Detection of disseminated tumor cells in the lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay.

Introduction: Postoperative treatment for colorectal cancer depends on tumor stage as defined by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). Adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended in patients without lymph node involvement (UICC stages I and II). As many as 20-30% of these patients, however, will develop recurrence.

Systemic immune dysfunction in pancreatic cancer patients.

Background And Aims: We investigated the immune status in 32 pancreatic cancer patients (PC) in comparison with healthy controls (HC).

Materials And Methods: Using flow cytometry, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were characterized by the expression of surface markers for T helper cells (CD4), T suppressor cells (CD8), B cells (CD19) and NK cells (CD56). The blastogenic response of PBL was analyzed after stimulation with concavalin A (ConA), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and anti-CD3 antibodies.

Influence of PMN leukocyte-mediated pancreatic damage on the systemic immune response in severe acute pancreatitis in rats.

The outcome of severe acute pancreatitis is determined by the development of the systemic inflammatory response and subsequent multiorgan dysfunction. Using the taurocholate-induced model of acute pancreatitis in rats, we investigated the relationship between early polymorphonuclear (PMN)-mediated pancreatic tissue damage and the systemic inflammatory response. The respiratory burst of PMN leukocytes was increased in animals with acute pancreatitis and was reduced by anti-ICAM-1 antibody and oxygen radical scavenger treatment after 24 hr.

[Nitrogen monoxide and oxygen radicals work contrarily on proliferation behavior of human fibroblasts].

Oxygen radicals and nitric oxide are involved in a variety of regulative processes especially with regard to inflammation, immunoregulation and regulation of the vascular tone. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of both these highly reactive molecules on the proliferation of human fibroblasts. We therefore cultured WI38 cells under various culture conditions like exposure to oxygen radicals and endogenously produced as well as exogenously applied nitric oxide.

[Prognostic value of molecular biologogy and immunologic parameters in human pancreatic carcinoma].

In the present study we investigated the prognostic relevance of molecular and immunological changes in pancreatic carcinoma. 82 tissue specimens of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were stained immunohistochemically with following factors: p53, p21WAF1, Cyklin D, EGF, EGF-R, cERB-B2, CD95, BCL-2 and Cathepsin D. We further determined the serum levels of sCD44, sCD44v6, neopterin and IL-2R.