In this study, we determined plasma abnormal prothrombin concentrations in 98 patients with histologically-proved primary hepatoceliular carcinoma (HCC) and 181 patients with other diseases using a radio-rocket electrophoresis autography. Out of 98 patients with HCC, 68 had abnormal prothrombin levels above or equal to 250 ?g/L and the positively was 69.4%, which was much higher than that in other groups. Abnormal prothrombin levels correlated poorly with those of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)(r = 0.317), The positiveties of abnormal prothrombin level in HCC with low AFP level and with AFP negative were 63.8% and 65.5%. respectively. When used in combination, both tests could identify 84.7% of patients with HCC and 84.2% of patients with small HCC, respectively. The results show that the assay for plasma abnormal prothrombin may be useful in diagnosing low AFP-producing or AFP negative HCC, and also in discriminating HCC from chronic liver diseases and benign tumors of liver.

Tumor cells have different physiological and biochemical features as compared to normal cells;abnormal expressi of certain genes is also found in tumor cells.Over-expression of genes provide targets for targeted-administration of drugs,which can avoid damage to normal cells during treatment of tumors.Fatty acid synthase(FAS)and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2)are both over-expressed in some tumor cells.Herceptin,an HER2-targeted agent,has been used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer patients worldwide and has obtained satisfactory outcome.Cerulomycin,an agent-targeting FAS,is now in FDA clinical trial.Recent researches have shown that FAS and HER2 are simultaneously over-expressed in some tumors,such as breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells;and there is a connection between their signal pathways and a synergistic effect between them.This paper reviews the relationship between FAS and HER2 in tumor cells.

Asialoglycoprotein receptor(ASGPR),also called galactose receptor,is predominantly expressed on the sinusoidal surface of mammalian hepatocytes and is involved in many physiological functions.For many years ASGPR has been applied for targeting hepatocytes in drug and gene delivery and for functional mapping of the liver,and considerable progress has been made.ASGPR-mediated liver-targeted drug delivery mainly involved anti-tumor drugs and cholesterol-lowering drugs,etc.Liver-targeted gene delivery was often seen in antisense drugs.The research of hepatic imaging mainly involved the evaluation of liver function and identification between hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastasis of tumors.In addition,researchers have also extended its applications to some new fields,such as three-dimension culture of hepatocytes,hepatocytes screening,and hepatocytes transplantation.New achievements in studies of ASGPR-mediated liver targeting are reviewed in this article.

After surgical removal of a primary tumor the minimal residual cancer cells (MRCC) and metastases derived thereof are the actual targets for all theraputic approaches. Due to the great sensitivity and PCR-based detection systems, the molecular characterization of MRCC can provide information about their metastatic potential, availability of drug targets, drug sensitivity and development of therapy resistance, which will close the analytical gap between primary disease and the detection of metastases by conventional methods such as imaging procedures, and this will help therapy selection, monitoring of the treatment effects and predicting of the prognosis. Patients will benefit from a individualized therapy in the end.

Oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene loss are well known as events that are responsible for the dramatic cell autonomous deregulation of growth that characterizes all malignant cells. Data accumulating more recently indicate that these same genes are also responsible for the development of a second essential characteristic of all malignant cells, the ability to induce angiogenesis on which their progressive growth in vivo depends. Oncogene activation appears to make distinctly different contributions to the angiogenic phenotype of developing tumors. Cells in which an oncogene is activated become more an- giogenic usually because they increase their secretion of inducer of angiogenesis. Inducer enhancement seems to be essential if a normal cell is to develope into a tumor cell able to grow and metastasize in vivo.

Oxidative stress is a major cause of fatty liver,atherosclerosis,cancer,organ damage following ischemia/reperfusion,etc.In recent years,significant improvements have been achieved in studies on signaling pathways involved in oxidative stress,which provide a basis for the drug and gene therapy.This article reviews the major redox-related signaling molecules and pathways,including transcription factors,growth factor signaling,tyrosine kinases and serine/threonine kinases.

Disseminated malignancy is the main cause of cancer-related death.The spontaneous circulation of tumor cells is responsible for distant metastasis;therefore it is of potential importance to specifically and sensitively detect the circulating tumor cells,which not only allows for more accurate prediction of cancer prognosis,but also helps to tailor individualized anticancer treatment.This paper reviews the enrichment,detection and analyzing methods of circulating tumor cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and localization of midkine (MK) in human hepatocellular carcinoma. MethodsIn situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis for MK were performed on samples of both tumor tissues and paratumor tissues from HCC and benign liver tumors. ResultsThe distribution and localization of the MK transcripts′ signals determined by in situ hybridization were similar to those obtained by immunohistochemical analysis. Most HCC tissues showed enhanced positive reaction within cytoplasm to both MK probe and MK immunostaining. There was no significant difference in clinicopathological parameters between MK negative and positive cases of HCC. ConclusionsHuman hepatocellular carcinoma overexpresses MK at the mRNA and protein level.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) belongs to the superfamily of nuclear hormone receptor.Three PPAR subtypes have been identified to date(PPAR?,PPAR? and PPAR?)and the relationship between PPAR? and tumor has drawn great attention.Current data showed that PPAR? agonists exert their antineoplastic effect through inhibiting cell growth and angiogenesis,inducing cell apoptosis and differentiation,and reducing tumor invasive ability.PPAR? agonists may be a promising tool for cancer chemotherapy.

Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; drug therapy ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating