OBJECTIVETo study the biological characteristics of p75 neurotrophin receptor positive (p75(NTR+)) tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells which were separated by flow cytometry cell sorting.

METHODSTo determine the biological characteristics of p75(NTR+) cells which were separated from Tca-8113 and Cal-27 tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by flow cytometry cell sorting, including study the capacity of cloning, 3-(4,5)-demethylthiazo(z-y1)-3,5-diphenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay, wound healing assay. p75(NTR+) cells with non-sorted cells were as control group.

RESULTSIn Tca-8113 and Cal-27 tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, the percentage of p75(NTR+) cells were 3.1% and 1.9%. Compared with p75(NTR+) cells with non-sorted cells, p75(NTR+) cells possess higher capacity of cloning (Tca-8113, P=0.024; Cal-27, P=0.009). The percentage of p75(NTR+) cells of the progeny cells generated from monoclonal p75(NTR+) cells decreased to 14.5% (Tca-8113) and 5.8% (Cal-27) after cultured two weeks. p75(NTR+) cells possessed higher proliferation ability and higher metastasis ability than non-sorted cells.

CONCLUSIONp75(NTR+) cells isolated from tongue squamous cell carcinoma have the characteristics of cancer stem cells.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor ; Tongue Neoplasms

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of cevimeline as a pharmacotherapeutic approach to stimulating gland activity in improving the symptoms and signs of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). Methods: Sixty-three patients diagnosed with pSS who attended the Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to September 2019 were included in this trial. They were randomly assigned to the therapeutic group and control group. All patients were recalled at baseline and after 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Measurement of salivary and lacrimal flow as well as evaluation of subjective symptoms was performed at the follow-up. Results: Fifty-eight patients completed the trial and were included in the statistical analysis. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the measurement of salivary and lacrimal flow at the second week and third month (P < 0.05). Improvement in subjective symptoms of oral, ocular and gland was detected at the third month (P < 0.05). At the sixth month, compared with the control group, only the salivary gland symptom score of the treatment group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Cevimeline has good specificity and safety and can increase salivary and lacrimal flow and improve subjective symptoms of pSS in a short time.