ABSTRACT
There has been an ongoing search for clinically acceptable methods for the accurate,efficient and simple diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Optical spectroscopy is a technique with potential clinical applications to diagnose cancer diseases.The purpose of this study was to obtain the optical properties of HCC tissues and non-tumorous hepatic tissues and identify the difference between them.A total of 55 tissue samples (HCC tissue,n=38; non-tumorous hepatic tissue,n=17)were surgically resected from patients with HCC.The optical parameters were measured in 10-nm steps using single-integrating-sphere system in the wavelength range of 400 to 1800 nm.It was found that the optical properties and their differences varied with the wavelength for the HCC tissue and the non-tumorous hepatic tissue in the entire wavelength range of research.The absorption coefficient of the HCC tissue (1.48±0.99,1.46±0.88,0.86±0.61,2.15±0.53,0.54±0.10,0.79±0.15 mm-1) was significantly lower than that of the non-tumorous hepatic tissue (2.79±1.73,3.13±1.47,3.06±2.79,2.57±0.55,0.62±0.10,0.93±0.16 mm-1) at wavelengths of 400,410,450,1450,1660 and 1800 nm,respectively (P＜0.05).The reduced scattering coefficient of HCC tissue (5.28±1.70,4.91±1.54,1.26±0.35 mm-1) and non-tumorous hepatic tissue (8.14±3.70,9.27±3.08,2.55±0.57 mm-1) was significantly different at 460,500 and 1800 nm respectively (P＜0.05).These results show different pathologic liver tissues have different optical properties.It provides a better understanding of the relationship between optical parameters and physiological characteristics in human liver tissues.And it would be very useful for developing a non-invasive,real-time,simple and efficient way for medical management of HCC in the future.
ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the effect of replication-incompetent adenovirus vector expressing MDA-7/IL-24 on tumor growth and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721 and normal liver cell line L02, the recombinant replication-incompetent Ad.mda-7 virus vector was constructed and infected into the HCC cell line SMMC-7721 and normal liver cell line L02. RT-PCR was performed to examine the expression of MDA-7 mRNA. The concentrations of MDA-7/IL-4 in culture supernatants were determined by using ELISA. MTT and Hoechst staining assay were applied to observe the inhibitory and killing effects of MDA-7 on the HCC cells. By using flow cytometry, the apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation of SMMC-7721 and L02 cells were meas- ured. The results showed recombinant replication-incompetent virus expressing MDA-7/IL-24 was constructed successfully, and RT-PCR revealed that it could mediate the high expression of the ex- ogenous gene MDA-7/IL-24 in SMMC-7721 and L02 cells. The expression of MDA-7/IL24 proteins in the culture supernatant was detectable by ELISA. Ad.mda-7 infection induced apoptosis and growth suppression in SMMC-7721 cells and an increased percentage of HCC cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, but not in L02 cells. It was concluded that mda-7/IL-24 gene, mediated with replication-incompetent adenovirus vector, could selectively induce growth suppression and apoptosis in HCC cell line SMMC-7721 but without any toxic side-effect on normal liver line L02.
ABSTRACT
The effect of targeted magnetic nanoparticles on hepatoma and the underlying mechanism were examined. Nude mice transplanted with a human hepatoma cell line (HepG2 cells) were randomized into 5 groups, including: (1) group A, receiving normal saline, (2) group B, receiving5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), (3) group C, receiving magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-Fu, (4) group D,consisting of treatment with magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-Fu and inside magnetic field and (5)group E, receiving pure magnetic nanoparticles and inside magnetic field. Morphological features of transplanted tumors in mice in each group were observed under transmission electron microscope(TEM). The expression of bcl-2/bax protein was immunohistochemically detected by SABC method.The results showed that a large number of apoptotic tumor cells were found in group B and group D under TEM. The expression of bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased and the expression of bax protein increased significantly in both group B and D as compared with those in group A, C and E(P＜0.01 for all). The decrease in bcl-2 and the increase in bax were more in group D as compared with group B (P＜0.01). It is concluded that the targeted magnetic nanoparticles containing 5-Fu can improve the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-Fu by decreasing bcl-2 expression, increasing bax expression and inducing apoptosis of the liver cancer cells.