AIM: To observe the ability of dendritic cells (DC) vaccine transfected with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) total RNA induce specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) response in vitro. METHODS: DCs generated from HCC patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were incubated with recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulationg factor (GM-CSF) and human interleukin (IL-4). Tumor total RNA was isolated from Hep G-2 cells and HCC cells. DCs transfected with tumor total RNA were used to induce specific CTL proliferation. Specific cytotoxicity was measured using MTT method. RESULTS: DC transfected with HepG-2 cell RNA and HCC RNA exhibited increased expression of CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR. The CTL from DCs transfected with HepG-2 cell RNA killed 5.84%, 14.26%, 25.19%, or 35.78% of HepG-2 cells, and 5.26%, 11.67%, 14.68%, or 23.24% of HCC cells, respectively, at an E/T ratio of 2.5, 5, 10, or 20. The CTL from DCs transfected with HCC cells RNA killed 4.65%, 12.23%, 15.61%, or 19.15% of HepG-2 cells, and 7.20%, 12.83%, 27.21%, or 31.15% of HCC cells,respectively, at an E/T ratio of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20. These CTL did not kill allogeneic malignant cells as human gastric carcinoma cells SGC-7901. CONCLUSION: DC transfected with tumor-derived total RNA could induce specific antitumor immune CTL response. These results suggest that CTL generation is applicable to adoptive immunotherapy of HCC.

AIM: To investigate the effects of ErbB2 overexpression on growth and invasiveness in cultured MCF-7 cell line. METHODS: Retrovirus containing ErbB2 gene was transfected into MCF-7 cells and ErbB2 expression was detected by Western blotting. Proliferation and invasive assays were carried out. Cells overexpressed ErbB2 and its control, AP2, were used in the experiment. RESULTS: ErbB2 was overexpressed in MCF-7 cells after transfection. In vitro, cells overexpressed ErbB2 showed highly proliferated and highly invasive characteristics compared to the control cells. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of ErbB2 promotes cell proliferation and enhances invasiveness in MCF-7 cells. Inhibition of signaling induced by ErbB2 might be a novel strategy for the therapeutics of cancer with ErbB2 overexpression.

Objective To study the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) complicated with bile duct thrombus.Methods Restrospective study was performed on the treatment of 34 cases of HCC complicated with bile duct tumor thrombus from January 1995 to December 2002 admitted to our hospital.Results Among the 34 cases, one patient had no treatment,6 cases received PTCD and 27 cases received operation.In surgical treatment patients,the postoperative 30 days mortality was 22.2%(6/27),the morbidity was 55.6%(15/27).In 16 patients who received hepatectomy with thrombectomy and biliary duct drainage, the survival time was 1～27 months with a median survival time of 16.5 months.Conclusion The prognosis of HCC complicated with bile duct tumor thrombus is poor. Early diagnosis and aggressive operative are the key points to improving the survival time of patients.

Objective To analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.Methods The clinical data of 276 patients with pancreatic cancer who had been admitted to our department from September 1995 to August 2005 were retrospectively analyzed.Cox regression analysis was used to screen out independent risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients with pancreatic head cancer or pancreatic body and tail cancer,and Kaplan-Meier method to calculate the median survival time.The effects of tumor location on the prognosis were examined by Log-rank and Breslow test.Results Cox regression analysis showed that the diameter of tumor,invasion of the superior mesenteric vessel and treatment method were the independent risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients with pancreatic head cancer;while age,lymphadenectasis and treatment method were the independent risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients with pancreatic body and tail cancer.The median survival time of patients with pancreatic head cancer and pancreatic body and tail cancer after radical resection were 460 days and 480 days,which were significantly longer than 240 days and 200 days of patients who received palliative treatment or gave up treatment.The median survival time of patients with whole pancreatic cancer was 117 days,which was significantly shorter than 330 days of patients with pancreatic head cancer and 300 days of pancreatic body and tail cancer.Conclusions Radieal resection is currently the best choice for pancreatic cancer.The prognosis is poor for patients with pancreatic head cancer(diameter≥4 cm)and invasion of the superior mesenteric vessel.Patients with age≤60 and lymphadenectasis are the factors resulting in poor prognosis of pancreatic body and tail cancer.The prognosis of patients with pancreatic head cancer and pancreatic body and tail cancer are close.Patients with whole pancreatic cancer is in the terminal stage with the worst prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effect on and mechansm by which prostaglandin E_1(PGE_1)protects liver functions after hepatectomy.Methods In this study,82 cases undergoing hepatectomy were divided randomly into control group with conventional therapy(41 cases),and PGE_1 treatment group(41 cases)treated with liposomal prostaglandin E_1 in addition to conventional therapy.Postoperative hospital days,urinary volume and abdominal drainage volume were observed.Pre-and postoperative liver functions were measured.Results Postoperative hospital days(median time 22 days)in PGE_1 treatment group were significantly shorter than those(median time 26 days)in control group.The postoperative levels of alanine transaminase,aspartic transaminase,total bilirubin and albumen in PGE_1 treatment group recovered to preoperative levels more quickly,than control group.Postoperative urinary volume in patients of PGE_1 treatment group was significantly more than that in control group,while abdominal drainage volume was markedly less,although there was no significant difference in prothrombin time between the two groups.Conclusion In patients undergoing hepatectomy,PGE_1 is very useful and safe to protect and improve hepatic function,decreasing the level of bilirubin,preventing ascites,formation shortening hospital days,without causing prolongation of prothrombin time remarkably.

Objective To detect the tissue factor (TF) mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and to elucidate its significance. Methods TF mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 27 cases of human hepatocellular carcinoma tissue specimen with their adjacent tissues and in 27 non-tumorous process tissues. Then the relationship between mRNA expression and pathological data were analyzed. Results The expression and the relative expression intensity of TF in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were 62.96(17/27) and 0.567?0.268 respectively, which were significantly higher than those in their adjacent tissues 〔33.33(9/27), 0.469?0.184〕 and in 27 non-tumorous process tissue 〔29.63(8/27), 0.353?0.121〕, P0.05). Conclusion Expression of TF mRNA were significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma and in the invasive and metastatic tissue, which indicated that TF may play an important role in carcinogenesis, invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the angiogenesis status,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),angiopoietin-1(ANG-1),angiopoietin-2(ANG-2),thrombospondin-1(TSP-1) in cholangiocellular carcinoma(CCC) and relationship with tumor angiogenesis,differentiation,invasion and metastasis.METHODS: 33 specimen of surgically resected CCC were investigated.Immunohistochemical staining of CD34,VEGF,ANG-1,ANG-2 and TSP-1 was carried out.RESULTS: The mean MVD was(87.2?52.6)/mm2.VEGF positive expression was found in 75.6% cases;ANG-1 positive expression was observed in 36% cases;ANG-2 positive was detected in 57.6% cases and 45.5% cases exhibited positive TSP-1 expression.VEGF and ANG-2 expressions were found to be associated with significant higher level of MVD(P

AIM: To investigate the antitumor effects of tumor necrosis factor- ? (TNF - ?) and interferon -?(IFN -?) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) . METHODS: Cytotoxicity of the combination of TNF-? and IFN-? on HCC in vitro was measured by using a crystal violet (CV) staining method. Antitumor effects of the combination of TNF- ? and IFN - ? on HCC in vivo were observed by intra - hepatic injection of TNF-? and IFN-? to the tumor in a human HCC nude mice hepatic model. RESULTS: The growth of HCC cells was inhibited by TNF -? alone, which was dose - dependent. The cytotoxicity of TNF -? on HCC was enhanced by incubation with IFN -?. TNF at 107 U/L, or IFN -? at 106 U/L alone killed only 27.1 % or 7.9 of HCC cells, respectively, when combined with IFN -?, it killed 83.7% of HCC cells. A synergistic antitumor effect on HCC in vivo was observed in combination group, as tumor growth inhibition rate was 35.9% compared with 17.2% in TNF-? group and 5.6% in IFN -? group. The survival period of mice bearing tumor was significantly prolonged and serum AFP was significantly decreased in combination group (P

AIM: To analyze the lovastatin-induced differential gene expression in HepG2 cells using a cDNA microarray assay. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from the lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells and control group. cDNA was synthesized from RNA with Cy3/Cy5-labelled dCTP. Then the hybridization was conducted. The result was analyzed using Imagene and Genespring software. RT-PCR was carried to confirm the hybridization results. RESULTS: 30 genes were up-regulated while 11 genes were down-regulated in lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells, involved in some major functional areas including signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, tumor immunity, and so on. CONCLUSION: The analysis of differentially expressed genes in lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells is helpful to explore the mechanism of the anti-tumor activity of statins.

Objective To evaluate risk factors of hepatectomy for patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Clinical data of 310 large HCC cases receiving hepatctomy were analyzed retrospectively. Results Hepatitis B infection rate was 60.7% in this group with cirrhosis rate of 66.8%. Tumor size averaged at (9.4?3.8) cm in diameter. Child A grade was found in 51.0% of cases, Child B in 36.8% and Child C in 12.3%. Pringle′s procedure, semi-liver blood occlusion and modified Heaney procedure were used in 31.6%, 11.0% and 2.3% of cases respectively, with occlusion time of ( 17?8) min, (25?9) min and (20?10) min, respectively. Left lateral lobectomy, left hemihepatectomy, right hemihepatectomy and segmentectomy were performed in 17.1%, 11.6%, 9.0%, and 62.3% cases, respectively. Blood loss, blood transfusion and operation duration were (820?1 151) ml, (966?945) ml and (182?74) min, respectively. The overall morbidity and liver failure were 22.3%, and 5.8%, respectively, with an operative mortality of 2.6%. The univariate analysis for liver failure revealed its risk factors being preoperative AST value(P