Characterization of human gastric carcinoma-related methylation of 9 miR CpG islands and repression of their expressions in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Many miR genes are located within or around CpG islands. It is unclear whether methylation of these CpG islands represses miR transcription regularly. The aims of this study are to characterize gastric carcinoma (GC)-related methylation of miR CpG islands and its relationship with miRNA expression.

Involvement of hepatopoietin Cn in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatopoietin Cn (HPPCn) is a novel nuclear protein with the ability to promote liver regeneration. In the present study, we investigated the expression profile of HPPCn and its functional activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line and tissue samples. HPPCn expression was detected in HCC cell lines and 54 paired HCC carcinomas by immunochemical staining and Western blotting.

Methylation of GATA-4 and GATA-5 and development of sporadic gastric carcinomas.

Aim: To understand the implication of GATA-4 and GATA-5 methylation in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: Methylation status of GATA-4 and GATA-5 CpG islands in human gastric mucosa samples, including normal gastric biopsies from 45 outpatients, gastric dysplasia [low-grade gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (GIN), n = 30; indefinite, n = 77], and 80 paired sporadic gastric carcinomas (SGC) as well as the adjacent non-neoplastic gastric tissues was analyzed by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and confirmed by denatured high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect protein expression.

Methylation status of individual CpG sites within Alu elements in the human genome and Alu hypomethylation in gastric carcinomas.

Background: Alu methylation is correlated with the overall level of DNA methylation and recombination activity of the genome. However, the maintenance and methylation status of each CpG site within Alu elements (Alu) and its methylation status have not well characterized. This information is useful for understanding natural status of Alu in the genome and helpful for developing an optimal assay to quantify Alu hypomethylation.

[Biological properties of mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow of patients with multiple myeloma].

The study was purposed to explore the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the pathogenesis of bone disease particularly observed in multiple myeloma (MM), the biological features of marrow derived MSCs from patients with MM have been investigated. Marrow aspirates were harvested from 11 newly diagnosed patients with MM and 5 normal adults and MSCs were isolated and culture-expanded by the cell properties of adherence to plastic flasks, The phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometric technique. The proliferation of MSCs was observed by MTT assay and their differentiation capacities into osteoblasts and adipoblasts were assessed with lineage-specific histochemical staining.

[Prognostic value of thymidylate synthase, topoisomerase-1 and Ki-67 in advanced colorectal cancer patients on irinotecan and fluorouracil treatment].

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of thymidylate synthase (TS), topoisomerase-1 (Topo-1), and proliferating index Ki-67 in advanced colorectal cancer patients on irinotecan (CPT-11) in combination with fluorouracil treatment (5-Fu).

Methods: The biomarker expression of TS, Topo-1 and Ki-67 in 78 patients detected immunohistochemically were correlated with the clinical outcome.

Results: The expressions of those biomarkers were not correlated with clinical therapeutic response, but with time to progression (TTP) and/or overall survival (OS).

Antitumor effect of Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with cytotoxic agent on murine hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory effect of gefitinib combined with cytotoxic agent cisplatin (CDDP) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Female Kunming mice and H22 hepatocarcinoma cells were used. Gefitinib at daily dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) or lecithin liquid was given by gastrogavage once a day for 5 or 10 successive days.

[The effect of IRESSA on H22 mouse hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the effect of IRESSA (gefitinib, ZD1839) on H22 murine hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Mice bearing H22 hepatocellular carcinoma were randomly divided into oral control group, Normal saline (NS) control group, cisplatin (CDDP) d1-5 group, CDDP d6-10 group, IRESSA group, IRESSA combined with CDDP early (IRESSA + CDDP d1-5) group, and IRESSA combined with CDDP lately (IRESSA + CDDP d6-10) group. IRESSA was given by daily gastrogavage for 10 days (day 1-day 10) at 100 mg/kg in body weight (BW).

[Enhancement of antioxidant capability of cancer patients during chemotherapy by reduced glutathione].

Background & Objective: It is unknown how administration of reduced glutathione (GSH) affects chemotherapy of cancer patients. This study was designed to investigate the effect of GSH on lipid peroxidation, and activities of antioxidant enzyme among cancer patients with chemotherapy.

Methods: Sixty-two cancer patients with chemotherapy were enrolled randomly into AB or BA group in cross-over pattern.

Silencing-specific methylation and single nucleotide polymorphism of hMLH1 promoter in gastric carcinomas.

Aim: To investigate CpG methylation and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of a specific promoter region of hMLH1 in primary gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Primary gastric carcinomas (n=80), their corresponding normal mucosal samples, and gastric mucosal biopsies from normal/gastritis control patients (n=54) were used. Hypermethylation at -253 nt and -251 nt in relation with the translational start site and SNP of a silencing specific region (-339 nt-46 nt) in the hMLH1 promoter were analyzed by Bst UI-combined bisulfite assay (COBRA), denaturing high performance liquid chromatogram (DHPLC), and sequencing.