Objective Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). There are several potential therapies to target EGFR. The detection of EGFR expression is usually performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) only in the primary tumor. There are a few data regarding the EGFR status in the corresponding distant metastases. The aim of the present study was to correlate EGFR expression in primary tumors and related metastases in order to find out whether EGFR status is different between primary tumors and related metastases. Methods 37 cases (25 male, 12 female) of metastatic colorectal cancer were collected. The site of primary tumor was on colon in 16 patients (43.2%) and on rectum in 21 patients (56.8%). Metastatic sites analyzed were liver in 32 patients (86.5%), inguinal lymph nodes in 5 patients (13.5%). The EGFR status of primary tumors and related metastatic sites were evaluated retrospectively. The expression of EGFR was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC), EGFR status was defined as positive if the percentage of stained malignant cells was ≥5%, and the expression feature was analyzed. Results EGFR status was positive in 25 primary tumors (67.6%), in which the corresponding metastatic site was negative in 7 cases (28.0%), whereas it was positive in 3 metastases (25.0%) from 12 cases of EGFR-negative primary cancers. The difference between the primary tumors and metastatic lesions had no statistic significance (P=0.23). Conclusion When analyzed by IHC, The difference of EGFR status has no statistic significance between the paired primary tumors and distant metastatic lesions, and 73% of samples show concordant EGFR status.

Objective To observe the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with artificial pleural effusion for cancer of the liver located under the diaphragm.Method Fifteen lesions in 11 patients with cancer of the liver located under the diaphragm were treated by RFA with artificial pleural effusion,for which 500-1000 ml normal saline was injected into the pleural cavity.Results Artificial pleural effusion was finished successfully,the whole tumor for all of 15 lesions were visualized by ultrasound and the ideal puncture pathway were easy to find.The artificial pleural effusion was vanished within 1 week after operation.All of the lesions were treated with RFA and complete necrosis was obtained in 13(86.7%)of the 15 lesions by CT or MRI.No severe complication was observed.Conclusion RFA with artificial pleural effusion is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with liver cancer under the diaphragm.

[Objective] To detect the expression of CD137L mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissues and discuss its possible clinical significance.[Methods] To detect the expression of CD137L mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and to analyze the relationship between CD137L expression and clinical features.[Results] The mean level of CD137L mRNA in colorectal cancer tissues is significantly higher than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues (0.035 ± 0.013 vs.0.008 ± 0.005,P ＜ 0.05 ).CD137L mRNA expression in colorectal cancer show no significant differences among different age,sex,tumor location,Dukes classification,histological differentiation,and serum levels of CEA.We selected 8 colorectal cancer tissues and 3 adjacent tissues randomly to analyze the expression of CD137L by immunohistochemistry.CD137L was expressed on tumor cells in colorectal cancer tissues.The expression of CD137L was observed only in colorectal cancer tissues (6/8),but not in adjacent noncancerous tissues (0/3).[Conclusions] The expression of CD137L Mrna in colorectal cancer tissues is higher than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues and CD137 is expressed on tumor cell surface,it might be of biological importance for the progression of colorectal cancer.