Preoperative low dose NSAID treatment influences the genes for stemness, growth, invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Preclinical data, and an increasing list of clinical investigations, show anti-inflammatory agents to favourably influence the biology of colorectal tumor. We have earlier reported on re-expression of activated immune cells after three days preoperative treatment of patients with colorectal carcinoma, randomized to receive oral NSAID (indomethacin or celebrex). Antisecretory prophylaxis (esomeprasol) was provided to all patients and served as sham treatment.

Downregulation of Prominin 1/CD133 expression in colorectal cancer by NSAIDs following short-term preoperative treatment.

Expression of Prominin 1/CD133 is associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in several types of solid tumors. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to evaluate Prominin 1/CD133 expression in colorectal carcinoma after short-term preoperative treatment by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients aimed at curative operation for colon cancer were randomized to receive NSAIDs (indomethacin 50 mg x2 or celecoxib 100 mg x2) three days preoperatively.

Sexual function after failed ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Background And Aims: Failure of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) occurs in around 10% of the patients. Compared to patients with functioning pouches, health related quality of life is deteriorated after failure. Sexual function in patients with pouch failure is however poorly studied.

Is acetylcholine a signaling molecule for human colon cancer progression?

Objective: Non-neuronal acetylcholine (ACh) has been suggested to be a mediator for the development of various types of cancer. We analyzed a possible role for this molecule in carcinogenesis and/or progression of human colon cancer, in patient biopsies harvested from the colon during surgery. We addressed whether ACh synthesis (by choline acetyltransferase) and/or degradation (by ACh esterase), as well as the expression of the α7-subtype of the nicotinic ACh receptors, and the peptide ligand at the α7 receptors, secreted mammalian Ly6/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor-related protein-1, respectively, are deranged in tumor tissue as compared with macroscopically tumor-free colon tissue.

A pharmacological analysis of the cholinergic regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator secretion in the human colon cancer cell line, HT-29.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is an important factor for tumour cell invasion and metastasis. We recently showed that acetylcholine is an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for the human colon cancer cell line, HT-29, in part via the α7 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In the current study, we investigated whether acetylcholine participates in the regulation of the protein expressions of also uPA and its receptor (uPAR) in the HT-29 cell line.

Genes with relevance for early to late progression of colon carcinoma based on combined genomic and transcriptomic information from the same patients.

Background: Genetic and epigenetic alterations in colorectal cancer are numerous. However, it is difficult to judge whether such changes are primary or secondary to the appearance and progression of tumors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify altered DNA regions with significant covariation to transcription alterations along colon cancer progression.

Patient-centred attitudes among medical students: gender and work experience in health care make a difference.

Background: Previous studies of medical students' patient-centred attitudes show a decline across undergraduate education and overall higher scores for female students.

Aim: To assess undergraduate students' patient-centred attitudes at various stages of education and to explore possible associations between attitudes and age, gender and work experience in health care.

Methods: In autumn 2005, medical students in Gothenburg (n = 797) were asked to answer Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), a validated instrument exploring attitudes towards the doctor-patient relationship.

Receptor and enzyme expression for prostanoid metabolism in colorectal cancer related to tumor tissue PGE2.

Prostaglandins support progression of colorectal cancer by several mechanisms. This conclusion is based on epidemiological and drug intervention long-term studies or retrieved from animal and cell culture experiments. The aim of the present study was to map receptor and enzyme expression for prostanoid metabolism in the presence of high or low PGE2 content within colon cancer tissue at primary tumor operation and after short-term preoperative provision of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Differential prognostic impact of uPA and PAI-1 in colon and rectal cancer.

Background And Objectives: Degradation of extracellular matrix is important for tumour growth and invasion, which in part is regulated by the plasminogen activation system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the protein expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen-activating inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in plasma, tumour-free mucosa and tumour tissue regarding their prognostic value in colon and rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients (n = 221) undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were prospectively included.

Nicotine induced modulation of SLURP-1 expression in human colon cancer cells.

The secreted mammalian Ly-6/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-related protein-1 (SLURP-1) is an endogenous ligand at the alpha 7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). SLURP-1 has anti-tumourigenic properties. In the current study, we demonstrate that the challenge of HT-29 human colon cancer cells with nicotine for 24 h to increase cell growth via the alpha 7nAChRs, caused a marked reduction of the protein expression of SLURP-1.

Is acetylcholine an autocrine/paracrine growth factor via the nicotinic alpha7-receptor subtype in the human colon cancer cell line HT-29?

We used immunochemistry to demonstrate expression of acetylcholine's nicotinic alpha7-receptor subtype in human colon cancer cell line HT-29. Moreover, RT-PCR and immunochemistry showed that choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine esterase, the enzymes responsible for acetylcholine synthesis and degradation, respectively, localise in HT-29 cells. Bromoacetylcholine bromide, an inhibitor of choline acetyltransferase, significantly attenuated basal cell growth.

Growth associated proteins in tumor cells and stroma related to disease progression of colon cancer accounting for tumor tissue PGE2 content.

Connections among specific proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, bFGF, COX-1, COX-2, E-cad, p15, p53, PCNA, TGFbeta3, TUNEL, vWF) in control of cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell adhesion, tumor vascularity and PGE2 content were evaluated in colon cancer as related to disease progression and survival. Tumor tissue and adjacent normal colon mucosa were obtained at curative resection in 22 patients. PGE2 concentrations were assessed in tumor tissue and tumor derived blood, splanchnic blood, peripheral venous blood and urine.

Preoperative treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) increases tumor tissue infiltration of seemingly activated immune cells in colorectal cancer.

This study evaluates HLA gene expression and tumor infiltration by B-cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in response to short-term preoperative treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Patients with colorectal carcinoma were randomized to receive oral NSAID (indomethacin or celebrex) for three days preoperatively; controls received esomeprazol. Peroperative tumor biopsies and normal colon tissue were analyzed by microarray, quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Prostanoid receptor expression in colorectal cancer related to tumor stage, differentiation and progression.

Introduction: Alterations in eicosanoid metabolism is well established in a variety of malignant tumors, particularly colorectal carcinoma. Recent studies in our laboratory have emphasized a role for EP subtype receptors in progression of colorectal cancer and disease specific mortality. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to extend our knowledge to include additional receptor expression (DP1, DP2, FP, IP, TP) for prostanoids (PGD2, TXA2, PGF2alpha, PGI2) in relationship to tumor stage, differentiation and progression of colorectal cancer.

Functional expression of mu-opioid receptors in the human colon cancer cell line, HT-29, and their localization in human colon.

We have investigated the functional expression of mu-opioid receptors (MORs) in the human colon cancer cell line, HT-29. As revealed by immunocytochemistry, immunoreactivity was present in both the cytoplasm and nuclei of the cells. Challenge with morphine for 24 h (1 nM to 1 microM) barely affected cell proliferation, while the secretion of urokinase type plasminogen activator (a protease involved in invasion/metastasis) was markedly augmented by a concentration of 0.

EP1-4 subtype, COX and PPAR gamma receptor expression in colorectal cancer in prediction of disease-specific mortality.

The importance of prostaglandins in tumor growth and progression is well recognized, including antineoplastic activities by cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. Variation in treatment response to COX inhibition has questioned differences in expression of cell surface and nuclear membrane receptors among tumors with different disease progression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether EP(1-4) subtype, PPAR gamma receptor and COX-1/COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer are related to tumor-specific mortality.

Tumor genome wide DNA alterations assessed by array CGH in patients with poor and excellent survival following operation for colorectal cancer.

Genome wide DNA alterations were evaluated by array CGH in addition to RNA expression profiling in colorectal cancer from patients with excellent and poor survival following primary operations. DNA was used for CGH in BAC and cDNA arrays. Global RNA expression was determined by 44K arrays.

Expression of P2Y2 purinoceptors in MCG 101 murine sarcoma cells, and HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells.

We investigated how agonists at purinoceptors may affect tumour cell metabolism. This was investigated in vitro in tumour cell lines by microphysiometry, which method monitors extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), on-line. The cell lines investigated were the murine sarcoma, MCG 101, and the human colon cancer, HT-29.