Variants Identified in the HOXC13 and HOXD13 Genes Suggest Association with Cervical Cancer in a Cohort of Mexican Women

HOX genes have been associated with carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism by which tumors are generated remains unclear. The HOXC13 and HOXD13 genes are of interest for their involvement in the development of genitourinary structures. The aim of this first study in the Mexican population was to search for and analyze variants in the coding region of the HOXC13 and HOXD13 genes in women with cervical cancer. Samples from Mexican women with cervical cancer and healthy women were sequenced (50/50). Allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared between groups. The functional impact of the proteins was determined with two bioinformatics servers (SIFT and PolyPhen-2), and the oncogenic potential of the identified nonsynonymous variants was determined using the CGI server. We identified five unreported gene variants: c.895C>A p.(Leu299Ile) and c.777C>T p.(Arg259Arg) in the HOXC13 gene and c.128T>A p.(Phe43Tyr), c.204G>A p.(Ala68Ala), and c.267G>A p.(Ser89Ser) in the HOXD13 gene. In this study, we suggest that the non-synonymous variants c.895C>A p.(Leu299Ile) and c.128T>A p.(Phe43Tyr) could represent a risk factor for the development of the disease, although additional studies in larger patient populations and in different ethnic groups are needed in order to support the results observed.

A pharmacoeconomic analysis of the collection and preservation of samples in the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" in Mexico City

In this work we estimated the budgetary impact of the samples produced by the biobank of the "Instituto Nacional de Cancerología" (BT-INCan) to set a recuperation fee from the perspective of the Health Ministry of Mexico. The study is an observational retrospective review of the direct medical costs (DMCs) of the processes involved in cryopreservation of the samples collected, on a per sample basis, including materials, laboratory tests, personnel, and administrative costs. Materials and labor costs were determined by information collected from the BT-INCan. DMCs were provided depending on the type of sample: plasma, tissue and biopsy; they were calculated according to the process required to preserve them. Sensitivity analysis was performed using bootstrap. Recuperation costs ranged from 130 to 155 USD. Costs were considered on a 5-year time frame for the maintenance per sample, which is the average time that a sample is kept in the BT-INCan. The cost analysis is perceived as an approximation to the most adequate recuperation fee per sample needed to guarantee the correct development of the BT-INCan. This work provides a basis and valuable information about costs, to enable several health institutions to strategically plan and manage a biobank or even motivate to establish their own biobank.

Hybrid tumours of the salivary glands. A report of two cases involving the palate and a review of the literature

Hybrid tumours are very rare salivary gland lesions composed of two or more different tumoural entities in a single neoplasm that arise within a definite topographical region. In most cases adenoid cystic carcinoma has been the predominant component in these lesions. In this study we describe two patients with hybrid tumours located in the palate, one in a 49-year-old woman and one in a 71-year-old man. The first case involved adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and the patient in the second case exhibited adenoid cystic carcinoma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. Both patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy, and there has been no evidence of recurrence after 13 and 36 months of follow-up, respectively. The recognition of the histologic component with the higher grade of malignancy in every case of hybrid tumour of the salivary glands is a necessary step to determine the biological behaviour and, consequently, to determine the proper therapeutic approach.