The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol sensitizes human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Flavopiridol was one of the first cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors demonstrated to have an antitumor effect in several cancer types. Here, we investigated the effects of flavopiridol on TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines HLE and HepG2, and evaluated the role of flavopiridol in apoptosis. To better understand the mechanism of increased TRAIL sensitivity in HCC cells, we determined the effect of flavopiridol on cell surface expression of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors using flow cytometry analysis.

COX-2 inhibitors sensitize human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is upregulated in a variety of human cancers, including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas it is undetectable in most normal tissue. Evidence suggests that COX-2 is likely to be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis and, thus, COX-2 may be involved in an early process in carcinogenesis, dedifferentiation. To address this possibility, we investigated the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on TNF-related apoptosis, inducing ligand (TRAIL) sensitivity and its molecular mechanisms, with special attention to anti-apoptotic proteins.

Adenovirus-mediated transfection of caspase-8 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to TRAIL- and chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death.

Caspase-8 belongs to the cysteine protease family and is known to be activated at the initial step in the cascade of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The activation of procaspase-8 can be blocked by a relatively large amount of c-FLIP, which renders resistance to death receptor-mediated apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. To ask if extrinsic over-expression of caspase-8 contributes to the induction of apoptosis, we introduced the caspase-8 gene into HCC cells using an adenoviral (Adv) vector (Adv-Casp8).

Proteasome inhibition sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL by suppressing caspase inhibitors and AKT pathway.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is responsible for regulating cell cycle proteins, tumor-suppressor molecules, oncogenes, transcription factors, and pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of proteasome inhibitors on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. HCC cells SK-Hep1, HLE and HepG2 were treated with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and MG115.

Augmentation of tumor necrosis factor family-induced apoptosis by E3330 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines via inhibition of NF kappa B.

Aim: To investigate the reduction of cell viability in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines induced by inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B).

Methods: HLE, SKHep1, and HepG2 were incubated and E3330 was used to compare the stimulation of some chemotherapeutic drugs with that of TNF family, Fas ligand, TNF alpha and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) at the point of the reduction of cell viability by inhibiting NF kappa B.

Results: E3330 decreased NF kappa B levels in HLE cells stimulated by TNF and TRAIL.

Primary biliary cirrhosis after aortoiliac reconstruction surgery using a Y-graft.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by anti-mitochondrial antibodies and destruction of intra-hepatic bile ducts. Though little is known about the etiology of PBC, some reports suggest that xenobiotics and viral infections may induce PBC. We describe a case of PBC after the aortoiliac reconstruction surgery using a Y-graft.

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors in viral hepatic diseases.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in tumor cells, but not in most normal cells. The role of TRAIL in hepatic cell death and hepatic diseases is not well understood. The present study investigated the expression of TRAIL and TRAIL receptors (TRAIL-Rs) in patients with hepatitis C virus infection using immunohistochemistry and examined physiological roles under viral infection in the HepG2 cell line.

Targeting of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein or survivin by short interfering RNAs sensitize hepatoma cells to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand- and chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death.

The inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs) family regulate apoptosis by preventing the action of the central execution phase, and function as mediators and regulators of the anti-apoptotic activity of the v-Rel and NF-kappaB transcription factor families. The targeting of IAPs may be a promising strategy, but it is not well elucidated in human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). We have therefore investigated the effects of the down-regulation of IAPs (XIAP or survivin) on the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and chemotherapeutic agents that induced apoptosis in human HCC cells.

Different effects of bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid, on cell growth and cell death in human colonic adenocarcinoma cells.

Secondary bile acids have been implicated as an important etiological factor in colorectal cancer. We investigated the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA) on the growth and cytotoxicity in HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells. Proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis and cell death characterization by bile acids were performed.

The right hepatic artery syndrome.

Various benign and malignant conditions could cause biliary obstruction. Compression of extrahepatic bile duct (EBD) by right hepatic artery was reported as a right hepatic artery syndrome but all cases were compressed EBD from stomach side. Our case compressed from dorsum was not yet reported, so it was thought to be a very rare case.

Risk factors for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C.

Aim: To analyze the risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment with HCV-associated hepatitis.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with HCV-associated HCC who were followed-up for more than 12 mo were selected for this study. Risk factors for distant intrahepatic recurrences of HCC were evaluated for patients in whom complete coagulation was achieved without recurrence in the same subsegment as the primary nodule.

Cardiac metastases of gallbladder carcinoma.

This report describes the case of a 68-year-old woman diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer, whose autopsy revealed multiple metastases, including cardiac metastases.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer in light of its characteristics].

The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer has been advocated for its potential ability to optimize patient selection for surgical resection and to downstage locally advanced tumors, especially for patients with Stage IV b (Japan criteria). We report our experience with a six-drug chemotherapeutic regimen that resulted in sufficient downstaging of the tumor in some patients to justify surgical resection. From Jan.