Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0403608 (ureter)
 9,655 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma unrelated to in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) is very uncommon. We report a case of 65-year-old Japanese woman who presented with primary adenocarcinoma in the anterior wall of the vagina, where the left ureter-like metanephric duct remnant abnormally terminated. Histological examination in serial sections revealed the direct connection between the carcinoma and the metanephric duct remnant. Moreover, the remnant epithelium showed varying degrees of dysplastic changes, including carcinoma in situ in close proximity to the carcinoma. This patient also had a bicornate uterus and left renal aplasia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a primary vaginal adenocarcinoma arising from the metanephric duct remnant. Although the precise mechanism involved in carcinogenesis in this clinicopathological setting remains unknown, adenocarcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of vaginal tumors in patients with renal aplasia and/or an ectopic termination of the ureter or metanephric duct remnant, especially when the tumor is in the anterior wall.
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PMID:Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma arising from the metanephric duct remnant. 1091 79

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of chloroethane (99.5% pure), an alkylating agent and chemical intermediate, as well as a topical and inhalation anesthetic, were conducted by exposing groups of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice of each sex to chloroethane by whole-body inhalation once for 4 hours or for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 14 days, 13 weeks, or 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium. Single-Exposure, Fourteen-Day, and Thirteen-Week Studies: In the single-exposure and 14-day inhalation studies, all rats and mice exposed to 19,000 ppm chloroethane survived. The animals were not exposed at lower concentrations. No clinical signs of toxicity were seen. In the 14-day studies, final mean body weights of exposed male rats and exposed mice were higher than those of controls. Mean body weights of exposed and control female rats were similar. In the 13-week studies, rats and mice were exposed to 0, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, or 19,000 ppm chloroethane. No compound-related deaths occurred in rats or mice. The final mean body weight of rats exposed to 19,000 ppm was 8% lower than that of controls for males and 4% lower for females. Final mean body weights of exposed mice were generally higher than those of controls. No compound-related clinical signs or gross or microscopic pathologic effects were seen in rats or mice. The liver weight to body weight ratios for male rats and female mice exposed to 19,000 ppm were greater than those for controls. Although no chemically related toxic effects were observed in the short-term studies, concerns about potential flammability and explosion led to the selection of 0 and 15,000 ppm as the exposure concentrations for rats and mice for the 2-year studies. Body Weight and Survival in the Two-Year Studies: Mean body weights of exposed male rats were 4%-8% lower than those of controls after week 33. Mean body weights of exposed female rats were generally 5%-13% lower than those of controls throughout the study. Although survival of male rats and exposed female rats was low at the end of the studies (male: control, 16/50; exposed, 8/50; female: 31/50; 22/50), no statistically significant differences in survival were observed between exposed and control groups of either sex. Survival at week 90 for male rats was 37/50 (control) and 31/50 (exposed) and for females, 43/50 (control) and 33/50 (exposed). The high incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia may have contributed to the high mortality. Mean body weights of exposed male mice were up to 13% higher than those of controls throughout the study. Mean body weights of exposed and control female mice were generally similar throughout the study. The survival of the exposed groups of both male (after day 330) and female (after day 574) mice was significantly lower than that of controls (final survival-- male: 28/50; 11/50; female: 32/50; 2/50). The majority of exposed female mice died as a result of uterine carcinomas. Male mice, and particularly exposed mice, died early as a result of an ascending urinary tract infection. Nonneoplastic and Neoplastic Effects in the Two-Year Studies: Malignant astrocytomas of the brain were seen in three exposed female rats, and gliosis was observed in a fourth. The historical incidence of glial cell neoplasms in untreated control female F344/N rats is 23/1,969. The highest incidence observed in an untreated control group is 3/50. Trichoepitheliomas (1/50), sebaceous gland adenomas (1/50), basal cell carcinomas (3/50), and squamous cell carcinomas (2/50) of the skin were observed only in exposed male rats. Keratoacanthomas occurred in four control and two exposed male rats. Exposure of female mice to chloroethane caused a high incidence of uterine carcinomas of endometrial origin (control, 0/49; exposed, 43/50). One control female did have a uterine carcinoma, although it was not of endometrial origin. The tumors observed in 34 exposed females were highly malignant, invading the uterine myometrium and metastasizing to a wide variety of organs, primarily lung (23), ovary (2 a wide variety of organs, primarily lung (23), ovary (22), lymph nodes (18), kidney (8), adrenal gland (8), pancreas (7), mesentery (7), urinary bladder (7), spleen (5), and heart (4), and to a lesser extent, colon, stomach, gallbladder, small intestine, ureter, and liver. Two marginally increased incidences of other neoplasms were observed in exposed male and female mice. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas in exposed female mice was greater than that in controls (3/49; 7/48). One other exposed female had a hepatocellular adenoma. The incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms of the lung in exposed male mice was greater than that in controls (adenomas or carcinomas, combined: 5/50; 10/48). Genetic Toxicology: Chloroethane, tested within the closed environment of a desiccator, was mutagenic with and without exogenous metabolic activation in S. typhimuriumstrain TA1535; in strain TA100, a positive response was observed only with activation. No mutagenic activity was observed in S. typhimurium strain TA98 with or without metabolic activation. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2--year inhalation studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of chloroethane for male F344/N rats, as indicated by benign and malignant epithelial neoplasms of the skin. For female F344/N rats, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity, as indicated by three uncommon malignant astrocytomas of the brain in the exposed group. The study of male B6C3F1 mice was considered to be an inadequate study of carcinogenicity because of reduced survival in the exposed group. However, there was an increased incidence of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms of the lung. There was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity for female B6C3F1 mice, as indicated by carcinomas of the uterus. A marginally increased incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms was observed in the exposed group. Synonyms: monochloroethane; chloroethyl; ether hydrochloric; ether muriatic; aethylis; aethylis chloridum; ether chloridum; ether chloratus Trade Names: Kelene; Chelen; Anodynon; Chloryl Anesthetic; Narcotile
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PMID:NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) (CAS No. 75-00-3) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies). 1270 38

There is evidence that aspirin--and apparently other NSAIDs--may be protective agents against cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. These effects are particularly well documented in the colon and rectum. Even considered in isolation, the observational data regarding colorectal neoplasia are quite strong, and the reality of a protective effect is buttressed by clinical trial data showing that aspirin prevents sporadic adenomas. Furthermore, the NSAIDs sulindac celecoxib have actually led to the regression of existing colorectal polyps in patients with FAP. Clearly, NSAIDs have the potential to suppress carcinogenesis in the large bowel. Observational data suggesting inverse associations of NSAIDs with cancers of the stomach and esophagus have emerged from several case-control studies and a few cohort analyses. In some studies the findings display features often associated with causal relationships, for example decreasing risks with increasing doses or duration of use. Nonetheless, the data currently do not support a secure conclusion that NSAIDs protect against these malignancies. The relevant data are not nearly as extensive as those for the colorectum, and case-control investigation of these upper gastrointestinal sites may be particularly delicate. It is conceivable that early symptoms of cancer (or of pre-invasive lesions) may have discouraged NSAID use in the cancer patients, creating the appearance of a protective association of the drugs with the risk of these malignancies. More extensive observational data particularly from cohort studies would be desirable to confirm the existing findings and clarify the doses and durations of use required for an effect. Clinical trial investigation might also be practical for pre-neoplastic endpoints, or--in carefully selected populations--perhaps with cancer as the focus. There are only relatively limited data available regarding the effect of NSAIDs on cancer of the pancreas. However, the studies that have investigated this malignancy have reported indications that NSAIDs may have a protective effect. The effects of NSAIDs on cancers outside the gastrointestinal tract are not clear. Some investigations suggest that NSAID use, particularly aspirin, is inversely associated with risk of cancers of the breast or ovary, but several well-done studies have not seen these associations, and the observations could have been due to bias or confounding. Findings regarding prostate cancer are similarly conflicting. The urinary tract is one organ system in which several studies have reported an increased cancer risk in association with NSAID use. Nonetheless, the effects remain unclear. There is only limited available information regarding carcinoma of the bladder, and no firm conclusions can be drawn at this point. More extensive data have been generated regarding the effect of NSAIDs--largely salicylates--on renal cell carcinoma or cancer or the renal pelvis and ureter. Although some studies have reported increased risks, there are also findings suggesting no association. It is particularly difficult for observational studies to ascertain with confidence the true effects of aspirin because of the suspected relationship of these cancers with use of phenacetin and perhaps acetaminophen. Further data--particularly from careful and large cohort studies--would be important to clarify these issues. As a body of research, the findings discussed here from epidemiological studies and clinical trials have begun to clarify the effect of NSAIDs on carcinogenesis in various organs in humans. There is clear potential for protective effects at several anatomic sites. Even for the colorectum, however, it is probably premature to now begin to use these drugs widely for cancer prevention. To reach that point, a weighing of the risks and benefits of the drugs needs to be made, together with a judgement regarding the benefits of alternative means of prevention. For colorectal cancer, for example, aspirin may provide only limited benefit over regular colonoscopy [95, 96]. Nonetheless, with the increased understanding of the clinical effects of NSAIDs on cancer, the development of effective chemoprevention with these drugs appears to be a real possibility.
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PMID:Epidemiology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cancer. 1279 46

Mutational activation of the MAP kinase pathway is frequently found in various cancers. Recently, activating mutations in the B-RAF gene, an important activator of this pathway, have been described in several tumor types including melanoma, colorectal and papillary thyroid cancer. The most frequent mutation in exon 15 (V599E), as well as several other mutations within exons 11 and 15 result in constitutive activation of the oncoprotein. In addition, a significant association between mismatch-repair (MMR) deficiency and the V599E mutation in colorectal tumors has been found. The aim of our study was to investigate B-RAF mutations in 121 urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder (ranging from pTaG1 to pT4aG3) and 27 tumors from the upper urinary tract (UUT), including 16 tumors of the renal pelvis and 11 tumors of the ureter). Twelve of 27 UUT tumors were MMR-deficient and showed microsatellite instability. The V599E mutation was screened for by allele-specific PCR (PASA) and exons 11 and 15 of B-RAF including intron-exon-boundaries were sequenced. Overall, 116/121 bladder tumors and 23/27 tumors of the UUT were successfully investigated by PASA. None of the tumors showed the V599E mutation. Sequence analysis of exons 11 and 15 was successful in 46 urothelial tumors (bladder, n=31; UUT, n=15). No mutations within the coding region of exons 11 and 15 and the intron-exon junctions were found. The most frequent alterations in the B-RAF gene do not seem to be involved in urothelial carcinogenesis, and there is no correlation between MMR-deficiency and B-RAF mutations in urothelial tumors.
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PMID:No evidence for mutation of B-RAF in urothelial carcinomas of the bladder and upper urinary tract. 1465 16

This report reviews the literature on the genotoxicity of mainstream tobacco smoke and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) published since 1985. CSC is genotoxic in nearly all systems in which it has been tested, with the base/neutral fractions being the most mutagenic. In rodents, cigarette smoke induces sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei in bone marrow and lung cells. In humans, newborns of smoking mothers have elevated frequencies of HPRT mutants, translocations, and DNA strand breaks. Sperm of smokers have elevated frequencies of aneuploidy, DNA adducts, strand breaks, and oxidative damage. Smoking also produces mutagenic cervical mucus, micronuclei in cervical epithelial cells, and genotoxic amniotic fluid. These data suggest that tobacco smoke may be a human germ-cell mutagen. Tobacco smoke produces mutagenic urine, and it is a human somatic-cell mutagen, producing HPRT mutations, SCEs, microsatellite instability, and DNA damage in a variety of tissues. Of the 11 organ sites at which smoking causes cancer in humans, smoking-associated genotoxic effects have been found in all eight that have been examined thus far: oral/nasal, esophagus, pharynx/larynx, lung, pancreas, myeoloid organs, bladder/ureter, uterine cervix. Lung tumors of smokers contain a high frequency and unique spectrum of TP53 and KRAS mutations, reflective of the PAH (and possibly other) compounds in the smoke. Further studies are needed to clarify the modulation of the genotoxicity of tobacco smoke by various genetic polymorphisms. These data support a model of tobacco smoke carcinogenesis in which the components of tobacco smoke induce mutations that accumulate in a field of tissue that, through selection, drive the carcinogenic process. Most of the data reviewed here are from studies of human smokers. Thus, their relevance to humans cannot be denied, and their explanatory powers not easily dismissed. Tobacco smoke is now the most extreme example of a systemic human mutagen.
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PMID:Genotoxicity of tobacco smoke and tobacco smoke condensate: a review. 1557 90

The multistep development of malignant tumors with increasing accumulation of genetic alterations from preneoplastic lesions to invasive carcinoma is an accepted model of carcinogenesis. Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and upper urinary tract is an interesting model system to study tumor development and progression. There is both clinical and molecular evidence that urothelial carcinoma can be divided in two groups with different characteristics: 1) well differentiated genetic stable and mostly superficial papillary tumors with frequent recurrence and low progression risk and 2) poorly differentiated mostly solid and invasive tumors with a high number of genetic alterations. The aim of the studies summarized in this manuscript were: 1) to identify genetic changes with importance for urothelial carcinogenesis by investigation of preneoplastic and early neoplastic urothelial lesions, 2) to define molecular markers for progression of papillary carcinoma, and 3) to investigate the importance of microsatellite instability and mismatch repair defects for development of tumors of the upper urinary tract which are frequently found within the HNPCC syndrome. The investigation of urothelial hyperplasias, dysplasias and carcinoma in situ by deletion mapping (LOH analysis), FISH, CGH and mutation detection revealed that urothelial hyperplasias are precursors of papillary bladder tumors and flat dysplasias can be regarded as precursors of solid bladder cancers. In bladder cancer patients, there are genetic alterations already detectable in histologically inconspicous urothelium. The investigation of papillary bladder cancers for progression-related genetic alterations showed that mutations in the wnt pathway genes APC and beta-Catenin do not play an important role in urothelial carcinogenesis. Instead, the expression of the antagonistic wnt-related genes WIF-1 and sFRPI is strongly reduced in bladder cancer and associated with poor prognosis in papillary tumors. Loss of sFRP1 expression is not due to gene mutation but to epigenetic inactivation by promoter hypermethylation and is related to deletions at chromosome 8p12. In contrast to bladder cancers, tumors of the ureter and renal pelvis develop through a different genetic pathway in 30% of cases. The loss of mismatch repair proteins (hMSH2, hMLH1 or hMSH6) leads to a mutator phenotype with accumulation of genetic alterations in multiple repetitive sequences (microsatellite instability, MSI). MSI-positive tumors were predominantly located in the ureter and showed a lower tumor stage and grade and papillary and frequently inverted growth pattern. They were more frequent in females and younger patients and had a higher incidence of colorectal carcinomas and other tumors in the family. Chromosome 9 deletions, a hallmark of urothelial carcinomas, and the number of chromosomal alterations as detected by CGH analysis were significantly less frequent in these tumors. These data strongly suggest a distinct molecular pathway in the development of upper urinary tract tumors with mutator phenotype.
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PMID:[Molecular changes in development and progression of urothelial carcinoma]. 1688 10

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (Lynch syndrome) is among the most common hereditary cancers in man and a model of cancers arising through deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Lynch syndrome patients are predisposed to different cancers in a non-random fashion, the basis of which is poorly understood. We addressed this issue by determining the molecular profiles for different tumors from a nationwide cohort of Lynch syndrome families (approximately 150 tumors in total). We focused on some less prevalent cancers, affecting the brain (n = 7) and urinary tract (five bladder and five ureter uroepithelial cancers and four kidney adenocarcinomas), and compared their molecular characteristics to those of the most common cancers, colorectal, gastric and endometrial adenocarcinomas, from the same families. Despite origin from verified MMR gene mutation carriers, the frequency of high-level microsatellite instability in tumors varied between high (100-96% for ureter, stomach and colon), intermediate (63-60% for endometrium and bladder) and low (25-0% for kidney and brain). In contrast to gastrointestinal and endometrial carcinomas, active (nuclear) beta-catenin was rare and KRAS mutations were absent in brain and urological tumors. Compared with other tumors, frequent stabilization of p53 protein characterized urinary tract cancers. Promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes discriminated the tumors in an organ-specific manner. Our findings suggest that different Lynch syndrome tumors develop along different routes. Uroepithelial cancers of the ureter (and bladder to lesser extent) share many characteristics of MMR deficiency-driven tumorigenesis, whereas brain tumors and kidney adenocarcinomas follow separate pathways.
Carcinogenesis 2008 Jul
PMID:Differential cancer predisposition in Lynch syndrome: insights from molecular analysis of brain and urinary tract tumors. 1855 May 72

Primary cancers of the ureter and renal pelvis are rare tumours, > 90% of which are transitional cell carcinomas. Only approximately 5% of urothelial tumours arise in the upper urinary tract (UUT). Many environmental factors contribute to the development of these cancers. Some are similar to bladder cancer-associated factors (tobacco, occupational exposure), while others are more specific to carcinogenesis of the UUT (phenacetine, Balkan endemic nephropathy [BEN], Chinese herb nephropathy or association with Blackfoot disease [BFD]). This review discusses the environmental factors involved in UUT carcinoma. Tobacco and occupational exposure remain the principal exogenous risk factors for developing these tumours. Conversely, carcinogenesis of UUT tumours resulting from phenacetine consumption has almost disappeared. Although the incidence of BEN is also on the decline, roles for aristolochic acid and the consumption of Chinese herbs in the physiopathology and induction of this nephropathy, respectively, have proposed. In Taiwan, the association of this tumour type with BFD and arsenic exposure remains unclear to date. As some genetic polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of cancer or faster disease progression, there is variability in interindividual susceptibility to the development of UUT carcinoma when exposed to the aforementioned risk factors Cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) catalyse the detoxification of many environmental chemicals but also in the bioactivation of dietary and other mutagens. Polymorphism of the SULT gene, is thought to confer susceptibility to upper tract tumours.
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PMID:Environmental factors involved in carcinogenesis of urothelial cell carcinomas of the upper urinary tract. 1968 73

To clarify genome-wide DNA methylation profiles during multistage urothelial carcinogenesis, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) array-based methylated CpG island amplification (BAMCA) was performed in 18 normal urothelia obtained from patients without urothelial carcinomas (UCs) (C), 17 noncancerous urothelia obtained from patients with UCs (N), and 40 UCs. DNA hypo- and hypermethylation on multiple BAC clones was observed even in N compared to C. Principal component analysis revealed progressive DNA methylation alterations from C to N, and to UCs. DNA methylation profiles in N obtained from patients with invasive UCs were inherited by the invasive UCs themselves, that is DNA methylation alterations in N were correlated with the development of more malignant UCs. The combination of DNA methylation status on 83 BAC clones selected by Wilcoxon test was able to completely discriminate N from C, and diagnose N as having a high risk of carcinogenesis, with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The combination of DNA methylation status on 20 BAC clones selected by Wilcoxon test was able to completely discriminate patients who suffered from recurrence after surgery from patients who did not. The combination of DNA methylation status for 11 BAC clones selected by Wilcoxon test was able to completely discriminate patients with UCs of the renal pelvis or ureter who suffered from intravesical metachronous UC development from patients who did not. Genome-wide alterations of DNA methylation may participate in urothelial carcinogenesis from the precancerous stage to UC, and DNA methylation profiling may provide optimal indicators for carcinogenetic risk estimation and prognostication.
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PMID:Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in urothelial carcinomas and urothelia at the precancerous stage. 1977 89

Inflammatory pseudotumors are lesions characterized by proliferation of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts with variable chronic inflammatory cell infiltration. Recent studies have suggested that inflammatory pseudotumor with abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells may be a unique entity associated with systemic IgG4-related sclerosing disease and should be distinguished from other similar lesions such as inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor and fibrohistiocytic-type inflammatory pseudotumor. Localized inflammatory pseudotumor has been rarely reported in the ureter, and IgG4-associated inflammatory pseudotumor of ureter has not been described. We describe herein 3 cases of ureteral inflammatory pseudotumor of IgG4-associated lymphoplasmacytic type, focusing on density of IgG4-positive plasma cells; infiltration pattern of eosinophils and histiocytes; presence of obliterative phlebitis; and immunohistochemical profiles of smooth muscle actin, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and CD68. Three patients, 45- and 47-year-old men and 84-year-old woman, all presented with flank pain and ureteral narrowing by a mass effect. Microscopic examination of the resected ureters showed suburothelial masslike lesions with fibroblasts/myofibroblasts without atypia, abundant plasma cells, and scattered eosinophils and histiocytes. The lesion of the 47-year-old man showed obliterative phlebitis in addition to the above findings. The lesion of the 84-year-old woman was accompanied by urothelial carcinoma in situ in the overlying urothelium. Spindle cells were diffusely or focally positive for smooth muscle actin but negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase in all 3 cases. For each case, respectively, an average of 154, 112, and 50 plasma cells per high-power fields were immunoreactive for IgG4, a diagnostic feature of IgG4 inflammatory pseudotumor. We described 3 cases of IgG4-associated inflammatory pseudotumor of ureter with pathologic and immunohistochemical features that are compatible for lymphoplasmacytic type of inflammatory pseudotumor. Further study is needed to characterize any relationship between this entity and systemic sclerosing disease and/or urothelial carcinogenesis.
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PMID:IgG4-associated inflammatory pseudotumor of ureter: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 3 cases. 2133 15


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