Design of a microfluidic chip consisting of micropillars and its use for the enrichment of nasopharyngeal cancer cells.

The aim of the present study was to discuss the design of a microfluidic chip consisting of columns, and its use for the enrichment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cells. A microfluidic chip experiment was simulated using FLUENT software. Within the microfluidic chip, aptamers were bound to the reaction chamber (consisting of columns) using a biotin-avidin system. Cell suspension was introduced into the reaction chamber to capture NPC cells. NPC cells were subsequently eluted, and the capture rate of the cells was calculated. The modified aptamer-bound microfluidic chip was able to capture NPC cells with a capture rate of ~90%. The modified aptamer-bound microfluidic chip has a wide range of potential applications for the diagnosis of NPC.

[Relationship between the expression of P-glycoprotein, glutathione S-transferase-pi and thymidylate synthase proteins and adenosine triphosphate tumor chemosensitivity assay in cervical cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of the adenosine triphosphate-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) in human cervical cancer chemosensitivity testing and to analyze the relationship between the three drug resistance-associated proteins: P-glycoprotein (P-gp); glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST-pi); thymidylate synthase (TS) and ATP-TCA. METHODS: ATP-TCA was used to detect the sensitivity of 35 specimens of fresh cervical cancer to six cytotoxic drugs as follows: paclitaxel (TAX), cisplatin (DDP), bleomycin (BLM), gemcitabine (GEM), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan (CPT-11). Consecutive sections from 35 cases of cervical cancer were assessed immunohistochemically for expression of P-gp, GST-pi and TS proteins. RESULTS: (1) Thirty-two of 35 assays were completed successfully, with an evaluability rate of ATP-TCA at 91% (32/35). There was a marked heterogeneity of chemosensitivity in cervical cancer. The ex vivo sensitive rate of TAX was 88% (28/32), of 5-FU 72% (23/32), of GEM 62% (20/32), of DDP 19% (6/32), of BLM 16% (5/32), and of CPT-11 12% (4/32). (2) The expression of GST-pi and TS protein in cervical cancer was 66% (21/32) and 44% (14/32), which was associated with the resistance to DDP and 5-FU ex vivo (P=0.011, P=0.022), respectively; but the expression of P-gp protein was not associated with any resistance to TAX, 5-FU, GEM, DDP, BLM or CPT-11 ex vivo (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ATP-TCA could be used to individualize chemotherapy by selecting agents for particular patients of cervical cancer. The expression of GST-pi and TS protein might be useful biomarkers to predict the resistance to DDP and 5-FU in patients with cervical cancer.

[Expression of KiSS-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, nuclear factor-kappaBp65 in ovarian tumour].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and correlation of KiSS-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaBp65 proteins in primary epithelial ovarian tumors. METHODS: Expression of KiSS-1, MMP-9, NF-kappaBp65 proteins in primary ovarian epithelial tumors (malignant n = 50, borderline tumor n = 20, benign adenoma n = 20, normal tissue n = 10) was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Expression of metastin protein in primary epithelial ovarian cancers was significantly higher than that in ovarian benign adenoma (P < 0.05) and normal tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of metastin protein in ovarian borderline tumors was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of metastin protein in ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, Metastin protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05), differentiation grade (P > 0.05) and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P > 0.05). MMP-9 protein was positive in 68% (34/50) of the epithelial ovarian cancers, significantly higher than that in normal tissues (20%, 2/10; P < 0.05). NF-kappaBp65 protein was positive in 72% (36/50) of the epithelial ovarian cancers, significantly higher than that in ovarian benign adenoma (30%, 6/20; P < 0.05) and normal tissues (10%, 1/10; P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 protein in epithelial ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with FIGO stage (P < 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, MMP-9 protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05) and differentiation grade (P > 0.05). The expression of NF-kappaBp65 protein in epithelial ovarian cancer was significantly correlated with FIGO stage (P < 0.05), differentiation grade (P < 0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, NF-kappaBp65 protein expression was not correlated with different histological classifications (P > 0.05). There was obviously negative correlation between KiSS-1 and MMP-9 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = -0.547, P < 0.05), as well as between KiSS-1 and NF-kappaBp65 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = -0.414, P < 0.05), while there was obviously positive correlation between MMP-9 and NF-kappaBp65 expression in ovarian cancer (rs = 0.695, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that KiSS-1 plays some role in suppression of the metastasis of ovarian epithelial cancers, which may be through inhibiting the expression of MMP-9 and NF-kappaBp65.