Expression analysis of mRNA and proteins related to angiogenesis following management with cytotoxic agents in gynecologic cancer cell lines / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is central role to both the proliferation and metastasis of malignant tumor. The intense interest in angiogenesis has also lead to a re-examination of the activity of established cytotoxic agents which are known to be an antiangiogenic effect anecdotally. In this study, anti-angiogenic effect of cisplatin, paclitaxel and thalidomide was evaluated in human ovarian cancer cell lines and cervical cancer cell line. METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cell line A2780, cisplatin resistant human ovarian cancer cell line A2780-CDDP, human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, and squamous cell uterine cervical carcinoma cell line SiHa were used to evaluate the level of mRNA and protein expression of VEGF, bFGF and TSP-1, 2 before and after the treatment with cisplatin, paclitaxel, and thalidomide using RT-PCR, protein extraction, and Western blot. The results were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test in the SAS ver 8.1. RESULTS: Targeted mRNAs were synthesized as 212 bp VEGF, 238 bp bFGF, and 492 bp band sized except mRNA of TSP-2 via RT-PCR. The protein of VEGF and bFGF were appeared as 21KDa and 17 KDa size, however, the protein of TSP-1 was not appeared through western blot. No effect of cisplatin on protein expression was measured in these cell lines, but paclitaxel influenced the expression of bFGF in MCF-7 cell line and the expression of TSP-1 in MCF-7 and SiHa cell lines. TSP-1 expression was influenced by thalidomide in A2780 cell line. The protein expression of VEGF and bFGF were not influenced following treatment with cisplatin, paclitaxel, and thalidomide. CONCLUSION: These results were suggested that bFGF and TSP-1 will be used as a target gene for the assay of antiangiogenic effect of paclitaxel in breast and uterine cervical cancer tissue and TSP-1 will be used as that of thalidomide in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, thalidomide will be tried as an adjunctive agent for the improvement of the survival in the case of the patient with ovarian cancer.

Clinical significance of ascitic p53 autoantibodies as a prognostic factor in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: A study was to assess the prognostic significance of ascitic anti-p53 autoantibodies in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: Retrospective study was peformed in 43 ovarian carcinoma patients who presented with a significant amount of ascites at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hanyang University Hospital between 1991 to 2000. p53 autoantibodies were determined by highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (p53-Autoantibody ELISAplus, CAT QI A53, A CN Bioscience Company, Boston). The 'positive' and 'negative' group were categorized on the basis of the presence of anti-p53 autoantibodies. The clinicopathologic characteristics, disease free survival and overall survival rate in each groups were compared. Statistical analysis was performed by X2 and independent sample t-test. RESULT: Ascitic anti-p53 autoantibodies were found in 16% (7/43) of the study patients. The positive rates were revealed as follows : serous 15% (2/13), mucinous 11% (2/17), undifferentiated, 42% (3/7) in histologic type ; stage I/II5% (1/21), III/IV 27% (6/16); grade I/II12% (3/26), III 24% (4/17). There was no correlation between clinicopathologic characteristics and the presence of ascitic anti-p53 autoantibodies except the stage of disease. The overall survival rate revealed no significant statistical meaning (20.0 vs 35.7 months, p=0.492). In contrast, disease free survival rate was decreased in positive group. (10.0 vs 24.7 months, p=0.032). A significance association was observed between presence of ascitic anti-p53 autoantibody and response to chemotherapy. Ascitic anti-p53 autoantibodies were detected in only 3 (16%) of 18 patients who achieved pathological partial and complete response, but it was detected in 3 (75%) of 4 patients who did not respond to chemotherapy (p=0.046). CONCLUSION: The presence of p53 autoantibodies in ascites is tend to be associated with advanced stage and poorly differentiated group. A significant correlation was observed between presence of ascitic p53 autoantibodies and decrease in disease free survival rate suggesting that it is related to poor prognosis. Moreover, presence of ascitic p53 autoantibodies was also related to chemoresistance. But since this study is retrospective and based on very limited case, further study is warranted to be performed prospectively and based on larger number of study group.

Primary Pulmonary Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report / 대한흉부외과학회지

The incidence of pulmonary leiomyosarcoma as primary lung tumor is very rare. Most of the primary leiomyosarcomas originate in the hilar region in relation to the main bronchus or pulmonary vessels and only a few originate more peripherally. This rare tumor can mimic bronchial carcinoma and present with local or systemic symptoms, or it may be discovered as an incidental finding on a routine chest X-ray. We report with review of literature, a case of incidental primary pulmonary leiomyosarcoma which originated peripherally. Huge mass was found on the left lung of a 61-year-old man on the chest X-ray peripherally. He underwent the surgical resection of the left pneumonectomy and the postoperative course was uneventful.