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J S Ross

Publications and source records attributed to J S Ross.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Comparison of mitotic cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinase expression in keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Disruption of the cell-cycle regulation through over-expression or mutation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases has been implicated in carcinogenesis. In order to determine whether keratoacanthoma (KA) is unique or a variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and whether expression of mitosis-related antigens are associated with KAs' tendency to regress, we compared the immunohistochemical expression of mitotic cyclins (cyclins A and B) and their cyclin-dependent kinase p34(cdc2) in 21 KAs, 8 regressing KAs, and 28 conventional squamous cell carcinomas. KAs showed both overlap and significant differences in expression of these mitosis-related antigens compared to SCCs. Basal and parabasal pattern of expression of cyclins A and B significantly predominated in KAs in contrast to SCCs which exhibited diffuse pattern (cyclin A 86%/cyclin B 64% vs. 25%/36%, p < 0.01). However, no differences in the highest mean level of expression in 'hot spot' loci of cyclins A and B were identified comparing KAs to SCCs (19%/12% vs. 25%/13%, p > 0.05). For the cyclin-dependent kinase p34(cdc2), no differences in pattern, distribution or mean levels of expression were found. For cyclins A and B, regressing KA showed significantly more regional tumor labeling (88%/88% vs. 57%/33%, p = 0.03) and a lower mean level of immunoreactivity (5%/4% vs. 19%/12%, p = 0.001) compared to mature KAs. These findings indicate a role for mitotic cyclins in the evolution of both SCC and KA. The overlapping patterns of expression for these mitosis-related antigens suggest that KAs represent a variant of SCC that exhibit an overwhelming but not absolute tendency to involute.

CDC2 Protein Kinase↗
PubMed1999

HER-2/neu gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization allows risk-group assessment in node-negative breast cancer.

In a collective of 112 node-negative breast cancer patients, we compared the prognostic impact of HER-2/neu gene amplification (AMP) determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and HER-2/neu protein overexpression (EXP) measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with traditional prognostic factors (tumor size, grade, steroid hormone receptor status, menopausal status) and tumor invasion markers uPA (urokinase-type plasminogen activator) and its inhibitor PAI-1 determined by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). Median follow-up in patients still alive at time of analysis was 7 years. Automated FISH and IHC were performed on parallel-cut formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. HER-2/neu AMP was detected by FISH in 31% and HER-2/neu EXP was measured by IHC in 41% of the cases. In 13% of the tumors, both AMP and EXP were found. FISH and IHC results were concordant in 56% of all analyzed cases. In univariate analysis, HER-2/neu AMP significantly predicted both disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). HER-2/neu EXP was significant for OS, only. In multivariate analysis of all analyzed prognostic factors, HER-2/neu AMP was the only independent predictive factor for both DFS and OS. CART analysis revealed that HER-2/neu AMP together with the combination uPA/PAI-1 allowed optimal risk-group assessment after a 7-year median follow-up: patients with low levels of both uPA and PAI-1 and no HER-2/neu AMP had a significantly lower relapse rate (4.6%) than the remaining patients (32%). In conclusion, HER-2/neu gene AMP determined by FISH allowed a more accurate risk-group assessment than HER-2/neu protein EXP measured by IHC. Combining the HER-2/neu gene status measured by FISH with levels of tumor invasion markers uPA and PAI-1 improves clinically relevant risk-group assessment. In addition to its prognostic strength, the significant impact of HER-2/neu AMP on OS may reflect its ability to predict resistance to systemic therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Financial determinants of outcomes in molecular testing.

For the benefits of molecular pathology to outweigh its inherent costs, testing procedures must be integrated into total disease assessment to realize the true financial impact. Major financial benefits are achievable from molecular testing because the tests reduce the use of less sensitive and less specific tests, unnecessary diagnostic procedures, and ineffective therapies. In this review, the financial determinants of outcomes for molecular-based testing for disease predisposition, screening, early detection, and directed therapy are presented.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Familial occurrence of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland.

We report the familial occurrence of acinic cell carcinoma involving the parotid gland, the first such report of which we are aware. The familial occurrence of any salivary gland neoplasm is rare. Several reports are present in the literature, including pleomorphic adenoma, Warthin tumor, carcinoma of the submandibular gland, and malignant lymphoepithelial lesion. We report the case of a 35-year-old man who underwent excision of a left parotid gland acinic cell carcinoma. Eight years later, his daughter presented at the age of 16 years with a nontender parotid gland mass that was excised and found also to be acinic cell carcinoma. The histologic features of both neoplasms were typical of acinic cell carcinoma. While this may represent a coincidental event, the possibility that this familial occurrence is a manifestation of common genetic or environmental risk cannot be excluded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Nutrition advocacy and national development: the PROFILES programme and its application.

Investment in nutritional programmes can contribute to economic growth and is cost-effective in improving child survival and development. In order to communicate this to decision-makers, the PROFILES nutrition advocacy and policy development programme was applied in certain developing countries. Effective advocacy is necessary to generate financial and political support for scaling up from small pilot projects and maintaining successful national programmes. The programme uses scientific knowledge to estimate development indicators such as mortality, morbidity, fertility, school performance and labour productivity from the size and nutritional condition of populations. Changes in nutritional condition are estimated from the costs, coverage and effectiveness of proposed programmes. In Bangladesh this approach helped to gain approval and funding for a major nutrition programme. PROFILES helped to promote the nutrition component of an early childhood development programme in the Philippines, and to make nutrition a top priority in Ghana's new national child survival strategy. The application of PROFILES in these and other countries has been supported by the United States Agency for International Development, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Micronutrient Initiative and other bodies.

Africa, Western↗
PubMed1999

Economic, regulatory, and practice issues in molecular pathology and diagnostics.

This issue of Pathology Patterns presents a series of review articles in molecular pathology and molecular diagnostics that cover a wide variety of applications of new technologies recently integrated into many clinical laboratories and pathology departments. In order for the benefits of molecular pathology to outweigh its inherent costs, these new procedures must be integrated into the assessment of total disease management to fully observe how the benefits outweigh the costs and effects on patient outcome. Major financial benefits can be achieved with molecular testing because of ability to reduce the use of less sensitive and specific tests, and unnecessary diagnostic procedures and ineffective therapies.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed1999

HER-2/neu (c-erb-B2) gene and protein in breast cancer.

The HER-2/neu oncogene encodes a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor with extensive homology to the epidermal growth factor receptor. The association of HER-2/neu gene and protein abnormalities with prognosis in breast cancer is presented by considering a series of 52 published studies including more than 16,000 patients. The relative advantages and disadvantages of Southern blot testing, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays designed to detect HER-2/neu gene amplification are compared with HER-2/neu protein overexpression assays performed with immunohistochemical techniques applied to frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues and enzyme immunoassays performed on tumor cytosols. The importance of HER-2/neu protein overexpression in ductal carcinoma in situ, and HER-2/neu protein status in uncommon breast diseases in female patients and breast cancer in male patients are also considered. The potential value of HER-2/neu protein status for the prediction of response to therapy in breast cancer is presented for standard hormonal therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Also evaluated is the status of serum-based testing for circulating HER-2/neu receptor protein and its ability to predict disease outcome and therapy response. Finally, preliminary data concerning use of antibody-based therapies directed against HER-2/neu protein and their potential use in breast cancer treatment are considered.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Telomerase activity in human solid tumors. Diagnostic utility and clinical applications.

Telomerase is expressed in almost all human malignant processes but not in benign and normal tissues, with the exception of germline and stem cells. Because of its prevalent expression and potential as a target for cancer therapy, telomerase is the subject of intense investigation, and numerous papers have been published. We present the most recent findings on the association between telomerase activity and human malignancies, recent developments in methods of telomerase detection, telomerase utility in monitoring of patients with cancer for residual or recurrent disease, and potential usefulness of telomerase in treatment of cancer.

Humans↗