Cancer Research Institute

About: Cancer Research Institute is a nonprofit organization based out in New York, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 1061 authors who have published 754 publications receiving 26712 citations.

The journey of biospecimens: mortuaries to biorepositories.

Abstract: Our obsession for a sneak preview inside the causation and progression of cancer revolves around the study of tumours, normal tissues and body fluids and in current parlance all these are termed as ‘Biospecimens’. In the 19 century these biospecimens comprising of human parts and organs were provided by the mortuaries and museums; in the 20 century the biospecimens were paraffin embedded tissues and were provided by the pathology departments; and in the 21 century the ultimate provider of all biospecimens will be the organised world of ‘Biorepositories’. Diligent biospecimen providers kept pace with how the clinicians, pathologists and scientists of their era could best utilise these biospecimens, which to some extent depended on the technologies available to them. The naked eye examination of the cancer affliction of various organs during autopsy studies laid foundation to principles of cancer surgery and also resulted in the famous ‘Seed and Soil’ hypothesis on cancer metastasis by Paget in 1889. Substantial progress was then made with the power of microscopy that allowed detailed study of cellular and nuclear morphology by pathologists and resulted in the all important histological types and subtypes of cancer that we presently recognize. The biospecimen par excellence of the microscopy era were tumour and normal tissues chemically fixed and paraffin embedded and stored for decades. The merger of molecular and cell biology and the emerging ‘...omics’ technologies are now demanding a large number of biospecimens in the form of fresh or frozen tumour and normal tissues and body fluids. It is believed that as the microscope led to great knowledge of histological types and subtypes, the present technologies will utilise these biospecimens to understand and define molecular types and subtypes of cancer, validate new biomarkers and lay the foundation for pathway specific or targeted therapy.

Blood Based Methylated DNA and Tumor-Specific Protein Analysis in Gastric Cancer Diagnostics

Abstract: Promoter methylation rates of three tumor suppressor genes were detected in the total cirDNA, derived from plasma and cell-surface-bound fractions, of gastric cancer patients (n = 30) and healthy subjects (n = 30) using MS-PCR. The tumor marker protein levels (CEA, CA 72.4, CA 19.9) were assessed in plasma samples by commercial immunoassay kits. Methylated forms of p15, MGMT and hMLH1genes were detected in the total cirDNA with high rates at II, III and IV stages of gastric cancer. Sensitivity of the MS-PCR-based assay for at least one of methylated p15 and hMLH1 genes in gastric cancer was found to be much higher compared with the sensitivity of the immunoassay for elevated levels of CA 72.4 and CA 19.9 proteins (63 and 30%, respectively). No significant correlation was found between epigenetic and protein markers so indicating their independent development in gastric tumor pathogenesis. To conclude, epigenetic alterations of total cirDNA and elevated levels of tumor-associated proteins were found to be independently associated with gastric cancer indicating their usefulness as complementary diagnostic and prognostic markers for gastric cancer.

Molecular Biology in the Breast Clinics-Current status and future perspectives.

Abstract: Breast cancer is no longer considered a single disease, and with better understanding of cancer biology, its management has evolved over the years, into a complex individualized use of therapeutics based on variable expressions of predictive and prognostic factors. With the advent of molecular and genetic research, the complexity and diversity of breast cancer cells and their ability to survive and develop resistance to treatment strategies became more evident. At the same time, targeted therapies evolved, as specific targets were discovered such as HER2 receptor, and androgen receptor. More recent is the development of immunotherapy which aims at strengthening the host immune system to identify and kill the tumor cells. In breast cancer treatment, use of molecular tests has been a target of controversies, due to their high costs and inaccessibility in limited resource situations. Research in breast cancer is also proceeding at a rapid pace, but it is important to remember that breast cancer continues to be a complex interplay of alterations at molecular and genetic level, with the variability in expressions at protein level leading to difference in behavior and responses to treatment and overall outcome. In the succeeding paragraphs, we will try to review the available evidence in literature and attempt to understand the molecular complexity of breast cancer in order to simplify the art of treating the disease and improving outcomes.

Probiotic Bacteria in Patients Treated with Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

Abstract: Probiotics are live microorganisms, which as drugs or food supplements help to maintain health beneficial microbial balance in the digestive tract of a human or other host. Probiotics by their properties may help strengthen homeostasis and thus reduce side effects associated with cancer treatment. Experimental evidence suggest that probiotics might have beneficial effect on the toxicity of anticancer therapy. Probiotics might have beneficial effects on some aspects of toxicity related to anticancer treatment especially radiation therapy. However, reported trial varies in utilized probiotic strains and dose of probiotics, and vast majority of them are small trials with substantial risk of bias. Despite limited data, it seems that probiotic bacteria as live microorganisms could be safely administered even in setting of prolonged neutropenia. Current evidence supporting probiotic use as adjunctive therapy to anticancer treatment is limited, especially in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Well designed clinical trials are needed to find true role of probiotics in oncology.