Objective: To investigate the biological significance of CerbB-2 expression in nasopharyn-geal carcinoma. Methods: The expression of CerbB-2 was detected in 90 nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and 22 nasopharyngitis tissues by SP immunohistochemical method. The relationship between CerbB-2 ex-pression and clinicopathological characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was investigated. Results: The positive expression rate of CerbB-2 protein was 65.56% in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, and 31.82% in nasopharyngitis tissues, with a significant difference (P<0.05). The ratio of expression was 81.0% in patients of N_2 and N_3 lymth node stage, significantly different from that in patients of N_0 and N_1 lymph node stage (52.1%, P<0.05). The expression of CerbB-2 gene was not correlated with age, gender, clinical stage, T stage and distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (P>0.05). Conclusion: There is a high expression of CerbB-2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, which might be an important event in the pathogenesis and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSForty-one patients with locally advanced (stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC were enrolled into the study. The patients received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² on days l, 8 and 15, and carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, with 28 days as a cycle. Each patient received at least two cycles.

RESULTSOf the 41 patients, 2 cases got complete response, 18 got partial response, 15 had stable disease, and 6 had progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 48.8%. The response rate was 55.6% (10/18) in the initial patients, and 43.5% (10/23) in the retreated patients (P > 0.05). The median survival duration was 11.8 months. The 1-year survival rate was 49%. There were 29 patients whose KPS score increased. The main toxicities were leukopenia (incidence of 34.1% for grade III+IV) and thrombocytopenia (incidence of 29.3% for grade III+IV).

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin is a feasible, well-tolerated and active scheme in either first-line or second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.

BACKGROUNDTo explore the significance of lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the lung.

METHODSThirty-five patients with space occupying lesions of the lung underwent lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis and DLTRA-CUT 16G, 18G or 20G soft-tissue-cutting biopsy needles and PICKER IQ computerized tomograph were used.

RESULTSOf the 35 patients, 26 were confirmed by pathological examination to suffer from primary malignant tumor, 1 from metastatic carcinoma, 3 from tuberculosis and 3 from inflammatory pseudotumor. No definite diagnosis was made in two patients. The diagnostic rate was 94.3%. After operation, minor pneumothorax occurred in 5 cases and traces of blood in sputum in 2 cases, however, they didn't need any treatment.

CONCLUSIONSLung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis is a safe and practical technique and may be widely used in hospitals if conditions permit.