ROCK1 as a novel prognostic marker in vulvar cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for treatment of oral cancer: a review

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A tecnologia de microarray no estudo do câncer de cabeça e pescoço

(Microarray technology in study of head neck cancer). The microarray technology is a tool for global analysis of gene expression that allows investigating hundreds or thousands of genes in a sample using a hybridization reaction. This technology is based on hybridization between labeled targets derived from biological samples and an array of many DNA probes immobilized on a solid matrix, representing the genes of interest. The simultaneous study of hundreds of genes became the microarray technique a very important tool of global analysis, with applications in several areas, including the study of the development of cancer. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with a global annual incidence of 780,000 new cases. Large-scale studies involving microarrays have identified specific gene expression signatures associated with expression changes in HNSCC samples compared to normal tissue, as well as genes involved in clinical outcome and metastasis. However, the considerable heterogeneity among these studies occurs due to experimental design, number of samples, disease sites and stage, choice of microarray platform and results validation. Thus, there is much to be validated, before the technique has clinical utility. In relation to head and neck neoplasia, the large-scale gene analysis is very important, since the clinical and histopathological methods currently used appear to be insufficient to predict clinical progression and response to treatment. Thus, this approach could result in more effective diagnostic and prognostic and most appropriate therapy for this neoplasia.

High efficacy in hyperthermia-associated with polyphosphate magnetic nanoparticles for oral cancer treatment

Nanotherapy applied to cancer treatment is constantly evolving, and new approaches to current techniques, such as magnetohyperthermia, are being implemented to solve and minimize the limitations of conventional therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the action of polyphosphate-coated maghemite nanoparticles (MNPs) on oral squamous cell carcinoma. Human oral cancer cells (UM-SCC14A) were incubated with MNPs at various concentrations and subjected to cell proliferation tests (MTT), apoptosis assays and transmission electron image analysis. Viability and apoptotic events were time and dose dependent. These in vitro tests showed that at the intermediate concentration tested there is no significant toxicity, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. For this reason this MNPs concentration was chosen for the subsequent in vivo tests. Oral tumor induction was performed by applying the carcinogen DMBA to Syrian hamsters. Animals were then treated by magnetohyperthermia using MNPs. No signs of general clinical symptoms of toxicity or abnormal behavioral reactions were observed. However, animals treated with MNPs and exposed to the alternating magnetic field in the hyperthermia procedure exhibited a significant and time dependent cancer regression, as confirmed by histopathological analyses and immunohistochemistry. Actually, in quantitative terms of the magnetotherapy efficacy involving these polyphosphate-coated MNPs, 100% recovery (12/12) was observed in the oral cancer tumor bearing Syrian hamsters seven days after the treatment with the magnetohyperthermia procedure. Data supports the suggestion that the MNPs-mediated hyperthermia represents a promising strategy for the treatment of oral cancer.

Salivary and serum proteomics in head and neck carcinomas before and after surgery and radiotherapy

Several body fluids have been evaluated as new sources for cancer biomarker discovery. In this context, salivary and serum proteomics seem promising diagnostic and predictive tools for head and neck diseases. In the present study, we performed a proteomic analysis of saliva and serum from patients presenting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and compared the results before and after therapy. In saliva of cancer patients, we observed an altered protein profile, including over-expression of PLUNC and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein. Both proteins may contribute to control tumor growth and, therefore, represent targets for new analysis. We also detected serotransferrin and a modified transthyretin form with altered levels in serum from patients. Comparing preoperative and postreatment samples, the results showed that the protein profile after treatment reverted to a pattern closer to those observed for controls. These results add information on the role of secreted proteins in the cancer process and emphasize the potential of saliva and serum analysis for diagnosis and monitoring of HNSCC.

Terapia fotodinâmica - Aplicações em lesões cutâneas

Photodynamic therapy is a method of healing skin lesions , in addition to radiotherapy and brachytherapy are commonly used in the treatment of skin cancers , but it is still little known in Brazil , consisting of the application to the skin of a drug in the form of cream or lotion ( photosensitizer ) . It is absorbed by tumor cells and subsequently activated by light device , that wavelength of light in the order of 630 nanometers , promoting the selective destruction of cancer cells while preserving healthy cells around the lesion . It can be considered highly effective for treatment of skin cancer types of non-melanoma ( basal cell carcinoma , 85-100 % success in curing [ 3 ] , and Bowen's disease), actinic keratoses , which are precancerous lesions and still no studies that prove also action in the treatment of acne and aging caused by the sun . And the advantage of this treatment is that , when indicated , replace the surgical procedure , selectively treating the diseased cells . Thus, it offers better cosmetic results, reducing the risk of scarring [ 4 ]

Gorlin syndrome: Importance of clinical signs and danger of delayed diagnosis A case report with eight years follow-up

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma (NBCCS) or Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GS) is a multidisciplinary problem, the early diagnosis of which allows secondary prophylaxis that follows an appropriate regimen to delay progression of the syndrome. The aim of this study was to present a case of delayed diagnosis of GS in a young patient who received multidisciplinary treatment 5 years after onset. The patient presented for evaluation with painless swelling of the left maxilla. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a keratocyst odontogenic tumor (KOT) that was enucleated. On presentation, the patient’s symptoms and clinical signs were not related to complications of GS, and the possibility of GS was initially rejected, as he did not have a family history of the syndrome. Four years after the first surgery to remove the lesion, the patient came to our clinic with a brown, pigmented lesion. Computed tomography revealed ectopic lamellar calcification of the falx cerebri, which was the conclusive factor for the diagnosis of GS. It is important that clinicians recognize the clinical signs of GS, which mainly manifests itself as multiple basal cell carcinomas in the skin.

Desenvolvimento do cultivo 3D a partir de células primarias de neoplasias mamárias caninas: estudo da apoptose sobre efeito ou não da carboplatina

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Usefulness of vaginal cytology tests in women with previous hysterectomy for benign diseases: assessment of 53,891 tests

Objective. To assess the value of vaginal screening cytology after hysterectomy for benign disease.Methods. This cross-sectional study used cytology audit data from 2,512,039 screening tests in the metropolitan region of Campinas from 2000 to 2012; the object was to compare the prevalence of abnormal tests in women who had undergone a hysterectomy for benign diseases (n = 53,891) to that of women who had had no hysterectomy. Prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals, 95% Cl) were determined, and chi-square analysis, modified by the Cochrane-Armitage test for trend, was used to investigate the effects of age.Results. The prevalence of atypical squamous cells (ASC), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or squamous-cell carcinoma (HSIL/SCC) was 0.13%, 0.04% and 0.03%, respectively, in women who had undergone hysterectomy, and 0.93%, 0.51% and 0.26% in women who had not undergone hysterectomy. The prevalence ratios for ASC, LSIL and HSIL/SCC were 0.14(0.11-0.17), 0.08 (0.06-0.13) and 0.13 (0.08-020), respectively, in women with a hysterectomy versus those without. For HSIL/SCC, the prevalence ratios were 0.09 and 029, respectively, for women <50 or >= 50 years. The prevalence rates in women with a previous hysterectomy showed no significant variation with age.Conclusion. The prevalence rates of ASC, LSIL and HSIL/SCC were significantly lower in women with a previous hysterectomy for benign disease compared with those observed in women with an intact uterine cervix. This study reinforces the view that there is no evidence that cytological screening is beneficial for women who have had a hysterectomy for benign disease. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Highlights in peptide nanoparticle carriers intended to oral diseases

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparison of imaging methods for diagnosis of renal tumors and their calcifications

Background: To establish the best methodology for diagnosis and management of patients with solid and complex renal masses by comparing the costs and benefits of different imaging methods and to improve differential diagnosis of these benign and malignant lesions, particularly by investigating tumour calcifications. Methods: We performed a prospective study on 31 patients with solid or complex masses by submitting them to Abdominal Ultrasonography (US), Doppler Ultrasonography of the renal mass (US Dop), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Results: We found 28 patients with malignant and three with benign masses. Of the 28 malignant, 17 showed calcifications at CT; 16 central and one was of the pure peripheral curvilinear type (egg shell). Excretory Urography (IVP) had a significantly lower detection rate for central calcifications than both US and CT. Benign and malignant masses appeared as described in literature, with US, CT and MRI showing high sensitivity and specificity in renal tumor diagnosis. The exception was US Dop where we obtained lower sensitivity for the characterization of malignant tumor flow. Conclusions: In this series we were surprised to find that CT revealed central calcifications in 51.6% of patients, all with malignant lesions, while, literature reports a frequency of calcification in renal cell carcinoma between 8 and 22%, in studies using abdominal films and EU (IVP). This finding is of great importance when we consider that these calcifications occur particularly in malignant neoplasms. As a result of comparing these different imaging methods we have developed a better methodology for renal tumor investigation.

Matrix metalloproteinase gene polymorphisms and oral cancer

Since oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent malignant cancer in the oral cavity, several researches have been performed to study the role of important enzymes in this disease. Among them, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are highlighted, due to the fact that they are proteinases responsible to degrade many extra-cellular matrix components, making possible the invasion of neoplasic cells. Important tools in cancer prognosis have been utilized aiming to correlate high levels of MMPs and OSCC, such as immunohistochemical, zymographic and mRNA detection methods. However, these techniques are usually applied after cancer detection, characterizing a curative but not a preventive medicine. Trying to make interventions before the development of the disease and making possible the identification of people at high risk and, analysis of modifications in MMP genes has been a chance for modern medicine. Recently, polymorphisms in MMP genes have been related to different neoplasias, including OSCC. Despite investigation is beginning, MMP gene polymorphisms seems to have a promising future in oral cancer research and some of the present results have shown that there are MMP polymorphisms related to an increased risk for developing oral cancer. Key words:Oral cancer, polymorphism, matrix metalloproteinase.

Patients from the Oral Oncology Center, UNESP, Araçatuba with an indication for prosthesis

Head and neck tumors are a major health concern worldwide, due to their high incidence and mortality rates, particularly in developing countries. In Brazil, this type of cancer is commonly diagnosed and studies suggested that it may be the leading cause of mortality in the country. The increase in life expectancy worldwide, as well as environmental and behavioral factors, are related to carcinogenesis. Therefore, an understanding of basic epidemiology and statistical methods is critical, in order to promote early diagnosis and cancer prevention. Cancer patients with an indication for prosthesis were selected from the medical records of the Oral Oncology Center, School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, between 1991 and 2010. The following variables were recorded: gender, age, type and location of the lesion, radiation dose and dental prosthesis. The majority of the patients were male (74.15%) and >60 years of age (53.37%). Tumors were most commonly located in the floor of the mouth (11.1%) and squamous cell carcinoma was the most prevalent type (72.8%). This study provides the profiles of patients who attended the Oral Oncology Center and the results may aid in the creation of cancer prevention programs.

Aggressive osseous commitment result by keratocyst odontogenic tumour: case report, radiographic and clinical standpoints

Keratocystic odontogenic tumour (KCOT) previously known as odontogenic keratocyst was recently classified as a benign lesion characterized by an infiltrating pattern, local aggressiveness with the propensity to recurrence. It is thought to arise from the dental lamina. Pain is usually not associated with KCOT until swelling occurs, and it commonly affects the posterior mandible. Multiple KCOT are associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. This study reports an aggressive case of KCOT with destruction of the osseous tissue of the mandible, accentuated face asymmetry, dysphagia and dysphonia. It was managed with a defined protocol which entailed diagnosis, treatment with enucleation along with peripheral ostectomy and rehabilitation. A long-term follow-up schedule was provided to the patient to observe the recurrence behaviour of this cyst. In postoperative phase, no complication was noticed regarding wound healing and recurrence.