• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.1971-1975
• /
• 2012

Overexpression of several aquaporins (AQPs) has been reported in different types of human cancer but their role in carcinogenesis, for example in the cervix, have yet to be clearly defined. In this study, expression of AQPs in cervical carcinomawas investigated by real-time PCR, immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical assays and evaluated for correlations with clinicopathologic variables. AQP1, 3, 8 exhibited differential expression in cervical carcinoma, corresponding CIN and mild cervicitis. AQP1 was predominantly localized in the microvascular endothelial cell in the stroma of mild cervicitis, CIN and cervical carcinoma. AQP3 and AQP8 were localized in the membrane of normal squamous epithelium and carcinoma cells, local signals being more common than diffuse staining. AQP1 and AQP3 expression was remarkably stronger in cervical cancer than in mild cervicitis and CIN2-3 (P<0.05). AQP8 expression was highest in CIN2-3 (91.7%), but levels in cervical carcinoma were also higher than in mild cervicitis. AQP1, AQP3, AQP8 expression significantly increased in advanced stage, deeper infiltration, metastatic lymph nodes and larger tumor volume (P<0.05). Our findings showed that AQPs might play important roles in cervical carcinogenesis and tumour progression in Uygur women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.605-610
• /
• 2014

Chronic liver diseases, including cancer, are characterized by inflammation and elevated serum ferritin (SF). However, the causal-relationship remains unclear. This study used primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) as a model to investigate effects of physiological SF concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 pM) because HSCs play a central role in the development and progression of liver fibrosis. Physiological concentrations of SF, either horse SF or human serum, induced pro-inflammatory cytokine $IL1{\beta}$, IL6 and $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion in rat activated HSCs (all p<0.05). By contrast, treatment did not alter activation marker ${\alpha}SMA$ expression. The presence of SF markedly enhanced expression of Grp78 mRNA (p<0.01). Furthermore, transient knock down of Grp78 by endotoxin EGF-SubA abolished SF-induced $IL1{\beta}$ and $TNF{\alpha}$ secretion in activated HSCs (all p<0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that at physiological concentrations SF functions as a pro-inflammatory mediator in primary rat HSCs. We also provide a molecular basis for the action of SF and identified Grp78-associated ER stress pathways as a novel potential therapeutic target for resolution of fibrosis and possible prevention of liver cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.3255-3261
• /
• 2013

Background: The efficacy of erlotinib is controversial in patients with unknown EGFR mutational status. The aim of this study was to identify the clinicopathological factors that are predictive of erlotinob treatment outcomes for NSCLC patients with unknown EGFR mutational status. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 109 patients with advanced NSCLC who had previously failed at least one line of chemotherapy and received subsequent treatment with erlotinib (150 mg/day orally) was performed. A Cox proportional hazard model for univariate and multivariate analyses was used to identify the baseline clinical parameters correlating with treatment outcome, expressed in terms of hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The median treatment duration was 15 weeks (range, 4-184). The disease control rate was 55%, including disease stability for ${\geq}3$ months for 40% of the patients. Median progression-free survival and median overall survival (OS) were 4.2 and 8.5 months, respectively. The Cox model indicated that an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ${\geq}2$ (HR 3.82; p<0.001), presence of intra-abdominal metastasis (HR 3.42; p=0.002), 2 or more prior chemotherapy regimens (HR 2.29; p=0.021), and weight loss >5% (HR 2.05; p=0.034) were independent adverse prognostic factors for OS in NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib. Conclusions: This study suggests that NSCLC patients should be enrolled in erlotinib treatment after a first round of unsuccessful chemotherapy to improve treatment success, during which they should be monitored for intra-abdominal metastasis and weight loss.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3161-3166
• /
• 2016

Background: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) status as poor prognosis improved with the introduction of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, especially sunitinib. There is sparse data reporting from our region on use of sunitinib in metastatic RCC. Thus the present study explores sunitinib usage at our institute. Materials and Methods: An unselected population of patients with metastatic RCC receiving sunitinib was analyzed with respect to patient characteristics, response, toxicity, and outcomes. Results: Fourty-nine patients with a median age of 50.5 years (range 21-71 years) were included. Most were male (61.2%). Twenty‑one (42.9%) had metastatic disease at presentation. Sunitinib was first line therapy in 45. Conventional clear cell carcinoma was the most common pathology present (39 patients; 79.59 %). The most common site of metastasis was the lung (75.5%). Most patients (30) were started at a dose of 50 mg once a day for 4 weeks and then 2 weeks rest. Clinical benefit rate was 73.5% (n= 36), and 22.5% (n= 11) demonstrated progressive disease at first imaging evaluation within the first 3-6 months. The following objective response performed for patients was 48.9% (n=24) and progression at 24.5 % (n=12). The median follow‑up was 16 months (range, 4-34 months), the overall estimated median PFS was 9 months and the estimated median OS was 15 months. Conclusions: This study demonstrated sunitinib is tolerable and effective in advanced/metastatic RCC Egyptian patients and indicates we should further seek second and third lines to increase survival equivalence as reported in the worldwide literature.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3601-3604
• /
• 2016

Background: The monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) is a potent chemoattractant for natural killer cells, monocytes, and memory T lymphocytes. However, any role in the genesis of salivary gland tumors (SGT) is unknown. To assess the diagnostic relevance of chemokines in SGT, MCP-1 levels in the serum of patients were investigated in association with tumor progression and clinical aggressiveness. Materials and Methods: Using an ELISA kit, we assessed and compared the circulating levels of MCP-1 in blood serum of 70 SGT patients with 44 healthy control samples. Results: The results of this study showed that the concentration of MCP-1 was significantly lower in patients with benign ($463.8{\pm}158.5pg/ml$, P=0.033) and malignant ($454.8{\pm}190.4pg/ml$, P=0.007) SGT than in healthy subjects ($645.7{\pm}338.9$). No significant difference in mean serum levels of MCP-1 was observed between the benign and malignant group (p=0.9). While MCP-1 levels were lower in patients with an advanced clinical stage, advanced tumor size, higher tumor grade, or lymph node involvement, but the mean MCP-1 level between groups showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Conclusions: MCP-1 levels in the serum of patients with SGT were decreased, indicating that this might a good marker for discriminating patients with SGT from healthy people. However, no clear-cut relationship was detected between MCP-1 levels and clinicopathologic factors, and MCP-1 is not a good marker for evaluating tumor dissemination.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3295-3300
• /
• 2016

Background: Different types of cancer exhibit abnormalities in cell cycle regulators. The murine double minute-2(MDM2) cell cycle regulator is a proto-oncogene that negatively regulates the P53 tumour suppressor gene. Surface epithelial tumours constitute approximately two thirds of ovarian neoplasms. Each histologic type can be classified as benign, borderline and malignant. This study aimed to examine immunohistochemical expression of the MDM2 protein in ovarian serous and mucinous epithelial tumours (benign, borderline and malignant). Materials and Methods: This study included forty five ovarian tumours, subdivided into fifteen cystadenomas (5 serous and 10 mucinous), fifteen borderline tumours (11 serous and 4 mucinous) and fifteen cystadenocarcinomas (9 serous and 6 mucinous). Paraffin sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic study, and with mouse monoclonal anti-MDM2 antibody for immunohistochemistry. Results: MDM2 positivity was detected in 28.9% of the studied ovarian tumours. All benign tumours were negative and positivity was significantly higher in malignant than borderline tumours (P value of chi-square test =0.000). Significantly, all MDM2 positive mucinous tumours were malignant with no positive mucinous borderline tumours. Malignant tumours showed positive MDM2 expression in 83.3% of mucinous type and in 55.6% of serous type. Borderline serous tumours showed negative MDM2 in 72.7% of cases (P value of Z test =0.04). Conclusions: Alterations in the expression of the cell cycle regulator (MDM2) occur early in the process of tumourigenesis in serous and mucinous ovarian tumours. We suggest that MDM2 may be used in those tumours as a marker for risk stratification and identification of cases with cancer development and progression. We recommend further studies on MDM2 immunohistochemistry, in conjunction with adjuvant methods as DNA ploidy and FISH gene amplification, focusing on the mucinous tumours and differentiating between the three tumour categories, benign, borderline and malignant.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 1993

From 1988 to 1991, nineteen patients with unresectable localized pancreatic carcinoma were treated with radiotherapy and/or hyperthermia or in combination with chemotherapy. Radiation dose of 4500-5000 cGy with or without additional 500-1000 cGy was administered over 5 to 6 weeks to the pancreatic tumor area using 10 MV linear accelerator. Five of 19 patients were given chemotherapy, either neoadjuvant or maintenance setting with FAM regimen (5-FU, adriamycin and mitomycin C), which was repeated every 4 weeks for one year or until progression. Symptomatic palliation was achieved in 17 among 19 patients ($89{\%}$) and objective response (complete or partial response in CT finding) was achieved in 5 among 11 patients ($45{\%}$). The median survival time was 9 months and one-year survival rate, $32{\%}$. Local-regional failure was documented in 10 among 13 patients ($77{\%}$) and distant failures were found in the liver (3 patients) and carcinomatosis (2 patients). Prognostic significance of various factors such as age, sex, performance status, tumor location, stage, etc. were assessed. Any factors did not have the prognostic significance in univariate analysis. Treatment was well tolerated in most of the patients with only mild to moderate toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.126-131
• /
• 2005

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in locally advanced head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Between June 1998 and December 2004, 30 patients were enrolled and among them, 20 patients were evaluable. Patients were treated with docetaxel $75mg/m^2$ and cisplatin $60mg/m^2$ on day 1 every 21 days. Results: The median age was 71(range 54-80) years old. All 20 patients were male. Nineteen patients had pathologically squamous cell carcinoma and 1 had undifferentiated carcinoma. Fourteen of 20 patients(70%) demonstrated an objective response with two(10%) achieving a complete clinical response and eleven(60%) a partial response. The median response duration was 5.3(1.6-32.1) months and the median time to progression was 5.6(1.4-33.8) months. The median overall survival of all patients was 14(range 2.2-34) months. The median overall survival of responders was 17.5(range 5-34) months and that of non-responders was 3.2(range 2.2-23) months, but it was not statistically significant(p=0.106). During a total of 92 cycles, granulocytopenia worse than CTC(Common toxicity criteria) grade 2 occurred in 6%, thrombocytopenia in 2%, and anemia in 3%, respectively. Non-hematologic toxicities were minor and easily controlled. Conclusion: The induction chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin has moderate efficacy with acceptable toxicities in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Study of the mechanisms involved in cancer progression suggests that cyclooxygenase enzymes play an important role in the induction of inflammation, tumor formation, and metastasis of cancer cells. Thus, cyclooxygenase enzymes could be considered for cancer chemotherapy. Among these enzymes, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is associated with liver carcinogenesis. Various COX-2 inhibitors cause growth inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but many of them act in the COX-2 independent mechanism. Thus, the introduction of selective COX-2 inhibitors is necessary to achieve a clear result. The present study was aimed to determine the growth-inhibitory effects of new analogues of chalcone epoxide as selective COX-2 inhibitors on the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. Methods: Estimation of both cell growth and the amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production were used to study the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitors on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell. Cell growth determination has done by MTT assay in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, and PGE2 production has estimated by using ELYSA kit in 48 h and 72 h. Results: The results showed growth inhibition of the HepG2 cell line in a concentration and time-dependent manner, as well as a reduction in the formation of PGE2 as a product of COX-2 activity. Among the compounds those analogues with methoxy and hydrogen group showed more inhibitory effect than others. Conclusion: The current in-vitro study indicates that the observed significant growth-inhibitory effect of chalcone-epoxide analogues on the HepG2 cell line may involve COX-dependent mechanisms and the PGE2 pathway parallel to the effect of celecoxib. It can be said that these analogues might be efficient compounds in chemotherapy of COX-2 dependent carcinoma specially preventing and treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.59 no.9
• /
• pp.374-380
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Patients with unresectable, relapsed, or refractory osteosarcoma need a novel therapeutic agent. Metformin is a biguanide derivative used in the treatment of type II diabetes, and is recently gaining attention in cancer research. Methods: We evaluated the effect of metformin against human osteosarcoma. Four osteosarcoma cell lines (KHOS/NP, HOS, MG-63, U-2 OS) were treated with metformin and cell proliferation was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis, and migration and wound healing assay were performed. Fourteen female Balb/c-nude mice received KHOS/NP cell grafts in their thigh, and were allowed access to metformin containing water (2 mg/mL) ad libitum. Tumor volume was measured every 3-4 days for a period of 4 weeks. Results: Metformin had a significant antiproliferative effect on human osteosarcoma cells. In particular, metformin inhibited the proliferation and migration of KHOS/NP cells by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and consequent inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. It also inhibited the proliferation of cisplatin-resistant KHOS/NP clone cells. Analysis of KHOS/NP xenograft Balb/c-nude models indicated that metformin displayed potent in vivo antitumor effects. Conclusion: Further studies are necessary to explore metformin's therapeutic potential and the possibilities for its use as an adjuvant agent for osteosarcoma.