Evaluating the presence of Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Helicobacter pylori in biopsies of patients with gastric cancer

Background Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and has been associated with infections that may promote tumour progression. Accordingly, we analysed the presence of Mollicutes, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer tissues and evaluated their correlation with clinicopathological factors. Methods Using a commercial kit, DNA were extracted from 120 gastric samples embedded in paraffin: 80 from patients with gastric cancer and 40 from cancer free patients, dating from 2006 to 2016. Mollicutes and H. pylori were detected by PCR; F. nucleatum and M. hyorhinis were detected by qPCR, together with immunohistochemistry for the latter bacteria. Results Mollicutes were detected in the case and control groups (12% and 2.5%) and correlated with the papillary histologic pattern (P = 0.003), likely due to cell transformation promoted by Mollicutes. M. hyorhinis was detected in the case and control group but was not considered a cancer risk factor. H. pylori was detected at higher loads in the case compared to the control group (8% and 22%, P = 0.008) and correlated with metastasis (P = 0.024), lymphatic invasion (P = 0.033), tumour of diffused type (P = 0.028), and histopathological grading G1/G2 (P = 0.008). F. nucleatum was the most abundant bacteria in the case group, but was also detected in the control group (26% and 2.5%). It increased the cancer risk factor (P = 0.045, OR = 10.562, CI95% = 1.057–105.521), and correlated with old age (P = 0.030) and tumour size (P = 0.053). Bacterial abundance was significantly different between groups (P = 0.001). Conclusion Our findings could improve the control and promote our understanding of opportunistic bacteria and their relevance to malignant phenotypes.

EP.TH.328Present status of cancer burden in Sri Lanka based on GLOBOCAN estimates

Aims We aimed to provide an overview of cancer burden in Sri Lanka including incidence, prevalence and mortality rates in 2018 by age groups. Methods We used the data from GLOBOCAN 2018 which provided worldwide estimates of cancer incidence, prevalence and mortality for each country and regions. Results Highest prevalence in both sexes (total = 56,054) in Sri Lanka included cancers of the breast (n = 9,534, 87.5/100,000 population), lip and oral cavity (n = 5,904, 28.2/100,000), thyroid (n = 4,387, 20.9/100,000), colorectum (n = 3,634, 17.3/100,000) and leukaemia (n = 3,234, 15.4/100,000), respectively. In males, the highest incidence was reported for lip and oral cavity, lung and oesophageal cancers and in females, breast, uterine cervix, thyroid and ovarian cancers. Cancers causing highest mortality among Sri Lankan males included lung, lip and oral cavity, oesophagus and leukaemia and in females, breast, uterine cervix, leukaemia and ovary. Conclusions The burden of cancer is increasing in Sri Lanka which is probably related to changing cancer risk factor profiles and rapidly aging population. New innovative strategies for prevention, early detection and improving the quality cancer treatment is essential to deal with this effectively.

Metal Complex Formation and Anticancer Activity of Cu(I) and Cu(II) Complexes with Metformin

Metformin has been used for decades in millions of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this time, correlations between metformin use and the occurrence of other disorders have been noted, as well as unpredictable metformin side effects. Diabetes is a significant cancer risk factor, but unexpectedly, metformin-treated diabetic patients have lower cancer incidence. Here, we show that metformin forms stable complexes with copper (II) ions. Both copper(I)/metformin and copper(II)/metformin complexes form adducts with glutathione, the main intracellular antioxidative peptide, found at high levels in cancer cells. Metformin reduces cell number and viability in SW1222 and K562 cells, as well as in K562-200 multidrug-resistant cells. Notably, the antiproliferative effect of metformin is enhanced in the presence of copper ions.

Asymmetric Dense Breast is an Independent Breast Cancer Risk Factor

Objectives: There are multiple known breast cancer risk factors, but most women with breast cancer do not have any of them, so there should be some other unknown risk factors. We hypothesized that asymmetric breast densities could be another breast cancer risk factor. Method: In this study, we defined two case and control groups with 136 women with breast cancer and 136 who did not have breast cancer, respectively. Any different type of asymmetry in either breast was recorded in both groups. Result: The frequency of focal asymmetry in cases was 47 (34.6%), which was statistically more significant than in the control group (28 (20.6%)) (p=0.010). There were three (2.9%) and five (3.7%) global asymmetries in the case and control groups, respectively (p=0.735). The frequency of one view asymmetry in the case and control groups was not significant (16 (11.8%) and 9 (6.6%) respectively) (p=0.142). In the case group, 59 (43.4%) women had at least one type of asymmetry, compared to 41 (30.1%) in the control group (p=0.02). We identify focal asymmetries (likelihood ratio, 1.215; p=0.027) is risk factors for breast cancer. Conclusion: Breast density asymmetry is a breast cancer risk factor that could be scored, thus enhancing risk stratification for screening and prevention.