TGFBR2 mutation and MTHFR-C677T polymorphism in a Mexican mestizo population with cervico-cerebral artery dissection
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
Authors: Ruiz-Franco, Angelica; Barboza, Miguel A.; Jara-Prado, Aurelio; Canizales-Quinteros, Samuel; Leon-Mimila, Paola; Arguelles-Morales, Nayelli; Vargas-Gonzalez, Juan-Camilo; Quiroz-Compean, Alejandro; Arauz, Antonio
Abstract
Spontaneous cervico-cerebral artery dissection (CCAD) is a common condition found among young patients with ischemic stroke. We examined the possible association between the polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)-C677T and the gene mutation in transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFBR2) in a cohort of CCAD patients. One-hundred CCAD cases (65 males; mean age: 38.08 +/- 10.68 years) and 100 matching controls were included. Ancestry informative markers (AIMs) were used to increase internal validity of the genetic analysis. Genotypes of the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism; direct sequencing was used for a mutation analysis of the TGFBR2 gene. Associations were evaluated using a multivariate statistics, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was analyzed. We also incorporated our data into a meta-analysis of the MTHFR-C677T. Sixty-three patients presented with vertebral and 37 with carotid artery dissection. Ancestry markers found a call rate on each over 95 %. All AIMs did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). The homozygous TT genotype was more frequent in cases (OR 2.04, CI 95 % 1.53-2.72, p = 0.005), whereas no significant difference was found on heterozygous CT genotype. TGFBR2 mutation was not present in our samples. In the meta-analysis of MTHFR/C677T variant, a total 613 cases and 1547 controls were analyzed; we found a moderate association for the recessive model genotype (OR 2.04, CI 95 % 1.53-2.72; p = 0.342; Z = 4.83; I (2) = 11.3). This study supports a positive association between the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism and genetically confirmed Mexican mestizo CCAD patients.
Immunohistochemical validation of COL3A1, GPR158 and PITHD1 as prognostic biomarkers in early-stage ovarian carcinomasn
BMC CANCER
Authors: Engqvist, Hanna; Parris, Toshima Z.; Kovacs, Aniko; Nemes, Szilard; Ronnerman, Elisabeth Werner; De Lara, Shahin; Biermann, Jana; Sundfeldt, Karin; Karlsson, Per; Helou, Khalil
Abstract
Background: Ovarian cancer is the main cause of gynecological cancer-associated death. However, 5-year survival rates differ dramatically between the five main ovarian carcinoma histotypes. Therefore, we need to have a better understanding of the mechanisms that promote histotype-specific ovarian carcinogenesis and identify novel prognostic biomarkers. Methods: Here, we evaluated the prognostic role of 29 genes for early-stage (I and II) ovarian carcinomas (n = 206) using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: We provide evidence of aberrant protein expression patterns for Collagen type III alpha 1 chain (COL3A1), G protein-coupled receptor 158 (GPR158) and PITH domain containing 1 (PITHD1). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that COL3A1 expression was associated with shorter overall survival in the four major histotypes of epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients (P value = 0.026, HR = 2.99 (95% CI 1.089-8.19)). Furthermore, GPR158 and PITHD1 were shown to be histotype-specific prognostic biomarkers, with elevated GPR158 expression patterns in mucinous ovarian carcinoma patients with unfavorable overall survival (P value = 0.00043, HR = 6.13 (95% CI 1.98-18.98)), and an association with lower PITHD1 protein expression and unfavorable overall and disease- specific survival in clearcell ovarian carcinoma patients (P value = 0.012, HR = 0.22 (95% CI 0.058-0.80); P value = 0.003, HR = 0.17 (95% CI 0.043-0.64)). Conclusions: The novel biomarkers identified here may improve prognostication at the time of diagnosis and may assist in the development of future individualized therapeutic strategies for ovarian carcinoma patients.