Absence of multiple atypical chemokine binders (ACBs) and the presence of VEGF and MMP-9 predict axillary lymph node metastasis in early breast carcinomas.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis of early breast cancers by evaluating the status of DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR and the levels of VEGF and MMP-9. The status of DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR and the levels VEGF and MMP-9 were evaluated in ALN- (n = 130) and ALN + (n = 88) patients with T1 breast cancer by immunohistochemical staining. For ALN, likelihood ratio χ (2)-tests were used for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. Univariate analysis identified the nuclear grade, VEGF and MMP-9 expression and absence of DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR as predictors of ALN involvement. When combining the three receptors (DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR) together, tumors with multiple absence (multi-absence, any two or three loss) had a higher likelihood of being ALN positive than non-multi-absence (coexpression of any two or three) tumors (56.2 vs. 27.9 %, P < 0.001). The final multivariate logistic regression revealed nuclear grade, VEGF, MMP-9 and non-multi-absence versus multi-absence to be independent predictors of ALN involvement; the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % CI for non-multi-absence tumors versus multi-absence were 0.469 (0.233-0.943). Multi-absence was also associated with the involvement of four or more lymph nodes among ALN + tumors. Moreover, tumors with multi-absence had higher VEGF (78.1 vs. 50.0 %, P < 0.001) and MMP-9 (81.3 vs. 36.1 %, P < 0.001) expression than non-multi-absence tumors. Our data highlight that the absence of DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR in combination, which is associated with higher VEGF and MMP-9 expression, predicts the presence and extent of ALN metastasis in breast cancer.

Effectiveness and complications of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration for primary liver cancer in a Chinese population with serum α-fetoprotein levels ≤200 ng/ml--a study based on 4,312 patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed by noninvasive approaches with serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/ml and/or a radiological imaging study of tumor mass >2 cm in patients with chronic liver disease. Percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) under ultrasound (US) guidance has a diagnostic specificity of 95% and is superior to radiological imaging studies. AIM: The aim of this study is to elucidate the effectiveness and complications of fine needle aspiration in a Chinese population with primary liver cancer and AFP levels ≤200 ng/ml. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 28 years. This selection period included patients with a suspected diagnosis of primary liver cancer whose AFP levels were ≤200 ng/ml and who underwent US-FNA. This data was then analyzed with cytomorphological features correlating with medical history, radiological imaging, AFP, and follow-up information. RESULTS: Of the 1,929 cases with AFP ≤200 mg/ml, 1,756 underwent FNA. Of these, 1,590 cases were determined malignant and the remaining 166 were determined benign. Further, 1,478 malignant cases were diagnosed by FNA alone, and of these, 1,138 were diagnosed as PLC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of the diagnoses were 92.96%, 100%, 100%, 59.71%, and 93.62% respectively. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV between the subgroups with tumor size<2 cm and ≥2 cm. Major complications included implantation metastasis and hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Patients with PLC, especially those who present with an AFP ≤200 ng/ml, should undergo FNA. If negative results are obtained by FNA, it still could be HCC and repeated FNA procedure may be needed if highly suspicious of HCC on imaging study. The superiority of FNA in overall accuracy may outweigh its potential complications, such like hemorrhage and implantation metastasis.

Coexpression of atypical chemokine binders (ACBs) in breast cancer predicts better outcomes.

Some evidence suggests that atypical chemokine binders (ACBs) including DARC, D6, and CCX-CKR play an important role in inhibiting invasion and metastasis of cancer cells; however, their expression in breast cancer has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of ACBs for relapse-free survival and overall survival in breast cancer. The expressions of the three molecules were analyzed immunohistochemically in a total of 558 consecutive breast specimens comprising 12 normal breast tissues, 29 noninvasive (carcinoma in situ), and 517 invasive breast carcinoma and their relationships to clinicopathological features and survival were investigated in invasive breast cancer. Coexpression of ACBs in invasive breast carcinoma (55.9%) was much lower that of noninvasive breast carcinoma (93.1%) and normal breast tissue (100.0%), P = 0.0004, 0.0096, respectively. Their separate stainings in invasive cancer were significantly conversely correlated with lymph node status and tumor stage. In univariate analysis, the three proteins and their coexpression were significantly associated with higher relapse-free survival and overall survival. In multivariate analysis, each of these molecules was favorable for relapse-free survival, but not overall survival. Surprisingly, their coexpression was not only independently prognostic factor for relapse-free survival (RR = 0.182, 95% CI: 0.101-0.327, P < 0.001), but also for overall survival (RR = 0.271, 95% CI: 0.081-0.910, P = 0.035). These findings highlight that the multiple loss of ACBs may occur during the development of tumorigenesis and their coexpression in breast cancer is predictive of favorable outcomes.

The molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine ZHENG syndromes on pancreatic tumor growth.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes (ZHENG in Chinese) are the abstraction from the comprehensive analysis of clinical information gained by the four main diagnostic TCM methods: observation, listening, questioning, and pulse analyses. Proper TCM diagnosis is the most important principle to guide the prescribing of Chinese herbs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the specific effect of TCM ZHENG on tumor growth and to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying ZHENG and tumor growth. METHODS: The authors established subcutaneous tumor models of pancreatic cancer ZHENG syndromes of Damp heat (Shi-Re) and Spleen deficiency (Pi-Xu). Tissue samples of the subcutaneous transplanted tumors from each model were studied versus control tumors. CCR5 and CXCR4 proteins in these tissues were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. The expression of CCR5/CCL5/CCL4/CCL3 and CXCR4/SDF-1 mRNA was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SDF-1, CCL4, CCL5, and CCL3, which are ligands of CXCR4 and CCR5, were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: The study found that tumor models with different ZHENG were successfully established in each group; the tumor growth of Shi-Re group was slower than that of the control group. It was found that there was a significant difference in CCR5 mRNA expression levels among the Pi-Xu, Shi-Re, and control groups. The results of immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the positive rate of CCR5 protein in Shi-Re group, Pi-Xu group, and control group was 25.00%, 53.33%, 83.33%, respectively. The Shi-Re group expressed the lowest levels of CCL5 and CCL4. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that the existence of TCM ZHENG may influence the tumor growth in pancreatic cancer, which might be mediated by the expression of CCR5/CCL5/CCL4. This finding may lead to the development of TCM ZHENG as a prognostic indicator in pancreatic tumor growth.

Involvement of a novel chemokine decoy receptor CCX-CKR in breast cancer growth, metastasis and patient survival.

PURPOSE: The biological axes of chemokines and chemokine receptors, such as CXCR4/CXCL12, CCR7/CCL19 (CCL21), CCR9/CCL25, and CXCR5/CXCL13, are involved in cancer growth and metastasis. This study is aimed at the potential regulatory role of atypical chemokine binder CCX-CKR, as a scavenger of CCL19, CCL21, CCL25, and CXCL13, in human breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The role of CCX-CKR in human breast cancer was investigated in cell lines, animal models, and clinical samples. RESULTS: Overexpression of CCX-CKR inhibited cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and attenuated xenograft tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. CCX-CKR can be regulated by cytokines such as interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Lack or low expression of CCX-CKR correlated with a poor survival rate in the breast cancer patients. A significant correlation between CCX-CKR and lymph node metastasis was observed in human breast cancer tissues. CCX-CKR status was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: We showed for the first time that CCX-CKR is a negative regulator of growth and metastasis in breast cancer mainly by sequestration of homeostatic chemokines and subsequent inhibition of intratumoral neovascularity. This finding may lead to a new therapeutic strategy against breast cancer.

[Bilateral unipedicle flaps combined with levator sling plasty for the repair of complete cleft palate at the age of 6 - 12 months].

OBJECTIVE: To repair the complete cleft palate with the most popular technique at optimal time. METHODS: Bilateral unipedicle flaps (Bardach method) combined with levator sling plasty were employed to repair complete cleft palate at the age of 6 - 12 months. Computer-aided FFT vocal analysis was performed before and after surgery. RESULTS: All patients had primary wound healing without any complication. The FFT vocal analysis showed great improvement in velopharyngeal incompetence after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is technically safe and feasible to repair the complete cleft palate at the age of 6 - 12 months with bilateral unipedicle flaps. Encouraging speech improvement can be expected with this method.

Chemokine decoy receptor d6 plays a negative role in human breast cancer.

Chemokine binding protein D6 is a promiscuous decoy receptor that can inhibit inflammation in vivo; however, the role it plays in cancer is not well known yet. In this study, we showed for the first time that human breast cancer differentially expressed D6 and the expression could be regulated by some cytokines. More importantly, overexpression of D6 in human breast cancer cells inhibits proliferation and invasion in vitro and tumorigenesis and lung metastasis in vivo. This inhibition is associated with decreased chemokines (e.g., CCL2 and CCL5), vessel density, and tumor-associated macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, D6 expression is inversely correlated to lymph node metastasis as well as clinical stages, but positively correlated to disease-free survival rate in cancer patients. Therefore, D6 plays a negative role in the growth and metastasis of breast cancer.