[Evaluation of induction chemotherapy with vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) or docetaxel plus cisplatin (TP) combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and side effects of induction chemotherapy with vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) or docetaxel plus cisplatin (TP) combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in treating locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2009, 146 patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in our department were randomized into NP group (76 patients) or TP group (70 patients). Both groups received two cycles of induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy. After three weeks of induction chemotherapy, the patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The chemotherapy was recycled every three weeks. Two groups were treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy. RESULTS: The short-term efficacy of NP group was similar to that of TP group. The 3-year overall survival rates, disease-free-survival rates, locoregional relapse-free survival rates and distant metastasis-free survival rates in the NP and TP groups were 84.2% and 82.9%, 71.1% and 74.3%, 89.5% and 91.4%, 81.6% and 77.1%, respectively (P > 0.05). The occurrence rates of leucopenia, anemia and acute mucositis were significantly higher in the TP group than those in the NP group (P < 0.05). The gastrointestinal toxicity, dermatitis and liver toxicity were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of NP regimen induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemordiotherapy for advanced NPC is similar to that of TP regimen. The toxicity of the NP regimen is lower than that of NP regimen, tolerable, and with a good compliance.

[Experimental study of Gukangling Decoction combined with technetium [99Tc] methylene diphosphonate injection in treating osteoporotic rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the advantage of Gukangling Decoction (GKLD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with technetium [(99)Tc] methylene diphosphonate injection ((99)Tc-MDP) in treating osteoporosis in rabbits. METHODS: A rabbit model of osteoporosis was established by intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (DX). Fifty-six rabbits were divided into 8 groups: Group A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Rabbits in groups A and B were intramuscularly injected normal saline as normal control, groups C and D were untreated groups, rabbits in group E were treated by (99)-MDP, rabbits in group F were treated by aminodiphosphate, rabbits in group G were treated by GKLD, and rabbits in group H were treated by (99)-MDP and GKLD. Rabbits in groups A and C were executed to demonstrate the establishment of the rabbit model of osteoporosis at the 8th week of experiment. Rabbits in the other six groups were executed after 16-week experiment (8-week treatment), and then bone structure and cell shape were observed by electron microscope, X-ray, CT and emission computed tomography (ECT). Bone density, biomechanical parameters, the levels of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and bone Gla protein (BGP) were measured too. RESULTS: After 8-week of intramuscular injection of DX, the bone trabecula in group A were regular and showed normal configuration, while the bone trabecula in group C were sparse, ruptured and showed damaged form. The bone density and biomechanical parameters in group A were higher than those in group C, indicating that the rabbit model of osteoporosis was established successfully. At the 9th week of experiment, the results of cell pathology in group D showed that the bone trabeculas were sparse, ruptured, defected or had hollow section, but the bone trabeculas in group B were regular and dense. The bone trabeculas in groups H and E were restored, and were thicker than those in group D. The bone quality in groups H and E was better than group D significantly, the bone quality in group F was better than group G, and the bone quality in group G was better than group D slightly. CONCLUSION: GKLD combined with (99)-MDP had superiority in treating osteoporosis of rabbits as compared with the respective single therapy.

[Effect of PC-cell derived growth factor shRNA on estrogen dependent of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between estrogen dependence of breast cancer cells and expression level of PC-cell derived growth factor (PCDGF) and investigate the possibility of practicing endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer. METHODS: Expression level of PCDGF mRNA was detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and cell growth curve was drawn by cell count kit-8 method, then analyzed the relationship between the expression of PCDGF and dependence of estrogen. PCDGF shRNA vector was constructed and transfected into breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) using Lipofectamin 2000, examined and compared the changes of estrogen dependence between the two cell lines. RESULTS: PCDGF was expressed in most breast cancer cell lines, and the growth dependence of estrogen was higher in the cells with high-expressing PCDGF than those with low-expressing PCDGF. Expression of PCDGF could be inhibited by transfected shRNA into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (inhibition rates were 81.1% and 86.7% respectively), inhibition of the expression of PCDGF could lead to higher growth dependence of estrogen, and the dependence of MDA-MB-231 was increased much more than MCF-7(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of PCDGF is higher in estrogen receptor negative breast cancer than in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Inhibiting the expression of PCDGF could reverse resistance of endocrine therapy especially to estrogen receptor negative breast cancer.

Isoflavone Attenuates the Caspase-1 and Caspase-3 Level in Cell Model of Parkinsonism.

The study has investigated the effect of isoflavone attenuates the caspase-1 and caspase-3 level in cell model of Parkinsonism. The subjects were PC12 cells. They were randomly divided into six groups: control, MPP(+) (250 µmol/L), isoflavone (10 µM), isoflavone (10 µM) + MPP(+) (250 µmol/L), Z-YVAD-CHO (10 nM) + MPP(+) group, and Z-DEVD-CHO (10 nM) + MPP(+) group. Cell viability was measured by MTT methods; the content of tyrosine hydroxylase was measured by immunocytochemistry method of avidinbiotin peroxidase complex; apoptosis ratio was measured by flow cytometry. The results showed that cell viability in the MPP(+) group was lower than in all other five groups. There was no difference in cell viability between isoflavone + MPP(+) and control group. Optical density of TH positive cells in isoflavone group was higher than in control, isoflavone + MPP(+), and MPP(+) only groups. The apoptosis ratio in the isoflavone + MPP(+) group and control group and the Z-YVAD-CHO + MPP(+) and Z-DEVD-CHO + MPP(+) group was similar, which was lower than in the MPP(+) group. The lowest apoptosis ratio was found in the isoflavone only group.

[Effect of PCDGF shRNA on growth, proliferation, apoptosis of human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 and expression of VEGF].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF) is a crucial factor for regulating the growth and apoptosis of breast cancer cells; however the mechanism is unclear. This study was to construct a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting PCDGF, and analyze its effects on growth, proliferation, and apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). METHODS: The expression of PCDGF in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-435, and MDA-MB-231 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Two shRNAs targeting PCDGF were combined to pGenesil-1 vector, and transfected into MCF-7 cells. Cell growth and proliferation were analyzed by MTT assay; VEGF expression was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: PCDGF was diversely expressed in these 4 cell lines. After transfection of PCDGF shRNA, the inhibitory rate of PCDGF expression in MCF-7 cells was 59.8%; the apoptosis rates were 30.41% at early phase and 35.38% at late phase in PCDGF shRNA-transfected MCF-7 cells, and were 3.69% at early phase and 15.39% at late phase in control cells. The inhibitory rate of VEGF expression in PCDGF shRNA-transfected MCF-7 cells was 47.2%. CONCLUSION: PCDGF regulates growth, proliferation, and apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and the expression of VEGF.