Role of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in predicting brain cancer risk for glioblastoma multiforme patients.

AIM: Prediction of chromosomal disorders causing to severe pathological conditions can provide big benefits in early diagnosis and treatment. Adding a predeterminable feature to the cancer risk is very important in enlightening of the mechanisms inducing the disease, in elongation of survival times of the patients due to early diagnosis of the disease and in reducing mortality and morbidity by developing effective and economical treatment protocols. Studies using chromosomal aberrations as biological markers indicate that increasing aberration levels are important indicators in predisposition to the cancer. Aim of this study was to determine it this is feasible. One or several types of cancers were used in these studies reported in the literature. The increases in frequency of chromosome aberrations in Italy and Norwegian societies have been associated to some types of cancers. METHODS: This study was performed on 10 untreated brain cancer patients and 10 controls. Peripheral blood specimen taken from each of the patients and healthy individuals and one of these specimens were subjected to in-vitro 2 Gy irradiation dose. Mitosis was induced in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes via the activation of mitogen (phytohemaglutinin) activated pathways. Cell division was blocked in metaphase by the addition of colchemid and the chromosomal damages in the preparations were scored with asymmetrical chromosomal aberrations. RESULTS: The ratio of dicentric chromosome was found to be higher in the glioblastoma multiforme patients. CONCLUSION: To reach judicial conclusions, case-controlled trials including more patients should be performed.

The effects of anastrozole on the proliferation of FM3A cells.

PURPOSE: In this study, the antiproliferative effects of the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (arimidex®) was evaluated on estrogen receptor (ER) positive FM3A cell line originated from C3H mouse mammary carcinoma. METHODS: For this purpose cell kinetic parameters including viability analysis, mitotic index and labelling index were used. Three different doses of anostrozole (D1= 0.01 µM, D2= 0.1µM, D3= 1µM) were applied to cells for 24 h to determine the most effective dose. A dose of 1µM dose was determined as the most effective and this was used in all subsequent applications for 0-72 h. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a significant decrease in viability, mitotic index and labelling index for all experimental groups. The differences between control and all experimental groups were statistically significant (p<0.01) for all applications. CONCLUSIONS: Anastrozole offers a promising treatment modality in estrogen sensitive breast cancer.

Can micronucleus technique predict the risk of lung cancer in smokers?

Smoking is the main etiological factor in the carcinogenesis process of lung cancer. But genetically defined factors such as increased levels of oxidase enzymes or chromosome aberrations have been shown to correlate with the higher possibility of contracting lung cancer among smokers. In this study, chromosome aberrations measured by micronucleus (MN) technique following in vitro irradiation were investigated in peripheral blood lymphocytes of long term smokers with or without lung cancer. Our aim is to establish the role of MN scores in identifying the individuals who might develop cancer among smokers. Twelve lung cancer patients and appropriately matching 10 healthy controls were evaluated. Spontaneous and radiation induced MN frequencies were evaluated in the two groups. An increase in the amounts of MN after 3 Gy irradiation was observed in the patient and control group when compared to spontaneous frequencies. Absolute MN frequencies as a determinant of radiosensitivity were calculated by subtraction of spontaneous aberration frequencies from the frequencies that were obtained following 3 Gy of irradiation. Absolute MN frequency range was between 0.0116 and 0.3883 with the average value of 0.1114 +/- 0.0390 (SE) for the lung cancer patients, and was between 0.0216 and 0.2291 with the average value of 0.1410 +/- 0.0234 (SE) for the controls. When the comparison was made between the absolute MN frequencies of both groups, there was no difference (p=0.159) between the two groups. In our study, it can be concluded that radiation induced MN scores in peripheral blood lymphocytes of long term smokers do not predict the risk of lung cancer.

The use of chromosome aberrations in predicting breast cancer risk.

In order to assess the usefulness of chromosome aberrations in predicting breast cancer risk, 10 patients with breast cancer diagnosis and appropriately matching 10 healthy controls were chosen. Spontaneous and radiation induced unstable chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes were compared in the two groups. When the spontaneous aberration frequencies were compared, acentric chromosome frequency, scored in the group of patients was significantly higher than that found in the control group (p<0.01). Absolute aberration frequencies as a determinant of radiosensitivity were calculated by subtracting spontaneous aberration frequencies from the frequencies that were obtained following 2 Gy of Co-60 gamma irradiation. Absolute dicentric chromosome frequency significantly increased in the patients1 group (p<0.01) as compared to that observed in the control group. Increases in either spontaneous acentric chromosome frequency or dicentric chromosome frequency as a determinant of an enhanced radiosensitivity in the group of patients may be valuable in predicting breast cancer risk. The studies involving unstable chromosome aberrations can be easily performed and can facilitate cancer diagnosis with minor effort and low cost.

Perineoscrotal gangrene: two-staged therapeutic approach.

With approximately 350 reported instances of Fournier's disease (fulminating gangrene of the scrotum) since its description in 1883, individual experience is largely anecdotal and treatment remains controversial. Clarification is specially indicated as to how extensive diagnostic evaluation should be, whether, surgical incision and drainage is justified as initial therapeutic therapy, and that the priorities should be in patients having both severe systemic disease and rapidly advancing gangrene. Of four patients with Fournier's disease, three survived; the fourth died postoperatively in septic shock, diabetic ketoacidosis, and coma. A thorough diagnostic search is necessary to detect and treat all predisposing causes, especially when colorectal lesions are suspected. Simple incision and drainage did not arrest progression of disease even when combined with intensive antibiotic therapy. Critically ill patients with rapidly progressing gangrene present a therapeutic dilemma of priorities because neither immediate operation in unprepared patients nor extensive delay to treat the systemic illness first has proved to be adequate. The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in preoperative preparation should be explored further.