CD40 Expression in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Is Associated with Tumor Progression and Lymph Node Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The co-stimulatory molecule cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40) is widely expressed in various types of malignant tumors, but its role remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between CD40 expression and clinicopathological variables in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as well as the function of CD40 expressed on ESCC tumor cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor specimens of patients who underwent surgical resection for ESCC were immunohistochemically analyzed for CD40 expression. RESULTS: Of the 122 specimens, 45 (37%) were positive for CD40. Significant positive correlation was found between CD40 expression and p-stage (p=0.0011), histopathological grade (p=0.0143), pT-classification (p=0.0011), and pN-classification (p=0.0007). Survival of patients with stage III and IV disease with positive CD40 expression was significantly shorter than that of those with negative expression (log-rank test, p=0.0422). In in vitro analysis, while the addition of recombinant human CD154 did not inhibit growth, it did induce a significant increase in interleukin 6 production in ESCC cell lines. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that functional expression of CD40 on tumor cells might play an important role in tumor progression and lymph node metastasis in ESCC.

Development and validation of a checklist for assessing recorded performance of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: Despite a need for video assessment for the performance transabdominal preperitoneal procedure (TAPP), the present assessment tools have not been validated for the use of evaluation of the recorded performance. We aimed to develop a checklist for the evaluation of the recorded performance of TAPP. METHODS: The TAPP checklist was developed by hernia experts from multiple institutes. Thirty unedited TAPP videos were rated by 3-blinded hernia experts. Inter-rater reliability and construct and concurrent validities were evaluated. RESULTS: The inter-rater reliability for 3 raters was .75 (95% confidence interval .60 to .86). The median total score of each group demonstrated a significant difference among experienced (>50 TAPP), intermediate (≥10 TAPP, <50), and novice (<10 TAPP) surgeons (P < .001). The checklist score showed a high correlation with TAPP experience and previously validated global scale for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. CONCLUSIONS: The TAPP checklist is a valid metrics for the assessment of the recorded TAPP performance.

Method for the validation of immunohistochemical staining using SCID mouse xenografts: expression of CD40 and CD154 in human non-small cell lung cancer.

This report proposes a concept for the standardization of immunohistochemical evaluation. Immunohistochemical staining has several problems associated with the sensitivity of the technical process and standardization of the assessment of potent staining. We provided data focusing on this concept through immunostaining for CD154 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We used two types of anti-CD154 antibody as primary antibodies in immunohistochemical staining, as previously reported. Western blot analysis confirmed strong CD154 expression in the cultured cell line PC10, but not in LK2. We also assessed CD154 expression in SCID mouse xenografts of these cell lines. SCID xenograft data on western blot analysis were consistent with those of cultured cell lines. These xenografts could thus be used as positive or negative tissue controls for CD154 immunostaining. Primary antibodies should therefore be confirmed as recognizing target lesions, while control tissue specimens should be objectively confirmed as having target products using another experimental method. Our method would allow results to be unified at more than one laboratory and could act as an objective control assessment method in immunohistochemistry.

The CD40-CD154 interaction would correlate with proliferation and immune escape in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: CD40 and CD154 are associated with lymphocyte signaling pathways and they are also expressed in some malignant neoplasms, but the significance in pancreatic cancer is unknown. METHODS: Eighty pancreatic cancer specimens were stained immunohistochemically, and the results were correlated with the patients' clinicopathologic features. Subsequently, in vitro analysis of CD40-CD154 signaling was performed. RESULT: Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor cells showed that 29 patients (36.3%) were positive for CD40, and 17 patients (21.3%) had very high CD154 expression. The survival of patients who had very high CD154 expression was significantly better than that of others (P = 0.0198). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that very high CD154 expression in cancer cells was not an independent, favorable prognostic factor (risk ratio, 0.493; P = 0.0224). On in vitro proliferation assay, the growth of PK-45P and KP-4 cells was blocked by CD40 and CD154 blocking antibodies. Moreover, on in vitro cytokine assay, Th-2 cytokines from PK-45P and SUIT-2 were blocked by CD40 or CD154 blocking antibody. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the CD40-CD154 interaction would correlate with cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines in PDAC cells, and CD154 overexpression could be a favorable prognostic factor in PDAC patients.

Adenovirus-mediated eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein-1 in combination with rapamycin inhibits tumor growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in vivo.

Over-expression of eIF4E indicates a poor prognosis in different tumors. In the present study, we investigated the frequency of eIF4E, 4E-BP1 and phosphorylated 4E-BP1 expression in PDAC cell lines, gastric carcinoma (GC) cell lines and human embryonic pancreatic cells, as well as gene therapy using translation repressor gene 4E-BP1 in combination with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. We also assessed the significance of eIF4E expression in 80 PDAC cases. Combination therapy of adenovirus vector-delivered 4E-BP1 gene and rapamycin was administered to determine their growth inhibition effect in vitro and in vivo in mice. Our study revealed that all PDAC cell lines, GC cell lines and human embryonic pancreas-derived cells expressed the 25-kDa eIF4E protein (MIAPaca-2 cells also expressed the 13-kDa protein 4E-BP1). The 80 PDAC specimens showed a heterogeneous pattern of eIF4E staining. No significant correlation between eIF4E expression and TNM classification was found. Adenovirus vectors Ad-4E-BP1 and Ad-GFP efficiently showed transgenic expression with hyperphosphorylation of 4E-BP1; however, insignificant growth inhibition of the PDAC and GC cell lines was observed. Combination therapy with rapamycin significantly inhibited proliferation and tumor growth in vitro as well as in vivo. Therefore, combination of Ad 4E-BP1 and rapamycin may be a more effective adjuvant therapy.

A case of lung cancer with hypercalcemia which was incidentally complicated with primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid adenoma.

In lung cancer patients, hypercalcemia is a fairly common metabolic problem associated with malignancy. However, the occurrence of hypercalcemia in lung cancer patients means an ominous prognostic sign. As hypercalcemia often causes early death, quick diagnosis and treatment for hypercalcemia are required. A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with anorexia caused by hypercalcemia. On admission, serum level of PTH was elevated and PTHrP was normal. From the results of CT findings and transbronchial lung biopsy, the cause of the hypercalcemia was determined as lung cancer incidentally complicated with primary hyperparathyroidism. First, serum calcium level was returned to normal through hydration with saline and bisphosphonates. Next, left hemithyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism was performed. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as parathyroid adenoma. Fifteen days later, left lower lobectomy for primary lung cancer was performed under a video-assisted thoracoscopic approach. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Four years and three months after the operation, the patient is alive and well with no sign of recurrence. When a lung cancer patient is complicated with hypercalcemia, we need to consider that primary hyperparathyroidism is a possible cause of the hypercalcemia.