Effect of 5-fluorouracil in combination with Astragalus membranaceus on amino acid metabolism in mice model of gastric carcinoma / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of 5-fluorouracil-FU in combination with astragalus membranaceus(AM) on amino acid metabolism in mice model of gastric carcinoma induced by 3-methylcholanthrene(MC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice gastric carcinoma models were established by 3-methylcholanthrene induction and randomly divided into different groups, and received 5-FU treatment (group A) 5-FU plus AM (group B), 5-FU plus a high dose of AM(group C), no treatment (group D). Normal mice were used as control (group N). Free amino acid in the tumor specimens were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of free Valine, Methionine, Leucine, Arginine and cystine in the tumor specimens in group D were significantly higher than that in group N(P< 0.05). The levels of free serine in group A, B, C, D were significantly higher than that in group N. The levels of free glutamic acid in group A, B were significantly higher than that in group N(P< 0.05). The levels of free proline in group C, D were significantly higher than that in group P, N(P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The increasing levels of free serine and proline in tumor specimens in gastric cancer mice model reveals metabolic disturbance of amino acid. 5-FU plus astragalus membranaceus can decrease the level of free glutamic acid in the mice models, and inhibit tumor growth.</p>

A study on correlation of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer to vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and fibronectin / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin- 2 and fibronectin (FN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The transcription and expression of VEGF, angiopoietin- 2 and FN were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (SQRT- PCR) and immunohistochemical staining in the specimens from sixty patients with colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA transcription and expression levels of VEGF, angiopoietin- 2 and FN in colorectal cancer tissues were obviously higher than those in paratumor normal tissues P< 0.05. The transcription and expression levels of VEGF were correlated with tumor invasion P< 0.05,Dukes' stage P< 0.05,and lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis P< 0.05. Angiopoietin expression and transcription levels were correlated with tumor differentiation. The expression of FN in extra cellular matrix (ECM) was significantly higher (P< 0.05),whereas ECM in basement membrane was significantly lower in cancer tissues than that in paratumor normal tissues (P< 0.05),which both were correlated with tumor invasion P< 0.05,Dukes' stage P< 0.05,and lymph node metastasis P< 0.05. Absence of FN protein in basement membrane was also correlated with hepatic metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Colorectal cancer cells can secrete VEGF and contribute to metastasis and proliferation of tumor by stimulating the growth of tumor vessel. Both of VEGF and angiopoietin- 2 contribute to angiogenesis and the decrease of FN in basement membrane of cancer tissue is an important primary factor of hepatic metastasis.</p>