Pattern of MUC6 expression across 119 different tumor types: A tissue microarray study on 15 412 tumors.

Mucin 6 (MUC6) is a secreted gel-forming mucin covering the surfaces of gastrointestinal and other tissues. Published work demonstrates that MUC6 can also be expressed in several cancer types and can aid in the distinction of different tumor entities. To systematically analyze MUC6 expression in normal and cancerous tissues, a tissue microarray containing 15 412 samples from 119 different tumor types and subtypes as well as 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

5q21 deletion is often heterogeneous in prostate cancer.

Cancer heterogeneity represents a challenge for the analysis of prognostic molecular markers but can be used to study the evolution of molecular events in tumors. To assess the degree of heterogeneity of 5q21 deletions and their relationship with TMPRSS2:ERG status and 6q15 deletions in prostate cancer, a heterogeneity tissue microarray including 10 tissue spots from 10 different areas of 317 cancers was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization for 5q21 deletion. Data on 6q and ERG were available from earlier studies.

Response to GEMOX plus erlotinib in pancreatic cancer is associated with ERCC1 overexpression.

Introduction: There are no data about the efficacy of gemcitabine in combination with oxaliplatin (GEMOX) and erlotinib for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC). Thus, we performed this retrospective analysis in mPC patients to investigate the activity and safety of GEMOX plus erlotinib and correlated the benefit with ERCC1 expression, a potential biomarker for treatment response.

Patients And Methods: Patients with untreated mPC receiving off-protocol GEMOX plus erlotinib were included.

Gastric cancer growth control by BEZ235 in vivo does not correlate with PI3K/mTOR target inhibition but with [18F]FLT uptake.

Purpose: In this study, we tested the antitumor activity of the dual phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 against gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Experimental Design: Gastric cancer cell lines (N87, MKN45, and MKN28) were incubated with BEZ235 and assessed for cell viability, cell cycle, and PI3K/mTOR target inhibition. In vivo, athymic nude mice were inoculated with N87, MKN28, or MKN45 cells and treated daily with BEZ235.

Sphingosine kinase 1 is a relevant molecular target in gastric cancer.

Sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1), a lipid kinase implicated in cell transformation and tumor growth, is overexpressed in gastric cancer and is linked with a poor prognosis. The biological relevance of Sphk1 expression in gastric cancer is unclear. Here, we studied the functional significance of Sphk1 as a novel molecular target for gastric cancer by using an antisense oligonucleotide approach in vitro and in vivo.

mTOR inhibition by everolimus counteracts VEGF induction by sunitinib and improves anti-tumor activity against gastric cancer in vivo.

VEGF receptor blockage has been reported to increase serum VEGF. We hypothesized that mTOR inhibition by everolimus counteracts VEGF induction by sunitinib resulting in an improved anti-tumor activity of sunitinib. In vitro, sunitinib in combination with everolimus did not outperform the respective monotherapies.

Effects of vatalanib on tumor growth can be potentiated by mTOR blockade in vivo.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a central mediator of tumor-induced angiogenesis. Everolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, decreases VEGF-secretion of cancer cells. Vatalanib is a selective inhibitor of VEGF receptors 1-3.

A novel type of influenza vaccine: safety and immunogenicity of replication-deficient influenza virus created by deletion of the interferon antagonist NS1.

BACKGROUND. The nonstructural protein NS1 of influenza virus counteracts the interferon-mediated immune response of the host. By deleting the open reading frame of NS1, we have generated a novel type of influenza vaccine.