O propósito do presente estudo foi analisar as células epiteliais odontogênicas procurando um entendimento maior sobre a natureza e conseqüentemente o comportamento de algumas lesões odontogênicas. A expressão imunoistoquímica de p53 e PCNA foi analisada em cisto radicular, cisto dentígero, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto odontogênico calcificante (Cisto de Gorlin) onde verificou-se que no cisto radicular e cisto dentígero a expressão dos marcadores está relacionado com proliferação e stress celular causado pelo estímulo inflamatório e em ceratocisto odontogênico e Cisto de Gorlin a expressão dos marcadores corresponde a proliferação celular não descartando também a presença de mutação no gene TP53. Também foi observada a expressão de Ki-67, EGFR e Survivin em folículo pericoronário, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto dentígero que mostrou que as células epiteliais dos folículos pericoronários têm potencial proliferativo para formar lesões odontogênicas e que a proliferação das células do cisto dentígero é relacionada com o estímulo inflamatório. Todos os marcadores estudados comprovaram a natureza neoplásica do ceratocisto odontogênico. / The purpose of this study was to analyze odontogenic epithelial cells to contribute to the knowledge about their nature and, consequently, about the behavior of certain odontogenic lesions. Immunohistochemical expressions of p53 and PCNA were analyzed in radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and calcifying odontogenic cysts (Gorlin cyst). In radicular and dentigerous cysts, the expression of these markers was associated with cell proliferation and stress caused by an inflammatory stimulus. In keratocysts and Gorlin cysts, the expression of markers corresponded to cell proliferation. Results also showed possible mutation in TP53 gene. Also, Ki-67, EGFR and Survivin were expressed in pericoronal follicles, odontogenic keratocysts and dentigerous cysts, which demonstrated that epithelial cells of pericoronal follicles may proliferate to form odontogenic lesions and that cell proliferation in dentigerous cysts was associated with an inflammatory stimulus. The analysis of all markers under study confirmed the neoplastic nature of odontogenic keratocysts.

Introdução e objetivos: O adenocarcinoma de esôfago (AE) é um tumor agressivo, com o aumento da incidência em países ocidentais. Vários marcadores prognósticos têm sido propostos, incluindo o Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Epitelial (EGFR). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a expressão do EGFR está relacionada com o estadiamento tumoral e com a sobrevida. Métodos: Trata-se de uma coorte histórica na qual 70 pacientes consecutivos com AE atendidos entre 2000 a 2009 foram considerados elegíveis para o estudo. As peças cirúrgicas dos pacientes submetidos a esofagectomia transhiatal foram avaliadas para estabelecer a expressão do EGFR e analisadas em relação às variáveis dos pacientes. A sobrevida foi determinada de acordo com os registros nos prontuários médicos dos pacientes ou por contato telefônico com familiares. Resultados: Dos 70 pacientes, 37 (53%) preencheram os critérios para inclusão no estudo. A expressão do EGFR foi positiva em 16 pacientes (43%) e foi mais freqüente nos estágios tumorais mais avançados, TNM (I e II = 0% vs III = 47% vs IV = 100%, P <0,001). A sobrevida média em meses, foi significativamente menor no grupo de pacientes com expressão do EGFR (10,5 vs 21,7, P = 0,001) em comparação com pacientes sem expressão do EGFR. Houve maior expressão do EGFR em neoplasias com pobre diferenciação tumoral em relação aos bem diferenciados e moderadamente diferenciados. Conclusão: Em pacientes com adenocarcinoma de esôfago tratados com esofagectomia, a expressão de EGFR está relacionada com maior estádio TNM e menor sobrevida. A expressão do EGFR pode ser assumida como um marcador de prognóstico para o adenocarcinoma de esôfago. / Background and aims: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) is an aggressive tumor with increasing incidence in occidental countries. Several prognostic biomarkers have been proposed, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The aim of this study was to assess whether EGFR expression predicts tumor staging and survival. Methods: In this historical cohort, 70 consecutive patients with EA managed between 2000 and 2009 were considered eligible for the study. Surgical specimens from those treated with esophagectomy were evaluated to establish EGFR expression and tumor differentiation. Survival was determined according to medical register or patient contact. Results: Among 70 patients, 37 (53%) underwent esophagectomy without pre-surgical chemotherapy and composed the study population. Of these, EGFR expression was found in 16 patients (43%). EGFR expression was more frequent as higher was TNM staging (I and II = 0% vs. III = 47% vs. IV = 100%; P < 0.001). Average survival in months was significantly shorter in the group of patients with EGFR expression (10.5 vs. 21.7; P = 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with esophagectomy, EGFR expression was related with higher TNM staging and shorter survival. EGFR expression can be assumed as a prognostic marker for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Introdução: Gliomas são os tumores cerebrais mais frequentes em pacientes com neoplasias de Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC), sendo o Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) o mais agressivo e letal deles. Apesar dos esforços na melhoria dos tratamentos atuais, o prognóstico para os pacientes com GBM continua sendo incerto. Sendo necessário o uso de novas estratégias terapêuticas que visem melhorar o manejo dos gliomas malignos. A combinação de terapias que agem nas principais vias de sinalização celular envolvidas na progressão do câncer poderia potencializar o efeito antitumoral das monoterapias. Métodos: As linhagens celulares U-87 e A-172 foram tratadas com o anti-EGFR tyrphostin AG1478, o inibidor de histonas deacetilases butirato de sódio (NaB) ou a combinação de ambos, por 72 horas. Tanto a viabilidade avaliada em 72 horas quanto a proliferação celular a longo prazo foram medidas através do ensaio de exclusão com azul de tripan em câmara de Neubauer. A influência do tratamento no ciclo celular e a capacidade de formar colônias foram avaliadas através da marcação com iodeto de propídeo e ensaio clonogênico, respectivamente. Resultados: Foi possível observar que o tratamento combinado com AG1478 e NaB foi capaz de reduzir a viabilidade e a proliferação celular na linhagem U-87 de GBM. Conclusão: Nosso trabalho mostrou que a inibição da via do receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico (EGFR) combinada com a inibição das histonas deacetilases foi mais efetiva que as monoterapias na inibição da viabilidade e a proliferação celular. Esta redução foi significativa na linhagem U-87. Futuros estudos devem ser feitos para descobrir as possíveis interações entre as duas vias de sinalização em GBM. / Introduction: Gliomas are the most frequent brain tumors, in patients with Central Nervous system (NCS) malignancies, being the Glioblastoma Multiforme the most aggressive and lethal of all. Despite current multimodality treatment efforts, the prognosis for GBM patients remains poor. New therapeutic strategies that target these pathways to improve the treatment of malignant gliomas are needed. Combination of therapies with synergistic effects in the cellular signaling pathways of cancer could potentiate the anti-tumor effect of monotherapy alone. Methods: U87 and A172 cell lines were treated with the anti-EGFR Thyrphostin AG1478, the Histone Deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Sodyum Butyrate (NaB), or combination of both, for 72 hours. The cellular proliferation in short and in a long time was measured through the trypan-blue assay on neubauer chamber, the influence on the cell cycle and the capability of form colonies was evaluated by nuclear staining with propidium iodide and clonogenic assay respectively. Results: We found that combined treatment with AG1478 and NaB, are able to reduce the viability and proliferation in U-87. Conclusion: Our work show that combined inhibition of both epidermal growth factor receptor and histone deacetylases was able to reduce cell proliferation in GBM cell lines. This reduction was considerably significant in U-87 cell lines when compared with individual treatments. Further studies should be performed to discover the possible crosstalk between the signaling pathways of both targets in GBM.

O propósito do presente estudo foi analisar as células epiteliais odontogênicas procurando um entendimento maior sobre a natureza e conseqüentemente o comportamento de algumas lesões odontogênicas. A expressão imunoistoquímica de p53 e PCNA foi analisada em cisto radicular, cisto dentígero, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto odontogênico calcificante (Cisto de Gorlin) onde verificou-se que no cisto radicular e cisto dentígero a expressão dos marcadores está relacionado com proliferação e stress celular causado pelo estímulo inflamatório e em ceratocisto odontogênico e Cisto de Gorlin a expressão dos marcadores corresponde a proliferação celular não descartando também a presença de mutação no gene TP53. Também foi observada a expressão de Ki-67, EGFR e Survivin em folículo pericoronário, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto dentígero que mostrou que as células epiteliais dos folículos pericoronários têm potencial proliferativo para formar lesões odontogênicas e que a proliferação das células do cisto dentígero é relacionada com o estímulo inflamatório. Todos os marcadores estudados comprovaram a natureza neoplásica do ceratocisto odontogênico. / The purpose of this study was to analyze odontogenic epithelial cells to contribute to the knowledge about their nature and, consequently, about the behavior of certain odontogenic lesions. Immunohistochemical expressions of p53 and PCNA were analyzed in radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and calcifying odontogenic cysts (Gorlin cyst). In radicular and dentigerous cysts, the expression of these markers was associated with cell proliferation and stress caused by an inflammatory stimulus. In keratocysts and Gorlin cysts, the expression of markers corresponded to cell proliferation. Results also showed possible mutation in TP53 gene. Also, Ki-67, EGFR and Survivin were expressed in pericoronal follicles, odontogenic keratocysts and dentigerous cysts, which demonstrated that epithelial cells of pericoronal follicles may proliferate to form odontogenic lesions and that cell proliferation in dentigerous cysts was associated with an inflammatory stimulus. The analysis of all markers under study confirmed the neoplastic nature of odontogenic keratocysts.

Introdução: Gliomas são os tumores cerebrais mais frequentes em pacientes com neoplasias de Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC), sendo o Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) o mais agressivo e letal deles. Apesar dos esforços na melhoria dos tratamentos atuais, o prognóstico para os pacientes com GBM continua sendo incerto. Sendo necessário o uso de novas estratégias terapêuticas que visem melhorar o manejo dos gliomas malignos. A combinação de terapias que agem nas principais vias de sinalização celular envolvidas na progressão do câncer poderia potencializar o efeito antitumoral das monoterapias. Métodos: As linhagens celulares U-87 e A-172 foram tratadas com o anti-EGFR tyrphostin AG1478, o inibidor de histonas deacetilases butirato de sódio (NaB) ou a combinação de ambos, por 72 horas. Tanto a viabilidade avaliada em 72 horas quanto a proliferação celular a longo prazo foram medidas através do ensaio de exclusão com azul de tripan em câmara de Neubauer. A influência do tratamento no ciclo celular e a capacidade de formar colônias foram avaliadas através da marcação com iodeto de propídeo e ensaio clonogênico, respectivamente. Resultados: Foi possível observar que o tratamento combinado com AG1478 e NaB foi capaz de reduzir a viabilidade e a proliferação celular na linhagem U-87 de GBM. Conclusão: Nosso trabalho mostrou que a inibição da via do receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico (EGFR) combinada com a inibição das histonas deacetilases foi mais efetiva que as monoterapias na inibição da viabilidade e a proliferação celular. Esta redução foi significativa na linhagem U-87. Futuros estudos devem ser feitos para descobrir as possíveis interações entre as duas vias de sinalização em GBM. / Introduction: Gliomas are the most frequent brain tumors, in patients with Central Nervous system (NCS) malignancies, being the Glioblastoma Multiforme the most aggressive and lethal of all. Despite current multimodality treatment efforts, the prognosis for GBM patients remains poor. New therapeutic strategies that target these pathways to improve the treatment of malignant gliomas are needed. Combination of therapies with synergistic effects in the cellular signaling pathways of cancer could potentiate the anti-tumor effect of monotherapy alone. Methods: U87 and A172 cell lines were treated with the anti-EGFR Thyrphostin AG1478, the Histone Deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) Sodyum Butyrate (NaB), or combination of both, for 72 hours. The cellular proliferation in short and in a long time was measured through the trypan-blue assay on neubauer chamber, the influence on the cell cycle and the capability of form colonies was evaluated by nuclear staining with propidium iodide and clonogenic assay respectively. Results: We found that combined treatment with AG1478 and NaB, are able to reduce the viability and proliferation in U-87. Conclusion: Our work show that combined inhibition of both epidermal growth factor receptor and histone deacetylases was able to reduce cell proliferation in GBM cell lines. This reduction was considerably significant in U-87 cell lines when compared with individual treatments. Further studies should be performed to discover the possible crosstalk between the signaling pathways of both targets in GBM.

Les carcinomes hépatocellulaires (CHC) sont la deuxième cause de décès par cancer dans le monde. La signalisation du récepteur du facteur de croissance épidermique (EGFR) joue un rôle au cours du développement des CHC. Il a été montré que le trafic intracellulaire régulait la signalisation des récepteurs de la famille ErbB dans les CHC. De façon intéressante, l'expression de la clathrine, un acteur majeur de l'endocytose, est anormalement élevée dans les CHC. Ainsi, les objectifs de nos travaux étaient de définir si l'endocytose module la signalisation de la famille des récepteurs ErbB en réponse à divers ligands. Les expériences ont été effectuées dans trois lignées cellulaires issues de CHC, qui expriment des niveaux variables des différents récepteurs ErbB. Nos résultats montrent que l'inhibition de l'expression de la clathrine par ARN interférence était associée à une diminution significative de la phosphorylation des récepteurs EGFR, ErbB2 et ErbB3. La phosphorylation de STAT3 était significativement augmentée dans toutes les lignées. Les conséquences de l'inhibition pharmacologique de la dynamine et de la régulation négative de SMAP1 par ARN interférence ont été étudiées dans la lignée Hep3B. L'inhibition de la dynamine entraînait une augmentation significative des niveaux de phosphorylation d'EGFR, d'ErbB3 et d'AKT, alors que SMAP1 ne jouait aucun rôle dans la signalisation. Au total, nos observations soulignent que la signalisation des récepteurs ErbB dans les CHC est un processus complexe qui dépend de l'expression des différents membres de la famille ErbB et de la disponibilité de leurs ligands dans l'environnement tumoral. / Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of death by cancer in the world. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling axis plays a key role in HCC. Intracellular trafficking has been shown to regulate receptor signalling, and to be altered in HCC. Our aim was to investigate whether endocytosis may modulate signalling of the ErbB receptor family in response to various ligands. The experiments have been performed in three HCC cell lines, which express variable levels of ErbB receptors. We investigated the role of clathrin, dynamin, and SMAP1 (Small ArfGAP1). Our results show that the effects of down-regulating clathrin by siRNA varied among HCC cell lines, depending on the ligand. Upon clathrin down-regulation by RNA interference, EGFR phosphorylation decreased in Hep3B and in PLC/PRF/5 cells stimulated with AR, EGF or HB-EGF, as well as in HRG-stimulated PLC/PRF/5 cells. Clathrin inhibition decreased ErbB2 phosphorylation in HepG2 cells stimulated with EGF, HB-EGF or HRG, and in HRG-stimulated PLC/PRF/5 cells. Phosphorylation of ErbB3 significantly decreased in all cell lines upon stimulation with EGF, HB-EGF or HRG. STAT3 phosphorylation significantly increased in all cell lines. Dynamin inhibition by dynasore led to a significant increase in the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB3 and AKT, in the Hep3B cell line. SMAP1 played no role in the early signalling of ErbB receptors upon stimulation with whatever ligand. Altogether, our observations underline that ErbB signalling in HCC is a complex process that may depend on the expression of the various ErbB family members and on the availability of their ligands in the tumour environment.

Introdução e objetivos: O adenocarcinoma de esôfago (AE) é um tumor agressivo, com o aumento da incidência em países ocidentais. Vários marcadores prognósticos têm sido propostos, incluindo o Receptor do Fator de Crescimento Epitelial (EGFR). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a expressão do EGFR está relacionada com o estadiamento tumoral e com a sobrevida. Métodos: Trata-se de uma coorte histórica na qual 70 pacientes consecutivos com AE atendidos entre 2000 a 2009 foram considerados elegíveis para o estudo. As peças cirúrgicas dos pacientes submetidos a esofagectomia transhiatal foram avaliadas para estabelecer a expressão do EGFR e analisadas em relação às variáveis dos pacientes. A sobrevida foi determinada de acordo com os registros nos prontuários médicos dos pacientes ou por contato telefônico com familiares. Resultados: Dos 70 pacientes, 37 (53%) preencheram os critérios para inclusão no estudo. A expressão do EGFR foi positiva em 16 pacientes (43%) e foi mais freqüente nos estágios tumorais mais avançados, TNM (I e II = 0% vs III = 47% vs IV = 100%, P <0,001). A sobrevida média em meses, foi significativamente menor no grupo de pacientes com expressão do EGFR (10,5 vs 21,7, P = 0,001) em comparação com pacientes sem expressão do EGFR. Houve maior expressão do EGFR em neoplasias com pobre diferenciação tumoral em relação aos bem diferenciados e moderadamente diferenciados. Conclusão: Em pacientes com adenocarcinoma de esôfago tratados com esofagectomia, a expressão de EGFR está relacionada com maior estádio TNM e menor sobrevida. A expressão do EGFR pode ser assumida como um marcador de prognóstico para o adenocarcinoma de esôfago. / Background and aims: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) is an aggressive tumor with increasing incidence in occidental countries. Several prognostic biomarkers have been proposed, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The aim of this study was to assess whether EGFR expression predicts tumor staging and survival. Methods: In this historical cohort, 70 consecutive patients with EA managed between 2000 and 2009 were considered eligible for the study. Surgical specimens from those treated with esophagectomy were evaluated to establish EGFR expression and tumor differentiation. Survival was determined according to medical register or patient contact. Results: Among 70 patients, 37 (53%) underwent esophagectomy without pre-surgical chemotherapy and composed the study population. Of these, EGFR expression was found in 16 patients (43%). EGFR expression was more frequent as higher was TNM staging (I and II = 0% vs. III = 47% vs. IV = 100%; P < 0.001). Average survival in months was significantly shorter in the group of patients with EGFR expression (10.5 vs. 21.7; P = 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with esophagectomy, EGFR expression was related with higher TNM staging and shorter survival. EGFR expression can be assumed as a prognostic marker for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

O propósito do presente estudo foi analisar as células epiteliais odontogênicas procurando um entendimento maior sobre a natureza e conseqüentemente o comportamento de algumas lesões odontogênicas. A expressão imunoistoquímica de p53 e PCNA foi analisada em cisto radicular, cisto dentígero, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto odontogênico calcificante (Cisto de Gorlin) onde verificou-se que no cisto radicular e cisto dentígero a expressão dos marcadores está relacionado com proliferação e stress celular causado pelo estímulo inflamatório e em ceratocisto odontogênico e Cisto de Gorlin a expressão dos marcadores corresponde a proliferação celular não descartando também a presença de mutação no gene TP53. Também foi observada a expressão de Ki-67, EGFR e Survivin em folículo pericoronário, ceratocisto odontogênico e cisto dentígero que mostrou que as células epiteliais dos folículos pericoronários têm potencial proliferativo para formar lesões odontogênicas e que a proliferação das células do cisto dentígero é relacionada com o estímulo inflamatório. Todos os marcadores estudados comprovaram a natureza neoplásica do ceratocisto odontogênico. / The purpose of this study was to analyze odontogenic epithelial cells to contribute to the knowledge about their nature and, consequently, about the behavior of certain odontogenic lesions. Immunohistochemical expressions of p53 and PCNA were analyzed in radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and calcifying odontogenic cysts (Gorlin cyst). In radicular and dentigerous cysts, the expression of these markers was associated with cell proliferation and stress caused by an inflammatory stimulus. In keratocysts and Gorlin cysts, the expression of markers corresponded to cell proliferation. Results also showed possible mutation in TP53 gene. Also, Ki-67, EGFR and Survivin were expressed in pericoronal follicles, odontogenic keratocysts and dentigerous cysts, which demonstrated that epithelial cells of pericoronal follicles may proliferate to form odontogenic lesions and that cell proliferation in dentigerous cysts was associated with an inflammatory stimulus. The analysis of all markers under study confirmed the neoplastic nature of odontogenic keratocysts.

No description available.

The NADPH oxidase homolog, dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1), is an H2O2 producing transmembrane enzyme highly expressed in the airway epithelium. DUOX1-dependent redox signaling has been characterized to regulate many homeostatic processes in the lung epithelium, such as host defense, wound healing, and type II immune responses. Intriguingly, DUOX1 has been found to be suppressed in many epithelial cancers, including lung cancer, by hypermethylation of its promoter. Epigenetic silencing of DUOX1 in cancer is paradoxical to the understanding that tumors harbor elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that DUOX1 may be a tumor suppressor. Since DUOX1 loss occurs in many forms of lung cancer, we aimed to characterize the functional importance of DUOX1 suppression. RNAi-mediated knockdown of DUOX1 in lung epithelial cells induced features of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a characteristic of aggressive or invasive tumor cells. Indeed, DUOX1 suppression promoted the acquisition of molecular signatures associated with EMT, such as the loss of E-cadherin, and induced expression of vimentin and smooth muscle actin. Additionally, we find that DUOX1 suppression promotes the acquisition of other EMT-related features, such as enhanced levels of cancer stem cell molecular markers, cellular invasiveness, and critically, resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition. Importantly, overexpression of DUOX1 in DUOX1-lacking lung cancer cells promoted the recovery of epithelial characteristics, pinning DUOX1 as a critical mediator of the epithelial phenotype. Based on prior studies demonstrating DUOX1 as an important regulator of EGFR signaling in the lung epithelium, we hypothesized that DUOX1 loss in lung cancer may impact EGFR regulation. EGFR belongs to a larger family of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases, which are often overexpressed or mutated in many forms of lung cancer. Surprisingly, we find that lung cancer cells lacking DUOX1 have significantly altered EGFR redox regulation, specifically, kinetically enhanced cysteine oxidation-reduction dynamics. Additionally, our results demonstrate DUOX1-lacking cancer cells have altered intracellular EGFR trafficking with enhanced nuclear targeting. Indeed, we observe many oncogenic features of nuclear EGFR e.g. enhanced migratory capacity, resistance to EGFR blocking antibodies. Finally, we have uncovered that EGFR cysteine redox dynamics may regulate intracellular trafficking and/or nuclear transport, offering potentially novel avenues in the design of therapeutics. Proper DUOX1 localization and enzymatic function in the plasma membrane requires partnership with its maturation factor, dual oxidase maturation factor 1 (DUOXA1). Preliminary findings from a newly designed DUOX1-DUOXA1 co-expression system suggests that following enzymatic activation of DUOX1, DUOXA1 dissociates from DUOX1 and potentially translocates to the nucleus, a feature not previously described in lung epithelial or cancer cells. While these preliminary results require additional experimentation, this could be a unique regulatory feature of DUOX1 and a novel role for DUOXA1. Collectively, the research demonstrated in this dissertation characterizes the functional and mechanistic importance of DUOX1 suppression in cancer. Indeed, loss of DUOX1 expression may be an indicator of tumor aggressiveness and responsiveness to EGFR-targeted therapies, warranting its potential for use as a clinical biomarker in lung cancer.