Association of mu-opioid receptor expression with lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptor, is the main target for opioids in the nervous system. MOR1 has been found in several types of cancer cells and reported to be involved in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the expression and clinical significance of MOR1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. In our study, the expression of MOR1 was confirmed in ESCC cell lines (KYSE180, KYSE150, and EC109) by Western blot. MOR1 was also detected on tissue microarrays of ESCC samples in 239 cases using immunohistochemical staining. We found that MOR1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm and occasionally occurred in the membrane or nucleus of ESCC cells. Moreover, results indicated that MOR1 expression in the cytoplasm was associated with lymph node metastasis (R = 0.164, P = 0.008, Kendall's tau-b-test). No more associations were found between MOR1 expression status and other clinical parameters. However, no statistical significant differences were found between MOR1 expression in the cytoplasm, nucleus/membrane, and the overall survival of ESCC patients (P = 0.848; P = 0.167; P = 0.428, respectively, log-rank test). Our results suggest that the cytoplasmic MOR1 may be a high-risk factor for lymph node metastasis of ESCC patients. We also hypothesize that MOR1 agonists used in ESCC patients should be prudent, and opioid receptor antagonists may be novel therapeutic drugs for ESCC patients.

Expression of cysteine-rich 61 is correlated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Cysteine-rich 61 (Cyr61), a secreted protein belonged to the CCN family, was involved in the progression of many cancers. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical significance of Cyr61 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyr61 expression was detected on tissue microarrays of ESCC samples in 372 cases by using immunohistochemical staining. Survival analysis was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Relative risk was evaluated by the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The staining pattern of Cyr61 was heterogeneous and varied from negative to intense expression in a cytoplasmic distribution. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that expression of Cyr61 was related to poor survival of ESCC patients (P = 0.001). Further analysis revealed that Cyr61 high-expression was related to poorer overall survival of patients in stage I/II (P = 0.001); but did not effect the overall survival of patients in stage III/IV. Univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that Cyr61 expression status was an independent prognostic factor for ESCC (P = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Cyr61 might play important roles in the progression of ESCC. Cyr61 is a new biomarker to predict the prognosis of ESCC patients.

Connective tissue growth factor expression in precancerous lesions of human esophageal epithelium and prognostic significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2), a secreted protein, is involved in the development and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, it remains unclear how CTGF expression affects the progression of ESCC. Our study implicated differences of CTGF protein status in precancerous lesions, and retrospectively examined the associations of CTGF mRNA and protein levels with clinical prognosis in ESCC patients. Here immunohistochemistry and the quantitative real-time real-time reverse transcription polymerase were performed for predicting the CTGF protein status and mRNA levels in ESCC patients, respectively. Different degrees of CTGF protein status presented in normal human esophageal epithelium and precancerous lesions, and CTGF protein was highly expressed in ESCCs. Survival analysis showed that CTGF protein status was significantly related to poor survival of ESCC patients (P= 0.024), while no significant difference was observed between CTGF mRNA levels and the survival of ESCC patients (P= 0.196). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that CTGF protein status was the independent factor in prognosis of ESCC patients. In that way, CTGF protein status might elevate the progression of ESCC, and would be significant for the diagnosis of precancerous lesions or early ESCC.

[Biochemistry of neonatal cord blood following intrapartum glucose and oxytocin infusion].

The effect of intrapartum glucose and oxytocin infusion on the biochemical values of umbilical cord blood including Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, glucose, BUN and osmolality was studied in 246 newborns. The newborns were divided into 4 groups: Group 1 consisted of 162 babies whose mothers did not receive any intravenous infusion. Group 2. 53 babies, Group 3. 16 babies and Group 4.15 babies whose mothers received infusion of oxytocin in glucose (5U/L). The total amounts of infusion were less than 500 ml in Group 2. 500ml in Group 3. 500-1,000 ml in Group 4. Group 3 were delivered with forceps. In comparison with Group 1, the serum K+ in Group 2 and Cl- values in Group 4 were lower while the glucose values were higher in Groups 2, 3 and 4 (highest in Group 3). The other values were not significantly different.