Cannabinoid receptor 1 controls nerve growth in ectopic cyst in a rat endometriosis model / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is involved in nerve growth in endometriosis-associated ectopic cyst.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effect of CB1R agonist and antagonist on the expression of pan-neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 in ectopic cyst was examined by immunofluorescence and Western blot in endometriosis model of 18 rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunofluorescence revealed that PGP 9.5 was expressed in the nerve fibers and was mainly distributed in the cyst hilum. Western blot revealed that the protein density of either PGP 9.5 (2 week: 0.38 ± 0.05; 4 week: 0.63 ± 0.03; 8 week: 0.80 ± 0.07, P < 0.01) or CB1R (2 week: 0.48 ± 0.04; 4 week: 0.68 ± 0.01; 8 week: 0.80 ± 0.03, P < 0.01) in the ectopic cyst increased with cyst size. In addition, compared to control group (0.75 ± 0.01), PGP 9.5 expression in the ectopic cyst was promoted by CB1R agonist ACPA (0.81 ± 0.01, P < 0.05), and inhibited by CB1R antagonist AM251 (0.67 ± 0.03, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CB1R was involved in the nerve growth of ectopic cyst associated with endometriosis.</p>

Expression of neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 and its clinicopathologic significance in breast cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of pan-neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP)9.5 and its clinicopathologic significance in breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of PGP9.5 was examined by immunohistochemistry EnVision method in 196 cases during 2007 to 2011, including 20 normal tissues, 14 cases of fibroadenoma, 18 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 144 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. The relationship between PGP9.5 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics of IDC was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PGP9.5 expression was localized in the stroma of all normal breast tissues, but there was no expression observed in all fibroadenomas and DCIS. Overall, the expression rate of PGP9.5 in IDC was 61.8% (89/144). PGP9.5 expression increased from grade 1 tumors (29.4%, 10/34) to grade 2-3 tumors (71.8%, 79/110; P = 0.000). In addition, patients with less than 3 years disease-free survival tended to show higher PGP9.5 expression (64.8%, 35/54), compared to patients with equal to and/or more than 3 years disease-free survival (46.7%, 42/90; P = 0.035). However, there was no correlation between PGP9.5 expression and tumor size, tumor stage, lymph metastasis, hormone receptor expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PGP9.5 expression is correlated with tumor grade and prognosis in IDC of the breast.</p>

Prognostic significance of NADPH quinine oxidoreductase 1 overexpression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the significance of NADPH quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protein overexpression on prognostic evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NQO1 protein was detected in 162 of HNSCC, 45 cases of adjacent nontumor tissues and 26 samples of normal head and neck epithelia using EnVision immunohistochemical. Correlation between NQO1 overexpression and patients prognosis was also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate and strongly positive rate of NQO1 protein were 84.0% (136/162) and 69.8% (113/162) in HNSCC, respectively, and both of which were significantly higher than either those in adjacent nontumor tissues and normal head and neck epithelia (both P < 0.01). NQO1 expression was significantly correlated with the clinical stage, pT and chemoradiotherapy of HNSCC (P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that overall survival and disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in HNSCC patients with high level NQO1 expression than that those with low level of NQO1 expression (Log-rank = 6.625 , P = 0.010;Log-rank = 6.234 , P = 0.013). Additional analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that high level of NQO1 expression was an independent hazard predictor for overall survival of patients with HNSCC (Wald = 6.626, P = 0.008).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NQO1 expression level is closely correlated with the progression and prognosis of patients with HNSCC. High level of NQO1 expression may be used as an important indicator for patients with poor prognostic HNSCC.</p>

The Expression of Apolipoprotein D in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein D (Apo D) has recently been identified as a novel tumor suppressor gene. Apo D may have a profound effect on the carcinogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was designed to evaluate the expression of Apo D in hepatocellular carcinoma and to investigate the relationship between the expression of Apo D and the clinicopathological characteristics and the patients' survival. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed on the tumors and tissues from 43 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with controls to determine the expression of Apo D protein. RESULTS: Our data showed that a higher expression of Apo D was seen in 10 of 43 cases (23.3%), while a lower and no expression of Apo D was observed in 28 of 43 cases (65.1%) and 5 of 43 cases (11.6%), respectively. A reduced expression of Apo D was correlated with the tumor stage (p = 0.037) and tumor size (p = 0.017). However, the patients' 5-year survival was not associated with the expression of Apo D (p = 0.903). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a reduced Apo D protein expression may play an important role in HCC progression as associated with the tumor stage and size, but it does not affect the survival of HCC patients.

Enhanced Protein Expression of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 and Protein Kinase Substrate p36 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and protein kinase substrate p36 may be involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and growth. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry for STAT3 and p36 was performed in 46 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RESULTS: STAT3 staining was present in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus, while p36 staining was present in the nucleus. STAT3 and p36 expression occurred in 78.3% (36/46) and 47.8% (22/46) of HCC patients, respectively. However, no correlation was found between STAT3 and p36 protein expression (p>0.05). Enhanced expression of STAT3 was negatively correlated with portal vein invasion (p=0.033). Expression of STAT3 in the nucleus was correlated with tumor grade (p=0.004). Enhanced expression of p36 was correlated with tumor grade (p=0.031). HCC was correlated with HBV infection (p=0.032). The patients'5-year survival was related to expression of p36 (p=0.044), but not to total STAT3 or nuclear STAT3 (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The enhanced expression of STAT3 in the nucleus and the enhanced expression of p36 are associated with the aggressive phenotype of HCC. Enhanced p36 expression may contribute to poor survival of patients with HCC.