Celecoxib Blocks Vasculogenic Mimicry an Off-Target Effect to Radiosensitize Lung Cancer Cells: An Experimental Study.

The resistance to radiotherapy in lung cancer can be attributed to vasculogenic mimicry (VM) to some extent. Celecoxib (CXB), a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is reported as a radiosensitizer in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether CXB can regulate VM formation an off-target effect to radiosensitize NSCLC remains unclear.

Recruitment of CD11bLy6C monocytes in non-small cell lung cancer xenografts challenged by anti-VEGF antibody.

A series of antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been developed for the treatment of various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years. However, tumors frequently demonstrate resistance to these strategies of VEGF inhibition. Efforts to better understand the mechanism underlying the acquired resistance to anti-VEGF antibodies are warranted.

Induced cancer stem cells generated by radiochemotherapy and their therapeutic implications.

Local and distant recurrence of malignant tumors following radio- and/or chemotherapy correlates with poor prognosis of patients. Among the reasons for cancer recurrence, preexisting cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered the most likely cause due to their properties of self-renewal, pluripotency, plasticity and tumorigenicity. It has been demonstrated that preexisting cancer stem cells derive from normal stem cells and differentiated somatic cells that undergo transformation and dedifferentiation respectively under certain conditions.

Plasma miRNAs in predicting radiosensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Radioresistance of thoracic radiotherapy is a major bottleneck in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Until now, there have been no effective biomarkers to predict the radiosensitivity.

Purposes: Based on miRNA profile screened from NSCLC cell lines with different radiosensitivity, this study was conducted to explore the correlation between plasma miRNAs and radiotherapy response in NSCLC patients, and to identify biomarkers of the radiosensitivity in NSCLC.

Essential role of miR-200c in regulating self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells and their counterparts of mammary epithelium.

Background: Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have been reported as the origin of breast cancer and the radical cause of drug resistance, relapse and metastasis in breast cancer. BCSCs could be derived from mutated mammary epithelial stem cells (MaSCs). Therefore, comparing the molecular differences between BCSCs and MaSCs may clarify the mechanism underlying breast carcinogenesis and the targets for gene therapy.

Regulation of miRNAs affects radiobiological response of lung cancer stem cells.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a key therapeutic strategy for lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, but radioresistance often occurs and leads to failure of RT. It is therefore important to clarify the mechanism underlying radioresistance in lung cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered the fundamental reason for radioresistance.

Molecular mechanism of microRNA involvement in genesis of myelodysplastic syndrome and its transformation to acute myeloid leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of blood-related malignancies caused by disorders of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It is mainly characterized by the ineffective hematopoiesis. Many MDS patients will transform into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with poor prognosis, often due to infection, hemorrhage and death.

Role of inhibitor of apoptosis protein Livin in radiation resistance in nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to explore the role of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) Livin in radioresistance in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 and SPC-A1 were used for this study. Using the technique of molecular cloning and gene transfection, two Livin isoforms, Livinα and β, respectively, were expressed in A549 cells with the purpose of exploring the role of Livin in radiation resistance of A549 cells.

Microarray-based analysis of microRNA expression in breast cancer stem cells.

Background: This study aimed to determine the miRNA profile in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) and to explore the functions of characteristic BCSC miRNAs.

Methods: We isolated ESA+CD44+CD24-/low BCSCs from MCF-7 cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). A human breast cancer xenograft assay was performed to validate the stem cell properties of the isolated cells, and microarray analysis was performed to screen for BCSC-related miRNAs.

Detection of lymphangiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer and its prognostic value.

Background: Our aim was to detect lymphatic endothelial marker podoplanin, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR)-3 and study the prognostic relevance of lymphangiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials: 82 paraffin-embedded tissues and 40 fresh frozen tissues from patients with NSCLC were studied. Tumor samples were immunostained for the lymphatic endothelial markers.

Tumor targeting of vincristine by mBAFF-modified PEG liposomes in B lymphoma cells.

Malignant hematologic diseases are highly malignant and refractory to conventional therapies. Ligand-mediated targeting of liposomal anticancer drugs to surface receptors expressed on malignant B cells can be an effective strategy for treating B-cell malignancies. BAFF plays an important role in the maintenance of normal B-cell development and homeostasis and the expression of its receptors is significantly increased in numerous B-cell malignancies.

MicroRNAs play a role in the development of human hematopoietic stem cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of recently discovered noncoding RNA genes that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. It is becoming clear that miRNAs play an important role in the regulation of gene translation during development. However, in mammals, expression data are principally based on whole tissue analysis and are still very incomplete.

[Study on enhancing sensitivity of SPC-A1 cells to chemotherapy by Livin isoform-specific gene silencing].

Background: As a new member of inhibitor of apoptosis protein(IAP) family,Livin,especially Livin α,is known to be involved in occurrence and development of lung cancer.Livin is an important mechanism of chemotherapy resistance of lung cancer cell.The aim of this study is to set up Livin isoform(α & β)-specific gene silencing system in SPC-A1 cells by gene transfection and RNA interference(RNAi),and to explore the different functions and value of the isoforms in enhancing chemosensitivity of SPC-A1 cells.

Functional analysis on the 5'-flanking region of human FXR gene in HepG2 cells.

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid (BA)-activated nuclear receptor that plays a major role in the regulation of BA and lipid metabolism. Although modulation of FXR expression has been reported, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of human FXR are yet unclear. Functional assays showed that the -150/+29 nucleotides region from the first nucleotide at the Exon I is the minimal promoter of the human FXR gene by the technique of serial deletion and point mutants of the 5'-flanking region.

[Experimental study on transcription regulation of mouse hepcidin gene by NF-kB].

Objective: To investigate the involvement of NF-kappaB (NF-kB) regulation of hepcidin gene transcription in acute phase response and its molecular mechanism.

Methods: First, a mouse model of acute phase response was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The relationship between hepcidin expression and dose or time of LPS injection was assessed.

[Gene transfection of Livin isoforms into A549 cell line and its effect on cell growth and sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy].

Objective: To express Livin alpha & beta in A549 cells by using gene transfection, and to observe its effect on cell growth and cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs and radiation.

Methods: Eukaryotic expression vectors of Livin alpha & beta were transfected into A549 cells and cell clones with stable expression were obtained. Livin alpha & beta expression levels in the transfected A549 cells were assessed at mRNA level and protein level, respectively.

The Chinese Visible Human (CVH) datasets incorporate technical and imaging advances on earlier digital humans.

We report the availability of a digitized Chinese male and a digitzed Chinese female typical of the population and with no obvious abnormalities. The embalming and milling procedures incorporate three technical improvements over earlier digitized cadavers. Vascular perfusion with coloured gelatin was performed to facilitate blood vessel identification.

Creation of the Chinese visible human data set.

The United States Visible Human Project (VHP) created a digital image data set of complete human male (data acquisition finished in November 1994) and female (data acquisition finished in December 1995) cadavers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and anatomical (anatomic serial section) modes. VHP aroused worldwide enthusiasm for Visible Human Research (VHR), and the data set is being used in a variety of research and educational domains. The Visible Korean Human (VKH) male was produced in March 2001.