Overexpression of osteopontin in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationships with metastasis, invasion of tumor cells.

Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important role in metastasis and relapse of human cancer. However, the whole story of OPN relating to cancer has been far from clear untill now. To investigate the expression of OPN in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationships with recurrence and metastasis of HCC, normal and malignant liver tissues from patients with HCC were analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. OPN expression was inhibited by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in HCC cells lines, and then colony formation and matrigel invasion were examined. The results showed that expression of OPN was associated with metastasis of HCC with a positive rate of OPN in the tissue of HCC (70.00%), which was highly more obvious than those in paracarcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue (P < 0.01). In HCC cell lines, OPN depletion could reduce formed colony and metastasizing numbers in vitro. In conclusion, Expression of OPN in the tissue of HCC is related to metastasis or metastases. Specific siRNA could decrease expressions of OPN at both mRNA and protein levels, and abates the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, suggesting that OPN might be a promising agent for treatment of metastasis and recurrence of HCC.

[Interference of osteopontin expression inhibits the invasion and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of osteopontin (OPN) on the invasion and metastasis of human hapatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: HCC cell lines (HCC-LM3) were transfected with the chemically synthesized small interfering RNA (siRNA). Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to quantify the mRNA and OPN protein levels. The malignant phenotypes including cellular growth, colony formation and invasion capability of the HCC cells were analyzed. RESULTS: The OPN mRNA and proteins levels were decreased by 75% and 80% in OPN siRNA treated cells. Colony formation and migratory capability were reduced in OPN siRNA treated cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The specific siRNA is able to reduce the OPN expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and significantly inhibits the invasiveness of HCC cells.

Amylose: Acetylation, Optimization, and Characterization.

Amylose, as a polymeric carbohydrate, is a very attractive raw material owing to its performances. However, the acetylation of amylose separated from high amylose corn starch (HACS) will be beneficial to further improve its functional characteristics so that acetylated amylose (AA) is able to be well applied for some special situations. In this work, we chiefly discuss the optimization of acetylation conditions by a response surface methodology, property, and characterization of AA. The experimental results indicated that the acetylation of amylose was affected by some factors, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, amount of acetic anhydride, and pH. The blue value of amylose was changed by acetylation. Maltese crosses on the separated amylose particles disappeared owing to the separation. The crystalline structure of HACS was C-type, whereas the structure of AA was the immediate between B- and V-type. The acetylation lowered the onset temperature, peak temperature, and end temperature of amylose, but raised its melting enthalpy. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Although inherent functional diversity of starch extracted from different biological sources adds to the range of applications, acetylated amylose, as an additive, will be better control the consistency and texture of some foods, enhance the strength of edible films, and improve the slow-release of drugs. It will also provide options for extending the scope of desired functional characteristics.

Effect of thalidomide on the proliferation of hepatoma cells assessed by osteopontin levels in nude mice.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of thalidomide in the hepatocellular carcinoma nude mouse model in order to provide new insights into a comprehensive clinical intervention for hepatocellular carcinoma. MHCC97 cells were routinely cultured, passaged and adjusted to a single cell suspension with a concentration of 2×107/ml. Six-week-old, BALB/C male nude mice were anesthetized and fixed in the prone position, then a subcapsular injection of the single cell suspension was administered into the spleen and their abdomens were closed. A laparotomy and left hepatic lobectomy was performed 14 days later and the abdomens were closed once again. Subsequent to the establishment of the hepatocellular carcinoma model, the nude mice were randomly divided into three groups, each consisting of 12 mice. The early intervention group were immediately provided with the post-operative thalidomide intervention, the late intervention group were provided with the post-operative thalidomide intervention one week subsequent to the surgery, and the negative control group were provided with a placebo intervention (0.9% physiological saline). Each intervention was continuously administered once per day for one week. The osteopontin (OPN) content of the liver tumors was detected using immunohistochemistry. The data were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. There were significant differences in the OPN levels of the tumors among the early intervention, late intervention and negative control groups. Thalidomide may inhibit the generation of OPN and thereby inhibit the infiltration and metastasis of tumors; the immediate use of thalidomide following hepatectomy in the present study may block the invasion and metasis for liver cancer more effectively.

Clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

This study investigated the clinical pathologic character of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (MGIST), their treatment with surgery, and evaluated the efficacy of imatinib postoperation. A total of 68 MGIST patients were enrolled. Of these, 27 patients underwent imatinib auxiliary therapy (treatment group) and 41 underwent imatinib therapy (control group). The therapeutic effects on the two groups were compared using χ(2) test analysis after follow-up of two years. The expressions of CD117, CD34, S100, Vimentin, and alpha smooth-muscle actin (SMA) were detected by immunohistochemistry methods. Of the 68 cases, 28 showed potential MGIST, whereas 40 had MGIST. Haemorrhagia or necrosis, abundant cell, manifest heteromorphism, and caryocinesia were observed in varying degrees. The positive rates of CD117, CD34, Vimentin, S100, and SMA were 89.7% (61/62), 88.2% (60/62), 73.5% (50/62), 41.1% (28/62) and 25.0% (17/62), respectively. The recurrence rate in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.01). We concluded that CD117 and CD34 may be the most valuable markers in the diagnosis of MGIST, and the diagnosis of MGIST depends on the pathology. Surgery is a far better approach in the treatment of such patients, and imatinib is the more efficient target drug in preventing recurrence and metastasis.