Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its prognostic significance in gastric carcinoma

AIMS To investigate the clinical significance of vas- cular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in gastric carcinoma. METHODS The expression of VEGF in 128 gastric carcinomas was investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGF. Cor- relations between the expression of VEGF and various clinicopathologic factors and prognosis were studied. RESULTS The VEGF-rich expression rate was 64.1% in gastric carcinoma. VEGF-rich expression rate of patients with stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ disease was greater than that of patients with stage f disease (P <0.05). Significant differences of expression rate ex- isted with respect to growth pattern,serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis. The VEGF-rich rate was much higher in tumors with expanding growth pattern (71.8%) or serosal invasion (73.5%) than in those with infiltrative growth pattern (52.0%) or non-serosal invasion (53.3%) (P<0.025,respectively),and it was also significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases (75.0%) than in those without such metastases (50.0%) (P<0.05). In addition,postop- erative survey of 86 patients who had been followed up for at least 5 years demonstrated that the 5-year sur- vival rate of patients with VEGF-rich tumors was signifi- cantly lower than that of patients with VEGF-poor tu- mors (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression of VEGF may be as- sociated with the invasion and metastasis and may also be a useful prognostic indicator of gastric carcinoma.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEARANTIGEN EXPRESSION AND ITS MALIGNANCY POTENTIAL IN COLORECTAL CARCINOMA

Objective: To study the relationship between proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and its malignancy potential in colorectal carcinoma. Methods: Paraffin sections of 86 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were assessed by immunohistochemical study, using a mouse monoclonal antibody (pc-10, DAKO Co. USA) to check proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). To compare PCNA with conventional clinicopathologic factor, including p53 overexpression, tissue carcinoembnyonic antigen immunoreactivity pattern and flow cytometric DNA ploidy for assessing tumor malignancy potential. In addition, recurrence and survival of patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma after curative resection were analyzed in accordance with degree of PCNA expression. Results: PCNA-labeling index (PCNA-LI) increased significantly as the tumor stage advanced (p=0.0001). Strong correlations were observed between PCNA-LI and various pathologic parameters, including histologic differentiation (P=0.0027), lymphatic invasion (P=0.0001), vascular invasion (P=0.0001), lymph node metastasis (P=0.0001), and liver metastasis (P=0.0036). Mean PCNA-LI was also significantly higher in tumor with DNA aneuploidy (P=0.0006) and negative (P=0.01). Linear relationships were demonstrated between PCNA-LI and clinical outcomes; Recurrence rate was significantly greater in the group with higher than the mean PCNA-LI, who underwent curative resection (P<0.01), and three-year survival rates for curative cases with higher than the mean PCNA-LI were significantly poorer than those with lower than mean PCNA-LI (P<0.005). Conclusion: There were correlations between PCNA-LI and various pathologic parameters, PCNA-LI increased significantly as the tumor stage advanced in colorectal carcinoma, the rates of recurrence and death got higher as PCNA-LI increased after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor： the future treatment of choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia

-yopia is the most common refractive disorder. High .myopia affects 27%-33% of all myopic eyes inAsia.1,2 ;The pathologic myopia （PM） is the most severe vision-threatening phenotype of high myopia.3 It is also the second most common cause of choroidal neovascularization （CNV） in Asia. Unlike age-related macular degeneration （AMD） which mostly effecting elders, PM causes severe vision loss in young adults, resulting in a significant impairment of their working ability.4 PM has become the second leading cause of low vision and blindness particularly among those aged at 40-49 years in some Asia countries.

Effect of Liuweidihuang pill and Jinkuishenqi pill on inhibition of spontaneous breast carcinoma growth in mice

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventing and treating action of Liuweidihuang pill(LP) and Jinkuishenqi pill(JP) on spontaneous breast carcinoma in mice.METHODS: A model of spontaneous breast carcinoma was derived from 11.5-month-old female Kunming breeding mice following the delivery of several litters. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: model control group(C),Liuweidihuang pill high-dose group(LH; 4.6 g·kg1·d1),Liuweidihuang pill low-dose group(LL;2.3 g·kg1·d﹣1),Jinkuishenqi pill high-dose group(JH; 4.6 g·kg﹣1·d1) and Jinkuishenqi pill low-dose group(JL;2.3 g·kg﹣1·d﹣1). Cancer tissue volume was measured by water immersion. Histopathology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and cyclin D1 protein expression in cancer tissue was assayed by western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with the control group,cancer tissue volume and weight were lower in the LP and JP groups,and survival time was longer. The expression of VEGF,ERK and Cyclin D1 were inhibited in the LP and JP groups(P < 0.05),and cell differentiation was increased. Tumor weights and volumes and VEGF,ERK and Cyclin D1 expression in LL or LH were significantly lower than in JL and JH(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Both LP and JP could restrain cancer growth and promote cancer cell differentiation;moreover,LP was more effective than JP The likely mechanism of action was via inhibition of VEGF,ERK and cyclin D1.

Effects of Shenlian Extracts (参莲提取物) on Atherosclerosis by Inhibition of the Inflammatory Response

Objective: Inflammation plays a critical role in atherosclerosis, and this inflammatory reaction is being intensively studied. Shenlian Extracts (参莲提取物), an active ingredient of Chinese medicinal herbs, is believed to have multiple therapeutic and preventive effects against human vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Our work investigated whether Shenlian Extracts serves as an anti-inflammatory agent during atherogenesis. Methods: We established a model of atherosclerosis in rabbits using balloon angioplasty and a high cholesterol diet. The effects of Shenlian Extracts on vessel structure and inflammation were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining of the femoral artery, measurement of inflammation-related factors in serum or vascular tissue, and radioimmunoassay. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), flow cytometry and western blots were also performed. Results: We show that oral pre-treatment with Shenlian Extracts suppressed the pathological changes associated with atherosclerosis and that graded doses of Shenlian Extracts reduced total serum levels of cholesterol (90, 180 and 360 mg/kg), triglyceride (180 and 360 mg/kg), and LDL-c (90, 180 mg/kg). Various doses of Shenlian Extracts reduced serum content of TNF-α (180 and 360 mg/kg), CRP (90, 180 and 360 mg/kg) and IL-8 (360 mg/kg) (P<0.05), but led to no significant changes in IL-1β levels. Treatment with Shenlian Extracts also significantly reduced VCAM-1 levels (90 and 360 mg/kg) and IGF-1 levels (90 and 180 mg/kg) in vascular tissue but had no significant effect on ICAM-1 and MCP-1 levels. Finally, Shenlian Extracts significantly reduced the abnormal expression of CD18 in monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These results suggest that Shenlian Extracts may play a direct role in preventing and treating atherogenesis by inhibiting the inflammatory reaction, providing insights into the possible mechanism underlying the anti-atherosclerotic actions of Shenlian Extracts.