ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most widespread malignancies in the world. The role of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in the pathogenesis and progression of human PCa remains poorly understood. In contradiction with breast cancer, studies on HER2 overexpression and gene amplification in PCa have produced varying results, although the HER2 oncogene has been implicated in the biology of numerous tumor types, and serves as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target in breast cancer. Technical challenges are considered the main reasons for data discrepancies. Amplification of the HER2 gene has previously been reported in PCa, in which it was associated with tumor progression. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of HER2 amplification in PCa. A total of 32 biopsy samples obtained from human prostate adenocarcinomas were evaluated by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) to determine the frequency of patients with HER2 gene amplifications. High copy numbers of HER2 were detected in 19 of the prostate tumors analyzed. The results of the present study suggested that, in patients without amplification of HER2, high levels of prostate-specific antigen or a high Gleason score were not significantly correlated with a high pathologic stage. Furthermore, amplification levels of the HER2 gene were directly associated with pathologic stage in patients with PCa. Therefore, the potential use of HER2 as a prognostic factor or therapeutic target for PCa warrants further study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AIMS: Tissue-specific stem cells are a promising target for kidney regeneration, because it has been shown that they play a primary role in kidney repair. Several methods have been developed for the isolation of stem/progenitor cells from healthy kidneys but the existence of these cells in chronically damaged kidneys has not been noticed so far. METHODS: A mouse model of chronic kidney failure was developed by ligation of the left ureter for 5 months, and then isolation of stem cells from this tissue as well as normal kidneys was attempted. RESULTS: We found that multipotent stem cells could be isolated from both types of tissue. In addition, the cells isolated from damaged kidneys showed potential for homing to the site of injury and a renoprotective effect in an animal model of cisplatin-induced nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that multipotent renoprotective stem cells exist in severely damaged kidneys, which could be a target for designing new therapies.
Subject(s)
Kidney , Multipotent Stem Cells/physiology , Animals , Biomarkers/metabolism , Cell Movement/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Cytokines/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism , Kidney/cytology , Kidney/pathology , Kidney Failure, Chronic/pathology , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Multipotent Stem Cells/cytologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. Diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemical methods and by exclusion of other primary sites of melanoma. CASE: In this paper, we are reporting a case of a 38-year-old patient with a malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix. Diagnosis was made by histological and immunohistochemical method. The tumor was stage IB1 of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification. Chest x-ray and abdominopelvic computed tomography scanning were normal. A radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. After performing combined radical surgery and irradiation, complete remission of the tumor was achieved. The patient has been followed for 24 months. She is well without any symptoms or signs of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant melanoma is usually misdiagnosed specially in the chronic form. The immunohistochemical study is useful for definite diagnosis. Treatment is not well established, and the disease histogenesis has been controversial for a long time.
