Expression and clinical significance of Bmi-1 in gastric carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the relationship between expression of Bmi-1 (B cell-specific MLV integration site-1) in gastric cancer and its clinicopathologic significance.METHODS: 146 surgical patients with gastric carcinoma were followed up at least 2 years.Expression of Bmi-1 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry in their archival paraffin embedded tissue specimens.RESULTS: The intensive positive rate of Bmi-1 expression in gastric cancer was 67.8% (99/146).Expression of Bmi-1 was highly correlated with tumor size,clinical stage,lymph node metastasis and T classification (P<0.05),but not with sex,age,tumor differentiation,etc.(P>0.05).The survival rate in the patients with Bmi-1 expression was much lower than that in those patients without Bmi-1 expression (P<0.01).Multivariate analysis indicated that Bmi-1 expression,T classification,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,tumor size and postoperative chemotherapy were all significantly prognostic factors of gastric carcinoma.CONCLUSION: Overexpression of Bmi-1 in patients with gastric carcinoma enhances the possibility of invasion and metastasis,implying a poor prognosis.Bmi-1 may serve as fairly a good prognostic factor to indicate biologic behavior and prognosis in gastric carcinoma.     

Relationship between expression of MKK-4 and MMP-9 genes in primary hepatic carcinoma with or without invasion and metastasis

AIM：To investigate the expression of mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK-4) and MMP-9 mRNA in primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC), and to analyze its relationship with invasion and metastasis. METHODS：The expression of MKK-4 and MMP-9 mRNA in 34 cases of hepatic carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues,and in 12 cases of normal liver tissues were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS：(1) The expression level of MMP-9 mRNA was higher in metastatic cancer tissues than that in other tissuses (P<0.01). (2) There was significant statistical difference among the expression level of MKK-4 mRNA, but the level in metastatic cancer was low (P<0.01). (3) There was no statistical difference among the expression level of MKK-4 or MMP-9 mRNA among the adjacent tissues and normal tissues (P>0.05). (4) MMP-9 mRNA had a tendency to rise as PHC became invasive and metastatic.The expression level of MKK-4 had a tendency to decline in PHC became invasive and metastatic. (5) The expression level of MMP-9 or MKK-4 mRNA had no correlations with tumor volume,or cell differentiation (P>0.05). (6) There were correlations between expressions of MKK-4 and MMP-9 mRNA in PHC (Pearson Correlation, r=-0.925, P<0.01). CONCLUSION：There are high MMP-9 mRNA expression and low MKK-4 mRNA expression in PHC.The expression level of MKK-4 or MMP-9 mRNA is correlated with tumor metastasis.     

Effect of hypoxia on invasion and migration of lung carcinoma cells and its molecular basis

AIM: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the invasion and migration of lung carcinoma cells. METHODS: Lung carcinoma cell H128 was exposed to normoxia (air, 5% CO₂), hypoxia (5% O₂,5% CO₂,90% N₂) or anoxia (95% N₂,5% CO₂) conditions for 48 hours. The migration ability of the cells was assayed by wound healing methods. The invasiveness ability was determined with HABM-HEM model. The cells exposed to hypoxia were inoculated under skin in nude mice, and then the growth of the tumor and the rate of metastasis to lymph node or lung were observed. The expression of E-cadherin and β1-integrin on the cells were also assayed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with normoxic group, the invasiveness and migration in hypoxic group were increased. The rates of tumorgenesis and metastasis to lung in anoxic group were evidently decreased. The expression of E-cadherin was decreased, and the expression of β1-integrin was increased in hypoxic group. In anoxia group, the invasiveness, migration, the expression of E-cadherin and β1-integrin were all decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate hypoxia down-regulated the expression of E-cadherin, up-regulated the expression of β1-integrin, and increased the invasiveness and metastasis of carcinoma cells. Serious hypoxia decreased the expression of adhesive molecules, and the proliferation, invasiveness and migration were also decreased.     

Expressions of VEGF,ANG-1,ANG-2 and TSP-1 in cholangiocellular carcinoma and relationship with tumor angiogenesis,differentiation,invasion and metastasis

AIM: To investigate the angiogenesis status,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1),angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2),thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) and relationship with tumor angiogenesis,differentiation,invasion and metastasis.METHODS: 33 specimen of surgically resected CCC were investigated.Immunohistochemical staining of CD34,VEGF,ANG-1,ANG-2 and TSP-1 was carried out.RESULTS: The mean MVD was (87.2±52.6)/mm2.VEGF positive expression was found in 75.6% cases;ANG-1 positive expression was observed in 36% cases;ANG-2 positive was detected in 57.6% cases and 45.5% cases exhibited positive TSP-1 expression.VEGF and ANG-2 expressions were found to be associated with significant higher level of MVD (P<0.01 and P<0.05,respectively).TSP-1 expression was found to be associated with significant low level of MVD (P<0.01).Positive TSP-1 expression was also found to be associated with higher level of intrahepatic metastasis (46.7% vs 5.6%,P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Considerable angiogenesis compared to other solid tumors can be observed in CCC.VEGF and ANG-2 might play a proangiogenic role and TSP-1 may play an inhibitory role.Although TSP-1 may increase the intrahepatic metastasis of CCC,neither MVD levels nor the expression of VEGF,ANG-1,or ANG-2 is associated with tumor differentiation,invasion and metastasis.     

Expression of adhesion molecules in hepatocellurlar carcinoma and its clinical significance

AIM: To investigate the expression of adhesion molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and analyze its clinical significance. METHODS: The expressions of adhesion molecules of tumor tissues of 64 cases and adjacent tissues of 12 cases of HCC were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: ①The expression rates of E-cadherin, ICAM-1, CD44, CD44V, α₅, β₁ were 90.62%, 93.75%, 50.00%, 96.88%, 100%, 100%, respectively, and there was a significant difference between CD44 and other adhesion molecules. ②The expression level of E-cadherin, ICAM-1, CD44, CD_44V, α₅,β₁ in liver cancer tissues were 1.24±0.54, 0.96±0.37, 0.62±0.73, 0.86±0.33, 0.97±0.49, 1.41±0.24, respectively, and there was a significant difference between CD44 and E-cadherin, β₁. ③The expression level of E-cadherin and CD44 mRNA declined as HCC stage become higher, and there was a statistical difference in the expression level of CD44 mRNA between Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage and Ⅳ stage. The expression level of ICAM-1, α₅, β₁ had a trend to rise as HCC stage become higher, and there was a statistical difference in the expression level of ICAM-1 between Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage and Ⅳ stage. ④The expression level of ICAM-1,CD_44V, α₅, β₁ had positive correlation with tumor volume, tumor nodules, tumor metastasis, and had negative correlation with tumor encapsulation. E-cadherin and CD44 had negative correlation with tumor volume, tumor nodules, tumor metastasis, and had positive correlation with tumor encapsulation. All showed no significant correlation with the level of AFP , the degree of cirrhosis and the function of liver. CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference in the expression level of adhesion molecule mRNA in HCC, and their expression had Spearman correlation with each other. The expression level of adhesion molecule mRNA is associated with tumor volume, tumor nodules and tumor metastasis.     

Study on the expression of pituitary tumor-transforming (PTTG) and fragile histidine triad (FHIT) in gastric cancer and pericancerous tissues

AIM:To Study on the expressive levels of PTTG and FHIT and detect their clinicopathological significances in gastric cancer and pericancerous tissues.METHODS:Immunohistochemical method was used on routinely paraffin-embedded sections of 49 cases with gastric cancer and 20 subjects with pericancerous tissues. RESULTS:The positive rate and score of PTTG in gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in pericancerous tissues (P<0.05,P<0.01),but those of FHIT were opposite (P<0.05,P<0.01),the positive cases of PTTG and negative subjects of FHIT showed severely-atypical hyperplasis. The positive rate and score of PTTG were significantly lower in the cases of infiltrating depth T₁-T₂ and without-metastasis of distant organs than those in the subjects of infiltrating depth T₃-T₄ and with-metastasis of distant organs(P<0.05,P<0.01). The positive rate and score of FHIT were significantly higher in the cases of infiltrating depth T₁-T₂,without-metastasis of lymphnodes,with-metastasis of the first site lymphnodes,and without metatstasis of distant organs than those in the subjects of infiltrating depth T₃-T₄,with-metastasis of lymphnodes,with-metastasis of the third site lymphnodes,and with-metastasis of distant organs(P<0.05,P<0.01). The significantly negative correlation was found between the score of PTTG and FHIT in gastric cancer tissues(r=-0.36,P<0.01). CONCLUSION:The expression of PTTG and FHIT might be important biological markers for reflecting the carcinogenesis,progression,invasive potential,metastastic status and prognosis of gastric cancer. The assays of PTTG and FHIT in benign lesions might have clinical values for the prevention and early-stage finding of gastric cancer.     

Effect of norcantharidin on proliferation and invasion of human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 in vitro

AIM: To investigate the effect of norcantharidin（NCTD）on proliferation and invasion of human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 in vitro and its anticancer mechanisms.METHODS: MTT assay was used to determine SKBR3 cell proliferation. Light and FACScan were used to detect apoptosis and cell cycle. The invasiveness of SKBR3 was evaluated by the adhesion test，Matrigel experiment and the crossing-river test.RESULTS: NCTD had inhibitive effects on growth of SKBR3 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner, with the IC₅₀ value of 12.5 mg/L at 24 h．The cells treated with 10 mg/L NCTD for 24 h and 48 h showed typical apoptotic morphology and hypodiploid peak before G₁ phase. The cell cycle was arrested at G₂/M phase. The apoptosis percentage was up to 3.44% and 6.17%, and the G₂/M percentage was up to 35.82% and 38.70%. NCTD also could inhibit obviously the adhesion, movement and invasive capability simulating human basement membrane of SKBR3. Its effect was also in a dose-dependent manner. In the NCTD-treated group, crossing-river time was prolonged significantly and passing-membrane cells markedly decreased. CONCLUSION: NCTD in vitro inhibits not only the proliferation and growth of human breast cancer cells but also invasion and metastasis of the cells at relatively low concentration. NCTD shows prominent anti-tumor effects.     

Model establishment and biological behaviour observation of mouse blastocyst co-cultured with hepatocarcinoma cell lines with differently invasive and metastatic potential in vitro

AIM: To explore interaction and biological behaviour changes of two kinds of cells-blastocysts and hepatocarcinoma cells in the same microenvironment. METHODS:The models of mouse blastocysts co-cultured with human hepatocarcinoma cell lines were established, then biological behaviours and mutual effects of the two kinds of cells in co-culture system were observed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential significantly enhanced the rates of blastocyst hatchment , attachment and outgrowth(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in those among hepatocarcinoma cells co-cultured groups (P＞0.05). The blastocyst hatched and attached to hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential. Then, differential trophoblasts invaded hepatocarcinoma cells. The clear-cut interfaces were gradually formed between both sides. Hepatocarcinoma cells on interface showed changes of growth direction and cell shapes and did not invade blastocysts. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocarcinoma cells promoted blastocyst development. Blastocysts implanted and invaded hepatocarcinoma cells with differently invasive and metastatic potential in vitro, which indicate that blastocyst implantation in vitro does not relate with the kinds and differential level of interactional cells and the low selectivity maybe relate with high adaptability of early life.     

《中国蔬菜品种志》

本书由中国农业科学院蔬菜花卉研究所主编,已于2002年9月出版发行。全书分上、下卷,1～6章为上卷,包括根菜类、白菜类、芥菜类、甘蓝类、绿叶菜类及葱蒜类,计2263个品种,1347页;7～12章为下卷,包括瓜类、茄果类、豆类、薯芋类、水生蔬菜类和多年生蔬菜类,计2550个品种,1177页。入志的品种中,地方品种占     

Relationship between expression level of TIMP-3 and invasion/metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To detect the levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in both plasma and the tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to elucidate their association with clinical features.METHODS: Plasma protein levels of TIMP-3 in 56 HCC patients and 30 cases of controls were detected by ELISA.The mRNA and protein levels of TIMP-3 in 30 HCC tissue samples with their portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues, and in normal liver tissues from 30 controls were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The relationship between mRNA and protein levels and their clinic-pathological data were analyzed.RESULTS: The plasma TIMP-3 protein levels in the extrahepatic metastasis patients were obviously lower than those in the non-extrahepatic metastasis patients (P<0.05).The mRNA levels of TIMP-3 in normal liver, carcinoma in situ, portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues were 0.78±0.09, 0.52±0.09, 0.42±0.07 and 0.40±0.08, respectively, with significant differences among them (P<0.05).The protein levels of TIMP-3 in these 4 kinds of tissues were 115.08±8.60, 77.04±8.83, 64.43±3.80 and 62.80±3.73, respectively, also with significant differences among them (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression of TIMP-3 significantly decreases in the carcinoma in situ tissues of HCC patients, and decreases more obviously in the portal vein tumor embolus and lymphatic metastasis tissues, indicating that low expression of TIMP-3 may play an important role in HCC invasiveness and metastasis.     

Expression of ERK5 in colorectal cancer tissues and its correlation with distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients

AIM: To investigate the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) and adjacent normal mucosa, and to analyze the relationship between ERK5 expression and clinicopathological parameters for exploring the functions of ERK5 in the occurrence and development of CRC. METHODS: The expression of ERK5 in carcinoma tissues and normal mucosa was examined by a set of tissue microarrays and the method of immunohistochemistry. The potential relationship between ERK5 expression and clinicopathological features was also analyzed. RESULTS: ERK5 expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues (134/338, 39.6%) than that in normal tissues (21/80, 26.2%; P<0.05). Overexpression of ERK5 in CRC tissues was significantly correlated with distant metastasis (P<0.05). However, no correlation between ERK5 expression and age at surgery, sex, tumor location, the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM staging or differentiation grade was found (P>0.05). According to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, there is no significant difference in 5-year overall survival between the patients with ERK5 expression at high level and at low level. CONCLUSION: ERK5 protein is highly expressed in CRC with distant metastasis. This may be a promotive factor in the process of distant metastasis.     

Effect of berberine on invasion and migration of PG cells from a high metastatic human giant lung carcinoma cell line

AIM:To study the effect of berberine(Ber) on invasion and migration of PG cells from a high metastatic human giant lung carcinoma cell line and to explore its mechanism. METHODS:Agarose drop method was used to detect PG migration; transwell cabin with FN in lower chamber was adopted to detect PG chemotaxis. PG adhesion to FN and martrigel was detected by MTT; PG invasive ability was determined by transwell cabin covered with martrigel. Expression of MMP2/TIMP2 protein and mRNA were detected by quantitative immunocytochemical method and RT-PCR respectively. RESULTS:After PG was treated by Ber（10 mg/L） for 24 h: 1) migration distance of Ber-treated PG cells was markedly shorter than that of control cells (P<0.01) and the number of passed membrane cells towards FN was much fewer than that of control cells (P<0.01); 2) PG adhesion to FN and martrigel was inhibited remarkably by Ber compared with control PG; 3) the migration of PG cells through the martrigel-coated transwell was significantly inhibited by the addition of Ber; 4) MMP2 expression was reduced significantly(P<0.01), while the TIMP2 expression showed up-regulating tendency, but had no differences compared with control group(P>0.05). The MMP2/TIMP2 ratio was decreased; 5) the MMP2 mRNA/TIMP2 mRNA ratio was decreased by Ber.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of cell migration, adhesion to ECM and invasion into ECM of tumor cells and regulation of homeostasis between MMPs and TIMPs to maintain ECM integrity may be the basic mechanism of inhibitive effect of Ber on invasion and metastasis of tumors.     

Expression of Cdc25a in cross-species hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and its significance

AIM：To study the expression of cell division cycle 25a protein (Cdc25a) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues of different species, including human, rat and tree shrew, and to verify the feasibility of the strategy of cross-species oncogenomics screening. METHODS：Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the expression of Cdc25a at mRNA and protein levels in the HCC tissues, corresponding HCC-adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues collected from humans, rats and tree shrews. RESULTS：The mRNA expression of Cdc25a in the HCC tissues of humans, rats and tree shrews was higher than that in normal liver tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA levels of Cdc25a in the HCC tissues of humans and rats were higher than those in the corresponding HCC-adjacent liver tissues (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of Cdc25a in the HCC tissues was significantly correlated with the portal vein tumor thrombus, the extrahepatic metastasis and the clinical stage, but was not correlated with the recurrence of tumor, the diameter of tumor, the number of tumor, the level of serum alpha-fetoprotein and the differentiation of tumor. The protein levels of Cdc25a in the HCC tissues of humans, rats and tree shrews were higher than those in the corresponding HCC-adjacent liver tissues and the normal liver tissues. CONCLUSION：Cdc25a may be a particularly crucial molecule for hepatocarcinogenesis. The cross-species oncogenomics screening may represent a feasible and convenient way for identifying key molecules of human HCC.     

Expression and clinical significance of chemokine receptor CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer and determine the association between CXCR6 expression and synchronous liver metastasis/prognosis. METHODS: The colorectal cancer tissues from 143 patients were collected from August 2004 to December 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Twenty-night cases of the adjacent normal colorectal tissues were enrolled as controls. The expression of CXCR6 was detected by immunohistochemistry and the mean intergrated absorbance ( mIA ) was calculated by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. The relationship between CXCR6 expression and synchronous liver metastasis/prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: The CXCR6 staining was mainly positive in colorectal cancer tissues but not in adjacent normal colorectal tissues. The mIA of CXCR6 in colorectal cancer was 1.54±0.04 (range: 0.41~2.84), and was 1.63±0.05 and 1.41±0.08 (P<0.05) in the cases with (n=83) or without (n=60) synchronous liver metastasis, respectively. According to the mean mIA of CXCR6 (1.54), the cases was divided into high CXCR6 group (mIA≥1.54) and low CXCR6 group ( mIA <1.54). The overall survival rate in high CXCR6 group was significantly lower than that in low CXCR6 group (P<0.05). In multivariate Cox regression models, age (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and synchronous liver metastasis (P<0.01) but not CXCR6 were identified as independent risk factors for poor outcome. In subgroup analysis, high CXCR6 expression was associated with poorer survival in the patients with stage I~III colorectal cancer (P<0.01) but not those with synchronous liver metastasis (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: CXCR6 in primary colorectal cancer tissues is associated with liver metastasis. It may become a potential target for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastasis.     

Expression of 2 SYK protein isoforms in breast cancer cells and their effect on cell invasion

AIM: This study was to explore the expression of spleen tyrosine kinase(SYK)(L) and SYK(S) in breast cancer cells and their effects on invasive phenotype of breast cancer cell line MB435. METHODS: The expression of SYK in breast cancer cell lines MB435, ZR75.1, MB468, T47D and MCF 7 were detected by Western blotting. MB435 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-SYK(L), pcDNA3.1-SYK(S) or pcDNA3.1 respectively, G418-resistant stable clones were pooled and the SYK expression was measured by Western blotting. Chemoinvasion assays were performed to study the effects of SYK(L) and SYK(S) on breast cancer cell invasion.RESULTS: SYK(L) and SYK(S) were simultaneously expressed in most detected breast cancer cells. Pooled SYK(L) and SYK(S) stable clones were made by Fugene 6 transfection and G418 selection. The expression of SYK(L) suppressed the invasive ability of breast cancer cells, while SYK(S) didnt.CONCLUSION: The simultaneously expression of SYK(L) and SYK(S) in breast cancer cells is a common phenomenon. Among SYK(L) and SYK(S),only SYK(L) protein is capable of suppressing the invasion of breast cancer cells.     

Expression of HDAC6 protein in cervical carcinoma tissues and its clinical significance

AIM:To investigate the protein expression of histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6) in cervical carcinoma tissues and its clinical value. METHODS:The method of immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of HDAC6 in 63 cases of cervical carcinoma tissues, 38 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) tissues and 63 cases of normal cervical epithelial tissues. The relationships between the protein expression of HDAC6 and clinical pathological features were analyzed. The protein expression of HDAC6 in randomly selected 4 cases of cervical carcinoma tissues and paired normal cervical epithelial tissues was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS:Positive rates of HDAC6 protein expression in cervical carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than that in CIN tissues or normal cervical epithelial tissues, and there were obvious differences among the 3 groups(P<0.05). The protein expression of HDAC6 was not related to age and histological differentiation(P>0.05), but closely associated with clinical stages, invasive depth and lymph node metastasis(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Furthermore, the result of Western blotting demonstrated that the protein level of HDAC6 in cervical carcinoma tissues was markedly higher than that in normal cervical epithelial tissues. CONCLUSION:HDAC6 may be an important molecular marker for evaluating malignant degree and prognosis of cervical carcinoma.     

Effect of PTEN gene overexpression on cell cycle and tumor invasion in a human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell line

AIM:To investigate the role of phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome(PTEN) gene in the cell cycle and invasion ability of human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell line in vitro. METHODS:Human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells were transfected with a eukaryotic expression plasmid vector containing PTEN gene in vitro,and then the positive cell clones were selected and amplified. MTT method was used to observe the inhibitory rate,flow cytometry was used to detect the cycle of transfected PTEN cells and apoptosis level. Western blotting analysis was used to determine PTEN gene expression. The invasiveness of transfected cells were measured quantitatively by Matrigel invasion assays (Transwell chamber). RESULTS:The expression of PTEN mRNA in SKOV3 cells increased after transfection with PTEN gene. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of cells in S phase increased,but that in G₂/M phase decreased. Invasiveness of SKOV3 was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION:The transfection of PTEN gene into SKOV3 cells can inhibit human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cell proliferation,invasion and induce SKOV3 cell apoptosis.     

Significance of STC1 expression in peripheral blood and tissue of gastric carcinoma

AIM: To investigate stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) mRNA expression in the blood and tissue of gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The samples of peripheral blood and tumor tissues were collected from 74 patients with stage I-IV gastric carcinoma. STC1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, STC1 protein in tumor tissue was also detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The expression of STC1 mRNA in blood was significantly correlated with multiple histopathological prognostic factors, including primary tumor size, number of positive lymph nodes, and TNM stage. STC1 mRNA was not detected in the blood of volunteers without cancer, but detected in all gastric carcinoma tissue, and STC1 protein was expressed in all gastric carcinomas. CONCLUSION: STC1 is proposed as a novel, specific, and clinically useful molecular marker for detecting occult gastric carcinoma cells in blood. STC1 expression may play an important role in the progression of gastric carcinoma.     

Construction of antisense RNA expression plasmid for u-PAR and its transfection to highly invasive PC-3M cell subclones

AIM: To inhibit specifically the u-PAR expression in highly invasive cell subclones and block its function in those cells invasion. METHODS: A cDNA fragment of u-PAR obtained by RT-PCR was inserted into a plasmid vector named pcDNA3 in the reverse direction. Then an antisense RNA expression plasmid for u-PAR was constructed and transfected into highly invasive cell subclones. The u-PAR expression in resistant cells was examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: Compared to the control cells, the content of mRNA and protein of u-PAR in transfected cells decreased sharply, and the rate of inhibition was 53% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that an antisense vector for u-PAR might played a specific inhibitory role in the cells. This model is useful for observing the inhibitory effects of the antisense vector for u-PAR on invasion by highly invasive cell subclones of human prostate carcinoma.