Objective:To investigate the expression of XIAP and Smac in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the relationship with clinical significance and prognosis. Methods:Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the ex-pression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) in 70 cases of NSCLC and 70 cases of non-cancerous adjacent lung tissues. Results:XIAP is mostly present (59/70) in tumor tissues with 16 high ex-pressions, whereas only five high expressions in non-cancerous adjacent lung tissues are observed (52/70). The statistical difference of these two sets of data is significant (Z=-5.484, P<0.001). Comparatively, Smac is present (63/70) in tumor tissues, which is significant-ly (Z=-5.484, P<0.001) higher than in the non-cancerous adjacent lung tissues (53/70). The expression levels of XIAP and Smac in NSCLC tissues are closely related to the lymph node metastasis at the TNM stages (P<0.05) and not associated to gender, age, size of tumor, and differentiation grades (P>0.05). The Kaplan-Meier analysis results show that survival by XIAP and Smac protein in NSCLC has no significant effect (P>0.05). Conclusion:XIAP and Smac are expressed in NSCLC and noncancerous adjacent lung tissues, and the differences in their expression levels is significant. The deterioration of NSCLC results in apoptosis/anti-apoptotic synchronized with tumor cell proliferation. The expression levels of XIAP and Smac in NSCLC are not related with the prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of GMEP regimen in the treatment of refractory or recurrent non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma(NHL). Methods A total of 30 refractory or recurrent NHL patients received a course of GMEP regimen: Gemcitabine (GEM) 1 000mg/m~2, IV, d1, 8; Etoposide (VP16) 60mg/m~2, IV, d1-5; Mitoxatrone (MIT) 6-8mg/m~2, IV, d1; Prednisone(PDN)60mg/m~2, PO, d1-5. The treatment was repeated every 3-4 weeks for 3 courses at least. Results All the 30 patients received a complete course of chemotherapy. Among them 28 (93.3%) were followed-up. The median survival time was 11.3 months. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 43.3% and 30.8%, respectively. The total remission rate was 80% (24/30), with CR 20% (6/30) and PR 60% (18/30), and type B symptoms were alleviated in 6 of 10 patients. The main adverse effects were myelotoxicity, nausea and vomiting. Conclusions GMEP regimen can be safely applied to the patients with refractory or recurrent non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma and the short-term response is comparable to the results of other treatment modalities.

BACKGROUNDLentinus edodes polysaccharide (Lentinan) has attracted great attention from both pharmacologists and clinicians as a biological response modifier, and is widely used as an anti-tumor agent in both China and Japan. The aim of this study is to observe the efficacy of Lentinan combined with chemotherapy in stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSEighty-one patients with stage III-IV NSCLC were randomly divided into two groups: (1)Lentinan + chemotherapy group (group A, 42 cases); (2)Simple chemotherapy group (group B, 39 cases). The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8) and natural killer (NK) cell activity of patients in both groups were measured before and after treatment, while compared with healthy control (30 cases). The immune functions, the effect of treatment, quality of life, and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment the objective response rate (CR+PR) was 50% in group A, compared to 33% in group B (P < 0.05). The blood T cell levels(CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8) and NK cell activity in group A increased (P < 0.01), CD8 reduced (P < 0.05), but in group B the value had no obvious change (P > 0.05). Quality of life in group A was higher than that in group B (P < 0.01). The incidence of grade II-IV leukopenia, nausea and vomiting in group B was much higher than those in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe therapeutic effect of Lentinan combined with chemotherapy is better than that of chemotherapy alone.

Chemotherapy completion rate can reflect the tolerance and compliance of patients to chemotherapy. Poor tolerance may result in delay or suspension of the comprehensive treatment plan, thus affect the efficacy of cancer treatment. Evaluating methods to improve the completion rate of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence of delayed chemotherapy has gained increasing attention and is the significant area of study in the field of cancer treatment. Studies have shown that Chinese medicine combined with chemotherapy could improve the quality of life in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

BACKGROUNDLung carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in China.The increasing incidence of lung cancer has been alerted and multimodality treatments including surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy etc.have been highly aware.However,the outcome of treatment in lung cancer remains poor,because there is still no definite molecular targeting drug affecting its biological behavior significantly.To find an useful clinical tool,the aims of this study are to explore the effects of a novel monoclonal antibody targeting at the α-strain of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor(IGF1-αR) on lung adenocarcinoma cell lines.

METHODSThe novel monoclonal antibody targeting at IGF1-αR was exacted by hybrid cell processes and purified by Protein G column.The effects of growth were investigated on SPCA-1 and A549 cell lines by MTT curve lines and the expression of Ki67.

RESULTSThe combination of IGF1 with IGF1-αR could be competitively inhibited by the novel monoclonal antibody significantly.Intervented by the novel monoclonal antibody,SPCA-1 and A549 cell lines proliferated more slowly than that of the respective control,with significant statistic value(P < 0.05).Besides,the expression of Ki67 showed significant downregulation under the invention of the monoclonal antibody.

CONCLUSIONSThe special monoclonal antibody extracted in our laboratory shows good affinity with IGF1-αR,and can inhibit the growth of SPCA-1 and A549 cell lines.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognostic significance of BRCA1 and Ki-67 expression in breast cancer.Methods The expression levels of BRCA1 and Ki-67 were assayed by immunohistochemistry in 194 cases of breast cancer tissues.The correlations of BRCA1 and Ki-67 expression with patients' clinicopathologic features were also analysed.Results Low expression of BRCA1 was detected in the lymph node metastasis group,ER/PR negative group,and HER-2 positive group in 194 patients with breast cancer (P ＜ 0.05),as well as in the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) group compared to non-TNBC group (P ＜0.05).High expression of Ki-67 was detected in patients with higher histological grade,negative ER/PR,and positive HER-2 (P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,negative correlation was found between the expression of BRCA1 and Ki-67 (P ＜ 0.05).The combination of low expression of BRCAl and high expression of Ki-67 was mostly found in the patients with postmenopausal,lower histological grade,lymph node metastasis,negative ER/PR and positive HER-2 (P ＜ 0.05).However,there was no significant difference between TNBC and non-TNBC.Conclusion Joint detection of BRCA1 and Ki-67 might play an important role in predicting clinical outcomes of breast cancer,especially BRCA1 may be one of prognostic factors in TNBC.

Objective Feitai Capsule,a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine,has been screened and refined repeatedly for many years and shown to have a good anti-tumor effect.Strict quality control and further screening of the efficacious components of the compound are of great clinical significance.The purpose of this study was to establish the methods for determining the isofraxidin content in Feitai Capsule.Methods We determined the content of isofraxidin in Feitai Capsule by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),using the chromatographic column Hypersil ODS-C18 (4.6 mm?150 mm,5 ?m),with the mobile phase as acetonitrile 0.2% phosphoric acid solution (21∶79),the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detective wavelength of 344 nm and the column temperature at 30℃.Results Isofraxidin showed a good linearity,within the range of 2.00-10.80 ?g/ml (y=69 427x+15961,r = 0.999 9),with the average recovery of 97.89% and RSD of 1.64% (n = 6).Conclusion HPLC,accurate and reproducible,is suitable for the determination of the isofraxidin content in Feitai Capsule.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors related to sexual dysfunction among breast cancer patients so as to improve the prevention and treatment of the disorder as well as the life quality of the patients.

METHODSSixty-five breast cancer patients during the rehabilitation period were interviewed by questionnaire on the sexual function before and after treatment.

RESULTSAge and perception of sex were two important factors for the significant difference in the rate of sexual dysfunction among the patients. In the groups of 45-55 and 56-65 years, the rates of sexual dysfunction were 66.7% and 73.9%, respectively. Compared with the < 45-year group (33.3%), the findings were statistically significant (P < 0.01), and the difference was statistically significant between the incorrect perception group (70.3%) and the correct one (47.6%) (P < 0.05). Of all the factors analyzed in the research, the stage of cancer, treatment methods, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, dyspareunia and sex perception had significant correlation with newly developed sexual dysfunction (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stage of cancer, treatment methods, sex perception, vaginal dryness et al had significant correlation with sexual dysfunction of breast cancer patients after treatment. To treat and prevent sexual dysfunction among breast cancer patients, oncology professionals should initiate communication about sexual difficulties, perform comprehensive assessments, and educate and counsel patients about the management of these difficulties.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; epidemiology ; etiology

BACKGROUNDThe main treatment strategy of cancer patients with brain meta- stasis is irradiation, while so far there is few research concerning chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for these patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect and toxicity of chemotherapy with VPC regimen combined with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with brain metastasis.

METHODSA total of 60 SCLC patients with brain metastasis received a cycle of VPC regimen (teniposide 60mg/m² iv on days 1-5, cisplatin 35mg/m² iv on days 1-3, semustine 80mg/m² PO on day 1) every 3-4 weeks. WBRT was administered on day 6 of the first cycle of chemotherapy at a dose of 2Gy given in 5 fractions per week. Patients with less than 3 brain lesions received WBRT at a dose of 30Gy and then small field radiotherapy up to total dose of 50Gy, otherwise they received WBRT at a total dose of 40Gy. Response was evaluated by brain and chest CT or MRI after WBRT and at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy were completed.

RESULTSAll the patients completed WBRT combined with chemotherapy. Total response rate of primary pulmonary tumor was 46.7%, with 4 cases of CR. The objective brain response rate was 60.0%, with 11 cases of CR and 25 cases of PR. Symptom relief was observed in all 48 patients with neurological symptoms. Main adverse effects were myelotoxicity, nausea/vomiting, constipation and alopecia. The follow-up rate was 93.3% with a median survival duration of 11.3 months. The 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rate was 43.3%, 35.0% and 6.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSChemotherapy combined with WBRT can be safely performed for SCLC with brain metastasis and its short-term response is quite satisfactory. It may be worthy of further clinical investigation.