Age and menopausal status are important factors influencing the serum human epididymis secretory protein 4 level: a prospective cross-sectional study in healthy Chinese people / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) is a new ovarian cancer biomarker. The factors influencing HE4 levels are not clear, and the reference data in China are limited. Here, we aim to evaluate the effects of menopause and age on HE4 levels and to provide a possible reference value for HE4 in healthy Chinese people.@*METHODS@#A total of 2493 healthy females aged 40 years or older were recruited from March 2013 to March 2017 with the cooperation of four medical institutions across Beijing, China. The serum levels of HE4 and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test of variance and a stratified analysis were used to analyze the relationships among age, menopausal status, and levels of HE4 or CA125. Confidence intervals (5%-95%) were determined for reference ranges in different populations.@*RESULTS@#There was a statistically significant difference in median HE4 levels between the post-menopausal (n = 2168) and pre-menopausal groups (n = 325) (36.46 vs. 24.04 pmol/L, Z = -14.41, P < 0.001). HE4 increased significantly with age in the post-menopausal groups (H = 408.18, P < 0.001) but not in the pre-menopausal subjects (Z = -0.43, P = 0.67). The upper 95th percentile of HE4 levels were 44.63 pmol/L for pre-menopausal women, 78.17 pmol/L for post-menopausal women, and 73.3 pmol/L for all women. In the post-menopausal population, the HE4 reference ranges were 13.15 to 47.31, 14.31 to 58.04, 17.06 to 73.51, 24.50 to 115.25, and 35.71 to 212.37 pmol/L for different age groups from forty divided by decade. The CA125 level was affected mainly by menopausal status and not age.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Menopausal status and age were both important factors influencing the level of HE4, and age affected HE4 levels mainly in post-menopausal women. The HE4 level was higher in the post-menopausal population than in the pre-menopausal population and increased with age.

Identification of Artemisiae Annuae Herba Based on Algorithm for Diversity of XML Tree Map / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To study and create the algorithm for the diversity (AD) of extensible markup language (XML) tree map, and provide a new tool for the identification of Artemisiae Annuae Herba. Method: According to the literature research, the key information of Artemisiae Annuae Herba was selected from the macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic information, etc. Based on the key information, the relevant upper standards of domestic and foreign professional fields were cited to assign the unique identification independent of language for each data element, and the coding rules of relevant data elements were established. The digital coding technology was applied to the flexible structure editor, and the tree map was created, which could be returned as the 5th version of hypertext markup language (HTML5) or XML format. Based on the diversity related algorithms, the authors innovatively developed the AD of XML tree map of Artemisiae Annuae Herba, which took into account both of topology and semantics, and the expression model of related mathematical functions of Artemisiae Annuae Herba was established. By comparing the calculation results with the reality, the algorithm model was debugged continuously until the convergence of the core-culvert algorithm model. Result: Through the research on AD, the diversity between two XML tree maps could be calculated, and the discrimination or identification model of Artemisiae Annuae Herba also could be finally optimized and established. After calculation and analysis of the tested tree maps, the effective rate of the model was 100%. Conclusion: In this study, the establishment of the AD of XML tree map can effectively assist in the identification of Artemisiae Annuae Herba, which provides certain technical support and theoretical guidance for the research on intelligent application of traditional Chinese medicine.

Evaluation of Circulating Endometrial Cells as a Biomarker for Endometriosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Circulating endometrial cells (CECs) have been reported to be present in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis (EM), providing clear and specific evidence of the presence of ectopic lesions. In this study, we established a method with a high detection rate of CECs, assessed the diagnostic value of CECs for EM and compared with serum CA125, and proposed a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of EM from the new perspective of CECs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The participants were enrolled prospectively from October 2015 to July 2016. The peripheral blood samples were collected from 59 participants, and the blood cells were isolated for immunofluorescence staining via microfluidic chips. The cells that were positive for vimentin/cytokeratin and estrogen/progesterone receptor and negative for CD45 were identified as CECs. The serum CA125 level was tested with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection rate of CECs reached 89.5% (17/19) in the EM group, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (15.0% [6/40], P < 0.001) and was independent of menstrual cycle phases. Furthermore, a positive CEC assay detected 4/5 cases of Stage I-II EM. In contrast, a positive CA125 test had limited value in detecting EM (13/19, 68.4%) and detected only one case of Stage I-II EM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CECs are promising biomarkers for EM with great potential for a noninvasive diagnostic assay.</p>

Low programmed cell death 5 expression is a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ovarian cancer is a leading gynecological malignancy. We investigated the prognostic value of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) in patients with ovarian cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression levels of PDCD5 mRNA and protein were examined in six ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, CAOV3, ES2, OV1, 3AO, and HOC1A) and one normal ovarian epithelial cell line (T29) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. After inducing PDCD5 induction in SKOV3 cells or treating this cell line with taxol or doxorubicin (either alone or combined), apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining. Correlations between PDCD5 protein expression and pathological features, histological grade, FIGO stage, effective cytoreductive surgery, and serum cancer antigen-125 values were evaluated in patients with ovarian cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PDCD5 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in ovarian cancer cells. Recombinant human PDCD5 increased doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in SKOV3 cells (15.96 ± 2.07%, vs. 3.17 ± 1.45% in controls). In patients with ovarian cancer, PDCD5 expression was inversely correlated with FIGO stage, pathological grade, and patient survival (P < 0.05, R = 0.7139 for survival).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PDCD5 expression is negatively correlated with disease progression and stage in ovarian cancer. Therefore, measuring PDCD5 expression may be a good method of determining the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.</p>

Effect of human epididymis protein 4 gene silencing on the malignant phenotype in ovarian cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) has been proved to be a promising novel biomarker for the detection of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Compared with CA125, HE4 assay demonstrated an improved ability to discriminate between pelvic mass with malignant and benign disease. Though it is well known that HE4 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer, however, the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer remains unkown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, we explored the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer. We screened nine ovarian cancer cell lines for HE4 expression, and using RNA interference (RNAi), we silenced HE4 gene expression in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 ovarian cancer cell lines. We assessed the effect of HE4 gene silencing on the transformed phenotype by examining the cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation and transwell migration/invasion in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HE4 gene silencing induces G0/G1 arrest and blocks the progression from the G1 to S phase in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 cells. HE4 knockdown also inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SKOV3.ip1 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HE4 may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and promote ovarian cancer migration and invasion.</p>

Silencing of high mobility group A1 enhances gemcitabine chemosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) proteins are architectural transcription factors found to be overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a powerful tool for silencing endogenous or exogenous genes in human cancer cells. Our preliminary study shows that gemcitabine inhibits growth of the human lung cancer cell line SPCA-1 and induces apoptosis, and this effect might link with down-regulation of HMGA1 expression. This study aimed to investigate the chemosensitivity change of the lung adenocarcinoma cells SPCA-1 after HMGA1 inhibition by lentivirus-mediated RNAi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We studied a highly malignant lung adenocarcinoma cell line (SPCA-1 cells). Lentiviral short-hairpin RNA (shHMGA1) expression vectors targeting HMGA1 were used for generation of lentiviral particles. After being transfected into the lung adenocarcinoma cell line SPCA-1, the expression of HMGA1 was determined by retrotranscriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. The effect of gemcitabine on proliferation of positive and negative cells was observed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and clonogenic survival assay. Apoptosis was observed by flow cytometery. Chemosensitivity to gemcitabine was determined by IC50 analysis. Caspase activity was quantitated by a caspase colorimetric protease assay kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HMGA1-siRNA silenced its target mRNA specifically and effectively in SPCA-1 cells. The apoptotic rates of the scramble control group were (7.43 ± 0.21)%, (11.00 ± 0.20)%, and (14.93 ± 0.31)%, and the apoptotic rates in the silenced group were (9.53 ± 0.42)%, (16.67 ± 0.45)%, and (25.40 ± 0.79)% under exposure to 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µg/ml of gemcitabine (P < 0.05). The IC(50) of the silenced group was (0.309 ± 0.003) µg/ml which was significantly lower than in the scramble control group, (0.653 ± 0.003) µg/ml (P < 0.05). It reduced cancer cell proliferation and increased apoptotic cell death after being treated with gemcitabine compared with the scramble control group. HMGA1 silencing resulted in reduction in the phosphorylation of Akt, and promoted the activation of caspases 3, 8 and 9 upon exposure to gemcitabine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference of HMGA1 enhanced chemosensitivity to gemcitabine in lung adenocarcinoma cells. The mechanism may be associated with the PI-3K/Akt signal pathway. HMGA1 may represent a novel therapeutic target in lung cancer.</p>

Identification of active components in Styela clava by HPLC-eSI-Tof/MS and the study on their HPLC specific chromatograms / 药学学报

A new method based on high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-TOF/MS) was developed for the rapid identification of active compounds in Styela clava and the development of its specific chromatograms. Samples were extracted by ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and the extraction conditions were optimized. The developed HPLC-ESI-TOF/MS method was used to identify the components in Styela clava extract, and a specific chromatogram based on HPLC analysis was established. Ten compounds in Styela clava extract have been primary identified by HPLC-ESI-TOF/MS on-line detection combined with literature review. The result of similarity evaluation for specific chromatograms indicated that the quality of different Styela clava samples was not entirely consistent. This method has the advantages of simple operation, rapid measurement and it is a powerful tool for identification of active components in Styela clava and its quality control.

XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism is associated with the decreased response to platinum based chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Platinum-based chemotherapeutics are the most common regimens for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and genetic factors are thought to represent important determinants of drug efficacy. We prospectively assessed the status of the XPC Ala499Val and Lys939Gln gene polymorphisms and investigated whether these SNPs can predict the response to cisplatin/carboplatin-based regimens in advanced NSCLC patients in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The treatment outcomes of 96 advanced NSCLC patients who were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were evaluated. The polymorphic status of xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) gene was genotyped by the 3-D polyacrylamide gel-based DNA microarray method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distributions of XPC Lys939Gln genotypes differed significantly between the response group (complete + partial responses) and the non-response group (stable + progressive disease; P = 0.022). The heterozygous A/C genotype carriers had a poorer response rate than the wild A/A genotype carriers in stage III (OR, 0.074; 95%CI, 0.008 - 0.704; P = 0.023). The XPC Ala499Val polymorphisms were not associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polymorphisms of the XPC gene, Lys939Gln, may be a predictive marker of treatment response for advanced NSCLC patients in stage III.</p>

MDR reversal activity of bromotetrandrine in vitro and in vivo / 中国实验血液学杂志

The present study was aimed to evaluate the MDR reversal activity of bromotetrandrine (BrTet) in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effects of adriamycin (ADM) used alone or in combination with BrTet or Tet on the proliferation of K562 and K562/A02 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. The ADM accumulation and the protein levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) were detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of P-gp were determined by RT-PCR. The in vivo effect of BrTet and Tet was investigated by using nude mice grafted with sensitive human leukemia cell line K562 and MDR cell line K562/A02. The results showed that BrTet at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 micromol/L reversed the resistance to ADM in MDR K562/A02 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry suggested that BrTet significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of ADM in K562/A02 cells in a dose-dependent manner. BrTet also inhibited the overexpression of P-gp in K562/A02 cells, and down-regulated mdr1 expression. In nude mice bearing K562 xenografts on the left flank and K562/A02 xenografts on the right flank, intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg BrTet significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of ADM against K562/A02 xenografts with inhibitory rates of 26.1%, while ADM alone inhibited the growth of K562/A02 xenografts only by 5.8%. No enhancement effect by BrTet was seen in K562 xenografts. It is concluded that BrTet shows significant MDR reversal activity in vitro and in vivo. Its activity may be related to the inhibition of P-gp overexpression and the increase intracellular accumulation of anticancer drugs. BrTet may be a promising-MDR modulator for eventual assessment in the clinic.

Screening for genes associated with ovarian cancer prognosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.ip1 is more invasive and metastatic compared with its parental line SKOV3. A total of 17 000 human genome complementary DNA microarrays were used to compare the gene expression patterns of the two cell lines. Based on this, the gene expression profiles of 22 patients with ovarian cancer were analyzed by cDNA microarray, and screened the 2-fold differentially expressed genes compared with the normal ones. We screened genes relevant to clinical prognosis of serous ovarian cancer by determining the expression profiles of ovarian cancer genes to investigate cell receptor and immunity-associated genes, and as groundwork, identify ovarian cancer-associated antigens at the gene level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted from 22 patients with ovarian cancer and DNA microarrays were prepared. After scanning, hybridization signals were collected and the genes that were differentially expressed twice as compared with the normal ones were screened.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We screened 236 genes relevant to the prognosis of ovarian cancer from the 17 000 human genome cDNA microarrays. According to gene classification, 48 of the 236 genes were cell receptor or immunity-associated genes, including 2 genes related to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, 4 genes to histological grade, 18 genes to lymph node metastasis, 11 genes to residual disease, and 13 genes to the reactivity to chemotherapy. Several functionally important genes including fibronectin 1, pericentriolar material 1, beta-2-microglobulin, PPAR binding protein were identified through review of the literature.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cDNA microarray of ovarian cancer genes developed in this study was effective and high throughput in screening the ovarian cancer-associated genes differentially expressed. Through the studies of the cell receptor and immunity-associated genes we expect to identify the molecular biology index of ovarian cancer-associated antigens.</p>

Influence of tetrandrine on SORCIN gene expression in K562/A02 cell line / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the changes of soluble resistance-related calcium binding protein (sorcin) expression in reversion of multidrug resistance of K562/A02 leukemic cell line with different concentrations of tetrandrine (Tet), so as to provide a new theoretic evidence for clinical application of Tet. The inhibition of K562/A02 cell line by daunorubicin (DNR) was assayed by MTT method. The changes of SORCIN gene expression were assayed by RT-PCR. The changes of SORCIN protein expressed were assayed by Western blot. The results showed that Tet could enhance the cytotoxicity of DNR to K562/A02 cells (the IC(50) of DNR + Tet was 11.3+/-0.17 mg/L, 5.15+/-0.10 mg/L, 3.91+/-0.06 mg/L, and 2.52+/-0.04 mg/L, when concentrations of Tet were 0 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 1.0 mg/L, and 2.0 mg/L respectively). The gene encoding sorcin was highly expressed in K562/A02 cells, the expression of which was firstly enhanced in Tet concentration 0.5 mg/L, then attenuated in Tet concentration of 1.0, 2.0 mg/L (p<0.05). Sorcin protein expressed lowly in K562 cells and highly in K562/A02 cells, but the expression of SORCIN protein in K562/A02 cells was enhanced in Tet concentration of 0.5 mg/L, then was attenuated in Tet concentration of 1.0, 2.0 mg/L (p<0.05). It is concluded that the effect of Tet on reversal of K562/A02 drug-resistance shows concentration dependence by MTT assay. Tet reverses multidrug-resistance of K562/A02 cells through regulation of expression of SORCIN gene and protein, but not fully correlates to the reversing effect.

Enhancement of reversing drug resistance of K562/A02 cells to adriamycin by ultrasound-induced cavitation / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of low frequency and power ultrasound combined with adriamycin on apoptosis of drug-resistant leukemia cell line K562/A02 in vitro, to find out the parameters of optimal exposure, and to explore the possible mechanism reversing drug-resistance of K562/A02 cells. The K562/A02 cells in logarithmic growth phase were used in experiments. The experiments were divided into 4 groups: group control, group adriamycin (A02) alone, group ultrasound (US) alone and group A02+US. The trypan blue dye exclusion test and MTT assay were used to determine the cell viability; Wright's staining was used to detect the apoptosis; the flow cytometry was used to analyze the drug concentration, and the scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the changes of cell surface. The results showed that the significant differences in cell viability, intracellular adriamycin concentration and changes of cell membrane were found between ultrasound-treated and untreated cells in the presence of various concentration of adriamycin. The exposure to ultrasound at 20 kHZ, 0.25 W/cm2 for 60 seconds could obviously decrease LC50 of adriamycin to K562/A02 cells, while the exposure to ultrasound at 20 kHZ, 0.05 W/cm2 for 60 seconds could kill K562/A02 cells at once. After being treated by low frequency ultrasound, the small holes with diameter about 1-2 microm in the cell surface appeared. The ultrasound increased the adriamycin concentration in the cells, accelerated the formation of apoptotic bodies, and promoted apoptosis of adriamycin-resistant cells. It is concluded that the ultrasound at optimal parameters enhances inhibitory effect of adriamycin on drug-resistant cell line, thereby reverses drug-resistance of drug-resistant cell line through sound-hole effect in tumor cells resulting from ultrasound induced cavitation.

Effect of tetrandrine in combination with droloxifen on the expression of NF-kappaB protein in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) in combination with droloxifen (DRL) on the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines and its reversal mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The activation of NF-kappaB in K562 and K562/A02 cell lines and the effect of Tet or DRL alone or in combination on NF-kappaB protein expression were determined with immunocytochemistry and Western blotting respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) K562/A02 cells displayed higher level of NF-kappaB protein expression than K562 cells. (2) The application of Tet or DRL alone or in combination had no effect on NF-kappaB expression in K562 cells at 6 h and 12 h (P > 0.05). (3) Tet and DRL alone or in combination could significantly down-regulate NF-kappaB protein expression in nuclei of K562/A02 cells. The effect was more significant in combination than either alone. This effect was more significant at 12 h than at 6 h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) Activation of NF-kappaB may be involved in the mechanism of MDR of K562/A02 cell line. (2)Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation may be involved in the reversal of multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cells by Tet and DRL.</p>

Tetrandrine: a potent abrogator of G2 checkpoint function in tumor cells and its mechanism / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the ability of tetrandrine (Tet) to enhance the sensitivity to irradiation and its mechanism in cell lines of human breast cancer p53-mutant MCF-7/ADR, p53-wild-type MCF-7 and human colon carcinoma p53-mutant HT-29 as well as in C26 colorectal carcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MCF-7/ADR, HT-29 and MCF-7 cells were exposed to irradiation in the absence or presence of tetrandrine. The effect of Tet on the cytotoxicity of X-irradiation in these three cells was determined and the effect of tetrandrine on cell cycle arrest induced by irradiation in its absence or presence was studied by flow cytometry. Moreover, mitotic index measurement determined mitosis of cells to enter mitosis. Western blotting was employed to detect cyclin B 1 and Cdc2 proteins in extracts from irradiated or non-irradiated cells of MCF-7/ADR, HT-29 and MCF-7 treated with tetrandrine at various concentrations. Tumor growth delay assay was conducted to determine the radio-sensitization of tetrandrine in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clonogenic assay showed that tetrandrine markedly enhanced the lethal effect of X-rays on p53-mutant MCF-7/ADR and HT-29 cells and the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of tetrandrine was 1.51 and 1.63, but its SER was only 1.1 in p53-wt MCF-7 cells. Irradiated p53-mutant MCF-7/ADR and HT-29 cells were only arrested in G2/M phase while MCF-7 cells were arrested in G1 and G2/M phases. Radiation-induced G2 phase arrests were abrogated by tetrandrine in a concentration-dependent manner in MCF-7/ADR and HT-29 cells, whereas redistribution within MCF-7 cell cycle changed slightly. The proportion of cells in M phase increased from 1.3% to 14.7% in MCF-7/ADR cells, and from 1.5% to 13.2% in HT-29 cells, but 2.4% to 7.1% in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the levels of cyclin B 1 and Cdc2 expression decreased after X-irradiation in MCF-7/ADR and HT-29 cells, and the mitotic index was also lower. Tet could reverse the decrease and induce the irradiated cells to enter mitosis (M phase). Endosomatic experiment showed that tetrandrine caused tumor growth delay in irradiated mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tetrandrine boosts the cell killing activity of irradiation both in vitro and in vivo. Tetrandrine is a potent abrogator for G2 checkpoint control and can sensitize the cells to radiation.</p>

Humoral immune responses induced by anti-idiotypic antibody fusion protein of 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF in BALB/c mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>We have previously developed and characterized a monoclonal anti-idiotype antibody, designated 6B11, which mimics an ovarian carcinoma associated antigen OC166 - 9 and whose corresponding monoclonal antibody is COC166 - 9 (Ab1). In this study, we evaluate the humoral immune responses induced by the fusion protein 6B11 single-chain variable fragment (scFv)/human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) and 6B11scFv in BALB/c mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF was constructed by fusing a recombinant single-chain variable fragment of 6B11scFv to GM-CSF. BALB/c mice were administrated by 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11scFv, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF retained binding to the anti-mouse F (ab) 2' and was also biologically active as measured by proliferation of human GM-CSF dependent cell TF1 in vitro. After immunization with the 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11ScFv, BALB/c mice showed significantly enhanced Ab3 antibody responses to 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF compared with the 6B11scFv alone. The level of Ab3 was the highest after the first week and maintained for five weeks after the last immunization. Another booster was given when the Ab3 titer descended, and it would reach to the high level in a week.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF can induce humoral immunity against ovarian carcinoma in vivo. We also provide the theoretical foundation for the application of the fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF for active immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.</p>

Evaluation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the prevention of postoperative recurrence in 1630 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate postoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the prevention of postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In TACE group, 987 HCC patients without any evidence of recurrence at the first TACE were treated by prophylactic TACE postoperatively within one or two months. In the control group, 643 HCC patients were not treated by prophylactic TACE for comparison. The correlation between the first recurrence and prophylactic TACE was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Recurrence rate in the TACE and control group was 22.2% (219/987) and 61.6% (396/643) within 6 months (P < 0.01); 78% (770/987) and 74.7% (480/643) within 12 months (P > 0.05); 88.6% (874/987) and 80.1% (515/643) within 18 months (P < 0.01), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Postoperative prophylactic TACE may be able to suppress the recurrence formation for HCC patients with or without definite residual lesion within 6 months.</p>

Adjustment of lipiodol dose according to tumor blood supply during the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for large hepatic carcinoma by mulitdetector helical CT / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To work out an individualized lipiodol dose in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for large hepatic carcinoma (HCC) according to its blood supply evaluated by CT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred patients with HCC (diameter more than 8 cm) were studied by triphasic 5-mm-thick-section scan of multidetector helical CT. Patterns of HCC blood supply were divided into sufficient blood supply, poor blood supply, mixed blood supply and arterial-venous shunt. The dose of ultra-fluid lipiodol was determined by diameter and blood supply type of HCC. The patients were divided two groups (50 cases each), with the lipiodol perfused according to the diameter and the blood supply of tumor in one group and the iodized oil perfused according to the actual tumor diameter in the other. The filling of lipiodol in HCC was observed and conformation rate was compared in the two groups. When the diameter of HCC was less than 10 cm, 10 - 20 ml and 5 - 10 ml lipiodol was injected in to the sufficient blood supply and the poor supply groups. When the diameter of HCC was more than 10 cm, 20 - 30 ml iodized oil was injected in the sufficient blood supply group. The lipiodol dose in the mixed blood supply group was determined by the diameter of sufficient blood supply area.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The conformation and effective rate were 82%, 84% in the first group and 36%, 46% in the second group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A relative individualized lipiodol dose may be determined according to the blood supply pattern and the tumor diameter by CT imaging.</p>