The gene-expression changes related with precancerous lesion of gastric cancer (PLGC) are surveyed. Not only the regulative effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on oncogene, antioncogene and anti-apoptosis gene that are related with PLGC is analyzed, but also current research state is presented. It's showed that TCM has effects of therapy and inversion on PLGC. These effects are related with the inhibition to related oncogene expression, the regulation and activation to the deletion of antioncogene, the inhibition to the high-expression of mutant gene-protein about antioncogene, and the regulative function to anti-apoptosis gene.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oncogenes ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; Precancerous Conditions ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVEIt is currently considered that the defect of mitotic spindle caused by centrosome abnormalities may be one of the reasons for the development of aneuploidy in tumors. This study attempted to elucidate the possible role of centrosome defects in the development and progression of OSCC by investigating the frequency of centrosome amplification in oral precancerous lesions and OSCC.

METHODSFormalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 12 cases of normal oral epithelium, 22 case of dysplasia with different degree epithelium dysplasia and 32 cases of OSCC with different differentiation were investigated for centrosome status by using indirect immunofluorescence double staining with antibodies to centrosome protein gamma-tubulin and cytokeratin. The differences and the change trend of centrosome status in these groups were statistically analyzed by SPSS10.0.

RESULTSNormal oral epithelium showed normal centrosomes in epithelium cells, while 16 of 22 cases (72.73%) of dysplasia (DYS) and 27 of 32 cases (84.38%) of OSCC showed the evidence of centrosome amplification and morphological abnormalities characterized by huge size, clump or supernumerary centrosomes in a fraction of epithelium or tumor cells. The percentage of cells with abnormal centrosomes increased gradually from mild-dysplasia epithelium to poorly differentiated OSCC, which positively correlated with the histologicalcytologic grade of oral precancerous lesions and OSCC (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCentrosome amplification was an early event and that might play a role in the establishment and perhaps the progression of OSCC. There might be some direct relationship between centrosome defects and the cellular morphological phenotype characteristics of dysplasia and OSCC. Centrosome amplification could be served as an alternative diagnostic indicator of dysplasia and the intervention of centrosome cycle might serve as a particular way for the prevention and treatment of OSCC in the future.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Centrosome ; pathology ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Adenoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Colonic Polyps ; genetics ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Microsatellite Instability ; Mutation ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics

To investigate the potential implication of the subtype of intestinal metaplasia in the progression to the gastric carcinoma, we analyzed the mutations of the p53 gene and microsatellite instability (MSI) both in the complete type (type I) and in the sulphomucin-secreting incomplete type (type III) intestinal metaplasia located adjacent to the gastric carcinoma. p53 mutations were observed in 13.3% of type I, in 6.6% of type III intestinal metaplasia, and in 40% of gastric carcinoma. The difference between p53 mutations observed in type I and type III intestinal metaplasia was not statistically significant. No identical mutation of the p53 gene was found in the intestinal metaplasia and carcinoma specimens from the patients. There was no case of intestinal metaplasia showing MSI. In gastric carcinomas, MSI was observed in six cases (40%). The cases harboring BAT-26 instability did not have the mutation of the p53 gene. These data suggest that intestinal metaplasia adjacent to gastric carcinoma, irrespective of its subtype, do not have the genetic alterations as showing in their carcinoma tissues.
Carcinoma/genetics/pathology ; Exons ; *Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Metaplasia/genetics/pathology ; *Microsatellite Repeats ; *Mutation ; Precancerous Conditions ; Stomach/*pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/genetics/pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular alterations related to the carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and also to find some molecular markers for the early detection of this cancer.

METHODSThe resected tumor specimens and dysplasia tissues from 34 patients with esophageal cancer as well as their matched blood DNAs were analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 16 microsatellites by using PCR and fluorescence-based DNA sequencing technology. Mild and moderate dysplasia was classified as light-grade dysplasia (LGD), and severe dysplasia as high-grade dysplasia (HGD). The frequencies of LOH at 16 microsatellites were compared between tissue specimens with different histological diagnosis.

RESULTSThe total frequency of LOH for 16 microsatellites increased significantly in more severe lesions. There was significant difference in the frequency of LOH among LGD and HGD as well as SCC. A total of eight loci (D3S1597, D3S2452, D3S1285, D4S174, D5S2501, D9S125, D13S153 and D17S786) presented LOH in LGD samples. A reversion from LOH to retain of heterozygosity was observed at loci D3S2452, D4S174, D9S125 and D17S261 respectively when compared HGD with SCC samples obtained from 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONSAn accumulation of molecular alterations would be needed during the carcinogenesis of esophageal cancer. LOH analysis at some specific loci would be helpful for the early detection of esophageal cancer. The genetic heterogeneity possibly exists in the tumorigenesis of esophageal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate telomerase gene expression in precancerous mammary lesion, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia and breast cancer and to study the relationship between expression and malignant transformation.

METHODSExpression of human telomerase genes (hTR) and human reverse transcriptase gene (hTRT) in 76 cases of mammary tissue was evaluated using in situ hybridization and included 50 cases of mammary hyperplasia, 6 of which were benign hyperplasia, 9 were mild atypical hyperplasia, 12 were moderate atypical hyperplasia, 23 were severe atypical hyperplasia and 26 were mammary cancer.

RESULTSThe expressions of hTR and hTRT mRNA were much weaker or negative in benign hyperplasia (16.6%, 0), weak to mild moderate in atypical hyperplasia (22.2%, 11.1%, 33.3%, 25.0%), strong in severe atypical hyperplasia (60.9%, 52.1%), and significantly strong in mammary cancer (88.5%, 80.8%). The difference between mild-moderate atypical hyperplasia, invasive ductal carcinoma and severe atypical hyperplasia was significant (P < 0.05) and the difference between severe atypical hyperplasia and intraductal carcinoma was not significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTelomerase genes (hTR and hTRT) expressions are related to the transformation of atypical hyperplasia. Activated telomerase may play a role in mammary cancer development.

Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Telomerase ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and alteration (including homozygous deletion and mutation) of MTS1 gene in precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of oral mucosa, and to analyse the function of MTS1 gene alteration in oral mucosal carcinogenesis.

METHODSThe expression of p16 protein produced by MTS1 gene was examined with immunohistochemical SP method in 10 normal oral mucosas, 30 precancerous lesions (10 mild, 10 moderate and 10 severe dysplasia respectively) and 45 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCI18, SCCII 19, SCCIII 8). The deletion and mutation of exon1 and exon2 of MTS1 gene were examined with methods of PCR and SSCP in these same samples.

RESULTSAll the precancerous lesions had p16 protein expression and no alteration of MTS1 gene. In SCC, the positive rate of p16 protein was 60.0% with 72.2% in SCCI, 57.9% in SCCII, 37.5% in SCC III, and there were no significant difference among the three groups by chi2 test (P>0.05). Gene homozygous deletion of exon1 and/or exon2 was detected in 10 cases, and gene mutation in 4 cases. The whole rate of gene alteration was 31.1% (14/45). The MTS1 gene alteration rate was 27.8% in SCCI, 31.6% in SCCII, 37.5% in SCC III and there was also no significant difference among the three groups by chi2 test (P>0.05). In SCC with local lymph nodes metastasis, MTS1 alteration rate was 57.1%, while in SCC with no lymph nodes metastasis was 8.3%, and there was significant difference by chi2 test (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMTS1 gene alteration is not an early event in the carcinogenesis of oral mucosa and can not be used as a biology mark to examine oral precancerous lesions. MTS1 gene may play a certain role in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; analysis ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; Mutation ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the possible role of hTERT and c-myc in endometrial carcinogenesis.

METHODSThe expression of hTERT and c-myc mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization of endometrial samples from 14 cases with simple hyperplasia, 10 with complex hyperplasia, 8 with atypical hyperplasia and 42 with endometrioid carcinoma.

RESULTSExpression of hTERT was demonstrated in samples with simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma at frequencies of 2/14, 4/8, 8/10 and 39/42 (92.9%), respectively. The prevalence and intensity of the hTERT signal was greater in the carcinomas and lesions with atypical hyperplasia than those with simple or complex hyperplasia (P < 0.05). The expression of c-myc was demonstrated in samples with simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma at frequencies of 3/14, 1/8, 5/10 and 23/42 (54.8%), respectively. The frequency of c-myc expression was higher in carcinomas and hyperplastic lesions with atypia than those in lesions with simple or complex hyperplasia without atypia (P < 0.05). The expression of hTERT was shown to be correlated with the level of differentiation (P < 0.05), while the c-myc expression appeared to be associated with the depth of myometrial invasion (P < 0.05). The expression levels of hTERT and c-myc were not found to be correlated with each other in the tissues examined (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of hTERT and c-myc may be involved in the progression from the endometrial aypical hyperplasia to invasive carcinoma. The correlation between hTERT and c-myc in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma are not found.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Telomerase ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the character and significance of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosomes 3P, 9P and 17P in laryngeal premalignant and malignant lesions. METHOD: Allelic deletions analysis was performed with 6 polymorphic markers (D3S1234, D9S171, D9S1748, D9S162, INFA and p53) using polymerase chain reaction-single sequence length polymorphism-silver staining in 49 laryngeal premalignant and malignant lesions. RESULT: Allelic loss was seen in 3.70% of the six markers in patients with simple hyperplasias (HP), 10.81% with low grade dysplasia (LGD), 26.03% with high grade dysplasia (HGD) and 38.67% with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Significant differences was found between allelic loss and clinical pathological grades (X2 = 17.686, P < 0.01). The rate of LOH increased remarkably with the lesions progressed from HP to LSCC. D9S171showed the highest incidence of LOH (35.00%) on the six markers. CONCLUSION Microsatellite DNA LOHs occur in early stage of laryngeal carcinogenesis. Microsatellite markers may be useful in the early diagnosis for laryngeal premalignant lesions.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; pathology