Twist1 correlates with poor differentiation and progression in gastric adenocarcinoma via elevation of FGFR2 expression.

Aim: To explore the correlation between Twist-related protein (Twist)1, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)2 and gastric adenocarcinoma differentiation and progression.

Methods: We evaluated Twist1 and FGFR2 in 52 gastric adenocarcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and analyzed the correlation between Twist1, FGFR2 and cancer differentiation. We also detected Twist1 and FGFR2 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines, and evaluated Twist1 influence on FGFR2 expression.

Combined therapy with flk1-based DNA vaccine and interleukin-12 results in enhanced antiangiogenic and antitumor effects.

In this study, we investigated the anti-vasculature effects and the antitumor effects of combining attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strain encoding murine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 (flk1) with plasmid DNA vector encoding the murine interleukin-12 (mIL-12) gene. In combination, flk1 based DNA vaccine and mIL-12 slowed down tumor growth more effectively than either one alone. Splenocytes from the combined group were showed a strong CTL response against both the flk1 and tumor cells.