碱性单细胞凝胶电泳预测肿瘤细胞内在放射敏感性研究

应用克隆形成法和碱性单细胞凝胶电泳技术检测辐射诱导的人红白血病细胞株K562、人结肠腺癌细胞株LS-T-117和鼠胶质瘤细胞株C6的初始DNA单链断裂数及单链断裂后的修复与细胞内在放射敏感性之间的关系。结果表明,3种细胞系的放射敏感性依次为K562>LS-T-117>C6;3种细胞系的DNA迁移距离都随着照射剂量的增加而增大,呈良好的剂量-效应关系。在相同剂量下,辐射诱导的DNA单链的初始断裂数目也依次为K562>LS-T-117>C6;3种细胞系经10Gy X射线照射并在PBS中培养不同时间后DNA迁移距离都有较大幅度的下降,但下降幅度依次为C6>LS-T-117>K562,在相同剂量下辐射诱导的DNA单链断裂后的修复能力也依次为C6>LS-T-117> K562。结果显示,辐射诱导的DNA单链断裂及修复与细胞内在放射敏感性有很好的相关性,可用于人体肿瘤细胞内在放射敏感性的预测。     

射线诱导的细胞凋亡过程中端粒酶表达及其活性

利用原位端粒酶-凋亡双染色法检测A549细胞和L02细胞hTERT和凋亡双表达，端粒序列扩增检测(TRAP)方法检测群体细胞端粒酶活性，研究γ射线照射人肿瘤细胞和正常细胞后端粒酶的表达变化与凋亡-发生的关系。结果表明，1—SGy照射后24—72h，A549细胞和L02细胞内hTERT表达增强，端粒酶和凋亡双染色阳性细胞随照射剂量的提高而增多；在凋亡发生的过程中，群体细胞端粒酶活性呈剂量依赖性增强，提示放射线诱导人肿瘤和正常细胞凋亡可能不是通过直接抑制端粒酶活性的机制；而辐射诱导端粒酶活性增高可能是细胞修复辐射损伤的机制之一。     

~(99)Tc~m-MDP、~(99)Tc~m(V)-DMSA和~(99)Tc4~m-Citrate显像对骨组织良恶性疾病鉴别诊断的对比研究

为评价99Tcm(V)二巯基丁二酸钠(DMSA)显像和99Tcm枸缘酸(Citrate)显像在骨转移癌和骨及骨关节炎症诊断中的意义,对骨转移癌患者和骨及骨关节炎症患者各18例分别进行99Tcm亚甲基二膦酸(MDP)、99Tcm(V)DMSA和99TcmCitrate全身显像,并比较了它们的显像结果。18例经病理学、CT或MRI证实有骨转移癌的患者,99TcmMDP显像共检出64个病灶,99Tcm(V)DMSA显像显示在与99TcmMDP显像相同部位同检出49个病灶,而99TcmCitrate显像仅检出1个病灶。18例经细菌学、CT或MRI证实的骨及骨关节炎症患者,99TcmMDP显像共检出22个病灶,99Tcm(V)DMSA显像显示在与99Tcm MDP显像相同部位同检出17个病灶,99TcmCitrate显像检出16个病灶。本组病例99Tcm(V)DMSA显像诊断骨转移癌的灵敏度为76.56%,特异性为22.73%; 99TcmCitrate显像诊断骨转移癌的灵敏度仅为1.56%,特异性为27.27%。99Tcm(V)DMSA显像诊断骨及骨关节炎症的灵敏度为77.27%,特异性为23.44%;99TcmCitrate显像诊断骨及骨关节炎症的灵敏度为72.73%,特异性为98.44%。以上结果表明,99Tcm(V)DMSA显像在诊断骨转移癌和骨组织炎症时应该慎重,因为它不能区分骨组织的良恶性病变性质,其对骨组织的良恶性病变性质的鉴别诊断应排除外骨组织炎症、骨折等骨组织良性病变的干扰。而99TcmCitrate     

Classic NSAID and selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitors in healing of chronic gastric ulcers

Prostaglandins (PG) derived from COX-1 are essential for the maintenance of mucosal integrity but COX-2 isoform synthesizes PG at a site of inflammation. Recently, COX-2 mRNA expression was demonstrated at the ulcer edge during healing of chronic gastric ulcers but the role for expression of COX-2 and its products such as PGE(2) and cytokines including interleukin (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in ulcer healing remains unknown. In this study, Wistar rats with gastric ulcers produced by serosal application of acetic acid (ulcer area 28 mm(2)) received daily treatment either with: (1) vehicle (saline); (2) NS-398 (10 mg/kg-d i.g.) and Vioxx (5 mg/kg-d i.g.), both, highly specific COX-2 inhibitors; (3) meloxicam (5 mg/kg-d i.g.), a preferential inhibitor of COX-2; (4) resveratrol (10 mg/kg-d i.g.), a specific COX-1 inhibitor; (5) indomethacin (5 mg/kg-d i.g); and (6) aspirin (ASA; 50 mg/kg-d i.g.), non-selective inhibitors of both COX-1 and COX-2. At day 3, 7, and 14 after ulcer induction, the animals were sacrificed and the area of gastric ulcers was determined by planimetry and histology, gastric blood flow (GBF) at ulcer base and margin was measured by H(2) clearance technique, and blood was withdrawn for measurement of plasma IL-1beta and TNFalpha levels. The mucosal biopsy samples were taken for the determination of PGE(2) generation by RIA and expression of COX-1, COX-2, IL-1beta, and TNFalpha mRNA by RT-PCR. In vehicle-treated rats, gastric ulcers healed progressively and at day 14 the healing was completed, accompanied by a significant rise in the GBF at ulcer margin. The IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and COX-1 mRNA were detected in intact and ulcerated gastric mucosa, whereas COX-2 mRNA were upregulated only in ulcerated mucosa with peak observed at day 3 after ulcer induction. The plasma IL-1beta level was significantly increased at day 3 and 7 but then declined at day 14 to that measured in vehicle-controls. Indomethacin and ASA, which suppressed PGE(2) generation both in the non-ulcerated and ulcerated gastric mucosa, significantly delayed the rate of ulcer healing and this was accompanied by the fall in GBF at ulcer margin and further elevation of plasma IL-1beta and TNFalpha levels, which was sustained up to the end of the study. Treatment with NS-398 and Vioxx, which caused only a moderate decrease in the PGE(2) generation in the non-ulcerated gastric mucosa, delayed ulcer healing and attenuated significantly the GBF at ulcer margin and PGE(2) generation in the ulcerated tissue, while raising the plasma IL-1beta and TNFalpha similarly to those observed in indomethacin- and ASA-treated rats. Resveratrol, which suppressed the PGE(2) generation in both non-ulcerated and ulcerated gastric mucosa, prolonged ulcer healing and this was accompanied by the fall in the GBF at the ulcer margin and a significant increase in plasma IL-1beta and TNFalpha levels. We conclude that (1) classic NSAID delay ulcer healing due to suppression of endogenous PG, impairment in GBF at ulcer area, and excessive cytokine expression and release, and (2) this deleterious effect of classic NSAID on the healing of pre-existing ulcers can be reproduced by selective COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors, suggesting that both COX isoforms are important sources of PG that appear to contribute to ulcer healing.     

The Significance of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition for Circulating Tumor Cells

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process involved in embryonic development, but it also plays a role in remote metastasis formation in tumor diseases. During this process cells lose their epithelial features and adopt characteristics of mesenchymal cells. Thereby single tumor cells, which dissolve from the primary tumor, are enabled to invade the blood vessels and travel throughout the body as so called “circulating tumor cells” (CTCs). After leaving the blood stream the reverse process of EMT, the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) helps the cells to seed in different tissues, thereby generating the bud of metastasis formation. As metastasis is the main reason for tumor-associated death, CTCs and the EMT process are in the focus of research in recent years. This review summarizes what was already found out about the molecular mechanisms driving EMT, the consequences of EMT for tumor cell detection, and suitable markers for the detection of CTCs which underwent EMT. The research work done in this field could open new roads towards combating cancer.     

Folate-mediated solid–liquid lipid nanoparticles for paclitaxel-coated poly(ethylene glycol)

Background: As a promising anticancer drug, severe side-effects of current clinical formulations for paclitaxel have restricted its use, developing a better technical-economical formulation for paclitaxel delivery is needed. Method: In this study, the compound of folate-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-phosphatidylethanolamine was synthesized and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The solid-liquid lipid nanoparticle (SLLN) for paclitaxel modified with folate and poly(ethylene glycol) (folate-PEG-SLLN) was prepared and characterized. Morphology of folate-PEG-SLLN was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The particle size and zeta potential were performed by Zetapals. Encapsulation efficiency was analyzed by HPLC. The in vitro drug release of paclitaxel was investigated via membrane dialysis. The in vivo pharmacokinetics was measured with male Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment efficiency was investigated with the mouse with sarcoma180 ascites tumor. Results: Paclitaxel loaded on the newly designed binary SLLN showed a longer and sustained in vitro releasing property. More importantly, S180 tumor-bearing mice treated with paclitaxel-loaded SLLN exhibited higher tumor inhibition rate, comparing with animals administered with paclitaxel injection alone (45.3% and 37.3%, respectively). Conclusion: The newly developed paclitaxel delivery system may have improved in vivo antitumor activity. The results demonstrated a great interest to use folate-mediated SLLN as a prospective drug delivery system for paclitaxel.     

Current Status of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer with Specific Focus on Colorectal Cancer

The latest investigations of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have revealed their important role in human cancers. LncRNAs are larger than 200 nucleotides in length and fulfill their cellular purpose without being translated into proteins. Though the molecular functions of some lncRNAs have been elucidated, there is still a high number of lncRNAs with unknown or controversial functions. In this review, we provide an overview of different lncRNAs and their role in human cancers. In particular, we emphasize their importance in tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer worldwide.     

The Promise of Novel Molecular Markers in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in the US and is associated with the highest cost per patient. A high likelihood of recurrence, mandating stringent surveillance protocols, has made the development of urinary markers a focus of intense pursuit with the hope of decreasing the burden this disease places on patients and the healthcare system. To date, routine use of markers is not recommended for screening or diagnosis. Interests include the development of a single urinary marker that can be used in place of or as an adjunct to current screening and surveillance techniques, as well identifying a molecular signature for an individual’s disease that can help predict progression, prognosis, and potential therapeutic response. Markers have shown potential value in improving diagnostic accuracy when used as an adjunct to current modalities, risk-stratification of patients that could aid the clinician in determining aggressiveness of surveillance, and allowing for a decrease in invasive surveillance procedures. This review discusses the current understanding of emerging biomarkers, including miRNAs, gene signatures and detection of circulating tumor cells in the blood, and their potential clinical value in bladder cancer diagnosis, as prognostic indicators, and surveillance tools, as well as limitations to their incorporation into medical practice.     

An unsupervised learning method with a clustering approach for tumor identification and tissue segmentation in magnetic resonance brain images

Malignant and benign types of tumor infiltrated in human brain are diagnosed with the help of an MRI scanner. With the slice images obtained using an MRI scanner, certain image processing techniques are utilized to have a clear anatomy of brain tissues. One such image processing technique is hybrid self-organizing map (SOM) with fuzzy K means (FKM) algorithm, which offers successful identification of tumor and good segmentation of tissue regions present inside the tissues of brain. The proposed algorithm is efficient in terms of Jaccard Index, Dice Overlap Index (DOI), sensitivity, specificity, peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), mean square error (MSE), computational time and memory requirement. The algorithm proposed through this paper has better data handling capacities and it also performs efficient processing upon the input magnetic resonance (MR) brain images. Automatic detection of tumor region in MR (magnetic resonance) brain images has a high impact in helping the radio surgeons assess the size of the tumor present inside the tissues of brain and it also supports in identifying the exact topographical location of tumor region. The proposed hybrid SOM-FKM algorithm assists the radio surgeon by providing an automated tissue segmentation and tumor identification, thus enhancing radio therapeutic procedures. The efficiency of the proposed technique is verified using the clinical images obtained from four patients, along with the images taken from Harvard Brain Repository.