QTL and epistatic analyses of heterosis for seed yield and three yield component traits using molecular markers in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Aiming to explore the basis of heterosis in rapeseed, QTLs for yield and three yield component traits were mapped and the digenic interactions were detected in an F2 population derived from a cross between two elite rapeseed lines, SI-1300 and Eagle, in this study. Twenty-eight QTLs were detected for the four yield traits, with only two of them detected simultaneously in the Wuhan and Jingmen environments. Additive, partial dominance, dominance, and overdominance effects were all identified for the investigated traits. Dominance (including partial dominance) was shown by 55% of the QTLs, which suggests that dominance is a major genetic basis ofheterosis in rapeseed. At the P < or = 0.01 level with 1000 random permutations, 108 and 104 significant digenic interactions were detected in Wuhan and Jingmen, respectively, for the four yield-related traits using all possible locus pairs of molecular markers. Digenic interactions, including additive by additive, additive by dominance, and dominance by dominance, were frequent and widespread in this population. In most cases (78.3%), the interactions occurred among marker loci for which significant effects were not detected by single-locus analysis. Some QTLs (57.1%) detected by single-locus analysis were involved in epistatic interactions. It was concluded that epistasis, along with dominance (including partial dominance), is responsible for the expression of heterosis in rapeseed.

Autophagy inhibition contributes to radiation sensitization of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells

Radiotherapy is a useful component of treatment strategies for esophageal cancer. The role of autophagy in response to ionizing radiation was investigated in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. Cell viability and clonogenic survival assay were used to evaluate the radiosensitivity of autophagy inhibitor (3-MA) on esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells and cell cycle analysis were assessed by flow cytometry; DAPI staining was used to detect apoptotic cells. The expression of beclin-1 and LC3 was measured using a Western blot. The ultrastructural analysis was under the electron microscope. 6 Gy irradiation induced a massive accumulation of autophagosomes accompanied by strong upregulation of beclin-1 and LC3-II expression in TE-1 cells. Compared with radiation alone, 3-MA combined with radiation significantly decreased cell viability, as well as autophagic ratio, beclin-1, and LC3-II protein level. Inhibition of autophagy increased radiation-induced apoptosis and the percentage of G2/M-phase cells. Blockade of autophagy with 3-MA enhanced cytotoxicity of radiotherapy in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. It suggests that inhibition of autophagy could be used as adjuvant therapy to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Rectal cancer: 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI; correlation with microvascular density and clinicopathological features

PURPOSE

The primary aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the relationship between three-dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (3D-DCE-MR) imaging parameters and clinicopathological features of rectal cancer and assess their potential as new radiological prognostic predictors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three-dimensional DCE-MR was performed on 26 cases of pathologically proved rectal adenocarcinoma 1 week prior to operation. Data were analysed to calculate transfer constant (Ktrans), leakage space (Ve) and rate constant (Kep) of both tumour and normal rectal wall. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of surgical specimens. All findings were analysed prospectively and correlated with tumour/node/metastasis (TNM) staging, Dukes staging, histological grading, presence of lymph node metastasis, serosal involvement and MVD.

RESULTS

Mean Ktrans, Ve and Kep for tumours were as follows: Ktrans 7.123±3.850/min, Ve 14.2±3.0%, Kep 49.446±20.404/min, revealing the significant difference between the tumour and normal rectal wall (p=0.001). There was a significant difference for Ktrans not only between patients with and without lymphatic involvement (p=0.000), but also among Dukes staging (p=0.04) and pTNM staging (p=0.03). Kep showed moderate correlation with TNM stages (r=0.479, p=0.02). Ve and MVD revealed no significant correlation with the clinicopathological findings described above (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Owing to the moderate and strong relationship between Ktrans and clinicopathological elements, Ktrans might be the prognostic indicator of rectal cancer. Threedimensional DCE high-resolution MR imaging provides a competing opportunity to assess contrast kinetics.

Abstract P3-12-08: Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes in Women from Northeast China: Eight-Year Retrospective Study about Clinicopathologic Features and Survival

Background and objectives: Analysis of gene expression has identified various molecular subtypes. These molecular subtypes defined by immunohistochemistry expression of estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) : luminal A, luminal B, basal cell-like and HER2-expresing. This study evaluates clinical and pathologic features and survival of the four molecular subtypes in premenopausal and postmenopausal women from northeast China.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1214 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2000 to 2007 in Breast Surgery Department, First Hospital of Jilin University. Four molecular breast cancer subtypes defined as: luminal A (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2-), luminal B (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2+), basal-like (ER-, PR-, HER2-), and HER2-expresing, (ER-, PR-, and HER2+). We examined the prevalence of breast cancer subtypes and analyzed the associations with patient clinicopathologic features: age, menopausal status, tumor size, lymph node status, stage of cancer at diagnosis, histological characteristics, and breast cancer-specific survival.

Results: Among the all cases, the luminal A subtype was the most prevalent in our study sample (56.0%) compared with basal -like (18.5%), luminal B (13.7%), and HER2-expresing subtypes (11.8%). The four molecular subtypes differed significantly by menopausal status (P=0.011), age (P&lt;0.001) and lymph node status (P&lt;0.001). Luminal A subtype was more likely to with Stage II breast cancer (P&lt;0.001) and most present with size of 2.1-5 cm (P&lt;0.001). The luminal B and the HER2-expresing subtypes presented an increased association with more aggressive clinical course when compared with others subtypes. The estimated median follow-up period for all subjects was 54 months (range, 1 month to 120 months). The 8-year overall survival for all patients was 81.3% (95%CI, 79.4-83.7) and disease-free survival was 77.8% (95% CI, 75.4-79.9). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed breast cancer-specific survival differed significantly among the molecular subtypes (P &lt; 0.03), with the luminal B and HER2-expresing subtypes having the poorest outcome.

Conclusion: Luminal A breast tumor appeared the better outcome than the others three subtypes and the shortest survival was HER2-expresing subtype. The poor clinical outcomes of luminal B subtype with women from northeast China were different from those of Western women could contribute to the poor prognosis of breast cancer observed in this cohort of patients and some of them couldn't accept molecular targeted therapy with trastuzumab by poor economic situations.

Figure available in online version.

Abstract P6-03-04: Opening, Dynamic Prospective Cohort Research on the Small Focus Less than 1.1cm Shown by B Ultrasound in Breast

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound is the most frequent clinical way to examine breast in China. Because Chinese have small and high density breasts, mammography can not show some lesions, and it costs too much. There are 5%-10% patients detected small, nonpalpable lesions by ultrasound in clinic and physical examination. Most of the lesions are very small, without typical characteristics of malignant or benign tumor. So many positive results bother doctors and patients. OBJECTIVE To find an appropriate way to detect breast cancer early and reduce unnecessary biopsy. METHODS: A Opening, dynamic prospective cohort research on the small focus less than 1.1cm shown by B ultrasound has been performed from 1 st January 2009. 791 cases and 1064 lesions were selected to the study group. All patients are female, from 35 to 75 years old. The lesions are from 0.25 cm to 1.1cm in ultrasound and less than grade 3 in mammography according to BI-RADS. The patients are divided to 2 groups according to the mammography grade of BI-RADS. The first subgroup concludes 260 cases with grade 3, and the second subgroup concludes 531 cases with less than grade 2. The patients who were more than grade 4 in ultrasound according to BI-RADS accepted biopsy as soon as they got into group. Other patients accept ultrasound per 3 months and mammography per year. We will do biopsy when the lesions rise up to 130% of the original size, and when the lesion reduce to 70% of the original size in consecutive two times examination on ultrasound , the patient will leave the group. RESULTS: Total 70 cases were performed biopsy during 17months. 2 cases (0.7%) without family history of breast cancer were breast cancer during biopsy in the first subgroup.2 cases (0.3%) with family history of breast cancer were mastopathy with atypia during the procedure of follow up—biopsy in the second subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Most small lesions which are negative on mammography are benign and need not be performed resection. Use of mammography can reduce unnecessary biopsy in Chinese. Ultrasound and family history of breast cancer should be considered well.

the cases of screening and biopsy

Abstract P6-05-05: Signaling Pathways Activated in Her 2 and ER Negative Breast Cancers

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (192,370 new cases in 2009) and the second leading cause of cancer death (40,000) among women in USA. Current multimodality treatment of breast cancer is based on the level of ER expression and Her 2 gene amplification. However, no effective treatment is currently available for breast cancers with low level expression of ER and no amplification of Her 2 gene. The aim of this study is to identify protein pathways activated in the breast cancer with negative expression of ER and Her 2. Method: Protein Pathway Array was used to assess the level of protein expression and phosphorylation in 71 paired fresh frozen breast samples (tumor and adjacent benign tissue). A total 159 antibodies were evaluated which represent most important signal transduction pathways involved in proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Several potential therapeutic kinase proteins were also assessed. Results: A total 20 proteins (PCNA, phospho-PTEN, cyclin B1 cyclin E1, CDK6, E-cadherin, NFkB, ect) were differentially expressed between normal and tumor tissues based on the statistical analysis. In Her 2 negative tumors (n=37), 3 proteins were differentially expressed and among them, 2 were up-regulated (CDK6 and HSD1) and 1 was down-regulated (IGF). In ER negative tumors (n=18), 4 proteins (HSD, SK, TDP and Slug) was up-regulated and 1 proteins were down-regulated (E-cadherin). In triple negative tumors (n=13), one protein (E-cadherin) down-regulated and 2 proteins (TDP and HSD) were up-regulated. Furthermore, based on the expression pattern of these proteins, tumors negative for both ER and Her 2 (n=15) can be clustered into 3 groups

Figure 1: Subclassification of breast cancers negative for ER and Her-2 based protein pattern.

Hierarchical clustering analysis of 20 differentially expressed proteins in

15 ER/Her-2 negative breast cancers. The cancers can be separated into 3 subtypes. Red indicates overexpression, green underexpression, black no change, and gray no expression. Each column represents a protein. Each row represents a sample.

Conclusion: Our study showed that distinct sets of signaling pathways activated in ER and Her 2 negative breast cancers. The increased expression of cell cycle progression proteins in Her 2 negative tumors suggests activation of cell proliferation via different growth promotion pathway. Similarly, different cell proliferation pathways are also activated in ER negative tumors. This finding may be used to design future clinical trial based on the activation of different signaling pathways.

Molecular characterization and association analysis of FBXO40 with partial hematological indexes in pig

F-box proteins are quite significant ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulators in eukaryotic cells. FBXO40, a member of this large family, alters its expression pattern in muscle atrophy. Here we isolated most of the verified porcine FBXO40 coding sequence (CDS) (2258 bp) and assigned it to the porcine chromosome 13q4.1-4.6 by using the INRA-Minnesota porcine radiation hybrid panel, and we also explored the tissue expression distributions, which is relatively high in longissimus dorsi muscle, heart, low in kidney, small intestine, brain, hypophysis, lymphonode, thymus, spleen, large intestine, ovary, stomach, and undetectable in testis, liver, uterus and thyroid gland. Inferring phylogenetic tree was constructed to study the evolutionary implications. Moreover, a HindII (HincII)-RFLP (A/C) polymorphism in 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of porcine FBXO40 gene was demonstrated by sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Statistical analysis result of this polymorphism showed that the allele A was predominant in all detected indigenous breeds, but C in western introduced commercial breeds. The SNP was further analyzed in our experimental pig population including Tongcheng, Landrace, Large White, and crossbreds of Large White × (Landrace × Tongcheng) and Landrace × (Large White × Tongcheng). The association analysis results indicated that the A/C base substitution was associate with some hematological indexes, the hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.0001), mean corpuscular volume hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.0002) and mean corpuscular volume (P = 0.0138).

Electroweak parity-violating energy shifts of amino acids: the "conformation problem"

The preceding paper described our coupled-perturbed Hartree-Fock (CPHF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods of computing the parity-violating energy shift (PVES). This paper addresses the "conformation problem"-the difficulty determining which hand of amino acids in solution is favoured by the weak force due to the difficulty determining the solution conformation. We attempt to resolve this by using the methods of the preceding paper to compute the PVES of solution and gas-phase amino acid structures determined by other groups from high level optimizations that include solvation. We conclude that the conformational hypersensitivity of the PVES still precludes a definite conclusion as to the sign of the PVES of L-alanine in solution, but that there is no problem in the gas phase: the PVES of gas-phase L-alanine is decisively negative. We show that the PVES is very sensitive to certain torsion angles, but is not hypersensitive to bondlengths or bond angles. In determining structures for PVES computations, there is therefore no need for expensive full optimizations: one can just optimize the crucial torsion angles. We present new computations of gas-phase amino acids PVESs, using partial optimizations with small basis sets, and the results agree well with those from higher level techniques. In the following paper we apply these less costly techniques to larger amino acids. The "conformation problem" has led some to dismiss the PVES as the source of life's handedness, but we believe this is premature: we show here that amino acids are a special case because their favoured conformations are almost achiral.

Parity-violating energy shifts of Murchison L-amino acids are consistent with an electroweak origin of meteorite L-enantiomeric excesses

In 1996, four alpha-methyl amino acids in the Murchison meteorite--L-isovaline, L-alpha-methylnorvaline, L-alpha-methyl-allo-isoleucine and L-alpha-methyl-isoleucine--were found to show significant enantiomeric excesses of the L form, ranging from 2% to 9%. Their deuterium to hydrogen isotope ratios suggest they formed in the pre-solar interstellar gas cloud rather than during a later aqueous processing phase on the asteroid parent body. In this paper we apply the techniques of the preceding two papers to compute the parity-violating energy shifts of these amino acids. We find that, in the gas phase, the PVESs of the neutral L forms of all four Murchison alpha-methyl amino acids are decisively negative, and there is even some correlation between the magnitudes of the L-excesses and the magnitudes of the PVESs--all of which is at least consistent with an electroweak origin of the Murchison enantiomeric excesses.

Immunologic impact of anti-CTLA-4 therapy

3019

Background: Blockade of the T-cell inhibitory molecule known as cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) results in antitumor responses. To date, trials have been conducted with over 4,000 patients with various malignancies in the metastatic disease setting, which allow for correlation of therapy with clinical outcome but do not provide analyses of relevant biomarkers in the systemic circulation that reflect changes within the tumor microenvironment. Approximately 10% of treated patients respond to therapy. Why some patients respond while others do not remains unknown. The identification of intermediate biomarkers are essential for us to understand whether anti-CTLA-4 antibody has “hit its target” to affect human immune responses and whether these identified immune responses can serve as predictive markers of clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a presurgical clinical trial with anti-CTLA-4 antibody. Patients with localized bladder cancer (N=10) were given two doses of antibody prior to undergoing surgery. Immunological analyses were conducted on patients’ tissues and blood samples. Results: Expression of the inducible costimulator (ICOS) molecule was increased on CD4 T cells within tumor tissues and systemic circulation. ICOS-expressing T-cells have not previously been reported to have a role in anti-tumor responses. We showed that CD4+ICOShi T cells produced IFNγ and could recognize the NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen. Pre- and post-therapy CD4 T cells were analyzed by reverse-phase protein array and microRNA array, which led to the identification of signaling pathways and regulatory mechanisms that play a role in enhanced T-cell function. Furthermore, murine models confirmed our initial findings and implied a role for ICOS-expressing T-cells in antitumor responses. Finally, we extended our findings to the metastatic disease setting of melanoma patients (N=14) and our preliminary data indicate an improved survival for anti-CTLA-4 treated patients who have a sustained increase in ICOS-expressing CD4 T cells. Conclusions: Our presurgical clinical trial allowed for the correlation of data from tumor tissues with data from peripheral blood, thus identifying ICOS-expressing T-cells as a relevant biomarker that can be used to monitor patients who receive anti-CTLA-4 therapy.

[Table: see text]

Divergent patterns of allelic diversity from similar origins: the case of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in China and Australia

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in Australia and China have similar origins, with introductions from Europe, Canada, and Japan in the mid 20th century, and there has been some interchange of germplasm between China and Australia since that time. Allelic diversity of 72 B. napus genotypes representing contemporary germplasm in Australia and China, including samples from India, Europe, and Canada, was characterized by 55 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers spanning the entire B. napus genome. Hierarchical clustering and two-dimensional multidimensional scaling identified a Chinese group (China-1) that was separated from "mixed group" of Australian, Chinese (China-2), European, and Canadian lines. A small group from India was distinctly separated from all other B. napus genotypes. Chinese genotypes, especially in the China-1 group, have inherited unique alleles from interspecific crossing, primarily with B. rapa, and the China-2 group has many alleles in common with Australian genotypes. The concept of "private alleles" is introduced to describe both the greater genetic diversity and the genetic distinctiveness of Chinese germplasm, compared with Australian germplasm, after 50 years of breeding from similar origins.

Costs of metabolic syndrome-related diseases induced by obesity in Taiwan

The objective of this paper is to estimate the cost of obesity's contribution to the metabolic syndrome diseases in Taiwan. We used individual data from the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Two-Township Study survey and medical use and expenditures data from the Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) of Taiwan. By adopting the prevalence-based and population attributable risk (PAR) approaches, direct costs of obesity for six kinds of obesity related metabolic syndrome diseases have been estimated. Comorbidities used in our analysis included ischemic heart diseases, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease accident, diabetes, hyper-cholesterolaemia and hypertension. The results indicate that overweight and obesity are associated with a higher prevalence and costs of the metabolic syndrome related diseases. PAR increases as the obese [body mass index (BMI)] prevalence increases. About 4-9% of the costs of those diseases can be attributed to overweight (24 < or = BMI < 27) and about 7-13% and 8-19% of such costs are attributable to the first and second degree obesity (27 < or = BMI < 30 and BMI > or = 30). The cost of obesity derived from the PAR and medical costs of metabolic syndrome diseases accounts for 2.9% of the national total healthcare expenditure. We therefore conclude that overweight and obesity have increased health costs and resulted in higher prevalence of and greater costs from metabolic syndrome related diseases in Taiwan. These findings provide important support for implementing obesity prevention programs in Taiwan.

Establishment and characterization of a human ovarian sarcomatoid carcinoma cell line BUPH:OVSC

We first established a human ovarian sarcomatoid carcinoma cell line designated BUPH:OVSC from primary culture. The specimen was derived from the mural nodule in an ovarian mucinous tumor and cultured in vitro. To date, the cell line has been maintained for over 100 passages. Its biologic characteristics were studied by light and electron microscopy, which revealed spindle-shaped or polygonal cells with a doubling time of 39.5 h. The agglutination test of BUPH:OVSC was positive, and cell colonies were formed in soft agar. Chromosome analysis revealed its karyotype to be a pseudodiploidy. One X chromosome deletion and chromosome 20 addition were detected, and aberrant chromosomes t (1q;12q) and 14p(+) were its chromosome markers. BUPH:OVSC was tumorigenic in nude mice. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of transplanted tumors showed that the cells were morphologically sarcomatoid. However, the transmission electron microscopic observation exposed its epithelial origin. The cell line coexpresses cytokeratin and vimentin. It dose not appear to express estrogen and progesterone receptors or the CA125 tumor marker. Alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff staining indicates that the cells could secrete acid mucopolysaccharide. In conclusion, BUPH:OVSC displays unique cellular properties, which make it a useful model for the study of human ovarian sarcomatoid carcinomas.

Changes in the axonal membrane potential and Ca2+ concentration associated with peripheral nerve grafting after spinal cord injury

We performed peripheral nerve allografting in rats with spinal cord injury, and measured motor function and axonal membrane potential as well as Ca(2+) concentration of the nerve grafting spinal cord area by using a behavior observation system and a confocal laser-scanning microscope, respectively. In our experiments, we produced a model of peripheral nerve grafting after spinal cord injury by peripheral nerve allografting (sciatic nerve) in rats with spinal cord injury (thoracic cord hemisection). The group with spinal cord injury that underwent peripheral nerve grafting showed improvement in motor function, a significant increase in the axonal action potential, and a slight increase in the Ca(2+) concentration compared with the group that did not undergo nerve grafting.

Characterization of differentially expressed genes in ovarian cancer by cDNA microarrays

The molecular events leading to the development and progression of ovarian carcinoma are not completely understood. We performed a large-scale survey for the identification of differentially expressed genes between ovarian carcinoma and normal ovarian tissue by using cDNA microarray analysis. We utilized 512 member human novel putative oncogene and tumor suppressor gene cDNA microarrays to study the differences in gene expression between ovarian carcinoma and normal ovarian tissues. Some differentially expressed genes have been further confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. A total of 39 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 16 and 23 were specifically expressed in ovarian cancer and normal ovarian tissue, respectively. The comparison of average signal of differentially expressed genes exhibited at least a twofold difference in expression. The differentially expressed genes may be related to the carcinogenesis and progression of the malignant growth. The use of cDNA microarrays allows simultaneous monitor of the expression of many genes, thereby it speeds up the identification of differentially expressed genes. It is essential for further exploration of the mechanisms of the disease.