Begell House Inc.
Critical Reviews™ in Oncogenesis
CRO
0893-9675
12
1-2
2006
EDITORIALTo the Readers and Future Authors of Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis
1-2
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.10
Ragnhild A.
Lothe
Department of Cancer Prevention, Institute for Cancer Research, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Center; Center for Cancer Biomedicine, University of Oslo; Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway
Rolf
Skotheim
Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Oslo, Norway
Olli-Pekka
Kallioniemi
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and University of Turku , Turku, Finland
Manel
Esteller
Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
Metaplasia — A Transdifferentiatlon Process that Facilitates Cancer Development: The Model of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia
3-26
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.20
Patricia
Mesquita
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Raquel
Almeida
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Nuno
Lunet
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Porto, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Celso A.
Reis
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Luis Filipe Santos
Silva
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Jacinta
Serpa
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Isabelle
Van Seuningen
Inserm, U837, Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert, France
Henrique
Barros
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Porto, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Leonor
David
IPATIMUP
Metaplasia, in general, and intestinal metaplasia, in particular, are transdifferentiation processes triggered by environmental aggressions. The heterogeneity of different morphologic variants of metaplasia and distinction from close morphologic entities—heterotopia and hamartoma—is reviewed. Recent data on the characterization of the molecular and epidemiological data involved in the development and progression of lesions of gastric intestinal metaplasia are discussed. A redefinition of intestinal metaplasia is proposed.
Sessile Serrated Adenoma: A Brief History and Current Status
27-39
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.30
Emina Emilia
Torlakovic
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada
Dale C.
Snover
Department of Pathology, Fairview Southdale Hospital, 6401 France Ave. South, Edina, MN 55435
Sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) is a polyp of the large intestine, which was first described in 1996. It presents as a solitary lesion or in a setting of a polyposis previously coined as "serrated adenomatous polyposis." The importance of correct recognition of this lesion and distinction from other serrated polyps of the colon is in that the newly described "serrated pathway" of colorectal carcinogenesis seems to apply mostly to SSA and not to other serrated polyps of the colon. This review describes the history of morphologic discovery of SSA and reports on current status of this lesion.
Methods for Detection of Subtle Mutations in Cancer Genomes
41-74
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.40
Christina
Dahl
Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ulrik
Ralfkiaer
Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Per
Guldberg
Institute of Cancer Biology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
With the realization that cancer is a genetic disease, detection of mutations in genomic DNA has become an important discipline in many areas of cancer research. Although the publication of the human genome sequence and the immense technological advancements have facilitated the analysis of cancer genomes, detection of mutations in tumor specimens may still be challenging and fraught with technical problems. In this review, we describe current technologies for detection of small DNA mutations, including mutation scanning techniques to search for unknown mutations, and diagnostic techniques to detect known cancer mutations. We outline the principles of the different techniques and discuss their advantages and limitations. We also discuss critical issues that must be considered before choosing methodology, including sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, throughput and cost, quantity and quality of template DNA, available equipment, and personnel expertise.
Familial Breast Cancer, Underlying Genes, and Clinical Implications: A Review
75-113
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.50
Sara
Margolin
Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, S-118 83 Stockholm, Sweden
Annika
Lindblom
Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
Family history has been a recognized risk factor for breast cancer for many years. We will, in this review, describe the research field in breast cancer susceptibility from the early epidemiological, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and linkage studies in the 1990s leading to the discovery of BRCA1 and 2, and the subsequent search for other high- and low-risk genes at present. We will also describe the clinical implications of BRCA1 and 2. Finally, we will give a review of the field but also focus on our own research, molecular and clinical.
Methyl-Group Metabolism and the Response of Colorectal Cancer to 5-Fluorouracil
115-126
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.60
Barry
Iacopetta
School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia
The major mechanism of action of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based therapies is thought to be inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS). This enzyme catalyzes synthesis of the thymidine nucleotide precursor using a methyl group provided by a folate cofactor. In addition to TS activity levels, various elements of methyl-group metabolism could also be predictive for the response of colorectal cancer (CRC) to 5FU. These include the activity of enzymes involved in folate metabolism, the concentrations of intracellular folate intermediates, and surrogate markers of aberrant methyl-group metabolism, such as DNA methylation and microsatellite instability. The factors of age, gender, common genetic variants, and diet have been shown to influence both systemic and tumor methyl-group metabolism. This has important implications for the prediction of toxicity and response to 5FU, respectively. Identification of predictive factors within the methyl-group metabolism pathway should assist in targeting 5FU treatment to the most responsive CRC patient groups. This is particularly important for early-stage disease where conclusive demonstration of a survival benefit from 5FU in the overall CRC group has thus far proven difficult.
siRNA: A Potential Tool for Future Breast Cancer Therapy?
127-150
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.70
Gro Leite
Storvold
Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo, N-0315 Oslo, Norway; and University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Tone Ikdahl
Andersen
Department of Oncology, Ullevel University Hospital, N-0407 Oslo, Norway
Charles M.
Perou
University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Eirik
Frengen
Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo, and Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevel University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; and University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
The siRNA technology is a promising research tool for use in functional genomics, and it also shows potential for use in future therapy. Thus far, siRNAs have been used to specifically silence disease-associated alleles in animal models. The technology is still quite new, and the biological mechanisms underlying RNAi and siRNA-mediated knockdown of gene expression are not yet fully understood. The main issues when siRNAs are designed are efficiency and specificity, and it is of great importance to consider possible off-target effects in the siRNA design. One major challenge in siRNA-based therapy is the development of systems for efficient delivery to the target cells. A large number of tools have, over the last few years, been designed for the delivery of DNA and RNA for gene therapy, and extensive efforts are now placed into developing clinical applications of siRNAs in a range of human diseases, including breast cancer.
NEW DOCTORIAL CANCER RESEARCH:Cervix Cancer in Mozambique: Role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in the Etiopathogenesis of Cervix Cancer and Evaluation of the Usefulness of Some Markers in the Diagnosis
153-154
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.80
Carla
Carrilho
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Portugal
With the re-launch of Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis, a special section called "New Doctorial Cancer Research" is introduced. Here, we provide new Ph.Ds. with the opportunity to present themselves and their work, preferentially followed by a commentary of a senior scientist with knowledge of the study, and as such, attention is also drawn to the work of the research group. In the current issue of CRO we present six new Ph.Ds. Keep this opportunity in mind when new Ph.Ds. have fulfilled their dissertations. Instructions for submission to the "New Doctorial Cancer Research" section can be found in the general Instructions to Authors of CRO (www.begellhouse.com).
Regulation of MUC2 Mucin Gene Expression in Gastric Carcinoma And Gastric Carcinoma Cell Lines: Role of Methylation and Putative Transcription Factors
155-156
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.90
Patricia
Mesquita
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200 Porto, Portugal
Essential Role of Angiogenic Factors and Bone Marrow-Derived Endothelial/Hematopoietic Cells in the Growth of Solid Tumors
157-160
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.100
Carla Sofia Rodrigues
da Costa
Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunolog, University of Porto(IPATIMUP), Portugal; Weill Medical College of Cornell University,Department of Pediatrics,Cell and Developmental Biology,New York; Faculty of Medicine,University of Porto, Portugal
DNA Methylation in Cancer Development: Lessons Learned from Tumors of the Testis and the Large Bowel
161-162
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.110
Guro E.
Lind
Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Centre and, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Identification and Characterization of Novel Genes Expressed in Neoplastic Human B Cells
163-165
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.120
Sebastian
Patzke
Department of Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Medical Centre and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Molecular Biology of the Chromosomal Instability Phenotype of Follicular Cell Thyroid Tumors
167-169
10.1615/CritRevOncog.v12.i1-2.130
Patricia
Castro
IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Porto, Portugal