The effects of tumor necrosis factor on cultured hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver ceils in the mouse

The effects of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)on the cultured mouse hepa-tocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells were observed.It was found that therewere no significant changes of the morphological integrity and viability of thehepatocytes and the aspartate transferase level in the culture supernate after theaddition of TNF into the culture medium as compared with those of the normalcontrol,which indicates that TNF exerts no obvious cytotoxocity on the culturedmouse hepatocytes. In addition,there were also no significant changes of theabove mentioned parameters after TNF was added to the cocultures of hepato-cytes and non-parenchymal liver cells,which implies that the unactivated non-parenchymal liver cells are not involved in the TNF-related hepatocyte injury.

Effects of aminoguanidine on nitric oxide production induced by inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin in cultured rat hepatocytes

AIM To study the effects of aminoguanidine(AG) and two L-arginine analogues Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on nitric oxide (NO) productioninduced by cytokines (TNF-α, IL-11β, and IFN-γ)and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mixture(CM) in the cultured rat hepatocytes, andexamine their mechanisms action.METHODS Rat hepatocytes were incubatedwith AG, L-NAME, L-NNA, Actinomycin D (ActD)and dexamethasene in a medium containing CM(LPS plus TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) for 24 h. NOproduction in the cultured supernatant wasmeasured with the Griese reaction. IntracellularcGMP level was detected with radioimmunoasey.RESULTS NO production was markedlyblocked by AG and L-NAME in a dose-dependentmanner under inflammatory stimuli conditiontriggered by CM in vitro. The rate of themaximum inhibitory effects of L-NAME (38.9%)was less potent than that obtained with AG(53.7%, P<0.05). There was no significantdifference between the inhibitory effects of AGand two L-arginine analogues on intracellularcGMP accumulation in rat cultured hepatocytes.Non-specific NOS expression inhibitordexamethasone ( DEX ) and iNOS mRNAtranscriptional inhibitor ActD also significantlyinhibited CM-induced NO production. AG(0.1mmol.L-1) and ActD (0.2ng@Lt) wereequipotent in decreasing NO production inducedby inflammatory stimuli in vitro, and botheffects were more potent than that induced bynon-selectivity NOS activity inhibitor L-NAME(0. 1 mmol@ L- 1) under similar stimuli conditions(P＜O.O1).CONCLUSION AG is a potent selectiveinhibitor of inducible isoform of NOS, and themechanism of action may be not onlycompetitive inhibition in the substrate level, butalso the gene expression level in rathepatocytes .

Cultured circulating tumor cells and their derived xenografts for personalized oncology

Recent cancer research has demonstrated the existence of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in cancer patient’s blood.Once identified,CTC biomarkers will be invaluable tools for clinical diagnosis,prognosis and treatment.In this review,we propose ex vivo culture as a rational strategy for large scale amplification of the limited numbers of CTCs from a patient sample,to derive enough CTCs for accurate and reproducible characterization of the biophysical,biochemical,gene expressional and behavioral properties of the harvested cells.Because of tumor cell heterogeneity,it is important to amplify all the CTCs in a blood sample for a comprehensive understanding of their role in cancer metastasis.By analyzing critical steps and technical issues in ex vivo CTC culture,we developed a cost-effective and reproducible protocol directly culturing whole peripheral blood mononuclear cells,relying on an assumed survival advantage in CTCs and CTC-like cells over the normal cells to amplify this specified cluster of cancer cells.

头颈部恶性肿瘤研究模型的演化

恶性肿瘤发生发展的机制探索以及抗癌药物治疗疗效的评估均有赖于各种体内与体外研究模型的建立。近几十年间,随着生物医学技术的快速发展,恶性肿瘤的体内外研究模型也发生了巨大的变化。基因检测技术从单基因到多基因的进展促进了生物信息学飞速发展和恶性肿瘤概念的转变;体外细胞研究模型从单层的二维培养、原代培养向立体的三维构型发展,从而更好地重现肿瘤组织的细胞间交互作用与功能;体内动物研究模型由传统的致癌物诱导、细胞或组织形成移植瘤逐渐演变为基因编辑的动物模型或人源性肿瘤异种移植模型,从而可以针对性地研究相关基因在肿瘤发生发展中的作用;传统的临床研究也从简单的临床回顾性研究更多地向前瞻性研究转变,Ⅰ期/Ⅱ期/Ⅲ期临床研究,研究者发起的临床研究以及真实世界临床研究,这些研究为临床研究增添了活力。目前恶性肿瘤研究模型存在的主要不足包括模型的单一性、对肿瘤微环境的模拟不足、动物肿瘤模型与人类肿瘤差异性,以及缺乏对个性化医疗的考量。未来仍需要进一步研发和优化研究模型,并更有效地将不同模型整合起来,形成一个优化的整体实验模型系统。本文将系统回顾恶性肿瘤研究模型的演化并对相关模型进行阐述,为科研工作者进行恶性肿瘤的研究提供合理的研究模型。

Over-expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in Residual Tumor Cells of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Embolization with Lipidol

The expression and implication of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） in residual hepatic tumor cells after lipiodol embolization were investi- gated. Two weeks after transplantation of VX2 tumor cells into the livers of rabbits, a xenograft model of the human hepatic neoplasm was successfully established. Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group （n=20） and lipiodol group （n=20）. For the control group, 1 mL normal saline was injected through the gastroduodenal artery, whereas 0.3 mL/kg lipiodol was applied for the lipiodol group. One week after embolization, the expression level of VEGF in the plasma was measured by using en- zyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. A three-step immunohistochemieal technique （ABC） was employed to detect the protein levels of VEGF and MMP-9 and the quantitative PCR for their mRNA levels was performed in the residual tumor cells. The VEGF in the plasma was significantly higher in the lipiodol group （1.42~0.29 ng/mL） than in the control group （1.12~0.21 ng/mL） （P〈0.01）. Moreover, the positive rate of VEGF protein in the residual tumor cells was significantly higher in the lipiodol group （62.13%~7.69%） than in the control group （53.16%~9.17%） （P〈0.05）. Similarly, the MMP-9 ex- pression in the residual ~mor cells was higher in the lipiodol group. The mRNA levels of VEGF （2.9313~2.4231） and MMP-9 （3.5721~1.6107） in the lipiodol group were significantly higher than those in the control group （1.5728~0.9453 and 1.7573~1.0641, respectively, P〈0.05）. Therefore, it was rea- sonable to speculate that the increased expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in residual hepatic tumor cells and tumor angiogenesis post-embolization would be responsible for the increased metastatic potentiality and invasiveness of these cells.

Circulating tumor cell isolation:the assets of filtration methods with polycarbonate track-etched filters

Circulating tumor cells （CTCs） arise from primary or secondary tumors and enter the bloodstream by active or passive intravasation. Given the low number of CTCs, enrichment is necessary for detection. Filtration methods are based on selection of CTCs by size using a filter with 6.5 to 8 pm pores. After coloration, collected CTCs are evaluated according to morphological criteria. Immunophenotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques may be used. Selected CTCs can also be cultivated in vitro to provide more material. Analysis of genomic mutations is difficult because it requires adapted techniques due to limited DNA materials. Filtration-selected CTCs have shown prognostic value in many studies but multicentric validating trials are mandatory to strengthen this assessment. Other clinical applications are promising such as follow-up, therapy response prediction and diagnosis. Microfluidic emerging systems could optimize filtration-selected CTCs by increasing selection accuracy.

Presence of circulating tumor cells is associated with metabolic-related variables in postoperative patients with early-stage breast cancer

Objective：Although circulating tumor cells（CTCs）have been well-established as promising prognostic biomarkers in both early breast cancer and metastatic settings,little is known regarding the prognostic relevance of CTCs in the long-term postoperative monitoring of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer（non-MBC）.In this study,we investigated the associations of CTCs with clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables,such as obesity and hyperglycemia.Methods：In this retrospective study,we recruited 264 patients with postoperative stage Ⅰ–Ⅲ breast cancer at Guangdong General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015.The prevalence and number of CTCs were assessed using the Cell Search System at a median time of 19.0 months[interquartile range（IQR）,7.8–33.0]after surgery.The CTC assay results were correlated with the clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables.A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to further determine the independent predictors of CTCs.Results：CTCs were detected in 10.6%of all patients.The positive rate of CTCs in patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma was lower than that in patients with other pathological types（9.0%vs.28.6%,P=0.020）.More importantly,the presence of CTCs was correlated with blood glucose level（P=0.015）and high-density lipoprotein level（P=0.030）.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the pathological type[odds ratio（OR）：1.757,95%CI：1.021–3.023;P=0.042]and blood glucose level（OR：1.218,95%CI：1.014–1.465;P=0.035）were independent predictors of the presence of CTCs.Conclusions：This study revealed potential associations between CTCs and metabolic-related factors in Chinese patients with non-MBC and supports the hypothesis that metabolic dysfunction in breast cancer patients might influence the biological activity of metastatic breast cancer,leading to a higher prevalence of CTCs.

用于乳腺肿瘤细胞三维培养的纤维-水凝胶复合支架的制备及表征

从力学性能和组成成分两方面还原乳腺肿瘤细胞的生长环境,开发了一种负载富血小板血浆的纤维-水凝胶复合结构支架。通过检测支架的元素组成和化学结构,确认支架中各组分的成功负载,并利用扫描电镜、溶胀测试和水接触角测试表征了支架的表面形貌和理化性能。研究表明:复合支架具有适用于物质传输的孔隙和利于细胞黏附的表面性能;加入纤维显著提高了水凝胶的力学性能,且复合支架具有与乳腺肿瘤组织接近的弹性模量((4.79±0.45)kPa);与二维(2D)培养和无纤维的水凝胶支架相比,复合支架上培养的乳腺肿瘤细胞增殖能力提高了33.1%,显示出细胞聚集成球的特性,并对化疗药物显示出更低的敏感性。复合支架有助于肿瘤学体外研究和预测抗肿瘤药物疗效。

类装配体的构建方法及应用

背景:近年来,许多研究证实类装配体可弥补类器官无法完全重现细胞与细胞、细胞与基质间的互作关系的缺点,但处于发展初期的类装配体构建方式种类繁多,更无统一标准。目的:综述目前类装配体的构建方法、应用和优缺点,为促进体外细胞模型的发展和完善提供指导。方法:以“assembloids,organoids,tumor microenvironment,organoids AND assemble,organoids AND microenvironment”为英文检索词,以“类装配体、类器官、类组装体、肿瘤微环境、类器官重组、多细胞模型”为中文检索词,检索PubMed、中国知网及万方数据库,在排除无关文章及去重后筛选出94篇文章进行综述。结果与结论:①根据细胞来源的不同,可将类装配体的构建方法分为自体组装、直接组装及混合组装3种;根据细胞培养方式的差异,又可分为悬浮培养法、“基质”培养法、器官芯片培养法和3D生物打印法。②自体组装过程涵盖细胞和组织的发育等早期过程,因此,在器官发育和发育障碍等领域有广阔的前景,而分化成熟细胞的功能相对较完善,由它们直接组装成的类装配体在功能障碍及细胞损伤性疾病的研究中更具潜力;自体组装或在器官移植方面更胜一筹,直接组装将更适用于组织损伤的修复,混合组装综合了前两者的优势,多用于探索微环境中细胞的生理和病理机制以及药物筛选等领域。③虽然不同的类装配体各具优势,但都面临脉管系统不完善的难题;每种类装配体构建方法也存在各自的局限性,如自体组装形成的类装配体中细胞分化程度与体内的差异,直接组装模型的细胞种类固定、无法完全反映复杂的体内微环境等均是亟待解决的难题。④将来随着类装配体培养技术的不断完善,研究者们可以在体外组装出具有更复杂组织结构的仿生类器官,为研究人类组织和器官生理及病理过程提供无限趋近真实的模型。

肺癌恶性胸腔积液来源肿瘤细胞的小鼠PDX模型构建及实验验证

目的·构建肺癌患者恶性胸腔积液(malignant pleural effusion,MPE)肿瘤细胞来源的肿瘤异种移植(patientderived tumor xenograft,PDX)模型,并进行实验验证。方法·从基因表达综合数据集(Gene Expression Omnibus,GEO)下载人肺癌伴MPE单细胞转录组测序公共数据GSE131907和人肺癌实体瘤单细胞转录组测序公共数据GSE203360,对数据进行聚类、差异基因本体功能富集分析,明确应用MPE建模的可行性。同时收集肺癌患者的MPE样本,经离心、裂解红细胞等富集细胞操作后,将其植入非肥胖型糖尿病重症联合免疫缺陷(non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient,NOD/SCID)小鼠皮下,待移植瘤生长至1000 mm³时进行瘤体传代及保存。对稳定传代移植瘤进行组织病理学检测,通过苏木精-伊红染色(hematoxylin-eosin staining,H-E染色)观察细胞组织形态,免疫组织化学法(immunohistochemistry,IHC)检测肺癌标志物表达情况。结果·经单细胞数据分析发现MPE中肿瘤细胞的增殖功能更强,提示MPE中肿瘤细胞PDX建模或具备更佳成瘤效果;共收集35例肺癌MPE样本,成功构建13例PDX模型,成功率达37.14%;在组织病理学检测中,H-E染色可见移植瘤组织细胞异型性明显,IHC检测显示细胞角蛋白7(cytokeratin 7,CK7)、甲状腺转录因子1(thyroid transcription factor-1,TTF1)和天冬氨酸蛋白酶A(Napsin A)等肺癌标志物均呈阳性表达。结论·通过富集肺癌患者MPE中的肿瘤细胞,成功构建了更为简便高效、可实时动态建模的PDX模型。该模型保留了肺癌患者肿瘤细胞的恶性特征及蛋白表达特性,为肺癌伴MPE患者的基础研究和临床用药指导提供了重要的实验模型工具。

铁路站房大跨度多曲面GRG吊顶施工技术

目前国内外大型公共建筑室内装饰造型越来越复杂,且文化特色愈加鲜明,建筑造型若按照常规理念和施工工艺往往很难实现。针对新建景德镇北站候车厅大跨度多曲面吊顶项目开展研究,结合GRG材料灵活柔韧的可塑性,采用BIM技术对整体吊顶进行合理分割排版,并对理论设计与实际施工均提出优化改进措施,完美地将设计理念与地方文化特色融合展示。通过现场具体实施,最大限度实现了设计意图和设计理念,最终呈现的装饰效果美观大方、层次分明,简约而不简单,可为类似工程提供参考。

铁路客站候车大厅特殊形式吊顶创新施工应用

在施工建设过程中,深入探究铁路精品客站设计理念与地方文化元素的紧密结合,特别是在候车大厅等公共区域中,如何巧妙融入当地文化元素,以体现“站城融合”的设计理念尤为重要。通过分析景德镇北站与惠州南站候车大厅特殊形式吊顶的施工建设案例,详细阐述了科技攻关的过程,针对吊顶形式开展了技术创新、材料创新等应用,同时结合先进的施工建造技术,总结了2种不同形式吊顶的创新施工工艺。研究成果对于推动铁路客站与地方文化的深度融合,提升旅客出行体验,以及促进城市形象的提升具有积极意义。

丙泊酚作用NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1通路对肺癌A549细胞焦亡的影响

目的探讨丙泊酚作用核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)/凋亡相关斑点样蛋白(ASC)/半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1(caspase-1)通路对A549细胞焦亡的影响。方法超低吸附培养法建立肺癌A549细胞三维培养模型,建立模型后采用不同浓度丙泊酚作用肺癌A549细胞,CCK-8法检测丙泊酚对A549细胞增殖的影响;酶联免疫吸附法检测肺癌A549细胞上清炎性细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)-18、IL-1β、IL-6表达水平变化;蛋白免疫印迹法检测各组焦亡相关蛋白NLRP3、ASC、caspase-1、焦孔素蛋白N端(GSDMD-N)、IL-1β表达水平。结果三维培养下,A549细胞间有聚拢黏附趋势,培养12 h即可清晰观察到细胞球。与空白对照组相比,随着丙泊酚浓度增加,肺癌A549细胞存活率依次降低(P<0.05);肺癌A549细胞上清炎性细胞因子IL-18、IL-1β、IL-6、焦亡相关蛋白NLRP3、ASC、caspase-1、GSDMD-N、IL-1β表达水平依次增加(P<0.05)。结论超低吸附培养法成功建立肺癌A549细胞三维培养模型,丙泊酚通过激活NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1通路促进细胞焦亡,进而抑制肺癌A549细胞增殖。

肿瘤细胞3D无支架培养技术研究进展及其在药效评价中应用

作为三维(3D)细胞培养技术之一的3D无支架培养技术,其广泛应用于肿瘤3D细胞模型的构建之中。了解当前肿瘤细胞3D无支架培养技术的应用情况,以及肿瘤3D细胞模型的构建成果对于抗癌药物的研发与评价很重要。本文介绍了构建肿瘤3D细胞模型的超低吸附着板培养法、悬滴培养法、磁悬浮培养法和旋转式细胞培养系统以及它们的局限性,并简述了肿瘤3D细胞模型用于药效评价的新进展,以期为肿瘤3D细胞模型的构建及抗癌药的药效评价提供参考。

Inhibitory activity of polysaccharide extracts from three kinds of edible fungi on proliferation of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cell and mouse implanted S180 tumor

AIM To determine the activities ofpolysaccharide extracts from Flammulina velutipes (Curt. ex Fr. ) Sing (FV), Lentinusedodes (LE) and Agaricus bisporus Sing (AB)on the proliferation of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and on mouse implanted S-180tumors in vivo.METHODS The polysaccharide extracts were isolated from the fruit bodies of FV, LE and AB by the methods of hot-water extraction, Sevag’sremoval of proteins, ethanol precipitation,trypsin digestion and ethanol fractionalprecipitation. Human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells were treated with 50 mg/L Polysaccharide extracts, and the mitosis index, mitochondria activity and cell proliferation were detected at different times in both control and experimental groups. The mice with S-180 implanted tumors were injected with the polysaccharide extracts at 24 mg/ kg body weight for 9 d and the tumorweight was measured on the 15th day.RESULTS The mitosis index of hepatoma cells in vitro could be significantly decreased by treatment with the polysaccharide extracts fromthe three kinds of edible fungi (P < 0 .005 ). Thecell numbers and mitochondria activity of SMMC7721 cells treated with polysaccharide extracts were lower than those in control groups (P <0.005). The inhibition rates of polysaccharide extracts against implanted S-180 tumors in mice were 52.8%, 56.6% and 51 .9% respectivelycompared with that in c0ntrol gr0ups.CONCLUSI0N The POIysaccharide extractsfrom the three kinds of edible fungi could inhibitnot only the Cultured malignant cells in vitfO butalso impIanted Sl80 tum0r i0 vivo.

Protective effect of curcumin on tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus A relationship to the inhibition of neuronal Ca^(2+) influx

BACKGROUND： Previous studies of curcumin have focused mainly on its cytotoxic properties for antitumor therapy. There are few studies addressing the application of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of nervous system diseases. OBJECTIVE： To observe the protective effect of curcumin against tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）-induced neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus and to explore the intervention effect of curcumin on Ca^2＋ influx following neuronal damage. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A cell morphological and physiological study was performed at the Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, China, from December 2006 to June 2007. MATERIALS： Curcumin （Sigma, USA） and TNF-α （Sigma, USA） were used in this study. METHODS： Hippocampal neurons were isolated from one-day neonatal rats and primarily cultured for 5 days. Following this they received 1 pmol/L curcumin and 100 ng/mL TNF-a pre-treatment. Dynamic morphological changes were observed for 1 hour by inverted microscopy. At 48 hours post-treatment, static morphological characteristics of the neurons were observed using inverted microscopy. Subsequently, hippocampal neurons were primarily cultured for 7 days, after receiving 1 pmol/L curcumJn and 4.5 ng/mL TNF-a pre-treatment. Intracellular free Ca^2＋ was measured using Fluo 3/acetoxymethyl ester. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Effects of curcumin on TNF-a-induced neuronal damage and Ca^2＋ influx in the rat hippocampus were measured. RESULTS： Following curcumin treatment, TNF-a-induced neurons grew as normal. TNF-a induced a rapid Ca^2＋ influx into the neuronal cytoplasm; however, Ca2＋ fluorescence intensity only slightly increased when neurons were co-perfused with curcumin and TNF-α. CONCLUSION： Curcumin has a protective effect on rat hippocampal neurons possibly by reducing the TNF-α-induced rapid Ca^2＋ influx into neuronal cytoplasm and by maintaining the Ca^2＋ homeostasis.

Growth of Circulating Tumor Cell-Derived Colonies from Peripheral Blood of Melanoma Patients: Preliminary Characterization of Colony Composition

Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are rarely detected in the blood of cancer patients, even though they are a direct harbinger of eventual patient demise. We developed an innovative CTC culture technology to allow more sensitive isolation, expansion, and characterization of viable colonies from patient blood. In this assay, the entire leukocyte fraction from 10 ml of anticoagulated patient blood is placed into culture medium without any pre-selection. After 16 days in culture, CTC derived colonies are counted. As a proof-of-principle, blood samples from 58 Stage IIa-IV melanoma patients were tested. Ninety percent of these samples grew colonies. The colony numbers ranged from 0 - 308 (mean 63 ± 9.5 SEM). Ten normal volunteers had virtually no growth (mean 0.5 ± 1.4 colonies). Colonies were harvested using a micropipette for characterization. Tumor-cell containing spheroids were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with melanoma-specific mAb for histologic characterization. MITF proved to be the most consistent immunostain that identified melanoma cells in these colonies. A host-cell component in colonies was also identified using CD68 and CD43 mAb staining. Following enzymatic dissociation of colonies, a variety of immunostains were tested. Papanicolau staining proved most useful for identifying the abnormal nuclei of tumor cells. Flow cytometry could readily distinguish host and tumor cell populations based on DNA content and forward/side scatter in dissociated colonies. The stem cell marker ALDH1A1 associated with the aneuploid population, but CD45 was expressed on both diploid and aneuploid cells. The ability to repeatedly isolate CTC derived colonies from cancer patient blood samples opens the door to a novel type of long-term clinical monitoring. This novel CTC culture technology may prove useful to perform molecular characterization, assessment of treatment response, and testing of drug sensitivity and resistance in patients during treatment.

Circulating Tumor Cell Cultures as a Predictive Marker during Salvage Therapy of Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Chemotherapy and Electron Beam Radiation

Metastatic Merkel Cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly unusual and aggressive skin cancer that presents as a small, pink to violet skin lesion and metastasizes early in its growth. Metastatic MCC is generally treated with small cell lung cancer chemotherapy regimens, because the tumor consists of neuroendocrine cells, but patients generally do not have durable responses. The pathogenesis of MCC has recently been attributed to the Merkel Cell polyoma virus. This virus activates the cellular retinoblastoma oncoprotein and cell cycle machinery, triggering continual cellular proliferation. A 77-year-old man developed extensive MCC metastases, involving more than one fourth of his scalp and numerous cervical lymph nodes. Following failure of initial chemotherapy and radiation, effective palliation was achieved by using a sequence of electron-beam radiotherapy, low dose gemcitabine, and etoposide, resulting in significant periods of tumor regression and prolonged survival. A novel circulating tumor cell (CTC) culture assay was performed on four separate clinic visits during the treatment period. Tumor colonies were cultured from the patient’s peripheral blood and CTC colony counts were correlated with clinical treatment response. Not only did the patient respond to palliative cell cycle directed chemotherapy and electron beam radiation, but we demonstrated that CTC can be cultured from peripheral blood of MCC patients and serve as a predictive marker to monitor treatment response.

Suspension state promotes extravasation of breast tumor cells by increasing integrin β1 expression

Mechanical microenvironment can strongly affect the metastatic efficiency of circulating tumor cells.However,the effect of suspension state on their extravasation and the mechanisms involved are still unclear.To explore the influence of suspension state on extravasation(including adhesion,spreading and transendothelial migration)of breast tumor cells and its relevant molecular mechanism,MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)coated 6-well plates to minic the suspension state.Suspension state promoted adhesion,spreading and transendothelial migration of MDA-MB-231 cells to EAhy926 endothelial cells(ECs)monolayer under both the static condition and 0.5 dyne/cm^(2) flow shear stress(FSS).The number of cells adhered to ECs monolayer reached 2.15(static condition,3 d)and 1.67(FSS,3 d)times,and the number of migration reached 10.60 times,respectively,as compared to that in adhesion state.Moreover,MDA-MB-231 cells knockdown of integrin β1 provoked poor adhesion and transendothelial migration,as compared with MDA-MB-231 cells.But it made no difference in cell spreading.Our results implied the increasing expression of integrin β1 induced by suspension culture promoted the adhesion and transendothelial migration of MDA-MB-231 cells,but had no significant influence on their spreading.

ANTI-CANCER EFFECT OF PSP PURIFIED PRODUCTS ON HUMAN TUMOR CELL LINES IN VITRO

The anti-cancer effect of PSP purified products, PSP-A, PSP-B, PSP-C and crude product PSP-Cr was compared on four human tumor cell lines in vitro. It was found that the inhibition rate of cell proliferation of PSP-A was higher than that of PSP-Cr (P<0. 05). On SPC cells, the inhibition rate of PSP-A at a dosage of 1000μg/ml was 62. 7%, being the highest as compared with those on the other three cell lines. Morphological changes were seen in all the four cell lines, especially in SPC cells after PSP-A treatment.