• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.481-486
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• 2005

This study was performed to define roles of telomerase and apoptosis and their relationships with clinicopathologic characteristics in colorectal cancers. We performed TRAP (Telomeric Repeat Amplification Protoco1)-ELISA assay for telomerase activity and immunohistochemistry of active caspase-3 expression for apoptosis in 35 colorectal cancers. Increased telomerase activity was detected in $71.4\%$ (25/35) and average apoptotic index was 14.6 per 1000 tumor cells. Telomerase activity and caspase 3 expression had no significant association with clinicopathological characteristics, however, increased telomerase activity was more frequently found in progressed colorectal cancers. Although there is no definitive relation, low apoptotic index group was more frequent in cases with increased telomerase activity. These date indicate that telomerase might be involved in progression of colorectal cancers. We suggest that there is a need for further study to define the relationship between telomerase and apoptosis in colorectal cancers.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

Purpose: The prevalence of skin cancers and cutaneous premalignant lesions are increasing recently. It is necessary to treat cutaneous premalignant lesions, because these can progress to invasive skin cancers. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the usefulness of $CO_2$ laser resurfacing in skin tumor surgery. Methods: From 2005 to 2008, 14 patients with skin cancers, photodamaged skin and cutaneous premalignant lesions were treated with skin cancer excision, immediate reconstruction, and $CO_2$ facial laser resurfacing. Mean average follow-up period was 15.6 months (5 months - 36 months). Biopsy and clinical photograph were taken preoperatively, intraoperatively and through follow-up period to assess the effectiveness of laser resurfacing. Recurrence and side effects were evaluated through follow-up period. Results: Histologic examination shows the abolition of actinic atypia, regeneration of epidermis and normalization of cellular differentiation after laser resurfacing. Clinical photographs shows elimination of keratoses and spots, and the homogeneous, smoothening change of skin surface, indicating healthy and younger faces. All patients had remained free of skin cancers and premalignant lesions in laser-treated field through follow-up period. Conclusion: $CO_2$ laser resurfacing in skin tumor surgery can treat not only premalignant lesions but also subclinical lesions of photodamaged skin. Moreover it may be helpful in prophylaxis against skin cancers and premalignant lesions, providing rejuvenation and cosmetic improvement.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.539-545
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• 2013

Background: The National Breast Cancer Audit Database of the Society of Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand is used by surgeons to monitor treatment quality and for research. About 60% of early invasive female breast cancers in Australia are recorded. The objectives of this study are: (1) to investigate associations of socio-demographic, health-system and clinical characteristics with treatment of invasive female breast cancer by mastectomy compared with breast conserving surgery; and (2) to consider service delivery implications. Materials and Methods: Bi-variable and multivariable analyses of associations of characteristics with surgery type for cancers diagnosed in 1998-2010. Results: Of 30,299 invasive cases analysed, 11,729 (39%) were treated by mastectomy as opposed to breast conserving surgery. This proportion did not vary by diagnostic year (p>0.200). With major city residence as the reference category, the relative rate (95% confidence limits) of mastectomy was 1.03 (0.99, 1.07) for women from inner regional areas and 1.05 (1.01, 1.10) for those from more remote areas. Low annual surgeon case load (${\leq}10$) was predictive of mastectomy, with a relative rate of 1.08 (1.03, 1.14) when compared with higher case loads. Tumour size was also predictive, with a relative rate of 1.05 (1.01, 1.10) for large cancers (40+ mm) compared with smaller cancers (<30 mm). These associations were confirmed in multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Results confirm previous studies showing higher mastectomy rates for residents of more remote areas, those treated by surgeons with low case loads, and those with large cancers. Reasons require further study, including possible effects of surgeon and woman's choice and access to radiotherapy services.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.268-273
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• 2014

HER2-overexpressing breast cancers are characterized by frequent distant metastasis and often develop resistance after short-term effective treatment with the monoclonal antibody drug, trastuzumab. Here, we found that the oncogenic miRNA, miR-221, inhibited apoptosis, induced trastuzumab resistance and promoted metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers. The tumor suppressor PTEN was identified as a miR-221 target; overexpression of PTEN abrogated the aforementioned miR-221-induced malignant phenotypes of the cells. These findings indicate that miR-221 may promote trastuzumab resistance and metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancers by targeting PTEN, suggesting its role as a potential biomarker for progression and poor prognosis, and as a novel target for trastuzumab-combined treatment of breast cancers.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2009

TBX3 has demonstrated oncogenic activity as a downstream target of the Wnt/$\beta$-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, the aim was to determine whether overexpression of the TBX3 protein is involved in the development and/or progression of gastric cancers. We analyzed the expression pattern of the TBX3 and $\beta$-catenin proteins in a series of 186 sporadic gastric cancers. Altered expression of the TBX3 and $\beta$-catenin proteins was observed in 54 (29.0%) and 48 (25.8%) of the 186 gastric cancers. Statistically, overexpression of the TBX3 and $\beta$-catenin proteins was not associated with the clinical and pathological parameters studied including: histological type, tumor location, tumor size, and the 5-year survival (P>0.05). However, TBX3 overexpression was closely associated with lymph node metastasis and aberrant $\beta$-catenin expression (P<0.05). In addition, overexpression of the TBX3 protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis of primary gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. These data suggest that TBX3 overexpression may play a role in the development and progression of sporadic gastric cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6715-6717
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to provide epidemiological and histological data of thyroid cancers in Togo. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of cases of thyroid cancers diagnosed from 2000 to 2014 (15 years) at the pathology laboratory of the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of $Lom{\acute{e}}$. All cases of review of a thyroid sample (biopsies, surgical specimens) were collected from the data records of that laboratory. Results: Thyroid cancers represented 1.1% (7930cases) of all cancers registered during the study period. Mean age was $45.4{\pm}0.3$ years and the proportion of females was 78.3%. We identified 92.4% carcinomas and 7.6% lymphomas. Carcinomas were well differentiated in 80 cases and were dominated by the papillary type (47 cases). Metastasis was observed in 13% of patients. The pTNM classification evaluated in 18 cases showed a predominance of grade I (13 cases). Lymphomas were dominated by lymphoma diffuse large B-cell (5 cases). Conclusions: This study is the first global standard for thyroid cancer pathology in Togo. The high frequency of follicular form suggests an unrecognized iodine deficiency. The improvement of the technical platform of the LAP (immunohistochemistry) will increase the diagnosis of rare forms of thyroid cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3911-3916
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• 2012

Background: The objective of this study WAS to describe cancer incidence rates and trends among THE Hong Kong population for the period 1983-2008. Methods: Incident cases and population data from 1983 to 2008 were obtained from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry and the Census and Statistics Department, respectively. Agestandardized incidence rates (ASIR) were estimated and joinpoint regression was applied to detect significant changes in cancer morbidity. Results: For all cancers combined, the ASIR showed declining trends (1.37% in men, 0.94% in women), this also being the case for cancers of lung, liver, nasopharynx, stomach, bladder, oesophagus for both genders and cervix cancer for women. With cancer of thyroid, prostate, male colorectal, corpus uteri, ovary and female breast cancer an increase was evident throughout the period. The incidence for leukemia showed a stable trend since early 1990s, following an earlier decrease. Conclusion: Although overall cancer incidence rates and certain cancers showed declining trends, incidence trends for colorectal, thyroid and sex-related cancers continue to rise. These trends in cancer morbidity can be used as an important resource to plan and develop effective programs aimed at the control and prevention of the spread of cancer amongst the Hong Kong population. It is particularly useful in allowing projection of future burdens on the society with the increase in certain cancer incidences.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6197-6208
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• 2013

Cancers will continue to be a threat to health unless they can be controlled by combinations of treatment modalities. In this review, evaluate the role of resveratrol (RSV) as a radiosensitizing agent was evaluated and underlying mechanisms holistically explored in different cancer models focusing on therapeutic possibilities. The ability of RSV to modify the effect of radiation exposure in normal and cancer cells has indeed been shown quite convincingly, the combination of RSV and IR exhibiting synergistic effects on different cancer cells. This is relevant since controlled exposure to IR is one of the most frequently applied treatments in cancer patients. However, radiotherapy (XRT) treatment regimes are very often not effective in clinical practice as observed in patients with glioma, prostate cancer (PCa), melanoma, for example, largely due to tumour radioresistant properties. Sensitization of IR-induced apoptosis by natural products such as RSV is likely to be relevant in cancer control and treatment. However, all cancers do not respond to RSV+IR in a similar manner. Therefore, for those such as the radioresistant PCa or melanoma cells, the RSV+IR regime has to be very carefully chosen in order to achieve effective and desirable outcomes with minimum toxicity to normal cells. They are reports that the highest concentration of 100 ${\mu}M$ RSV and highest dose of 5 Gy IR are sufficient to kill cells by induction of apoptosis, indicating that RSV is effective in radiosensitizing otherwise radioresistant cells. In general, it has been shown in different cancer cells that RSV+XRT effectively act by enhancing expression of anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic molecules, and inhibiting pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic molecules, leading to induction of apoptosis through various pathways, and cell death. If RSV+XRT can suppress the signature of cancer stemness, enhance the radiosensitivity by either targeting the mitochondrial functionality or modulating the tumour necrosis factor-mediated or Fas-FasL-mediated pathways of apoptosis in different cancers, particularly in vivo, its therapeutic use in the control of cancers holds promise in the near future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5869-5873
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• 2015

Background: Breast and cervical cancers are among the most frequent and most fatal cancers in women. Life span of patients may be increased and quality of life improved through early diagnosis and treatment. This investigation was performed in order to determine knowledge and practices of female health personnel working at a university hospital regarding breast and cervical cancers. Materials and Methods: This descriptive investigation was performed in Erciyes University Hospitals in 2014. A total of 524 female health personnel were included in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire of 36 questions prepared by the researchers. The Chi square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses. Results: The mean age of the study group was $32.8{\pm}6.9$ years, 18.3% being doctors and 81.7% nurses. Of the study group, 60.5% stated that they performed self breast-examination, 4.4% underwent HPV testing, 26.3% thought about taking an HPV test, 34.7% of those who are 40 years and over had mammography regularly and 19.5% of those who were married had a Pap smear conducted regularly. Most important causes of not performing the methods for early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers are "forget and neglect". Conclusions: It was concluded that female doctors and nurses do not pay sufficient attention to screening programs for breast and cervical cancers. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment should be emphasized during the undergraduate education and in-service training programs. Health condition of personnel and their utilization of preventive health care should be followed by occupational physicians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4839-4841
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• 2015

We conducted a retrospectively reviewed of the literature published of patients underwent fertility-preserving treatments for cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers using the WANFANG database in Chinese. A majority were retrospective studies and case reports. With cervical cancer, radical trachelectomy(RT) in combination with pelvic lymphadenectomy could preserve the fertility of patients with early stage IA1-IB1 cancers, Tumor size ${\leq}2cm$ should be emphasized as the indication of RT in considering of the higher recurrent rate in patients with tumor size >2cm. For endometrial cancers, there is much experience on it. Given accurate pretreatment assessment, hormonal therapy is feasible management option to preserve fertility in young patients with early stage lesions that limited to the endometrium and well differentiated. High dose progestin have been applied, oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 250-500mg/day, megestrol acetate 160-480mg/day. Other therapies that have been used in a limited number of cases include GnRH analog, intrauterine devices (IUDS) containing progestogen, usually combination of these therapies. All patients should be followed up by ultrasound and/or MRI evaluation, and endometrial curettage at intervals of 3 months. With ovarian cancer, in China, fertilitypreserving surgery in patients with stage IA (grade G1) of epithelial ovarian tumor and patients with germ cell tumor and borderline ovarian tumor have been successfully performed.