Mouse induced pluripotent stem cell microenvironment generates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse Lewis lung cancer cells.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may be a powerful tool in regenerative medicine, but their potential tumorigenicity is a significant challenge for the clinical use of iPS cells. Previously, we succeeded in converting miPS cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs) under the conditions of tumor microenvironment. Both stem cells and tumor cells are profoundly influenced by bi-directional communication with their respective microenvironment, which dictates cell fate determination and behavior.

Significance of CD34(-) and CD34(+) cell apoptosis and proliferation in bone marrow of patients with MDS and their impact on survival.

Alteration in the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The question of whether the excessive apoptosis and/or proliferation predominantly involve the subset of progenitor cells (CD34(+) cells) or mature cells (CD34(-) cells) remains a controversial issue. This study was purpose to analyze the apoptosis and proliferation status of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells in bone marrow (BM) of patients with MDS, to investigate the pathogenesis of MDS and to determine the relation of apoptosis and proliferation status of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells with prognosis of MDS.

Inhibiting effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on the functions of CD4+CD25 highTreg cells in the tumor microenvironment of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active extract from Astragalus membranaceus (a traditional Chinese medicinal herb), is associated with a variety of immunomodulatory activities. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of APS on the function of Treg cells in the tumor microenvironment of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the pharmacologic mechanism of APS responsible for the anti-chemotactic activity in CD4+CD25highTreg cells in tumor site of HCC.

Methods: The prevalence of Treg in fresh tissue samples from 31 patients with HCC after radicalhepatectomy was detected.

Effects of recombinant human endostatin and its synergy with cisplatin on circulating endothelial cells and tumor vascular normalization in A549 xenograft murine model.

Purpose: Endostatin can normalize the tumor vasculature to some extent. However, exact length of its time window and corresponding markers for tumor vascular normalization are needed to be explored.

Methods: The A549 lung adenocarcinoma xenograft murine model was treated with recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin) for 14 days.

Role of ERRF, a novel ER-related nuclear factor, in the growth control of ER-positive human breast cancer cells.

Whereas estrogen-estrogen receptor α (ER) signaling plays an important role in breast cancer growth, it is also necessary for the differentiation of normal breast epithelial cells. How this functional conversion occurs, however, remains unknown. Based on a genome-wide sequencing study that identified mutations in several breast cancer genes, we examined some of the genes for mutations, expression levels, and functional effects on cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.

[PSCA expression in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of breast].

Objective: To study the expression of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) at protein and mRNA levels in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC) and to analyze the relationship between PSCA expression and clinicopathologic features.

Methods: The expression of PSCA protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (LSAB) in 66 cases of IMPC and 67 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS). The association between PSCA expression and clinicopathologic features was also analyzed in IMPC.

Down-regulation of leucine zipper putative tumor suppressor 1 is associated with poor prognosis, increased cell motility and invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition characteristics in human breast carcinoma.

Leucine zipper putative tumor suppressor 1 is down-regulated by promoter methylation, but not frequently, in human malignancies, including breast cancer. Recent studies suggest that leucine zipper putative tumor suppressor 1 is a candidate for the metastasis modifier locus on human chromosome 8p in melanoma. In this study, we evaluated whether leucine zipper putative tumor suppressor 1 plays a role in breast cancer metastasis.

Somatic mutations of the mixed-lineage leukemia 3 (MLL3) gene in primary breast cancers.

The mixed-lineage leukemia 3 (MLL3) gene, which encodes an important component of a histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complex named the ASC-2- and Mll3-containing complex (ASCOM), has been implicated as a tumor suppressor gene due to its frequent mutations in multiple types of human tumors as well as tumor induction upon targeted inactivation of the gene in mice. The role of MLL3 in breast cancer, however, remains unknown. In this study, we sequenced all 59 exons of MLL3 (14.

Surgical treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: report of 112 cases.

Objectives: To review the clinical data of a group of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) and to investigate the role of surgery in the treatment for pNETs by analyzing clinical manifestations and postoperative course of this rare disease.

Methods: A total of 112 patients (aged 21-76 years; 45 males) who underwent treatment between 1980 and 2003 were recruited in this study. Patients' data related to demographics and characteristics, diagnostic studies, surgical and tumor characteristics and survival were retrospectively reviewed.

Expression of HAb18G is associated with tumor progression and prognosis of breast carcinoma.

HAb18G is a recently identified hepatoma-associated antigen and its association with tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis has been studied in a variety of tumors. However, its role in the tumor progression of breast cancer has not been explored. HAb18G expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in pathological sections of 1,637 breast tissue samples and by in situ hybridization in 41 cases of invasive breast carcinomas (BC).

[Relationship of osteolytic biochemical indicators of bone metabolism with the therapeutic effect in breast cancer patients with bone metastases].

Objective: The aim of this study was to access the relationship of osteolytic bone metabolic markers such as serum type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (sICTP), N-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (uNTx), urinary pyridinoline (uPyd) with the therapeutic effect in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.

Methods: 120 patients with breast cancer were included in this study. The levels of sICTP, uNTx and uPYD were measured by ELISA assay.

Therapy and prognostic features of primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver.

Aim: To clarify the therapeutic strategies and prognosis factors of primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver (PCCCL).

Methods: The clinical pathological data of 64 patients with PCCCL treated with hepatectomy in our hospital from January 2000 to January 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups to make treatment analysis: curative resection only (n = 40); and curative resection and postoperative chemotherapy with calcium folinate and tegafur (n = 24).

Basic research of the relationship between irradiation dose and volume in radiation-induced pulmonary injury.

Background: Irradiation dose and volume are the major physical factors of radiation-induced lung injury. The study investigated the relationships between the irradiation dose and volume in radiation-induced lung injury by setting up a model of graded volume irradiation of the rat lung.

Methods: Animals were randomly assigned to three groups.

Brain metastasis treated with Cyberknife.

Background: Cyberknife can greatly raise the fractional dose of stereotactic radiosurgery, thus improving its clinical efficacy. We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of brain metastasis treated with Cyberknife.

Methods: We analyzed 40 cases of brain metastases treated with Cyberknife in the Tianjin Cancer Hospital from August 1, 2006 to August 1, 2007, for a total of 68 lesions with maximal diameter of 0.

A meta-analysis on the association of HER-2 overexpression with prognosis in human osteosarcoma.

Various studies examining the relationship between HER-2 overexpression and clinical outcome in patients with osteosarcoma have yielded inconclusive results. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relation of HER-2 status with clinical outcome in osteosarcoma. We conducted a meta-analysis of five studies that evaluated the relation between HER-2 status and 2-year survival.

[Tracheoesophageal shunt for vocal rehabilitation after laryngectomy].

Objective: To discuss the clinical value of functional tracheoesophageal shunt for vocal rehabilitation after laryngectomy.

Methods: One hundred and twenty seven cases of tracheoesophageal shunt for vocal rehabilitation after laryngectomy in Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from 1981 to 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Among 127 cases, 105 cases got successful phonation and the total success rate of vocal rehabilitation was 82.

Changes of activated circulating endothelial cells and survivin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after antiangiogenesis therapy.

Background: Although antiangiogenesis therapy plays an important role in anti-neoplastic treatment with its recognized efficacy and slight adverse effect, there is no prospective clinical trial to define ideal markers for predicting efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy. This study was undertaken to investigate the changes of activated circulating endothelial cells (aCECs) and survivin after anti-angiogenesis therapy and their significance in predicting the efficacy of the therapy.

Methods: Patients of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with chemotherapy with or without Endostar were observed.

[Protein expression of p53, bcl-2, and bax in adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland].

Objective: To investigate the expression of p53, bcl-2, and hax, apoptosis regulating genes, in adenoid cystic carcinoma of larcrimal gland and the roles thereof in clinical prognosis.

Methods: 56 patients of adenoid cystic carcinoma of larcrimal gland were divided into two groups according to the prognosis: poor prognosis group with recurrence or metastasis within 5 years (n=32) and better prognosis group (n=24) surviving tumor free within 5 years. The protein expression levels of p53, tumor suppressor gene, bax, apoptosis promoting gene, and bcl-2, anti-apoptosis gene, were analyzed by strepavidin peroxidase method.

[Relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 protein and other biomarkers, prognosis in invasive breast cancer].

Objective: The study was designed to investigate the expression patterns of metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 protein in invasive breast carcinoma and to determine the clinicopathological and prognostic values of its various localization and relation to the tumor phenotypes.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue array from 263 invasive breast carcinomas to investigate the protein expressions of MMP-13, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2.

Results: MMP-13 protein was detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells and peritumoral fibroblasts.

A randomized, controlled trial of postoperative adjuvant cytokine-induced killer cells immunotherapy after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: With a resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, hepatocellular carcinoma has a high recurrence rate after radical resection. Adjuvant immunotherapy is a promising treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of adjuvant immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after radical resection.

Overexpression of TNF-alpha and TNFRII in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinicopathological correlations.

Aims: Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and metastasis and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a potent angiogenic factor. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC), a rare subtype of breast cancer, possesses a lymphotropic nature with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The aim was to evaluate the role of TNF-alpha and its receptor TNFRII in the vascular development and metastasis of IMPC.

Down-regulation of tumor suppressor gene FEZ1/LZTS1 in breast carcinoma involves promoter methylation and associates with metastasis.

FEZ1/LZTS1 is a tumor suppressor gene located in chromosomal band 8p22, and methylation has been identified as a mechanism for its loss of function in tumors. Chromosomal deletion at 8p22 is also frequent in breast cancer. We therefore examined whether LZTS1 plays a role in breast cancer.

Clinicopathologic features between multicentric occurence and intrahepatic metastasis of multiple hepatocellular carcinomas related to HBV.

Aims: To clarify the incidence of multicentric occurrence (MO) and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) in China and to identify the differences between them.

Patients And Methods: Histopathologic features of multiple tumors in 82 cases with HCC were analyzed. The two groups, the origin was determinable as of multicentric occurrence or as of intrahepatic metastasis, were analyzed for their survival rate, disease-free survival and clinicopathologic differences.