OBJECTIVETo clarify the relationship between the loss of expression of the deleted in pancreatic carcinoma locus 4 (DPC4) proteins and the pathogenesis of biliary tract carcinoma.

METHODS71 primary biliary tract carcinoma (BTCa), including 38 common bile duct (CBD) carcinomas, 18 gallbladder carcinomas, 15 hilar bile ducts (HBD) carcinomas were examined by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the CBD carcinomas were divided into two groups: tumors with metastasis (M(+) group, 27 cases) and tumors without metastasis (M(-) group, 11 cases).

RESULTSThe frequency of loss of the expression of DPC4 protein was 32.8% in BTCa, 47.3% in CBD carcinoma, 11% in gallbladder carcinoma, 13% in HBD carcinoma. Comparison of the frequency of loss expression of DPC4 was significant statistical difference in CBD carcinoma versus gallbladder carcinoma and HBD carcinoma (P < 0.01). The frequency of loss expression of DPC4 was 48.1% in the M(+) group and 45.4% in the M(-) group.

CONCLUSIONThere are a close relationship between pathogenesis of BTCa and inactivation of DPC4 and different frequencies of DPC4 gene alternation in various locations of the biliary tract, which are not significantly increased with tumor metastasis in BTCa.

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Biliary Tract ; Carcinoma ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Smad4 Protein ; Trans-Activators

Chronic inflammation has been known to be a risk for many kinds of cancers, including pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. Recently, inflammatory process has emerged as a key mediator of cancer development and progression. Many efforts with experimental results have been given to identify the underlying mechanisms that contribute to inflammation-induced tumorigenesis. Diverse inflammatory pathways have been investigated and inhibitors for inflammation-related signaling pathways have been developed for cancer treatment. This review will summarize recent outcomes about this distinctive process in pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. Taking this evidence into consideration, modulation of inflammatory process will provide useful options for pancreatic and biliary tract cancer treatment.
Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*etiology/metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Humans ; *Inflammation ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*etiology/metabolism ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/metabolism

The etiology of biliary tract cancer is obscure, but there are evidences that bile acid plays a role in carcinogenesis. To find the association between biliary tract cancer and bile acid, this study compared the bile acid concentration and composition among patients with biliary cancer, biliary tract stones, and no biliary disease. Bile was compared among patients with biliary tract cancer (n = 26), biliary tract stones (n = 29), and disease free controls (n = 9). Samples were obtained by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, or gallbladder puncture, and analyzed for cholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, lithocholic, and ursodeoxycholic acid composition. Total bile acid concentration was lower in the cancer group than the biliary stone and control groups; the proportions of deoxycholic (2.2% vs. 10.2% and 23.6%, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and lithocholic acid (0.3% vs. 0.6% and 1.0%, p = 0.065 and p < 0.001, respectively) were also lower. This result was similar when disease site was limited to bile duct or gallbladder. Analysis of cases with bilirubin < or = 2.0 mg/dL also showed lower total bile acid concentration and deoxycholic acid composition in the cancer group compared to controls (5.7% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.003). Although the presence of bile duct obstruction explains some of the difference in total concentration and composition of bile acid, there are other contributing mechanisms. We suspect the alteration of bile acid transport might decrease bile acid excretion and cause the accumulation of carcinogenic bile acid in bile duct epithelium.
Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/metabolism ; Female ; Cholic Acids/*analysis/metabolism ; Cholelithiasis/metabolism ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*chemistry/metabolism ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent

The etiology of biliary tract cancer is obscure, but there are evidences that bile acid plays a role in carcinogenesis. To find the association between biliary tract cancer and bile acid, this study compared the bile acid concentration and composition among patients with biliary cancer, biliary tract stones, and no biliary disease. Bile was compared among patients with biliary tract cancer (n = 26), biliary tract stones (n = 29), and disease free controls (n = 9). Samples were obtained by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage, or gallbladder puncture, and analyzed for cholic, deoxycholic, chenodeoxycholic, lithocholic, and ursodeoxycholic acid composition. Total bile acid concentration was lower in the cancer group than the biliary stone and control groups; the proportions of deoxycholic (2.2% vs. 10.2% and 23.6%, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and lithocholic acid (0.3% vs. 0.6% and 1.0%, p = 0.065 and p < 0.001, respectively) were also lower. This result was similar when disease site was limited to bile duct or gallbladder. Analysis of cases with bilirubin < or = 2.0 mg/dL also showed lower total bile acid concentration and deoxycholic acid composition in the cancer group compared to controls (5.7% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.003). Although the presence of bile duct obstruction explains some of the difference in total concentration and composition of bile acid, there are other contributing mechanisms. We suspect the alteration of bile acid transport might decrease bile acid excretion and cause the accumulation of carcinogenic bile acid in bile duct epithelium.
Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/metabolism ; Female ; Cholic Acids/*analysis/metabolism ; Cholelithiasis/metabolism ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*chemistry/metabolism ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent

Hypermethylation of the promoter region is one of the major mechanism of tumor suppressor gene inactivation. In order to provide a research tool for the study on the function of MBD1 gene in DNA methylation and tumorigenesis, antisense MBD1 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed and transfected into human biliary tract carcinoma cell line QBC-939 to observe its effect on the expression of MBD1 mRNA and protein by using RT-PCR and FCM respectively. Following the transfection, the mRNA level of MBD1 gene decreased from 0. 912 +/- 0.022 to 0.215 +/- 0. 017, and the protein level of MBD1 gene also decreased from (80.19 +/- 5.05) % to (35.11 +/- 4.05) %. There were very significant differences in the expression both at the transcription and post-transcription levels of MBD1 gene between non-tranfection group and the antisense MBD1 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid transfection group (P < 0.01). It was suggested that transfection with the antisense MBD1 gene eukaryotic expression plasmid can significantly reduce the expression level of MBD1 gene in QBC-939, and this study may provide a valid tool for the investigation of the function of MBD1 gene and its role in biliary tract carcinoma.
Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins/*biosynthesis ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense/*genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Transcription Factors/*biosynthesis ; Transcription Factors/genetics ; Transfection

EC-18 (monoacetyldiacylglyceride) stimulates T cell production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF in vitro. To study the effects of these cytokines stimulated by EC-18 on cancer cells, we applied hamster biliary cancer model, a difficult cancer to treat. Cancer (KIGB-5) cells were given intravenously to produce hematogenous metastatic lung lesions which were treated with EC-18 at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg/day respectively. The fourth group was untreated control. At 4th, 8th, and 12th week the lungs were examined. EC-18 treated groups showed only a few microscopic lung lesions and no evidence of metastatic lesion with highest dose whereas widespread gross lung lesions were observed in untreated control. To investigate whether the anti-tumor effect of EC-18 is associated with suppression of tumor cell Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expression in addition to stimulation of the immune cells, KIGB-5 cells were exposed to LPS with or without EC-18. TLR-4 mRNA and protein expression, measured by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, showed suppression of TLR-4 expression in KIGB-5 cells treated with EC-18 compared with control. In conclusion, EC-18 has a significant anti-tumor effect in this experimental model of biliary cancer suggesting potential for clinical application to this difficult cancer.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Cricetinae ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Female ; Glycerides/*therapeutic use ; Lung/pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

EC-18 (monoacetyldiacylglyceride) stimulates T cell production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF in vitro. To study the effects of these cytokines stimulated by EC-18 on cancer cells, we applied hamster biliary cancer model, a difficult cancer to treat. Cancer (KIGB-5) cells were given intravenously to produce hematogenous metastatic lung lesions which were treated with EC-18 at 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg/day respectively. The fourth group was untreated control. At 4th, 8th, and 12th week the lungs were examined. EC-18 treated groups showed only a few microscopic lung lesions and no evidence of metastatic lesion with highest dose whereas widespread gross lung lesions were observed in untreated control. To investigate whether the anti-tumor effect of EC-18 is associated with suppression of tumor cell Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expression in addition to stimulation of the immune cells, KIGB-5 cells were exposed to LPS with or without EC-18. TLR-4 mRNA and protein expression, measured by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, showed suppression of TLR-4 expression in KIGB-5 cells treated with EC-18 compared with control. In conclusion, EC-18 has a significant anti-tumor effect in this experimental model of biliary cancer suggesting potential for clinical application to this difficult cancer.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology ; Cricetinae ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Female ; Glycerides/*therapeutic use ; Lung/pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics/metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Hypermethylation in the promoter region is an important epigenetic mechanism for the transcriptional repression of a number of cancer-associated genes, and over-expression and/or increased activity of DNA methyltransferases are considered to be the main cause of promoter hypermethylation. In order to explore the roles of two methyltransferase members (DNMT1 and DNMT3b) in the cholangiocarcinoma tumorigenesis, antisense eukaryotic expression plasmid of DNMT1 and DNMT3b gene was constructed respectively, and were co-transfected into the human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC-939 to observe their biological effects on the cell growth and proliferation ability, apoptosis, cell cycle alteration, and the tumorigenesis ability in the subcutaneous tissue of nude mouse. The results demonstrated that co-transfection with antisense eukaryotic expression plasmid of DNMT1 and DNMT3b gene and single transfection with antisense eukaryotic expression plasmid of DNMT1 gene can suppress the growth and proliferation of QBC-939, block the cell cycle at G1 phase, increase the apoptosis rate, minimize the tumor size in the subcutaneous tissue of nude mouse. The suppressing biological effect of co-transfection is stronger than single transfection with antisense DNMT1. Meanwhile, single transfection with antisense eukaryotic expression plasmid of DNMT3b gene has no effects on the biological characteristics of QBC-939. This study suggests that DNMT1 gene plays a key role in DNA methylation and DNMT3b gene may act as an accessory to support its function in inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Combination DNMT1 and DNMT3b will increase their biological effects and have the synergistic effect on suppressing the growth of human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC-939.
Apoptosis ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*metabolism ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase/*biosynthesis ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase/genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation