Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the antiproliferative and apoptotic effect of Pleurotus ostreatus ethanolic extract (POEet) on human mammary carcinoma cell line (Michigan cancer foundation-7 [MCF-7]). Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed to isolate and quantify the active constituent of POEet chloroform fraction. Cytotoxic property of POEet on MCF-7 and Vero cells was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We further evaluated the apoptotic effect by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), dual staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide), comet assay, DNA fragmentation, and oxidant/antioxidant status in MCF-7 cells treated with and without POEet. Results: GC-MS analysis identified 30 phytochemical constituents from the POEet chloroform fraction. MTT assay revealed a greater degree of cytotoxicity at almost all doses of POEet, with IC₃₀ value (164.59 µg/mL) and IC₅₀ value (1024.02 µg/mL) greatly inhibiting the cell growth. In addition, POEet could modulate the levels of oxidant/antioxidant status and induce a potent loss mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage, and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a potent anticancer property of P. ostreatus against human mammary carcinoma cells which might be of value in nutraceutical industry. Further investigations are essential to establish it as a treatment against breast cancer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association of age with the clinicopathological findings, phenotypic expression of circulating prostate cells (CPCs) and micrometastasis, biochemical failure and effect of androgen blockade after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer in Chilean men. Methods: This is a prospective, observational, single-center study of Chilean men who underwent radical prostatectomy. Three months after surgery, the peripheral blood was collected to analyze the biochemical failure by measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the serum. The blood and bone marrow were collected to detect the presence of CPCs and the bone marrow micrometastasis by checking the expression of PSA, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) using standard immunocytochemistry. The clinicopathological findings, phenotypic expression of CPCs and micrometastasis, biochemical failure and effect of androgen blockade were analyzed for association with age. Results: In total, 120/338 (36.6%) of patients were ≥ 70 years (older men). A higher frequency of biochemical failure occurred in older men with negative surgical margins, a Gleason score ≥ 8, and pT3 tumors compared to patients < 70 years of age (younger men). The expression of HER-2 and MMP-2 was higher in CPCs and micrometastasis in older men. After androgen blockade, the expression of HER-2 and MMP-2 was similar in both groups. With androgen blockade, more younger men became micrometastasis negative (49% vs. 15%) while more older men became castrate resistant (83% vs. 43%). Conclusion: After radical prostatectomy, the older men with pathological features of Gleason score ≥ 8, pT3 tumors, and positive extracapsular extension had higher frequency of biochemical failure and the presence of CPCs. The treatment of androgen blockade was less successful to suppress the disease relapse in the older men than that in the younger man.

Aim: To assess the incidence and characteristics of carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of CUP cases treated in our medical center between 1975 and 2010, the results of which were statistically analyzed. Further, a comprehensive literature search, using PubMed database, on CUP cases was performed, and the results were discussed. Results: A total of 1250 cases were identified, with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Median age at diagnosis was 56 ± 16 years. Liver was the most common site of metastasis, followed by neck and peritoneum. Majority of cases (54.5%) received supportive treatment only, with the overall survival, over 1 year period, being 49%. Univariate analysis revealed pathology, gender, and site of disease as the significant predictors of survival, whereas pathology failed to reach significance on multivariate analysis, with “lymph nodes only” carrying the best prognosis. Conclusion: Our data confirm the heterogeneity of CUP cases and variable treatment courses. This highlights the importance of establishing a national registry for this subgroup of cancer patients. Moreover, there is a need to develop multidisciplinary specialist teams and protocols to manage this group of patients, and participation in clinical trials should be strongly encouraged.

Overweight and obesity are dramatically increasing worldwide. In addition to being the most important factor for the increase in diabetes prevalence, there is a growing evidence of obesity being also significantly associated with the risks and poor outcome in ovarian cancer (OVC). Metformin is the most widely used first-line type 2 diabetes drug, currently being studied for its association with the decreased risk of occurrence and better survival of OVC patients. In this review, we discussed the proposed mechanisms of metformin-exerted anticancer effects, as well as the preclinical and clinical data suggesting its beneficial effect against this devastating condition.

Malignant glioma, a common form of central nervous system tumor, has a poor prognosis. The overall survival of these patients is as low as 12–14 months only. In general, the progress in personal precision medication has been gradually directed toward the molecular profiling of the tumors. Malignant glioma is one such tumor in which treatment response relies largely on its molecular characteristics, thus making the understanding of these markers essential to deliver the best treatment possible. Representative molecular markers (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation, 1p19q codeletion, epidermal growth factor receptor variant III amplification, human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations, alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked mutation, and O^[6]-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation) are described/discussed in this article. Furthermore, the research prospects of cell-free DNA, regarded as a new developing trend of molecular markers, are discussed. There is an immense hope in these promising molecular markers which are expected to improve the overall survival and quality of life of malignant glioma patients.