501 research outputs found

    Novel Rates and Mechanisms of CO Substitution of Similar 17- and 18-Electron Metal Carbonyls

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    Novel Rates and Mechanisms of CO Substitution of Similar 17- and 18-Electron Metal Carbonyls are reporte

    Growth-stimulating activity of interleukin 6 on human mammary epithelial cellstransfected with the int-2 gene

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    We have shown recently that normal human mammary epithelial cells do produce interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin 8, and a nonsecreted form of tumor necrosis factor. Here we report that ductal infiltrating mammary carcinomas fail to express immunoreactive IL6. Since abnormalities of cytokine genes are a frequent event in cancer, we investigated the production of and the response to cytokines of mammary cells using a panel of oncogene-transformed cells derived from the spontaneously immortalized MCF-10A cell line. We found that only the parental line and the int-2-transformed cells responded to exogenous 1L6 and/or were suppressed by IL6-neutralizing antibody. In contrast to highly transformed cells, these two lines, which were either nontransformed (MCF-10A) or weakly transformed (int-2), were found to express IL6 receptors. These data suggest that loss of IL6 pathways can be a marker of mammary cell transformation

    Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in medullary thyroid cancer

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    We studied the expression of calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in 18 patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in the neoplastic (primary or metastatic) tissue by immunohistochemistry and in the plasma by radioimmunoassay. CT immunoreactivity was found in 100% of the primary and metastatic MTC, CGRP was expressed in 66% of the primary tumors and in 73% of the metastases. Both the number of positive cells and the degree of staining were always higher for CT than for CGRP staining. While plasma CT concentrations were always increased in patients with metastases, 3 patients with metastases had undetectable plasma CGRP levels. A positive correlation was found between plasma CT and CGRP levels. These data indicate that CGRP is frequently expressed in MTC sections and that plasma CGRP measurement is an additional marker for MTC, although has no advantage with respect to CT measurements in monitoring the progression of the disease

    NanoString in the screening of genetic abnormalities associated with thyroid cancer

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    In the setting of cancer pathology, molecular characterization of tumors providing diagnostic and predictive information is acquiring more and more relevance. Moreover, the advent of innovative technologies continuously improves the knowledge of the molecular landscape of tumors and strengthens the links between clinics, tumor pathology and molecular features. In the clinical management of patients with thyroid nodules and thyroid tumors, the aid of molecular testing is encouraged but still not strongly recommended by current guidelines. Also for this reason this field of study is attracting much interest. The nCounter system is a relatively new technology based on a direct hybridization of fluorescent probes to specific nucleic acid targets, followed by digital measurement of signals; the reaction is highly multiplexable and results are robust and reproducible. This review reports and discusses the available data related to the application of this specific technique to thyroid nodules and thyroid tumors samples. The available data indicate that nCounter system represents a solid approach for the research of relevant diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in thyroid pathology

    Molecular genetics of follicular-derived thyroid cancer

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    Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine-related malignancy, whose incidence rates have increased dramatically in the last few decades. Neoplasms of follicular origin generally have excellent prognosis, with the exception of less differentiated tumors. Follicular-derived thyroid cancer can manifest as a variety of morphologically distinct entities, characterized by various degrees of differentiation and invasiveness. Histological evaluation is thus crucial for the definition of patients’ prognosis. However, within each histological subtype, tumor behavior can be highly variable, and, in this respect, molecular characterization can provide insightful information to refine the risk stratification of tumors. In addition to the importance of its prognostic role, molecular testing can be used to support the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules in the absence of marked cyto-morphological aberrations. Finally, with the advent of targeted drugs, the presence of molecular alterations will guide the therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced tumors who do not respond to standard treatment. This review aims to describe the genetic landscape of follicular-derived thyroid tumors also highlighting differences across histological subtypes

    Productive HIV-1 infection of normal human mammary epithelial cells

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    Objective and design: To determine the susceptibility of mammary epithelial cells (MEG) to HIV-1 as breastfeeding is an established route of HIV transmission, although the origin of virus in breastmilk is unclear. Methods: Primary epithelial cell cultures were derived from the mammary glands of healthy donors; immortalized MEC lines were also used. HIV infection was followed by detection of infectious particle production, p24 antigen and viral sequences. Results: Seven out of 11 primary MEC cultures and two out of three MEC lines were productively infected by HIV-1. Virus replication significantly reduced cell proliferation, although cell viability was only slightly affected. Cytopathic changes were not observed. MEC cultures expressed low levels of surface CD4, galactosylceramide and CD26, but essentially no human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR. Infection of HIV-permissive MEC cells was associated with the upregulation of surface HLA-DR and CD26. In contrast, the expression of CD4, tissue-specific markers, adhesion molecules and growth-factor receptors was downregulated. To a lesser extent, similar effects were also observed in non-permissive cells. Hormones (triiodothyronine plus beta-estradiol and prolactin) enhanced HIV replication, possibly through the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis. Conclusions: We concluded that HIV-1 replication in ductal/alveolar MEC may be, in part, responsible for the presence of HIV-1 in milk; that hormones may stimulate virus replication; and that infection reduces the growth of epithelial cells. Although in vitro HIV is produced by MEC to a lesser extent than lymphoid cells, MEG-derived HIV might have selective advantages for the infection of mucosal epithelial cells during breastfeeding
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