Immunoexpression of apollon in breast cancer tissues before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its clinical significance / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether apollon immunoexpression in breast cancer tissues helps to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions of Apollon, Her-2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected immunohistochemically in biopsy tissues from 124 breast cancer patients. The clinical responses to NAC were evaluated in line with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). The pCR rate was analyzed for different types of breast cancer. The correlations between Apollon status with Her-2, ER, PR, lymph node status and tumor size were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to compared the changes in Apollon expression in the breast cancer tissues before and after NAC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pCR rate was 18.5% (23/124) in these patients. Negative expressions of apollon, ER and PR were all associated with a higher pCR rate after NAC. Apollon was significantly correlated with Her-2, ER, PR and lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy significantly down-regulated apollon expression in the tumor cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A negative apollon expression might be a predictor of pCR in patients with breast cancer.</p>

Effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid on human gastric cancer cells and its mechanism / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F), a compound isolated from Pteris semipinnata L (PsL), on human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effect of 5F on SGC7901 cells was observed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the changes of the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in SGC7901 cells following 5F exposure were evaluated by Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>5F inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the cell apoptosis induced by 5F was confirmed by Annexin V-EGFP staining and caspase-3 activation assay. The cell apoptosis induced by 5F was associated with decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax expressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>5F exposure induces apoptosis in SGC7901 cells by activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.</p>

Small interfering RNA targeting Apollon enhances the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Apollon in enhancing the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HCC cells transfected with the siRNA targeting Apollon were tested for Apollon protein expression using Western blotting. MTT assay and ELISA were used to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells transfected with siRNA after exposure to 5-FU or adriamycin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Apollon siRNA obviously down-regulated Apollon protein expression in HCC cells. The siRNA-mediated suppression of Apollon expression resulted in a marked inhibition of cell growth and increased apoptotic rate of HCC cells, and enhanced both the growth-inhibiting and apoptosis-inducing effects of the chemotherapeutic drugs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Apollon siRNA can enhance the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to the chemotherapeutic drugs. Apollon can be a potentially important and feasible therapeutic target for HCC.</p>