Objective　To investigate the effects of TNP-470 on the growth of a human malignant glioma cell line SHG-44 in vivo and in vitro. Methods　The colorimetric MTT assay, soft agar culture, flow cytometry，light and electron microscopy were used to determine the proliferation, the cloning efficiency, cell cycle and the morphological changes of SHG-44 cells as well as the growth of its xenografted tumor. Results　TNP-470 (20～2 000 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the proliferation of SHG-44 cells in vitro (the 50% inhibitory concentration was 200 ng/ml). Cloning efficiency reduced obviously. The number of cells in G0/G1 phase increased, while that in S, G2/M phases decreased significantly. Weight and volume of xenografted tumors treated with TNP-470 (30 mg/kg, injected subcutaneously every other day) reduced notably. Furthermore, there were necrotic area and apoptosis in the tumor. No severe side effect of TNP-470 was found in this study. Conclusion　The inhibitory effect of TNP-470 on the growth of SHG-44 cells correlates with its functions of regulating cell cycle and inducing apoptosis, which suggests that the angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 has strong inhibitory effect on human malignant gliomas.

Objective　To investigate whether the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are asscoiated with angiogenesis and malignancy of astrocytomas. Methods　Immunohistochemistry, semiquantitation and image analysis were used to study the expression features of VEGF and iNOS in 61 cases of astrocytomas having follow-up data. Factor Ⅷ related antigen (FⅧ RAg) was also analysed in reflecting the epithelial cell amount and the microvessel density. Results　Microvessels in astrocytomas could be divided into seven types. The positive reaction areas and IA values of FⅧRAg expression in the endothelium were significantly increased with the increase of tumor grade （P<0.001）and VEGF labeling index (LI) （P<0.05）. The patients with high VEGF LIs （LI≥25%） had a poor prognosis. VEGF expression was significantly related to that of iNOS（P<0.001), i.e., VEGF level was reduced along with the decrease of iNOS reaction. Conclusion　Detection of FⅧRAg could reflect the angiogenesis activities in astrocytomas. VEGF and iNOS could up-regulate each other to promote angiogenesis and are of importance in determining the malignancy degree of astrocytomas.

Objective To analyze the multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism of peony leaf in the treatment of cervical cancer based on network pharmacology. Methods The possible active components and targets in peony leaf were screened and predicted by pharmacological database and analysis platform of traditional Chinese medicine system,and the related targets of cervical cancer diseases were ob-tained by searching Therapeutic Target Database and others. The potential targets for the disease regulation were screened according to the active components of peony leaves entering blood,then the key target names and the pathways involved in the treatment of peony leaf were selected according to the network topological characteristic parameters. Then,the enrichment analysis was carried out by using ClueGO software plug-in. Results There were 194 target sites for 11 blood entry components in peony leaves. Finally,171 signal pathways were ob-tained,and 21 key pathways related to cervical cancer were obtained after the wide pathway was excluded,such as estrogen signaling pathway,neurotrophin signaling pathway and so on. Conclusion Peony leaves may play a vital role in the treatment of cervical cancer by acting on inflammatory,metabolic,immunological,endocrine and cell cycle related protein targets and pathways.

OBJECTIVETo detect the CDH1 gene methylation of suspension cells in intraoperative abdominal lavage fluid from colorectal cancer patients, and to examine its association with clinicopathology and prognosis.

METHODSReal-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (qMSP) was used to investigate the methylation status of the CDH1 gene promoter 5'-CpG islands from intraoperative abdominal lavage fluid in 102 patients with colorectal cancer. The associations between methylation of CDH1 genes and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were investigated.

RESULTSAmong the 102 colorectal cancer patients, aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene was detected in 47 patients. Significant associations were found between CDH1 methylation status and tumor size, growth pattern, differentiation, distant metastasis, and clinical staging (all P<0.05). The median progression-free survival was 25.98 months for CDH1 methylation group and 41.36 months for non-methylated group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Cox model analysis revealed that CDH1 methylation status in intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid was an independent factor associated with postoperative survival in colorectal cancer patients (50.23% vs. 86.51%, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONSColorectal cancer patients with aberrant methylation of 5'-CpG of CDH1 gene promoter of suspension cells in abdominal lavage have higher malignancy, more metastasis and worse prognosis.

Abdomen ; pathology ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Therapeutic Irrigation