Objective To analyse the expression patterns of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3(VEGFR-3) at the protein and mRNA level,and to detect the biological function of VEGFR-3 in the lymphangiogenesis of the embryos. Methods A total of 61 specimens of skin were investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGFR-3 in embryo 15-day-old(E15) and in embryo 21-day-old(E21).The expression of VEGFR-3 mRNA was studied in situ hybridization. Results The positive expression of VEGFR-3 can be seen in lymphatic vessels of the embryonic skin.The occurrences of VEGFR-3 protein in lymphatic vessels in E15 and in E21 were 38.71%(12/31) and 73.33%(22/30) respectively,the expression level of VEGFR-3 protein in E21 was significantly higher than that in E15(?~2=7.408,P

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C(VEGF-C) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3(VEGFR-3) in rat colorectal cancer,and to provide an experimental material for the role of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in cancer progression and metastasis via lymphatics. Methods The expressions of VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR-3 in colorectal cancer induced by MNNG were observed by immunohistochemistry staining. Results There was no expression of VEGF-C in normal colorectal tissues,but VEGFR-3 expressed in the lymphatic endothelium.The protein of VEGF-C mainly expressed in the cancer cells and the positive rates were 75% and 100% respectively in the early and the mid-terminal stages of cancer.The positive expression of VEGF-C in the early stage of cancer was higher than that in mid-terminal stage(P

BACKGROUNDCisplatin has remarkable anti-tumor effects against various malignancies. Of its severe adverse reactions, nausea and vomiting are considered to be dose-limiting factors in cisplatin therapy. The anti-emetic properties of 5-HT₃ receptor antiagonists, such as ramosetron, can reduce nausea/vomiting. In order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ramosetron injection against nausea and vomiting in treatment of cisplatin, a randomized control study was performed to compare the efficacy of anti-nausea and vomiting between ramosetron and ondansetron.

METHODSA randomized parallel control trial was carried out. One hundred patients were randomized divided into 2 groups: ramosetron group (n=50) and ondansetron group (n=50). Ramosetron was given intravenously 30 minutes before chemotherapy in a dose of 0.3mg. Ondansetron was given intravenously 15 minutes before chemotherapy and after chemotherapy in a dose of 8mg .

RESULTSThe effective rate of nausea by ramosetron was 82%, 72% and 84% for the first three days. The effective rate of nausea by ondansetron in a 3-day period was 84%, 70% and 76% for the first three days. Ramosetron and ondansetron were equally effective in the control of nausea induced by cisplatin. The control rate of vomiting by ramosetron was 88%, 86% and 90% for the first three days. The control rate of vomiting by ondansetron was 80%, 76% and 86% for the first three days. Ramosetron was more effective than ondansetron in controlling vomiting, but without statistical difference between the two groups. The side effects of ramosetron and ondansetron were similar.

CONCLUSIONSRamosetron can effectively prevent the nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin chemotherapy. The efficacy of ramosetron in controlling nausea and vomiting is better than that of ondansetron.

Objective To explore the mechanism of multi-medicine drug resistance in human ovarian cancer cell line COC1/5-Fu. Methods The apoptosis and the tolerance of COC1/5-Fu cell induced by 5-Fu were analyzed by FACS. The expression of apoptosis related genes, such as p53, bcl-2, bcl-xl and bax, in COCI/5-Fu cell line were analyzed by RT-PCR. Results The COC1/5-Fu cell has some de-gree of drug resistance to 5-Fu and several other commonly used kind of chemotherapy medicine, among of which, drug resistance of 5-Fu reach 107.0 times and Paclitaxel reach 9.0 times compared with COC1. When COC1 was treated with the concentration of 5-Fu (0μmo/L, 30μmo/L or 150 μmol/L), the AI was (6.5±1.0) %, (14.0±4.0) % and (20.0±5.0) %, respectively. The rate of apoptosis increased 1.2 time and 2.1 time, compared with not treated with 5-Fu, which were significantly different (P<0.05). But when COC1/5-Fu was treated with the same concentration of 5-Fu (30 μmo/L or 150 μmoL/L), the AI was (6.7±0.7)%, (7.1±2.2)% and (6.5±2.0)%. When treated with the same concentration of 5-Fu (30 μmo/L or 150 μmol/L) , the proportion of apoptosis was significantly increased, G0/G1 phase was increased, and S and G2/ M phases were reduced in COC1 cells, but the proportion of apoptosis and cell cycle was not changed in COC1/5-Fu cells. The expression of bcl-xl , bcl-xs and bax mRNA were significantly increased and the expression of p53 and cpp32 mRNA were significantly decreased in resistant COC1/5-Fu cells , compared with COC1 cells. Conclusion wtp53 gene mutation is related with cell cycle change of ovary cancer cell and drug resistance, which is one of multi- medicine drug resistance mechanisms of COC1/5-Fu.

Objective To investigate the effects of different cyclic tensile strains on the proliferation and expression of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)-cocultured human degenerated anulus fibrosus (AF) cells. Methods AF cells were isolated from a patient with degenerated intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD), which were co-cultured with BMSCs. The solely cultured AF cells were used as control group. The two groups of cells were expanded in monolayer, and cyclically strained for 3 hours, which were applied 0, 5%, 10%, 15%and 20%strains at a frequency of 0.25 Hz using BioDynamic test instrument. A flow cytometry method was used to examine the AF cell proliferation at 24 hours followed the application of cyclic tensile strains. After the total RNA was extracted, real-time PCR technology was used to detect the gene expression of collagenⅠand aggrecan. Results Under the same appropriate stress, the proliferative index (PI), the proportion of cells in the period of DNA synthesis, the expression of collagenⅠand aggrecan were significantly higher in the co-cultured group than those of control group (P<0.05). However, the best mechanical stimulation was different in the two groups. For the AF cells, the peaks of PI, the proportion of cells in the period of S period, the expression of collagenⅠand aggrecan were found in the 10% strain group, while for the co-cultured cells, they were found in the 15% strain group. Conclusion Co-culturing with BMSCs has a positive effect on the proliferation and expression of human degenerative fibrous ring cells, which can protect AF cells from bad stress stimulation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESerum tumor markers play important roles in diagnosis, response and prognosis monitoring for lung cancer. The clinical significance of serum level of tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) was investigated in diagnosis, response monitoring and prognosis in patients with lung cancer, compared with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), precursor of gastrin-releasing peptide (Pro-GRP) and cytokeratin-19-fragments (CYFRA21-1).

METHODSBlood samples of eighty-two patients with lung cancer before treatment and some after chemotherapy were measured by ELISA for four tumor markers.

RESULTSCompared with lung benign diseases group and health control group, the positive rates and levels of TPS, CEA and Pro-GRP in patients with lung cancer were higher, with statistically significant difference. TPS in extensive-small cell lung cancer was significant higher than that in limited-small cell lung cancer. The positive rates and levels of TPS, CEA and Pro-GRP in patients after treatment had significant decreases compared with before treatment. TPS was an independent prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONTPS is valuable to diagnosis, response monitoring for patients with lung cancer, moreover, it maybe a useful factor of prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; blood ; Prognosis ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; ROC Curve

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEResults of studies on genetic polymorphisms of ERCC1 gene in DNA repair pathway which may affect response to platinum-based chemotherapy and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer are conflicting. The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of C8092A and codon118 in ERCC1 and drug response in 90 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

METHODSAll patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Genotypes of ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 were examined by sequencing, and the association between genotypes and response was evaluated.

RESULTSGenotype frequencies of ERCC1 C8092A were CC 40.0% (36/90), CA 48.9% (44/90) and AA 11.1% (10/90), frequencies of codon118 were CC 58.9% (53/90), CT 34.4% (31/90) and TT 6.7% (6/90). There was no significant difference in response rate of patients carrying with CC, compared with CA plus AA in C8092A (33.3% vs 29.6%, P = 0.71). Response rate of patients carrying with CC in ERCC1 118 was 32.1%, 24.3% with CT plus CC (P = 0.43). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CT plus TT in C8092A (5.2 months vs 5.4 months, P = 0.62). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CA plus AA (5.5 months vs 5.3 months, P = 0.59).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that there is no association between polymorphisms in ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 and response in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; mortality ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Prospective Studies

Seventy patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) aged 65 or above were treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) erlotinib or gefitinib from February 2006 to September 2010. The efficacy and toxicities of treatment were retrospectively analyzed.The overall response rate and disease control rate were 31.4％ and 84.3％,respectively. Themedian progression-free survival time and median survival time were 8.0 months and 13.5 months,respectively(P ＜ 0.05 ). One-year survival rate was 54.3％. Response rate ( CR + PR) ( 42.9％ ) anddisease control rate (94.3％ )in female patients were superior to males (20.0％ and 74.3％ ) (P ＜ 0.05 ).Non-smoking and PS score ＜ 2 were good predictors for survival.The side effects were generally mild and mainly were skin rash and diarrhea.

BACKGROUNDTopotecan is one of active agents for relapsed small cell lung can-cer (SCLC), some studies have shown that it is effective against SCLC as the first-line drug. This study is to assess the efficacy, toxicity and survival rate of topotecan plus cisplatin (TP) versus etoposide plus carboplatin (CE) in patients with previously untreated SCLC.

METHODSSixty-four patients with previously untreated SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either TP or CE. Topotecan 0.75 mg/(m²×d) via a 30-min intravenous infusion on days 1 to 5 and cisplatin 25 mg/(m²×d) on days 1 to 3 with hydration were given to patients in TP group. Carboplatin 300 mg/m² on day 1 and etoposide 100 mg/d on days 1 to 5 were given to patients in CE group. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. Responses and toxicities were evaluated in patients who received two cycles of chemotherapy. Patients with limited disease SCLC received thoracic irradiation or operation after the completion of chemotherapy.

RESULTSOverall response rate was 75.0% in TP group and 68.8% in CE group. The median survival time was 10.5 months in TP group and 9.6 months in CE group. 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate were 40.6%, 18.8% and 9.4% in TP group and 34.4%, 15.6% and 9.4% in CE group respectively. There were no significant differences in response rate, median survival time and survival rate between two groups (P > 0.05). Myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia were the most common toxicities, there was no significant difference in grade III and IV toxicities between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTP has similar response rate and survivals with CE, and its toxicities are acceptable. TP regimen is an effective first-line treatment for SCLC.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combined chemotherapy of domestic paclitaxel and vinorelbine plus cisplatin and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSA total of 181 initially treated patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study and treated by NP (vinorelbine plus cisplatin), TC (domestic paclitaxel plus carboplatin) and TP (domestic paclitaxel plus cisplatin). The efficacy and side effects were analysed after at least two cycles of chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe overall response rates (CR+PR) were 42.4% in the NP arm, 40.3% in the TC arm and 43.3% in the TP arm respectively. No significant statistical difference was found among the three groups ( Chi-square= 0.108 6 , P > 0.05). The median survival times were 8.4 months, 9.4 months and 8.9 months respectively in the NP, TC and TP groups ( P > 0.05). The 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates were 39.0%, 16.9%, 5.1% in the NP group and 41.9%, 21.0%, 6.5% in the TC group and 40.0%, 18.3%, 5.0% in the TP group respectively. No significant statistical difference was found among the three groups ( Chi-square=0.140 4, P > 0.05). The major side effects were myelosuppression, alopecia and nausea/vomiting in the three groups. There were no chemotherapy-related death among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined regimens of NP, TC and TP are effective and well-tolerated regimens for advanced NSCLC.