Expression of keratinocyte growth factor/fibroblast growth factor-7 and its receptor in human lung cancer: correlation with tumour proliferative activity and patient prognosis

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)/fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), a mesenchymal cell-derived paracrine growth factor that specifically stimulates epithelial cell proliferation, has been implicated in the repair of lung tissue. The present study was designed to determine the expression and role of KGF and its receptor (KGFR) in human lung cancer tissues, particularly in relation to cancer cell kinetics and prognosis. Thirty-one adenocarcinomas and 30 squamous cell carcinomas, and ten normal lung tissues as a control, were examined. The expression of KGF and KGFR proteins was examined using rabbit polyclonal anti-human KGF and anti-human KGFR antisera raised in the authors' laboratories against synthetic peptides corresponding to parts of human KGF KGFR, respectively. Their specificity was confirmed in lung tumour tissues by western blotting various controls. Proliferative activity was assessed by determining the labelling index (LI) for Ki-67 antigen. Immunohistochemistry revealed that tissue co-expression of KGF KGFR correlated significantly with higher differentiation grades in squamous cell carcinoma. Conversely, in adenocarcinoma, co-expression correlated with lower differentiation grades high Ki-67 LI, was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis shorter 5-year survival. Therefore, the results indicate that co-expression of KGF KGFR correlates significantly with poor prognosis in adenocarcinoma, but not in squamous cell carcinoma, of the lung.     

人非小细胞肺癌中KGF mRNA的表达及意义

目的研究人非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)角化细胞生长因子(keratinocyte growth factor,KGF)mR-NA的表达,及其在NSCLC发生过程中肿瘤细胞与间质细胞间的相互作用。方法采用原位杂交和免疫组化法检测KGF mR-NA与Ki-67在50例NSCLC的表达,并与正常组织对照。结果KGF mRNA的表达除在NSCLC某些实质细胞内观察到外,主要见于NSCLC的纤维母细胞和血管平滑肌细胞胞质。肿瘤组织KGF mRNA表达的阳性率86%明显高于正常肺组织的24%(P<0·05)。有淋巴结转移者比无淋巴结转移者的表达更强,且与肺癌的分化相关,分化程度越低,KGF mRNA表达越强。在50例肺癌中Ki-67表达的分布与KGF mRNA相似。结论NSCLC存在KGF mRNA高表达。KGF可通过旁分泌、自分泌两种方式发挥作用。KGF可能与NSCLC的发生有一定的相关性。     

结直肠癌组织中人细小病毒B19的检测

目的探讨人细小病毒B19感染与结直肠癌发生的关系。方法运用原位杂交对50例石蜡包埋结直肠癌患者的肿瘤组织,癌周结直肠组织以及10例正常成人结肠组织中B19病毒进行检测。激光捕获显微切割肿瘤细胞及癌周正常肠上皮细胞,巢式PCR扩增B19DNA。结果50例结直肠癌标本中,原位杂交示B19阳性信号在肿瘤组织为78％（39／50）,癌周结直肠组织为40％（20／50）,正常结肠组织中5例（n=10）,经统计分析肿瘤与癌周组织B19感染差异有显著性（P〈0．01）,正常结肠组织与癌周组织间未见统计学差异（P=1．000）。显微切割进一步证实B19病毒DNA存在于肿瘤细胞内。结论结直肠组织中人细小病毒B19感染较常见,主要存在于结直肠癌上皮细胞内,该病毒可能在结直肠癌的发生过程中起一定作用。     

结直肠癌伴神经内分泌分化的研究进展

结直肠癌伴神经内分泌分化是一种较为常见的现象。较多研究显示结直肠癌中神经内分泌细胞起源于内胚层的多潜能干细胞。结直肠癌的神经内分泌分化与IL-1, IL-6,转化生长因子β（transforming growth factor β, TGF-β）,B细胞淋巴瘤基因2（B-cell lymphoma gene 2, Bcl-2）,p53基因,N-myc下游调节基因1（N-myc downstream regulated gene 1,NDRG1）,再生基因4(regenerating gene Ⅳ, Reg Ⅳ)等有关。多数学者认为神经内分泌分化的出现预示着较差的预后,但近来很多研究显示神经内分泌分化的出现与预后无关。     

Increased expression of miRNA-182 in colorectal carcinoma: an independent and tissue-specific prognostic factor

Increasing evidence has revealed that miRNAs play a pivotal role in multiple processes of carcinogenesis, and are being explored as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarker. In this study, we investigated the status of miR-182 expression in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) by in situ hybridization and its underlying clinicopathologic significance for patients with CRC. We found that 79/138 (57.25%) CRCs had high-level expression of miR-182, while 17/67 (25.37%) normal mucosa tissues had high-level expression of miR-182. The expression level of miR-182 was remarkably up-regulated in CRC tissues compared with non-neoplastic normal tissues (P < 0.001). The over-expression of miR-182 in cancer parenchyma cells in CRC were strongly correlated with T-stage (P = 0.020), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003), distant metastasis (P = 0.002), and Dukes’ stage (P = 0.005) in patients with CRC. Patients with high-level expression of miR-182 had short overall survival time than those with low-level expression of miR-182 (P < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses further showed that miR-182 expression was a potential unfavorable prognostic factor for CRC, suggesting a potential application of miR-182 in prognosis prediction and therapeutic application in CRC.     

血管内皮细胞生长因子与大肠癌治疗

血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）在大肠癌组织中高表达，与肿瘤血管生成，肿瘤细胞增殖、转移，肿瘤预后关系密切。目前各种针对VEGF及其受体开展的抑制肿瘤血管生成的药物研究广泛开展，有的已经批准上市，用于大肠癌的临床治疗，为大肠癌的治疗开辟了新的途径。     

角质细胞生长因子及其受体在人卵泡膜细胞和颗粒细胞的分布

目的　探讨角质细胞生长因子 (KGF)及其受体 (KGFR)在人卵泡膜细胞和颗粒细胞的表达。方法　采用原位杂交和免疫组化方法分别观察KGF、KGFR在人卵泡膜细胞和颗粒细胞的分布。结果　KGFmRNA存在于正常人卵泡膜细胞和颗粒细胞中 ,KGFmRNA的表达为卵泡膜细胞高于颗粒细胞 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,KGFR的表达为颗粒细胞高于卵泡膜细胞 (P<0 .0 5 ) 。结论　人卵泡膜细胞分布有KGF ,颗粒细胞分布有KGFR ,两者可能存在旁分泌的调节作用。     

Overexpression of carbonic anhydrase-related protein VIII in human colorectal cancer

Carbonic anhydrase-related protein (CA-RP) VIII, which is a member of the CA gene family, has been shown to have no catalytic CA activity and its biological function is still unknown. Recently, overexpression of CAs IX and XII has been reported in certain types of malignancy. To investigate a potential role for CA-RP VIII in human colorectal epithelial carcinogenesis, colorectal tissue specimens from surgically resected adenocarcinomas (n = 60) and endoscopically polypectomized adenomas (n = 13) were analysed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies to CA-RP VIII and Ki-67 antigen. Less than 5% of epithelial cells in normal colonic mucosae (n = 73) were CA-RP VIII-positive and these were localized to the deep part of the cryptal epithelium. Increased expression of CA-RP VIII was observed in 78% of colorectal carcinomas. An intense signal was frequently observed at the tumour invasion front and its distribution was completely different from that of Ki-67 antigen. Colorectal adenomas also showed significant immunopositivity for CA-RP VIII, but its expression level was much lower than in adenocarcinomas. These findings suggest that CA-RP VIII plays a role in the process of invasion in colorectal cancer.     

Molecular detection of minimal residual disease in colorectal and breast cancer

Recent developments in the field of molecular biology enable us to detect tumour cells at a submicroscopical level. In colorectal and breast cancer the most important prognostic factor is dissemination of malignant cells to locoregional lymph nodes. An important issue is whether molecular 'super'-staging augments the accuracy by which the prognosis of individual patients can be assessed. Over the past few years numerous studies have reported the use of different PCR-based techniques in various types of cancer. The reported incidence of micrometastases and specificity of different assays varies tremendously. This clearly indicates the need for uniformity in protocols. For colorectal cancer the use of molecular techniques may improve staging and guide clinical decisions. For breast cancer there is still need to prove the clinical implication of finding occult metastatic disease. Nevertheless, PCR-based techniques are a powerful tool in the staging of common solid tumours and are likely to find their way into the daily practice of diagnostic histopathologists in the near future.     

S-腺苷甲硫氨酸抑制大肠癌细胞生长的实验研究

目的探讨S-腺苷甲硫氨酸(SAM)对人大肠癌细胞生长的抑制作用及抑癌机制。方法用SAM对大肠癌细胞系HT-29进行处理,使其癌基因c-myc和H-ras启动子区域甲基化。用噻唑蓝(MTT)法检测肿瘤细胞生长状态;甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应(PCR)(MSP)法检测c-myc和H-ras启动子区域甲基化状态;细胞免疫荧光染色检测C-MYC和H-RAS蛋白的表达情况。结果大肠癌细胞系HT-29经SAM处理后,癌基因c-myc和H-ras启动子区域重新出现甲基化。经SAM处理的大肠癌细胞组与对照组相比,细胞生长受到明显抑制,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);C-MYC和H-RAS蛋白表达明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 SAM能使HT-29中癌基因c-myc和H-ras启动子区域重新甲基化,降低C-MYC和H-RAS蛋白的表达水平,且有效抑制了肿瘤细胞的生长,从而为肿瘤治疗提供了新的靶点。     

Immunoblot analysis of c-Met expression in human colorectal cancer: Overexpression is associated with advanced stage cancer

c-Met, the receptor of hepatocyte growth factor is known to be responsible for the motility and mitogenesis of epithelial cells including cancer cells. To investigate the significance of c-Met expression in human colorectal cancer (CRC), total cellular protein, extracted from 130 CRCs were examined by Western blot analysis. The signal was quantitated by ChemiImager™ 4000 Low Light Imaging System. c-Met expression was analyzed as the ratio of tumor to matched normal tissue (T/N) and expressed as fold-increase. The cellular localization of c-Met was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The T/N fold increase of c-Met varied from 0.2 to 10.7 with a mean of 3.41 ± 0.23 (mean ± SE). 69% primary CRC showed overexpression (T/N >2.0) of c-Met. Significantly higher c-Met levels were found in CRC with blood vessel invasion (P = 0.04), and in advanced stage (P = 0.04). No relationship was noted between c-Met expression and age, tumor size, location, differentiation. C-Met immunoreactivity was observed in the membrane and cytoplasm of cancer cells. Positive staining of endothelial cells of blood vessels within normal submucosa and tumor was also evident. C-Met protein is expressed at levels significantly higher than adjacent mucosa in most primary adenocarcinomas of the colon. Our results support an important role for c-Met in human CRC progression and metastasis.     

Induction of growth arrest in colorectal cancer cells by cold plasma and gold nanoparticles

Introduction

Guided treatments with nanoparticles and cold atmospheric plasma are a new approach in cancer therapy. Plasma is an ionized gas that has reactive and energetic particles and can be produced in the laboratory by different methods.

Material and methods

Plasma jet therapy was employed to irradiate HCT-116 cells (human colorectal cancer cells) which were cultured in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Cell cytotoxicity was tested with 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and cancerous cell apoptosis was shown by 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining.

Results

The results showed that cell death was increased significantly with p < 0.001 by cold atmospheric plasma in the presence of gold nanoparticles.

Conclusions

It appears that non-thermal plasma and gold nanoparticles synergism is a promising approach in colon cancer therapy.     

食管癌MAL基因变化的RNA原位杂交研究

目的 观察食管癌组织及癌旁粘膜ＭＡＬ基因ｍＲＮＡ的表达情况。方法 非放射性ＲＮＡ原位杂交。结果 ３３例配对标本中食管粘膜全部表达ＭＡＬ基因,而只有８例食管癌组织表达,表达与否与临床参数无关。结论 ＭＡＬ基因的表达下调可能是食管癌发生中的重要事件。     

Keratinocyte growth factor-transfection-stimulated adhesion of colorectal cancer cells to extracellular matrices

The keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) regulates cell growth and behavior in an autocrine or paracrine manner. In colorectal cancer tissues, KGF is expressed in tumor cells and adjacent stromal fibroblasts. We have constructed a KGF-gene-transfected cell line (HCT15-KGF) from a colorectal cancer cell line, HCT-15, that expresses the KGF receptor, and studied the effects of KGF on cell behavior, particularly growth and adhesion to extracellular matrices (ECMs). The amount of KGF secreted from HCT15-KGF was significantly higher than that from a mock-transfected cell line (HCT15-MOCK). The modes of growth of these cell lines were similar. The degree of adhesion of HCT15-KGF to ECMs, including type-IV collagen and fibronectin was higher than that of HCT15-MOCK. The expressions of integrins in both cell lines were not significantly different. However, extracellular-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression that regulate the adhesive functions of integrin families were enhanced in HCT15-KGF. U0126, an inhibitor of the ERK upstream regulator MEK, attenuated the adhesion and spreading of HCT15-KGF cells to type-IV collagen. These results indicate that KGF enhances the adhesion of colorectal cancer cells to type-IV collagen through ERK and FAK signaling pathways.     

Chromogenic and fluorescent in situ hybridization in breast cancer

Fluorescent (FISH) and chromogenic (CISH) in situ hybridization have recently become part of the diagnostic armamentarium of breast pathologists. HER2 gene testing by FISH and/or CISH has become an integral part of the diagnostic workup for patients with breast cancer. In this era of high throughput technologies, these techniques have proven instrumental for the validation of results from microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization and for the identification of novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Furthermore, FISH and CISH applied to tissue microarrays have expedited the characterization of genomic changes associated with specific breast cancer molecular subtypes and the identification of novel prognostic and predictive markers. In this review, we provide in this review a critical assessment of CISH and FISH and the impact of the analysis of amplification of specific oncogenes (eg, HER2, EGFR, MYC, CCND1, and FGFR1) and deletion of tumor suppressor genes (eg, BRCA1 and BRCA2) on our understanding of breast cancer.     

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocation is correlated with anaplastic lymphoma kinase expression and mutually exclusive with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in Taiwanese non‐small cell lung cancer

The echinoderm microtubule‐associated protein‐like 4‐anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4‐ALK) fusion gene is an important biomarker for target therapy. The aim of this study is to better understand the clinical and molecular features of the EML4‐ALK fusion gene in lung cancer patients in Taiwan and therefore to generate an efficient algorithm for the detection of ALK translocation. In the first cohort, ALK translocation was identified in 1 adenocarcinoma from 100 lung cancer patients by using break apart fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Next, we detected 6 ALK translocations in another 40 EGFR wild type adenocarcinomas but not in 40 cases with EGFR mutation. Histological analysis revealed that solid growth with signet‐ring cells or cribriform glands with extracellular mucin were noted in all the 7 ALK translocated cases. One ALK positive cancer with mucinous cribriform pattern had no ALK expression. ALK expression was correlated with ALK translocation (p < 0.001), but not with ALK gene copy number gain (CNG) (P = 0.838). ALK translocation was also mutually exclusive with EGFR mutation in Taiwanese non‐small cell lung cancer (P = 0.033). These results indicate that screening tests for EGFR mutation status and/or ALK expression could help efficiently select ALK translocated patients for target therapy.