The MNS16A VNTR polymorphism of the TERT gene in bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Bladder cancer (BC) is a complex disease that has a high morbidity rate. The MNS16A polymorphism in the TERT gene has been indicated to play a role in the presence of various cancer types and multiple tumor populations. In the present study, our goal was to investigate whether the MNS16A (VNTRs) in the TERT gene was associated with bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients with BC and 120 normal controls were included in the study. The MNS16A (VNTRs) in the TERT gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were visualized on 3% high resolution agarose gel and under a UV light. RESULTS: The MNS16A VNTR-302 allele was found to be the most common allele in both, the patient group (64%) and the control group (62%). The second most common allele was the VNTR-243 allele that occurred at a frequency of around 34% in BC patients and 33% in the controls. VNTR-333 (patient group, 1%; control group, 3%) and VNTR-274 (patient group, 2%; control group, 1%) alleles were reported as the least common alleles in this study. CONCLUSION: When comparing the frequencies of genetic variants between cases and controls, we observed that our findings did not support the hypothesis that the MNS16A VNTR polymorphism of the TERT gene might regulate cancer susceptibility.

eNOS gene polymorphisms in paraffin-embedded tissues of prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms play a role in prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined three eNOS gene polymorphisms (T-786C promoter region, G894T, and Intron 4 VNTR 4a/b) at extracted DNAs from 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of PCa patients. For the controls, blood samples obtained from 50 healthy men were studied. Genotyping of molecular variants was performed by PCR-RFLP technique. RESULTS: We found that the TC genotype of the T-786C polymorphism was associated with PCa risk (OR: 3.325, CI: 1.350-8.188, P = 0.008). The eNOS G894T polymorphism was also associated with PCa. The frequency of the 894T allele was significantly higher in PCa patients. No association was identified between intron 4 VNTR polymorphism and PCa. CONCLUSION: We found significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies between PCa patients and controls for eNOS T-786C and G894T polymorphisms. The presence of the T-786C genotype and 894T allele in carriers increased the risk of PCa. No association was found between intron 4 VNTR polymorphism and PCa patients.

Effect of resveratrol on chromosomal aberrations induced by doxorubicin in rat bone marrow cells.

This study investigated the effects of resveratrol (RES) on doxorubicin (DXR) induced rat bone marrow cell chromosome aberrations. RES, a polyphenolic compound, has attracted considerable attention because of its antioxidant and antimutagenic effects. DXR, a chemotherapeutic agent, is known to cause chromosomal aberrations in healthy cells in cancer patients. In this study, Wistar albino male rats were divided into 6 groups with 6 animals each. The control group received distilled water i.p. and the DXR group received an i.p. injection of doxorubicin (90mg/kgbw). For the 2 RES dose groups (12.5 and 25mg/kgbw, respectively), RES was injected i.p. 5 times during the 24h study period to coincide with the schedule for the DXR+RES groups. The DXR-RES groups received DXR (90mg/kgbw) and RES at either 12.5 or 25mg/kgbw, i.p. 30min before, concurrently, and then every 6h after DXR administration. Bone marrow collection was timed to coincide with 24h after DXR administration in all groups. RES administration alone did not induce any significant increase in frequency of chromosome aberrations or abnormal metaphases compared with controls (p>0.05) while DXR alone did (p<0.05). In the DXR-RES 12.5mg/kgbw group, frequency of chromosome aberrations and abnormal metaphases were slightly reduced compared to DXR alone, but this was not statistically significant. However, in the DXR-RES 25mg/kgbw group, RES resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of chromosome aberrations and abnormal metaphases compared to those induced by DXR alone (p<0.05). These results indicate that RES (25mg/kgbw) significantly reduces frequency of DXR induced chromosome damage in bone marrow cells.