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Background and aims. The role of angiogenesis in progression and metastasis of gastric cancer has been studied over the last years. The aim of our study was to assess the microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in correlation with prognosis, survival and the risk for upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding as well. Method. We prospectively assessed angiogenesis in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma. Microvessel density was calculated using CD31 and CD34 markers, and VEGF expression was assessed in biopsy samples. The tumor stage was established using imaging methods: CT scan for M and N stage and endoscopic ultrasound for T and N stages. The correlation between pathological markers and tumor stage, survival rate and risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was assessed. Results. The study included 40 patients with gastric cancer; among them 8 patients presented with upper GI bleeding. The average microvessel density was 10.21 for CD31 and 11.85 for CD34 in all patients VEGF was positive only in 45% of patients. The microvessel density was higher in patients with advanced TNM stage, and a correlation with the risk of UGIB and survival rate was also found. VEGF expression correlated with TNM stage and with the risk of upper GI bleeding. Conclusions. Microvessel density (estimated by CD34) was involved in locally advanced disease, while VEGF was correlated with loco-regional extension and distant metastasis in gastric cancer patients. There was a clear correlation between angiogenic parameters, survival rate and the risk of upper GI bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Colorectal carcinoma is the second leading cause of death by cancer in Europe as its incidence increases with life span. Continuing research to detect new highly sensitive and specific noninvasive biomarkers is essential. The aim of this study was to compare 9 mismatching repair (MMR) genes activation levels in normal, polyp and malignant tissues in order to detect a MMR gene expression pattern in sporadic colorectal malignant pathology. Methods: MMR mRNA levels were evaluated in tumor - normal tissue paired samples and polyps collected from 29 patients undergoing standard surgical procedures with curative intention. Real-Time quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT PCR) with TaqMan probes specific to ANKRD17, EXO1, MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH3, MSH4, MSH5, MSH6 gene transcripts were used. Results: The general tendency observed was a lower mRNA level of MMR genes in tumor samples compared with the normal tissue, with the exception of EXO1 gene. The number of patients that showed a higher expression of MMR genes in normal tissue was significantly greater than the number of patients that showed a higher expression inside the tumor (p=0.0024). ANKRD17 mRNA levels were higher in normal tissue than in tumor for 16 cases, by contrast with only 6 cases of higher mRNA levels in tumor. Conclusions: ANKRD17 mRNA appears to be the most sensitive target and may have a potential value as an additional marker for the existing multitarget assay panel for colorectal cancer detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic ultrasound has been recently established as a routine diagnostic and staging procedure in lung cancer patients, mainly because of the possibility of tissue sampling. Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) represents a method which not only allows the visualization of the upper gastrointestinal tract, but also offers good visualisation of the posterior and inferior mediastinum. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) permits the assessment of the tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Based on previously published literature, it is obvious that this minimally invasive procedure now offers the possibility of tissue diagnosis in mediastinal masses including primary tumours or secondary lesions from both benign and malignant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]