Targeting and Specific Activation of Antigen-Presenting Cells by Endogenous Antigen-Loaded Nanoparticles Elicits Tumor-Specific Immunity.

Immunotherapy has shown tremendous promise for improving cancer treatment. Unfortunately, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in cancer patients cannot effectively recognize and process tumor antigens to activate host immune responses. In this study, an approach is developed to improve cancer immunotherapy that utilizes endogenous antigen-carrying nanoparticles (EAC-NPs), which encompasses a set of antigens isolated from solid tumors and adjuvants.

Oxymatrine liposome attenuates hepatic fibrosis via targeting hepatic stellate cells.

Aim: To investigate the potential mechanism of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-labeled liposome loading oxymatrine (OM) therapy in CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Methods: We constructed a rat model of CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis and treated the rats with different formulations of OM. To evaluate the antifibrotic effect of OM, we detected levels of alkaline phosphatase, hepatic histopathology (hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson staining) and fibrosis-related gene expression of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 as well as type I procollagen via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The identification of miR-375 as a potential biomarker in distal gastric adenocarcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and play an important role in carcinogenesis. Herein, we characterized the global expression of miRNA in distal gastric adenocarcinomas and determined if circulating miRNAs could be used as biomarkers for distal gastric adenocarcinoma. We used a microarray screening system to detect dysregulated miRNAs in distal gastric adenocarcinoma tissues.

Integrin alphavbeta6 promotes tumor tolerance in colorectal cancer.

Tumor immune tolerance plays a critical role in tumor cell survival; the establishment of tumor immune tolerance is incompletely understood yet. Integrin alphavbeta6 (avb6) is involved in tumor growth and metastasis. This study aimed to observe the effect of avb6 on the development of tumor tolerance in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Immunoglobulin kappa and immunoglobulin lambda are required for expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-xL in human colorectal cancer tissue.

Objective: Aberrant expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) by cancer cells has been documented in a number of malignant tumors but its biological significance is unclear. Cancer cells overexpress anti-apoptotic molecules such as Bcl-xL. The present study aimed to examine the role of expression of Ig light-chain Igk and Iglambda in maintaining the high levels of Bcl-xL in colorectal cancer cells.

[Clinical analysis of 38 elderly patients with early double primary cancers].

Objective: To study the clinical features and proper treatment of 38 elderly patients with early double primary cancers.

Methods: Thirty-eight elderly patients with early double primary cancers treated from January 1980 to March 2003 were retrospectively reviewed for involved organs, treatment and prognosis.

Results: Digestive tract was the most frequently involved, followed by urogenital system and lung.