Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer最新文献

Background and objective: Cytologic screening of asymptomatic high risk individuals can detect curable esophageal carcinomas and has been used for several decades. However, the sensitivity of such screening is relatively low, which limits its wide use and development. This study was to investigate the utility of liquid-based cytology in esophageal carcinoma screening.

Methods: A mass screening of esophageal carcinoma was performed for asymptomatic residents in Yaocun County, Linzhou City, Henan Province, China. Esophageal biopsy samples were put into a liquid buffer for cytologic diagnosis and subsequent endoscopic biopsies were made on all subjects. Cytologic categories were adapted from criteria of the Bethesda system (TBS). RESULTS of liquid-based cytology were compared with those from endoscopic biopsy. The sensitivity and the specificity of liquid-based cytology were evaluated.

Results: Carcinomas in situ and carcinomas were identified in 17 (2.4%) of 710 subjects. Measured by ASC/AGC (atypical squamous cells or atypical glandular cells) as the detection threshold, the sensitivity and the specificity of liquid-based cytology were 76.5% and 76.0%, respectively.

Conclusion: In a hospital with a high level of conventional cytology, liquid-based technique can be used widely since the work load of reading slides may greatly decrease, although this technique do not significantly improve the sensitivity of screening.

Background and objective: A single nucleotide polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) gene affected the level of tumor necrosis factor beta and was associated with prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study was to investigate the association between the TNF-beta and ARDS after operation for esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with and 116 patients without ARDS after radical resection for thoracotomic esophageal carcinoma were recruited in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2005 to June 2007. Peripheral blood samples were collected and DNA extracted. TNF-beta genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RPLF).

Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the TNF-beta genotype and allele frequency (P>0.05). The time of mechanical ventilation was shorter and that of staying in the intensive care unit was longer for ARDS patients with the 1/2 genotype in the TNF-beta than for those with other genotypes (both P<0.05). The frequency of the 1/1 genotype and 1 allele in the TNF-beta was significantly higher in the group of surviving patients with ARDS than in the group of death patients. The odd ratios for mortality of two groups were 16.5 and 11.2, respectively.

Conclusions: TNF-beta did not appear to be a contributing factor influencing the morbidity of the patients with ARDS after operation for esophageal carcinoma, however, it might affect the development and prognosis of ARDS.

Background and objective: The mechanism of tumor tissues selectively uptake the photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is still unclear. This study was to investigate the affinity of tumor cells to the photosensitizer photofrin-II.

Methods: Ultraviolet spectrophotometer was applied to measure the absorption spectra of various cell culture media. The fluorescence spectrum of photofrin-II was determined by spectrofluorometer. The absorption and elimination condition of photofrin-II were detected in immortalized human esophageal epithelial cell line SHEE and its malignant transformation cell line SHEEC.

Results: The maximum excitation wavelength of fluorescence for photofrin-II was (395.0+/-0.5) nm, and the maximum emission wavelength of that was (634.1+/-0.5) nm. The laser at the wavelength of 630 nm used in this experiment could permeate various types of cell culture media. There was no significant difference in the absorption and elimination of photofrin-II between SHEE and SHEEC at the same concentration and time. The absorption of photofrin-II in SHEE and SHEEC increased with the increase in photofrin-II concentration and duration, and reached the platform at the concentration of 30 microg/mL and a time point of 150 min, respectively. The photofrin-II contents of SHEE and SHEEC showed a slight change after 15-30 min, and diminished rapidly after 30 min.

Conclusion: High photosensitizer concentration in tumor tissues may be not correlated with the affinity of tumor cells.

Background and objective: Thrombospondin-1(TSP1) is an inhibitor of angiogenesis and its promoter hypermethylation has been found resulting in gene silencing in some primary human carcinomas. This study was to investigate the promoter methylation of TSP1 and its correlation with TGF-beta1 level and T cell immunity in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA).

Methods: Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) approach and immunohistochemistry method were used to examine the methylation status of the 5' CpG island and expression of TSP1 protein, respectively. The level of TGF-beta1 was measured by ELISA and T cell immunity of GCA by flow cytometry analysis.

Results: TSP1 methylation frequency was significantly higher in tumor specimens than in corresponding normal tissues (35.4% vs. 3.1%, P<0.001) and significantly higher in Stages III and IV tumor tissues than in Stages I and II tumor tissues (P<0.05). TSP1 protein expression was significantly lower in the tumor tissues than in corresponding normal tissues (P<0.05) and statistically correlated with its methylation status (P<0.01). The total level of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in the GCA patients than in healthy controls(P<0.05) and significantly higher in Stages III and IV GCA patients than in Stages I and II GCA patients (P<0.05). The level of active TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in the GCA patients with hypermethylation of TSP1 than in the GCA patients without methylation of TSP1(P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference(P>0.05). The function of T cell immunity was significantly different between the GCA patients with hypermethylation of TSP1 and those without methylation of TSP1 (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Promoter hypermethylation of TSP1 may play an important role in the development of GCA and reflect the biological behaviours of GCA.

Background and objective: p53 gene is one of cancer suppressor genes and its mutation and deletion induces almost all human cancers. This study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of recombinant human Ad-p53 injection (rAd-p53) combined with cisplatin in treatment of malignant pleural effusion induced by lung cancer.

Methods: A total of 35 cases of malignant pleural effusion were randomly divided into the combined group (n=17) and the single-agent group (n=18). On the basis of systemic treatment (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2, Days 1-8, every 3 weeks), the combined group were given intracavitary administration of rAd-p53 (1x1012 VP) and cisplatin (40 mg/m2) once a week for 4 weeks. The single-agent group were given the same intracavitary administration as the combined group but without rAd-p53 therapy.

Results: The total effective rates in the combined group and the single-agent group were 82.35% and 50.00% (P<0.05), respectively. The total modification rates in the combined group and the single-agent group were 64.70% and 33.33% (P<0.05), respectively. The toxicities in the two groups were fever, stethalgia, nausea/vomiting and leukopenia. The toxic reaction in combined group was mainly self-limited fever (P<0.05), which disappeared automatically after 36 h.

Conclusions: rAd-p53 and cisplatin is safe and effective for malignant pleural effusion induced by lung cancer. It is worthy of application in clinical treatment.

Background and objective: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors can inhibit cell signal network function through decreasing expression of multiple genes and proteins, thus affect cell proliferation, survival and chemosensitivity. HDAC inhibitors combined with paclitaxel may enhance the inhibitory effect of drugs on lung cancer cells. This study was to observe the synergistic anti-proliferative effect of HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) combined with paclitaxel on lung cancer cell lines H322 and H1299, and to investigate its mechanism.

Methods: H322 and H1299 cells were divided into control group, paclitaxel (TAX) group, TSA group, and combination group (TF group, TSA followed by paclitaxel). Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of survivin, ERK, and PARP were determined by Western blot analysis.

Results: When combined with TSA, the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of paclitaxel decreased from (48.07+/-26.12) nmol/L to (6.34+/-5.72) nmol/L in H322 cells and from (110.6+/-38.7) nmol/L to (63.7+/-11.8) nmol/L in H1299 cells, with significant differences (P<0.05). Apoptosis rate of H322 cells was higher in the the TF group than in the TAX group(P<0.05). There were more necrosis cells in the TF group of H1299 cell line than in the other groups. pERK was up-regulated in the TAX group of H322 cell line. Expression of Survivin was up-regulated in the TAX group of two cells. Expressions of Survivin and pERK were down-regulated in the TSA and TF groups of two cell lines. Cleaved PARP was detected in the TAX and the TF groups of H322 cells, and its expression was significantly higher in the the TF group than in the TAX group. Cleaved PARP was not detected in each group of H1299 cells.

Conclusions: TSA combined with paclitaxel has a synergistic cytotoxicity effect on lung cancer cell lines H322 and H1299 when the cells were treated with TSA followed by paclitaxel. The mechanism may be that TSA down-regulates the survivin high-expression induced by paclitaxel, and blocks pERK protein expression.

Breast carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in women. For these patients, lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors. Recent studies suggest that lymphangiogenesis can contribute to the lymphatic metastasis in tumors. Several members of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, such as VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), have been found to promote lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer. However, there are still some controversy about the prognostic value of VEGF-D and the relation between VEGFR-3 and lymphangiogenesis. This article tried to provide an overview of the research progress of lymphangiogenic factor VEGF-D and its receptor VEGFR-3 in lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer.

Background and objective: Studies showed that cetuximab combined with chemotherapy was effective on advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC) in recent years, however, few reports based on large case cohort are available in China. This study was to analyze the efficacy of cetuximab combined with chemotherapy for 53 chinese patients with ACRC.

Methods: Clinical data of 53 patients with ACRC, treated with cetuximab combined with chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen Cancer Center from March 2005 to April 2008, were analyzed for short-term efficacy and safety. The efficacy of the regimen used as first-line and non-first-line treatment was compared by Chi-square test; the effect of the regimen on prognosis was analyzed by multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: Of the 53 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, 40 were men and 13 were women, with a median age of 55 years. A total of 572 weeks (median, 8 weeks) of cetuximab treatment were completed. The overall response rate (RR) of the regimen was 39.6% and the disease control rate 66.0%. The disease control rates were similar when the regimen was used as first-line and non-first-line treatment (80.3% vs. 60.5%, P=0.177). For all 53 patients, clinical stage was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.002, OR>1). The most common Grade 3 to 4 adverse events included acne-like rash (7.5%), neutropenia (18.9%), and diarrhea (5.6%). No hypersensitive reaction or treatment-related death was observed. Only one patient discontinued treatment because of Grade 4 diarrhea and neutopenia.

Conclusions: Cetuximab combined with chemotherapy can achieve relatively high disease control rate for ACRC patients, with less adverse events. Whether cetuximab has better effect in first-line treatment than in non-first-line treatment needs further study.

Background and objective: B7-H1, a member of B7 family, is expressed in tumor cells and has emerged as an important immune modulator capable of suppressing host immunity by inhibiting T cells function. This study was to probe into the correlation between the expression level of B7-H1 protein in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

Methods: The expression of B7-H1 was measured in 40 cases of pancreatic carcinoma tissues and 10 cases of normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression level of B7-H1 and clinicopathological characteristics and survival was analyzed.

Results: The positive rate of B7-H1 was significantly higher in the tumor tissues [45.00% (18/40)] than in the normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues [0(0/10)] (P<0.05); moreover, B7-H1 expression was significantly associated with the staging of tumor and preoperative serum CA19-9 level (P<0.05). The multivariate cox proportional hazards regression analysis of prognostic factors for overall survival and relapse-free survival showed that the expression of B7-H1 was an independent factor for poor prognosis.

Conclusion: B7-H1 protein was expressed in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues, and was associated with the prognosis.