Neoadjuvant therapy combined with a BMP regimen for treating penile cancer patients with lymph node metastasis: a retrospective study in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Combination chemotherapy is emerging in the management of advanced penile cancer. However, evidence-based chemotherapeutic regimens in the current guidelines are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with a BMP regimen including bleomycin (BLM), methopterin (MTX) and cisplatin (DDP) for treating advanced penile cancer patients. METHODS: We retrospectively audited the clinical and follow-up data of 24 penile cancer patients with fixed inguinal lymph node metastasis that were admitted in our hospital from 2001 to 2010 and received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients with advanced penile cancer (pN3) were recruited in this study. All patients received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with a BMP regimen. The average cycle of chemotherapy was two cycles (range 1-4 cycles). Among 24 adjuvant cases, 15 patients that responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent penectomy and inguinal lymphadenectomy. In contrast, nine cases did not respond to chemotherapy and received palliative local radiotherapy. Overall, the 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rates were 70.8, 50.0 and 45.8 %, respectively. The 5-year survival rate between the responder and non-responder groups was statistically significant (73.3 vs. 0 %, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with a BMP regimen followed by surgery is beneficial to patients with advanced penile cancer.

Effect of the human insulin-like growth factor 1 gene transfection to human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transfecting the gene human insulin-like growth factor (hIGF)-1 into human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) via non-viral vector. METHODS: This study was performed in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China from June 2012 to May 2013. Twelve hUCB samples were harvested, and isolated in lymphocyte separation medium, and then cultured. Surface antigen expression in MSCs was detected by flow cytometry. Recombinant plasmid pIRES2-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-hIGF-1 was transfected into MSCs by X-treme GENE HP DNA transfection reagent. Then, EGFP was observed with reverse fluorescent microscope at different time points. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the hIGF-1 protein concentration in supernatants. Immunofluorescence microscopy and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of hIGF-1 in the hUCB-MSCs. Expression of type II collagen was detected by immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: Transfection efficiency was 28.74 +/- 7.31%. The cluster of differentiation (CD)90, CD105, and CD146 expression increased CD34, CD45, and anti-HLA-DR expression decreased. Results of immunofluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR confirmed expression of the hIGF-1 gene. The hIGF-1 protein concentration in the supernatants showed a peak level at 34.63 +/- 1.61 ng/ml 48 hours after transfection. Immunohistochemical analysis of transfected hUCB-MSCs proved that type II collagen could be expressed positively. CONCLUSION: Human IGF-1 gene can be transfected into hUCB-MSCs, and expressed at a high level with subsequent expression of type II collagen.