Growth hormone receptor expression in human colorectal cancer and its implication / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) in the development and progression of human colorectal cancer (CRC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression levels of GHR and Ki-67 were detected by immunohistochemistry technique in CRC specimens and normal mucous tissue from 100 patients with CRC. The association between expression of GHR and clinicopathological factors was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of GHR was higher in the colorectal cancerous tissue compared to the normal mucous tissue (81% vs. 68%). The expression of GHR was significantly correlated with pathological staging (P=0.047), tumor differentiation (P=0.003) and tumor size (P=0.017). The expression of GHR was significantly associated with the expression of Ki-67 (P< 0.01) as well as tumor proliferation (P< 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The over-expression of GHR is shown in human colorectal cancer and it also plays an important role in the development of human colorectal cancer. The use of rhGH in clinic should be cautious.</p>

K-ras mutations in rectal cancer undergone preoperative radiotherapy / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect K-ras mutations in rectal carcinoma before and after preoperative radiotherapy, and study genetics effect of radiotherapy in rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with rectal cancer in pTNM stage II or III were enrolled. There were 20 males and 20 females. Sixteen tumours were pTNM II stage, 24 pTNM III. All patients received preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The treatment time is 4 weeks for 40 Gy in 2.0 Gy fractions and it is usually followed by an interval of 1-2 weeks before the operation. Tumor tissue and normal mucosa 2, 4, 6 cm to tumor were collected from patients before preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and after operation. The K-ras mutations in codon 12 were investigated using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in tumors and normal mucosa.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of K-ras mutations before preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in tumor tissue and normal mucosa 2, 4, 6 cm to tumor were 47.5%, 22.5%, 2.5% and 0. The frequencies of K-ras mutations before preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy were higher in tumor tissue than in normal mucosa, and were higher in normal mucosa 2 cm to tumor than 4 cm and 6 cm to tumor. The postoperative frequencies of K-ras mutations in tumor tissue and normal mucosa 2 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm to tumor were 25.0%, 5.0%, 0 and 0. Compared to same locations of control group, the frequency of K-ras mutations in tumor tissue and normal mucosa 2 cm to tumor significantly decreased after radiotherapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Frequency of K-ras mutations of rectal cancer issue and normal mucosa 2 cm to tumor were significantly higher than other normal rectal mucosa, and decreased significantly after radiotherapy. So radiotherapy can inhibit early events of carcinogenesis of mucosa nearby tumor. It was the potential reason of increased rates of resection and sphincter-saving after radiotherapy.</p>

Effect of preoperative radiotherapy as an adjunctive approach on proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells in rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of preoperative radiotherapy as an adjunctive approach on proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells in rectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients with (p)TNM stage II or III rectal cancer were enrolled from April 2000 to December 2002. The patients were divided into two groups, which were group received surgical treatment alone (40 cases) and group received preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy with a radiological dose of 40 G( y ) (40 cases). The expression of Ki- 67 protein in rectal cancer was detected immunohistochemically and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In radiotherapy group, the tumor volume shrank markedly in 14 cases, partially in 18,slightly in 8 with an overall efficiency rate of 80% .There was significant positive correlation between spontaneous apoptosis and Ki- 69 marker index in cancer tissues before radiotherapy(gamma =0.563P=0.027). The expression of Ki- 67 in rectal cancer tissues was significantly lower after radiotherapy than that before radiotherapy, as well as in the control group(P=0.017 vs. P=0.011).The expression of Ki- 67 in paratumor tissues 2cm from tumor was significantly lower after radiotherapy than that before radiotherapy. Apoptosis index (AI) in rectal cancer tissues was significantly higher after radiotherapy than that before radiotherapy, and that in the control group (P=0.013 vs. P=0.018).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Radiotherapy can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of rectal cancer cells. The expression level of Ki- 67 can be considered as a screening index for preoperative radiotherapy.</p>

Expression of survivin in human gastric adenocarcinomas: correlation with proliferation and apoptosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and significance of survivin, ki-67 and apoptosis index in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical SP method for survivin expression as well as cell proliferative index (ki-67) and apoptosis index (TUNEL) was conducted on 120 gastric adenocarcinomas.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survivin was detected in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells in 59 (49.17%) of the 120 gastric adenocarcinomas, in 32 (64.00%) of the lymph node metastasis, and in 21 (17.50%) of the 120 basal layer in normal gastric mucosa, respectively. The mean proliferative index (ki-67) in primary tumors was 7.55%, which was significantly lower than the mean proliferative index of 8.34% observed in lymph node metastasis. The mean apoptosis index in primary tumors was 1.16%, which was significantly higher than the mean apoptosis index of 0.89% observed in lymph node metastasis. The frequency of survivin expression was significantly higher in lymph node metastasis than in primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Expression of survivin was significantly correlated with histological subtypes, the depth of invasion, or lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation between weighted survivin score and apoptosis index (P < 0.05), but no correlation with proliferative index.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high level expression of survivin might be a referenced indicator in evaluating differentiation of tumor and in predicting lymph nodes metastasis and estimating apoptosis index.</p>