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Cyclins are the key regulator of the cell cycle, and their over-expression has been seen in many cancers, including breast cancer. Cyclin D1 is an oncoprotein encoded by the CCND1 gene located on chromosome 11 (11q) that regulates the cell cycle in shifting from the G1 to the S phase. It's the main target for steroids and mitogenic growth hormones in breast epithelial cells. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Cyclin D1 G870A polymorphism and breast cancer risk in a population of Guilan province in the north of Iran. Whole blood samples (CBC Tube) were collected from 82 patients with breast cancer and 66 healthy women. DNA extraction and genotyping were performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Genotypic prevalence of AA, AG, and GG genotypes among patients were 40.2%, 35.3%, and 24.4%, and in controls were 30%, 47%, and 23%, respectively. There was no significant difference in CCND1 G870A genotype polymorphism between patients and the control group (p=0.32). Also, the allelic prevalence of A and G alleles in breast cancer patients was 58% and 42%, in controls were 54% and 46%, respectively. The present study showed that there is no significant association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer. The results of this study revealed that there is no significant association between CCND1 G870A genetic polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer in the population of Guilan province of Iran. More studies with larger samples of cases and controls would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Radiotherapy is one of the cancer treatment methods. Although radioresistance and normal tissue toxicity limit the radiation therapy in certain anatomical locations, using some substances can be useful to increase radiosensitivity on cancer cells without cytotoxicity effect on normal cells. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the radiosensitizing effect of tolmetin in radiotherapy treatment on human colon cancer cell line HT-29. Methods In this study, human colon cancer cells HT-29 in different groups were irradiated with 4 Gy x-ray, and tolmetin was administered in different concentrations (75, 100, and 150 μM). Then, the groups were compared with each other and with the control group by Micronucleus Assay (MN) and Nuclear Division Index (NDI). NDI investigated the cytotoxicity, and MN indicated the genotoxicity. Results In the group receiving radiation, micronuclei increased significantly compared to the control group. In the group receiving tolmetin with a concentration of 75 and 100 μM, the number of micronuclei also increased compared to the control group. In all groups treated with tolmetin that also received radiation, a significant increase in micronuclei was observed, which was more noticeable at concentrations of 100 and 150 μM. At the same time, tolmetin at the studied concentrations did not change the NDI index. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that tolmetin has a radiosensitizing effect on HT-29 colon cancer cells, which depends on the tolmetin concentration. In addition, tolmetin has no cytotoxic effect on this cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In the central nervous system, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most important neoplasms in adults. Amplification of EGFR and VEGF genes is common in GBM. However, the role of overexpression of EGFR and VEGF in survival of patients with GBM has been a contentious issue. Therefore, we performed the present study to assess the survival rate of patients with EGFR and VEGF overexpression. Materials and methods. Resected samples of GBM patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for overexpression of VEGF and EGFR. The patients were followed up for a year. Results. The mean±sd of age of patients was 56.2±13.1 years. The majority of the patients were male (65.9%). Most of the patients had primary GBM (67%), notwithstanding 33% of the patients with secondary GBM. Moreover, 19.2% and 49.5% of the samples were VEGF-positive and EGFR-positive, respectively. Overall 6, 12-, and 18-month survival rates were shown to be 61.5±5.1%, 17.6±4%, and 4.4±2.1%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean±se survival rate in VEGF-negative patients (12±1.9 months) VEGF-positive patients (7.8±0.5 months) (P=0.045). Conclusions. We found an association between VEGF and EGFR over-expression and the survival rate of GBM patients. The VEGF overexpression was significantly associated with the overall survival rate of the GBM patients, but failed to have a prognostic value for their mortality rate. However, EGFR was a predictor of overall survival rate and mortality of GBM patients. Moreover, VEGF overexertion has a stronger association with survival rate in GBM, compared to EGFR overexpression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colon cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers in developed countries with varied incidence and the onset age of disease worldwide. Overall, 161 participants who were under patronage of a local relief foundation and referred to the endoscopy ward of Razi Hospital affiliated to the Guilan University of Medical Sciences. These patients have been aged more than 50 or more than 40 years with history of colorectal cancer in their first-degree family were enrolled from March 2016-March 2017. Demographic information were collected. Colonoscopy was performed and histopathological evaluation of observed lesions and polyps was done. Most of participants were female (113 individuals, 70.2%) and aged 50-60 years (83 individuals, 51.6%). Seventy-four (46%) had certain lesions. Most of colonoscopy findings were observed in the ascending colon in which depressed polyps and diverticulum were most frequent. However, rectum showed the most histological findings. All polyps of descending and ascending colons were neoplastic, while most of rectal polyps were non-neoplastic. Male patients, who were aged more than 60 years and smokers had significant higher percentage of both lesions and polyps in their colon (p<0.05). Moreover, significant positive association was detected between exposure to harmful industries and having polyps (p=0.01). We found male gender, higher age, smoking, and exposure to harmful industries as important risk factors for having colorectal lesions, which must be confirmed in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we aimed at evaluating the frequency of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis (CIM, RIM) and its related risk factors in patients with the head-and-neck cancers (HNCs)., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective descriptive study, we evaluated a total of 54 HNCs patients referred to the Oncology Chemoradiotherapy Department of Razi and Amiralmomenin University Hospitals of Rasht, for site and grade (WHO classification) of CIM/RIM, based on their demographic features and possible risk factors. SPSS software version 18 and statistical tests (i.e., Fisher's exact test) were used, and the level of significance was considered as P < 0.05., Results: Finally, patients enrolled in the study were 34 men and 20 women (40-72-year-old), of which 43 cases (79.6%) showed signs and symptoms of CIM/RIM (mostly aged 60-69-year-old). Grade 2 mucositis was the most frequent type (18 cases: 33.3%) and mouth floor was the most common site of CIM/RIM (15 patients: 34.9%). Age ( P = 0.023), gender ( P = 0.012), and the severity of pain ( P = 0.018) were significantly related to mucositis in patients with HNCs who underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy., Conclusion: Mucositis, especially in the oral cavity, is a common complication of chemoradiotherapy in HNCs patients. Age, gender, and the severity of pain are significantly associated with the frequency of CIM/RIM., Competing Interests: The authors of this manuscript declare that they have no conflicts of interest, real or perceived, financial or nonfinancial in this article.

Objectives: Surgery has traditionally been the treatment of choice for patients with potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma. Recently, however, definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been suggested as a preferred treatment modality. In this study, CRT results with or without surgery are compared., Methods: A total of 986 patients of esophageal carcinoma were categorized into two groups depending on the treatment: surgery (675 patients) or CRT (311 patients). These two groups were compared based on age, sex, weight loss, tumor location and length, tumor shape, grade, stage, delay in receiving treatment, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS)., Results: Patients in the CRT arm were significantly older (p = 0.01), had a more significant adenocarcinoma histology (p = 0.015), upper esophageal carcinoma (p = 0.0001) and more advanced stages of the disease (p = 0.0001). The median EFS for the surgery group was 24.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 17-32] versus 22.5 months (95% CI, 16.7-28.2) for the CRT arm (p = 0.56). The mean OS was 59.25 months (95% CI, 53.8-64.7) for the surgery group compared to 58.77 months (95% CI, 50.9-66.6) for the CRT group (p = 0.78)., Conclusion: Definitive CRT is effective enough so as to consider omitting surgery and could be used as a standard treatment for patients with esophageal carcinoma., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)