Expression of Merlin protein in female cervical cancer of Han ,Tibetan and Hui nationalities in Qinghai / 实用医学杂志

Objective To explore the expression of the Merlin protein in normal cervix and cervical can-cer of the Han,Tibetan and Hui nationalities in Qinghai. Methods Immunohisto-chemical staining was per-formed to detect the expression of Merlin in 108 cases of cervical carcinoma(40 cases of Han,38 cases of Tibetan and 30 cases of Hui nationality)and 107 cases of normal cervix(40 cases of Han,37 cases of Tibetan and 30 cas-es of Hui nationality). Results The positive expression rates of Merlin in normal cervix were 90.0%,91.9%and 86.7%respectively and those in cervical carcinoma were 17.5%,18.4%and 16.7%respectively. There was signifi-cantly statistical difference(P0.05). The expression of Merlin was not correlated with age,FIGO stage,lymph metastasis and cell differentiation(P > 0.05)in cervical carcinoma of three ethnic groups. Conclusion The decrease or even deletion of Merlin may be involved in the development of cervical can-cer,and it plays an important role in cervical cancer. The expression of Merlin exerts no effect on the occurrence of cervical cancer and it is not associated with the clinical characteristics of the patients ,suggesting that it may not be involved in the invasion and metastasis of cervical cancer.

Expression of merlin, NDRG2, ERBB2, and c-MYC in meningiomas: relationship with tumor grade and recurrence

Meningiomas are common, usually benign tumors of the central nervous system that have a high rate of post-surgical recurrence or regrowth. We determined expression of the proteins merlin, NDRG2, ERBB2, and c-MYC in meningiomas using immunohistochemistry and assessed relationships between protein expression and gender, age, tumor grade, and recurrence or regrowth. The study sample comprised 60 patients, (44 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 53.2±12.7 years. Tumors were classified as grade I (n=48) or grades II and III (n=12). Expression of merlin, NDRG2, ERBB2, and c-MYC was not significantly different statistically with relation to gender, age, or meningioma recurrence or regrowth. Merlin was expressed in 100% of the cases. No statistically significant difference between tumor grade and recurrence or regrowth was identified. Statistically significant differences were identified between the mean age of patients with grade I (54.83±11.60) and grades II and III (46.58±15.08) meningiomas (P=0.043), between strong c-MYC expression and grades II and III (P<0.001), and between partial surgical resection and tumor recurrence or regrowth (P<0.001). These findings reveal the lower mean age among grades II and III meningioma patients than grade I patients, the influence of the protein merlin on tumorigenesis, the association of c-MYC with aggressive meningiomas, and that partial surgical resection is associated with tumor recurrence or regrowth.

Expression and significances of Merlin and mTOR in spinal schwannoma / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To clarify the expression and clinicopathological significances of mTOR and Merlin proteins in spinal schwannoma.Methods Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression levels of mTOR and Merlin proteins in tumor tissues from 21 spinal schwannoma patients.The meaning of the two proteins expression changes on schwannoma was analyzed.Results In 21 cases of schwannoma patients,the mTOR was positive expression in 16 cases,negative expression in 5 cases,while in the normal neural tissue,mTOR was all negative expression.In 21 cases of schwannoma patients,the Merlin protein was negative expression in 18 cases,positive expression in 3 cases,but it was positive in all of normal neural tissue.Merlin protein expression was negatively correlated with mTOR protein expression (r =-0.785,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The expression level of mTOR proteins in schwannoma is significantly higher than that in normal nerve tissue,while the expression level of Merlin protein in schwannoma tissue is significantly lower than that in normal nerve tissue.There is an internal relationship between mTOR and Merlin.

Vestibular schwannoma: anatomical, medical and surgical perspective.

The term "acoustic" is a misnomer, as the tumor rarely arises from the acoustic (or cochlear) division of the vestibulocochlear nerve. The correct medical term is vestibular schwannoma, because it involves the vestibular portion of the 8th cranial nerve. They are benign, rather rare tumors. They expand in size and grow larger; they can push against the brain. While the tumor does not actually invade the brain, the pressure of the tumor can displace brain tissue.

Merlina y nuevos tratamientos de schwannomas vestibulares en pacientes con neurofibromatosis tipo 2 / Merlin and new treatments for vestibular schwannomas in patients with Neurofibromatosis type 2

Los schwannomas vestibulares son tumores benignos que habitualmente se presentan en forma esporádica y unilateral, pero pueden aparecer de manera bilateral en el contexto de una neurofibromatosis tipo 2 (NF2). En aquellos asociados a NF2 se han identificado mutaciones del gen NF2 que codifica para merlina, una proteína citoplasmática que se localiza primariamente en protrusiones celulares ricas en actina, y en sitios de contacto entre células y matriz extracelular. La evidencia sugiere que merlina ejerce un rol como proteína supresora de tumores ya que regula la cascada de activación de diversos tipos de receptores de factores de crecimiento celular De esta manera, el déficit de merlina provoca un patrón de proliferación celular aumentado, alteraciones del citoesqueleto, apoptosis disminuida, y un incremento de la adhesión a la matriz extracelular. Se han desarrollado terapias clínicas para la NF2 con anticuerpos monoclonales e inhibidores dirigidos contra distintas moléculas involucradas en las cascadas de señalización celular moduladas por merlina. En este artículo se revisan y discuten los mecanismos celulares dependientes de merlina y los diversos estudios clínicos y experimentales que se han probado en pacientes con NF2.

Vestibular schwannomas are benign tumors that may occur bilaterally in the context of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). A mutation in the NF2 gene coding for merlin protein has been identified in those cases associated with NF2. Merlin is a cytoplasmic protein localized in actin rich cell protrusions, and near contact sites between cells and extracellular matrix. The evidence suggests that merlin plays a role as tumor suppressor protein, regulating the activation cascade of different types of receptors for cell growth factors. Thus, merlin deficiency causes a pattern of increased cell proliferation, cytoskeletal alterations, decreased apoptosis and increased cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Several clinical therapies have been developed for NF2 patients including monoclonal antibodies and inhibitors directed against different molecules involved in cell signaling cascades modulated by merlin. In this article we review and discuss cellular mechanisms dependent of merlin and some clinical and experimental studies that have been studied in patients with NF2.