Kevin G Neill

Bio: Kevin G Neill is an academic researcher from University of South Florida. The author has contributed to research in topics: Barrett's esophagus & Cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 9 publications receiving 72 citations.

Systematic Review and Case Series Report of Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Pancreas.

Abstract: BackgroundAcinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare malignancy representing less than 1% of all pancreatic malignancies.MethodsWe report on a case series of 21 patients with acinar cell carci...

Knockdown of CSE1L Gene in Colorectal Cancer Reduces Tumorigenesis in Vitro.

Abstract: Human cellular apoptosis susceptibility (chromosomal segregation 1-like, CSE1L ) gene plays a role in nuclear-to-cytoplasm transport and chromosome segregation during mitosis, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis. CSE1L is involved in colon carcinogenesis. CSE1L gene expression was assessed with three data sets using Affymetrix U133 + gene chips on normal human colonic mucosa (NR), adenomas (ADs), and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). CSE1L protein expression in CRC, AD, and NR from the same patients was measured by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray. We evaluated CSE1L expression in CRC cells (HCT116, SW480, and HT29) and its biological functions. CSE1L mRNA was significantly increased in all AD and CRC compared with NR ( P P = 0.02, respectivly). We observed a change in CSE1L staining intensity and cellular localization by immunohistochemistry. CSE1L was significantly increased during the transition from AD to CRC when compared with NR in a CRC tissue microarray ( P = 0.01 and P

Advances in the Endoscopic Diagnosis of Barrett Esophagus

Abstract: BackgroundBarrett esophagus (BE) continues to be a major risk factor for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma.MethodsWe review the risk factors, diagnosis, and management of BE, with an emphasis on...

Expression of CAS/CSE1L, the Cellular Apoptosis Susceptibility Protein, Correlates With Neoplastic Progression in Barrett's Esophagus.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Identifying the molecular switch responsible for the neoplastic progression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and initiation of adenocarcinoma (ADC) is clinically essential and it will have a profound impact on patient diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The cellular apoptosis susceptibility gene CAS/CSE1L is overexpressed in various cancers, including a rare report on esophageal ADC; however, its expression in BE neoplasia has not been addressed. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the expression of the CAS/CSE1L protein immunohistochemically in 56 esophageal resection specimens for ADC arising in BE. For each specimen, a full representative section of the invasive ADC was selected to include, when possible, BE, low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD). Samples were stained for CAS/CSE1L expression using a rabbit polyclonal antibody recognizing the N-terminus of human CAS/CSE1L. Protein expression levels were measured using the Allred semiquantitative scoring system. The data were evaluated using χ statistical analysis. Gene expression Omnibus was queried for CAS/CSE1L and BE neoplasia. RESULTS We found minimal to absent CAS/CSE1L in all BE tissue samples; however, CAS/CSE1L was upregulated in 60% of LGD and overexpressed in HGD and ADC. The results were statistically significant (P<0.05). The localization of CAS/CSE1L protein was nuclear in BE; it became nuclear and cytoplasmic in LGD and HGD, and predominantly cytoplasmic in ADC. A similar progressive increase was observed for CAS/CSE1L gene expression. CONCLUSION These findings show changes in CAS/CSE1L during BE progression. CAS/CSE1L may represent a potential marker for dysplasia/carcinoma.

EGFR L861Q Mutation in a Metastatic Solid-pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas

Abstract: Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPN) is a rare neoplasm that is typically indolent in nature. Surgical resection is the preferred method of treatment and often associated with a good prognosis. Local invasion and metastasis have been reported in a small subset of patients. Currently, there are limited data on the molecular mutation profile of invasive and metastatic SPN. In this report, we present the case of a 38-year-old female with a locally-invasive and unresectable SPN that, despite exhaustive chemoradiotherapy, progressed to liver metastasis. Pyrosequencing of the primary pancreatic tumor antecedent to metastasis showed an uncommon EGFR mutation at L861Q in the kinase domain of exon 21. This finding, if confirmed in additional cases of metastatic SPN, would support preoperative testing for EGFR mutation analysis to detect aggressive SPNs.

Real-time use of artificial intelligence in the evaluation of cancer in Barrett’s oesophagus

Abstract: Based on previous work by our group with manual annotation of visible Barrett oesophagus (BE) cancer images, a real-time deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) system was developed. While an expert endoscopist conducts the endoscopic assessment of BE, our AI system captures random images from the real-time camera livestream and provides a global prediction (classification), as well as a dense prediction (segmentation) differentiating accurately between normal BE and early oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The AI system showed an accuracy of 89.9% on 14 cases with neoplastic BE. This paper follows up on our prior publication on the application of AI and deep learning in the evaluation of BE.1 2 In our initial publications, we developed a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) model and demonstrated promising performance scores in the classification and segmentation domains during BE assessment.1 2 However, these results were achieved on optimal endoscopic images, which may not mirror the real-life situation sufficiently. To enable the seamless integration of AI-based image classification into the clinical workflow, our previous system was developed further to increase the speed of image analysis for classification and the resolution of the dense prediction, which shows the color-coded spatial distribution of cancer probabilities.1 2 Still based on deep convolutional neural nets (CNNs) and a residual net (ResNet) architecture with DeepLab V.3+, a state-of-the-art encoder–decoder network was adapted.3 To transfer the endoscopic livestream to our AI system, a capture card (Avermedia, Taiwan) was plugged to the endoscopic monitor. Online supplementary video 1 shows the setting of AI-based BE evaluation in the endoscopy room of the University Hospital Augsburg (figure 1). The AI prediction can be started at any time using either a button on the keyboard or a foot switch. The video clip shows examples of …

LncRNA BANCR promotes tumorigenesis and enhances adriamycin resistance in colorectal cancer

Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in the United States. Chemotherapeutic resistance is a massive obstacle for cancer treatment. The roles and molecular basis of long non-coding RNA BRAF-activated noncoding RNA (BANCR) in CRC progression and adriamycin (ADR) resistance have not been extensively identified. In this study, we found that BANCR and CSE1L expressions were upregulated in CRC tumor tissues. Meanwhile, CSE1L expression was correlated with depth of CRC. BANCR silencing suppressed cell proliferation and invasion capacity, increased apoptotic rate and potentiated cell sensitivity to ADR. CSE1L downregulation triggered a reduction of cell proliferation and invasion ability, and an increase of apoptosis rate and cell sensitivity to ADR. CSE1L overexpression attenuated si-BANCR-mediated anti-proliferation, anti-invasion and pro-apoptosis effects in CRC cells. BANCR acted as a molecular sponge of miR-203 to sequester miR-203 away from CSE1L in CRC cells, resulting in the upregulation of CSE1L expression. CSE1L knockdown inhibited expressions of DNA-repair-related proteins (53BP1 and FEN1) in HCT116 cells. BANCR knockdown also inhibited tumor growth and enhanced ADR sensitivity in CRC mice model. In conclusion, BANCR knockdown suppressed CRC progression and strengthened chemosensitization of CRC cells to ADR possibly by regulating miR-203/CSE1L axis, indicating that BANCR might be a promising target for CRC treatment.

Pancreatic Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm: Key Pathologic and Genetic Features.

Abstract: Context.— Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a low-grade malignant tumor generally associated with a good prognosis. Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms show peculiar morphologic feature...

A guide to multimodal endoscopy imaging for gastrointestinal malignancy - an early indicator.

Abstract: Multimodality imaging is an essential aspect of endoscopic surveillance for the detection of neoplastic lesions, such as dysplasia or intramucosal cancer, because it improves the efficacy of endoscopic surveillance and therapeutic procedures in the gastrointestinal tract. This approach reveals mucosal abnormalities that cannot be detected by standard endoscopy. Currently, these imaging techniques are divided into those for primary detection and those for targeted imaging and characterization, the latter being used to visualize areas of interest in detail and permit histological evaluation. This Review outlines the use of virtual chromoendoscopy, narrow-band imaging, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, confocal endomicroscopy and volumetric laser endomicroscopy as new imaging techniques for diagnostic investigation of the gastrointestinal tract. Insights into use of multimodal endoscopic imaging for early disease detection, in particular for pre-malignant lesions, in the oesophagus, stomach and colon are described.