Combination chemotherapy with low-dose cytarabine, homoharringtonine, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor priming in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

As sensitization of leukemic cells with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-csf) can enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a pilot study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of G-csf priming combined with low-dose chemotherapy in patients with relapsed and refractory AML. The regimen, G-HA, consisted of cytarabine 7.5 mg/m2/12 hr by subcutaneous injection, days 1-14, homoharringtonine 1.

Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase expression in cells of human acute monocyte leukemia (M(5)) and acute lymphocyte leukemia and therapeutic effect of its inhibitor 1-methyl tryptophan.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and function of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in leukemia. The IDO expressions in human acute monocyte leukemia (M(5)) and acute lymphocyte leukemia (ALL) were detected by immunofluorescence staining. Constructed leukemia mouse model was used to observe whether the IDO inhibitor, 1-methyl tryptophan (1-MT), has any effect in treating leukemia.

Immunotherapy of melanoma: a critical review of current concepts and future strategies.

Advanced melanoma is a devastating disease with a very poor overall prognosis. There are only two agents that are approved by the FDA for use in patients with metastatic melanoma: dacarbazine and IL-2. Both agents have an overall response rate well below 20%, with only rare long-term responders noted.

Specific suppression of beta-secretase gene expression by short interfering RNA in SK-N-SH cells.

Objective: To test the effect of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE) on inhibiting the expression of BACE in mammalian cells.

Methods: The gene of EGFP, U6 promoter and beta-secretase targeting siRNA were cloned by PCR. The PCR products were inserted into the retrovirus plasmid pLXSN.

[Correlations of S100A4 protein expression to invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer].

Background & Objective: Metastasis-associated protein S100A4 is overexpressed in many malignant tumor cells; it may play a pivotal role in invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. This study was to determine the expression of S100A4 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to investigate its correlations to invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.

Methods: The expression of S100A4 in 41 specimens of NSCLC and 6 specimens of normal lung tissues was detected by SP immunohistochemistry.

[Immunological screening for multiple myeloma-associated antigens and their bioinformatics analysis].

This study was aimed to screen the cell cDNA expression library of multiple myeloma HMy2 (MM HMy2) by using "serological analysis of cDNA expression library (SEREX)" technique. The obtained 30 positive clones were all sequenced, and analyzed by BLAST (basic local alignment search tool). The results indicated that 6 known genes and 12 new MM-associated genes were obtained, part of which sequences were spliced by EST (expressed sequence tag) splicing.

[Construction of FAS-targeted RNAi-retroviral vector and its identification for biological activity].

This study was aimed to construct mouse Fas-targeting si RNA-expressing recombinant retroviral vector in order to explore the therapeutic potential of Fas inhibition by siRNA in the treatment of aplastic anemia and to provide a basia for extensive development of RNA interference techninque. The U6(+) 27 promoter cassette and siFas sequence were obtained by PCR method. The U6-siFas fragment was cloned into the multiple restriction site of pLXSN-EGFP and directly downstream of EGFP gene.

Strategies of antigen-specific T-cell-based immunotherapy for cancer.

The critical role of antigen-specific T-cells in the eradication of cancer has been demonstrated in numerous animal models, while significant challenges need to be conquered before antigen-specific T-cell immunotherapy can achieve true success in clinical practice. These challenges include: (1) weak or nonimmunogenicity of spontaneous tumors, (2) negative immune regulation mechanisms of the host immune system, (3) immune inhibition exerted by tumor cells, (4) physical barrier in solid tumor, and (5) escape or resistance to immune attack by tumor cells. Nonetheless, significant success has been achieved in several clinical trials recently, highlighting the possibility of successful manipulation of the immune system for control and elimination of tumor.

Construction and identification of Fas-targeting siRNA-expressing plasmid.

Objective: To study the therapeutic potential of Fas inhibition in different diseases, a Fas-targeting siRNA (small interfering)-expressing plasmid was constructed.

Methods: The U6 promoter cassette and siFas (small interfering RNA that inhibit Fas expression) template sequence were obtained by PCR method. They were cloned into modified pcDNA3.

A phase-I clinical trial of active immunotherapy for acute leukemia using inactivated autologous leukemia cells mixed with IL-2, GM-CSF, and IL-6.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of vaccination in 29 patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia using inactivated autologous leukemia cells combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-6. MHC-I, MHC-II, and B7-1 expression status on the surface of leukemia cells and the cytokine profile of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in serum before and after vaccination was detected.

Results: Five achieved a complete remission (CR) and six a partial remission (PR) in this vaccination procedure.