Prognostic value of cancer stem cell marker CD133 expression in esophageal carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

CD133 has been identified as a putative neoplastic stem cell marker in esophageal carcinoma. However, the prognostic value of CD133 overexpression in patients with esophageal carcinoma remains controversial. A meta-analysis of previous studies was performed, in order to assess the association of CD133 overexpression with the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal carcinoma patients. A total of 7 studies, including 538 patients, were subjected to the final analysis. Our results indicated that a positive CD133 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis [odds ratio (OR)=3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.93-4.95; P<0.00001], clinical stage (OR=4.26, 95% CI: 1.55-11.73; P=0.005) and histopathological grade (OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.16-4.94; P=0.02). There was no statistically significant association of CD133 with depth of invasion (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 0.42-8.43; P=0.41). Based on the results of this study, we concluded that CD133 is an efficient prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma. Higher CD133 expression is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and histopathological grade.

Lapatinib alters the malignant phenotype of osteosarcoma cells via downregulation of the activity of the HER2-PI3K/AKT-FASN axis in vitro.

Lapatinib, an inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) phosphorylation, has been reported to inhibit several types of tumors such as HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. However, the effect of lapatinib on the malignant phenotype of human osteosarcoma (OS) cells and the potential molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To elucidate the effect of lapatinib on OS, two OS cell lines, U2-OS and MG-63, were utilized in the present study. Various concentrations of lapatinib were used to treat OS cells for different time durations. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to evaluate cell apoptosis. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays were performed to examine the migratory and invasive abilities of the cells. To investigate the possible molecular mechanisms involved, the expression of p-HER2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), p-AKT, AKT and fatty acid synthase (FASN) protein was detected by western blotting. MTT assays showed that lapatinib inhibited the proliferation of U2-OS and MG-63 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the rate of colony formation of the lapatinib-treated cells was significantly lower when compared to those cells not treated with lapatinib in both cell lines. FCM assay revealed a significantly higher apoptotic rate in the lapatinib-treated OS cells. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays revealed that the migratory and invasive abilities of OS cells were significantly inhibited by lapatinib (P<0.05). Western blotting showed that lapatinib suppressed the activity of HER2-PI3K/AKT-FASN in U2-OS and MG-63 cells in vitro. These results suggest that lapatinib may alter the malignant phenotype of OS cells via downregulation of the activity of the HER2-PI3K/AKT-FASN signaling pathway in vitro. Thus, lapatinib may be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

Clinical study on the effects of the femoral attachment site of grafts and the tunnel angle on the function of knee joint after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the attachment site of grafts and the tunnel angle on the function of knee joint after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2006 to May 2009, 47 patients(32 males and 15 females, ranging in age from 19 to 51 years old, with an average of 35.3 years old) were treated with single-bundle reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament. Several indexes were measured at the latest follow-up as follow: attachment sites of graft on the femoral condyle were recorded, the femoral tunnel angles on coronal and sagittal planes were measured on postoperative X-ray films. According to the IKDC score, these patients were divided into two groups. In the first group, 38 patients were found the IKDC score more than 90 at the latest follow-up, and in the second group 9 patients were found IKDC score less than 90. By comparing the two groups, the relation of the indexes and postoperative function of knee was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IKDC which was more than 90 at the latest follow-up was found in 38 patients, whose femoral attachments site of ACL was positioned at (29.73 +/- 4.31)% (ranged from 16.21% to 53.82%) from the posterior end of Blumensaat's line. IKDC which was less than 90 was found in 9 patients, whose femoral attachments site of ACL was positioned at (46.61 +/- 3.43)% (ranged from 27.18% to 72.34%). There was significant difference between the two groups (P = -0.000 7). The IKDC more than 90 at the latest follow-up was found in 38 patients,whose femoral tunnel angle on coronal plane was (49.5 +/- 4.72) degrees (ranged from 33 degrees to 67 degrees) and on sagittal plane was (31.3 +/- 5.12) degrees (ranged from 11 degrees to 45 degrees) were significantly less than those whose IKDC less than 90 at the latest follow-up on coronal plane was (67.6 +/- 3.09) degrees (ranged from 41 degrees to 81 degrees) and on sagittal plane was (41.2 +/- 5.69) degrees (ranged from 23 degrees to 56 degrees) (P = 0.000 7, P = -0.000 8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is close relation between the attachment site of grafts and the tunnel angle with the function of knee, so in anterior cruciate ligament should be anatomic reconstructed with the anterior medial approach.</p>