rare case of metachronous triple cancers involving the tympanic membrane

Multiple primary malignancies are not rare. While metachronous triple cancers are rare and a triple tumor case involving maxillary sinus and tympanic membrane is exceptionally rare. We present such an extremely rare case with the index tumor of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the maxillary sinus and 14 years later esophageal cancer was observed as a metachronous tumor. One year after esophageal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma arising from tympanic membrane was detected. Before the tumor of tympanic membrane was observed, the patient had received total three radiation courses. Prior radiation therapy is suspected to be playing a role in inducing the squamous cell carcinoma of the tympanic membrane

Construction of the method for quantitative detection of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III by real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan probe and its application / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct the recombinant plasmid and standard curve for detection of epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRv III) by real-time quantitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and establish the RT-PCR assay for accurate detection of EGFRv III.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To amplify the DNA sequences of exon 1 and exon 8 to exon 9 of EGFR separately and fuse the above sequences by overhang extension PCR. Then constructing the recombinant plasmid of EGFRv III by highly specific primers with the fused sequence as its template. The recombinant plasmid of EGFRv III was then sent for sequence analysis. The gradient diluted recombinant plasmid were used as the template to amplify the EGFRv III by RT-PCR with TaqMan probe and then applied it in 32 laryngeal carcinoma tissues.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recombinant plasmid of EGFRv III was successfully constructed. The gradient diluted recombinant plasmid could be used in RT-PCR for quantitative analysis of EGFRv III. In all, 5 tumor samples expressing EGFRv III were detected, with its positive rate of about 15.6%. The expression of EGFRv III was tumor specific with only one exception for extraordinarily low expression of EGFRv III in macroscopically normal laryngeal mucosas adjacent to the tumor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RT-PCR with TaqMan probe was good at sensitivity, specificity, quantification and linear function. It can be a standard method for quantitative detection for EGFRv III. Expression of EGFRv III was detected in laryngeal carcinoma tissues with relatively low level. Whether EGFRv III was a suitable target for biological therapy in laryngeal carcinomas remained to be discussed.</p>