This study is the first to assess the diagnostic utility of redox biomarkers in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Antioxidant barrier (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), uric acid (UA), reduced glutathione (GSH)), redox status (total antioxidant (TAC)/oxidant status (TOS), ferric reducing ability (FRAP)), and oxidative damage products (advanced glycation end products (AGE), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA)) were measured in serum/plasma samples of 50 CRC patients. The activity of SOD was significantly higher whereas the activity of CAT, GPx and GR was considerably lower in CRC patients compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Levels of UA, TOS, and OSI and concentrations of AGE, AOPP, and MDA were significantly higher, and the levels of GSH, TAC, and FRAP were considerably lower in CRC patients compared to the healthy controls (p < 0.0001). AUC for CAT with respect to presence of lymph node metastasis was 0.7450 (p = 0.0036), whereas AUC for MDA according to the depth of tumour invasion was 0.7457 (p = 0.0118). CRC is associated with enzymatic/non-enzymatic redox imbalance as well as increased oxidative damage to proteins and lipids. Redox biomarkers can be potential diagnostic indicators of CRC advancement.

This study is the first to assess redox homeostasis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in respect to histopathological parameters associated with the tumour microenvironment such as tumour budding and inflammatory infiltration. Pro-oxidant enzymes (NADPH oxidase (NOX), xanthine oxidase (XO)), antioxidant barrier (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH)), redox status (total antioxidant (TAC)/oxidant status (TOS)) and oxidative damage products (advanced glycation end products (AGE), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)) were determined in both the normal and cancerous tissue of 29 CRC patients. The activity of NOX (p < 0.01) and XO (p = 0.01), as well as SOD (p < 0.0001), CAT (p < 0.0001) and TAC level (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in tumour tissue than in normal colon mucosa. Oxidative damage products (AGE—p < 0.01, AOPP—p < 0.001, MDA—p < 0.001, 8-OHdG—p < 0.0001) were also higher in cancerous colon tissue. Furthermore, we observed that CAT (p < 0.05) and XO (p < 0.05) activity depends on the intensity of inflammatory infiltration. Oxidative stress index (OSI) (p < 0.05) and MDA (p < 0.01) values were significantly higher in patients with tumour budding (TB) > 5 versus cases with TB < 5. However, OSI level did not differ significantly between cancer and normal tissue. Our results confirm that CRC is associated with enzymatic/non-enzymatic redox imbalance and increased oxidative damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. The determination of these biomarkers could be useful for the evaluation of the tumour progression.

Background.Bcl-2 and BID play a major role in the process of apoptosis and their dysfunction underlies carcinogenesis. The study objective was to assess the expression of Bcl-2 and BID in gastric cancer cells in correlation with chosen clinicopathological parameters, presence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection, and patients’ survival.Materials and Methods.The study involved 88 patients operated on for gastric cancer. The expressions of Bcl-2 and BID were determined immunohistochemically.Results.Positive Bcl-2 expression was found in 55.7% and, BID in 53.6% of patients. The Bcl-2 expression correlated with stage pT3 and T4 gastric cancerP<0.05, with the intestinal type according to LaurenP<0.001, ulcerated type according to Bormann’s classificationP<0.01, and with local lymph node metastasesP<0.05.Conclusion.The Bcl-2 protein plays a key role in the process of gastric cancer formation and is associated with the growth of definite types of gastric cancer.

Dendritic cells play a key role in the antigen presentation and T cell activation. The aim of this study was a detailed analysis of the presence of mature dendritic cells (CD 83 positive) in colorectal cancer in correlation with selected clinicopathological parameters. The presence of mature dendritic cells (mDCs) was determined immunohistochemically using the anti-CD83 antibody. The morphometric analysis of the mDCs was performed in the normal colon wall adjacent to the cancerous tumor as well as in the front of the tumor and in the main mass of the cancerous tumor. Decrease in mDCs in the front and in the main tumor mass was observed. The increase in the number of mDCs in both of these locations was associated with the presence of metastases in the nearby lymph nodes (p<0.05andp<0.01). Furthermore, the increase in the proportion of mDCs in the main tumor mass was associated with the presence of the invasion of tumor cells into the blood and lymph vessels(p<0.01). The increase in the amount of mDCs in the cancerous tumor is associated with the invasiveness of the tumor and especially with the metastasis to the surrounding lymph nodes.

Tensins belong to the group of adhesion proteins that are involved in cell adhesion and migration, actin cytoskeleton maintenance and intercellular communication. TNS1, TNS2 and TNS3 proteins expression was evaluated in 90 patients with gastric cancer by immunohistochemistry method. TNS1 was more frequently present in non-differentiated tumors compared to poorly and moderately differentiated tumors (p = 0.016). TNS1 was also more often observed in metastatic tumors compared to those without distant metastases (p = 0.001). TNS2 was more common in moderately differentiated tumors than in poorly or non-differentiated ones (p = 0.041). TNS2 expression was also more frequently present in tumors with peritumoral inflammation (p = 0.041) and with concomitant H. pylori infection (p = 0.023). In contrast, TNS3 protein was more prevalent in moderately than in poorly and non-differentiated tumors (p = 0.023). No significant relationship was found between tensins’ expression and the overall survival rate of patients. TNS1 protein expression is associated with a poor-prognosis type of GC. Higher expression of TNS2 is accompanied by peritumoral inflammation and H. pylori infection, which favor the development of GC of a better prognosis, similarly to higher TNS3 protein expression.

Deregulation of cell cycle takes place during the development of many cancers as well as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), which develops from precursor lesions, most frequently including pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN).