Cancer Science & Therapy

Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amount confer a health benefit on the host. Beneficial aspects of probiotics include alleviation of lactose intolerance, control of diarrhoea, urogenitalinfection, reduction in cholesterol level and relief from irritable bowel syndrome, antioxidant potential, and pathogen inhibition. These days research is focussing on probiotics usage in colon cancer prevention because of its positive outcomes. Scientific evidences indicate a strong association between diet, lifestyle, and changes in gut microflora composition which may initiate the onset of colon cancer. Probiotic usage in colon cancer prevention is a new direction of research and most of the studies related to colon cancer prevention are still unclear and effects are in observed form, so confirmation studies are needed in this respective area and also there is a need to standardize methodology. This review presents information about mechanism of different probiotic actions, factors contributing colon cancer risks and how probiotics are helpful in preventing colon cancer with supporting scientific based evidence and various experimental studies.

Vulvar carcinoma is a rare cancer even among the female genital tract cancer. Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. We report a case of stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in a 71-year-old- patient with type III mutilated vulva. Clinical presentation, Histopathological diagnosis, surgical staging, and treatment options with the case challenges will be discussed.

The breast tumor kinase (Brk) is over-expressed in 80% of all breast cancers and we sought to determine the influence of this oncogene on radiation sensitivity in breast cancer cell lines. Since radiotherapy is a routinely used method of treatment for early and intermediate stage breast cancer, the alteration of clinical radiosensitivity in breast cancer by an oncogene over-expression would have important implications in radiotherapy management. To address this question, we conducted an in vitro study of radiation sensitivity in two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-157 and MDA-MB-468 transfected with cDNA constructs to over-express the following genes: Brk wild type (WT); Brk with an inactivating mutation in the kinase domain (KM) and vector only. Gamma H2AX foci assays by imaging flow cytometry were used to measure DNA double strand break (DSB) repair after radiation exposure. Total ataxia telangiectasia (ATM) and activated phospho794-ATM protein was measured by imaging flow cytometry. In all cell lines tested there was a proportionate decline in cell survival following gamma radiation exposure. Radiation sensitivity of the cell lines in clonogenic assays and repair of DNA double strand breaks were similar and independent of Brk expression status. We conclude that over-expression of the Brk proto-oncogene in breast cancer cell lines does not appear to influence radiation sensitivity or affect DNA DSB repair.