Construction and screening of genomic library from Raji cells / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To construct the genomic library of Raji cells and screen it by EBV DNA probe.@*METHODS@#High molecular weight genomic DNA of Raji cells was digested by restriction enzyme BamHI. DNA fragments ranging from 9 to 23 kb were recovered by agarose gel electrophoresis, which were ligated with Lambda DASH II vector BamHI arms pre-treated with calf intestine alkaline phosphatase (CIAP). Ligated DNA was packed in vitro using Gigapack III gold packaging extract. The library was plated on XL1-blue MRA (P2) host strain.Titering and screening of the Raji genomic library were performed.@*RESULTS@#The primary titer of the Raji genomic library was 1.8 x 10(5) pfu/mL, while that of the amplified library was 2.8 x 10(8) pfu/mL. Plaques (1 x 10(5)) were screened with (32)P-labeled EBV DNA probe(EBV genome 5-3271), 4 positive clones were obtained, and 1 of the 4 positive clones was picked out randomly for the second round of plaque screening. All the phage plaques were positive. DNA of the positive clone was extracted and was digested with BamHI. The length of the inserted fragment was 8.5 kb. Sequencing and BLAST analysis revealed that the inserted fragments consisted of the BamHI-W fragment at one end and clone RP11-665A22 on chromosome 15 at the other end.@*CONCLUSION@#The successfully established genomic library of Raji cells will provide a basis for cloning the sequences of the EBV junction sites and interpreting the mechanism of oncogenesis of EBV integration.

Multi-center phase II clinical trial of humanized anti-epidermal factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3 combined with radiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safty of the humanized anti-epidermal factor receptor monoclonal antibody h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 137 patients from 7 medical center around China were randomly divided into combined therapy group or control group. There was no difference in Karnofsky performance score between two groups. All patients in both groups received radical conventionally fractionated radiotherapy to the total dose of D(T) 70-76 Gy. For the combined therapy group, h-R3 was added at a dose of 100 mg i.v. weekly for 8 weeks started at the beginning of radiotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 137 eligilbe patients, 70 were in the combined therapy group treated by h-R3 plus radiotherapy and 67 in the control group by radiotherapy alone. The intent-to-treat (ITT) population consisted of 130 patients, while the per-protocol (PP) population was composed of 126 patients. The efficacy was assessed respectively at three point of time: the end of treatment, the 5th- and 17th-week after treatment. The complete response (CR) of the combined therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group in both ITT and PP (ITT: 65.63%, 87.50%, 90.63% versus 27.27%, 42.42%, 51.52%; PP: 67.21%, 90.16%, 93.44% versus 27.69%, 43.08%, 52.31%; P < 0.05, respectively). The most common h-R3-related adverse reactions were fever (4.3%), hypotension (2.9%), nausea (1.4%), dizziness (2.9%) and rash (1.4%), which could be reversible if treated properly. Radiotherapy combined with 100 mg h-R3 i. v. weekly was tolerable and did not aggravate the side effects of radiation. The quality of life in the combined therapy group was comparable to that in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This phase 1 multicenter clinical trial shows that h-R3 in combination with radiotherapy is effective and well-tolerated for the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p>

Investigation on the molecular mechanisms of anti-hepatocarcinoma herbs of traditional Chinese medicine by cell cycle microarray / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To design DNA microarray and investigate the molecular anti-tumor mechanism of herbs of traditional Chinese medicine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>cDNA microarrays consisting of 56 probes representing 24 human cell cycle genes were constructed, Four anti-hepatocarcinoma herbs including Radix Linderae, Hebra Artemisiae Annuae, Radix Amebiae, Radix Astragli, were chosen. Effects of herbs on SMMC-7721 cell cycle were observed by flow cytometry assay. Effects of herbs on cell cycle gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells were analyzed by comparing hybridization of Dig-Labeled cDNAs from herb-treated cells and cDNAs from untreated cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Expressions of cell cycle geneswere changed in different degrees after herbs treated. Some genes were down-regulated and some genes were up-regulated. The changes in gene expression agreed with the results of flow cytometry assay.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that these herbs may have effects on cell cycle and DNA damage checkpoint genes which may be the mechanism of the herbs, and DNA microarray can be used to investigate the biological function of extracts of traditional Chinese medicine.</p>