Cancer Detection and Prevention Volume 24 / Issue 1 (Jan-Feb 2000)

Table of Contents and Editor's Notes

The peer review process occasionally results in approval of controversial publications that do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the editors. Readers of the journal are encouraged to critically review and comment on presented data by submitting a "Letter to the Editor" that may be reprinted in a subsequent issue.

K-ras Mutation: Early Detection in Molecular Diagnosis and Risk Assessment of Colorectal, Pancreas and Lung Cancers - A Review

Toshinari Minamoto, MD, Masayoshi Mal, MD and Ze’ev Ronai, PhD

Molecular diagnosis by k-ras mutation was made in 7% to 80% of colorectal cancer, 25% to 87% of pancreatic cancer and in 25% to 48 % of lung cancer. K-ras mutations were also detected in morphologically normal mucosa adjacent to lung cancer, colorectal cancer and dysplastic lesions in ulcerative colitis. >>>

Integrated P53 Histopathologic/Genetic Analysis of Premalignant Lesions of the Esophagus

Adriana V Safatle-Ribeiro, M.D., Ulysses Ribeiro, Jr. , M.D., Paulo Sakai, M.D., Martha R. Clarke , M.D., Sônia N. Fylyk,M.D., Shinichi lshioka, M.D., Joaquim Gama-Rodrigue M.D., Sidney D. Finkelstein, M.D., James C. Reynolds, M.D.

Diffuse strong immunoreactivity of p53 was observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and in adjacent mucosa areas. Tissues that were positive for p53 were also positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. >>>

Progression in Transitional Cell Carcinomaof the Urinary Bladder Analysis of Tp53 Gene Mutations by Temperature Gradients and Sequence inTumor Tissuesand in Cellular Urine Sediments

Horst H Schlechte PhD, Markus D Sachs cand.med., Severin V Lenk, Sebastian Brenner MD, Birgit D Rudolph Ph.D., and Stephan A Loening Prof.

In 137 specimens from transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder with varying grades and stages Tp53 wild type was frequently present in non-invasive and low-grade malignancies. Tumors with Tp53 mutations were associated with a higher risk of progression than those with wild-type Tp53. >>>

The CD44 Receptor of the Mouse LB T Cell Lymphoma: Analysis of the Isoform Repertoire and Ligand Binding Properties by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction and AntisenseOligonucleotides

Shularnith Batya Wallach, MSc , Adam Friedmann, PhD, and David Naor, PhD

Mouse T-cell lymphoma cells that did not bind hyaluronic acid (HA) expressed mostly standard CD44 and to a much lesser extent, CD 44 variants. In contrast phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-activated T-cell lymphoma cells and the HA9 cell line isolated from parental T-cell lymphoma cells displayed HA binding capacity and expressed CD44 variants in addition to standard CD44. >>>

Multifunctional Activity of Recombinant p14 on Lymphoid Cell Cultures

A. Pugliese, D. Torre, C. Cantamessa, A. Saini, M. Pes, , and A. Savarino MD

Recombinant p14 treatment of T-lymphocyte cell cultures injected with HIV-1 cells increased the binding of p14 to the infected HIV-1 cells as compared to control uninfected cells. Doses up 10µ/ml had a stimulating effect on cell proliferation. >>>

Expression of Thioredoxin and Glutaredoxin, Redox-Regulating Proteins, in Pancreatic Cancer

Hajime Nakamura, Jie Bai, Yumiko Nishinaka, Shugo Ueda, Tetsuro Sasada, Gakuji Ohshio, Masayuki Imamura, Arimichi Takabayashi, Yoshio Yamaoka, and Junji Yodoi

The malignant potential of pancreatic cancers was determined by expression of redox-regulating proteins such as thyoredoxin (TRX) and glutaredoxin (GRX). In tissues of pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma the expression of TRX and GRX was less than in pancreatic ductal carcinoma. In about one third of pancreatic ductal carcinomas the plasma levels of TRX were higher than in cases with pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma. >>>

Biosynthesis of Vicia gramineaa Lectinpand Vicia unijuga Lectin Binding Glycoproteins in Human tumor and Non-Tumor Cells, and an Estimation of Epitope Structure

Kunlo Ohyama, PhD, Noboru Uchide, Ryoko Suzuki, Nobuko Iwamoto, Toshio Bessho M.D., PhD , Hajime Watanabe, MD,PhD, Shun Hirakawa, M.D., PhD, Toshio Yamakawa, PhD

Human malignant tumor-associated antigens Vgu glycoproteins synthesized by tumor cells were 15 to 30 times greater than the Vgu glycoproteins that were synthesized by nontumor cells. >>>

Evidence for Colorectal Cancer Micrometastases using RT-PCR Analysisof MUC2 in Lymph Nodes

Andrea Bernini, Michael Spencer, Sandra Frizelle, Robert D.Madoff, Larry B. Willmott, Stanley R. McCormick, Gloria A.Niehans, Samuel B. Ho, and Robert A. Kratzke

The MUC2 mucin gene was identified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in lymph nodes that were devoid of metastasis by routine histologic analysis. Overall, RT-PCR for MUC2 was positive in nodes from 14 of 43 colorectal cancer cases with histologic stage I or II disease. The authors conclude that MUC2 RT-PCR may be a sensitive and specific marker for occult micrometastases. >>>

Significance of Serum Type IV Collagenolytic Activities and Gelatinase Levels for Detectionof Metastasis in Murine RCT Sarcoma

Kazuo Ohmori, MD, PhD, Masahiko kanamori, MD, PhD, Kazuo Yudoh, MD, PhD Thketoshi Yasuda, MD, PhD

Pulmonary modules of spontaneous lung metastases from RCT sarcomas in C3H/He male mice were associated with increased gelatinase production and serum type IV collagenolytic activities in cultured cells of high metastatic clones. It is suggested that serum type IV collagenolytic activities and gelatinase levels might be useful markers for the detection of metastases. >>>

Renal Function and Serum Concentration of Five Tumor Markers (TATI, SCC, CYFRA 21-1,TPA, and TPS) in Patients without Evidence of Neoplasia

Gianfranco Tramonti M.D., Marco Ferdeghini M.D., Carlo Donadio M.D., Maria Norpoth M.D., Carmela AnnichiaricoPh.D., Romano Bianchi M.D., Claudlo Bianchi M.D.

A positive diagnostic assessment of increased serum tumor marker levels depended upon a glomerular filtatration rate (GFR) above 40 ml/min whereas increased tumor markers in the presence of GFR below 40 ml/min were related to impaired renal function. >>>

A New Concept of Tumor Promotion by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and Cancer Preventive Agents (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate and Green Tea - A Review

Hirota Fujiki, M.D., Masami Suganuma Ph.D., Sachiko Okabe, Elsaburo Sueoka, M.D., Kenji Suga, M.D., Kazue Imai Ph.D. and Kel Nakachi, Ph.D.

The first part of this review deals with promotion of human carcinogenesis by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and other inflammatory cytokines in preneoplastic lesions and in progression of initiated and premalignant cells. The second part includes the effect of 45 compounds utilized to inhibit TNF-α release and cancer prevention by use of green tea. Individuals who consumed over ten cups of green tea per day showed a remarkably low relative risk for lung, colon and liver cancer. In 472 breast cancer patients increased consumption of green tea was associated with decreased recurrence of breast cancer. >>>

Polyethylene Glycol-Modified Concanavalin A as an Effective Agent to Stimulate Anti-Tumor Cytotoxicity

Tomoo Ueno, Kenji Ohtawa, Yasuhiko Kimoto, M.D., Katsukiyo Sakural, Ph.D., Yoh Kodera, Ph.D., Misao Hiroto, Ayako Matsushima,Ph.D., Hiroyuki Nishimura, Ph.D., and Yuji Inada, Ph.D.

Administration of polyethylene glycol-modified concanavalin A (PEG-ConA) to mice enhanced the antitumor cytotoxicity of peripheral lymphocytes against melanoma B16 cells, partly as a result of its prolonged half-life in the circulation. The authors suggest that present observation may lead to use of PEG conjugates of plant lectins as effective agents for adoptive immunotherapy of patients with cancer. >>>

Herbert E. Nieburgs, MD
Worcester, MA
2000