Association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a cytosolic enzyme, and the NQO1 C609T polymorphism is associated with the enzymatic activity of NQO1. Many studies were performed to assess the association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk, but no consensus was available up to now. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk, and the pooled odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the association. Finally, 12 studies involving 4,026 cases and 4,855 controls were included into the meta-analysis. Overall, there was an obvious association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk (T versus C: OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.08-1.51, P = 0.005; TT versus CC: OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.10-2.33, P = 0.015; TT/CT versus CC: OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.69, P = 0.006; TT versus CT/CC: OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.05-1.80, P = 0.022). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed that the association was obvious in both Caucasians and Asians. Therefore, the meta-analysis provides strong evidence for the association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk, and the T allele of NQO1 C609T polymorphism is an important risk factor of colorectal cancer.

Elevated IGFIR expression regulating VEGF and VEGF-C predicts lymph node metastasis in human colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGFIR) has been shown to regulate the tumor development. The objective of the current study is to determine the association of IGFIR with lymph node metastasis and to explore the related mechanism in human colorectal cancer in clinic. METHODS: In a random series of 98 colorectal cancer patients, the expressions of IGFIR, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C were investigated by immunohistochemistry, and the association of these expressions with lymph node metastasis was statistically analyzed. The expressions of VEGF and VEGF-C in colorectal cancer cells stimulated with IGF-I were also examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Higher rates of IGFIR (46%), VEGF (53%), and VEGF-C (46%) expression were found in colorectal cancer tissues than in normal and colorectal adenoma tissues. These expressions were significantly associated with clinicopathologic factors and lymph node status. We also found the concomitant high expressions of IGFIR/VEGF (P < 0.001) and IGFIR/VEGF-C (P = 0.001) had a stronger correlation with lymph node metastasis than did each alone or both low expressions. In addition, IGF-I could effectively induce the VEGF and VEGF-C mRNA expression and protein secretion in colorectal cancer cells expressing IGFIR molecules. Moreover, Patients who had strong staining for IGFIR, VEGF and VEGF-C showed significantly less favorable survival rates compared with patients who had low staining for these molecules (P < 0.001). The survival rates of patients who were both high expression of IGFIR/VEGF and IGFIR/VEGF-C also were significantly lower compared with patients who were negative or one of high expression of these molecules (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Together the findings indicated for the first time that simultaneous examination of the expressions of IGFIR, VEGF and VEGF-C will benefit the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in order to assay the prognosis and determine the treatment strategy in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgery.

Recombination of CXCR4, VEGF, and MMP-9 predicting lymph node metastasis in human breast cancer.

We investigated the expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 to elucidate whether these markers could predict lymph node metastasis in human breast cancer. Higher rates of CXCR4 (61%), VEGF (68%), and MMP-9 (63%) expression were found in breast cancer tissues than in normal and atypical hyperplasia tissues. The expression of these markers was significantly associated with primary tumor progression, histological grade, and lymph node status. We found there were significant correlations between the expressions of any two of the three markers (P<0.001). Furthermore, our studies indicated that concomitant expression of CXCR4/VEGF (P=0.007), CXCR4/MMP-9 (P<0.001) or VEGF/MMP-9 (P=0.003) had stronger correlation with lymph node metastasis than did each alone and that combined expression of all three makers strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). Thus, simultaneously examining the expression of CXCR4, VEGF, and MMP-9 in cancer tissues of breast cancer will provide valuable prognostic diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.

[Inhibition of growth and metastases of human colon cancer xenograft in nude mice by angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Tumor angiogenesis is essential for growth and metastases of colon cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors can induce apoptosis in colon cancer by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and has strong inhibitory effect both on tumor growth and metastases of human colon cancer. Anti-angiogenic cancer therapy is important for selecting the timing and method of operation and program of complex treatment and enhancing the five-year survival rate of patients with colon cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin on the growth and metastases of colon cancer in vivo. METHODS: Metastatic model simulating human colon cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into colon wall of nude mice. Endostatin was administered s.c. at dose of 0 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, every day for six weeks. Seven weeks after implantation, the tumor weight and inhibition rates and intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and apoptotic index (AI) and the presence of metastases are evaluated respectively after the mice were sacrificed. RESULTS: In compared with the untreated controls, growth of the orthotopically implanted tumor was significantly reduced in weight in mice treated with endostatin with an inhibition rate of 0%, 67.9%, 84.0%, and 90.1% at the dosage of 0 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. The MVD also decreased significantly in the treated mice [(12.8 +/- 4.1) versus (5.9 +/- 2.5), (2.2 +/- 1.4) and (0.74 +/- 0.3)]. The AI increased significantly in the treated mice [(3.87 +/- 2.61)%, versus (6.89 +/- 5.18%), (13.24 +/- 4.76)% and (20.97 +/- 9.04)%]. The incidences of peritoneal metastases were also significantly inhibited in the treated mice (90.0% versus 36.4%, 25.0%, and 0%). The incidences of liver metastases were also significantly inhibited in the treated mice (80.0% versus 27.3%, 16.7% and 0%). Tumor metastases to the liver and peritoneaum were also significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin can induce apoptosis in colon cancer by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and has strong inhibitory effect both on tumor growth and metastases of human colon cancer xenograft in nude mice.

[Inhibition of growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer implanted in nude mice by the angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin on the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer in vivo. METHODS: Metastatic model simulating human gastric cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into gastric wall of nude mice. Endostatin was administered sc at dose of 0 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 10.0 mg/kg and 20.0 mg/kg every other day for seven weeks. Eight weeks after implantation, the tumor size and inhibition rates and intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and apoptotic index (AI) and the presence of metastasis are evaluated respectively after the mice were sacrificed. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated controls, growth of the orthotopically implanted tumor was significantly reduced in size in mice treated with endostatin with an inhibition rate 0, 62.7%, 95.8% and 99.9% at the dosage of 0 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, 10.0 mg/kg, and 20.0 mg/kg, respectively. The MVD was also decreased significantly in the treated mice [(13.7 +/- 3.90) versus (5.73 +/- 2.36), (2.17 +/- 1.28) and (0.66 +/- 0.25)]. The AI was increased significantly in the treated mice [(3.91 +/- 2.58)%, versus (6.76 +/- 5.03)%, (18.92 +/- 6.75)% and (28.57 +/- 10.34)%]. The incidences of peritoneal metastases was also significantly inhibited in the treated mice (87.1% versus 54.5%, 16.7% and 0). The incidences of liver metastases was also significantly inhibited in the treated mice (83.9% versus 27.3%, 8.3% and 0). The growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer implanted in nude mice were significantly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin can induce apoptosis in gastric cancer by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and has strong inhibitory effect both on tumor growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer implanted in nude mice.