Correlation of HIPK2 expression with HPV infection and apoptosis in cervical cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the correlation of the expression of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and apoptosis in cervical cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue samples from 50 cervical cancers and 15 normal uterine cervix cases were obtained. Apoptosis was quantified by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and the expression of HIPK2 as well as HPV by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HIPK2 protein expression was detected in 88.0% (44/50) of cervical cancers and 6.7% (1/15) of normal cervical tissues. HPV was found in 78.0% (39/50) of cervical cancers and 20.0% (3/15) of normal cervical tissue samples. The expression of HIPK2 protein was significantly and positively correlated with HPV presence (r=0.467, P<0.01), but negatively with apoptotic index (r=-0.370, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HIPK2 protein expression is positively correlated with HPV infection, but negatively with apoptotic index in cervical cancers. Therefore, HIPK2 may be involved in the mechanism of apoptosis in cervical cancer and may play an important role in cervical carcinogenesis.</p>

Suicidal cancer vaccine enhances anti-tumor immunotherapeutic effect and its safety in the treatment of ovarian cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the anti-tumor immunotherapeutic effect induced by the suicidalcancer vaccine FC/TK, and to evaluate the safety of this vaccine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The suicidal cancer vaccine, named FC/TK, was prepared by fusion of suicide gene (HSVI,-TK gene) -modified ovarian carcinoma NuTu-19 cells with rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs). The morphology of FC/TK was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The stimulatory effect of FC/TK on T cells was determined by T cell proliferation assay. In immunotherapeutic studies in vivo, Fischer344 rats were injected subcutaneously with NuTu-19 cells, followed by treatment of FC/TK on days 7 and 14, compared to controls treated with irradiated FC/TK, FC or PBS, respectively. Tumor incidence and volume were measured in 90 days after challenge. To determine the killing effect of FC/TK in vivo, TUNEL assays were applied to detect apoptotic cell death in spleen of vaccinated rats with prodrug ganciclovir administration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FC/TK cells were of irregular shape with surface membrane processes. Compared to the control groups, FC/TK significantly promoted T cell proliferation (P <0.01). The rats vaccinated with FC/TK and FC significantly inhibited the tumor growth compared to rats vaccinated with irradiated FC/TK (P <0.05) or with PBS ( P <0.01). The immunotherapeutic effect induced by FC/TK was similar to that using FC. Fluorescence microscopy showed that fluorescein-stained FC/TK cells migrated into spleen also showed to be TUNEL-positive, suggesting that the FC/TK cells were killed by ganciclovir in vivo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our data indicate that suicidal cancer vaccine is an effective and safe therapy for ovarian carcinoma and may serve as a broadly applicable approach for other cancer vaccines in the future.</p>