Tamoxifen enhances the anticancer effect of cantharidin and norcantharidin in pancreatic cancer cell lines through inhibition of the protein kinase C signaling pathway.

Cantharidin is an active constituent of mylabris, a traditional Chinese therapeutic agent. Cantharidin is a potent and selective inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Cantharidin has been previously reported to efficiently repress the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.

Cantharidin and norcantharidin inhibit the ability of MCF-7 cells to adhere to platelets via protein kinase C pathway-dependent downregulation of α2 integrin.

Cancer metastasis is a highly coordinated and dynamic multistep process in which cancer cells interact with a variety of host cells. Morphological studies have documented the association of circulating tumor cells with host platelets, where a surface coating of platelets protects tumor cells from mechanical trauma and the immune system. Cantharidin is an active constituent of mylabris, a traditional Chinese medicine.

Inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell-induced platelet aggregation using a combination of antiplatelet drugs.

Cancer metastasis is a highly coordinated and dynamic multistep process in which cancer cells interact with a variety of host cells. Morphological studies have documented the association of circulating tumor cells with host platelets. Tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) contributes significantly to hematogenous metastasis; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in breast cancer TCIPA are poorly characterized.

The molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine ZHENG syndromes on pancreatic tumor growth.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes (ZHENG in Chinese) are the abstraction from the comprehensive analysis of clinical information gained by the four main diagnostic TCM methods: observation, listening, questioning, and pulse analyses. Proper TCM diagnosis is the most important principle to guide the prescribing of Chinese herbs.

Objective: To evaluate the specific effect of TCM ZHENG on tumor growth and to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying ZHENG and tumor growth.

[Expression of B7-H1 protein in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance].

Background And Objective: B7-H1, a member of B7 family, is expressed in tumor cells and has emerged as an important immune modulator capable of suppressing host immunity by inhibiting T cells function. This study was to probe into the correlation between the expression level of B7-H1 protein in pancreatic carcinoma tissues and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

Methods: The expression of B7-H1 was measured in 40 cases of pancreatic carcinoma tissues and 10 cases of normal corresponding paracarcinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry.

[Influence of intravenous chemotherapy on cellular immunity in patients with advanced digestive tract cancer].

Background & Objective: Cancer patients have a poor immune response and chemotherapy could deteriorate their immune system further. Reasonable immune therapy is an important adjuvant remedy for tumors. This study was to monitor the changes of T-cell phenotypes in peripheral blood and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentration in plasma in digestive tract cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.

[Preparation and characterization of two novel functional monoclonal antibodies against human OX40L].

Aim: To prepare novel anti-OX40L functional monoclonal antibodies and characterize their distinct biological functions.

Methods: Routine immunization of BALB/c mice by a tansfected cell line L929/OX40L expressing high level of OX40L as antigens. Then fuse the immunized spleen with Sp2/0, a kind of myloma, and screen the positive clones by FCS with L929/OX40L as a positive control.

Recombinant human B7-H4 expressed in Escherichia coli inhibits T lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion in vitro.

Aim: To explore the biofunctions of human B7-H4 generated from prokaryotic system.

Methods: The gene of human B7-H4 extracellular region (IgV-like and IgC-like domains) was obtained by PCR from human cDNA FLJ22418 and then inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-5X-3 expressing glutathione s-transferase (GST) fusion protein. After being identified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing, the recombinant vector was transferred into host strain E coli BL21-RIL(DE3).

[Biological effects of soluble CD40 ligand on lung cancer cell line A549 and its mechanism].

Background & Objective: Although the roles of CD40 in B cells have been intensively studied, little is known on the function of CD40 in lung cancer cell lines. This study was to investigate biological effects of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD44L) on lung cancer cell line A549 (CD40 positive), and its possible mechanism.

Methods: A549 cells were co-incubated with sCD40L, cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay and 3H-TdR incorporation method.