Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, overtaking colon, breast, and prostate cancer-related deaths. Due to the limited diagnostic possibilities, it is often diagnosed after it has reached an advanced stage. The delayed diagnosis significantly worsens the patient’s prognosis. In recent years, we have observed an increased interest in the use of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic markers in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The abnormal expression levels of the miRNAs could be used to detect NSCLC in its early stages while it is still asymptomatic. This could drastically improve the clinical outcome. Furthermore, some miRNAs could serve as promising predictive and prognostic factors for NSCLC. Some of the currently available studies have shown a correlation between the miRNAs’ levels and the sensitivity of tumour cells to different treatment regimens. Analysing and modulating the miRNAs’ expression could be a way to predict and improve the treatment’s outcome.

Erlotinib is a reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (TKI EGFR). In Poland, as of July 2012, it is used in the treatment only of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and with EGFR mutation gene after standard chemotherapy failure. The effectiveness of erlotinib in second- or third-line treatment of NSCLC patients without EGFR activating mutation gene remains debatable. Clinical trial results indicated that TKI EGFR showed an efficacy of 70‑80% in patients with EGFR mutations, while the clinical response to treatment among unselected Caucasian patients is only 10%. The present study was conducted in a group of 71 patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC treated with erlotinib as the second- or third-line therapy. Molecular tests (examination of EGFR mutation and gene amplification) were carried out retrospectively. Objective response rate, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. Effects of clinical and molecular factors including the presence of EGFR mutations, EGFR gene amplification, patient performance status, rash, smoking status, time from diagnosis to start of therapy, weight loss and the serum LDH levels were analyzed. An objective response in the form of partial response occurred in only 5 patients (7%), who carried EGFR gene mutation. Median time to PFS for the entire group of patients was 1.5 months and median OS was 10 months. The strongest factors increasing the risk of progression in patients treated with erlotinib were the absence of activating mutations in the EGFR gene (6‑fold increased risk) and no treatment‑related rash (4.5‑fold increased risk). The most important factors affecting the risk of early mortality were poor performance status (HR 37.344; P>0.0001), no treatment-related rash (HR 14.9348; P=0.0002) and a short response time on the first-line chemotherapy (HR 9.519; P=0.0445).

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a substantial problem in chemotherapy. The purpose of the study was to investigate potential factors, including MDR genes polymorphisms, that could be used in qualification for second-line docetaxel therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after failure of platinum based chemotherapy. Study group comprised of 58 Caucasian subjects. Evaluation of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of ABCC2/MRP2 and ABCB1/MDR1 genes was performed using the High Resolution Melting (HRM) technique. TUBB3 gene expression was evaluated on RNA isolated from tumor tissue. Results with p value of <0.05 were considered significant. Factors associated with reduced risk of disease progression included good performance status (PS), long period between diagnosis and docetaxel treatment, and smoking for <10 pack-years. Disease control occurred more often in patients with G/G genotype of the ABCC2/MRP2 gene. Median overall survival was 4.25 months. Factors such as: good PS, disease control after docetaxel, long period from diagnosis to docetaxel, lack of significant weight loss, and third-line treatment were associated with prolongation of patients survival. Overall survival probability was significantly lower in patients with significant weight loss, poor PS, lack of disease control after docetaxel, and without third-line treatment. Factors that characterized the highest risk of survival shortening were: inability to apply third-line treatment, lack of best response to first-line therapy, poor PS, and C/G or G/G genotypes of ABCC2/MRP2 gene. We concluded that assessed factors had mainly prognostic and not predictive value. Finding reliable molecular predictors for second line docetaxel therapy requires further clinical trials.

Introduction : Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Current theory on the etiology of this disease involves participation of genetic factors and unknown antigens present in the patients’ environment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of...