Prognostic significance of heat shock protein-27 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and its relation to histologic grading and survival

BACKGROUND

The expression of heat shock protein-27 (HSP-27) has been detected in some human tumors. In this study the authors investigated HSP-27 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examined its prognostic significance.

METHODS

Expression of HSP-27 was studied in 58 HCC and adjacent noncancerous liver tissues by immunohistochemical stain. The relation between its expression and eight known prognostic factors was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 58 HCC tissues studied, the presence of HSP-27 was demonstrated in 45 tissues (77.6%); low expression (</= 25%) was demonstrated in 17 tissues and high expression (> 25%) was demonstrated in 28 tissues. A significantly higher distribution of HSP-27 expression in HCC tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous liver tissues was obtained (P < 0.0001). Patients with high HSP-27 expression had a significantly higher histologic tumor grade than those with low HSP-27 expression (P = 0.001). The 5-year disease free survival rate of patients with high HSP-27 expression was 21.4% versus 59.3% for patients with low HSP-27 expression (P < 0.001). A similar relation was observed with overall survival (33.3% vs. 64. 8%; P = 0.009). HSP-27 expression was also identified to be a significant and powerful prognostic indicator for disease free survival (odds ratio = 2.25; P = 0.034) and for overall survival (odds ratio = 2.72; P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study data suggest that HSP-27 expression is a powerful prognostic indicator and is related to histologic grade and survival of patients with HCC.

Clinical significance of microscopic tumor venous invasion in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Tumor venous invasion in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequent and can be macroscopic and microscopic or microscopic alone. Although macroscopic invasion is a well-established prognostic indicator, the clinical significance of microscopic invasion remains unclear.

METHODS

There were 322 patients enrolled who had undergone curative resection for HCC. The clinicopathologic factors and prognostic significance associated with macroscopic and microscopic venous invasion were analyzed.

RESULTS

Macroscopic invasion was observed in 50 patients (15.5%) and microscopic invasion in 190 (59.0%). The larger the tumor, the more the incidence of venous invasion. There were 140 patients with microscopic invasion only (Group 1). Patients with macroscopic invasion (Group 2, n = 50) also had microscopic invasion. Compared with patients without venous invasion (Group 3, n = 132), Group 1 had a higher alpha-fetoprotein level, a larger tumor size, and more tumors without encapsulation. For group 1, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 65.6%, 41.6%, and 30.8%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 87. 8%, 60.0%, and 52.7%, respectively. The survival rates of group 1 were lower than those of group 3 and higher than those of group 2 (P <.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that microscopic and macroscopic venous invasion, surgical margin, indocyanine-green retention, and tumor size and number were significant predictors of postresectional survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In HCC patients, microscopic venous invasion is frequent and related independently to postresectional outcome.

Prospective case-controlled trial of adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatic resection is frequent and is an important factor adversely influencing long-term survival. The role of postoperative chemotherapy in the reduction of tumor recurrence rate is still controversial. During the period of 1992-1995 a series of 49 patients who underwent curative resection of HCC and had at least one risk factor of tumor recurrence were followed in this prospective study. Patients were allocated to adjuvant chemotherapy and control groups. Twenty-four patients received a combination of low dose intravenous epirubicin (20 mg/m2) and mitomycin (5 mg) monthly for seven courses starting 5 to 6 weeks after surgery. Twenty-five patients had no adjuvant treatment. The disease-free and overall survivals were compared for the two groups. A total of 154 courses of chemotherapy were given to the 24 patients. The chemotherapy-related side effects were mild and tolerable with no mortality. At a median follow-up of 39 months (range 9-71 months), 9 patients in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 16 patients in the control group developed tumor recurrence. The respective 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 75%, 67%, 63%, and 63% for patients in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 68%, 42%, 37%, and 32% for patients in the control group (p = 0.0575). The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 100%, 96%, 77%, and 72% in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 92%, 67%, 63%, and 51% in the control group (p = 0.0746). In conclusion, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using the present regimen has a tendency to reduce tumor recurrence rate and may improve long-term survival for high risk patients.

Perioperative safety and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with impaired liver function

BACKGROUND

The benefits of liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with concomitant impaired liver function were often considered questionable because of poor postoperative prognosis. This study will clarify whether an acceptable operative risk exists and whether limited resection will compromise the outcomes of these patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Between July 1991 and December 1996, a total of 168 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomies were enrolled and divided into normal (group A) and impaired (group B) liver function groups according to the value of indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes. Clinical features, surgical related features, pathologic features, and disease-free and overall survivals were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Operative morbidity and mortality in group A were 27.3% and 1.6%, and in group B were 40.0% and 2.5%, respectively (p = 0.129 and 0.506). Disease-free survival and overall survival at 5 years in group A were 43.2% and 59.6%, respectively, and in group B they were 30.6% and 56.8%, respectively (p = 0.607 and 0.378).

CONCLUSIONS

Limited liver resection is safe and provides favorable prognosis in HCC patients with concomitant impaired liver function.

Serum interleukin-10 but not interleukin-6 is related to clinical outcome in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical significance of preoperative serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

IL-10 is an immunosuppressive factor and IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a role in host defense mechanisms. Both have been reported to be related to the disease prognosis in some human solid tumors. Their role in human HCC has not been investigated.

METHODS

Preoperative serum samples of 67 patients with HCC who underwent potentially curative resection and 27 normal healthy donors were assayed. Levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical significance of serum IL-10 and IL-6 was evaluated and compared with conventional clinicopathologic factors.

RESULTS

Levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with HCC than in healthy subjects. There was no correlation between IL-10 and IL-6 levels. Tumor resection resulted in a decrease in IL-10 and IL-6 levels. On univariate analysis, patients with high IL-10 levels had a worse disease-free survival, but IL-6 levels had no correlation with the disease-free survival. Multivariate analysis identified IL-10 levels as a predictor of postresectional outcome, in addition to the well-established clinical risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HCC, the preoperative serum IL-10 level is related to the clinical outcome. IL-10 may play an important role in the progression of HCC.

Successful initial treatment with weekly etoposide, epirubicin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation

BACKGROUND

Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare but severe complication of gastric adenocarcinoma. Conventional treatments, such as fresh frozen plasma, platelet replacement and heparin injections, are disappointing. The only way to correct this fatal condition is to control the underlying cancer promptly by effective chemotherapy. Here the successful initial control of acute DIC in gastric cancer patients with weekly EEPFL chemotherapy is reported.

METHODS

Advanced gastric cancer patients complicated with acute DIC were eligible. Patients were treated with weekly EEPFL therapy (etoposide 40, epirubicin 10, cisplatin 25, 5-fluorouracil 2200 and leucovorin 120 mg/m2 ). Response, survival and toxicity were evaluated.

RESULTS

From April 1997 to April 1999, six patients were included in this study. All patients received EEPFL chemotherapy. Clinical and laboratory evidence of acute DIC stabilized quickly after starting chemotherapy. Four patients showed a partial response, one stable disease and one progressive disease. The toxicity was mild and well tolerated. Median survival was 28 weeks (12, 14, 26, 30, 30 and 32 weeks). All patients suffered from a relapse of DIC after initial successful control and died within 30 days of clinical and laboratory evidence of acute DIC relapse.

CONCLUSION

EEPFL therapy is an effective chemotherapy regimen for patients with advanced gastric cancer associated with acute DIC. The prognosis is poor if the DIC relapses after the initial successful control.

Surgical results in patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma and positive hepatitis B early antigen

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major risk factor in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients who are positive for hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg) have active liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible role of HBeAg in patients with resectable HCC. A series of 249 HCC patients with complete preoperative hepatitis marker who had undergone potentially curative resection were enrolled. Patients with hepatitis C virus infection were excluded. Of these patients, 27 were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg (group I), 171 were positive for HBsAg and negative for HBeAg (group II), and 51 were negative for hepatitis B markers (group III). The clinicopathologic features and postoperative survivals were compared among the three groups. The prevalence of HBeAg was 10.8%. Group I patients were significantly younger and had worse liver function, smaller tumors, and a higher incidence of liver cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis than those in groups II and III. No increase in tumor invasiveness was noted in group I patients. The operative morbidity, mortality, and postresection survival were comparable among the three groups. Our findings indicated that HBeAg positivity is not a negative factor for resection in HCC patients and has no significant influence on postresection survival.

Targeted neutralization of calcineurin, by expression of an inhibitor peptide under the control of a cholinergic specific promoter in PC12 cells, promotes neurite outgrowth in the presence of NGF

We have characterized a region of the mouse vesicular acetylcholine transporter(VAChT)/choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene locus that serves as a cholinergic-specific promoter for the expression of both VAChT and ChAT genes, as well as a reporter gene (LacZ) in vivo. We have used this promoter to direct the expression of an inhibitor peptide, derived from the calcineurin (CalN) autoregulatory domain, to directly neutralize the function of CalN to define the role of this Ca2+/Calmodulin regulated phosphatase in neurite outgrowth. Targeted inhibition of CalN promotes neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in the presence of NGF, as early as 24 h after transfection. Inhibition of CalN-mediated enhancement of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells reaches a maximum effect within the first 4 to 6 days after transfection, and does not cause adverse effects when highly expressed for up to 12 days. Cyclosporin A, a nontargeted CalN inhibitor, increases the number of neurites in mock transfected cells by 1.5 fold, while in transfected PC12 cells, the expression of the CalN inhibitor peptide increases the neurite number by 1.8 fold. These data demonstrate that CalN is an important regulator of the neurotrophic response in cholinergic cells and may prove valuable in developing treatment strategies to promote recovery from neurological injury.

Better post-resectional survival in female cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma is notably more prevalent in male. The purpose of this study was to assess the surgical results in male and female cirrhotic patients.

METHODOLOGY

The surgical outcomes of 129 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with cirrhosis, including 109 males and 20 females, who had undergone hepatic resection were studied. The clinical, histologic features, DNA ploidy and proliferative phase fraction of tumor and cirrhotic liver were compared between male and female patients.

RESULTS

Female patients had significantly lower incidences of history of smoking (5.6% vs. 52.9%, P < 0.001), alcohol intake (5.6% vs. 42.3%, P = 0.003) and hepatitis B surface antigen positivity (47.1% vs. 73.5%, P = 0.028) than male. Cell-cycle analysis of tumor part revealed female had a significant lower G2M phase fraction (3.4%) than male (5.7%) (P = 0.027). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates in male and female patients were 65.5% and 88.2%, 36% and 64.4%, and 29.7% and 64.4%, respectively. Female patients had a significantly better disease-free survival than male (P = 0.034, log-rank test).

CONCLUSIONS

Female hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis had lower incidences of hepatitis B surface antigenemia, alcohol abuse and lower DNA postsynthetic phase fraction in tumor tissue than male. Consequently, female hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis had better survival than male.

Impact of hepatitis B and C virus infection on the outcome of kidney transplantation in Chinese patients

BACKGROUND

There has been improvement in kidney transplantation over the years; however, the impact of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV, HCV) infection on the long-term outcome of kidney transplant is still controversial.

METHODS

A total of 113 patients who received renal allografts from 1986 to 1998 were analyzed. Nine were positive for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) (Group 1), 20 were HBsAg-positive and anti-HCV-negative (Group 2), 30 were HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive (Group 3) and 54 were negative for both markers (Group 4). The outcome and survival were compared among the four groups of patients.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 5.1 +/- 3.2 years (range, 0.5-13 years) for all patients. Group 2 patients had significantly higher liver-related complications (35% vs 0%, p < 0.0001) and liver-related deaths (20% vs 0%, p = 0.004) than did Group 4 patients. Among all, four HBsAg-positive patients had fulminant hepatitis and died within two years of transplantation. Three (Group 2) of the patients who died were seropositive for hepatitis B e antigen and/or HBV DNA and none had a history of or positive serologic marker to indicate hepatitis of other etiologies. The remaining patient (Group 1) had evidence of superinfection of HCV. Liver cirrhosis occurred in one, two and one patient in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in two and one patient in Groups 2 and 3, respectively. Despite high liver-related mortality in HBV-infected patients, paradoxically, no significant differences among the four groups in the long-term graft and patient survivals were demonstrated. The presence of HBsAg or anti-HCV was not associated with a poor prognosis of survival as determined by Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

HBV or HCV infection is not a contraindication to kidney transplantation in Chinese patients. However, it should be noted that serious liver-related complications may occur and limit survival in HBV- and/or HCV-infected patients after kidney transplantation.

Evaluation of a simplified staging system for prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

The current TNM (tumor, nodes, metastases) staging system for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been challenged since a new T staging system was proposed to correlate the staging group with patient outcome after curative liver resection. The new T staging system proposed T1 as no vascular invasion, small size (< or = 5 cm), and solitary tumor. T2 was defined as the presence of one of the following factors: size greater than 5 cm, vascular invasion, or multiple tumors; T3 as the presence of two of the above three factors; and T4, the presence of all three factors. A total of 323 patients undergoing curative partial hepatectomy for HCC were studied. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the postoperative outcome. The new T staging showed good correlation between the staging group and patient outcome. The 1-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were 80.0% and 87.8% for stage 1 (n = 115), 67.6% and 81.6% for stage 2 (n = 136), 40.0% and 58.0% for stage 3 (n = 58), and 21.4% and 42.8% for stage 4 (n = 14), respectively. The 3-year DFS rate and OS rate were 61.0% and 64.5% for stage 1, 37.8% and 50.7% for stage 2, 21.4% and 29.8% for stage 3, and 21.4% and 34.3% for stage 4, respectively. When analyzed using the current International Union Against Cancer (UICC) pathologic (p) TNM staging system, the 1-year and 3-year DFS rates were 86.2% and 64.0% for stage 1 (n = 30), 73.9% and 50.0% for stage 2 (n = 182), and 46.8% and 22.3% for stage 3 (n = 111), respectively. Our results showed that, while both staging systems allow clear stratification of patients into prognostic groups, the modified TNM system is not superior to the UICCpTNM system in predicting survival of HCC patients after curative partial hepatectomy. A larger scale, multicenter study may be needed to test the revised TNM system.

Supportive treatment, resection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: an analysis of survival in 419 patients

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Both surgical resection and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) are effective treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Few reports have compared the different treatment modalities for resectable HCC based on clinically matched groups. The aim of this study was to compare the survival rate after surgery, TACE or supportive treatment in resectable HCC patients, and also in elderly patients (> or = 70 y/o).

METHODS

From 1984 to 1993, 419 consecutive patients with resectable HCC were included in this study. Of these, 311 (74%) underwent resection of tumours and 46 (11%) refused operation, opting instead for TACE. The remaining 62 (15%) who refused both methods of treatment were given supportive care. Univariate and multivariate analyses for prognostic factors and the 5-year survival rate among the groups were studied.

RESULTS

Both surgical resection and TACE groups had a better 5-year survival rate than the supportive treatment group (43% and 34% vs. 7%). There was no difference in survival between the surgery and TACE groups. However, the 5-year survival rate was 11% in TACE and 41% in the surgical group when the patients were > or = 70. In multivariate analysis, female sex (P = 0.0466), tumour size < or = 3 cm (P = 0.0001), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) < 400 U/l (P = 0.0036), single tumour (P = 0.0474), serum creatinine < or = 1.5 mg/dl (P = 0.0006) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) < or = 100 U/l (P = 0.0007) are associated with good prognosis for resectable HCC.

CONCLUSION

TACE is an alternative for resectable HCC. Tumour size, tumour number, AFP level, renal function, AP level and female sex are prognostic factors. In elderly people, TACE must be used prudently and has a worse prognosis.

Surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in elderly cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Both cirrhosis and old age have been reported to be risk factors for hepatic resection. This study evaluated the clinical results of hepatic resection in elderly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis.

METHODOLOGY

During a 5-year period, 248 patients with HCC underwent curative hepatic resection. Among them, 24 elderly patients (age: > or = 70 years) with cirrhosis (Group I), 24 patients (age: > or = 70 years) without cirrhosis (Group II), and 98 patients (age: < 70 years) with cirrhosis (Group III) were selected for the study. The clinical and pathologic parameters, including pre-operative demographic features, surgical factors, pathological factors, DNA flow-cytometric analysis of the resected specimen, and post-resection prognosis were compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

Group I patients had a significantly higher incidence of small-size tumors, hepatitis C infection, concomitant esophageal varices, and minor resection with a shorter surgical margin in the resected specimen. The surgical morbidity and mortality of Group I was similar to that of Group II and III patients. However, the disease-free survival rate was significantly lower in the Group I patients than in Group II (p = 0.02) and Group III patients (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that although hepatic resection can be done safely in elderly cirrhotic HCC patients, the prognosis for these patients was less favorable even when curative resection was performed.

Receptor binding and biological activity of mammalian expressed sensory and motor neuron-derived factor (SMDF)

Sensory and motor neuron-derived factor (SMDF) is a member of the neuregulin family of proteins. SMDF is structurally characterized by a novel N-terminal domain. Using the signal sequence and N-terminal 28 amino acids (the "epitope") of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D (gD), we have expressed SMDF as an epitope-tagged protein (gD-SMDF) in 293 cells, and purified it to > 98% homogeneity on a monoclonal anti-gD column. gD-SMDF stimulates human Schwann cell growth and 3H-thymidine incorporation in MCF-7 and T47D human breast tumor cells in vitro. The biological activity of gD-SMDF is consistent with its ability to compete with 125I-labeled heregulinbeta1 peptide (rHRGbeta1(177-244)) to bind to soluble dimeric ErbB receptor-IgG fusion proteins. gD-SMDF binds with low affinity to homodimeric ErbB3-IgG and ErbB4-IgG but with higher affinity to heterodimeric ErbB2/ErbB3-IgG and ErbB2/ErbB4-IgG. Using a SMDF-IgG(Fc) fusion protein we generated a monoclonal antibody (3G11) which binds SMDF, crossreacts with rHRGbeta1(177-244), and neutralizes the in vitro activities of gD-SMDF and rHRGbeta1(177-244) in human Schwann cells.

Temporal inhibition of calmodulin in the nucleus

Calmodulin (CaM) acts as a primary mediator of calcium signaling by interacting with target proteins. We have previously shown that nuclear CaM is critical for cell cycle progression using a transgene containing four repeats of a CaM inhibitor peptide and nuclear targeting signals (J. Wang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270 (1995) 30245 30248; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1313 (1996) 223-228). To evaluate the role of CaM in the nucleus specifically during S phase of the cell cycle, a motif which stabilizes the mRNA only during S phase was included in the transgene. The CaM inhibitor mRNA transcript contains a self-annealing stem-loop derived from histone H2B at the 3' end. This structure provides stability of the mRNA only during S phase, thereby restricting CaM inhibitor expression to S phase. The inhibitor accumulates in the nucleus, particularly in the nucleoli. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the CaM inhibitor is expressed in S and G2. Transfected cells show growth inhibition and a reduction in DNA synthesis. The CaM inhibitor peptide is a versatile reagent that allows spatial as well as temporal dissection of calmodulin function.

Surgical treatment and outcome in patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma greater than 10 cm in diameter

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over 10 cm in diameter at the time of diagnosis continues to account for a number of patients undergoing hepatic resection. This study evaluated the clinicopathological features and outcome following surgery for large HCC.

METHODS

Forty patients with a large HCC (greater than 10 cm) (group 1) resected between 1991 and 1996 were studied retrospectively. They were compared with 245 patients who had smaller HCCs (10 cm or less) (group 2).

RESULTS

No patient in group 1 had hepatitis C infection compared with 22.9 per cent in group 2 (P=0.001). Patients in group 1 were significantly younger, had higher alpha-fetoprotein levels (16750 versus 1864 ng/ml; P < 0.001), better liver function, a higher incidence of multiple tumours (27 of 40 versus 42.0 per cent; P=0.003) and venous invasion (35 of 40 versus 52.2 per cent; P < 0.001), and underwent more major resections (37 of 40 versus 26.5 per cent; P < 0.001) than those in group 2. Morbidity and mortality rates and hospital stay were comparable in the two groups. For group 1, the 1-, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 42, 30 and 28 per cent respectively. Multiple tumours, venous invasion and impaired liver function were factors associated with recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Large HCC had specific clinicopathological features. In selected patients, resection is safe and offers the chance of long-term disease-free survival.

Biological response to ErbB ligands in nontransformed cell lines correlates with a specific pattern of receptor expression

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER or ErbB) family consists of four distinct members, including the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR, HER1, or ErbB1), ErbB2 (HER2 or neu), ErbB3 (HER3), and ErbB4 (HER4). Activation of these receptors plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in several different tissues. Binding of a specific ligand to one of the ErbB receptors triggers the formation of specific receptor homo- and heterodimers, with ErbB2 being the preferred signaling partner. We analyzed the levels of various ErbB receptor messenger RNAs in a series of nontransformed cell lines by real time quantitative RT-PCR. The cell lines chosen were derived from a variety of tissues, including pancreas, lung, heart, and nervous system. Further, we measured biological responses in these cell lines upon treatment with EGF, betacellulin, and two types of neuregulins, heregulin and sensory and motor neuron-derived factor. All cell lines examined expressed detectable levels of ErbB2. High levels of expression of ErbB3 were correlated with responsiveness to heregulin and sensory and motor neuron-derived factor, whereas high levels of EGFR expression were correlated with responsiveness to EGF and betacellulin. Moreover, the sensitivity of a cell line to ErbB ligands was also correlated with the levels of expression of the appropriate ErbB receptors in that cell line. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that appropriate biological responsiveness to ErbB ligands is determined by the levels of expression of specific ErbB receptor combinations within a given tissue.

Phenylephrine, endothelin, prostaglandin F2alpha' and leukemia inhibitory factor induce different cardiac hypertrophy phenotypes in vitro

In these studies, we show that endothelin (ET), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), phenylephrine (PE), and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), which are all hypertrophic for neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in culture, induce distinct morphological, physiological, and genetic changes after a 48-h treatment. Transmission electron microscopy revealed differences in myofibril organization, with ET-treated cells containing the most mature-looking myofibrils and PGF2alpha- and LIF-treated cells the least. ET- and PE-treated cultures contained the same number of beating cells as control, but LIF and PGF2alpha treatment increased the number of beating cells 180%. Treatment with LIF, PE, and PGF2alpha increased the beat rate to 3.3 times that of control. After exposure to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, the beat rate increased 50% for PGF2alpha' 54% for PE, 84% for LIF, and 125% for control. ET treatment did not increase the beat rate, nor did these cells respond to isoproterenol. ET, LIF, and PE increased the production of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) by three-fold and PGF2alpha by 18-fold over nontreated cells. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was increased fourfold by ET and PE, 16-fold by LIF, and 29-fold by PGF2alpha. Interestingly, on a pmol/L basis, only LIF induced more BNP than ANP. Treatment with all agents led to a similar pattern of gene induction: increased expression of the embryonic genes for ANP and skeletal alpha-actin, and less than a twofold change in the constitutively expressed gene myosin light chain-2, with the exception that LIF did not induce skeletal alpha-actin. Each agent, however, induced ANP mRNA with a different time-course. We conclude that at least four distinct cardiac myocyte hypertrophy response programs can be induced in vitro. Further studies are necessary to determine whether these correlate to the different types of cardiac hypertrophy seen in vivo.

Detection of serum hepatitis B, C, and D viral nucleic acids and its implications in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

The association of viremia, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and hepatocyte inflammatory activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was studied. Serum samples from 114 HCC patients undergoing surgery were assayed for hepatitis B, C, and D viral nucleic acids by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to surgery. Of these patients, 65 had HBV infection alone, 15 had HCV infection alone, 4 had HDV infection, 20 had HBV and HCV superinfection, 1 had triple viral infection, and 9 were negative for HBV and HCV infections. The prevalence of active viral replication was significantly higher in HCV than in HBV (92% versus 70%; P = 0.006) patients, and significantly higher mean serum ALT levels were also noted in the HCV group than in the HBV group (P = 0.02). The incidence of marked ALT elevation (>200 U/l) was highest in the HCV (27%) and the HDV (25%) groups. Patients in the HCV group were 10 years older than those in the HBV group. Viral superinfection did not accelerate the development of HCC. Viral replication persisted in a significant portion of HCC patients and a higher prevalence of hepatic inflammation was noted in patients with HCV- and, possibly, HDV-related HCC.

Disruption of the Jak1 gene demonstrates obligatory and nonredundant roles of the Jaks in cytokine-induced biologic responses

Herein we report the generation of mice lacking the ubiquitously expressed Janus kinase, Jak1. Jak1-/- mice are runted at birth, fail to nurse, and die perinatally. Although Jak1-/- cells are responsive to many cytokines, they fail to manifest biologic responses to cytokines that bind to three distinct families of cytokine receptors. These include all class II cytokine receptors, cytokine receptors that utilize the gamma(c) subunit for signaling, and the family of cytokine receptors that depend on the gp130 subunit for signaling. Our results thus demonstrate that Jak1 plays an essential and nonredundant role in promoting biologic responses induced by a select subset of cytokine receptors, including those in which Jak utilization was thought to be nonspecific.

Cell cycle regulation and apoptosis

Tissue homeostasis requires a balance between cell proliferation and death. Apoptosis and proliferation are linked by cell cycle regulators, and apoptotic stimuli affect both cell proliferation and death. Glucocorticoids induce G1 arrest and apoptosis in transformed lymphoid cells. Decreased expression of the cell cycle components c-myc and cyclin D3 is essential for glucocorticoid-induced growth arrest and death in dividing cells. Other G1 regulators, such as p53, pRb, and E2F, have also been implicated in apoptosis. Mice lacking either p53 or E2F display aberrant cell proliferation and tumor formation, suggesting that these proteins are involved in the elimination of abnormal cells through apoptosis. In contrast, pRb induces G1 arrest and suppresses apoptosis in cultured cells. Mice that lack pRb are nonviable and show ectopic mitosis and massive cell death, suggesting that pRb is an apoptotic suppressor. Further analysis of common components of apoptotic and cell cycle machinery may provide insight into the coordinated regulation of these antagonistic processes.

An integrated approach to proteome analysis: identification of proteins associated with cardiac hypertrophy

Hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes is a primary response of the heart to overload, and is an independent predictor of heart failure and death. Distinct cellular phenotypes are associated with hypertrophy resulting from different causes. These phenotypes have been described by others at the molecular level by analysis of gene transcription patterns. An alternative approach is the analysis of large-scale protein expression patterns (the proteome) by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Realization of this goal requires the ability to rigorously analyze complex 2D gel images, efficiently digest individual gel isolated proteins (especially those expressed at low levels), and analyze the resulting peptides with high sensitivity for rapid database searches. We have undertaken to improve the technology and experimental approaches to these challenges in order to effectively study a cell culture model for cardiac hypertrophy. The 2D gel patterns for cell lysates from multiple samples of cardiac myocytes with or without phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy were analyzed and spots which changed in abundance with statistical significance were located. Eleven such spots were identified using improved procedures for in-gel digestion of silver-stained proteins and high-sensitivity mass spectrometry. The incorporation of low levels of sodium dodecyl sulfate into the digestion buffer improved peptide recovery. The combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry for initial measurements and capillary liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry for peptide sequence determination yielded efficient protein identification. The integration of 2D gel image analysis and routine identification of proteins present in gels at the subpicomole level represents a general model for proteome studies relating genomic sequence with protein expression patterns.

Ki-67 expression as a prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Ki-67 expression in tumours has been shown to be associated with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, primary HCC samples were obtained from 67 patients undergoing surgical resection. None of these patients had been subjected previously to any other form of therapy, such as arterial embolization or chemotherapy. Histologically normal liver tissues from liver resection for metastatic colon cancer were taken as controls (n = 8). Monoclonal antibody against Ki-67 was used for immunostaining and flow cytometry was used to measure tumour DNA ploidy. The mean Ki-67 labelling index (percentage of Ki-67-positive cells) of the HCC (26 +/- 22%; range 0.1-89%) was significantly higher than that of the normal controls (39 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.05). The mean Ki-67 labelling index (19 +/- 15%; n = 28) of the tumours with diploid DNA pattern was significantly lower than those with aneuploid DNA pattern (32 +/- 25%, n = 39; P = 0.01). Hepatocellular carcinoma patients (n = 47) with Ki-67 index > 10% had a significantly lower disease-free and overall survival than those (n = 20) with Ki-67 index < or = 10% (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 expression and tumour node metastasis stage were two independent prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival rates. Our results suggest that the expression of Ki-67 is an independent prognostic indicator for patients with HCC after resection and could be of assistance in the decision-making of adjuvant therapy.

Prognostic significance of surgical margin in hepatocellular carcinoma resection: an analysis of 165 Childs' A patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The clinical significance of the width of the surgical margin in the resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has yet to be clarified.

METHODS

Childs' A patients (165) who underwent resections of HCC were studied. Patients were divided into a wide margin group (1.0 cm or more, group W, n = 85), and a narrow margin group (< 1.0 cm, group N, n = 80).

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level (P = 0.0202), venous invasion (P = 0.0226), surgical margin (P = 0.0012), and TNM stage (P = 0.0023) were significant predictors of disease-free survival. By the log-rank test, the disease-free survival rate of the group W patients was significantly higher than that of the group N patients (P = 0.0007). Group N had a higher percentage of patients undergoing minor resection (wedge resection or subsegmentectomy) (44% vs. 26%, P = 0.016) and had a higher percentage of patients with centrally located tumor (62% vs. 29%, P = 0.000) than group W.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicated the significant influence of surgical margin on HCC recurrence after resection. Minor resection and centrally located tumor are factors related to a narrow surgical margin.