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Pattern of somatic androgen receptor gene mutations in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Progression to hormone-refractory growth of prostate cancer has been suggested to be mediated by androgen receptor (AR) gene alterations. We analyzed AR for mutations and amplifications in 21 locally recurrent prostate carcinomas treated with orchiectomy, estrogens, or a combination of orchiectomy and estramustine phosphate using fluorescence in situ hybridization, single-strand conformation polymorphism, and DNA sequence analyses. Amplification was observed in 4 of 16 (25%) and amino acid changing mutations was observed in 7 of 21 (33%) of the tumors, respectively. Two (50%) tumors with AR amplification also had missense mutation of the gene. Four of five (80%) cancers that were treated with a combination of orchiectomy and estramustine phosphate had a mutation clustered at codons 514 to 533 in the N-terminal domain of AR. In functional studies, these mutations did not render AR more sensitive to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, or beta-estradiol. Tumors treated by orchiectomy had mutations predominantly in the ligand-binding domain. In summary, we found molecular alterations of AR in more than half of the prostate carcinomas that recurred locally. Some tumors developed both aberrations, possibly enhancing the cancer cell to respond efficiently to low levels of androgens. Furthermore, localization of point mutations in AR seems to be influenced by the type of treatment.

Estramustine↗

The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism in heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden and a first spontaneous venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Factor V (FV) Leiden is a risk factor for venous thrombosis (VT). Data on its influence on the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) are controversial owing to different study designs and patient cohorts. METHODS: We reevaluated the risk of recurrence among heterozygous carriers and noncarriers of FV Leiden with a first spontaneous proximal VT of the leg and/or pulmonary embolism. Patients with secondary VTE, homozygous FV Leiden, natural inhibitor deficiencies, lupus anticoagulant, cancer, or long-term anticoagulation were excluded. The study end point was objectively documented, symptomatic, recurrent VTE. RESULTS: After discontinuation of oral anticoagulant therapy for a first VTE, we prospectively observed 287 patients, 83 (29%) of whom were heterozygous for FV Leiden. Recurrent VTE was seen in 17 (20%) of 83 patients with and 44 (21.6%) of 204 without FV Leiden. The probability of recurrence among heterozygotes was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8%-16%), 27% (95% CI, 21%-33%), and 27% (95% CI, 21%-33%) after 2, 4, and 6 years, respectively, and was not higher than that among patients without the mutation (16%, 23%, and 34%, respectively). The relative risk of recurrence in heterozygotes was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.5-1.6; P =.60) after adjustment for confounding variables. The risk of recurrence among patients with and without FV Leiden was not different when sex distribution or duration of anticoagulation therapy was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of recurrence is similar among carriers and noncarriers of FV Leiden. Heterozygous patients should receive secondary thromboprophylaxis for a similar length of time as patients without FV Leiden.

Adult↗

INK4a-ARF alterations and p53 mutations in primary and consecutive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: The INK4a-ARF (CDKN2A) locus, located on chromosome 9p21, encodes two functionally distinct tumor suppressor genes, p14(ARF) and p16(INK4a), that play active roles in the p53 and Rb tumor suppressive pathways, respectively. We analyzed the alterations of p14(ARF), p16(INK4a) and p53 to study the contribution of each pathway in tumorigenesis of 29 patients with primary and consecutive (second primary) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC), with a total of 68 carcinomas. METHODS: After microdissection, the DNA of 29 primary and 39 consecutive squamous cell carcinomas was analyzed for INK4a-ARF inactivation and p53 mutation by means of DNA sequence analysis, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), restriction-enzyme-related polymerase chain reaction (RE-PCR), multiplex RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. In addition, microdeletions of p14(ARF) and p16(INK4a) were assessed using differential PCR. RESULTS: Altogether inactivation (methylation, loss of heterozygosity and mutation of exon 1beta) of p14(ARF) was found in 29 of all 68 (43%) carcinomas, with a significant difference in primary [8 of 29 (28%)] relative to second primary carcinomas [21 of 39 (54%)]. Methylation of p16(INK4a) occurred in 22 of 68 (32%) carcinomas with an even distribution among primary and consecutive tumors. Only two (secondary) carcinomas showed simultaneous promoter methylation of p14(ARF) and p16 (INK4a). Mutations of p53 were found in 32 of 68 HNSCCs (44%), evenly distributed among primary and recurrent carcinomas. p14(ARF) alterations showed no relationship to p53 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the INK4a-ARF-/p53 pathway was disrupted in 58 of 68 (84%) primary and recurrent tumors, either by p53 mutations or by INK4a-ARF inactivation. p14(ARF) methylation occurred independently of p16(INK4a) alterations and showed no correlation to p53 mutations. The significantly higher rate of p14(ARF) alterations in recurrent (respective second primary) carcinomas suggests a further acquired genetic aberration during the development of the recurrent carcinomas.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Recurrent lymphangiomyomatosis after transplantation: genetic analyses reveal a metastatic mechanism.

Lymphangiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by the proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle cells and cystic degeneration of the lung. LAM affects almost exclusively young women. Although lung transplantation provides effective therapy for end-stage LAM, there are reports of LAM recurrence after lung transplantation. Whether these recurrent LAM cells arise from the patient or the lung transplant donor is an area of controversy. We used microsatellite marker fingerprinting and TSC2 gene mutational analysis to study a patient with recurrent LAM after single-lung transplantation. The DNA microsatellite marker pattern indicated the presence of patient-derived LAM cells in the allograft. A somatic one base pair deletion in exon 18 of the TSC2 gene was identified in pulmonary and lymph node LAM cells before transplantation. The same mutation was in the recurrent LAM, demonstrating that the recurrent LAM was derived from the patient. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that cells immunoreactive with the monoclonal antibody HMB-45 did not contain a Y chromosome. These data indicate that histologically benign LAM cells can migrate or metastasize in vivo to the transplanted lung. In addition, the patient had no evidence of a renal angiomyolipoma at autopsy and therefore demonstrated for the first time that somatic TSC2 mutations cause LAM in patients without angiomyolipomas.

Adult↗

Current status of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. Can molecular markers play a role in predicting prognosis?

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials establish a beneficial effect for adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection of the primary tumor (1) as single treatment for patients with colonic cancer and (2) combined with radiation therapy for patients with rectal cancer. Because adjuvant chemotherapy is not universally effective and is associated with toxicity and some degree of risk, it would be desirable to supplement standard pathologic staging criteria to define more precisely the subset of patients at high risk for tumor recurrence who would benefit most from adjuvant therapy. Tumor cell DNA content and cell proliferation measured by flow cytometry were identified as important and independent prognostic factors for patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer. Basic laboratory investigations show a series of more specific molecular and genetic abnormalities that might provide better prognostic discrimination. Recent molecular studies suggest that the process of tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer proceeds through a series of genetic alterations that include both dominant and recessive protooncogenes. Characterization of these molecular genetic abnormalities may provide valuable prognostic information for use in patient management. METHODS: Allelic loss was studied for chromosomes 5, 17, and 18, and immunohistochemical analysis was done of the p53 protein product in tumors from 91 patients with colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis of disease-free survival after surgical resection in 60 patients with Dukes' B or C tumors suggests a poorer prognosis associated with allelic loss on chromosome 18q (P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies involving a much larger population of patients with Dukes' B and C colorectal cancer are needed to define the true prognostic significance of these molecular markers.

Aged↗

p53 status: an indicator for the effect of preoperative radiotherapy of rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Rectal carcinoma is a common malignancy, with a history of high local recurrence rates following surgery. In recent years. preoperative radiotherapy and refined surgical technique have improved local control rates. AIM: To investigate the relationship between expression of nuclear p53 protein and the outcome in rectal carcinoma, with and without short-term preoperative radiotherapy. MATERIAL: Specimens from 163 patients from the Southeast Swedish Health Care region included in the Swedish rectal cancer trial between 1987-1990. METHOD: New sections from the paraffin blocks of the preoperative biopsy and the surgical specimen were examined immunohistochemically using a p53 antibody (PAb 1801). RESULT: Expression of nuclear p53 protein was seen in 41% of the tumours. The p53 negative patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy had a significant reduction of local failure compared with the non-irradiated p53 negative patients (P = 0.0008). In contrast, p53 positive patients showed no benefit from preoperative radiotherapy. The interaction between p53 status and the benefit of radiotherapy was statistically significant (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Expression of nuclear p53 protein in rectal carcinoma seems to be a significant predictive factor for local treatment failure after preoperative radiotherapy. Further investigations are necessary to select patients for preoperative treatment based on analysis of the preoperative biopsies.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chronic hereditary pancreatitis with N29I mutation in a Turkish child.

Hereditary pancreatitis, an autosomal dominant disease, is the second most common cause of pancreatitis in children. Here we report a child with recurrent pancreatitis attacks and N29I mutation. Due to the increased risk of pancreatic cancer, taking a detailed past and family history and early diagnosis are important.

Child↗

Androgen receptor coactivators lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 and four and a half LIM domain protein 2 predict risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

Prostate cancer biology varies from locally confined tumors with low risk for relapse to tumors with high risk for progression even after radical prostatectomy. Currently, there are no reliable biomarkers to predict tumor relapse and poor clinical outcome. In this study, we correlated expression patterns of the androgen receptor (AR) coactivators lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1) and four and a half LIM-domain protein 2 (FHL2), AR, Gleason score, Gleason grade, and p53 expression in clinically organ confined prostate cancers with relapse after radical prostatectomy. Our data reveal that high levels of LSD1, nuclear expression of the FHL2 coactivator, high Gleason score and grade, and very strong staining of nuclear p53 correlate significantly with relapse during follow-up. No correlation exists with relapse and the expression of AR and cytoplasmic expression of FHL2. To confirm these data, we did quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analyses in a subset of tumor specimens. Consistently, both LSD1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly up-regulated in high-risk tumors. We previously identified LSD1 and FHL2 as nuclear cofactors interacting specifically with the AR in prostate cells and showed that both stimulate androgen-dependent gene transcription. Our present study suggests that LSD1 and nuclear FHL2 may serve as novel biomarkers predictive for prostate cancer with aggressive biology and point to a role of LSD1 and FHL2 in constitutive activation of AR-mediated growth signals.

Aged↗

Selective replication and oncolysis in p53 mutant tumors with ONYX-015, an E1B-55kD gene-deleted adenovirus, in patients with advanced head and neck cancer: a phase II trial.

ONYX-015 is an E1B-55kDa gene-deleted adenovirus engineered to selectively replicate in and lyse p53-deficient cancer cells. To evaluate the selectivity of ONYX-015 replication and cytopathic effects for the first time in humans, we carried out a Phase II clinical testing of intratumoral and peritumoral ONYX-015 injection in 37 patients with recurrent head and neck carcinoma. Patients received ONYX-015 at a daily dose of 1 x 10(10) plaque-forming units (pfu) via intratumoral injection for 5 days during week 1 of each 3-week cycle (n = 30; cohort A), or 1 x 10(10) pfu twice a day for 10 days during weeks 1 and 2 of each 3-week cycle. Posttreatment biopsies documented selective ONYX-015 presence and/or replication in the tumor tissue of 7 of 11 patients biopsied on days 5-14, but not in immediately adjacent normal tissue (0 of 11 patients; P = 0.01). Tissue destruction was also highly selective; significant tumor regression (>50%) occurred in 21% of evaluable patients, whereas no toxicity to injected normal peritumoral tissues was demonstrated. p53 mutant tumors were significantly more likely to undergo ONYX-015-induced necrosis (7 of 12) than were p53 wild-type tumors (0 of 7; P = 0.017). High neutralizing antibody titers did not prevent infection and/or replication within tumors. ONYX-015 is the first genetically engineered replication-competent virus to demonstrate selective intratumoral replication and necrosis in patients. This agent demonstrates the promise of replication-selective viruses as a novel therapeutic platform against cancer.

Adenovirus E1B Proteins↗

De novo mutation in the BTK gene of atypical X-linked agammaglobulinemia in a patient with recurrent pyoderma.

BACKGROUND: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), characterized by a profound deficiency of all immunoglobulins and the absence of mature B cells, is caused by mutations in the gene encoding Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Most patients have recurrent sinopulmonary infection. Infections usually occur in multiple locations across time, but single infection may be limited to one anatomic location. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of atypical XLA with recurrent pyoderma and to observe the immunologic changes in the patient in 10 years. METHODS: Immunologic investigations, skin wound culture, and molecular study with DNA sequencing were performed. RESULTS: The patient was originally diagnosed as having common variable immunodeficiency disease because of the presence of circulating B cells (CD19+ B cells: 7%) at 11 years old. On further evaluation at the age of 20 years, flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytes showed only 0.4% B cells. The molecular study with DNA sequencing of the patient showed a point mutation in complementary DNA 1630 A>G(p.R544G) in the BTK gene, indicating that the patient has XLA. The mutation analysis of the BTK gene revealed a normal DNA sequence in the other family members. CONCLUSIONS: This case is an important example of a possible presentation of XLA with a predominant skin manifestation, and it demonstrates that maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion is essential for the diagnosis of XLA in a child with recurrent pyoderma.

Adolescent↗

Recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach associated with a novel c-kit mutation after imatinib treatment.

A 57-year-old man with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the stomach with peritoneal dissemination underwent gastrectomy. After surgery, he was treated with 400 mg/day of imatinib, without recurrence, for 26 months. At 26 months, the imatinib dose was reduced because of nausea, and 4 months after the dose reduction, recurrence of GIST was detected, for which surgical resection was performed again. The first surgical specimen had a mutation of exon 11 in the c-kit receptor gene. Intriguingly, the second surgical specimen had a novel mutation of exon 17, in addition to the above-mentioned mutation, in the c-kit receptor gene. Based on the result of molecular analysis, the novel mutation of exon 17, induced by longterm chemotherapy, was judged to have been responsible for the recurrence, which perhaps was triggered by the dose reduction of imatinib.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Recurrent pulmonary embolism in a 13-year-old male homozygous for the prothrombin G20210A mutation combined with protein S deficiency and increased lipoprotein (a).

We report the case of a 13-year-old male presenting with recurrent symptoms of respiratory distress after a trauma of the lower limb. Pulmonary symptoms had been misinterpreted for several weeks and only marked symptoms of deep venous (DVT) and caval vein thrombosis later prompted the correct diagnosis of DVT and embolic events and subsequently a successful thrombolytic therapy. The case reported here shows a diagnostic pitfall of pulmonary embolism in an adolescent. It emphasizes the need to consider the possibility of thromboembolic events also in young children and adolescents presenting with atypical pulmonary symptoms and suffering from pulmonary diseases not responding to antibiotic therapy. In addition, although the homozygous PT A20210A gene mutation is a rare defect and its relevance as a risk factor on its own remains to be elucidated, this case suggests that a complete thrombophilia laboratory workup should be performed in young patients with a first symptomatic thromboembolic onset.

Adolescent↗

Mutations in complement factor I predispose to development of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Mutations in the plasma complement regulator factor H (CFH) and the transmembrane complement regulator membrane co-factor protein (MCP) have been shown to predispose to atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Both of these proteins act as co-factors for complement factor I (IF). IF is a highly specific serine protease that cleaves the alpha-chains of C3b and C4b and thus downregulates activation of both the classical and the alternative complement pathways. This study looked for IF mutations in a panel of 76 patients with HUS. Mutations were detected in two patients, both of whom had reduced serum IF levels. A heterozygous bp change, c.463 G>A, which results in a premature stop codon (W127X), was found in one, and in the other, a heterozygous single base pair deletion in exon 7 (del 922C) was detected. Both patients had a history of recurrent HUS after transplantation. This is in accordance with the high rate of recurrence in patients with CFH mutations. Patients who are reported to have mutations in MCP, by contrast, do not have recurrence after transplantation. As with CFH- and MCP-associated HUS, there was incomplete penetrance in the family of one of the affected individuals. This study provides further evidence that atypical HUS is a disease of complement dysregulation.

Adult↗

A dominant mutation in the COL1A1 gene that substitutes glycine for valine causes recurrent lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Type I collagen chains of a proband from a family with recurrent lethal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) migrated as a doublet when submitted to gel electrophoresis. Cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptide mapping demonstrated that the post-translational over-modifications were initiated in alpha 1ICB7. Chemical cleavage of cDNA-RNA heteroduplexes identified a mismatch in the alpha 1I cDNA; this mismatch was subsequently confirmed by sequencing a 249-bp fragment amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. A G to T transition in the second base of the first codon of exon 41 resulted in the substitution of glycine 802 by valine. This mutation impaired collagen secretion by dermal fibroblasts. The over-modified chains were retained intracellularly and melted at a lower temperature than normal chains. Collagen molecules synthesized by parental fibroblasts had a normal electrophoretic mobility, but hybridization of genomic DNA with allele-specific oligonucleotides revealed the presence of the mutant allele in the mother's leukocytes. The mutation was not detected in her fibroblasts consistent with the protein data. These results support the hypothesis that somatic and germ-line mosaicism in the phenotypically normal mother explain the recurrence of OI.

Alleles↗

Phase II study of N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate, recombinant interferon-alpha, and fluorouracil infusion in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), as a single agent, produces a 15% response rate in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA) inhibits pyrimidine biosynthesis and increases incorporation of 5-FU metabolites into ribonucleic acid (RNA). Recombinant alpha interferon-2b (rIFN-alpha-2b) may inhibit 5-FU clearance and blunt reflex rise in thymidylate synthetase, therefore enhancing inhibition of the target enzyme of 5-FU. METHODS: In an attempt to exploit their potential therapeutic synergy, we initiated a phase II trial combining PALA 250 mg/m2 by intravenous (IV) bolus day 1 with 5-FU 2600 mg/m2 24-hour IV infusion initiated 24 hours after PALA, followed by rIFNalpha-2b 10 million units (MU) by subcutaneous injection days 2, 3, and 4 in patients with advanced, measurable SCCHN incurable with surgery or radiotherapy. Treatment was repeated weekly; patients were assessed every 4-6 weeks. Pretreatment tumor specimens were analyzed for p53 mutations in exons 5-8 and for protein expression using the p53 polyclonal antibody CM-1. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled from November 1991 through February 1994. Median age was 59 years (range, 31-72 years). All had previously received definitive radiotherapy, and all but two had undergone surgical resection. Seven patients (37%) had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Median time from initial diagnosis to protocol enrollment was 17 months (range, 5 months to 10 years). Median performance status (PS) was 1. Primary tumor sites included oral cavity (8 patients), larynx (7 patients), oropharynx (3 patients), and hypopharynx (1 patient). The median serum transferrin was 241 (range, 141-333). Sixteen patients (84%) had sufficient pretreatment biopsy material for p53 analysis. Patients received a median of 6 weeks of treatment (range, 2-30 weeks). Six patients (32%) in the absence of disease progression failed to finish the first 6 weeks of treatment: 3 died of pulmonary insufficiency or pneumonia and 3 were removed from study during the first 6 weeks due to toxicity. Grade 2-3 flulike symptoms occurred in 17 patients (89%); grade > or = 3 fatigue occurred in 12 patients (63%), and grade > or = 2 stomatitis occurred in 5 (26%). Gastrointestional toxicity was minimal and myelosuppression mild. Of 13 evaluable patients, there were 2 partial responses (15%) lasting 3 months and 20 months; 5 patients with stable disease lasting 2, 2, 2.5, 3, and 4.5 months; and 6 with disease progression. For all 19 patients, the overall response rate was 11%, the median survival was 6 months and 1-year survival rate 26%. Lower transferrin values (< or =241) were associated with shortened median survival 2.5 vs 11 months). Increased p53 protein expression but not p53 mutations in pretreatment specimens also predicted inferior survival (median, 6 vs 11 months) after enrollment in study (p = .0124). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical modulation of 5-FU by rIFNalpha-2b and PALA does not enhance its efficacy in patients with advanced SCCHN whose disease has progressed after prior radiotherapy. Serum transferrin and p53 protein expression segregate outcome in this group of uniformly treated patients.

Adult↗

Detection of tumor cells in blood using CD45 magnetic cell separation followed by nested mutant allele-specific amplification of p53 and K-ras genes in patients with colorectal cancer.

A new method for detecting circulating tumor cells that is based on magnetic-activated cell separation (MACS) and nested mutant allele-specific amplification (nested MASA) was evaluated in patients with colorectal cancer using the p53 and K-ras genes as genetic markers. By negative selection with anti-CD45 monoclonal antibody-conjugated supermagnetic microbeads, the proportion of tumor cells was enriched 9-fold. By the combination of MACS and nested MASA, 10 tumor cells in 10(7) normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells could be detected without false-positives. Using this method, we examined blood taken from the tumor drainage veins of 23 patients with colorectal cancer. Eighty-seven percent (20/23) of primary tumor tissues showed p53 and/or K-ras gene mutations. Forty-five percent (9/20) of patients with p53 and/or K-ras mutations in the primary tumor showed the same mutated genes in the blood samples. There was a significant association between the presence of p53 and K-ras gene mutation in the blood and tumor size, depth of invasion, and venous invasion. Blood gene mutation was detected in 80% (4/5) of samples from patients with synchronous liver metastases. Sixty percent (3/5) of patients with mutant genes in the blood developed asynchronous liver metastases after surgery. The overall survival of patients with p53 and/or K-ras gene mutation-positive findings in blood was significantly shorter than that of patients testing negative on Kaplan-Meier analysis. Our results suggest that the method may be useful for reliable detection of tumor cells circulating in the blood and may help to identify patients at high risk for relapse.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Response and resistance in 300 patients with BCR-ABL-positive leukemias treated with imatinib in a single center: a 4.5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The advent of imatinib has considerably changed the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Early studies demonstrated high rates of hematologic and cytogenetic responses in all phases of the disease after limited observation periods. METHODS: The authors evaluated long-term outcome, rates of response, and resistance in 300 patients with BCR-ABL-positive leukemias (CML in chronic phase after failure to respond to interferon-alpha [CP], n = 139; accelerated phase [AP], n = 80; myeloid blast crisis [BC], n = 76; lymphoid BC and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, n = 5) who entered clinical trials with imatinib in a single center after an observation time of 4.5 years. RESULTS: In CP, hematologic remission was achieved in 97% and major (MCR) and complete cytogenetic remission (CCR) in 61% and 49% of patients, respectively. The chance to achieve MCR was higher in patients commencing imatinib earlier in the course of CML. In AP, the median survival period after the start of imatinib was 44 months, and MCR and CCR were observed in 31% and 26% of patients, respectively. In myeloid BC, the median survival period after the start of imatinib and after diagnosis of BC was 6 and 9 months, respectively. Hematologic resistance occurred in 25%, 41%, and 92% of patients in CP, AP, and myeloid BC, respectively, and was associated with BCR-ABL mutations in 45% of patients and with clonal evolution in 58% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The data emphasized the need for a prolonged follow-up of patients treated with imatinib to define the clinical potential of the drug and to establish methods to optimize therapy.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic value of P53 mutations in rectal carcinoma.

The influence of p53 mutations on the response to ionizing radiation and survival was retrospectively evaluated in patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy for rectal carcinoma. From 1989 to 1991, 86 rectal cancer patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy were included in this series. For all patients, endorectal sonography (to define ultrasonography TNM [uTNM]) was performed before treatment; 19 patients were classified as stage 1, 27 as stage 2 and 40 as stage 3. Response to radiotherapy (39 Gy in 13 fractions delivered in 17 days) was assessed by comparing the uT and the T obtained by histologic examination of the resected specimen (TNM classification). A rectal cancer biopsy was performed before treatment and enabled the search for p53 mutations by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing. The status of the p53 gene was correlated with the response to radiotherapy and survival. Forty-nine percent of the tumors presented abnormal DGGE profiles. The prevalence of p53 mutations was significantly higher in patients who did not respond to radiotherapy (63%) than in those who did respond (34%) (p < 0.01). Presence of a p53 mutation was associated with significantly shorter 5-year survival compared to patients without mutations (p < 0.02). In a multivariate analysis, p53 mutation status remained a prognostic factor independent of tumor posttreatment staging (p < 0.05). p53 status is an independent prognostic factor of response to radiotherapy and survival in rectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗