Tag Archives: cancer

Recent progress in apoptosis triggering facilitated by HeLa Studies

Maria Teodora Constantin1, Marius Alexandru Beleaua2,3

1. George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Pathology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
3. Department of Pathology, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2023-0022

Objective: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, prompting numerous efforts to find effective treatments. HeLa cells, derived from Henrietta Lacks’ cancerous squamous cells, have played a crucial role in cancer research due to their origin, resistance, and rapid growth. They are particularly useful for studying ways of cellular death triggering, or apoptosis, without an immune response. Thus, the objective of this paper was to review the latest publications on the subject of HeLa apoptosis so that a brief view to be available on the otherwise so extended subject.
Methodology: To provide a concise review of the extensive research on this topic, a search was conducted using the phrase “HeLa cells apoptosis triggering” on PubMed. The articles that were published in English, in the last 6 years, presenting results sustained by valid morphological and chemical apoptotic changes present in cells, were selected and reviewed. A comprehensive table presenting the apoptotic mechanism exerted by each substance was made to assure a concise presentation of the results.
Results: The reviewed studies have shown that many natural substances exhibit pro-apoptotic activity on malignant cells and can be used as chemotherapeutic agents. Some synthetic molecules were showed to have good results too. Important facts about these substances, their intervention site and metabolic modifications are presented in a concise form. The use of nano-carriers for targeted delivery was shown to increase their specificity towards cancerous cells.
Conclusions: HeLa cells were a groundbreaking discovery that revolutionized scientific research. Although there is ongoing research towards cancer cures using HeLa cells, there are still many trials and considerations that need to be addressed. With the countless existing HeLa cell lines, the scientific possibilities for research are endless.

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The Role of Supportive Therapy in Pediatric Malignancies

Papp Zsuzsanna Erzsébet, Horváth Mária-Adrienne

Mures County Hospital- Pediatric Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tirgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.1515/amma-2016-0027

Childhood cancer is a major psycho-social and health problem. International study groups establish complex, efficient, and concrete Cytostatic Protocols for every cancer type. During chemotherapy patients become extremely vulnerable to infections, so it is necessary to complete the treatment with blood substitution, anti-infection medication, growth factors and other complementary products.
Materials and Methods: We studied the importance of the wide palette of adjuvant therapy near the intensive cytostatic treatment in the period of March 2014-November 2015 at the hemato-oncology department in Pediatric Clinic of Mures County Hospital.
Results: In this period we treated 20 children (9 female, 11 male) aged between 9 months-18 years. We had 15 cases of haemopathies (13 acute leukemia and two lymphomas), and five solid tumors. Packed red blood cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma were given in the aplastic period. A patient benefited, on average, a total of 70ml/kg packed red blood cells and 50 U platelets. For infection prophylaxis and treatment every child benefited associated infective medication.
Discussions: Packed red blood cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma were given to patients with a deficiency in the ability to produce normal blood cells which are temporarily worsened by chemotherapy. Antibiotic and antifungal medications are given to all febrile and neutropenic patients. We use wide spectrum antibiotics in association for preventing sepsis. Growth factors are stimulating the bone marrow to increase leukocyte number. Since introducing additional immunostimulant medication, we observed a significant decrease of infection in the aplastic period.
Conclusions: Oncology protocols use only 3-5 cytostatic drugs. Maintaining the patient’s life during the treatment, it is necessary to use a large spectrum of supportive medications.

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Issues on Malnutrition in Children with Cancer

Chinceșan Mihaela¹, Baghiu Despina¹, Mărginean Oana¹, Horváth Adrienne¹, Eșianu Andrea²

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Pediatric Clinic No 1
2 Emergency County Hospital Tîrgu Mureș, Pediatric Clinic No 1

Introduction: Malnutrition is present in a high percentage in children with cancer. It can be evaluated by anthropometric measurements and laboratory data.
Aims: 1. To determine the prevalence and severity of malnutrition at diagnosis in children with cancer. 2. To define the best modalities to assess nutritional status.
Material and methods: A prospective study was performed on 27 children hospitalized and diagnosed with various type of cancer in the Pediatric Clinic No.I Targu-Mures, between November 2009–January 2011. We evaluated anthropometric and biochemical parameters: weight, height, body mass index (BMI), middle-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF), total protein, albumin, Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We divided patients into three categories depending on nutritional parameters: severely malnourished, risk of malnourished and adequately nourished. We correlated anthropometric parameters with biochemical parameters.
Results: Our group consisted of 20 males (74.04%) and 7 females (25.96%). Of the 27 children with cancer, 14 children were severely malnourished, 8 children were with risk of malnourished and only 5 children with normal nutritional status. At the onset of malignant disease, 16 patients (59.25%) had low serum protein values and 10 patients (37.03%) had low levels of serum albumin. IGF-1 was decreased in 18 children (66.66%). We found a good correlation, statistically significant between TSF and serum proteins (r = 0.41; p = 0.02), between TSF and IGF-1 (r = 0.44; p = 0.02), and between MUAC and IGF-1 (r = 0.39; p = 0.04).
Conclusions: 1. The prevalence of malnutrition in children with cancer is high. 2. Arm anthropometry in conjunction with serum protein and IGF-1 most accurately characterizing the nutritional status.

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The Importance of Histo-pathological Factors in Setting the Long Term Prognosis for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Suciu B1, Bud V1, Copotoiu C1, Brânzaniuc Klara2, Copotoiu Ruxandra3, Fodor D1, Butiurcă V4

1 County Emergency Clinical Hospital Tîrgu Mureș, Surgical Clinic I
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș, Department of Anatomy and Embriology
3 County Emergency Clinical Hospital Tîrgu Mureș, Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care
4 Student, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tîrgu Mureș

Introduction: In the last decades, the rate of pulmonary cancer has risen alarmingly. Pulmonary cancer represents the main cause of death in women and men in the United States of America, 100,000 new cases being registered annually in men and 50,000 new cases in women. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the importance of histo-pathological factors in the long term outcome of patients operated for lung cancer.
Material and methods: In order to write the present paper, we carried out a retrospective observational study on a period of 6 years. We used the casuistry of the Surgical Clinic I of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital Tîrgu Mureș. We studied all the patients’ papers who were admitted to Surgical Clinic I from the 1st of January 2005 till 31 December 2010. Further, we based our research on 197 patients that were admitted to Surgical Clinic I for bronchopulmonary tumors.
Results: We studied the importance of the T descriptor (tumor) from the TNM staging for establishing the long term prognosis. The value of p was 0.1676 so we didn’t obtain any value of statistical importance. We also took into consideration the value of N from the TNM staging as a prediction factor for long term survival in patients who underwent surgical intervention for pulmonary cancer. The p parameter was 0.0152 so we can say that we obtained a direct connection between the stages of lymph nodes metastasis and long term survival rate.
Conclusions: Long time survival rate of the patients depends on the histological type of the tumor. Long term survival prediction rate is better if the patients are over 60 years, compared with patients under 60 years. The N descriptor can be considered an important prediction factor, while the T descriptor’s value is useless. The existence of N’s descriptor in more stages of the TNM classification shows its limits and encourages for further improvements.

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Anthropometric Assessment of Children with Malignant Disease

Chinceșan Mihaela¹, Baghiu Despina¹, Grama Alina¹, Urtila Patricia², Răduț Ioana³

1 Pediatric Clinic No. I, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
² Louis Țurcanu Pediatric Clinic No. III, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
³ Student, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

Introduction: The nutritional evaluation of the children with cancer includes medical history, physical examination, anthropometric measurement and laboratory data.
Objective: To assess the anthropometric parameters in children with malignant disease compared to children with a non-oncologic disease.
Material and method: A prospective study was performed on 73 children hospitalized in the Pediatric Clinic I Tg. Mures, between November 2009 – January 2011. The children were divided into two groups: group 1, children with malignant disease (27 children) and group 2-control group, children with different pediatric disease (46 children). Anthropometric measurements: weight, height, body mass index, middle upper arm circumference, tricipital skin fold thickness were performed. The values of parameters were converted in Z score for age and sex using Switzerland Growth Chart 1989. We studied the anthropometric parameters compared to the two groups and performed statistical correlations.
Results: We observed a low weight at group I (-0.86 SD), but not in group II (0.2 SD), with a statistically significant difference p=0.002. The height of children in group I was much lower (-0.74 SD) from group II (0.4 SD) with p=0.0019. We also found a statistically significant difference among the anthropometric parameters of the arm: middle upper arm circumference (-1.5 SD versus -0.55 SD) with p=0.0311 and tricipital skin fold thickness (-1.22 SD versus -0.32 SD) with p=0.0093.
Conclusions: Weight, height, MUAC and TSF are significantly lower at children with cancer compared to children with nononcological diseases. The arms anthropometry better identify malnutrition in children with cancer than simply assessing weight or height measurements.

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Therapeutic Option in Patients over 60 Years with Esophageal and Esocardial Cancer

Roșca C, Molnar C, Popa D, Serac G, Gherghinescu M, Voidazan S, Copotoiu C

Surgery Clinic I, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: DOI: 10.2478/amma-2014-0005

Background: Treatment of esophageal and esocardial cancer in patients over 60 years involves a particular management. Considering the comorbidities specific to this category of patients, recent data from the literature indicate an increased incidence of mortality and morbidity following therapy.
Material and method: We retrospectively studied a group of 55 patients admitted to the Surgical Clinic I of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital Tîrgu Mureș, in the January 1st, 2007 – December 31st, 2011 period, diagnosed with esophageal and esocardial cancer. Patients were divided into two groups: group I under the age of 60 years, and group II over this age. Inclusion criteria were age, diagnosis (tumor location), and we followed a series of parameters: demographics, type of surgery, the biological profile of patients, immediate postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of demographics: gender (p = 0.78), area of origin (p = 0.69). The number of hospitalization days (p = 0.20) was influenced by the type of surgery, as well as pre- and postoperative comorbidities. Immediate postoperative mortality was 16.56%, the differences between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.58). Parameters with statistical significance were found to be: age (p <0.0001), tumor location, type of surgery (p = 0.0031) and radical versus palliative surgery (p = 0.03).
Conclusions: Therapeutic attitude in patients over 60 years should be correlated with specific particularities to this category. Selection of patients for surgery and type of surgery is dictated by the patient’s condition and quantified by anesthesia and surgery team.

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