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Introduction and Aim. Oral microbiota has shown a higher bacterial diversity and abundance in individuals with digestive tract malignancies. According to recent research, some periopathogens link to gastro-intestinal neoplastic tissue and accelerate its progression. The present study was carried out to evaluate a possible association between the abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Tannerella forsythia and periodontal status with the characteristics of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four patients with gastric cancer were examined and divided in two groups, with periodontitis and gingivitis. The patients' oral cavity was examined, gingival crevicular samples were collected, and the following parameters were recorded: number of absent teeth, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing. Quantitative real-time polymerase-chain-reaction was used to evaluate the amount of the two bacteria in the gingival crevicular fluid samples. The differentiation grade and tumour dimension were registered during the histopathological exam of the gastric cancer tissues. Following the statistical analysis, correlations between periodontal disease's clinical parameters, the bacterial strains identified, and the characteristics of gastric cancer were made. Results. The strong significant correlation between tumour dimension and all periodontal parameters (p < 0.05) but also between the size of the tumour and F. nucleatum (p < 0.05) could suggest a positive association between periodontal disease, gastric tumoral growth and periopathogens' implication in this process. A moderate significant correlation was found between tumour dimension and T. forsythia (p < 0.05). The low differentiation grade was most common across both groups. Conclusions. Our findings point to a potential association between periodontal disease, the two subgingival periopathogens evaluated and gastric cancer's evolution. Consequently, we can state that further research is required for a more comprehensive understanding of this deadly disease, for early diagnosis and for discovering new strategies to limit its progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an intense fibrosis which enhances the growth of tumor cells and drives an epithelialmesenchymal transition. The consequence is the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSC), which can enhance the metastatic potential. Objective. The aim of this study is to assess the expression of pancreatic cancer stem cells, on pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) specimens. Material and Methods. A total of 21 patients diagnosed with PDAC after EUS-FNB within the Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Craiova, were included in the study, and the samples were sent for immunohistochemical assessment. Anti-Human CD 24 (policlonal, Abcam, ab 199140) and EpCAm (Epr 20532-225, Rb monoclonal, Abcam, ab 223582) were used. Results. All cases were positive for CD24 and EpCAM. In NOS ductal adenocarcinomas, CD24 immunomarking was heterogeneous, with variable intensity and a variable number of positive cells within the same case. Well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas that formed tubular or papillary structures showed a higher intensity CD24 expression compared to poorly differentiated or undifferentiated adenocarcinomas. EpCam showed a stronger immunolabeling intensity in the analyzed samples. PDAC EpCam expression was of moderate and high intensity and with a heterogeneous appearance in NOS G1 adenocarcinomas, but the intensity of the immunomarking tended to decrease with increasing histological grade. Conclusions. EUS-FNB PCSC immunohistochemistry is feasible. At the subcellular level, the basolateral membranous and cytoplasmic staining of EpCam in PDAC could be correlated with tumor invasion and possibly with the unfavorable evolution of this type of carcinoma, while CD24 frequently presents an apical immunostaining pattern and could suggest the presence of an epithelial-type phenotype of tumor cells, with a lower potential for invasiveness and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]