MicroRNA-10b promotes migration and invasion through Hoxd10 in human gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the effect of miR-10b overexpression on cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and Hoxd10 expression. METHODS: The effect of miR-10b on proliferation, migration, and invasion of MKN-28, BGC-823, and SGC-7901 cells and the expression of Hoxd10 protein in SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cells were detected following transfection of miR-10b inhibitor or Negative Control B. Expression of Hoxd10 protein in 436 paraffin-embedded cancer tissues was also investigated. RESULTS: miR-10b was significantly upregulated in AGS, MKN-28, BGC-823, HCG-27, SGC-7901, and MKN-45 cell lines, miR-10b inhibitor significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of MKN-45, BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells 48 h after transfection, while Hoxd10 protein in these cells lines had increased 72 h after transfection. Hoxd10 was highly expressed in gastric cancer and correlated with size of tumor, Lauren classification, depth of invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage, and prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: miR-10b promotes migration and invasion through Hoxd10 in human gastric cancer cell lines and may play an important role in tumorigenesis, progression, and prognosis.

Effect of distilled water on rapid inactivation of tumour cells attached to surgery instruments.

The aim of the study was to explore the effect of distilled water on killing tumour cells attached to the surgery instruments during operation. Tumour cells were collected from the suspected tumour cell-contaminated surgery instruments and then cultured. Then the tumour cells were treated by distilled water at different gradient temperature for different time periods. The morphology of the tumour cells was observed by inverted microscope after hematoxylin-eosin staining. The results showed that positive tumour cell culture rate was 34.3%. After soaked in distilled water for 60 s at 55°C, the tumour cells were inactive, and the death rate was 100%. We also found that no active cells were seen to grow adherently after recultured. In conclusion, tumour cells can be killed by distilled water for 60 s at 55°C, which provides a new fast and low-cost tumour-free technique to inactivate tumour cells attached to surgery instruments.

Meta-analysis of the association between P53 codon 72 polymorphisms and gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aims to examine whether the P53 codon 72 polymorphisms is associated with gastric cancer risk. METHODS: Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were appropriately derived from random-effects models. Separate analyses were conducted on Asian and Caucasian populations. And a total of 21 studies were eligible (5,867 cases and 7,001 controls); 15 of them were conducted on Asians, others on Caucasians. RESULTS: The combined results based on all studies showed that there was significant difference in genotype distribution between gastric cancer and non-cancer patients in the allele contrast (Pro vs. Arg); the codominant model (Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg) and the recessive model (Pro/Pro vs. Pro/Arg + Arg/Arg). When stratifying for race, patients with gastric cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Pro (OR = 1.136, 95% CI = 1.051-1.229), Pro/Pro (OR = 1.314, 95% CI = 1.110-1.555), Pro/Arg (OR = 1.099, 95% CI = 1.009-1.197), (Pro/Pro + Pro/Arg (OR = 1.153, 95% CI = 1.059-1.255) than non-cancer patients among Asians. There was statistically significant heterogeneity across all included studies with the Q statistic and study population may be the most important factor contributed to the heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the P53 codon 72 polymorphisms seems to be associated with gastric cancer risk and the analyses suggested that P53 codon 72 polymorphisms may be an important biomarker of gastric cancer susceptibility for Asians.

Abnormal expression of miR-301a in gastric cancer associated with progression and poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: miR-301a is significantly overexpressed in many cancers. However, its expression and biological role in gastric cancer remain poorly understood. We investigated microRNA-301a (miR-301a) expression in gastric cancer and determined its effects on cancer cell behavior and its clinical significance in the development and progression of gastric cancer. METHODS: We determined miR-301a expression in gastric tumors and gastric cancer cell lines by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The effects of miR-301a on cell clone formation, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 and SGC-7901 cells were detected following transfection of an miR-301a inhibitor. miR-301a expression in a 304-tissue gastric cancer microarray was determined by in situ hybridization and its role in progression and prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: miR-301a was upregulated in gastric tumor tissues and cell lines. Down-regulation of miR-301a significantly inhibited cell clone formation, migration, and invasion of HGC-27and SGC-7901 cells. Overexpression of miR-301a in primary gastric cancer tissues was associated with tumor size, invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. CONCLUSIONS: miR-301a overexpression correlated with TNM stage and prognosis, suggesting that miR-301a is involved in cellular clone formation, migration, and invasion in vitro and may play an important role in the clinical progression and prognosis of gastric cancer.

GP73 is down-regulated in gastric cancer and associated with tumor differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a type II Golgi transmembrane protein. It is over-expressed in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinomas, bile duct carcinomas, lung cancer and prostate cancer. However, there are few reports of GP73 in gastric cancer. This study is aimed at investigating the expression of GP73 and its relationship with clinical pathological characters in gastric cancer. METHODS: GP73 mRNA level was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in 41 pairs of matched gastric tumorous tissues and adjacent non-tumorous mucosal tissues. Western blotting was also performed to detect the GP73 protein level. GP73 protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 52 clinically characterized gastric cancer patients and 10 non-tumorous gastric mucosal tissue controls. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein level of GP73 were significantly down-regulated in gastric tumorous tissues compared with the non-tumorous mucosal tissues. In non-tumorous mucosa, strong diffuse cytoplasmic staining can be seen in cells located at the surface of the glandular and foveolar compartment; while in tumorous tissues, the staining was much weaker or even absent, and mainly in a semi-granular dot-like staining pattern. The expression level of GP73 protein was associated with patients' gender and tumor differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: GP73 was normally expressed in non-tumorous gastric mucosa and down-regulated in gastric cancer. Its expression in gastric cancer was correlated with tumor differentiation.

[Application of serum protein fingerprint in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To establish serum protein fingerprint model for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and bioinformatics techniques. METHODS: A total of 73 samples were analyzed in this study, including 31 cases of pancreatic cancers, 22 cases of pancreatitis and 20 healthy individuals. Samples were first analyzed by SELDI-TOF-MS and two patterns of differentiation model were constructed with support vector machine arithmetic method. RESULTS: The pattern 1 model differentiating pancreatic cancer patients from healthy individuals had a specificity and a sensitivity of both 100.0%. The pattern 2 model differentiating pancreatic cancer from pancreatitis had a specificity of 95.5% and a sensitivity of 93.5%. CONCLUSION: SELDI-TOF-MS technique combined with bioinformatics can facilitate to identify biomarkers for pancreatic cancer.

[The application of uncut Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy with distal jejunal pouch on behalf of the stomach surgery in the digestive tract reconstruction after total gastrectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical value of uncut Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy with distal jejunal pouch on behalf of the stomach (URYAJP) surgery in the digestive tract reconstruction after total gastrectomy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of radical resection of the whole stomach in 486 cases of gastric cancer patients, divided into the URYAJP group (n = 189), the P-loop Roux-en-Y behalf of the stomach surgery (PRY) group (n = 150) and pure Roux-en-Y reconstruction (RY) group (n = 147). Three groups were compared in patients with surgical reconstruction time, the occurrence of postoperative complications, the postoperative weight after 6, 12 and 24 months, the single meal food intake and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and Visick points class situation after 12 and 24 months. RESULTS: (1) The URYAJP group and RY group had no significant difference in digestive tract reconstruction time ((37 ± 6) minutes and (38 ± 6) minutes respectively), but PRY group was significantly prolonged ((47 ± 6) minutes, t = 7.52 and 6.54, P < 0.05). (2) In the comparison of the incidence of complications, URYAJP group has 2.1% rate of Roux stay syndrome (RSS) incidence, significantly less than PRY group (21.3%) and RY group (19.7%) (χ² = 14.84, P < 0.05). (3) In the comparison the postoperative nutritional status, URYAJP group clear asset, showing the degree of ((3.1 ± 1.0) kg) weight loss after 12 months (t = 25.03 and 22.99, P < 0.05). And after 12, 24 months, a single meal eating reached the preoperative level is 94.8% and 96.9% in URYAJP group, while PRY group and RY group is less than 50% (χ(2) = 61.10, 69.17, 65.17 and 73.29, P < 0.05). URYAJP Group reach the preoperative levels of PNI in 24 months after surgery, while PRY and RY group were still lower than per-operation (t = 106.97 and 100.37, P < 0.05). (4) The Visick points class I-II postoperative 12 and 24 months in URYAJP group were 92.7% and 93.8%, significantly better than group B and C (χ² = 10.63, 14.19, 10.10 and 10.74, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: URYAJP surgery give full play to maintain intestinal continuity, simple operation, and advantages of food storage bags, it can reduce the long-term postoperative complications, improve the nutritional status of patients and improve quality of life. It is worthy of promoting a way of gastrointestinal reconstruction.

Interaction of coagulation factors and tumor-associated macrophages mediates migration and invasion of gastric cancer.

Abundant macrophage infiltration and increased expression of coagulation factors have been observed in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to determine how the interaction between activated coagulation factors and monocytes/macrophages contributes to gastric cancer (GC) cell migration and invasion. We assessed cytokine/chemokine production of coagulation-factor-treated macrophages by ELISA. The effects of the interaction between coagulation factors and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) on GC cell migration and invasion were determined by in vitro migration and invasion assay. In addition, we used an in vitro co-culture system of GC cells/TAM treated by coagulation factors to evaluate the effect of coagulation factor/TAM interaction on the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (HUVEC). We found that the M2-like phenotype of interleukin (IL)-4(high), IL-10(high), transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß(high), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α(high) was exhibited when the human monocytic cell line THP-1 was stimulated by coagulation factors III (TF), VIIa (FVIIa) and XIIa (FXIIa). For the migration assay, the GC cells (BGC-823 or SGC-7901) that were co-cultured with activated coagulation factor/TAM both showed increased migration. For the invasion assay, both BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells co-cultured with TF/TAM showed increased invasion. We also found that TAM activated by coagulation factors could induce vascular endothelial growth factor/MMP-9 expression, which could promote invasion of GC cells. The HUVEC co-cultured with TAM (PMA-treated THP-1 macrophages co-cultured with GC cells) expressed high levels of FXIIa. In conclusion, coagulation factors might facilitate GC cell migration and invasion by transforming macrophages toward TAM-like cells. Interaction of coagulation factors and TAM mediates migration and invasion of GC.

ADAM 10 is associated with gastric cancer progression and prognosis of patients.

BACKGROUND: The metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM 10) has been implicated in the development and progression of gastric cancer. METHODS: Expression of ADAM 10 and C-erbB-2 were examined immunochemically in 436 clinicopathologically characterized gastric cancer cases. RESULTS: Protein levels of ADAM 10 and C-erbB-2 were up-regulated in gastric cancer lesions compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Positive expression of ADAM 10 correlated with age, size of tumor, location of tumor, depth of invasion, vessel invasion, lymph node, and distant metastasis and TNM stage, and also with expression of C-erbB-2. In stages I, II, and III, the 5-year survival rate of patients with high ADAM 10 expression was significantly lower than in patients with low expression. However, in stage IV, ADAM 10 expression did not correlate with the 5-year survival rate. Further multivariate analysis suggests that up-regulation of ADAM 10 and C-erbB-2 were independent prognostic indicators for the disease, along with depth of invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis and TNM stage. CONCLUSION: Expression of ADAM 10 in gastric cancer is significantly associated with lymph node and distant metastasis, high C-erbB-2 expression, and poor prognosis. ADAM 10 and C-erbB-2 proteins could be useful markers to predict tumor progression and prognosis.

Association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a member of the runt-domain family of transcription factors and has been reported to be a candidate tumor suppressor in gastric cancer. However, the association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer remains unclear. METHODS: We systematically reviewed studies of RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer published in English or Chinese from January 2000 to January 2011, and quantified the association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer using meta-analysis methods. RESULTS: A total of 1740 samples in 974 participants from seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant association was observed between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer, with an aggregated odds ratio (OR) of 5.63 (95%CI 3.15, 10.07). There was obvious heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses (including by tissue origin, country and age), meta-regression were performed to determine the source of the heterogeneity. Meta-regression showed that the trend in ORs was inversely correlated with age. No publication bias was detected. The ORs for RUNX3 methylation in well-differentiated vs undifferentiated gastric cancers, and in intestinal-type vs diffuse-type carcinomas were 0.59 (95%CI: 0.30, 1.16) and 2.62 (95%CI: 1.33, 5.14), respectively. There were no significant differences in RUNX3 methylation in cancer tissues in relation to age, gender, TNM stage, invasion of tumors into blood vessel or lymphatic ducts, or tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis identified a strong association between methylation of the RUNX3 promoter and gastric cancer, confirming the role of RUNX3 as a tumor suppressor gene.

[Clinical application of pocks embedding in duodenal stump closure after radical gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of pockets embedding in duodenal stump closure after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 2034 patients undergoing gastrectomy from January 1995 to December 2009 at our hospital were reviewed. Among them, Group A (n = 465) underwent pockets embedding for duodenal stump, Group B (n = 835) line-cutting stapler and hand-sewing while Group C (n = 734) double layer hand-sewing. The operation cost, processing time of duodenal stump, recent post-operative complications (within 1 month), blood loss volume and post-operative recovery status were compared between 3 groups. RESULTS: No patient died of operation. Ninety-five cases (4.7%) suffered recent post-operative complications. The most frequent complications included wound infection (36 cases, 37.9%), intra-abdominal hemorrhage (18 cases, 18.9%) and anastomotic leakage (14 cases, 14.7%). There was no significant difference in intra-abdominal bleeding, anastomotic leakage, abdominal infection, wound infection or duodenal stump leakage among 3 groups. There was no duodenal stump leakage in Group A. The difference was apparent in comparisons with Groups B (6 cases, 0.72%) and C (5 cases, 0.68%). The operation costs of Groups A [(9902 ± 312) RMB] and C [(9896 ± 281) RMB] were significantly lower than that of Group B [(13 129 ± 237) RMB, P = 0.0001]. And there was no difference between Groups A and C. The processing time of duodenal stump in Groups A [(7.1 ± 0.9) min] and B [(7.6 ± 0.8) min] were lower than that of Group C [ (11.5 ± 1.4) min, P = 0.0001]. And there was no difference between Groups A and B. There was no significant difference in blood loss volume or post-operative recovery status among 3 groups. CONCLUSION: The post-gastrotomic closure of duodenal stump with pockets embedding for gastric cancer has a short operation time, a low operation cost and a low rate of duodenal stump leakage. It is a simple, prompt, promising and safe surgical procedure for gastric neoplasms.

High-level expression of S100A4 correlates with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the clinical significance of S100 calcium binding protein A4 in the development, progression, and metastasis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Tumor tissue, adjacent normal tissue, and lymph node and peritoneal metastases were obtained from patients with gastric cancer, and their gene expression profiles were analyzed by Affymetrix GeneChip HG-U133A2.0 array. The expression of S100A4 was detected by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in gastric tumor tissue and lymph node and peritoneum metastasis. Immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze S100A4 expression in 436 clinicopathologically characterized gastric cancer cases and in corresponding distant metastases from 61 patients. RESULTS: A total of 434 genes and 169 expressed sequence tags were upregulated by at least twofold in the tumor tissue. The expression of S100A4 in lymph node and peritoneal metastases was significantly higher than that in gastric tumor tissue. The expression of S100A4 messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein differed significantly among gastric tumor tissue, matched normal gastric mucosa, and lymph node and peritoneal metastases. Further multivariate analysis suggested that depth of invasion, lymph node and distant metastases, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and upregulation of S100A4 were independent prognostic indicators for the disease. CONCLUSION: Gene expression profiles are a useful way to perform simultaneously large-scale analysis of the expression level of thousands of genes. Expression of S100A4 in gastric cancer is associated significantly with lymph node and distant metastases, and poor prognosis. S100A4 may be a useful marker to predict development, progression, and metastasis of gastric cancer.

[Clinical significance of nerve, lymph node and soft tissue dissection in retroperitoneum in radical resection of ductal adenocarcinoma in pancreatic head].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of radical pancreatoduodenectomy plus retroperitoneal nerve, lymph node and soft tissue dissection in carcinoma of pancreatic head. METHODS: Forty-six patients with carcinoma of pancreatic head were treated at our hospital from 1995 to 2005. They were divided into two groups: radical pancreatoduodenectomy plus retroperitoneal nerve, lymph node and soft tissue dissection (Group A, n = 25) and routine Whipple's operation (Group B, n = 21). Two groups had no significant difference in age, gender and pre-operative risk factors. And the peri-operative conditions, pathological data and survival rates were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no difference in tumor size, intra-operative findings, post-operative complications and length of hospitalization. But the number and positive rate of resected lymph node in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05). The survival rates of 1, 3-year in Group A were 80% and 52.9% respectively. And they were higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the survival rates between patients with nerve infiltration and those without in Group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The radical pancreatoduodenectomy plus retroperitoneal nerve, lymph node and soft tissue dissection can effectively remove the lymph node and nerve tissues with tumor infiltration and reduce the local recurrent rate so as to improve the long-term survival rate.

[Value of reoperation in the treatment of recurrent gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of reoperation in the treatment of recurrent gastric cancer. METHODS: Clinical and survival data of 85 patients undergoing reoperation for recurrent gastric cancer from January 1986 to December 2003 were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 85 cases, there were 46 cases with recurrence within the stump stomach and 58 cases recurred within 2 years post-operation. Resection was performed in 45 patients including 34 cases treated by radical resection and 11 cases by palliative residual stomach resection. The 1, 3, 5-year survival rate of 34 cases after radical resection was 86%, 57% and 21% respectively. The mean survival time of palliative and comprehensive treatment cases was 16 months (range: 6 - 26) while all patients undergoing reoperation without resection died within 6 months post-operation. CONCLUSION: An early diagnosis of recurrent gastric cancer depends on frequent re-examinations. Most postoperative recurrent gastric cancers, within the residual stomach, may be treated by re-operation.

[Different procedures of alimentary tract reconstruction after subtotal distal gastrectomy in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To explore an ideal procedure of alimentary tract reconstructions after subtotal distal gastrectomy. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy adult beagle dogs were randomly divided into experimental groups A, B, C and control group (n=8). Groups A, B, C operated by subtotal distal gastrectomy underwent 3 different reconstruction methods: continual jejunal interposition (CJI), Billroth II and Roux-en-Y. The control group received a sham operation. Dogs were observed for 12 weeks post-operation. The different parameters of body weight, food intake, PNI (prognostic nutritional index) and peripheral blood concentration of ghrelin were measured in 4 groups. RESULTS: The body weight, food intake and PNI in Groups A, B, C decreased significantly at post-operation versus pre-operation. There was a slow elevation of body weight, food intake and PNI at Week 12. Group A was significantly better than Groups B and C (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference between Groups B and C. The plasma ghrelin concentrations in Groups A, B, C were significantly reduced at Day 1 post-operation versus pre-operation. But no difference was observed among Groups A, B and C. However an elevated ghrelin concentration was observed at Week 1 post-operation. At Week 12 post-operation, the plasma ghrelin concentration in Group A increased significantly versus Groups B and C (both P<0.05). However, the plasma ghrelin concentration, food intake and PNI were not significantly changed in control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The CJI reconstruction procedure is ideally suited for the preservation of duodenal passage after subtotal distal gastrectomy. Subsequently it leads to a significant elevation of circulating ghrelin concentration and a rapid post-operative recovery of food intake, body weight and PNI.

Screening and identification of novel B cell epitopes in human heparanase and their anti-invasion property for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to screen and identify novel B cell epitopes within the human heparanase protein and to investigate the impact of self-developed anti-heparanase polypeptide antibodies on growth and invasion of HCCLM6 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. METHODS: The flexible regions of secondary structure and the B cell epitopes of the human heparanase amino acid sequence were predicted by DNAStar and Bcepred software.The multiple antigenic peptides (MAP) of the epitopes were synthesized in eight-branched form. Rabbits were immunized with the eight-branched MAPs mixed with the universal T-helper epitope human IL-1beta peptide (VQGEESNDK, amino acid 163-171). The immunogenicity of the synthesized peptides was evaluated by ELISA, western blot and immunohistochemistry. The impact of the self-developed rabbit anti-heparanase polyclonal antibodies on growth and invasion ability of HCCMLM6 cells were analyzed in a cell culture model. The cells were first treated with one of the three antibodies, respectively, and then measured by using MTT, flow cytometry, plate clone formation, invasion assay and heparan sulfate degrading enzyme assay. RESULTS: The three amino acid sequences 1-15 (MAP1), 279-293 (MAP2), and 175-189 (MAP3) in the large subunit of the human heparanase protein were predicted as its most potential epitopes. ELISA, western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that all three MAPs were capable to induce high titer of serum antibodies. Antibodies induced by MAP1 and MAP2 were high specific. Furthermore, anti-MAP2 antibodies showed the strongest avidity towards liver cancer tissues. Under the treatment with the three anti-heparanase antibodies, respectively, the growth, cell cycle and clone formation of the cells remained unchanged when compared with a treatment with normal rabbit IgG. However, an inhibition of cell invasiveness and heparanase activity could be detected under the treatment with anti-MAP1- or anti-MAP2-antibody (with a terminal concentration of 100 mug/ml). The cell invasiveness was decreased by 54 and 38%, respectively, the heparanase activity by 43 and 39%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The multiple antigenic peptides MAP1 (AC 1-15) and MAP2 (AC 279-293) may be the dominant B cell epitopes in the human heparanase protein. The induced polypeptide antibodies can effectively inhibit the heparanase activity of HCCLM6 liver cancer cells and therefore influence their invasion ability, which provides a theoretic basis for the development of anti-heparanase antibodies and their clinical use as vaccine.

[Effects of anti-heparanase antibody on the growth and invasion of HCCLM6 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the self-developed anti-heparanase polypeptide antibodies on growth and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM6 cells. METHODS: Using MTT, flow cytometry, plate clone formation, transwell invasion and heparan degrading enzyme assay, the growth and invasion changes of human hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM6 cells by co-culture with each of three self-developed rabbit anti-heparanase polyclonal antibodies were detected. RESULTS: Compared with normal rabbit IgG, in the presence of each anti-heparanase polypeptide antibody, the growth, cell cycle and clone formation remained unchanged, and under the P1 or P2 anti-heparanase polypeptide antibody (with final concentration 100 microg/ml), the cell invasiveness was inhibited by 52.5% and 36.6%, respectively, and the heparanase activity was inhibited by 42.9% and 39.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The P1 and P2 anti-heparanase polypeptide antibodies can effectively inhibit the invasion ability and heparanase activity of liver cancer HCCLM6 cells. However, All the three antibodies have no effects on its growth, cell cycle and clone formation.

[Surgical treatment for primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a report of 73 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and prognosis of surgical treatment in primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 73 patients with primary GIST underwent operation from April 1997 to December 2007 was retrospectively analyzed, and the prognosis was evaluated too. RESULTS: Among the 73 cases, 68 cases received complete tumor resection, among which 12 cases underwent laparoscopic operation; while palliative resection and biopsy only were carried out in the other 5 cases. There was significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (P = 0.000). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of the 66 cases had been followed up was 91.0%, 78.2% and 74.1%, respectively. The malignancy risk grades of GIST was related to the survival rates on statistical analysis (P = 0.002). Significant differences were found in the survival rates between the patients with very low grade, low grade and high grade malignancy tumors (P = 0.012, 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Complete tumor resection should be emphasized in primary GIST, and more attention should be paid to the initial surgical treatment. Extended surgical resection is required for tumors of higher malignancy risk. The indications of laparoscopic surgery in GIST should be selected with caution for tumor complete resection.

Association of MIF-173 gene polymorphism with inflammatory bowel disease in Chinese Han population.

AIM: To study whether macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-173 gene polymorphism correlates with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Chinese Han population. METHODS: MIF-173 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was genotyped by tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP)-PCR in 142 healthy subjects and 98 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). RESULTS: There were no discrepancies between the results obtained by tetra-primer ARMS and RFLP-PCR. The frequency of MIF-173 CC genotype was significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) 15.5% than in healthy individuals 5.6% (chi(2)=6.066, P=0.018, OR=3.067 and 95% CI=1.257-7.482). There was a trend towards a higher frequency of CC genotype among CD patients compared with healthy controls, however this did not attain the statistical significance (P=0.245). CONCLUSION: MIF-173 CC genotype may be associated with susceptibility to UC.

KAI1 gene suppresses invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97-H cells in vitro and in animal models.

BACKGROUND: Downregulation of KAI1 gene expression has been found in many types of cancer cells and is closely related to cancer invasion and metastasis. This study was aimed at investigating the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of KAI1 gene on invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The invasive ability, visco-elastic properties and cell adhesion forces were analysed in different HCC cells originating from the MHCC97-H cell line transfected with either the sense or the antisense KAI1 expression plasmid. Tumuorigenicity, metastatic abilities, extracellular matrix (ECM) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression were also evaluated in the nude mouse models of the xenografted and orthotopic liver cancer cells. RESULTS: Compared with their parental cells, in the HCC cells transfected with the sense KAI1 gene, the invasive ability in vitro was significantly decreased (P<0.01); the cellular elastic coefficients K(1), K(2) and mu were significantly higher (P<0.05); the cells adhesion forces to fibronectin were significantly lower (P<0.01). The sense KAI1 gene transfection into the cancer cells also inhibited their invasion and lung metastasis in the orthotopic liver cancer nude mice. However, the opposite changes were observed in the HCC cells transfected with the antisense KAI1 gene. KAI1 gene transfection also affected ECM and ICAM-1 expression in the transplanted liver cancer. CONCLUSION: The KAI1 gene plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of human HCC and its upregulation in HCC cells suppresses their invasive and metastatic abilities. KAI1 gene functioned as a metastasis inhibitor by regulating the HCC cell biophysical behaviours including aggregation, adhesion, motility and visco-elastic properties.