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Aims: The natural history of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) is variable and difficult to predict. This study aimed to assess the value of the expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1)/p60 and the stem cell markers CD133, CD166, CD44, CD44v6 and nestin as markers of outcome and progression-free survival in OSCC patients., Methods: Clinical data were collected from 66 patients (41 male and 25 female, aged 29-92 years) who underwent surgery for OSCC of the tongue, floor, lips, and palate. During follow-up (range: 12-131 months), 14 patients experienced relapse/metastasis and/or death. The study was performed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tumour tissues, western blot analysis of tumour protein lysates and human cell lines, and RNA silencing assays. In addition, the human papillomavirus (HPV) status of primary tumours was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and viral subtyping. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the correlation between these parameters and the clinical and pathological variables of the study population., Results and Conclusions: We found that a PARP-1(high) /CAF-1 p60(high) /nestin(high) phenotype characterized the OSCCs with the worst prognosis (all HPV-negative). This may be of benefit in clinical management, since radio-enhancing anti-PARP-1 and/or anti-CAF-1/p60 agents may allow radioresistance to be bypassed in the nestin-overexpressing, metastasizing OSCC cells., (© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Limited.)

Aims: Prostatic cancer may remain organ-confined indefinitely; in a number of patients, however it gives rise to clinical symptoms and death. The biological behaviour of this tumour mostly remains difficult to predict. A promising tool for diagnosis and prognosis of some human tumours is the chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), involved in the control of higher order chromatin organization. The aim was to explore the role of CAF-1/p60 protein as a new prognostic marker for prostatic cancer., Methods and Results: The expression of CAF-1/p60 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in a selected series of prostatic cancers and in prostatic cancer cell lines. Results were compared with clinicopathological data and outcome of patients. CAF-1/p60 was expressed in all cases, with a linear increase from low-grade tumours (Gleason score <7) to high-grade prostatic cancers (Gleason score >7). By comparing results with follow-up data, a significant association between overexpression of CAF-1/p60 and unfavourable behaviour of prostatic cancer emerged, and its predictive value was independent of classical prognostic factors., Conclusions: In our series of cases, overexpression of CAF-1/p60 characterized prostatic cancers with a worse prognosis. CAF-1/p60 has a potential role as a new reliable prognostic biomarker for prostatic cancer.

Aims: Ovarian granulosa cell tumour (OGCT) is a sex-cord stromal tumour with a general trend toward late relapse and/or metastasis. However, mortality rate corrected for long-term follow-up shows that about 50% of patients die within 20 years of diagnosis. Classical clinicopathological parameters are unable to predict the biological behaviour of OGCT. The involvement of a recently characterized subtype of oestrogen receptor, ERbeta, in ovarian carcinogenesis has been hypothesized., Methods and Results: We examined by immunohistochemistry the expression of ERbeta, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p53 in a selected series of 30 OGCT, to evaluate their role in the prognostic evaluation of this tumour. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Results were compared with the DNA-ploidy of the tumours (evaluated by image analysis) and with the follow-up data of the patients., Conclusions: Loss of ERbeta expression, high PCNA expression and aneuploidy, characterized a subgroup of OGCT with a worse outcome. The identification of a high-risk subclass of OGCT may be of primary importance in addressing appropriate therapeutic strategies, offering the chance to prevent relapses and metastases by using adjunctive, specifically targetted, more aggressive therapies.