Establishment of an orthotopic transplantation tumor model of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Aim: To improve the outcome of orthotopic transplantation in a mouse model, we used an absorbable gelatin sponge (AGS) in nude mice to establish an orthotopic implantation tumor model.

Methods: MHCC-97L hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells stably expressing the luciferase gene were injected into the subcutaneous region of nude mice. One week later, the ectopic tumors were harvested and transplanted into the left liver lobe of nude mice.

The MAP30 protein from bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) seeds promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells and Hep G2-bearing mice were used as in vitro and in vivo models to assess the efficacy and safety of MAP30, a natural component from Momordica charantia, as an anticancer agent against liver cancer. Molecular studies disclosed the contribution of both caspase-8 regulated extrinsic and caspase-9 regulated intrinsic caspase cascades in MAP30-induced cell apoptosis. The antitumor potential was also effective in Hep G2-bearing nude mice.

The impact of total retrieved lymph nodes on staging and survival of patients with pT3 gastric cancer.

Background: The incidence of lymph node metastasis is high in patients who have pT3 gastric cancer. However, the impact of total retrieved lymph nodes (tLNs) on staging and survival of these patients is not clear.

Methods: For this study, the authors examined 1895 patients with pT3 gastric cancer who underwent surgery at Yonsei University Medical College from January 1987 to June 2000.

Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy following cytoreductive surgery in patients with very advanced gastric cancer.

Background: The survival of patients with stage IV gastric cancer is poor due to frequent peritoneal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) after cytoreductive surgery on the long-term survival of these patients, as determined by residual disease status.

Methods: A total of 154 patients with stage IV gastric cancer were enrolled in our study.