Inhibitory effect of endostatin expressed by human liver carcinoma SMMC7721 on endothelial cell proliferation in vitro

AIM: To construct a stable transfectant of human liver carcinoma cell line SMMC7721 that could secret human endostatin and to explore the effect of human endostatin expressed by the transfectant on endothelial cell proliferation. METHODS: Recombinant retroviral plasmid pLncx-Endo containing the cDNA for human endostatin gene together with rat albumin signal peptide was engineered and transferred into SMMC7721 cell by lipofectamine. After selection with G418, endostatin-transfected SMMC7721 cells were chosen and expanded. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of human endostatin in transfected SMMC7721 cells and its medium. The conditioned medium of endostatin-transfected and control SMMC7721 cells were collected to cultivate with human umbilical vein endothelial cells for 72 hours. The inhibitory effect of endostatin, expressed by transfected SMMC7721 cells, on endothelial proliferation in vitro was observed by using MTT assay. RESULTS: A 550 bp specific fragment of endostatin gene was detected from the PCR product of endostatin-transfected SMMC7721 cells. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis confirmed the expression and secretion of foreign human endostatin protein by endostatin-transfected SMMC7721 cells. In vitro endothelial proliferation assay showed that 72 hours after cultivation with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the optical density (OD) in group using the medium from endostatin-transfected SMMC7721 cells was 0.51 +/- 0.06, lower than that from RPMI 1640 group (0.98 +/- 0.09) or that from control plasmid pLncx-transfected SMMC7721 cells (0.88 +/- 0.11). The inhibitory rate for medium from endostatin-transfected SMMC7721 cells was 48%, significantly higher than that from empty plasmid pLncx-transfected SMMC7721 cells (10.2%, P【0.01). CONCLUSION: Human endostatin can be stably expressed by SMMC7721 cell transferred with human endostatin gene and its product can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell in vitro.

Effect of Nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells

AIM: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been suggested to be associated with carcinogenesis. We sought to investigate the effect of the selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide on proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cells.METHODS: This study was carried out on the culture of hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. Various concentrations of Nimesulide (0, 200 micromol/L, 300 micromol/L, 400 micromol/L) were added and incubated. Cell proliferation was detected with MTT colorimetric assay, cell apoptosis by electron microscopy, flow cytometry and TUNEL.RESULTS: Nimesulide could significantly inhibit SMMC-7721 cells proliferation dose-dependent and in a dependent manner compared with that of the control group. The duration lowest inhibition rate produced by Nimesulide in SMMC-7721 cells was 19.06%, the highest inhibition rate was 58.49%. After incubation with Nimesulide for 72 h, the most highest apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells comparing with those of the control were 21.20%+/-1.62% vs 2.24%+/-0.26% and 21.23+/-1.78 vs 2.01+/-0.23 (P【0.05). CONCLUSION:The selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide can inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and increase apoptosis rate and apoptosis index of SMMC-7721 cells. The apoptosis rate and the apoptosis index are dose-dependent. Under electron microscope SMMC-7721 cells incubated with 300 micromol and 400 micromol Nimesulide show apoptotic characteristics. With the clarification of the mechanism of selective COX-2 inhibitors, These COX-2 selective inhibitors can become the choice of prevention and treatment of cancers.

Antitumor activities of human autologous cytokineinduced killer(CIK)cells against hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

AIM: To characterize the anticancer function of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) and develop an adoptive immunotherapy for the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we evaluated the proliferation rate, phenotype and the antitumor activity of human CIK cells from healthy donors and HCC patients in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and patients with primary HCC were incubated in vitro and induced into CIK cells in the presence of various cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2 and monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD3. The phenotype and characterization of CIK cells were identified by flow cytometric analysis. The cytotoxicity of CIK cells was determined by (51)Cr release assay. RESULTS: The CIK cells were shown to be a heterogeneous population with different cellular phenotypes. The percentage of CD3+/CD56+ positive cells, the dominant effector cells, in total CIK cells from healthy donors and HCC patients, significantly increased from 0.1-0.13% at day 0 to 19.0-20.5% at day 21 incubation, which suggested that the CD3+ CD56+ positive cells proliferated faster than other cell populations of CIK cells in the protocol used in this study. After 28 day in vitro incubation, the CIK cells from patients with HCC and healthy donors increased by more than 300-fold and 500-fold in proliferation cell number, respectively. CIK cells originated from HCC patients possessed a higher in vitro antitumor cytotoxic activity on autologous HCC cells than the autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and PBMC cells. In in vivo animal experiment, CIK cells had stronger effects on the inhibition of tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice bearing BEL-7402-producing tumor than LAK cells (mean inhibitory rate, 84.7% vs 52.8%, P【0.05) or PBMC (mean inhibitory rate, 84.7% vs 37.1%, P【0.01). CONCLUSION: Autologous CIK cells are of highly efficient cytotoxic effector cells against primary hepatocellular carcinoma cells and might serve as an alternative adoptive therapeutic strategy for HCC patients.

The promoting molecular mechanism of alphafetoprotein on the growth of human hepatoma Bel7402 cell line

AIM: The goal of this study was to characterize the AFP receptor, its possible signal transduction pathway and its proliferative functions in human hepatoma cell line Bel 7402. METHODS: Cell proliferation enhanced by AFP was detected by MTT assay, 3H-thymidine incorporation and S-stage percentage of cell cycle analysis. With radioactive labeled 125I-AFP for receptor binding assay; cAMP accumulation, protein kinase A activity were detected by radioactive immunosorbent assay and the change of intracellular free calcium (Ca2+i) was monitored by scanning fluorescence intensity under TCS-NT confocal microscope. The expression of oncogenes N- ras, p 53, and p21( ras ) in the cultured cells in vitro were detected by Northern blotting and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that AFP enhanced the proliferation of human hepatoma Bel 7402 cell in a dose dependent fashion as shown in MTT assay, (3)H-thymidine incorporation and S-phase percentage up to 2-fold. Two subtypes of AFP receptors were identified in the cells with Kds of 1.3 x 10(-9)mol.L(-1) and 9.9 x10(-8)mol. (-1)L respectively. Pretreatment of cells with AFP resulted in a significant increase (625%) in cAMP accumulation. The activity of protein kinase A activity were increased up to 37.5, 122.6, 73.7 and 61.2% at treatment time point 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours. The level of intracellular calcium were elevated after the treatment of alpha-fetoprotein and achieved to 204% at 4 min. The results also showed that AFP(20mg.L(-1)) could upregulate the expression of N- ras oncogenes and p 53 and p21( ras ) in Bel 7402 cells. In the later case,the alteration were 81.1%(12h) and 97.3%(12h) respectively compared with control. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that AFP is a potential growth factor to promote the proliferation of human hepatoma Bel 7402 cells. Its growth-regulatory effects are mediated by its specific plasma membrane receptors coupled with its transmembrane signaling transduction through the pathway of cAMP-PKA and intracellular calcium to regulate the expression of oncogenes.

Establishment of cell clones with different metastatic potential from the metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97

AIM: To establish clone cells with different metastatic potential for the study of metastasis-related mechanisms. METHODS: Cloning procedure was performed on parental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line MHCC97, and biological characteristics of the target clones selected by in vivo screening were studied. RESULTS: Two clones with high (MHCC97-H) and low (MHCC97-L) metastatic potential were isolated from the parent cell line. Compared with MHCC97-L, MHCC97-H had smaller cell size (average cell diameter 43 microm vs 50 microm) and faster in vitro and in vivo growth rate (tumor cell doubling time was 34.2h vs 60.0h). The main ranges of chromosomes were 55-58 in MHCC97-H and 57-62 in MHCC97-L. Boyden chamber in vitro invasion assay demonstrated that the number of penetrating cells through the artificial basement membrane was (37.5 +/- 11.0) cells/field for MHCC97-H vs (17.7 +/- 6.3)/field for MHCC97-L. The proportions of cells in G0-G1 phase, S phase, and G2-M phase for MHCC97-H/MHCC97-L were 0.56/0.65, 0.28/0.25 and 0.16/0.10, respectively, as measured by flow cytometry. The serum AFP levels in nude mice 5wk after orthotopic implantation of tumor tissue were (246 +/- 66) microg.L(-1) for MHCC97-H and (91 +/- 66) microg.L(-1) for MHCC97-L. The pulmonary metastatic rate was 100% (10/10) vs 40% (4/10). CONCLUSION: Two clones of the same genetic background but with different biological behaviors were established, which could be valuable models for investigation on HCC metastasis.

Metastatic human hepatocellular carcinoma models in nude mice and cell line with metastatic potential

Metastatic human HCC model is needed for the studies on mechanism and intervention of metastatic recurrence. By using orthotopic implantation of histologically intact tissues of 30 surgical specimens, a patient-like metastatic model of human HCC in nude mice (LCI-D20) and a low metastatic model of human HCC in nude mice (LCI-D35) have been established. All mice with transplanted LCI-D20 tumors exhibited extremely high metastatic ability including spontaneous metastasis to liver, lungs, lymph nodes and peritoneal seeding. Remarkable difference was also found in expression of some of the invasiveness related genes and growth factors between the LCI-D20 and LCI-D35 tumors. PAI-1 increased gradually following tumor progression in LCI-D20 model, and correlated with tumor size and AFP level. Phasic expression of tissue intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in this model was also observed. Using corneal micropocket model, it was demonstrated that the vascular response induced by LCI-D20 tumor was stronger than that induced by LCI-D35 tumor. Similar report on metastatic human HCC model in nude mice and human HCC cell line with metastatic potential was rarely found in the literature. This LCI-D20 model has been widely used for the studies on intervention of metastasis, including anti-angiogenesis,antisense approach, metalloproteinase inhibitor, differentiation inducer, etc. It is concluded that the establishment of metastatic human HCC model in nude mice and human HCC cell line with metastatic potential will provide important models for the in vitro and in vitro study of HCC invasiveness, angiogenesis as well as intervention of HCC recurrence.

Hepatitis C virus infection of human hepatoma cell line 7721 in vitro

AIM: To establish a cell culture system with long-term replication of hepatitis C virus in vitro. METHODS: Human hepatoma cell line 7721 was tested for its susceptibility to HCV by incubating with a serum from a patient with chronic hepatitis C. Cells and supernatant were harvested at various phases during the culturing periods. The presence of HCV RNA, the expression of HCV antigens in cells and/or supernatant were examined by RTPCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry respectively. RESULTS: The intracellular HCV RNA was first detected on d2 after infection and then could be intermittently detected in both cells and supernatant over a period of at least three months. The expression of HCV NS3,CP10 antigens could be observed in cells. The fresh cells could be infected by supernatant from cultured infected cells and the transmission of viral genome from HCV-infected 7721 cells to PBMCs was also observed. CONCLUSION: The hepatoma line 7721 is not only susceptible to HCV but also supports its long-term replication in vitro.

Mast cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the density of mast cells (MCs) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to determine whether the MCs density has any correlations with histopathological grading, staging or some baseline patient characteristics.METHODS: Tissue sections of 22 primary HCCs were histochemically stained with toluidine blue, in order to be able to quantify the MCs in and around the neoplasm using a computer-assisted image analysis system. HCC was staged and graded by two independent pathologists. To identify the sinusoidal capillarisation of each specimen 3μm thick sections were histochemically stained with sirius red, and semi-quantitatively evaluated by two independent observers. The data were statistically analysed using Spearman′s correlation and Student′s t-test when appropriate.RESULTS: MCs density did not correlate with the age or sex of the patients, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, or the stage or grade of the HCC. No significant differences were found between the MCs density of the patients with and without hepatitis C virus infection, but they were significantly higher in the specimens showing marked sinusoidal capillarisation.CONCLUSION: The lack of any significant correlation between MCs density and the stage or grade of the neoplastic lesions suggests that there is no causal relationship between MCs recruitment and HCC. However, as capillarisation proceeds concurrently with arterial blood supply during hepatocarcinogenesis, MCs may be considered of primary importance in the transition from sinusoidal to capillary-type endothelial cells and the HCC growth.

Expression levels of PTK7, HER-2 and Mcm5 proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their clinical prognostic value

Objective:To investigate the expression levels and clinical prognosis of tyrosine protein kinase-7(PTK7),human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2)and minichromosome maintenance protein 5(Mcm5)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)value.Methods:180 patients with ESCC were enrolled as the study subjects.Tumor tissues were collected and 100 paracancerous tissues were randomly collected.The expression levels of PTK7,HER-2 and Mcm5 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining,and their clinical pathological features and prognosis.Relationship.Results:The positive rates of PTK7,HER-2 and Mcm5 in ESCC tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues(P<0.05).The positive rate of PTK7 in lymphatic metastasis was significantly higher than that in lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05).The tumor body diameter was greater than 2 cm,the TNM stage was stage III and IV,and the HER-2 positive rate of ESCC tissues with lymphatic metastasis was significantly increased(P<0.05).The positive rate of Mcm5 in stage III and IV and combined lymphatic metastasis ESCC was higher in TNM stage(P<0.05).The expression level of PTK7 in ESCC tissues was positively correlated with lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05).HER-2 was positively correlated with TNM stage and lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05).Mcm5 was positively correlated with tumor size,TNM stage and lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05).The tumor-free survival of PTK7,HER-2,and Mcm5-positive ESCC patients was significantly shorter than that of the negative group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The expression levels of PTK7,HER-2,and Mcm5 were significantly up-regulated in ESCC tissues,and high levels of HER-2 and Mcm5 predicted more severe pathological stage and lymphatic metastasis,and PTK7,HER-2,Mcm5 and worse.Prognosis is related.

抑制素在人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721和Huh-7中的表达及其编码序列扩增

目的检测抑制素在人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721及Huh-7中的基因表达,扩增抑制素全长编码序列。方法分别提取肝癌细胞SMMC-7721及Huh-7细胞总RNA,逆转录合成cDNA。使用Real time PCR,以GAPDH为内参检测抑制素的mRNA表达情况。采用RT-PCR方法扩增抑制素全长编码序列。结果 Real time PCR结果显示,SMMC-7721和Huh-7肝癌细胞株中均有抑制素的表达,且SMMC-7721细胞中抑制素表达量是Huh-7细胞中的6.652倍。RT-PCR方法扩增得到约835 bp的抑制素全长编码序列,条带特异,无非特异性扩增。结论人肝癌细胞株SMMC-7721中抑制素的表达量较高。

The prognostic molecular markers in hepatocellular carcinoma

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remains dismal, although many advances in its clinical study have been made. It is important for tumor control to identify the factors that predispose patients to death. With new discoveries in cancer biology, the pathological and biological prognostic factors of HCC have been studied quite extensively. Analyzing molecular markers (biomarkers) with prognostic significance is a complementary method. A large number of molecular factors have been shown to associate with the invasiveness of HCC, and have potential prognostic significance. One important aspect is the analysis of molecular markers for the cellular malignancy phenotype. These include alterations in DNA ploidy, cellular proliferation markers (PCNA, Ki-67, Mcm2, MIB1, MIA, and CSE1L/CAS protein), nuclear morphology, the p53 gene and its related molecule MD M2, other cell cycle regulators (cyclin A, cyclin D, cyclin E, cdc2, p27, p73), oncogenes and their receptors (such as ras, c-myc, c-fms, HGF, c-met, and erb-B receptor family members), apoptosis related factors (Fas and FasL), as well as telomerase activity. Another important aspect is the analysis of molecular markers involved in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. Adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, catenins, serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD44 variants), proteinases involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix (MMP-2, MMP-9, uPA, uPAR, PAI), as well as other molecules have been regarded as biomarkers for the malignant phenotype of HCC, and are related to prognosis and therapeutic outcomes. Tumor angiogenesis is critical to both the growth and metastasis of cancers including HCC, and has drawn much attention in recent years. Many angiogenesis-related markers, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), thrombospondin (TSP), angiogenin, pleiotrophin, and endostatin (ES) levels, as well as intratumor microvessel density (MVD) have been evaluated and found to be of prognostic significance. Body fluid (particularly blood and urinary) testing for biomarkers is easily accessible and useful in clinical patients. The prognostic significance of circulating DNA in plasma or serum, and its genetic alterations in HCC are other important trends. More attention should be paid to these two areas in future. As the progress of the human genome project advances, so does a clearer understanding of tumor biology, and more and more new prognostic markers with high sensitivity and specificity will be found and used in clinical assays. However, the combination of some items, i.e., the pathological features and some biomarkers mentioned above, seems to be more practical for now.

Growth inhibition and apoptosis induction Sulindac on Human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To evaluate the effects of sulindac in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells in comparison with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. METHODS: The human gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and MKN28 and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG(2) and SMMC7721 were used for the study. Anti-proliferative effect was measured by MTT assay, and apoptosis was determined by Hoechst-33258 staining, electronography and DNA fragmentation. The protein of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Bcl-2 were detected by Western dot blotting. RESULTS: Sulindac could initiate growth inhibition and apoptosis of MKN45, MKN28, HepG(2) and SMMC7721 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Growth inhibitory activity and apoptosis were more sensitive in HepG(2) cells than in SMMC7721 cells, MKN45 and MKN28 cells. After 24 hours incubation with sulindac at 2mmol x L(-1) and 4mmol x L(-1), the level of COX-2 and Bcl-2 protein were lowered in MKN45, SMMC7721 and HepG(2) cells but not in MKN28 cells. CONCLUSION: Sulindac could inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells and HCC cells effectively in vitro by apoptosis induction, which was associated with regression of COX-2 and Bcl-2 expression. The growth inhibition and apoptosis of HCC cells were greater than that of human gastric cancer cells. The different effects of apoptosis in gastric cancer cells may be related to the differentiation of the cells.

Alterations in metastatic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cell following H-ras oncogene transfection

AIM: To demonstrate the relationship between H-ras oncogene and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. METHODS: Activated H-ras oncogene was transfected into SMMC 7721, a cell line derived from human HCC, by calcium phosphate transfection method. Some metastasis-related parameters were detected in vitro, including adhesion assay, migration assay, expression of collagenase IV(c IV ase) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). RESULTS: The abilities of H-ras-transfected cell clones in adhesion to laminin (LN) or fibronectin (FN), migration, c IV ase secretion increased markedly, and the expression of EGFR elevated moderately. More importantly, these alterations were consistent positively with the expression of p21, the protein product of H-ras oncogene. CONCLUSION: H-ras oncogene could induce the metastatic phenotype of HCC cell in vitro to raise its metastatic potential.

Liver cell adenoma with malignant transformation:A case report

A 57-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a liver mass detected by computed tomography.She had taken oral contraceptives for only one month at the age of thirty.Physical examination revealed no abnormalities,and laboratory data,including hepatic function tests,were within the normal range,with the exception of elevated levels of those serum proteins induced by the absence of vitamin K or by raised levels of the antagonist (PIVKA)-Ⅱ (3 502 AU/ml). Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a hyperechoic mass measuring 10×10 cm in the left posterior segment of the liver.Because hepatocellular carcinoma could not be completely excluded,this mass was resected.The tumor consisted of sheets of uniform cells with clear cytoplasm, perinuclear eosinophilic granules and round nuclei.These histological findings were consistent with liver cell adenoma. Background hepatic tissue appeared normal.After resection of the tumor,serum PIVKA-Ⅱ fell to within the normal range. An area of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a mid- trabecular pattern was immunohistochemically found,which was positive for PIVKA-Ⅱ.Sinusoidal endothelial cells were CD34-positive,containing scattered PIVKA-Ⅱ positive cells. This tumor was therefore finally diagnosed as liver cell adenoma with focal malignant transformation to HCC.

Mechanical properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM: To study the viscoelastic properties of human hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells under cytoskeletal perturbation, and to further to study the viscoelastic properties and the adhesive properties of mouse hepatoma cells (HTC) in different cell cycle. METHODS: Micropipette aspiration technique was adopted to measure viscoelastic coefficients and adhesion force to collagen coated surface of the cells. Three kinds of cytoskeleton perturbing agents, colchicines (Col), cytochalasin D (CD) and vinblastine (VBL), were used to treat HCC cells and hepatocytes and the effects of these treatment on cell viscoelastic coefficients were investigated. The experimental results were analyzed with a three-element standard linear solid. Further, the viscoelastic properties of HTC cells and the adhesion force of different cycle HTC cells were also investigated. The synchronous G(1) and S phase cells were achieved through thymine-2-desoryriboside and colchicines sequential blockage method and thymine-2-desoryriboside blockage method respectively. RESULTS: The elastic coefficients, but not viscous coefficient of HCC cells (K(1)=103.6+/-12.6N.m(-2), K(2)=42.5 +/ 10.4N.m(-2), mu=4.5 +/- 1.9Pa.s), were significantly higher than the corresponding value for hepatocytes (K(1)=87.5 +/- 12.1N.m(-2), K(2)=33.3+/-10.3N.m(-2), mu=5.9+/-3.0Pa.s, P【0.01). Upon treatment with CD, the viscoelastic coefficients of both hepatocytes and HCC cells decreased consistently, with magnitudes for the decrease in elastic coefficients of HCC cells (K(1): 68.7 N.m(-2) to 81.7N.m(-2), 66.3% to 78.9%; K(2): 34.5N.m(-2) to 37.1N.m(-2), 81.2% to 87.3%, P【0.001) larger than those for normal hepatocytes (K(1): 42.6N.m(-2) to 49.8N.m(-2), 48.7% to 56.9%; K(2): 17.2N.m(-2) to 20.4N.m(-2), 51.7% to 61.3%, P【0.001). There was a little decrease in the viscous coefficient of HCC cells (2.0 to 3.4Pa.s, 44.4 to 75.6%, P【0.001) than that for hepatocytes (3.0 to 3.9Pa.s, 50.8 to 66.1% P【0.001). Upon treatment with Col and VBL, the elastic coefficients of hepatocytes generally increased or tended to increase while those of HCC cells decreased. HTC cells with 72.1% of G(1) phase and 98.9% of S phase were achieved and high K(1), K(2) value and low mu value were the general characteristics of HTC cells. G(1) phase cells had higher K(1) value and lower mu value than S phase cells had, and G(1) phase HTC cells had stronger adhesive forces ((275.9 +/- 232.8) x 10(-10)N) than S phase cells ((161.2 +/- 120.4) x 10(-10)N, P【0.001). CONCLUSION: The difference in both the pattern and the magnitude of the effect of cytoskeletal perturbing agent on the viscoelastic properties between HCC cells and hepatocytes may reflect differences in the state of the cytoskeleton structure and function and in the sensitivity to perturbing agent treatment between these two types of cells. Change in the viscoelastic properties of cancer cells may affect significantly tumor cell invasion and metastasis as well as interactions between tumor cells and their micro-mechanical environments.

SF/HGF-c-Met autocrine and paracrine promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To explore the role of SF/HGF-Met autocrine and paracrine in metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: SF/HGF and c-met transcription and protein expression in HCC were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blot in 4 HCC cell lines, including HepG2, Hep3B, SMMC7721 and MHCC-1, the last cell line had a higher potential of metastasis. sf/hgf cDNA was transfected by the method of Lipofectin into SMMC7721. SF/HGF and c-met antibody were used to stimulate and block SF/HGF-c-met signal transduction. Cell morphology, mobility, and proliferation were respectively compared by microscopic observation, wound healing assay and cell growth curve. RESULTS: HCC malignancy appeared to be relative to its met-SF/HGF expression. In MHCC-1, c-met expression was much stronger than that in other cell lines with lower potential of metastasis and only SF/HGF autocrine existed in MHCC-1. After sf/hgf cDNA transfection or conditioned medium of MHCC-1 stimulation, SMMC7721 changed into elongated morphology, and the abilities of proliferation (P 【 0.05) and mobility increased. Such bio-activity could be blocked by c-met antibody (P 【 0.05). CONCLUSION: The system of SF/HGF-c-met autocrine and paracrine played an important role in development and metastasis potential of HCC. Inhibition of SF/HGF-c-met signal transduction system may reduce the growth and metastasis of HCC.

Multimodality treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with tumor thrombi in portal vein

AIM: To compare the therapeutic effect and significances of multimodality treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombi in portal vein (PVTT). METHODS: HCC patients (n=147) with tumor thrombi in the main portal vein or the first branch of portal vein were divided into four groups by the several therapeutic methods. There were conservative treatment group in 18 out of patients (group A); and hepatic artery ligation(HAL) and/or hepatic artery infusion (HAI) group in 18 patients (group B), in whom postoperative chemoembolization was done periodically; group of removal of HCC with PVTT in 79 (group C) and group of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or HAI and/or portal vein infusion (PVI) after operation in 32 (group D). RESULTS: The median survival period was 12 months in our series and the 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rates were 44.3%, 24.5% and 15.2%, respectively. The median survival times were 2, 5, 12 and 16 months in group A, B, C and D, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 5.6%, 0% and 0% in group A; 22.2%, 5.6% and 0% in group B; 53.9%, 26.9% and 16.6% in group C; 79.3%, 38.9% and 26.8% in group D, respectively. Significant difference appeared in the survival rates among the groups (P 【 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection with removal of tumor thrombi and HCC should increase the curative effects and be encouraged for the prolongation of life span and quality of life for HCC patients with PVTT, whereas the best therapeutic method for HCC with PVTT is with regional hepatic chemotherapy or chemoembolization after hepatic resection with removal of tumor thrombi.

Transcription factor EGR-1 inhibits growth of hepatocellular carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma cell lines

AIM: The transcription factor EGR-1 (early growth response gene-1) plays an important role in cell growth, differentiation and development. It has identified that EGR-1 has significant transformation suppression activity in some neoplasms, such as fibrosarcoma, breast carcinoma. This experiment was designed to investigate the role of egr-1 in the cancerous process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and esophageal carcinoma (EC), and then to appraise the effects of EGR-1 on the growth of these tumor cells. METHODS: Firstly, the transcription and expression of egr-1 in HCC and EC, paracancerous tissues and their normal counterpart parts were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, with normal human breast and mouse brain tissues as positive controls. Egr-1 gene was then transfected into HCC (HHCC, SMMC7721) and EC (ECa109) cell lines in which no egr-1 transcription and expression were present. The cell growth speed, FCM cell cycle, plate clone formation and tumorigenicity in nude mice were observed and the controls were the cell lines transfected with vector only. RESULTS: Little or no egr-1 transcription and expression were detected in HCC, EC and normal liver tissues. The expression of egr-1 were found higher in hepatocellular paracancerous tissue (transcription level P=0.000; expression level P=0.143, probably because fewer in number of cases) and dysplastic tissue of esophageal cancer (transcription level P=0.000; expression level P=0.001). The growth rate of egr-1-transfected HHCC (HCC cell line) cells and ECa109 (EC cell line) cells was much slower than that of the controls. The proportion of S phase cell, clone formation and tumorigenicity were significantly lower than these of the controls' (decreased 45.5% in HHCC cells and 34.1% in ECa109 cells; 46.6% and 41.8%; 80.4% and 72.6% respectively). There were no obvious differences between SMMC7721 (HCC) egr-1-transfected cells and the controls with regard to the above items. CONCLUSION: The decreased expression of egr-1 might play a role in the dysregulation of normal growth in the cancerous process of HCC and EC. Egr-1 gene of transfected HHCC and ECa109 cells showed obvious suppression of the cell growth and malignant phenotypes, but no suppression in SMMC7721 (HCC cell line) cells.

Experimental study on antitumor effect of arsenic trioxide in combination with cisplatin or doxorubicin on hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTIONThe main component of a traditional Chinese drug 'Pishuang'. arsenic trioxide (As2O3), has obviously selective anti-tumor effect on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)in both in vitro and in vivo studies[1-5]. Due to limited effectiveness when any anti-carcinogen is used alone and obviously increased toxicity when the dose is raised, there is no exception for As2O3. Furthermore, combined chemotherapy contributes to improve therapeutic effectiveness, disperse toxicity and surmount drug-resistance,in which the combination of traditional Chinese and modern medicine has more advantages and characteristics. As a result,we made an experimental study on anti-tumor effect of As2O3in combination with cisplantin (PDD) or doxorubicin (ADM)on HCC. to investigate the possibility of AS2O3 in combination with PDD or ADM and nature of interaction between them,and to provide experimental basis for clinical application.

Effect of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine on the P16 tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2

INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the mostcommon human malignancies worldwide[1,2], and isclosely associated with infection of HBV and HCVand contamination of aflatoxin B1[3-6]. Althoughthe molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesisremain poorly understood, an increasing number ofgenetic abnormalities have been recognized[7-10],for example, the p16 gene[11,12] the p53gene[13-18], the E-cadherin gene[19], and the c-mycgene[20].