Simultaneous VEGF-positive and EGFR-negative expression was associated with a lack of complete tumour regression in more than 94% of cases and a 12-fold-decreased odds of response compared with EGFR-positive Volasertib aml and VEGF-negative tumours. A relationship between EGFR and VEGF has previously been established. Not only do both proteins share the same intracellular signalling pathways (Roberts and Der, 2007), but several preclinical studies have provided evidence for either direct or indirect angiogenic effects of EGFR signalling (Ciardiello et al, 2006). EGFR has additionally been reported to upregulate VEGF expression (Ciardiello et al, 2006). Recently Eriksen et al (2005) demonstrated that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors decrease VEGF expression by both HIF-1��-independent and -dependent mechanisms.

Although interrelated, the contribution of VEGF and EGFR to angiogenesis appears to arise through distinct mechanisms, thereby warranting the simultaneous blockade of both proteins for the treatment of patients with rectal cancer (Tabernero, 2007). We acknowledge that preoperative HDREB remains an experimental approach that is presently being considered for a randomised trial. At the present time, different radiation schedules are used: in northern Europe, 25Gy in five fractions (short course) is commonly applied, whereas 45Gy in 25 fractions (long course) with chemotherapy is preferred in southern Europe and North America. Bujko et al (2006) randomised 310 patients with cT3 rectal cancer to 5Gy �� 5, followed by surgery or conventional preoperative 50.

4Gy plus bolus 5FU1leucovorin daily over 5 weeks, followed by surgery and reported similar local control and survival results. The ability to predict complete pathologic response or sensitivity to radiation based on IHC would have a significant impact on the selection of patients for preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiation therapy schedules. In this study, negative VEGF and positive EGFR expression were predictive of complete pathologic response to preoperative radiotherapy in patients with advanced rectal cancer. In addition, our findings have identified a subgroup of VEGF-positive and EGFR-negative tumours, which are more resistant to radiotherapy and should perhaps be considered candidates for innovative neoadjuvant combined modalities.

AIM: To study the association of three common ABCB11 and ABCC2 polymorphisms (ABCB11: 1331T>C V444A; ABCC2: 3563T>A V1188E and 4544G>A C1515Y) with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and contraceptive-induced GSK-3 cholestasis (CIC). METHODS: ABCB11 and ABCC2 genotyping data were available from four CIC patients and from 42 and 33 ICP patients, respectively. Allele-frequencies of the studied polymorphisms were compared with those in healthy pregnant controls and Caucasian individuals.