Mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages affecting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are essential components of the immune cell stroma of hepatocellular carcinoma. TAMs originate from monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells, peripheral blood monocytes, and kupffer cells. The recruitment of monocytes to the HCC tumor microenvironment is facilitated by various factors, leading to their differentiation into TAMs with unique phenotypes.

Clinical symptoms and immune injury reflected by low CD4/CD8 ratio should increase the suspicion of HIV coinfection with tuberculosis.

Background: Patients who are coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV) and (TB) benefit from timely diagnosis and treatment. In the present study frequencies of CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients in the Kashi region of China infected with HIV, TB, and both HIV and TB (HIV-TB) were investigated to provide a basis for rapid identification of coinfected patients.

Methods: A total of 62 patients with HIV, TB, or HIV-TB who were first hospitalized at our institution were included in the study, as were 30 controls.

The prognostic value of phosphatase and tensin homolog negativity in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies with 4393 patients.

The prognostic value of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) negativity in breast cancer has been evaluated by many studies but remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association of PTEN negativity with overall survival and disease-free survival. Thirty-two studies with 4393 patients were identified.

The prognostic value of phosphorylated Akt in breast cancer: a systematic review.

The prognostic value of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) overexpression in breast cancer has been investigated by many studies with inconsistent results. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the association of pAkt overexpression with breast cancer prognosis in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival. Three electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) were comprehensively searched.

Co-expression of RAGE and HMGB1 is associated with cancer progression and poor patient outcome of prostate cancer.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), along with its ligand high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), is believed to play an important role in prostate cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the expression of RAGE and HMGB1 and their clinical impact on prostate cancer progression and prognosis. The expression of RAGE and HMGB1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in cancer lesions from 85 confirmed prostate cancer cases.

Promising biomarkers for predicting the outcomes of patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

KRAS mutations have been established as a major predictive biomarker for resistance to the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies (anti-EGFR MoAbs). However, many patients with KRAS wild-type tumors still do not respond to the treatment. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess whether BRAF mutations, PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss can predict the outcomes of patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs.

Gemcitabine plus erlotinib for advanced pancreatic cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: This study aims to comprehensively summarize the currently available evidences on the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine plus erlotinib for treating advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methodology/principal Findings: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and abstracts of recent major conferences were systematically searched to identify relevant publications. Studies that were conducted in advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated with gemcitabine plus erlotinib (with or without comparison with gemcitabine alone) and reporting objective response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, time-to-progression, overall survival, 1-year survival rate and/or adverse events were included.

KRAS p.G13D mutation and codon 12 mutations are not created equal in predicting clinical outcomes of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether patients who had metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with the v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) p.G13D mutation (an amino acid substitution at position 13 in KRAS from a glycine to an aspartic acid) and received cetuximab treatment had better clinical outcomes than patients who had mCRC tumors with KRAS codon 12 mutations.

Methods: Relevant studies were identified by a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Database, and Wan Fang Digital Journals from inception to October 2011.

EGFR gene copy number as a predictive biomarker for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies: a meta-analysis.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number (EGFR GCN) has been heavily investigated as a potential predictive biomarker for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The objective of this study was to systematically review current evidences on this issue.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Data, and the conference abstracts of American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Society of Medical Oncology were comprehensively searched.

[Establishment of BGC-823/pBaBb-puro-MACC1 gastric cancer cell line stably expressing MACC1 and its tumor-related gene expression profiles].

Objective: To establish a gastric cancer cell line with stable expression of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) and detect the changes in tumor-related gene expression profiles for investigating the possible regulation mechanisms between MACC1 and the differentially expressed genes.

Methods: The full-length MACC1 cDNA was amplified from human embryonic kidney 293FT cells and cloned into the pBaBb-puro vector. The recombinant pBaBb-puro-MACC1 expression vector, after identification with restriction enzyme digestion, was transfected into 293FT cells, and the expression of fluorescent reporter gene was observed.

Glypican-3, a novel prognostic marker of hepatocellular cancer, is related with postoperative metastasis and recurrence in hepatocellular cancer patients.

Metastasis/recurrence has been the most fundamental characteristic of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and the ultimate cause of most HCC-related deaths. However, there are still a limited number of reliable tumor markers that can be used to predict the possibility of metastasis/recurrence in an HCC patient after operation. Recently, much evidence has shown that glypican-3 (GPC3) can be a useful tool to identify the early development of HCC, but little research has been done to test its usefulness as a prognostic marker related to post-operative metastasis/recurrence in HCC patients.

[Effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and the mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and explore the possible molecular mechanism.

Methods: The inhibitory effect of irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and fluorouracil (5-Fu), used alone or in combination with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, on the proliferation of LoVo cells in vitro was assessed by MTT assay. The expressions of PI3K and Akt protein in the treated cells were examined by Western blotting, and their mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR.

[Sorafenib reverses multidrug resistance of hepatoma cells in vitro].

Objective: To explore the role of sorafenib in reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) in hepatoma BEL-7402/FU cells and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: MTT colorimetric assay was used to obtain the dose-response curve of sorafenib in BEL-7402/FU cells, and flow cytometry performed to assess the effect of sorafenib on Rho123 concentration in the cells. The optimal dose of sorafenib for cell treatment was determined according to the results of MTT assay and flow cytometry.

[Reversion of drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402/FU by sorafenib].

Aim: To investigate the reversion of multidrug resistance of drug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line BEL-7402/FU by sorafenib and the possible mechanisms.

Methods: Flow cytometry was applied to detect the expression of rhodamine 123 (Rho123), immunohistochemistry was applied to observe the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the cell membrane, the fluorescence quantitative PCR assay was applied to determine the changes of the multidrug-resistant gene mdr1 mRNA level and the Western blot assay was applied to test the changes of the expression level of the mdr1 gene product P-gp.

Results: After 4 micromol/L treatment by sorafenib, Rho123 accumulation was increased by BEL-7402/FU and exocytosis was slowed down, which evidently reduced the expression of cell surface P-gp; the mdr1 mRNA level was reduced by 35.

[Effects of bevacizumab and cisplatin on human lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP xenografts in nude mice].

Objective: To explore the effects of bevacizumab with or without cisplatin (DDP) on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell xenografts in mice.

Methods: Human lung cancer A549/DDP cells was subcutaneously transplanted in to 25 nude mice, which were randomly divided into control group (group A), bevacizumab group (group B), DDP group (group C), combined treatment group (group D) and half-dose combined treatment group (group E). After corresponding treatments for 4 consecutive weeks, the tumor inhibition rate was evaluated, tumor microvessel density (MVD) measured with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expression of apoptosis-associated gene (bcl-2) and multidrug resistance genes (LRP and GST-pi) assessed by RT-PCR.

[Avastin combined with cisplan inhibits malignant ascites production in nude mice bearing transplanted ovary carcinoma with high VEGF expression].

Objective: To establish a nude mouse model of malignant ascites with human ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR3 which highly expresses VEGF and evaluate the therapeutic of Avastin combined with cisplan.

Methods: Forty-eight nude mice with malignant ascites resulting from intraperitoneal transplantation of human ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR3 were treated with intraperitoneal injection of Avastin, cisplan, their combination, and PBS, respectively, to observe the effect on ascites development, VEGF content in the ascites, peritoneal permeability, development of new vessels and number of tumor cells in the ascites.

Results: Avastin obviously inhibited ascites accumulation and peritoneal capillary permeability, reduced VEGF protein level and microvascular density in the tumor tissues and the number of red cells and tumor cells in the malignant ascites, and prolonged the survival of the mice.

[Adsorption condition optimization for anti-HBsAg Fab fragment separation and purification from E. coli using Streamline SP].

Objective: To optimize the adsorption condition of cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP for separation and purification of anti-HBsAg Fab fragment from E. coli.

Methods: The adsorption of the target protein for separation and purification by the cation-exchange chromatographic media Streamline SP was tested using test tube method in balanced buffer solution with different pH values and ion concentrations.

[Conditions for large-scale production of genetically engineered E.coli bearing humanized anti- HBsAg Fab].

Objective: To define the conditions for large-scale production of genetically engineered E.coli bearing humanized anti-HBsAg Fab.

Method: Characteristic growth and expression of the engineered E.