A perspective on cancer cell metastasis

Metastasis causes most cancer deaths, yet this process remains one of the most enigmatic aspects of the disease. Building on new mechanistic insights emerging from recent research, we offer our perspective on the metastatic process and reflect on possible paths of future exploration. We suggest that metastasis can be portrayed as a two-phase process: The first phase involves the physical translocation of a cancer cell to a distant organ, whereas the second encompasses the ability of the cancer cell to develop into a metastatic lesion at that distant site. Although much remains to be learned about the second phase, we feel that an understanding of the first phase is now within sight, due in part to a better understanding of how cancer cell behavior can be modified by a cell-biological program called the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.     

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase: electrophoretic variants associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Starch-gel electrophoresis of leukocyte alkaline phosphatases, rendered soluble by treating normal leukocytes with butanol, revealed three electrophoretic variants of the enzyme. The phosphatases in similarly prepared extracts of leukemia cells differed from the normal isozymes in electrophoretic. mobility. A single variant was detected in one case of untreated leukemia; a similar component and three additional ones were seen in leukemia treated with 6-mercaptopurine.     

Beta 1-6 branching of Asn-linked oligosaccharides is directly associated with metastasis

Neoplastic transformation has been associated with a variety of structural changes in cell surface carbohydrates, most notably increased sialylation and beta 1-6-linked branching of complex-type asparagine (Asn)-linked oligosaccharides (that is, -GlcNAc beta 1-6Man alpha 1-6Man beta 1-). However, little is known about the relevant glycoproteins or how these transformation-related changes in oligosaccharide biosynthesis may affect the malignant phenotype. Here it is reported that a cell surface glycoprotein, gp 130, is a major target of increased beta 1-6-linked branching and that the expression of these oligosaccharide structures is directly related to the metastatic potential of the cells. Glycosylation mutants of a metastatic tumor cell line were selected that are deficient in both beta 1-6 GlcNAc transferase V activity and metastatic potential in situ. Moreover, induction of increased beta 1-6 branching in clones of a nonmetastatic murine mammary carcinoma correlated strongly with acquisition of metastatic potential. The results indicate that increased beta 1-6-linked branching of complex-type oligosaccharides on gp 130 may be an important feature of tumor progression related to increased metastatic potential.     

可溶性CD105与大肠癌转移关系的研究

目的:探讨大肠癌转移与血浆可溶性CD105之间的相关性。方法:采用酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA)对50例大肠癌患者以及31例正常人CD105浓度进行了检测。结果:未发生转移的大肠癌患者血浆可溶性血清CD105浓度(2.42±0.46)mg/L明显高于正常对照组(1.57±0.15)mg/L(P<0.01),而低于转移性大肠癌组(4.24±0.75)(P<0.01)。结论:血浆可溶性CD105与大肠癌转移有关,有可能成为诊断其转移指标之一。     

结肠癌侵犯浆膜面的多层螺旋CT表现与淋巴结转移的关系

目的 探讨结肠癌侵犯浆膜面的多层螺旋CT (MSCT)表现与淋巴结转移的关系.方法 收集51例病理证实浆膜面受累的结肠癌患者术前MSCT检查资料,分析MSCT表现与淋巴结转移的情况.结果 MSCT表现为癌肿肠周脂肪间隙清晰6例,脂肪密度增高15例,索条、结节样强化30例,其淋巴结转移率分别为16.7％、40.0％与76.7％,转移度分别为4.2％、11.5％与30.5％,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).淋巴结大小联合癌肿肠周索条、结节样强化判定淋巴结转移的敏感性高于单纯以淋巴结大小为判定标准(P＜0.05).结论 癌肿肠周系膜索条、结节样强化的MSCT征象在术前评价结肠癌T3期淋巴结转移有一定参考价值.     

人大肠癌组织中nm23—H1表达及其与转移的关系

目的：探讨ｎｍ２３－Ｈ１基因表达与大肠癌转移的关系。方法：应用过氧化酶标记的链霉卵白素（ＳＰ）染色法对３３例正常大肠粘膜、１３４例癌旁粘膜及１９３便大肠癌免疫组织化学染色,并对染色结果进行观察,结果：大肠粘膜与癌旁粘膜间ｎｍ２３－Ｈ１表达阳性差异无显著性,但ｎｍ２３－Ｈ１在良、恶性大肠癌组织中的表达阳性率碾 显著性。ｎｍ２３－Ｈ１表达阳性率仅在正常、良性大肠组织与转移的大肠癌间差异有显著性,但与未     

环氧合酶-2和微血管密度与胃癌淋巴结转移及临床分期的关系

目的观察胃癌组织中环氧合酶（COX-2）的表达及微血管密度与患者淋巴结转移之间的关系。方法检测COX-2在胃癌细胞中的表达、计算肿瘤组织中微血管密度值,观察它们与患者临床分期、淋巴结转移的关系。结果COX-2的表达主要分布在胞浆,Ⅰ期胃癌细胞均未表达COX-2,随淋巴结转移站别的增高,阳性级别增加。随淋巴结转移站别的增高,胃癌组织中微血管密度明显增加,组间比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;随胃癌TNM分期的增高,COX-2表达增多,微血管密度明显增加,组间比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01或0．05）。结论胃癌组织中COX．2的表达及微血管密度与患者淋巴结转移之间有密切的关系。随淋巴结转移站别的增高,COX-2表达增多,微血管密度明显增加。     

放射性核素骨显像联合PSA、FPSA检测对前列腺癌骨转移诊断的临床意义

目的:探讨核素骨显像与前列腺特异性抗原(PSA和FPSA)对前列腺癌骨转移随访的临床意义。方法:对87例前列腺癌患者静脉注射99T cm-M DP 925~1110 M Bq行SPECT全身骨显像和PSA、FPSA的检测,观察全身骨骼放射性分布情况并与实验室检查对比分析。结果:骨显像发现54例骨转移瘤,阳性率62.1%。在接受2~6次骨显像随访的前列腺癌患者中,第1、2、3次被确诊为骨转移癌分别为28例(32.2%)、14例(16.1%)、9例(10.4%);第4~6次被确诊骨转移癌各有1例(1.1%)。前列腺癌骨转移组的PSA和FPSA均明显高于非骨转移组、治疗随访组及对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论:前列腺癌在行骨显像随访时,联合检测PSA、FPSA对前列腺癌骨转移的预后评估有互补作用。     

细胞角蛋白免疫组化染色对胃癌淋巴结转移的诊断意义

目的 探讨细胞角蛋白(CK)免疫组化染色在判断胃癌淋巴结转移中的作用.方法 采用常规HE染色、CK免疫组化染色检测51例胃癌根治术患者的淋巴结转移情况.结果 51例胃癌中,HE、CK免疫组化染色发现淋巴结转移检出率分别为58.8%、80.3%;在送检的848个淋巴结中,HE、CK免疫组化染色显示淋巴结转移率分别为12....     

Favism: association with erythrocyte acid phosphatase phenotype

The frequency of carriers of the P(a)and P(c) alleles of the gene for acid phosphatase in the erythrocyte is significantly higher in male subjects deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and having hemolytic clinical favism than it is in the general population. This observation seems to indicate that alleles (P(a) and P(c)) of a gene polymorphic in all human populations affect the fitness of the involved phenotypes in special genotypic and nongenotypic conditions.     

血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子在大肠癌患者组织中的检测及其意义

目的:探讨血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子1(sICAM-1)的检测在大肠癌患者中的临床意义。方法:采用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测50例大肠癌、30例大肠良性病变及30例健康体检者血清sICAM-1水平,并比较大肠癌患者术前、术后,转移、无转移sICAM-1水平变化。结果:大肠癌患者血清sICAM-1水平明显高于良性病变患者及正常人(P<0.01);大肠癌患者术后血清sICAM-1水平较术前明显下降(P<0.01);有转移的大肠癌患者血清sICAM-1水平高于无转移的患者(P<0.01)。结论:血清sICAM-1水平与大肠癌的发生、发展密切相关,可作为大肠癌新的检测指标之一。     

A laccase associated with lignification in loblolly pine xylem

Peroxidase has been thought to be the only enzyme that oxidizes monolignol precursors to initiate lignin formation in plants. A laccase was purified from cell walls of differentiating xylem of loblolly pine and shown to coincide in time and place with lignin formation and to oxidize monolignols to dehydrogenation products in vitro. These results suggest that laccase participates in lignin biosynthesis and therefore could be an important target for genetic engineering to modify wood properties or to improve the digestibility of forage crops.     

Germline allele-specific expression of TGFBR1 confers an increased risk of colorectal cancer

Much of the genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer (CRC) in humans is unexplained. Studying a Caucasian-dominated population in the United States, we showed that germline allele-specific expression (ASE) of the gene encoding transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) type I receptor, TGFBR1, is a quantitative trait that occurs in 10 to 20% of CRC patients and 1 to 3% of controls. ASE results in reduced expression of the gene, is dominantly inherited, segregates in families, and occurs in sporadic CRC cases. Although subtle, the reduction in constitutive TGFBR1 expression alters SMAD-mediated TGF-beta signaling. Two major TGFBR1 haplotypes are predominant among ASE cases, which suggests ancestral mutations, but causative germline changes have not been identified. Conservative estimates suggest that ASE confers a substantially increased risk of CRC (odds ratio, 8.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.6 to 29.1), but these estimates require confirmation and will probably show ethnic differences.     

Loss of IGF2 imprinting: a potential marker of colorectal cancer risk

Loss of imprinting (LOI), an epigenetic alteration affecting the insulin-like growth factor II gene (IGF2), is found in normal colonic mucosa of about 30% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but it is found in only 10% of healthy individuals. In a pilot study to investigate the utility of LOI as a marker of CRC risk, we evaluated 172 patients at a colonoscopy clinic. The adjusted odds ratio for LOI in lymphocytes was 5.15 for patients with a positive family history [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.70 to 16.96; probability P = 0.002], 3.46 for patients with adenomas (95% CI, 1.14 to 11.37; P = 0.026), and 21.7 for patients with CRC (95% CI, 3.48 to 153.6; P = 0.0005). LOI can be assayed with a DNA-based blood test, and it may be a valuable predictive marker of an individual's risk for CRC.