The Clinical Implications of Death Domain-Associated Protein (DAXX) Expression

BACKGROUND: Death domain-associated protein (DAXX), originally identified as a pro-apoptotic protein, is now understood to be either a pro-apoptotic or an anti-apoptotic factor with a chromatin remodeler, depending on the cell type and context. This study evaluated DAXX expression and its clinical implications in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 60 cases of esophageal squamous carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically. An immune reaction with more than 10% of tumor cells was interpreted as positive. Positive reactions were sorted into 2 groups: reactions in 11%–50% of tumor cells and reactions in more than 51% of tumor cells, and the correlations between expression and survival and clinical prognosticators were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-three of the 60 cases (71.7%) showed strong nuclear DAXX expression, among which 19 cases showed a positive reaction (31.7%) in 11%–50% of tumor cells, and 24 cases (40.0%) showed a positive reaction in more than 51% of tumor cells. A negative reaction was found in 17 cases (28.3%). These patterns of immunostaining were significantly associated with the N stage (p=0.005) and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (p=0.001), but overall survival showed no significant difference. There were no correlations of DAXX expression with age, gender, or T stage. However, in stage IIB (p=0.046) and stage IV (p=0.014) disease, DAXX expression was significantly correlated with survival. CONCLUSION: This investigation found upregulation of DAXX in esophageal cancer, with a 71.7% expression rate. DAXX immunostaining could be used in clinical practice to predict aggressive tumors with lymph node metastasis in advanced-stage disease, especially in stages IIB and IV.

Induction of ER Stress-Mediated Apoptosis by alpha-Lipoic Acid in A549 Cell Lines

BACKGROUND: alpha-Lipoic acid (alpha-LA) has been studied as an anticancer agent as well as a therapeutic agent for diabetes and obesity. We performed this study to evaluate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of alpha-LA in a lung cancer cell line, A549. MATERIALS AND METHODS: alpha-LA-induced apoptosis of A549 cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and a DNA fragmentation assay. Expression of apoptosis-related genes was analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses. RESULTS: alpha-LA induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. alpha-LA increased caspase activity and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. It induced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes, such as glucose-regulated protein 78, C/EBP-homologous protein, and the short form of X-box binding protein-1, and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced by alpha-LA, and the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine decreased the alpha-LA-induced increase in expression of apoptosis and ER stress-related proteins. CONCLUSION: alpha-LA induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells via ROS. alpha-LA may therefore be clinically useful for treating lung cancer.

Trachea, Esophagus, and Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Stab Wound: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Simultaneous occurrence of the trachea, esophagus, and spinal cord injuries due to stabbing is rare. The incidence is decreasing, but early diagnosis and surgical treatment is important because it can be life-threatening. We present one case of simultaneous trachea, esophagus, and spinal cord injury caused by self-stabbing complicated with paraplegia.

Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency due to Intracardiac Migration of a Stent Inserted into Rt. Subclavian Vein to the Right Ventricle after the Treatment of Central Venous Stenosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

Two stents were placed across the right subclavian vein due to stenosis of the right subclavian vein in a 40-year-old patient with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. During the follow up period, one of stents migrated into the right ventricle inducing tricuspid valve insufficiency. Percutaneous stent removal had failed and the stent was removed by open heart surgery with Tricuspid valve repair with a good result, and then we report the case.

Tumorigenesis after Injection of Lung Cancer Cell Line (SW-900 G IV) into the Pleural Cavity of Nude Mice / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Base on types of tumor, the types of expressed tumor is diverse and the difference in its expression rate is even more various. Due to such reasons an animal model is absolutely needed for a clinical research of lung cancer. The author attempted oncogenesis by cultivating a cell line of non-small cell carcinoma and then injecting it inside thoracic cavities of nude mice. The author conducted quantitative analyses of HER2/neu tumor gene - an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) related to lung cancer, and TGF-beta1, which acts as a resistance to cell growth inhibition and malignant degeneration. In order to investigate achievability of the oncogenesis, histological changes and the expression of cancer gene in case of orthotopic lung cancer is necessary. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 20 immunity-free male BALB/c, five nude mice were selected as the control group and rest as the experimental group. Their weights ranged from 20 to 25 gm (Orient, Japan). After injection of lung cancer line (SW900 G IV) into the pleural cavity of nude mice, They were raised at aseptic room for 8 weeks. HER2/neu was quantitatively analyzed by separating serum from gathered blood via chemiluminiscent immunoassay (CLIA), and immunosandwitch method was applied to quantitatively analyze TGF-beta1 SPSS statistical program (SPSS Version 10.0, USA) was implemented for statistical analysis. Student T test was done, and cases in which p-value is less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULT: Even after lung cancer was formed in the normal control group or after intentionally injected lung cancer cell line, no amplification of HER2/neu gene showed reaction. However, the exact quantity of TGF-beta1was 28,490+/-8,549 pg/mL, and the quantity in the group injected with lung cancer cell was 42,362+/-14,449 pg/mL, meaning 1.48 times highly significant (p<0.483). It proved that HER2/neu gene TGF-beta1had no meaningful interconnection. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta1gene expressed approximately 1.48 times amplification in comparison to the control group. The amplification of TGF-beta1meant somatic recuperation inhibition mechanism due to carcinogenesis in nude mice was definitely working. It may be implemented as a quantitative analysis that allows early detection of lung cancer in human body.