Role of Src in breast cancer cell migration and invasion in a breast cell/bone-derived cell microenvironment.

The preferential metastasis of breast cancer cells to bone comprises a complex set of events including homing and preferential growth, which may require unique factors produced by bone or other cells in the immediate microenvironment. In this study, an in vitro co-culture system composed of bone mesenchymal stem cells and breast cancer cell lines is used to examine the role of Src kinase on breast cancer cell migration and invasion in the presence of bone-derived cells. This research shows that Src kinase activity in breast cancer cell lines with either high or low levels of endogenous Src activity is increased by bone-derived cell-conditioned medium but not HS68 fibroblast-conditioned medium. Breast cancer cells exhibit enhanced migration in co-culture with bone-derived cells but not HS68 fibroblasts or no co-cultured cells. Inhibition of Src kinase activity using the inhibitors PP2 or saracatinib or using siRNA abrogates the preferential migration of the breast cancer cell lines in response to bone-derived cells. Inhibition of Src activity with saracatinib does not have any significant effect on breast cancer cell invasion in the presence of bone-derived cells. Factors are identified that are produced preferentially by bone-derived cells over HS68 cells that may impact breast cancer cell behavior. This research implicates Src kinase as an important effector of bone-derived cell signals on breast cancer cell migration.

Oncogenes in Ras signalling pathway dictate host-cell permissiveness to herpes simplex virus 1.

The importance of herpes simplex viruses (HSV) as human pathogens and the emerging prospect of using mutant derivatives of HSV-1 as potential anti-cancer therapeutics have necessitated a thorough investigation into the molecular basis of host-cell permissiveness to HSV. Here we show that NIH-3T3 cells transformed with the oncogenes v-erbB, activated sos or activated ras become significantly more permissive to HSV-1. Inhibitors of the Ras signalling pathway, such as farnesyl transferase inhibitor 1 and PD98059, effectively suppressed HSV-1 infection of ras-transformed cells. Enhanced permissiveness of the transformed cells was linked to the inhibition of virus-induced activation (phosphorylation) of the double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), thereby allowing viral transcripts to be translated in these cells. An HSV-1-derived oncolytic mutant, R3616, was also found to infect preferentially both transformed cells and PKR-/- (but not PKR+/+) mouse embryo fibroblasts. These observations suggest that HSV-1 specifically targets cells with an activated Ras signalling pathway, and have important ramifications in the use of engineered HSV in cancer therapy, the development of strategies against HSV infections, and the controversial role of HSV in human cancers.

Correction: Therapeutic targeting of Id2 reduces growth of human colorectal carcinoma in the murine liver.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Outcomes after pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas: an institutional experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the experience with pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) at a single academic institution. METHODS: A prospective pancreatic database was reviewed and identified 43 patients with IPMN who were managed operatively. Clinicopathologic features and predictors of outcome were examined. The World Health Organization pathologic classification of IPMN was utilized. RESULTS: IPMN was diagnosed in 21% of patients who underwent pancreatic resection for solid or cystic mass lesions. Ninety-five percent of patients were symptomatic. Patients were managed with total pancreatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, or enucleation. Nine patients had adenomas, 14 had borderline neoplasms, 10 had carcinoma in situ, and 9 had invasive carcinoma. Overall, 23 patients (53%) had lesions with main duct involvement. Frozen section transection margins were positive for malignancy in 2 patients. With a mean follow-up of 17 months, the 5-year disease-specific survival for patients with main duct involvement was 67%. The 5-year disease-specific survival for patients with benign lesions was 100%, and 61% for patients with malignant lesions (P = .02). The presence of symptoms, increased CA 19-9, and tumor size were not predictive of malignancy. Increased serum bilirubin concentrations were predictive of malignancy (P = .03). Main duct involvement was also associated with malignancy (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer is found in 65% of patients with IMPN involving the main duct. Based on our data, patients with symptomatic, main duct involvement, especially those with an increased serum bilirubin, should be offered resection. Alternatively, patients with side branch IPMN may be managed conservatively.

Complete nucleotide sequence of an EcoRI-1.35-kb repeated element of mouse: homology with the cellular flanking region between two intracisternal A-particle genes.

The complete DNA sequence (1369 bp) of an EcoRI-1.35-kb repeated element (ER-1) of the mouse BamHI family has been determined. Analysis of this sequence revealed that a portion of the 3' end (positions 1277-1369) of ER-1 was found to share 91% homology with the flanking cellular sequence between two adjacent intracisternal A-particle (IAP) genes, IAP-19A and IAP-19B.

BCR rearrangements in Ph positive chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Nine patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and 1 patient with erythroleukemia were studied with 3'bcr and 5'bcr probes using Southern blot hybridization technique. Bcr rearrangements were detected in 8 patients with CML in the chronic phase, and bcr rearrangement was deduced to have existed in a CML patient in blastic crisis. However, no abnormal fragment was found in the patient with erythroleukemia. 3'bcr and 5'bcr probes combined with proper restriction enzymes were believed to be of great value in determining bcr rearrangements in Ph positive CML.

Suprahepatic gallbladder with agenesis of the right lobe of the liver: report of a case.

An unusual case of suprahepatic gallbladder with agenesis of the right lobe of the liver is reported. The anomalous position of the gallbladder was detected by ultrasonography. It was shown to be distended and to contain sludge. The suprahepatic location with agenesis of the right lobe of the liver was preoperatively confirmed by computed tomography. The patient underwent cholecystostomy with drainage and had an uneventful recovery. The postoperative follow-up examinations, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ultrasonography, arteriography and portography, all added information rarely reported in the literature and helped in the understanding of this uncommon case. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies are widely used but such a procedure was contraindicated in this case because of the ectopic position and inaccessibility of the gallbladder.

Therapeutic targeting of Id2 reduces growth of human colorectal carcinoma in the murine liver.

During development inhibitor of DNA-bind-2 (Id2) regulates proliferation and differentiation. Id2 expression has been detected in cancer cells, yet its cellular function and validity as a therapeutic target remains largely unknown. Immunohistochemical analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens revealed that Id2 was undetectable in normal colonic mucosa, but occurs in 40% of primary tumors and in most CRC liver metastases (P<0.0001). Additionally, Id2 was expressed in all CRC cell lines assayed. CRC cells with reduced Id2 expression demonstrated reduced proliferation. Analysis of CRC cell cycle regulatory proteins showed that reducing Id2 levels reduces cyclin D1 levels and increased p21 levels. Reduction of Id2 expression also enhanced tumor cell apoptosis, increasing levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim/Bod, and cleavage of caspase-7 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In vivo studies show tumors derived from cells with decreased Id2 levels formed smaller tumors with fewer metastases compared with tumors with normal levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of Id2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) conjugated with the neutral liposome 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine decreased tumor burden in mice compared with control treatment (P=0.006). We conclude that Id2 is upregulated in CRC, and is important in promoting cell survival. In vivo targeting of Id2 by siRNA establishes that it is a valid therapeutic target where its expression occurs.

Evaluation of activity of epiphyseal plates in growing males and females.

To investigate the age-related activity of the epiphyseal plates, a retrospective study of (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate bone scans was undertaken. The study comprised 81 males and 46 females aged 2 weeks to 24 years. The total percentage (%) whole-body (ratio of total physis activity to whole-body activity) and the regional % whole-body (ratio of physis activity of one region to whole-body activity) were derived. The ratio of physis activity of one region to the total physis activity was defined as % physis. Before age 12, total physis activity was found to contribute about 10% to whole-body activity. All total and regional % whole-body activities followed sigmoid curves with age. The differences of the parameters (transition centers and widths) suggested that there might be a later and longer period for the disappearance of physis activity in males than in females. For all the regions, % physis changed little with age until after puberty. At age <1, the proportion of bone activity in the body was about 30-35% for skull, 20-25% for lower limbs, and 5-15% for the rest of the regions. The maximal changes during growth occurred in the skull and the lower limbs. The age-related changes of physis activity during growth reflect a combination of the potential of bone to grow and the processes of bone growth and bone turnover. Bone scintigraphy is useful in understanding the changes of physis activity during growth.

Bilateral retrocaval ureters with IVC duplication.

We report a rare case of bilateral retrocaval ureters associated with duplicated inferior renal cava. A 69-year-old woman was sent to our emergency room for abdominal pain. Multidetector computed tomogram with multiplanar reconstruction revealed duplicated inferior renal cavae and the bilateral ureters were positioned behind the duplicated inferior vena cava. To our knowledge, coexistence of bilateral retrocaval ureters and duplicated inferior renal cavae has not been reported in the literature.

Preliminary study on bcr rearrangement in leukemia.

Southern blot analysis was conducted in 15 patients by using a 1.2 Kb Hind III/Bgl II fragment from the 3' end of the bcr region and a 2.0 Kb Bgl II/Hind III fragment from the 5' end of the bcr as probes. Of the 15 patients in our group, 11 with chronic, myelocytic leukemia (CML), 3 with Ph-negative acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), one with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Bcr rearrangements were detected in 9 patients with CML and were negative in the rest of the patients. The results showed that the identification of bcr rearrangement was very important in the diagnosis of Ph-positive leukemias.

A chromosome study on 97 cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia M2.

Chromosomal studies were performed in the same laboratory on 97 untreated cases of de novo acute nonlymphocytic leukemia M2. The overall incidence of chromosomal abnormality was 70.1% (68 out of 97 cases), which was higher in children (84.2%) than in adults (61%). The male to female chromosomal abnormality ratio was nearly the same (male 71% and female 68.4%, P > 0.05). Hypodiploidy was the most common numerical abnormality (39%) and t (8; 21) was the most common structural abnormality (48.1%). In the patients with t(8; 21), 64.5% (20 out of 31 cases) male lost chromosome Y (-Y) and 33% (5 out of 15 cases) female lost one chromosome X (-X).

The morphological studies on M2/t(8; 21) acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Bone marrow studies including morphological, morphometrical and ultrastructural aspects were performed in 35 patients with M2/t(8; 21) and 23 patients with M2/NN. It was found that M2/t(8; 21) patients had higher cellularity in bone marrow. Type (II) myeloblast cells were predominant among myeloblasts. Deformation of nuclei, nucleocytoplasmic asynchronism and dysmegakaryocytopoiesis were more evident in M2/t(8; 21) than in M2/NN patients.

A huge cystic hygroma of the neck associated with intraventricular haemorrhage in a term neonate.

We report on a female term neonate who presented with a huge cystic hygroma of the right neck associated with intraventricular haemorrhage as demonstrated by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies. She underwent extraventricular drainage and excision of the neck mass with stable postoperative condition. Psychomotor retardation was found thereafter. To our knowledge, the association of a large cystic hygroma of the neck with intracranial haemorrhage has not been reported previously. The possible mechanism of the occurrence of the haemorrhage is discussed.

Translation enhancer in the 3'-untranslated region of rotavirus gene 6 mRNA promotes expression of the major capsid protein VP6.

The eleven rotavirus mRNAs contain 5'-cap structures and most end with the 3'-consensus sequence 5'-UGACC-3'. The UGACC functions as a common translation enhancer (3'-TE-con) that upregulates viral protein expression through a process mediated by the nonstructural protein NSP3. To address the possibility that gene-specific enhancers are also contained in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of the rotavirus mRNAs, we used rabbit reticulocyte lysates to investigate the translation efficiencies of analog RNAs containing viral-specific 5'-and 3'-UTRs and the open reading frame for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. These experiments combined with the analysis of full-length viral RNAs and RNAs containing 3'-truncations showed that a highly active enhancer was present near the 5'-end of the 139-nucleotide 3'-UTR of the gene 6 mRNA (3'-TEg6). The 3'-TEg6 represents a functionally independent enhancer, as no other portion of the gene 6 mRNA was required for its activity. The 3'-TEg6 differs significantly from the 3'-TE-con in that the gene 6-specific enhancer does not require viral protein for activity and is formed by a sequence unique to only one of the eleven viral mRNAs. Together, our findings suggest that the 3'-UTR of the gene 6 mRNA contains two TEs, one is gene-specific (3'-TEg6) and the other is common to nearly all rotavirus genes (3'-TE-con). The activity of the 3'-TEg6 is likely important for directing the efficient translation of the gene 6 mRNA at levels sufficient to provide the 780 copies of VP6 necessary for the assembly of each progeny virion.

Characteristic of marrow culture and clinical relevance in leukemia with 8/21 translocation.

Karyotypes and in vitro cultures of bone marrow cells from eleven patients with acute myelogenous leukemia M2 type were performed. 8/21 translocation was found in 5 patients. In all of them the cultures in vitro shared one characteristic, i.e., clusters were small and less in number. These patients could relatively easily obtain complete remission. The similarity of CFU-GM in patients with t (8; 21) may be another important biological phenotype.

Cytogenetic study on acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

During 1987-1988 cytogenetic studies were performed in 30 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Of the 30 patients 15 (10 children and 5 adults) were found to have abnormal karyotypes including 8 cases (27%) of pseudodiploidy, 2 cases (7%) of hypodiploidy, one case (3%) of low-hyperdiploidy (modal number 47-50), and 4 cases (13%) of high-hyperdiploidy (modal number greater than 50). Immunological classification was performed by using monoclonal antibodies in 26 patients, and the most common immunophenotype was C-ALL. The patients with abnormal karyotypes were more likely to be NuLL-ALL (6 in 14) as compared with patients with normal karyotype (1 in 12). In our series, there was no significant difference between the patients with and without cytogenetic changes in regard of clinical findings such as FAB classification, the rate of complete remission, percentage of lymphoblasts in bone marrow cells and blood picture.

Relapsing pancreatitis in a child duplication in an aberrant pancreatic lobe.

An aberrant pancreatic lobe associated with an enteric duplication cyst is a rare cause of relapsing pancreatitis in childhood. We present an 8-year-old boy with relapsing pancreatitis caused by this rare congenital foregut anomaly. The computed tomography (CT) findings revealed an unusually long segment of aberrant pancreatic lobe arising from the pancreatic neck, projecting anteriorly at a distance to a cystic duodenal duplication and appearing as an inflammatory mass. There has been no previous report of this unusual appearance on CT. Appreciation of the relevant anatomy provided by CT led to the successful management of this surgically-treatable cause of relapsing pancreatitis.

Clinical and prognostic investigations on M2/t(8;21) acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Clinical and prognostic investigations were conducted in 46 cases of M2/t(8;21) leukemia and 29 cases of M2/NN patients. Results showed that most patients with M2/t(8;21) were young males with higher incidence of extramedullary infiltrations. Complete remission rate was higher but with earlier relapse. The prognosis of patients with M2/t(8;21) with loss of one sexual chromosome was poor.