Detection of breast cancer biomarkers in nipple aspirate fluid by SELDI-TOF and their identification by combined liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Screening mammography is the most effective tool available for breast cancer detection. While screening mammography saves lives, it has intrinsic problems that limit further improvement. We hypothesize that protein biomarkers in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) may separate the cancer from the non-cancer state, and therefore can be used for breast cancer detection. In this study the proteins in NAF were analyzed by surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF) in the m/z 5,000-85,000 range. Two methods were used to normalize spectra. Then differentially expressed signals that separate cancer from non-cancer conditions were selected by two specifically developed statistical algorithms. Proteins of interest were identified by combined liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A set of 8 markers were identified which collectively gave 63% sensitivity, 89% specificity and 76% accuracy for distinguishing cancer from non-cancer. Further improvements in the specificity and sensitivity of this strategy could come from the development of methods for more precise quantification of the biomarkers of interest and also from focusing on the low abundant components that are not evident when unfractionated NAF is analyzed directly.

Inhibition of lung tumor growth and augmentation of radiosensitivity by decreasing peroxiredoxin I expression.

PURPOSE: In this study, we examined the role of peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) in lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo and its influence on these tumor cells' sensitivity to radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We established stable transfectants of A549 (p53+) and H1299 (p53-) lung carcinoma cell lines with Prx I antisense to downregulate their Prx I protein. We then examined their in vitro biologic changes and used nude mice xenografts of these cell lines to compare tumor invasion, spontaneous metastatic capacity, and sensitivity to radiotherapy. RESULTS: The Prx I antisense transfectants of both cell lines showed a significant reduction in Prx I protein production. Prx I antisense transfectants grew more slowly than did the wild type. As xenografts in mice, A549 Prx I antisense transfectants showed a threefold delay in the generation of palpable tumors. The incidence of spontaneous metastasis of Prx I antisense transfectants was significantly less than that of the wild-type cells. Furthermore, irradiation of Prx I antisense transfectants caused more than twice the growth delay compared with the wild type. CONCLUSION: The results of these studies suggest that inactivation of Prx I may be a promising approach to improve the treatment outcome of patients with lung cancer.

p53 status is a major determinant of effects of decreasing peroxiredoxin I expression on tumor growth and response of lung cancer cells to treatment.

PURPOSE: The potential roles of peroxiredoxin (Prx) I in carcinogenesis and treatment have been explored. Our previous study revealed differences between A549 (functional p53) and H1299 (null p53) Prx I antisense transfectants. The discrepancy might have resulted from the p53 status. In this study, we further investigated the role of Prx I and p53 on lung cancer growth and the response to treatment in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We established stable A549 and H1299 transfectants with Prx I antisense and p53, respectively. We then examined their characteristics in vitro and used nude mice xenografts of these cell lines to compare their capacity for tumor invasion and spontaneous metastasis and their sensitivity to radiotherapy. RESULTS: Increased reactive oxygen species caused by lower Prx I activity induced p53 expression. In lethal stress, the augmentation of reactive oxygen species was partially reversed by blocking p53 in A549 with Prx I antisense. We demonstrated the potential contribution of p53-dependent mechanisms to inhibit lung tumor growth and increase radiosensitization using H1299 transfected with p53 in vitro and in vivo. An increased p53 level attenuated the capacity of the cells for metastasis by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor and induced radiosensitization by increased apoptosis and cell senescence and by regulating intracellular reactive oxygen species. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 status has an important role in the tumor-inhibiting and radiosensitizing effects of decreasing Prx I. Both Prx I and p53 may be powerful prognosticators for lung cancer.

Prediction of poor survival by cyclooxygenase-2 in patients with T4 nasopharyngeal cancer treated by radiation therapy: clinical and in vitro studies.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the status of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in Taiwanese patients and its relationship to survival after radiotherapy (RT). In addition, the effect of NS-398, a potent selective COX-2 inhibitor, was tested in vitro alone and in combination with radiation on NPC-BM1 human NPC cells as a prelude to using this drug along with RT in the treatment of patients with NPC. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with T4N0-3M0 NPC were enrolled into this study. COX-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. Patient survival was the clinical end point. The effects of COX-2 expression on cell survival and radioresistance was tested in vitro using the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 in conjunction with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazonium bromide (MTT) and clonogenic assays. RESULTS: COX-2 immunoreactivity was detected in 62% of NPC tumors, and expression levels were high in 43%. Survival analysis showed the 5-year overall survival rates for patients who had high COX-2 expression was 27% compared with 60% for those with low/absent expression (p = .047). Pattern of failure analysis showed no significant difference between high and low COX-2 expression in locoregional failure (27% vs 25%, p = .91). However, patients with N0 to N1 disease and high COX-2 expression had a significantly higher incidence of distant metastasis compared with patients with stage N0 to N1 disease and low COX-2 expression (83% vs 15%, p = .004). This difference was not observed in patients with N2 to N3 disease. This difference contributed to worse survival of patients whose tumors had high COX-2 expression levels. The selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 was directly cytotoxic to NPC-BM1 cells in vitro, as judged in an MTT assay (viable cells decreased from 92% to 76%, 52%, and 22%, with increases of NS-398 from 20 to 40, 60, and 80 microM, respectively). Radiation-induced cell death was also increased by treatment with NS-398. At a 10% survival level, 40 microM NS-398 increased radiation cytotoxicity by a factor of 1.37, whereas 60 microM increased it by a factor of 4.9. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 overexpression is a predictor for poor survival for advanced stage NPC. In vitro, NS-398 radiosensitizes the NPC-BM1 cell line, providing a basis for testing the combination of COX-2 inhibitors with radiation in the treatment of patients with NPC.

Proteomic profiling of cancer biomarkers.

Early detection and correct diagnosis are essential for effective treatment of cancer and patient survival. Complete sequencing of the human genome, and the genomes of other species, provides valuable tools for discerning the genetic abnormalities in cancer. However, differences between cancerous and normal cells reflect more than variations in genetic sequences and abundance of transcribed RNA. Many cancer biomarkers are manifestation of differences in post-transcriptional splicing and/or post-translational modifications. Thus, proteomic tools are being increasingly utilised in the post-genomic era for discovery of new cancer biomarkers. In this paper we will provide an overview of the biomarker discovery process from the proteomic profiling point of view, with emphasis given to the principles that are involved in the process, including the protein identification strategies, and how surface enhanced laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry fits into the picture. The aim is to provide a resource for the experimental practitioner seeking awareness of the analytical tools that are now available in contemporary cancer research.

Expression of the p75 TNF receptor is linked to TNF-induced NFkappaB translocation and oxyradical neutralization in glial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-family cytokines induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that injure vulnerable populations of brain cells. Among glia, oligodendrocytes are particularly susceptible to TNF-induced ROS whereas microglia are protected. We previously found that oligodendrocytes in vitro predominantly express the p55 type-1 TNF receptor, while microglial cells express both type-1 and p75 type-2 receptors. We hypothesized that differential TNF receptor expression and attendant signaling underlies the relative vulnerability of oligodendrocytes, versus microglia, to TNF-induced injury. To test this hypothesis, purified cultures of glial cells were incubated 0-48 hr with TNFalpha or lymphotoxin-alpha, following which levels of ROS, glutathione (GSH), nuclear factor kappa-B (NFkappaB) translocation, and anti-oxidant proteins and activity were measured. 48 hr exposure to TNF increased ROS levels 28% and decreased GSH levels 17% in oligodendrocytes, but decreased levels ROS levels 24% and increased GSH levels 112% increase in microglia. Thirty to 180 min exposure to TNF increased NFkappaB nuclear translocation to a greater extent and for a longer time in microglia versus oligodendrocytes, and this was followed 24-48 hr later with 3- to 13-fold increases in microglia manganese superoxide dismutase protein levels and 6-fold increases in enzyme activity. Collectively, these data suggest that signals transduced through the p75 receptor activate anti-oxidant mechanisms that protect microglia from TNF-induced injury. Lacking such signals, oligodendrocytes are considerably more vulnerable to the injurious effects of TNF.

HIV-1 antiviral activity of recombinant natural killer cell enhancing factors, NKEF-A and NKEF-B, members of the peroxiredoxin family.

CD8(+) T-cells are a major source for the production of non-cytolytic factors that inhibit HIV-1 replication. In order to characterize further these factors, we analyzed gene expression profiles of activated CD8(+) T-cells using a human cDNA expression array containing 588 human cDNAs. mRNA for the chemokine I-309 (CCL1), the cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-13, and natural killer cell enhancing factors (NKEF) -A and -B were up-regulated in bulk CD8(+) T-cells from HIV-1 seropositive individuals compared with seronegative individuals. Recombinant NKEF-A and NKEF-B inhibited HIV-1 replication when exogenously added to acutely infected T-cells at an ID(50) (dose inhibiting HIV-1 replication by 50%) of approximately 130 nm (3 microg/ml). Additionally, inhibition against dual-tropic simian immunodeficiency virus and dual-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency virus was found. T-cells transfected with NKEF-A or NKEF-B cDNA were able to inhibit 80-98% HIV-1 replication in vitro. Elevated plasma levels of both NKEF-A and NKEF-B proteins were detected in 23% of HIV-infected non-treated individuals but not in persons treated with highly active antiviral therapy or uninfected persons. These results indicate that the peroxiredoxin family members NKEF-A and NKEF-B are up-regulated in activated CD8(+) T-cells in HIV infection, and suggest that these antioxidant proteins contribute to the antiviral activity of CD8(+) T-cells.

Induction of radioprotective peroxiredoxin-I by ionizing irradiation.

Results of this study indicate a radioprotective effect of peroxiredoxin-I. Peroxiredoxin-I is an antioxidant that scavenges hydroperoxides, whereas reactive oxygen species are the main mediators of ionizing radiation toxicity. We hypothesized that peroxiredoxin-I might be induced by cellular exposure to radiation and act to protect them against its cytotoxic effects. Western blot and Northern blot analyses were used to assess peroxiredoxin-I protein and mRNA expression. Rat C6 glioma cells were engineered to overexpress sense or antisense human peroxiredoxin-I using retroviral vectors. Clonogenic cell survival was used to assess radiosensitivities of the engineered cells. Ionizing radiation induced peroxiredoxin-I protein and mRNA expression in human HT29 colon cancer and rat C6 glioma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner over a 24 hr period. To determine the effect of peroxiredoxin-I on radiation responses, C6 glioma cells were engineered to overexpress sense or antisense human peroxiredoxin-I. In clonogenic assays, cells overexpressing peroxiredoxin-I were more radioresistant. Cells transduced with antisense peroxiredoxin-I were marginally more sensitive to radiation toxicity. Irradiation can induce peroxiredoxin-I expression, and the increased peroxiredoxin-I may protect cells from further radiation damage. These results suggest that protection by peroxiredoxin-I may play an important role in the survival of glioma and colon cancer cells in patients undergoing radiation therapy.