Detection of a Tumor Suppressor Gene Variant Predisposing to Colorectal Cancer in an 18th Century Hungarian Mummy

The Clinicopathological Correlation of KRAS Mutation and PTEN Expression Status in Primary and Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) research has identified a consistent loss of PTEN expression in both primary tumors and metastasis, highlighting its potential role in this disease. However, the impact of PTEN on downstream proteins of KRAS mutation, namely p-AKT, p-ERK, and p65 (NFkB), remains unknown. This study aims to explore the inhibitory effect of PTEN on KRAS downstream proteins and its correlation with pathological features in CRC patients.

METHODS

From January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021, 86 CRC cases were collected from governmental and private laboratories in the Duhok province. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were obtained, and the study involved histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry of PTEN, AKT, ERK, and P65 markers, and molecular analysis of the KRAS gene.

RESULTS

Among the 86 cases, there were 46 males (53.5%) and 40 females (46.5%), with an equal distribution between right colon and left colon/rectum. Tumors larger than 5cm were observed in 47 cases, predominantly displaying a polypoid or ulcerated growth pattern. Most cases were moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas, with stages II and III being the most prevalent 31 cases (36%) and 34 cases (39.5%) respectively. Significant associations were found between PTEN, ERK expressions, and tumor location in the right colon (P=0.031 and P=0.009 respectively). Tumor size correlated with P65 expression (P=0.042). KRAS mutation showed a positive relationship with the type of tumor growth (P=0.035). Tumor grade increased with KRAS mutations (P=0.043). PTEN expression correlated significantly with ERK and AKT markers (P=0.018 and 0.035 respectively). P65 exhibited an association with KRAS mutation (P=0.034).

CONCLUSION

The study revealed PTEN expression in association with the inhibition of AKT and ERK, and the absence of KRAS gene mutation. Conversely, PTEN is not expressed with the positively reactive P65 and the presence of KRAS mutation. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay between PTEN expression, KRAS mutation, and downstream signaling pathways in CRC. It suggests potential avenues for further research and therapeutic strategies in the context of CRC treatment.

Employing radiography (X-rays) to localize lesions in human skeletal remains from past populations to allow accurate biopsy, using examples of cancer metastases

Clinical research into biomolecules from infectious diseases and cancers has advanced rapidly in recent years, with two key areas being DNA analysis and proteomics. If we wish to understand important diseases and their associated biomolecules in past populations, techniques are required that will allow accurate biopsy of lesions in excavated human skeletal remains. While locating lesions visible on the surface of a bone is simple, many lesions such as cancer metastases are located in the medulla of bones, unseen on visual inspection. Here, we use two novel image guided techniques to investigate how plain radiographs may improve accuracy in the localization of lesions within bones from medieval individuals. While both techniques were effective, we found the grid technique required fewer radiographs than the pointer technique to employ and so was responsible for a lower overall radiation dose. We then discuss methods available for biopsy in archeological bone and how the optimal location for the biopsy of malignant lesions will vary depending upon whether the tumor is blastic or lytic in nature. Limitations of this X-ray guided approach include that not all cancer metastases are visible on plain radiographs, as erosion of cortical bone is frequently required for visualization of lytic metastases using this imaging modality.

The prevalence of cancer in Britain before industrialization

BACKGROUND

To plan for cancer services in the future, the long view of cancer prevalence is essential. It might be suspected that cancer prevalence before tobacco and industrial revolution pollutants was quite different to today.

METHODS

To quantify the degree to which cancer prevalence may be changing over time, the authors analyzed 143 skeletons from 6 cemeteries from the Cambridge area (6th-16th centuries). Visual inspection coupled with screening using both plain radiographs and computed tomography scans was used to detect malignant lesions.

RESULTS

A total of 3.5% of individuals showed evidence for metastases. Factoring in modern data for the proportion of those with cancer that die with bone metastases, this suggests a minimum prevalence of all cancers at the time of death in medieval Britain to be approximately 9% to 14% of adults.

CONCLUSIONS

This figure compares with a 40% to 50% prevalence of cancer at the time of death for modern Britain. The difference may be explained by the effects of modern carcinogens, the spread of viruses that trigger malignancy, industrial pollutants, and longer life expectancy.

LAY SUMMARY

Until now, no one has been able to work out how common cancer was before the time people were exposed to tumor-inducing chemicals from tobacco and industrial factories. In this novel study, the authors have determined the percentage of people living in medieval Britain who had cancer metastases to bone at the time of their death and then compared that with modern data. It was found that cancer was approximately 25% as common in medieval times as it is today. This article suggests cancer was much more widespread in medieval times than was previously realized.

Multiple osteomata from medieval Tuscany, Italy (ca. 10th-12th AD)

OBJECTIVE

To explore the possible etiology of multiple osteomata on a skull and long bones from an individual from a medieval site in Tuscany, Italy.

MATERIALS

Human skeletal remains dating to the 10^th-12^th century AD from the parish church of S. Pietro in Pava, in the province of Siena (Tuscany, Central Italy).

METHODS

Macroscopic and imaging analyses (Cone Beam Computed Tomography).

RESULTS

Nine round-shaped new bone formations are observed on a female individual aged 40-50 years. The lesions have a smooth surface and range from 2.2-6 mm in diameter.

CONCLUSIONS

Cone Beam Computed Tomography confirmed that the lesions were composed of compact bone. Macroscopic and radiological features suggest the presence of nonsyndromic multiple osteomata.

SIGNIFICANCE

Single cranial osteomata are commonly observed in osteoarchaeological remains, but multiple osteomata are rare and might assist in our understanding of neoplastic conditions in the past.

LIMITATIONS

The lack of soft tissues prevents the diagnosis of complex disorders, such as the Gardner syndrome, which is characterised by multiple osteomata and polyposis of the colon.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Careful investigation and reporting of all neoplastic lesions in ancient human remains in order to increase our knowledge about the etiology in past human populations.

Molecular paleopathology and paleo-oncology-State of the art, potentials, limitations and perspectives

This paper reviews the current knowledge on molecular paleopathology with respect to oncological information. This covers both the information on the protein level (proteome) as well as the gene level (genome) and includes data on carcinogenic factors - such as molecular evidence for oncogenic viral infections. Currently, relatively little data is available for neoplastic disease in paleopathology. Likewise, few studies describe the biochemical or immunohistochemical analysis of tumors - a tool to potentially classify the tumor type and the underlying primary tumor in metastases. On the gene level, two studies described distinct molecular mutations in either a tumor-driving oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene, both being excellent examples for paleo-oncological studies. The paucity of historic tumor material - particularly when only osseous remains are available - represents the most hindering factor for molecular paleo-oncology. This can only be overcome in future by both the thorough investigation of mummified archaeological biomaterial and the improvement of analytical assays in order to trace even minute amounts of tumor material in osseous lesions.

Droplet digital PCR detects high rate of TP53 R249S mutants in cell-free DNA of middle African patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a major killing malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Lifelong intoxication with aflatoxin B1 is considered as one of the primary causes of this situation. The role of aflatoxin in HCC from a given population is commonly estimated through the prevalence of R249S mutation of TP53, a hallmark for previous exposure to the mycotoxin. However, the role of AFB1 is barely known in large part of Africa. We conducted a survey on circulating cell-free DNA from 149 patients with HCC and 213 control subjects with and without liver diseases from Cameroon and Central African Republic using droplet digital PCR technique. We observed a mutation prevalence of 24.8% (n = 37/149) in patients with tumor and 5.6% (n = 12/213) in controls (P = 2.2E-07). Patients with mutations usually displayed significantly increased circulating alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values, high hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA loads as well as worsened values of blood cells count. Interestingly, the fraction of droplets positive for R249S was significantly larger in patients with liver cancer (15.3 ± 3.7%) than in controls (0.5 ± 0.3%, P = 7.1E-04). Our survey indicates that AFB1 is instrumental for HCC development in Middle Africa and that droplet digital PCR might be used in the region both to diagnose HCC and to conduct public health surveys on populations at risk of chronic aflatoxin intoxication.