Autologous cytokine-induced killer cells therapy on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy: a prospective study / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of autologous cytokine-induced killer cells on the quality of life in patient with breast cancer who have already finished the adjuvant chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-eight postoperative patients with breast cancer who underwent anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this prospective study, and they were randomized into 2 groups, i.e., treatment group, which received the therapy of CIK cells transfusion, and control group, which was given regular follow-up. Meanwhile, patients with positive hormone receptor in the two groups were given endocrine therapy, and the patients with positive axillary lymph nodes were given radiotherapy to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes. The difference of quality of life between the two groups was analyzed according to the EORTC QLQ-BR53 quality of life questionnaire, and the adverse reactions were monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As regarding the functional evaluation, the physical function scores of patients of the treatment group were (83.43 ± 14.87) and (88.55 ± 11.62) at 3 and 6 months after the CIK cell therapy, respectively, significantly higher than the baseline value [(74.83 ± 13.82), P < 0.05)]. Global health status/QOL scores were (83.30 ± 19.09) and (89.68 ± 10.81), significantly higher than the baseline value [(77.72 ± 21.05), P < 0.05]. As regarding symptoms, the scores of fatigue, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite of patients in the treatment group were higher than the baseline value, with significant differences (P < 0.05). The nausea and vomiting scores in the control group at 3 and 6 months of followed-up were (26.67 ± 22.56) and (21.47 ± 21.06), significantly lower than the baseline values [(33.31 ± 27.07), P < 0.05]. The scores of worrying about the future in the patients of treatment group were (47.56 ± 30.84) and (42.33 ± 26.95) after 3 and 6 months, significantly better than the baseline value [(57.41 ± 30.63), P < 0.05]. The systematic therapy side effects scores were (31.95 ± 27.52) and (23.72 ± 22.87), significantly better than the baseline value [(40.56 ± 26.28), P < 0.05]. The scores of arm edema were (45.26 ± 25.42) and (36.61 ± 20.51), significantly milder than the baseline value [(55.11 ± 22.82), P < 0.05]. In the control group, the scores of arm edema were (44.85 ± 28.94) and (38.64 ± 23.68), significantly lower than the baseline values [(53.26 ± 23.84) points, P < 0.05]. Alopecia scores were (29.93 ± 24.72) and (24.18 ± 22.66), significantly lower than the baseline values [(35.92 ± 22.08), P < 0.05]. In the treatment group, the patients' physical function, social function and global health status/QOL, fatigue, insomnia, and worrying about the future rates were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05 for all). Three patients after CIK reinfusion had transient fever, and 6 cases felt pain in the lower limb, but the symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Therapy of autologous CIK cells transfusion can significantly improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients, and the adverse reactions during the treatment can be alleviated by symptomatic treatment.</p>

The construction of siRNA plasmid targeting mouse HIF-1alpha and in vitro study of its inhibition effect / 神经科学通报·英文版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct effective RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene and testify their effects and specificities in interfering HIF-1alpha expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene, pBS/U6/HIF-1alpha-siRNAI~III, were constructed and identified using double digestion method in the present study. RT-PCR, immunostaining and western blotting were employed to detect the expression alterations of HIF-1alpha in 293T cells following transfections of the three plasmids, respectively. The interference effect of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II in SH-SY5Y cell line was further investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the three RNA-interference plasmids, especially pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II, showed significant inhibition in HIF-1alpha expression in 293T cell line. pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II could also inhibit HIF-1alpha expression in SH-SY5Y cell line, in a dose-dependent way.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasmid pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II constructed in our study can effectively and specifically inhibit HIF-1alpha expression, and its role in neural tube development and dysfunction will be further investigated. Construct of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II plasmid will provide a useful tool to study the role of HIF-1 pathway in embryogenesis, oncogenesis and ischemia development.</p>