Prognostic analysis of transarterial chemoembolization combined with a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most widely used primary treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its survival benefit, though its clinical effect is still far from satisfactory. Jiedufang (JDF) granule preparation is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine formula for HCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined therapy with TACE and JDF granule preparation in treatment of unresectable HCC on survival.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study of TACE was performed in 165 patients with unresectable HCC who were admitted between January 2002 and December 2007 in Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China. Of the 165 patients, 80 patients (study group) received combined therapy consisting of TACE and a long-term maintenance treatment with oral JDF granule preparation, and the remaining 85 patients (control group) received TACE alone. The survival rates of both groups were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors possibly affecting survival were assessed by multivariate analysis in the Cox proportional hazard model, such as maximum tumor size, number of lesions, portal vein invasion, and etc.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median overall survival was 9.2 months (95% CI: 6.94 - 11.46) in the study group versus 5.87 months (95% CI: 4.21 - 7.52) in the control group. In the study group,survival rates of the 1-, 2- and 3-year follow-up were 41.2%, 18.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. Significant independent prognostic factors identified by the Cox regression analysis were as follows: serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (P = 0.014), maximum tumor size (P = 0.027), number of lesions (P < 0.001), portal vein invasion (P < 0.001), and the therapy model (P = 0.006).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination therapy of TACE and JDF granule preparation may significantly prolong survival of patients with unresectable HCC.</p>

Anti-hepatocarcinoma effect of recombinant adenovirus carrying melittin gene / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find a new method of treating hepatocellular carcinoma with melittin by way of using the melittin gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant adenoviruses carrying the melittin gene and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter (Ad-rAFP-Mel) were constructed through a bacterial homologous recombinant system. The efficiency of the adenovirus mediated gene transfer and the inhibition effect of Ad-rAFP-Mel on the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells were determined by X-gal staining and MTT assay respectively. The tumorigenicity of hepatocarcinoma cells transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel and the antitumor effect of Ad-rAFP-Mel on the transplanted tumors in nude mice were detected in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA of the melittin gene was transcripted in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells transducted by Ad-rAFP-Mel. The efficiency of adenovirus mediated gene transfered to BEL-7402 hepatocarcinoma cells was 100% when the multiplicities of infection (MOI) of Ad-rAFP-Mel was 10 in vitro and was high in vivo as well. The inhibitive rates of Ad-rAFP-Mel and Ad-rAFP for BEL7402 cells were 66.2%+/-2.7% and 2.9%+/-2.3% (t = 30.83) by MTT assay. The inhibitive rates of Ad-CMV-Mel for BEL7402, SMMC7721 and L02 cells were 58.9%+/-9.6%, 65.9%+/-3.8%, 31.7%+/-1.2%, respectively, and those of the Ad-rAFP-Mel were 6.2%+/-2.7%, 16.1%+/-6.6%, 7.5%+/-3.3%, respectively (t = 1.27; t = 11.31, and t = 12.12, vs. Ad-CMV-Mel group in same cells). The tumorigenicity rates of hepatocarcinoma cells transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel were decreased. A significant antineoplastic effect was detectd on transplanted tumor in nude mice by intratumoral injection of Ad-rAFP-Mel.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ad-rAFP-Mel can inhibit specifically the proliferation of AFP-producing human hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. It suggests that animal toxin gene can be used as an interesting antitumor gene.</p>

The induced apoptosis of recombinant adenovirus carrying melittin gene for hepatocellular carcinoma cell / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the induced apoptosis of recombinant adenovirus carrying melittin gene (Ad-rAFP-Mel) for hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (BEL-7402).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The morphological observe, DNA electrophoresis, TUNEL and Flow cytometry assay were used to study the apoptosis of BEL-7042 cell line transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The morphological changes and apoptosis of BEL-7402 transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel were confirmed with microscopy and DNA electrophoresis, TUNEL, Flow cytometry assay. The DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis in Ad-rAFP-Mel group. The apoptosis rates of BEL-7402 cells in Ad-rAFP-Mel, Ad-rAFP, and control groups were (21.5+/-2.4)%, (10.5+/-4.4)% and (3.0+/-1.4)% respectively by TUNEL assay (F = 38.0, P < 0.05) and were (7.3+/-0.5)%, (3.9+/-0.1)% and (0.8+/-0.1)% respectively by flow cytometry assay (F = 415.1, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It seems that melittin inducing apoptosis might be one of the antitumor mechanisms.</p>

Experimental study of the inhibitory effects of biotic royal jelly on the growth of ascitic hepatoma cell H22 in mice / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effects of biotic royal jelly on the ascitic hepatoma cell H22. Methods: Mice bearing H22 tumor were fed on different types of royal jelly: No.1, 2 and 3. Their anti-tumor effects were observed in vivo. The general royal jelly and normal saline were observed as control. Results: Among these biotic royal jelly, the biotic royal jelly No.1 showed obvious tumor-inhibiting and survival-prolonging effects. In addition, it increased the number of WBC and augmented the amount of IL-2 and IFN-γ; the pathological study also indicated the denaturing and necrosis of most tumor cells with nuclei constraining and cell membrane rupturing, and large amount of lymphocytes and plasmacytes infiltrating around the mass. Conclusion: The No.1 biotic royal jelly has obvious anti-tumor effect, and it may take effects by inhibiting or killing tumor cells and improving the immunity of the host.

Experimental study of the inhibitory effects of biotic royal jelly on the growth of ascitic hepatoma cell H22 in mice / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effects of biotic royal jelly on the ascitic hepatoma cell H22. Methods: Mice bearing H22 tumor were fed on different types of royal jelly: No.1, 2 and 3. Their anti-tumor effects were observed in vivo. The general royal jelly and normal saline were observed as control. Results: Among these biotic royal jelly, the biotic royal jelly No.1 showed obvious tumor-inhibiting and survival-prolonging effects. In addition, it increased the number of WBC and augmented the amount of IL-2 and IFN-γ; the pathological study also indicated the denaturing and necrosis of most tumor cells with nuclei constraining and cell membrane rupturing, and large amount of lymphocytes and plasmacytes infiltrating around the mass. Conclusion: The No.1 biotic royal jelly has obvious anti-tumor effect, and it may take effects by inhibiting or killing tumor cells and improving the immunity of the host.