Objective To explore the changes and interrelationship of serum interleukin-12 (IL-12) and T lymphocyte subset in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC). Methods Serum IL-12 level was determined by ELISA in 36 patients with PHC. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subset was assessed with flow cytometry. The distribution and changes of T lymphocyte subset in the tumor tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The numbers of the CD＋4 T cell were reduced and of the CD＋8 T cell increased either in peripheral blood or tumor tissue, and showed the trend of the ratio (T4/T8) declined progressively with the aggravation of the state with PHC. IL-12 and T4/T8 had significant interrelationship.Conclusion IL-12 is an important antitumor factor of the patients with PHC. T lymphocyte subset plays a great role in the process of antitumor.
Objective To review the application advancements of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in medical research.Methods Relevant literatures about the applications of ABC families in medical research were reviewed. Results ABC families mainly took roles in transporting substances across cell membrane. Some of them were useful for the prediction of drug resistance and the prognosis of malignant tumors. Others were target s for molecular researches. Their expressions or mutations might be related with the occurrence of diseases. Conclusion ABC families are very important in the diagnosis and therapy for diseases. Thus they are very promising tools for future medical research.
Objective To investigate the expressions of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and survivin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) and to evaluate the relationships among the expressions of PDGF, survivin and the proliferation of cancer cells. Methods The expression of PDGF mRNA in 16 cases in HCC with PVTT group was observed by in situ hybridization and the results were compared with that in HCC tissue group. The expressions of PDGF and survivin protein in 36 cases in HCC with PVTT group were detected with immunohistochemistry and it was found that there was a correlation between them. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to measure the proliferation of cancer cells and it was also used to analyze the relations among PDGF, survivin and the proliferation of cancer cells. Results The expression level of PDGF mRNA in HCC with PVTT group was significantly higher than that in HCC tissue group (P＜0.01). There was a positive correlation between the expressions of PDGF and survivin protein in HCC with PVTT (P＜0.01). The degree of proliferation of cancer cells in PDGF and survivin protein positive group was significantly higher than that in negative group (P＜0.01). Conclusion PDGF and survivin gene over-expressed in HCC with PVTT group and there is a positive correlation between the expressions of PDGF and survivin protein. The proliferation of cancer cells increases as the expressions of PDGF and survivin increase.
ObjectiveTo explore the relation between vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and the formation of tumor thrombosis in the main trunks of portal vein (PVTT). MethodsTumor specimens were collected from 36 patients (16 patients with PVTT, the other patients without PVTT and metastasis) undergoing resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal thrombectemy, PVTT specimens of 16 patients named group A1, the same patients’ with HCC named group A2, tumor specimens of the other patients named group B. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate VEGF mRNA, protein and microvessel density (MVD) on surgical specimens. The intensity was evaluated using a computer image analyzercell analysis system.ResultsVEGF mRNA expression was detected in the tumor’ cell of the specimens. The expression rates of VEGF mRNA in the group B, A2, A1 were 30%, 100%, 100% respectively, and the expression rates of VEGF mRNA in group A2 and A1 were higher than that in group B （P＜0.01）. The intensity of VEGF mRNA in group A2 （0.078 5±0.019 6） were lower than in group A1 （0.194 4±0.059 0） （P＜0.01）. VEGF protein expression was often detected in the tumor cell, vascular endothelial cell and fibroblast cells. Invasion was detected in small vein in group A2, more tumor cell colony detected in group A1. The expression rates of VEGF protein in group B, A2, A1 were same as VEGF mRNA; the intensity of VEGF protein in A1 （0.165 6± 0.034 5） was higher than in group A2 （0.108 1±0.024 3） （P＜0.01）. MVD in group B, A2, A1 was 31.9±14.4, 63.3±15.1, 116±27.6/view of 200 microscopefield, MVD in group A1 was higher than group A2 （P＜0.01）, higher in group A2 than in group B. There was a statistically significant correlation between the intensity of VEGF expression and MVD in group B,A2 and A1. ConclusionVEGF could play an important role in the invasion, metastasis of HCC and the formation of PVTT. Angiogenesis in tumor is correlated well with the progression of HCC.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate whether liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes dissemination of liver tumor cells into blood circulation. Methods Fourteen patients with HCC, but without evidences of metastasis, were enrolled for the study. Blood samples of peripheral blood before skin incision and after abdominal wall suture, and of hepatic venous blood and portal venous blood after liver parenchyma dissection, were obtained. AFPmRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, the change of the level of its expression during operation was assessed by semi-quantitative analysis. Results The rate of its expression before and after operation in peripheral blood, and during operation in portal venous blood and in hepatic venous was 42.9%, 35.7%, 42.9% and 57.1% respectively. There were no differences between them. However, the level of its expression in hepatic venous blood was significantly higher than others (P＜0.05). Conclusion Liver resection for HCC induces releases of cells from the liver, probably including tumor cells, into blood circulation.