[Platelet count of peripheral blood is associated with invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the platelet count of peripheral blood and clincopathologic parameters of esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Platelets of peripheral blood were measured in 415 cases of esophageal carcinoma and 325 healthy subjects as control. The correlation of platelet counts and clinicopathological features of cancer was analyzed. RESULT: Platelet count in patients with esophageal carcinomas (286+/-88)x10(9)/L was significantly higher than that in the control subjects [(204+/-114)x10(9)/L, P<0.05 ]. Increased platelet counts (>300 x 10(9)/L) was significantly associated with tumor infiltration and lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Platelet count of peripheral blood might be associated with the development and progression of esophageal cancer.

[Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by tubeimoside in HeLa cell].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Tubeimoside, which is composed of tubeimoside I (79%) and II (21%), was isolated from the tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine, "Tu-Bei-Mu". This study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor mechanism of tubeimoside. METHODS: Growth inhibition was measured by MTT assay. Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, fluorescence and electron microscopy, and gel electrophoresis of fragmented DNA. RESULTS: Tubeimoside display strong growth inhibitory effect in a dose- and time-dependant manner against HeLa cells with estimated IC50 values of 20.0, 18.8, and 8.8 mumol/L after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment with tubeimoside. The flow cytometry profiles revealed that treatment with tubeimoside (5 h; 15, 30, 35 mumol/L) led to a dose-dependant shift from 9.80% up to 21.90%, and 27.00% in percentage of cells with a G2/M-like DNA content. On the other hand, treatment with tubeimoside (12 h, 15, 30, 35 mumol/L) led to a time-dependant shift from 8.20% up to 21.40%, 31.15%, and 34.55%, respectively. Exposure of HeLa cells to 40 mumol/L of tubeimoside induced nuclear shrinkage, chromation condensation and margination against nuclear envelope, subdiploid peak, and DNA fragmentation, characteristic as seen in apoptotic cells. CONCLUSION: Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis may play an important role in the anti-tumor effect of tubeimoside.