Experimental evidence indicates that n-3 fatty acids, especially the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, unlike n-6 fatty acids could prevent cancer development. This survey shows that fatty acids could act through several mechanisms including the production of reactive oxygen species, the modulation of gene expression and signal transduction pathways, or the eicosanoid biosynthesis. Human genetics has underlined several polymorphisms in genes identified as possible targets of fatty acids which suggests that the link between nutritional intake and cancer prevention, especially the eventual anti-carcinogenic effects of n-3 fatty acids, depends on the genetic background. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of fatty acids on angiogenesis which represents a marker of a poor prognosis in cancer. Finally, the use of genomic technologies combined with nutritional strategies could provide a more understanding of the effects of n-3 fatty acid intake on cancer prevention.

Malignant glioma are especially difficult to model in vivo. Here we review the most recent strategies for designing relevant models of glioma. These should greatly contribute to identification of new tumor regulating molecules and facilitate testing of inhibitors to be used in therapeutical trials as well as the drug resistance that they might confer.

It is estimated that 100 to 200 genes in the human genome are imprinted. These are expressed only from one parental allele, although having the same DNA sequence. Several of the known imprinted genes have been shown to be involved in fetal and placental growth, and imprinting defects can lead to embryonic, developmental defects as well as cancer. This mechanism of gene regulation probably emerged 150 million years ago in mammals. The reasons for the appearance and maintenance of this phenomenon throughout evolution are still controversial.

A key challenge in clinical proteomic of cancer is the identification of biomarkers that would allow early detection, diagnosis and monitor progression of the disease to improve long-term survival of patients. Recent advances in proteomic instrumentation and computational methodologies offer unique chance to rapidly identify these new candidate markers or pattern of markers. The combination of retentate affinity chromatography and surfaced-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is one of the most interesting new approaches for cancer diagnostic using proteomic profiling. This review aims to summarize the results of studies that have used this new technology method for the early diagnosis of human cancer. Despite promising results, the use of the proteomic profiling as a diagnostic tool brought some controversies and technical problems and still requires some efforts to be standardised and validated.

The jugulotympanic paragangliomas (JTP) represents the most frequent tumour of the middle ear but also of the temporal bone, after the acoustic neurinoma. The management of these vascular tumours remains uncleared. The purpose of this study was to report our experience about JTP in the CHU of Grenoble.

We report the case of a 8-year-old girl diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. This case was morphologically characterized by the presence of bundle of Auer rods in the neutrophils. The evolution of the disease was marked by a quick transformation in a acute myeloid leukaemia with t(8;21) refractory to treatment. We reviewed the literature for clinical, biological and therapeutic features of this rare childhood hemopathy.

The genetic bases of inherited predisposition to cancer are now established. The aim of our study is to value the knowledge, attitude and behavior of the general population about the inherited predisposition to cancer. Our study involved a population of 200 individuals. Without any history of cancer. The mean age of our population was 37.5 years (18 to 74 years). The education level was low in 62.5% of cases (illiterate or primary education). About knowledge: heredity was considered a predisposing factor to cancer by 42.5% of the respondents. About attitude: we noted a cancerophobia in 82% of cases. 86.5% of our respondents trought that an early diagnosis increased the chance of recovery. About behavior: 72.5% of the studied population wishd to know if they were predisposed to develop cancer. In case of pregnancy, 79% wished to know if the foetus wasa cancer gene predisposition carrier. 28% would keep this foetus in case of positive genetic testing. These results are encouraging to develop oncogenetic counselling in Tunisia.

Our work aims at defining by microarray gene expression profiles in different thyroid tumors: hyperfunctioning autonomous adenomas, and sporadic and post-Chernobyl papillary cancers. Gene expression analysis in hyperfunctioning autonomous adenomas allowed us to identify genes involved in various physiological processes of the thyroid. Concerning papillary cancers, gene expression profiling in post-Chernobyl and sporadic papillary carcinomas could not identify a specific gene expression signature allowing to distinguish both tumors although such a signature exists for autonomous adenomas and carcinomas. This suggests that both cancers represent the same disease, and that there is unlikely to be a molecular signature for radiation-induced thyroid cancer.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a retrovirus responsible for lymphoproliferative disorders in ruminants. The comprehensive study of this model system permitted the identification of genetic determinants required for leukemogenesis, the quantification of the dynamic parameters responsible for cell accumulation and the elaboration of novel therapeutic approaches in human.

Genomic imprinting is a process that appeared in mammals. This phenomenon blocks the normal development of parthenogenic and androgenic conceptuses, that is to say benign ovarian teratomas and hydatidiform moles respectively. Pathological modifications of these conceptuses depend on whether the chromosomes come from the mother or father. These pathologies are associated with an accidental anomaly during gametogenesis and/or fertilizing. These reproductive anomalies are sporadic and some familial cases may exist suggesting a genetic control of such diseases. The human andro- and parthenogenetic conceptuses, but more frequently the moles, may be invasive (choriocarcinoma). An imbalance of the imprinting genes may initiate the deregulation of other genes, including oncogenes and anti-oncogenes, which can explain the cancerous modification. Immunological and environmental factors must be also considered (presence of the only paternal chromosomes in the choriocarcinoma). Numerous works on this subject are published and some recent important discoveries underline the roles of genes HOX, Tim P3, E-cad and p-16, and the recurrent chromosome anomalies 7q21+and 8p21- in the mole to choriocarcinoma processing. Although these phenomena are complex and heterogeneous, the andro- and parthenogenote conceptuses are particularly interesting models with which to understand developmental disorders and cancerous progression.

Oncological family history allows to estimate an empirical risk to develop malignant tumors. Nowadays family history is crucial to determine the indication to perform screening of cancer predisposing genes. Five to 10% of all cancers are the result of highly penetrant genes. Most of the genes responsible for familial cancer syndromes have been characterized. It is now feasible, by a simple blood sample, to detect germ-line alterations of these genes and to identify the at risk individuals. Specific screening and preventive strategies are recommended in the management of these high risk individuals.

The proceedings instituted against three European patents held by the US company Myriad Genetics, on the BRCA1 gene and the breast cancer diagnosis gene, resulted in the total or partial revocation of these patents. These decisions put an end to the legal monopoly claimed by Myriad Genetics on the BRCA1 gene and on breast cancer gene tests, and left the field open to European geneticists to develop and implement their test methods within the framework of a clinical not-for-profit organization. The opposition procedure, through which any actor is allowed to challenge European patents, was used by geneticists doctors in Europe to refuse the emergence of an industrial monopoly on a medical service offered in a clinical context. The decision to revoke or strongly limit these patents was based on the European Patent Office's refusal to establish an invention priority on a sequence that had errors at the time the application was filed by the patent holder, in September 1994. The patent holder was granted an invention priority only on 24 March 1995, when it filed an application for a corrected sequence of the gene. But by then the BRCA1 gene sequence had already been divulged in a public data base, Genbank, from October 1994, notably by Myriad. Myriad Genetics' patents were thus victims of the patent race that prompted the firm to file multiple patent applications on insufficiently validated sequences, and of the conflict between diffusion in the public domain and the novelty requirement. Opposition to the patents, undertaken by a coalition of medical institutions, human genetic societies, two States, Holland and Austria, an environmental protection organization (Greenpeace), and the Swiss Labour Party, made it possible to preserve and develop the clinical economy of genetic tests in Europe. It resulted in amendments to intellectual property laws in France and thus extended the possibility of using compulsory licences for public health purposes to in vitro diagnosis.

Semaphorins, first described as axon guidance molecules, play an essential role in neural development, angiogenesis and immunological response. In 1996, two semaphorin genes, SEMA3B and SEMA3F, were isolated from chromosomal region 3p21.3 believed to contain a tumor suppressor gene based on frequent loss of heterozygosity in lung and breast cancer. Since these first studies, several semaphorins have been involved in tumor progression. Some semaphorins have been proposed to have pro-tumoral properties, whereas others have been shown to have tumor suppressive activity. This review summarizes the most recent data implicating semaphorins in cancers.