Improvement of nonviral p53 gene transfer in human carcinoma cells using glucosylated polyethylenimine derivatives

Polyethylenimine (PEI) derivatives are potent polycationic nonviral vectors for gene transfer. The gene transfer efficiency of glucosylated and galactosylated PEI derivatives was optimized using green fluorescent protein gene as reporter gene in FaDu and PANC3 human carcinoma cell lines. Glucosylated or galactosylated PEI derivatives were found to be slightly less cytotoxic than unsubstituted PEI. Gene transfer efficiency was found to be related to DNA/cell number ratio and optimal gene transfer efficiency was achieved at 4 microg DNA/10(5) cells. PEI-DNA complexes were found to enter cells rapidly and were detected into cytoplasmic vesicles 2 hours post-transfection. Green fluorescent protein gene expression was detected 4-6 hours after transfection and reached maximal value 24 hours post-transfection. The results achieved demonstrated that glucosylated PEI yield higher and longer gene transfer efficiency than unsubstituted PEI. Using glucosylated PEI allowed to achieve significant gene transfer in more than 10% of the total cell population for more than 4 days. These data were then applied to p53 gene transfer in PANC3 cells bearing p53 gene deletion and consequently unable to initiate apoptosis. Using glucosylated PEI, p53 gene transfer was successfully achieved with subsequent recovery of p53 mRNA expression and transient P53 protein expression. P53 protein functionality was further demonstrated because transfected cells underwent apoptosis.     

Determination of estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometrial adenocarcinomas. Comparison between dextran-coated charcoal and immunoenzymatic methods on curettage biopsies.

Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) were determined on curettages from women with endometrial adenocarcinoma. The results obtained with the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and the dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) assay were compared. A highly significant correlation was obtained between these methods for the ER measurement (Rs = 0.91). For PR determination, the Rs value between EIA and DCC assay was 0.57 and the mean value of PR-DCC is significantly higher than the mean value of PR-EIA. These results suggest that EIA is a suitable method for ER measurement. For PR determination on curettage material the DCC assay seems more accurate than EIA.     

Radiologic patterns of hemangiopericytoma of the leg

Angiographic examination of soft tissue tumor should be performed routinely. The advantages of this procedure are as follows: (1) to outline the contours of the tumor and the arterial pedicles feeding the lesion, (2) to guide biopsy, and (3) to ascertain to some extent the degree of malignancy.     

Muscle metastases of cancers]

In a retrospective study of cancer patients seen between 1980 and 1990, 7 cases of metastases to skeletal muscles were found: 2 primary bronchial carcinomas, 1 spindle cell sarcoma, 1 malignant melanoma, 1 ovarian adenocarcinoma, 1 squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma and 1 malignant neuroendocrine tumor from an unknown primary site. Despite their rich blood supply, skeletal muscles are rarely secondary metastatic sites (less than 1% of all malignant metastases of hematogenous origin); only 242 cases have previously been reported in 82 publications. Primary cancers of the lung, blood, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract were the most frequently involved. Although skeletal muscle metastatic sites were rarely observed, the possibility of such a colonization should be known to physicians, as their detection requires specific tests. Furthermore, the localization of such sites clearly illustrates the recent progress made in the biology of metastases, especially the organ--or tissue--specificity of the site.     

Human haptocorrin in hepatocellular carcinoma

This study aimed to determine whether haptocorrin (HC), a vitamin B12 binder, is stored in hepatic cells and whether this storage is modified by hepatic carcinogenesis. It was carried out using immunohistochemistry on different liver tissues (normal liver and steatosis, N = 22; cirrhosis, N = 13; and hepatocellular carcinoma, N = 31). No significant immunostaining of HC was detected in noncancerous biopsies with the exception of in one case of cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) sections showed a weak to moderate cytoplasmic staining of cancerous cells (93% of cases) and of noncancerous hepatocytes surrounding the tumor (95%) of cases. Sections with pseudoglandular structures showed a moderate to strong staining of their secretion products. These results and previous studies would seem to confirm the hypothesis that the raised HC serum level observed in HCC is due both to the increased hepatic synthesis of HC and to a decreased uptake by the liver of the particular isoform of this glycoprotein present in the serum of HCC patients.