Flow cytometric DNA measurements in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: an important prognostic method

One hundred and thirty-one squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva were examined by FCM-DNA measurements. Samples were prepared from paraffin-embedded tissue. Of these, 66 were found to be diploid, 52 aneuploid and 13 could not be evaluated. The 5-year crude survival rate was 62% for the diploid and 23% for the aneuploid tumors ( P < 0.001). The aneuploid tumors without lymph node (LN) metastases showed a 5-year cancer-related survival rate of 44% as compared to 58% for the diploid tumors with LN metastases. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis the most important independent prognostic parameters were (1) LN involvement ( P < 0.0001), (2) tumor ploidy ( P = 0.0001) and (3) tumor size ( P = 0.0039). By using ploidy and lymph node involvement in this way as prognostic factors we are able to identify high- and low-risk groups of patients. We strongly believe that these results should lead to a different attitude towards therapy in vulva cancer patients.     

Antitumour effect of benzylidene-glucose (BG) in rats with chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma

The effect of 4,6-benzylidene-D-glucose (BG) on chemically induced primary hepatocellular carcinomas in rats was tested after daily single injections of 85 mg per kg body weight into the aorta through a canula implanted through the right carotid artery. Treatment started immediately following a biopsy confirming the diagnosis and continued over a period of 7 to 10 days. One day after the final injection the liver was removed and the animals sacrificed. Histological examination of the samples taken before and after treatment of the same animals indicated an extensive tumour necrosis after treatment. Complete or nearly complete tumour necrosis was found in 3 of 7 animals while no effect of treatment was found in only 1 animal. HPLC-chromatograms of BG indicated that the compound is metabolised within 1 h. A metabolite may possibly be the active component.     

HIF-1α在食管上皮细胞中的诱导表达及对光动力疗法的影响

目的:探讨食管上皮Het1A细胞经诱导表达HIF1α后对光动力学效应的影响。方法:HIF1α的稳定高表达采用氯化钴(CoCl2)化学诱导法,并应用光敏剂5ALA处理细胞,光动力疗法(photodynamictherapy,PDT)光照射采用波长>600nm的红光光源,细胞存活活性以MTS法测定,应用Westernblot测定HIF1α蛋白质水平,RNA干扰采用脂质体转染法,并利用TdT流式细胞法测定细胞凋亡率。结果:Het1A细胞经100μmol/L的CoCl2孵育4h后可诱导HIF1α蛋白的高表达;PDT后高表达HIF1α的细胞具有较高的细胞存活活性,且细胞凋亡率由未诱导时的16%降低至4%;不同浓度CoCl2诱导的HIF1α蛋白质水平与PDT后细胞存活活性相一致;siRNA转染阻断HIF1α的诱导表达,细胞又恢复了对PDT的应答能力。结论:HIF1α在Het1A细胞中的高表达使PDT效果下降;HIF1α部分通过抑制PDT引起的细胞凋亡而抵御PDT效应。提示HIF1α可作为治疗靶基因,降低肿瘤组织HIF1α表达水平可能有助于改善PDT临床疗效。     

Expression of HLA-G in malignant mesothelioma and clinically aggressive breast carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to evaluate HLA-G expression in breast carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma (MM). Malignant breast carcinoma effusions (46) and corresponding solid tumors (39) and 104 MM (26 effusions, 78 solid tumors) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). HLA-G protein and mRNA expression were further studied using immunoblotting (IB) and RT-PCR. HLA-ABC expression was analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM). IHC showed predominantly focal HLA-G expression in 12 of 46 (26%) breast carcinoma effusions and 16 of 39 (41%) solid lesions. In MM, 20 of 78 (26%) solid lesions and 14 of 26 (54%) effusions were focally HLA-G positive. Expression in MM was higher in effusions (p=0.008). IB showed more frequent HLA-G expression in MM compared with breast carcinoma effusions, while RT-PCR showed HLA-G mRNA expression in both tumors. FCM showed conserved HLA-ABC expression in 15 of 15 effusions. Breast cancer patients with HLA-G-positive tumor cells had shorter disease-free survival (mean 37 vs 85, median 25 vs 31 months), though not significantly (p=0.14). In conclusion, HLA-G is focally expressed in MM and breast carcinoma, while HLA-ABC expression is conserved. However, the up-regulated expression of HLA-G in MM effusions and its possible association with shorter disease-free survival in advanced stage of breast carcinoma suggest a possible role in immune response evasion in some tumors.     

Synergistic effect of SCF and G-CSF on stem-like properties in prostate cancer cell lines

Bone marrow metastases are formed in the late phases of prostate cancer disease. Stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are present in the microenvironment of the bone marrow and play a vital role in cell biology therein. The present study was to investigate the influence of SCF and G-CSF on stem-like properties in prostate cancer cell lines. Upon stimulation with SCF or G-CSF, higher levels of CD117, ABCG2, and CD44 were observed in PC-3 and DU145 cells examined by flow cytometry. Simultaneously, the expressions of Oct3/4 and Nanog were upregulated. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR verified that the increased Nanog under the stimulations was mostly derived from NANOGP8. In parallel with the increasing expressions of these proteins, higher colony and sphere formation efficiencies were seen in these cells in response to the cytokine stimulations. Furthermore, a synergistic effect of SCF and G-CSF on colony and sphere formations and ABCG2 expression was disclosed. Our results indicate a favorable bone marrow niche for prostate cancer cells where higher levels of cell stemness are maintained at least partly by the cytokines SCF and G-CSF.     

B7-H3 expression in colorectal cancer: Nuclear localization strongly predicts poor outcome in colon cancer

In colorectal cancer there is a need for molecular markers that can complement the histopathological staging in predicting the likelihood of disease recurrence following curatively intended surgery. B7-H3 is an immunoregulatory protein shown to be overexpressed in several cancer forms, often associated with more advanced disease and poor prognosis. We wanted to examine whether B7-H3 could be a potential prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. Paraffin-embedded samples from 277 colorectal cancer patients were immunostained with anti-B7-H3 antibody. B7-H3 was expressed in the tumor cell cytoplasm and cell membrane in 62% and 46% of the samples, respectively. Unexpectedly, B7-H3 was expressed in the nucleus in 30% of the tumors. The nuclear localization was confirmed by Western immunoblotting of subcellular fractions. Importantly, in colon cancer, nuclear B7-H3 expression was independently and significantly associated with reduced metastasis-free, disease-specific and overall survival. B7-H3 expression in tumor-associated vasculature and fibroblasts was observed in the majority of samples, and endothelial B7-H3 expression was also significantly associated with poor outcome in colon cancer. In rectal cancer patients, the only significant association was between fibroblast B7-H3 expression and shorter metastasis-free survival. Few significant associations to clinicopathological parameters were seen. The results indicate that nuclear B7-H3 might be involved in colon cancer progression and metastasis, and suggest that nuclear B7-H3 could become a useful prognostic marker in colon cancer.     

TP53 alterations in atypical ductal hyperplasia and ductal carcinomain situ of the breast

Summary Abnormalities in theTP53 tumour suppressor gene in 75 atypical ductal hyperplasias and 62 ductalcarcinomasin situ (DCIS) of the breast were studied using immunohistochemistry and mutation analysis. Accumulation of p53 protein was detected in 10 out of 62 (16%) DCIS, whereas no cases of positive staining was observed in the atypical lesions.TP53 mutations were identified in four out of 30 (13%) DCIS by constant denaturant gel electrophoresis (CDGE). Two of these cases were positive and two negative for p53 protein. A total of 12 out of 62 DCIS (19%) carriedTP53 mutation and/or p53 protein overexpression. The present results suggest thatTP53 alterations may be important in the development of a subset of DCIS.