Beef tenderness contributes significantly to variation of beef palatability, and is largely influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. To identify candidate genes and pathways related to beef tenderness, we analyzed the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of Angus cattle that had different degrees of tenderness, measured by Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Microarray and RT-PCR analyses identified 53 genes that were differentially expressed in LD samples categorized as either tough or tender, including myosin, heavy chain 3 skeletal muscle embryonic (MYH3), myosin heavy chain 8 skeletal muscle perinatal (MYH8), guanylate binding protein 5 (GBP5), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD), Fatty acid synthase (FASN), ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1). Most of these genes are involved in lipid metabolism and skeletal muscle contraction. Employing Gene ontology (GO) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), several GO terms and pathways were found to be related to hydrolase, peptidase and GTPase activity, lipid metabolism, small molecule biochemistry, molecular transport, and tissue development. Overall, this analysis provides insight into the metabolic relationships between muscle biology and beef quality.

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The high frequency and stability in EGFR expression is encouraging for efforts to use EGFR targeting agents (e.g. Iressa, Tarceva, Erbitux or radiolabeled antibodies) for therapy of laryngeal carcinoma. For a few laryngeal carcinoma patients with HER2 overexpression, anti-HER2 agents could possibly be used.

BackgroundThere is currently no worldwide consensus for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). We evaluated the efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as the initial treatment for HCC with extensive PVTT based on a relatively large number of patients.MethodsIn our multidisciplinary approach for patients with hepatobiliary tumors, SBRT is recommended for unresectable HCC with PVTT or those with contraindication for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). The aim is to shrink the tumor thrombus and preserve adequate portal venous flow, thus facilitating subsequent treatments such as TACE and tumor resection. In the present study, 70 continuous cases of HCC patients with extensive PVTT initially treated with SBRT were studied. The median follow-up period was 9.5 months (range, 1.0–21.0 months). The dynamic changes of tumor thrombosis with time after SBRT were also analyzed.ResultsThe median survival time for the whole group was 10.0 months (95% CI, 7.7–12.3 months), with a 6- and 12-month overall survival (OS) rate of 67.3%, and 40.0% respectively. Patients who received combined SBRT and TACE showed significantly longer OS than those without indication for TACE after SBRT (12.0 ± 1.6 vs. 3.0 ± 1.0 months). Patients with good response to radiation usually had better survival. SBRT was well tolerated in our patient series.ConclusionsIn conclusion, SBRT used as the initial treatment for HCC patients with extensive PVTT originally unsuitable for resection or TACE can achieve adequate thrombus shrinkage and portal vein flow restoration in the majority of cases. It could thus offer the patients an opportunity to undergo further treatment such as resection or TACE procedure. Such therapeutic strategy may result in survival advantage, especially for those who do receive combined modality with SBRT.

Abstract. The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was analyzed in immunohistochemical preparations from 46 primary parotid mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC). For the cases with lymph node metastases, the receptor expressions were investigated in parallel samples, primary tumour and metastasis, from each patient (n=11). The goal was to evaluate whether any of these receptors are suitable as a target for radionuclide-based imaging and therapy. The HercepTest scoring was used for the analysis of both HER2 and EGFR expression (0, 1+, 2+ or 3+). EGFR overexpression (2+/3+) was found in 67.4% (31/46) of the primary tumours. Out of the 11 cases with evaluated paired samples, EGFR overexpression was observed in 81.8% (9/11) of the primary tumours and 72.7% (8/11) of the corresponding lymph node metastases. There was only one patient who had EGFR overexpression in the primary tumours which changed to negative in the lymph node metastases but no changes occurred reciprocally. The HER2 overexpression was only found in 4.3% (2/46) of the primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma and none of the lymph node metastases (0/11). EGFR and HER2 stainings were mainly found in the cell membranes. It was concluded that the majority of parotid mucoepidermoid carcinomas express EGFR strongly in their cell membranes and that lymph node metastases generally express EGFR to approximately the same extent as in the primary tumours. The stability in the EGFR expression is encouraging in the effort to develop radionuclide-based EGFR imaging agents. It is also possible that EGFR targeting agents (e.g. Iressa, Tarceva, Erbitux or radiolabelled antibodies) can be applied for the therapy of mucoepidermoid carcinoma.