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

Background and objective: CT-guided percutaneous ethanol ablation (PEA) has been widely used in treating solid tumors such as hepatoma, lung cancer, adrenal nonfunctional adenoma. This study was to explore the efficacy, safety and feasibility of CT-guided PEA in treating renal tumor in rabbit.

Methods: Twenty-five rabbits carrying VX2 tumor were randomized into PEA group (15 rabbits) and control group (10 rabbits). After CT-guided PEA, the area of the largest cross section lipiodol deposition in PEA group was measured. After one week, the kidneys carrying VX2 tumor were removed, tumor size in both groups and the area of the largest cross section coagulation necrosis in PEA group were measured. Wound infection and the changes of living habits of the rabbits were observed after experiment.

Results: A total of 25 VX2 tumors were developed in the 25 rabbits. The area of the largest cross section was 1.38-2.25 cm(2), with an average of (1.61+/-0.04) cm(2). There was no significant difference in tumor size between the two groups. After ablation, the area of lipiodol deposition in PEA group was 1.31-1.85 cm(2), with an average of (1.56+/-0.05) cm(2). At one week after ablation, the area of the largest cross section of tumors was significant smaller in PEA group than in control group [(1.58+/-0.03) cm(2) vs. (1.94+/-0.03) cm(2), P<0.05]; the area of coagulation necrosis in PEA group was 1.27-1.78 cm(2), with an average of (1.54 +/-0.04) cm(2), and was similar to the area of lipiodol deposition (P>0.05). Tumor tissue in ablation areas showed acidophilia changes and irregular coagulation necrosis. There was no obvious complication in PEA group.

Conclusion: CT-guided PEA can effectively inactivate rabbit kidney VX2 tumors, and it is a safe and feasible treatment without obvious complications.

Background and objective: Accurate individualized measurement of organ motion is the premise of defining internal margin (IM) for abdominal malignancies. This study was to assess the three-dimensional abdominal organ motion caused by respiration using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT), and to analyze the association between the movement of diaphragm and abdominal organs.

Methods: The 4DCT scans of 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were analyzed, five of whom had para-aortic lymph node metastases. The liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and para-aortic lymph nodes were contoured in all 10 respiratory phases of 4DCT scans. The 3D movement of diaphragm and organs was calculated and the relationship between the movement of diaphragm and abdominal organs was analyzed.

Results: The average diaphragmatic movement was (10.3+/-4.0) mm with wide interpatient variations. Analysis of the center of the mass of abdominal organs revealed predominant cranio-caudal (CC) movement, with a mean of (10.1+/-3.9) mm for liver, (9.3+/-2.9) mm for left kidney, (9.6+/-4.1) mm for right kidney, (7.6+/-3.0) mm for pancreas, (10.6+/-3.3) mm for spleen, and (5.7+/-1.8) mm for para-aortic lymph nodes. The CC movement of the liver and the right kidney correlated well with the diaphragmatic movement, and no significant differences were observed. There was no significant correlation of the diaphragmatic movement to the CC movement of left kidney, pancreas and spleen. The movement of both kidneys was comparable, however, the movement of one kidney did not predict the movement of the contralateral one.

Conclusions: The 4DCT scanning can accurately measure abdominal organ motion during whole respiration. The diaphragmatic mobility can approximate the CC movement of liver and right kidney, and the movement amplitude of para-aortic lymph nodes is much smaller than diaphragmatic mobility.

Nanotechnology has been extensively merging into biomedical research to develop a new research field-Nanobiomedicine. It provides a unique approach and comprehensive technology against cancer by early diagnosis, prediction, prevention, personalized therapy and medicine. This review focused on the progress of nanotechnology in early diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Background and objective: Prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer varies. Whether or not to perform adjuvant chemotherapy on patients with stage II colorectal cancer is controversial. This study was to explore the prognostic factors for the patients with stage II colorectal cancer and evaluate the effect and the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2005, 443 patients with stage II colorectal cancer receiving radical surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival rate and survival curve were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. The univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses were performed by the Cox regression model. Patients with or without chemotherapy (Xelox/Folfox regimen) with high-risk factors were analyzed respectively.

Results: The median follow-up time was 59 months, and the 3-and 5-year survival rates were 88.4% and 82.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that intestinal obstruction or perforation, diabetes mellitus, inadequate surgical margin, and the number of sampled nodes < 9 were poor prognostic factors. Patients with intestinal obstruction or perforation, the number of sampled nodes < 9 achieved higher 5-year survival (80% and 86%) undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy than those receiving surgery alone (67% and 64%).

Conclusions: The prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with intestinal obstruction or perforation, diabetes mellitus, inadequate surgical margin, and the number of sampled nodes < 9 are relatively poor. Adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended to patients with intestinal obstruction, perforation or sampled nodes < 9.

Background and objective: FHIT gene methylation leads to down-regulation of its expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This study was to detect the expression of FHIT mRNA and protein in HCC cell line HepG2 after treatment of methylase inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC), and observe the effect of 5-Aza-dC on the proliferation of HepG2 cells.

Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with 5-Aza-dC. Methylation of FHIT in HepG2 cells was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). FHIT mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). FHIT protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay.

Results: Before treatment of 5-Aza-dC, FHIT gene methylation was detected in HepG2 cells, while no FHIT mRNA and protein expression was detected. The hypermethylation of FHIT gene in HepG2 cells was effectively reversed after treatment of 5-Aza-dC. When HepG2 cells were treated with 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 micromol/L of 5-Aza-dC for 48 h, the mRNA levels of FHIT were 0.80+/-0.32, 1.41+/-0.54, and 1.51+/-0.61, respectively; the protein levels of FHIT were 0.33+/-0.20, 1.00+/-0.26, and 1.12+/-0.38, respectively. Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited after being treated with 5-Aza-dC.

Conclusion: 5-Aza-dC can reverse the abnormal methylation of FHIT gene, activate the silenced gene and induce FHIT mRNA and protein expression in HepG2 cells.

Background and objective: Obesity is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. Many studies showed that body mass index (BMI) is related to the incidence of colon cancer. This study was to explore the relationship between BMI and colon cancer in Chinese population and provide evidences for the prevention of colon cancer.

Methods: Clinical data, including BMI, of 707 colon cancer patients and 709 healthy subjects were compared.

Results: The mean BMI was significantly higher in colon cancer patients than in healthy subjects [(24.52+/-4.56) kg/m2 vs. (23.75+/-3.14) kg/m2, t=-3.72, P<0.001]. When stratified by sex and age, the BMI was always higher in colon cancer patients than in healthy subjects. Logistic regression analyses showed that BMI was an important risk factor of colon cancer (odds ratio=1.059, 95% confidence interval=1.029-1.090).

Conclusion: The occurrence of colon cancer in Chinese population is related to BMI.

Background and objective: The therapeutic effects of chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms are still unsatisfactory. This study was to evaluate the chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer tissues to therapeutic agents using histoculture drug response assay (HDRA), and explore the correlation of chemosensitivity to the expression levels of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes and proteins.

Methods: Twenty-two specimens of colorectal cancer were collected. The inhibition rates of single agents, including epirubicin, cisplatin (DDP), oxaliplatin, 5-FU, taxetere, irinotecan, and combinations of these agents, including 5-FU+epirubicin+DDP, 5-FU+irinotecan, 5-FU+oxaliplatin, 5-FU+taxetere+ DDP on colorectal cancer tissues were evaluated by HDRA. The agent whose inhibition rate was greater than 30% was considered sensitive, and the sensitivity was calculated. mRNA and protein levels of MDR genes and proteins in colorectal cancer tissues were measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Results: Among the single agents, the inhibition rate of oxaliplatin (17.5%) and sensitivity of cancer tissues to 5-FU (36.4%) were the highest. In the combination groups of agents, the inhibition rate of 5-FU+ oxaliplatin (54.1%), and sensitivity of cancer tissues to 5-FU+epirubicin+DDP (71.4%) and to 5-FU+taxetere+DDP (71.4%) were the highest. The inhibition rates of and sensitivity of cancer tissues to combined agents were higher than those of single agents (P<0.05). Expressions of MDR1, multidrug resistance protein-1 (MRP1), ABC-binding cassette transporter superfamily-G-2 (ABCG2) mRNA were detected in 88.9%, 55.6% and 55.6% of specimens respectively; while those of MDR1, MRP1 and ABCG2 proteins were detected in 55.6%, 33.3%, and 50.0% of specimens respectively. Expressions of mRNA and proteins had no correlation in MDR1, MRP1 and ABCG2 (P>0.05). High expression of ABCG2 protein was correlated to the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to epirubicin (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Expressions of MDR proteins are correlated to chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer to some extents. By combining HDRA with measurement of MDR genes and proteins, chemosensitivity of individual tumors may be predicted to guide selection of effective chemotherapeutic agents.

Background and objective: An increase in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and/or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels is generally considered as tumor progression in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). However, a transient CEA surge has been observed in patients with MCRC responding to chemotherapy. This study was to investigate the clinical significance of transient CEA/CA19-9 surges in Chinese MCRC patients.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-one MCRC patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma and baseline ECOG performance status of < or =2 were treated with oxaplatin and (or) irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimens. Serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels were measured before and after chemotherapy.

Results: Of the 121 patients, 14 (11.6%) had transient CEA surges with median baseline CEA level of 45 microg/L (9.67-2208 microg/L) and median surge peak level of 80.1 microg/L (13.38-4044 microg/L). The transient CEA surge occurred at a median of 4 weeks (2-6 weeks), and lasted for a medium of 6.5 weeks (4-14 weeks). Of the 14 patients, 11 received oxaplatin-based chemotherapy; three received irinotecan-based chemotherapy. All the 14 patients showed clinical benefit from chemotherapy, among which seven achieved partial response and seven had stable disease. In the meantime, five patients (3.8%) had transient CA19-9 surges. However, no significant correlation was found between an increase in the CA19-9 level and clinical benefits.

Conclusions: Transient CEA surges can be observed in Chinese MCRC patients receiving oxaplatin or irinotecan-based chemotherapy, which does not indicate tumor progression, but good therapeutic efficacy. A transient elevation of CA19-9 is not correlated to short-term clinical benefits.

Background and objective: Cetuximab combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy has been used to treat head and neck cancer in recent years, but few reports are available in China now. This study was to summarize our experiences in treating patients with head and neck cancer cetuximab.

Methods: From October 1st, 2005 to September 30th, 2008, six with patients head and neck cancer were treated using cetuximab combined with radiotherapy and five were treated using cetuximab combined with chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The short-term efficacy and safety were analyzed.

Results: A total of 82 cycles of cetuximab treatment, with a median of seven cycles, were administered safely. There was no treatment-associated death and no cetuximab-associated discontinuation. In cetuximab combined with radiotherapy group, four patients achieved complete response (CR) and two achieved partial response (PR); all CR patients had hadacne-like rash (three cases were > or = grade III), only one PR patient had grade I rash; five patients had skin reaction in the irradiation field (four cases of skin reaction were > or = grade III); hematological toxicity was slight excepted one case of grade IV. In cetuximab combined chemotherapy group, two patients achieved PR, two had stable disease (SD) and one had progressed disease (PD); the of acne-like rash was low, and three patients experienced bone marrow depression above grade III.

Conclusion: Cetuximab combined with either radiotherapy or chemotherapy are good options for suitable patients with head and neck cancer.