Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer reduces surgical risks and lymph-vascular space involvement / 癌症

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), which can reduce the size and therefore increase the resectability of tumors, has recently evolved as a treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. NACT has been reported to decrease the risk of pathologic factors related to prognosis of cervical cancer. To further assess the effects of NACT on surgery and the pathologic characteristics of cervical cancer, we reviewed 110 cases of locally advanced cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy with or without NACT at the People's Hospital of Peking University between January 2006 and December 2010. Of 110 patients, 68 underwent platinum-based NACT prior to surgery (NACT group) and 42 underwent primary surgery treatment (PST group). Our results showed 48 of 68 (70.6%) patients achieved a complete response or partial response to NACT. Estimated blood loss, operation time, and number of removed lymph nodes during surgery, as well as complication rates during and after surgery were not significantly different between the NACT group and the PST group. The rates of deep stromal invasion, positive parametria, positive surgical vaginal margins, and lymph node metastasis were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the rate of lymph-vascular space involvement (LVSI) was significantly lower in the NACT group than in the PST group (P = 0.021). In addition, the response rate of NACT was significantly higher in the patients with chemotherapeutic drugs administrated via artery than via vein. Our results suggest that NACT is a safe and effective treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer and significantly decreases the rate of LVSI.

Roles of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue specific inhibitors of metalloproteinases in dentinogenic ghost cell tumor and ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) and ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were examined in 15 DGCT cases and 9 GCOC cases by immunohistochemistry. Their mRNA expression in one DGCT case and one GCOC case were investigated by RT-PCT.MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein activities in the two cases were analyzed by gelatin zymography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressions elevated greatly in GCOC, and there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in TIMP-1 expression between GCOC and DGCT.Pro-MMP-9, MMP-9 activated form, pro-MMP-2, and MMP-2 activated forms were detected in the GCOC case, while pro-MMP-9 and MMP-9 activated form were very faint in the DGCT case. The mRNA level of MMP-9 elevated obviously in the GCOC case, which was similar to that of TIMP-1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The elevated expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 may influence the behaviour of GCOC.</p>

The role of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in oral lichen planus / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of MMP-2, MT1-MMP and TIMP-2 in the carcinogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the expression of OLP and compare with that of NOM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of these proteinases significantly increased from NOM, non-atrophic OLP, to atrophic OLP and OSCC. The expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP in atrophic OLP was significantly higher than in non-atrophic OLP. Furthermore, the expression of TIMP-2 consequently increased with the increasing of the MMP, but the increase of TIMP-2 was less than that of MMP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MMP may be useful marker to judge the possibility of malignant change of OLP.</p>