Cancer Science & Therapy

Background: Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma (MFH) is one of the most common soft tissue sarcoma in adults and typically arises in the soft tissues of the extremities and retroperitoneum. The head and neck region are seldom involved accounting for 3 – 8.5% of the cases. In the superficial sites such as skin, MFH may behave in a benign fashion despite the high grade appearing and fast growing tumor cells, with a reported incidence of malignant transformation around 1%. Case Description: A 72 year old male patient reported to the Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology with a chief complaint of recurrent pain and swelling over the upper lip and nose region which was surgically drained a month back. This was the third occurrence of the swelling over the past 13 years. In the past 2 episodes, he was surgically treated for Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma (BFH). Surgical procedure and histopathological report confirmed malignant transformation into MFH in the recent episode. Conclusion and Clinical Implications: This publication aims to highlight the possibility of malignant transformation of benign fibrous histiocytoma and the importance of long term followup.

Endocan also called endothelial cell-specific-molecule-1 is a product of endothelial cells, highly regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor and expressed during the switch between dormant to fast-growing angiogenic tumors. No other molecule is currently known to be a read out of endothelial activation and dysfunction in tumor progression. We here reviewed the present knowledge about endocan that present clinical value as a tissue- and blood- based prognostic and potentially as a companion biomarker in cancer. By immunohistochemistry endocan was shown to be overexpressed into endothelial cells of small and large vessels in lung, kidney and brain tumors. High endocan serum levels were shown to be significantly correlated with the presence of metastasis and with limited survival in kidney and lung cancers. Moreover, endocan release by endothelial cells was in vitro modulated by addition of anti-angiogenic compounds. At a time where biomarkers are hugely needed to improve anti-angiogenic targeted treatments, endocan could be a pertinent biomarker to select patients and/or to clinically monitor the efficacy of cancer drugs. Through its awaited functional applications, endocan appears today as a promising biomarker to access to personalized medicine and to optimize therapy cost / benefit ratio.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of patients receiving Y- 90 SIR-Spheres in patients with multiple liver metastases from different tumors. Methods: 29 consecutive patients with multiple liver metastases from colorectal (13), Islet cell tumors (9), carcinoid tumors (4) or non-small cell lung cancer (3) who were treated with Y-90 SIR-Spheres between March, 2003 and February, 2006 were included. Only patients who had follow-up radiological exams at our institution were included. Data regarding Y-90 SIR-Spheres dose, lobe of liver treated, and chemotherapy (CTx) administered were collected. Patients’ outcomes were evaluated based on radiological evidence of change in size and number of liver metastases. Results: The study population included 8 females and 21 males at a mean age of 60y. The mean Y-90 SIR-Spheres dose administered was 39.8 mCi. Both lobes of the liver, the right lobe only or the left lobe only were treated in 26, 2, 1 patients, respectively. Sixteen patients received Y-90 SIR-Spheres after CTx failure, 5 patients as adjuvant therapy after completion of CTx, 7 patients as concurrent therapy and one patient refused repeat CTx. The mean interval between the last CTx and Y-90 SIR-Spheres was 108 days. Four patients (14%) demonstrated radiological improvement and 9 (31%) were stable for a mean interval of 2.8 mo. after Y-90 SIR-Spheres infusion. Sixteen patients (55%) demonstrated continued progress of liver metastases. Conclusion: Y-90 SIR-Spheres therapy is useful in reducing or stabilizing multiple liver metastases from a variety of tumors.

Objective: The association between periodontal disease and the risk of various human cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been suggested. Butyric acid (BA), an extracellular metabolite from periodontopathic bacteria, plays an important role in the progression of periodontal disease. Recent studies have shown that podoplanin, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is expressed in various normal as well as neoplastic tissues. In this study, the effects of BA/sodium butyrate (NaB) on podoplanin expression, cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in OSCC cell lines were examined. Methods: Ca9-22, HSC-2, -3 and -4 cells were incubated with NaB, and then subjected to real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and scratch assay. Results: NaB increased the expression of podoplanin in HSC-2 and -3 cells and vimentin in Ca9-22 cells. Cell migration was promoted at a low concentration of NaB especially in HSC-3 cells, whereas it was inhibited in HSC-2 and -4 cells. Scratch assay of HSC-2, -3 and -4 revealed that cell migration was markedly inhibited by addition of a siRNA specific for podoplanin . Conclusion: BA/NaB increases podoplanin expression and cell migration in certain OSCC cell lines, suggesting that the progression of periodontal disease may promote the progression of OSCC via a podoplanin-dependent pathway