OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of preparing a therapeutic lung cancer vaccine by transfecting dendritic cells (DCs) with adeno-associated virus vector carrying carcino-embryonic antigen gene (rAAV/CEA).

METHODSAdherent cells (monocytes) isolated from the peripheral blood of a healthy donor were infected with rAAV/CEA virus stock or pulsed with CEA peptide (control). The monocytes in both groups were induced into mature DCs with recombinant human GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-α. At day 7 of induction, the mature DCs were harvested and mixed with T lymphocytes. T cell proliferation stimulated by the DCs was assessed with (3)H-thymidine uptake, and the expression of IL-4, IFN-γ, CD8, CD4, CD25 and CD69 in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was analyzed with flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity of the CTL against the target CEA-positive lung cancer A549 cells was tested by (51)Cr releasing assay.

RESULTSThe DCs transfected with rAAV/CEA strongly stimulated the proliferation of the T cell populations, and the induced CTL showed high expressions of CD8, CD69 and IFN-γ. The transfected DCs exhibited a high killing ability of CEA-positive lung cancer cells, and the killing showed a CEA antigen specificity and was limited by MHC I. These results suggested the ability of rAAV/CEA-transfected DCs in generating specific cellular immunity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to prepare therapeutic lung cancer vaccines by transfecting DCs with rAAV/CEA.

Cancer Vaccines ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Monocytes ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and CEA in the tissues adjacent to the tumor within different distances.

METHODSA total of 42 colorectal cancer tissues were collected.The adjacent tissues within 3 cm to the tumor were procured every 1 cm. Normal tissue was also collected. RNA was extracted and the expression of CEA and COX-2 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe CEA mRNA levels of the tumor, the tissues of every 1 cm adjacent to the tumor, and the normal tissue were 135.2 ± 23.3, 78.2 ± 17.3, 75.9 ± 16.5, 56.2 ± 10.7, 52.3 ± 12.8, 18.2 ± 7.9, 16.2 ± 6.5, and 16.6 ± 7.0. The levels of COX-2 mRNA in above positions were 134.9 ± 31.1, 79.2 ± 20.2, 77.0 ± 20.5, 62.7 ± 21.9, 58.0 ± 18.1, 21.2 ± 10.3, 18.3 ± 7.6, and 17.1 ± 6.3. These data showed a decreasing trend of CEA and COX-2 as the distance increased from the tumor. The CEA mRNA levels showed positive correlation with the levels of COX-2 mRNA(r=0.725, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCEA and COX-2 may be considered to be used as biomarkers for the study of molecular resection margin of colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo construct a lentiviral expression vector of human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and identify its expression in dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODSHuman CEA-encoding sequence was amplified, purified, ligated with lentiviral vector plasmid pLentiGFP and verified by sequencing. The verified recombinant vector plasmid (pLentiGFP-CEA), the packaging plasmid p 8.2 and pVSV-G were transfected into 293T cells by Lipofectamine(TM) 2000 reagent. The supernatant of the cultured 293T cells was collected to infect the DCs. The expression of CEA in the transfected DCs was assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSCEA lentiviral vector was highly expressed in the transfected DCs as observed using fluorescence microscope 48 h after the the transfection. The human CEA gene was successfully amplified by RT-PCR with a length of about 2100 bp. Western blotting also showed CEA expression in the transfected DCs.

CONCLUSIONThe human CEA lentiviral expression vector has been successfully constructed and the functional CEA protein can be expression in the transfected DCs. This facilitates further studies of the function of CEA at the molecular level.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo establish a colon cancer cell line with stable expression of carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA).

METHODSRecombinant lentivirus conjugated with CEACAM5 cDNA were used to transfect wild CT26 cells. Antibiotics were given for 2 weeks to select CEA positive cells. A single transfected clone was obtained using limiting dilution. The 7th and 14th passages of cells cultured in vitro were detected for CEACAM5 mRNA by RT-PCR, and protein by western blot. The location of CEACAM5 expression was examined using fluorescent microscope and immunocytochemistry. The 14th passage cells were injected subcutaneously into mice to create BALB/c model and CEACAM5 protein was detected by in vivo fluorescence image analysis system and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCEACAM5 mRNA and protein were found in the 7th and 14th passages of CT26CEA cells, which were proved to locate in the cytoplasm by fluorescence microscope and immunohistochemistry. Abundant CEACAM5 protein was found in subcutaneous tumors by in vivo fluorescence image analysis system and immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSIONColon cancer cell line CT26 with stable expression of CEA in vitro and in mice can be used as a suitable tool to facilitate research on the impact and mechanism of CEA on colon cancer under normal immune environment.

Animals ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective To verify the expressions of genes associated with colorectal cancer with hyperglycemia and evaluate their diagnostic values.Methods Tumor tissues,distal normal intestinal mucosa,and peripheral blood samples were harvested from 109 colorectal cancer patients and peripheral blood samples from 30 diabetes patients and 30 healthy volunteers. The mRNA expressions of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78),NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX1),carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5),heat shock protein 60 (HSP60),and histone deacetylase 1(HDAC1) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The correlation between the gene expressions and clinicopathological parameters in colorectal cancer patients were analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Diagnostic test accuracy evaluation was used to calculate the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,predictability,Youden index,and likelihood ratio of serum gene expressions in colorectal cancer patients,and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn. The area under the ROC curve was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the combined detection of multiple genes.Results The mRNA levels of GRP78 (P=0.001),NOX1 (P=0.022),CEACAM5 (P=0.000),HSP60 (P=0.044),and HDAC1 (P=0.047) were positively correlated with the fasting blood glucose level. The mRNA expressions of NOX1 (P=0.000,P=0.008) and HDAC1 (P=0.000,P=0.037) in tissues and serum were significantly higher in colorectal cancer patients than in patients with normal blood glucose levels. The NOX1 mRNA expression was positively correlated with the diameter of colorectal cancer (P=0.013),and the HDAC1 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with the tumor site (P=0.049),depth of primary tumor invasion (P=0.025),and TNM stage (P=0.042). The areas under the ROC curves of NOX1,CEACAM5,and HDAC1 were 0.931,0.852,and 0.860 respectively (all P=0.000). The specificity,accuracy,and negative predictive value of NOX1,HDAC1 mRNA expression in colorectal cancer patients with hyperglycemia were all above 90%. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of NOX1,CEACAM5,and HDAC1 were 98.82% and 99.93%,respectively.Conclusion Combined detection of genes associated with colorectal cancer accompanied by hyperglycemia can improve the diagnostic efficiency of early screening.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus ; genetics ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Histone Deacetylase 1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; NADPH Oxidase 1 ; genetics ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of mutated p53 in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients.

METHODSPlasma DNA of 126 breast cancer patients and 92 healthy women was examined. DNA extraction from the tumor and tissue samples was performed by a nonorganic method. Plasma DNA was purified on Qiagen columns. PCR-SSCP analysis was performed to examine the point mutations in the conserved exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 of TP53.

RESULTSThe mean concentration of plasma DNA was 21 ng/ml in healthy women and 211 ng/ml in patients with breast cancer (P < 0.01). p53 mutations in the primary tumor were detected in 46 of 126 (36.5%) breast cancer patients. Of these 46 patients, 30 (65.1%) were also found to have p53 mutations in their plasma DNA. p53 mutation in plasma DNA was closely correlated with clinical stage, tumor size, lymph node (LN) metastasis and estrogen receptor status (P < 0.05). Survival of the patients with both primary tumor and plasma p53 mutations was the worst. Thirteen of the 22 (59.0%) patients with recurrence and/or metastasis had detectable p53 mutations in their plasma DNA.

CONCLUSIONp53 mutations in plasma DNA may be a useful prognostic factor and an early marker of recurrence or distant metastasis in breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; mortality ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; DNA ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; blood ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

BACKGROUNDColorectal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors. Despite advances in therapy, mortality is still very high. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of paxillin in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line SW480 and its role in cell cycle and apoptosis. We also investigated the expression of paxillin in colorectal carcinoma tissues and its relationship to clinicopathological features and survival.

METHODSPaxillin short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was constructed and transfected into the colon adenocarcinoma cell line SW480. The influence of paxillin shRNA on the cell cycle and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the expression of paxillin and its association with the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, p53 and Bcl-2 in 102 patients with primary colorectal carcinoma. Western blotting was also used to investigate the expression of paxillin. Medical records were reviewed and a clinicopathological analysis was performed.

RESULTSIn vitro, the percentage of cells in S phase was (45.23±1.05)%, (43.53±1.23)%, and (36.13±0.57)% in the blank control group, negative control group, and paxillin shRNA group respectively. It was significantly decreased in the paxillin shRNA group (P = 0.000). The early apoptosis index of the paxillin shRNA group (17.2±1.18%) was significantly increased compared to the control shRNA group ((13.17±1.15)%, P = 0.013). Paxillin was positive in 71 (69.6%) patients, and it was found to be overexpressed in tumor tissues compared with normal adjacent tissues. Paxillin positive rate was higher in patients who are less than 50-years old (100.0% vs. 65.6%, P = 0.016). Paxillin expression was associated with a high histologic grade of carcinoma (81.4% vs. 61.0%, P = 0.031), a high rate of regional lymph node metastasis (22.5% vs. 13.0%, P = 0.031), mesenteric artery lymph node metastasis (100.0% vs. 64.8%, P = 0.008), distant metastasis (94.1% vs. 64.7%, P = 0.016) and a high Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage (94.1%, 73.2%, 60.0%, and 50%, P = 0.030). Multivariate analyses revealed that recurrence was associated with the rate of regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001) and paxillin expression (P = 0.024). Multivariate analysis indicated that the overall survival is related to the TNM stage (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSIn vitro, paxillin may promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in SW480 cells. Paxillin may be a potential metastasis predictor, and an independent prognosis factor of recurrence. It may also be related to poor patient outcomes, but was not an independent predictor of survival.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Paxillin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo detect CEA mRNA levels in benign and malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions and evaluate their clinical significance.

METHODSSamples of pleural and peritoneal effusions from 58 patients with malignant diseases and 76 patients with benign diseases were collected and total RNAs were prepared and subjected to real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR to determine the CEA mRNA levels in these samples. The positive rate of this examination was compared with that of shed cell pathological examination.

RESULTSNineteen samples (32.8%) of pleural and peritoneal effusions from the 58 patients with malignant diseases showed positive results in shed cell examination, while the number of CEA mRNA >1 CN was 46 (79.3%) (chi(2) = 21.81, P = 0.000). Nineteen samples of pleural and peritoneal effusions from the 76 patients with benign diseases showed CEA mRNA > 1 CN (25.0%), which was significantly different from that of the patients with malignant diseases (chi(2) = 38.85, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONCEA mRNA levels in pleural and peritoneal effusions can be quantified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, which is more sensitive than shed cell pathological examination. This technique is helpful in discrimination of benign and malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions.

Ascitic Fluid ; chemistry ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; chemistry ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the activity of dendritic cells (DCs) after carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) gene transfection mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus type2 (rAAV) and tumor cell lysate.

METHODSImmature DCs isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of HLA-A11-positive healthy volunteers were infected with the rAAV carrying CEA gene or loaded with tumor cell lysate. The surface markers of the DCs such as CD40, CD 1alpha, and CD86 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the supernatants of DCs and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) released by the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were determined by ELISA detection kit. The specific killing activity of CTL against LoVo cells was assessed by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe DCs following antigen loading with the two methods both highly expressed CD40, CD86 and IL-12, and induced specific CTL that specifically recognized and killed LoVo cells, but the killing effect resulting from rAAV infection of the DCs was much better than that induced by tumor cell lysate loading.

CONCLUSIONBoth methods of antigen loading can induce mature DCs from peripheral blood monocyte cells, but rAAV infection of the DCs can be more effective than tumor cells lysate loading. DCs infected with rAAV may have the potential to serve as an adjuvant immunotherapy for patients with colorectal carcinoma.

B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo develop a sensitive and specific RT-PCR assay using the mRNA of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes as specific tumor markers for the detection of the tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSPeripheral blood was obtained from 40 patients with gastric cancer and from 20 healthy volunteers. The mRNA of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected by RT-PCR. The expressions of MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA in the tumor tissues of these gastric cancer patients were also detected by RT-PCR. Meanwhile,CEA expression by nested RT-PCR in PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients was also detected.

RESULTSOf 40 gastric cancer patients, MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNA were positive in 47.5% (19/40) and 25% (10/40) of PBMC respectively, and in 62.5% (25/40) and 30% (12/40) of gastric cancer tissues respectively. As a whole, in the PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients, 25 (62.5%) samples were found to express at least one type of MAGE mRNA. In the patients whose tumors did not express MAGE-1 and/or MAGE-3 genes, the corresponding MAGE mRNA was also undetected in their PBMC. There was no expression of MAGE-1 or MAGE-3 gene in the PBMC from the 20 healthy donors. The positive rate of MAGE mRNA in PBMC was closely correlated with the tumor stage and lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). Positive rate of CEA gene expression was 32.5% (13/40) in the PBMC of 40 gastric cancer patients, 29 (72.5%)samples were detected to express at least one type of MAGE gene and CEA gene mRNA.

CONCLUSIONSMAGE-1, MAGE-3 and CEA mRNA are specifically detected with high percentage in the PBMC of gastric cancer patients by RT-PCR. They could be used as specific tumor markers for the detection of the circulating gastric cancer cells, and the detection results may be helpful to evaluate the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; genetics ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; pathology