dysplastic leukoplakias (p = 0.0319) and in the basal layer of lesions with poorer evolution (p = 0.0133). Conclusion The levels of autophagy increased during the process of oral carcinogenesis and are correlated with poorer behavior of the leukoplakias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most frequent malignant tumour. There is some evidence that tongue cancer has a higher local failure rate and poorer prognosis than other anatomical sites in the oral cavity. We used tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines harbouring mutated p53/ pi6 as tongue cancer models to study the influences exerted by p53 and pl6 genes on the expression of micro RNAs (miRNAs). The study was performed on microarray chips harbouring 298 miRNA sequences. OSCC cell lines used in this study were SCC-4, SCC-15 and SCC-25, all three carrying mutated/hypermethylated p53/pl6. The expression values normalized to healthy control of 298 miRNAs were obtained for each cell line. MiRNA 196b was found hyperexpressed in the three cell lines. MiRNAs 19b-l, 21, 27a, 30d, 134, 339, 379 and 465 were found altered in two out of three cell lines. miRNAs found altered in one cell line out of three were: 7b, 23a, 25, 30c, 30e-3p, 107,125b, 124a, 214, 216, 325 and 384. A literature review for each miRNA found significant was undertaken. Some miRNAs have a well-known role in oral cancer, some have been put in correlation with other cancers/diseases, others are found significant for the first time. These early results in tongue cancer cell lines harbouring mutation of pl6/p53 need further analyses to understand whether this variation of miRNA levels are directly influenced by the malfunction of these proteins or if, vice-versa, altered miRNA levels influence the function of pl6 and p53. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroid hormones are expressed at low levels in mesenchymal cells and are highly expressed in soft tissue sarcoma. In human soft tissue fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1080), the epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates the express of matrix metal (MMPs) expression through a Src-dependent mechanism. In human fibrosarcomas, increased expression of MMPs correlates with the metastatic progression. Our recent data in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, demonstrates that EGF stimulates estradiol receptor (ER) phosphorylation on tyrosine at position 537 thereby promoting the association of a complex among EGF receptor (EGFR), androgen receptor (AR), ER, and Src that activates EGF-dependent signaling pathway. In the present study, we demonstrate that, in HT-1080 cells, the Src kinase activity is involved in EGFR phosphorylation and this activity is regulated by an interplay between Src, steroid receptors, and EGFR. In these cells, estradiol (E2)/ER and synthetic androgen (R1881)/AR trans-activate EGFR leading to the downstream signaling and to ERK activation. Indeed, the association between ER/AR and EGFR enhances metastatic progression of fibrosarcoma tumors. A population pilot study performed on 16 patients with soft tissue neoplasias highlights that MMPs expression correlates with progression of anaplastic sarcoma as well as overexpression of EGFR. These findings suggest that there is a crosstalk among AR, ER, and EGFR that lead to src activation also in fibrosarcoma cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 2997-3003, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verrucous carcinoma (also known as Ackerman tumor) is an uncommon exophytic low-grade well-differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. This neoplasm typically involves the oral cavity, larynx, genitalia, skin, and esophagus. It is well known for its locally aggressiveness and for its clinically slow-growing behaviour with minimal metastatic potential. Verrucous carcinoma of oral cavity is so closely aligned with the use of snuff and chewing tobacco that it has been called the "snuff dipper's cancer". Recent studies have proved the role of HPV. The typical clinical presentation of oral verrucous carcinoma has long been known, as its remarkably innocuous appearance and biological behaviour. In this work, we report a review of the scientific literature and describe a troublesome case of oral verrucous cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human papilloma virus infection is thought to play a role in laryngeal carcinogenesis; the variable association reported in literature may be due to wide range of HPV genotypes. We report the case of a 51-year-old man affected by laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; analysis of DNA extracted by cancer cells by an innovative molecular virology assay (INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra) showed the presence of two high-risk HPV genotypes, HPV-73 and -82. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed positivity for both capsid protein and viral oncogenic protein E7. Such association has never been reported in literature so far, and a brief discussion on the importance of assessing HPV status in laryngeal cancer is provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]