Striped dolphins and short‐beaked common dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth,Greece: Abundance estimates from dorsal fin photographs

Capture‐recapture methods relying on dorsal fin natural markings have never been applied successfully to striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, and were rarely used to assess abundance of short‐beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis. We used digital photo‐identification to obtain abundance estimates of striped and common dolphins living in mixed groups in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece. The proportion of either species was calculated based on the relative number of photographs of adult animals showing relevant portions of their body during conspicuous surfacings. Striped dolphins and common dolphins averaged 95.0% and 3.2% of all individuals, respectively. Animals showing intermediate pigmentation accounted for another 1.8%. Striped dolphin numbers were relatively high, with a point estimate of 835 animals (95% CI = 631–1,106). Common dolphins numbers were low (point estimate 28 animals; 95% CI = 11–73) and individuals were scattered within striped dolphin groups, indicating that this common dolphin population may be nonviable. Within a semiclosed Gulf exposed to considerable anthropogenic impact, the future of both dolphin species is of concern due to their suspected geographic isolation and restricted extent of occurrence. Information provided here can be used to inform timely conservation efforts.     

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor. A study of 158 cases: clinicopathological features and prognostic factors

OBJECTIVE: To increase knowledge on the behavior of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and factors influencing therapy. STUDY DESIGN: The clinicomorphological features of 158 GISTs were analyzed. Survival analysis was performed on the whole series, as well as on a selected group of patients with high risk GIST who did not receive imatinib mesylate. The impact of imatinib mesylate on the prognosis was investigated. RESULTS: Most of the GISTs had a benign behavior. The risk class was a powerful prognostic factor but was unable to predict the outcome in a single case; even patients in the high risk class not receiving imatinib mesylate had a low mortality rate. In this group, it was the mitotic activity that better correlated with prognosis, and a cut point of 10 mitoses per 50 high-power field can be fixed to discriminate cases with favorable or unfavorable outcome. Patients with GISTs presenting as aggressive disease received great benefit from imatinib mesylate therapy. CONCLUSION: Mitotic activity is important in predicting the outcome of patients with high risk GIST who present at diagnosis without dissemination. This finding can have therapeutic implications.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor: a promising therapeutic target for colorectal cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor is a 170,000-kd transmembrane glycoprotein involved in signaling pathways affecting cellular growth, differentiation, and proliferation. An abnormal expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been described in many human tumors and implicated in the development and prognosis of malignancies, thus representing not only a possible prognostic marker, but primarily a rational molecular target for a new class of anticancer agents. The aim of this analysis is to review the available data about the biology of the EGFR and its use as a target for a new class of anticancer agents for colorectal cancer. Several clinical trials have been reported with the use of EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mainly in combination with chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer patients. Results available so far demonstrated a manageable and acceptable toxicity profile and a promising level of activity. Many critical issues are yet unresolved, such as the optimal chemotherapy regimen to combine with anti-EGFR treatment and the most adequate patient setting. Moreover, the biological selection of colorectal tumors more likely to benefit from this treatment approach is still to be defined.     

Epidermal diseases in bottlenose dolphins: impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors.

Experimental studies have highlighted the potential influence of contaminants on marine mammal immune function and anthropogenic contaminants are commonly believed to influence the development of diseases observed in the wild. However, estimates of the impact of contaminants on wild populations are constrained by uncertainty over natural variation in disease patterns under different environmental conditions. We used photographic techniques to compare levels of epidermal disease in ten coastal populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) exposed to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic conditions. Epidermal lesions were common in all populations (affecting > 60% of individuals), but both the prevalence and severity of 15 lesion categories varied between populations. No relationships were found between epidermal disease and contaminant levels across the four populations for which toxicological data were available. In contrast, there were highly significant linear relationships with oceanographic variables. In particular, populations from areas of low water temperature and low salinity exhibited higher lesion prevalence and severity. Such conditions may impact on epidermal integrity or produce more general physiological stress, potentially making animals more vulnerable to natural infections or anthropogenic factors. These results show that variations in natural environmental factors must be accounted for when investigating the importance of anthropogenic impacts on disease in wild marine mammals.     

Clinical Evidence for Three Distinct Gastric Cancer Subtypes: Time for a New Approach

Background

Recently, a new classification for gastric cancer (GC) has been proposed, based on Lauren''s histology and on anatomic tumour location, identifying three subtypes of disease: type 1 (proximal non diffuse GC), type 2 (diffuse GC) and type 3 (distal non diffuse GC). Aim of our analysis was to compare clinical outcome according to different GC subtypes (1,2,3) in metastatic GC patients receiving first-line chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Advanced GC pts treated with a first-line combination chemotherapy were included in our analysis. Pts were divided in three subgroups (type 1, type 2 and type 3) as previously defined.

Results

A total of 248 advanced GC pts were included: 45.2% belonged to type 2, 43.6% to type 3 and 11.2% to type 1. Patients received a fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy doublet or three drugs regimens including a platinum derivate and a fluoropyrimidine with the addition of an anthracycline, a taxane or mytomicin C. RR was higher in type 1 pts (RR = 46.1%) and type 3 (34,3%) compared to type 2 (20,4%), (p = 0.015). Type 2 presented a shorter PFS, median PFS = 4.2 months, compared to type 1, mPFS = 7.2 months, and type 3, mPFS = 5.9 months (p = 0.011) and also a shorter OS (p = 0.022).

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests that GC subtypes may be important predictors of benefit from chemotherapy in advanced GC patients. Future clinical trials should take in account these differences for a better stratification of patients.     

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-R genotyping in guiding the metastatic process in pT4a resected gastric cancer patients

In radically resected gastric cancer the possibility to predict the site of relapse could be clinically relevant for the selection of post-surgical management. We previously showed that specific tumour integrins genotypes are independently associated with either peritoneal or hematogenous metastases (ITGA and ITGV). Recently VEGF and VEGF-R polymorphisms have been demonstrated to potentially affect tumour angiogenesis and the metastatic process in gastric cancer. We then investigated the role of VEGFs and VEGF-R genotyping in determining either peritoneal carcinosis or hematogenous metastases in radically resected gastric cancer patients. Tumour genotyping for integrins (ITGA and ITGV) was also performed according to our previous findings. Genotyping for VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGFR-1,2,3 and ITGA and ITGV was carried out on pT4a radically resected gastric tumours recurring with either peritoneal-only carcinosis or hematogenous metastases. 101 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 57 with peritoneal carcinomatosis only and 44 with hematogenous spread only. At multivariate analysis, intestinal histology and the AC genotype of rs699947 (VEGFA) showed to independently correlate with hematogenous metastases (p = 0.0008 and 0.008 respectively), whereas diffuse histology and the AA genotype of rs2269772 (ITGA) independently correlated with peritoneal-only diffusion (p = <0.0001 and 0.03 respectively). Our results seem to indicate that combining information from genotyping of rs699947 (VEGFA, AC), rs2269772 (ITGA, AA) and tumour histology could allow clinicians to individuate gastric cancer at high risk for recurrence either with peritoneal or hematogenous metastases. The selection tool deriving from this analysis may allow an optimal use of the available treatment strategies in these patients.     

Mid-distance movements of common bottlenose dolphins in the coastal waters of Greece

While bottlenose dolphins in Mediterranean waters often display a high degree of site fidelity, movements across distant areas can occur. Such movements have important implications in terms of population viability, particularly in basins with low bottlenose dolphin densities. We report movements of nine individuals photo-identified up to 265 km apart in western Greece. Four showed a certain degree of site fidelity to one area across several years, but were also found elsewhere, with two individuals moving between two areas. This study provides further evidence that animals appearing to be “resident” within a given area can temporarily leave and range widely.