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C Vaurs-Barrière

Publications and source records attributed to C Vaurs-Barrière.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

DNA microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in deep endometriosis using laser capture microdissection.

Endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder that causes infertility and pelvic pain, is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within extra-uterine sites. However, despite extensive studies its etiology and pathogenesis are not completely understood. Differentially expressed genes were investigated in epithelial and stromal cells from deep endometriosis and matched eutopic endometrium using cDNA microarrays and laser capture microdissection. Validation of results of several up- and down-regulated genes was performed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Our data showed that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), protein kinase C beta1 (PKC beta1) and janus kinase 1 (JAK1) were upregulated, and Sprouty2 and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) were downregulated in endometriosis stromal cells, suggesting the involvement of the RAS/RAF/MAPK signaling pathway through PDGFRA in endometriosis pathophysiology. In addition, two potential negative regulators of aromatase expression, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 2 (COUP-TF2) and prostaglandin E2 receptor subtype EP3 (PGE2EP3), were downregulated in endometriosis epithelial cells, which might result in increased local production of estrogen in endometriosis epithelial cells. Furthermore, three potential candidate genes that might be involved in endometriosis related pain were identified: tyrosine kinase receptor B (TRkB) in endometriosis epithelial cells, and serotonin transporter (5HTT) and mu opioid receptor (MOR) in endometriosis stromal cells were all upregulated. One of the candidate genes, MOR, may be involved in a defective immune system in endometriosis. This study has provided new insights into endometriosis pathophysiology.

Endometriosis↗

DNA methylation patterns in hereditary human cancers mimic sporadic tumorigenesis.

Cancer cells have aberrant patterns of DNA methylation including hypermethylation of gene promoter CpG islands and global demethylation of the genome. Genes that cause familial cancer, as well as other genes, can be silenced by promoter hypermethylation in sporadic tumors, but the methylation of these genes in tumors from kindreds with inherited cancer syndromes has not been well characterized. Here, we examine CpG island methylation of 10 genes (hMLH1, BRCA1, APC, LKB1, CDH1, p16(INK4a), p14(ARF), MGMT, GSTP1 and RARbeta2) and 5-methylcytosine DNA content, in inherited (n = 342) and non-inherited (n = 215) breast and colorectal cancers. Our results show that singly retained alleles of germline mutated genes are never hypermethylated in inherited tumors. However, this epigenetic change is a frequent second "hit", associated with the wild-type copy of these genes in inherited tumors where both alleles are retained. Global hypomethylation was similar between sporadic and hereditary cases, but distinct differences existed in patterns of methylation at non-familial genes. This study demonstrates that hereditary cancers "mimic" the DNA methylation patterns present in the sporadic tumors.

Breast Neoplasms↗

[Molecular abnormalities in epithelial ovarian tumors: present and future].

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Its pronostic is dreadful and, in spite of numerous studies, the steps of ovarian carcinogenesis are unclear. Histologically, three sub-types of ovarian tumors (benign, borderline and invasive) are distinguished, suggesting the existence of a continuum. However, as each sub-type presents its own biologic characteristics, the hypothesis of the progression of a pre-neoplastic precursor (benign or borderline tumor) into an invasive tumor is still open to discussion. Numerous molecular biological studies have been conducted on ovarian tumors, with the aims of identifying their molecular abnormalities and better understanding the process of ovarian carcinogenesis. Synthesis of the published data (concerning oncogene amplification and/or surexpression, loss of heterozygosity, tumor suppressor gene inactivation, microsatellite instability) shows that there are numerous abnormalities, confirming the heterogeneity and the complexity of these tumors. Hence, it remains very difficult to draw a scheme of ovarian carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, in a near future the new technology of laser microdissection may improve the quality of the results and the study of early ovarian lesions. Indeed, with this technique, it becomes possible to isolate well-defined and homogeneous cell populations and to study small or architecturally complex (surface lesions) tumors. In the next years, the results obtained may allow the identification of early events of the ovarian carcinogenesis and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

DNA, Neoplasm↗