Rab11 regulates E-cadherin expression and induces cell transformation in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition EMT, the disassembly of junctional adhesion complexes such as E-cadherin is a remarkable sign during changes in cell morphology and polarity. However, E-cadherin expression is dynamic, and is regulated by the cellular endocytic system; it is also involved in cell signaling mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the role of E-cadherin in colorectal tumors and the relationship with recycling endosome protein Rab11 in colon cell transformation. METHODS: For tissue screening, the expressions of E-cadherin and Rab11 in colorectal tumors were identified by immunohistochemistry in 113 patients with colorectal carcinoma. For the in vitro cell experiment, GFP-tagged Rab11 plasmid was transfected into HT29 colon cells, E-cadherin expression and cell transformation were monitored by Western blot and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: In immunohistochemistry, the mean score of E-cadherin in tumor and normal tissues was 1.41 ± 0.06 and 1.08 ± 0.06 (p < 0.05). The mean score of Rab11 in tumor and normal tissues was 0.51 ± 0.05 and 0.18 ± 0.02 (p < 0.05). Synchronous overexpression of E-cadherin and Rab11 was noted in 74 patients (66.5%) with colorectal carcinoma. When GFP-tagged Rab11 plasmid was overexpressed in cultured colon cell line HT-29, the E-cadherin expression was up-regulated, and cell membrane protrusion was induced, which resulted in cell transformation and cell migration. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the importance of the overexpression of Rab11 and E-cadherin in colorectal cancer. The results indicated that Rab11 together with E-cadherin might be potential markers for colorectal cancer progression and treatment.

Villous adenoma of the ureter with manifestation of mucus hydroureteronephrosis.

Ureteral tumor is prone to result in lumen obstruction. Villous adenoma is most frequently found in the colon and rectum, seldom in the urinary tract and even more rarely in the ureter or pelvis. Herein, we present a case of bilateral renal stones of more than 10 years' duration with the chief complaint of right flank pain. Obstruction of the right upper ureter with hydroureteronephrosis was observed on sonography, computed tomography and retrograde pyelography. Ureteroscopy revealed papillary tumor obstructing the upper third of the ureter and inducing hydroureteronephrosis with abundant mucoid content. The ureteral tumor proved to be villous adenoma by pathologic examination. It should be noted that ureteral villous adenoma may be related to previous enteric-type metaplastic mucosa or ureteritis glandularis, demonstrates profuse production of mucus, and may eventually undergo malignant transformation.

A new approach to facilitate diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through a galactose single point method in rats with fatty liver.

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy reliably diagnoses nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, but its invasiveness and inter- and intra-observer errors limit its usefulness in monitoring. AIMS: Use a galactose single point method or combined biochemical parameters to improve assessments of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a rat model. METHODS: Three nonalcoholic fatty liver disease severities were generated in 50 rats: a control group (n=18) on a standard diet, and 2 study groups on a choline-deficient diet (n=18), with and without treatment with silymarin (n=14). At weeks 4, 8, and 18, a galactose solution (0.5 g/kg/body weight) was rapidly injected intravenously. Sixty minutes later, internal artery blood was taken for biochemical analyses, including galactose. The livers were then removed for haematoxylin-eosin staining and to measure the hepatic lipid content. RESULTS: Alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, and total protein were each significantly correlated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease severity. Regarding logistic regression, galactose single point method and total protein were significantly predictive. The optimal alanine aminotransferase cutoff point for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prediction from the receiver-operating characteristic curve had 72.4% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity; galactose single point method alone had 82.8% and 72.4%, whereas galactose single point method+total protein showed 82.8% and 81.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Both galactose single point method and galactose single point method+total protein had greater diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than traditional biochemical tests.

CA125-producing clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from the upper ureter and renal pelvis.

Clear cell adenocarcinomas similar to those found in the female genital organs can arise in the lower urinary tract of both women and men. Clear cell adenocarcinomas occurring in the upper urinary system are exceedingly rare. Here, we present a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from the upper ureter and renal pelvis of a postmenopausal woman with a ureteral stone. The patient had elevated serum levels of cancer antigen (CA) 125 (103.80 U/mL) and CA19-9 (151.96 U/mL). The tumor showed typical features of tubulopapillary structures lined with clear-to-eosinophilic cytoplasm and frequent hobnail configuration. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20, carcinoembryonic antigen and CA125, but negative for PAX-2 and alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase. Given the presence of intestinal and squamous metaplasia of the adjacent urothelium, we propose that this clear cell adenocarcinoma developed through a metaplastic process. The tumor behaved so aggressively that the patient developed multiple metastases and died of the disease 5 months after radical nephroureterectomy.