Immunohistochemical demonstration of human chorionic gonadotropin in tumors of the urinary bladder

All transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder diagnosed in male patients within a five year period were studied for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) production. Biotin-avidin immunoperoxidase analysis for hCG was performed on all paraffin blocks containing carcinoma-in-situ, grade I, grade II, and grade III transitional cell carcinoma. Of a total of 29 patients, one case of carcinoma-in-situ (1/5), and five cases of grade III transitional cell carcinoma (5/15) were found to have hCG-positive tumor cells. The findings indicate that transitional cell carcinoma should be added to the list of malignant tumors capable of producing hCG.     

Anticancer activity of polyoxomolybdate.

Anticancer polyoxomolybdates have been investigated for medical application of polyoxometalates as discrete cluster anions of metal oxides. [NH3Pri]6[Mo7O24].3H2O (PM-8) has been recognized as one of significant antitumoral polyoxomolybdates. PM-8 had shown the growth suppression against several tumors, for examples, Co-4, human colon cancer, MX-1, human breast cancer, and OAT, human lung cancer. PM-8 showed the tumor growth suppression for MKN-45 human gastric cancer in tumor bearing mice. PM-8 inhibited the cell growth of AsPC-1 which depended on the dose with showing DNA ladder formation and DNA fragmentation, and positive Hoechst staining indicating apoptosis. The ratio of apoptotic cells on flow cytometry analysis were 35%, and 57% with treatment of PM-8 after 48, and 72 h, respectively. One of the anti-tumor activity of PM-8 result from the activation of apoptotic pathway. It is thought that polyoxomolybdates will be applied as a novel anti-tumor agent especially against cancers which are difficult to be treated clinically.