OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) on the nucleotide contents and cell cycle distribution of the tumor cells in S180 ascitic tumor-bearing mice and explore the possible mechanism of the antitumor effect of GLP.

METHODSMice bearing S180 ascitic tumor were subjected to intragastric administration of GLP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), normal saline or subcutaneous injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) at 25 mg/kg, respectively. The treatment was given once daily for 9 consecutive days, after which the ascitic tumor cells were harvested for determination of the RNA and DNA contents and their ratio as well as the cell cycle alterations. Laser scanning confocal microscopy and acridine orange staining was performed to evaluate the DNA and RNA fluorescence intensity, and flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) staining was utilized for cell cycle analysis of the tumor cells.

RESULTSCompared with normal saline group, the tumor cells in the 3 GLP groups all showed reduced RNA and DNA contents, and this reduction was statistically significant in 200 mg/kg GLP group (P=0.000). Significantly reduced RNA/DNA ratio was noted in all the 3 GLP groups (P=0.003, 0.000, 0.008 corresponding to 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg groups), suggesting that ganoderma polysaccharides more effectively reduced RNA content than DNA content. CTX also resulted in reduced RNA and DNA contents but not the RNA/DNA ratio. At the doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg, GLP increased the percentage of G2/G2 phase cells (P=0.003, 0.000, and 0.000) whereas CTX showed the contrary effect (P=0.000). GLP produced no obvious effect on S-phage cells but CTX significantly reduced their percentage (P=0.000). GLP at the 3 doses all decreased the percentage of G2/M phase tumor cells (P=0.014, 0.049, 0.016) and CTX again induced contrary effect (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONWith different effects from CTX on DNA and RNA contents and cell cycle, GLP inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis in the tumor cells by mobilizing the host immune function to interfere with the normal cell cycles, which might be one of the mechanisms for the antitumor effect of GLP.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Ascitic Fluid ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Sarcoma 180 ; genetics ; pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver cirrhosis and malignant tumors are two major causes of ascites according to the reports from Western countries, 80% and 10% respectively. Assuming that there might be regional differences in etiologies and changes in their frequency over time, we investigated causes of ascites and the diagnostic usefulness of various laboratory tests. METHODS: Medical records of 366 patients, who underwent diagnostic paracentesis in the mid-1990s (1996 and 1997) and early 2000s (2001 and 2002), were retrospectively reviewed. The etiology was confirmed by histology, imaging studies, and ascites analyses. RESULTS: The frequency of cirrhotic ascites was 59.6%, cancer-related 25.7%, tuberculous peritonitis 6.6%, and others 8.1%. Among cirrhotics, the frequency of cases related to hepatitis B decreased significantly from 72% to 55% over time, and alcoholic cirrhosis increased from 18% to 34%. Among cancer-related ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis type was 75.5% (primary sites: stomach 24.5%, pancreas 15.9%, colon 15.9%, lung 7.4%, etc), metastatic liver cancers 8.5%, hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis 6.4%, etc. The sensitivity of serum-ascites albumin gradient for the diagnosis of cirrhotic ascites was 91.4%, and total protein in ascites also revealed a comparable diagnostic sensitivity, 90%. The diagnostic sensitivity of adenosine deaminase for tuberculous peritonitis was 94.2%, and its positive predictive value was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Liver cirrhosis is the leading cause of ascites, especially alcoholic cirrhosis has significantly increased. The next common etiology is cancer-related, and its frequency in Korea is higher than in western countries. Tuberculous peritonitis is still prevalent, and adenosine deaminase could precisely differentiate it from other causes.
Adenosine Deaminase/analysis ; Adult ; Aged ; Ascitic Fluid/chemistry/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; *Paracentesis ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascitic Fluid ; chemistry ; Cadherins ; analysis ; Calbindin 2 ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-5 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Pleural Effusion ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Group A streptococcus preparation (sapylin) combined with cisplatin on the malignant peritoneal effusion in patients with advanced cancer.

METHODSSixty advanced cancer patients with large amount of peritoneal effusion were divided into two groups: sapylin + cisplatin (DDP) group (30 patients) and control group (DDP alone, 30 cases). All the chemotherapeutic agents were injected intraperitoneally through a catheter.

RESULTSIn sapylin + cisplatin(DDP) group, 11 (36.7%) patients showed CR and 16 (53.3%) PR. The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 90.0%. Those of DDP alone group were 16.7% and 46.7%, the overall response rate was 63.3%. The main adverse effects were fever, nausea, and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONCombined Group A streptococcus preparation (sapylin) and cisplatin is more effective than cisplatin alone for the malignant peritoneal effusion in patients with advanced cancer, and the adverse effects are tolerable.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Ascitic Fluid ; pathology ; Bacterial Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Biological Products ; administration & dosage ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; chemistry