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Purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer worldwide. This cancer is treated with various methods like mastectomy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy. Among them, targeted therapy, like microRNA (miRNA) replacement therapy, is considered a new approach to treating breast cancer. Methods: Data analysis from TCGA datasets were used to investigate the expression of hsamiR- 146a-5p in breast cancer. MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells after hsa-miR-146a-5p ectopic expression. A wound-healing assay was used to observe migration in the MDA-MB-231 cell line and the effect of the hsa-miR-146a-5p ectopic expression on migration. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used as a method to determine the effect of the hsa-miR-146a-5p ectopic expression on the expression of CXCR4, β-catenin, MMP2, MMP9, and Vimentin genes known to be involved in invasion and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Results: Our results indicated that hsa-miR-146a-5p is not involved in apoptosis in the MDAMB- 231 cells, while it is highly effective in migration inhibition. MMP9, MMP2, CXCR4, and Vimentin expressions were suppressed by hsa-miR-146a-5p induction; however, it induced the expression of β-catenin. Conclusion: Some non-coding RNAs, such as hsa-miR-146a-5p, are effective in breast cancer targeted therapy. As cancer is a complicated disorder, therefore the combination of therapies might lead to novel therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our case report showed that peripheral wall calcification of the hydatid cyst does not mean inactivation of the cyst and calcification of cyst wall may occur in all stages of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a unique molecular alteration that is due to a defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Approximately, 15-20% of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) display MSI. Determination of MSI status in CRC has prognostic and predictive implications. Additionally, detecting MSI is used diagnostically for tumor detection and classification. The present study analyzed a panel of five mononucleotide markers, BAT- 25, BAT-26, NR-21, NR-22 and NR-27, amplified in a single multiplex PCR reaction to evaluate MSI status in CRC patients. Genomic DNA from 50 CRC and paired adjacent normal tissues was used for PCR-based MSI analysis. Our finding showed microsatellite instability in 36% of specimens. Instability with differences in allele lengths was observed in the tumoral DNA compared to the tumor-free margin DNA sample. The frequency of instability in NR-21, BAT-26 and BAT-25 markers were more than others; their frequency were 35.48%, 29.03%, and 22.58%, respectively. In conclusion, the NR-21, BAT-26, and BAT-25 were the most useful markers for discriminating cancer tissue from normal, therefore these markers have demonstrated promising potential for determining MSI status in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Timely detection of CRC in patients with earlier stages provides the highest rate of survival. Epigenetic alterations are important in the occurrence and progression of CRC, and represent the primary modifications of cancer cells. Therefore, detection of these alterations in CRC cases are thought to hold great promise as diagnostic biomarkers. It has been shown that the SEPT9 and NTRK3 genes are aberrantly methylated and their detection can be used as biomarkers for early diagnosis of CRC. The present study analyzed promoter methylation status of these genes in CRC patients. Genomic DNA was extracted from 45 CRC and paired adjacent healthy tissues and undergone bisulfite conversion, and the methylation status of NTRK3 and SEPT9 were defined using the MS-HRM assay. Our results showed that there are statistically significant differences in methylation status of NTRK3 and specially SEPT9 between CRC and adjacent normal tissues (P<0.001). High sensitivity and specificity for a specific location in SEPT9 gene promoter as a diagnostic biomarker was observed. SEPT9 promoter hypermethylation may serve as a promising biomarker for the detection of CRC development. However, to validate the biomarker potential of NTRK3 there is a requirement for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a unique molecular alteration that is due to a defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Approximately, 15-20 % of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) display MSI. Determination of MSI status in CRC has prognostic and predictive implications. Additionally, detecting MSI is used diagnostically for tumor detection and classification. The present study analyzed a panel of five mononucleotide markers, BAT-25, BAT-26, NR-21, NR-22 and NR-27, amplified in a single multiplex PCR reaction to evaluate MSI status in CRC patients. Genomic DNA from 50 CRC and paired adjacent normal tissues was used for PCR-based MSI analysis. Our finding showed microsatellite instability in 36 % of specimens. Instability with differences in allele lengths was observed in the tumoral DNA compared to the tumor-free margin DNA sample. The frequency of instability in NR-21, BAT-26 and BAT-25 markers were more than others; their frequency were 35.48 %, 29.03 %, and 22.58 %, respectively. In conclusion, the NR-21, BAT-26, and BAT-25 were the most useful markers for discriminating cancer tissue from normal, therefore these markers have demonstrated promising potential for determining MSI status in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer.

Aims: Iran is one of the known countries with a high incidence of esophageal cancer in Asia . We have recently shown that the incidence of Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) is very low in the northwest of the country. Therefore, we hypothesized that esophageal AC would also be lower than in the Western world. The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal cancer in comparison the data from western populations., Methods: This mixed (prospective-retrospective) study enrolled 350 consecutive patients with esophageal cancers (216 endoscopically and pathologically documented, including 134 surgically proven cases) from May 2000 to May 2006, in our referral center in Tabriz, in the northwest of Iran. We localized the tumors in esophagus and esophago-gastric junction. Type III gastric cardial cancers were excluded., Results: The mean age of the patients was 61+/-12.36 (min 16, max 83). The male to female ratio was almost equal (51.7% vs 48.3%). The lower third of the esophagus was involved in 62% of the patients and esophageal ACs accounted for 18.9% of the cases. However, distinct esophageal adenocarcinomas was only seen in two and in the remainder gastric cardia was also involved. SCC was more frequent in females, and adenocarcinoma in males (x 2=8.89, df=2, p=0.012. Among 134 operated cases, resection was feasible in 74.6%., Conclusion: In this Iranian population, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is very much lower than in Western countries.