ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To reevaluate the expression levels of p53, p63, c-myc, p21(WAF1/cip1) and p27(kip1) proteins and their potential association with standard clinicopathological parameters, including tumor stage and grade, in urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed in 100 transurethral resection specimens obtained from prospectively identified patients with primary UBC. RESULTS: Overall, 26, 41 and 75% of the cases showed positive staining for p53, p63 and c-myc, respectively, while p21(WAF1/cip1) and p27(kip1) expression levels were altered in 75 and 88% of the cases, respectively. Positive staining for p53 was associated with increased tumor stage (pT2) (p=0.037), while altered expression of p27(kip1) was strongly associated with male gender (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: The results of our study imply that p53 overexpression may be a useful marker of tumor invasion in UBC. In contrast, we failed to demonstrate any statistically significant correlation between the remaining markers evaluated and tumor stage or grade.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/metabolism , Biomarkers, Tumor , Cell Cycle Proteins , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 , Cyclins , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , MaleSubject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/epidemiology , Adenocarcinoma/therapy , Biomedical Research/trends , Pancreatic Neoplasms/epidemiology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy , Drug Therapy/trends , Genetic Therapy/trends , Humans , Immunotherapy/trends , Stem Cell Transplantation/trends , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is a disease whose prognosis has remained poor in the last decades. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathways behind this disease have revealed several mediators of important tumor functions. One of these functions is angiogenesis, which is considered essential for tumor growth and propagation, and a key mediator promoting this process is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In lung cancer, VEGF plays a significant role in establishing a vascular supply within the tumor. Thus, a new class of drugs has emerged, targeting its pathway, which has offered substantial, albeit small, improvements in patient prognosis. AREAS COVERED: The VEGF pathway and its role in a multitude of different human cancers are presented at first. We then proceed by analyzing its importance in lung cancer and exploring the therapeutic benefits achieved by its targeting, which set new goals for the future. EXPERT OPINION: Today, the VEGF pathway remains an attractive target for anticancer treatment, and the way forward requires detection of predictive markers and efforts for a more complete angiogenic blockade.
