Symptom Distress and Quality of Life in Women With Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Longitudinal Approach.

BACKGROUND: Women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer who receive chemotherapy experience distressing symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL). Previous study results identifying changes in symptom distress and QOL over time are limited. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the trajectory of symptom distress and QOL among women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer from before their first chemotherapy appointment to two weeks after completing six cycles of chemotherapy. METHODS: A longitudinal design was used to examine symptom distress and QOL in 36 participants across eight time points. Generalized estimating equation analyses identified how participants' symptom distress and QOL changed over time. FINDINGS: Psychological symptom distress was highest at baseline and then decreased. Physical symptom distress increased at the second chemotherapy cycle. Similar results were found for QOL, with the lowest QOL reported after the fifth cycle.

Gene-specific promoter hypermethylation without global hypomethylation in follicular thyroid cancer.

Genome-wide hypomethylation and hypermethylation at CpG promoters are common in cancer. To date, little is known about global methylation changes in follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). Two independent quantitative methods, bisulphite Pyrosequencing of Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements-1 (LINE-1) and LUminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) were used to quantify genome-wide methylation in 21 FTC and corresponding normal thyroid tissues. Unexpectedly global methylation was not found significantly altered in tumors compared to normal thyroid by either LINE-1 (p=0.57) or LUMA (p=0.42), whilst the promoter of a tumor suppressor that is often epigenetically dysregulated, RASSF1A was found to be significantly hypermethylated by Pyrosequencing (p=0.0001). Moreover, allelic imbalance at the RASSF1A locus was observed in 15/21 of the tumors. mRNA expression of RASSF1A was significantly lower in tumors compared to corresponding normal tissues (p=0.0002). In summary, the epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A is a frequent event in FTC, but is not coupled to changes in global methylation.

Array-CGH identifies cyclin D1 and UBCH10 amplicons in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but highly aggressive disease with largely unexplained etiology and molecular pathogenesis. In this study, we analyzed genome-wide copy number changes, BRAF (V-raf sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1) mutations, and p16 and cyclin D1 expressions in a panel of ATC primary tumors. Three ATCs harbored the common BRAF mutation V600E. Using array-comparative genomic hybridisation (array-CGH), several distinct recurrent copy number alterations were revealed including gains in 16p11.2, 20q11.2, and 20q13.12. Subsequent fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed recurrent locus gain of UBCH10 in 20q13.12 and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) in 11q13. The detection of a homozygous loss encompassing the CDKN2A locus in 9p21.3 motivated the examination of p16 protein expression, which was undetectable in 24/27 ATCs (89%). Based on the frequent gain in 11q13 (41%; n=11), the role of CCND1 was further investigated. Expression of cyclin D1 protein was observed at varying levels in 18/27 ATCs (67%). The effect of CCND1 on thyroid cell proliferation was assessed in vitro in ATC cells by means of siRNA and in thyroid cells after CCND1 transfection. In summary, the recurrent chromosomal copy number changes and molecular alterations identified in this study may provide an insight into the pathogenesis and development of ATC.

Global and regional CpG methylation in pheochromocytomas and abdominal paragangliomas: association to malignant behavior.

PURPOSE: This study aims to quantitatively assess promoter and global methylation changes in pheochromocytomas and abdominal paragangliomas and its relation to tumor phenotypes. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A panel of 53 primary tumors (42 benign, 11 malignant) was analyzed by quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing. Based on methylation levels in the tumor suppressor genes, p16(INK4A), CDH1, DCR2, RARB, RASSF1A, NORE1A, TP73, APC, DAPK1, p14(ARF), and PTEN, a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was defined as concerted hypermethylation in three or more genes. Mean Z scores for the hypermethylated promoters were calculated to characterize overall promoter methylation. Global DNA methylation was quantified for LINE-1 promoter sequences and by using luminescent methylation analysis. RESULTS: Five primary tumors (9.4%) exhibited a CIMP phenotype, four of which were malignant paragangliomas. CIMP was significantly associated with malignant behavior (P = 0.005) and younger age at presentation (P < 0.007) but did not result from BRAF V600E mutation. Global hypomethylation of LINE-1 elements was observed in tumors compared with normal adrenal samples (P < 0.02). CONCLUSION: We here describe the identification of CIMP in abdominal paragangliomas and a strong association of this phenotype with malignant behavior, as well as young age at presentation. The findings raise a prospective for potential benefits of epigenetically acting drugs for a subgroup of young abdominal paraganglioma patients with adverse prognosis.

Molecular cytogenetic profiles of novel and established human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma models.

In this study we present two novel anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) lines (HTh 104 and HTh 112) and further characterize six frequently used ATC lines (HTh 7, HTh 74, HTh 83, C 643, KAT-4, and SW 1736). Three of the lines carried a heterozygous BRAF mutation V600E, which is in line with reports of BRAF mutations in primary ATC and papillary thyroid cancer. Several nonrandom breakpoints were identified by spectral karyotyping (SKY) and G-banding in these lines including the novel 1p36 and 17q24-25 as well as 3p21-22 and 15q26 that are also implicated in well-differentiated thyroid cancers. Comparative genomic hybridization showed frequent gain of 20q, including the UBCH10 gene in 20q13.12, which was further confirmed by array-comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses. Our results concur with previous studies in both primary tumors and cell lines, indicating that gain of chromosome 20 is important in the pathogenesis of ATC and/or progression of differentiated thyroid cancers to ATC.

A dog pedigree with familial medullary thyroid cancer.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is defined as concurrent neoplasia or hyperplasia in more than one endocrine gland. MEN is well known in humans and has also been reported in small animals. We report on a dog family of a mixed breed with Alaskan malamute as a major influence, where three members developed thyroid carcinomas and another dog had clinical signs mimicking the other three but without a confirmed diagnosis. The age of onset of the tumour was between 96-109 months. Clinical, biochemical and immunohistochemical examinations revealed that the affected individuals typically demonstrated symptoms including calcitonin positive thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism and chronic dermatitis. In addition, elevated serum calcium and multinodular adrenocortical hyperplasia were demonstrated in a single member. The diagnosis observed is similar to the familial form of medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) in human. This is the first report of FMTC in dog. Up to 95% of FMTC and MEN2 is known to be caused by activating mutations in the RET gene. The dog Ret gene was analysed as a candidate in this pedigree. The complete dog Ret genomic sequence was predicted in silico. The lack of demonstratable Ret mutation suggests the involvement of alternative predisposing mutation in this pedigree. The unique occurrence of familial MTC makes this potentially an important model in further defining the genetic basis of MTC.

Molecular markers for discrimination of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To identify molecular markers useful for the diagnostic discrimination of benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors. METHODS: A panel of thyroid tumors was characterized with expression profiling using cDNA microarrays. A robust algorithm for gene selection was developed to identify molecular markers useful for the classification of heterogeneous tumor classes. The study included tumor tissue specimens from 10 patients with benign follicular adenomas and from 10 with malignant tumors. The malignant tumors mainly consisted of clinically relevant minimally invasive follicular carcinomas. The mRNA expression level of a candidate gene, FHL1, was evaluated in an independent series of 61 tumors. RESULTS: 22 gene expression markers were identified as differentially expressed. Several of the identified genes, for example DIO1, CITED1, CA12 and FN1, have previously been observed as differentially expressed in various thyroid tumors. FHL1 was significantly underexpressed in carcinomas compared to adenomas in the independent panel of tumors. The results indicate that a small number of genes can be useful to distinguish follicular adenomas from follicular carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings clearly corroborate previous studies and identify novel candidate molecular markers. These genes have the potential for molecular classification of follicular thyroid tumors and for providing improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in thyroid malignancies.

Quercetin-induced growth inhibition and cell death in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells are associated with increase in Bad and hypophosphorylated retinoblastoma expressions.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common cancer in South-East Asia, especially among people of Chinese origin. In this report, we investigate the effects of quercetin on the growth of wild-type and mutant p53 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines, HK1 and CNE2 respectively. The wild-type p53 HK1 was more susceptible to growth inhibition by quercetin than the mutant p53 CNE2. The ID50 values for HK1 and CNE2 were 35.0 and 54.5 microM respectively. Cell growth arrest was initiated by the up-regulation of retinoblastoma gene expression, resulting in cell cycle arrest in either the G2/M or G0/G1 phase at 14.8 and 52.1 microM quercetin respectively regardless of the p53 status. Flow cytometry experiments revealed that quercetin-induced apoptosis during the first 24 h followed by necrosis in both HK1 and CNE2. Western blot experiments confirmed that cytotoxic killing of HK1 and CNE2 by quercetin was mediated by the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bad, caspase-3 and -7, resulting in cell death by apoptosis. Our study demonstrates that quercetin inhibits cell growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines HK1 and CNE2 by inhibiting cell cycle progression to S phase. Quercetin is also able to induce apoptosis and necrosis in these cells regardless of the p53 status.