The prognostic relevance of preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and PCNA/VEGF expression in patients with Wilms' tumour

Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on Apoptosis and Invasion of Human Cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 Cell Line

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) on apoptosis and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell lines.

METHODS

In vitro cultured cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line was exposed to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 μg/ml HPD with 5, 10, and 15 J/cm2 light intensity, respectively. The optical density at 450 nm of the QBC939 cells was measured by CCK8 assay and its growth inhibition ratio was calculated. Flow cytometry and transwell migration assay were applied to detect cell apoptosis and invasion respectively. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses were used to detect expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to examine the secretion of VEGF-C and COX-2 in QBC939 cells.

RESULTS

Exposure to HPD-PDT can significantly suppress the growth of QBC939 cells (all P<0.05). HPD-PDT can promote apoptosis of QBC939 cells at the early stage. When the concentration of HPD was 2 μg/ml and light irradiation was 5 J/cm2, HPD-PDT had no obvious inhibitory effect on QBC939 cell growth, but can obviously inhibit cell invasion, and significant difference was observed between the HPD-PDT and control groups (P<0.01). The HPD-PDT can reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF-C, COX-2, and PCNA, and decrease the secretion of VEGF-C and COX-2 in QBC939 cells.

CONCLUSION

PDT could promote apoptosis and inhibit growth and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma cells QBC939 in vitro.

Expression of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 is increased by transcatheter arterial embolization of liver tumors

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7), recently identified as a secreted protein regulated by oxygen exposure, plays a critical role in promoting metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is widely used for treatment of HCC, resulting in hypoxia in tumors and surrounding liver tissues. Accordingly, we proposed the hypothesis that there could be a relationship between expression of EGFL7 and response to TAE.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We established a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model using percutaneous puncture technique guided by computed tomography. TAE and sham embolization were performed and the results were confirmed by MRI 3 weeks after inoculation. We investigated the EGFL7 expression of the two groups at 6h and 3 days after intervention by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the levels of EGFL7 protein significantly increased in the TAE-treated tumors compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.031) and 3 days (P=0.020) after intervention. Meanwhile, the relative EGFL7 protein detected in TAE group also up-regulated compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.020) and 3 days (P=0.024) after intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals an increase of EGFL7 expression in rabbit VX2 liver tumors after TAE. The role of EGFL7 in HCC, especially its biological behavior after TAE, needs further investigation.

Photodynamic therapy promotes apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy on cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell apoptosis.

METHODS: Cultured cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells were given different concentrations of hematoporphyrin derivatives and different light intensity. The relative growth inhibition rate of QBC939 cells was detected by the CCK8 method. Flow cytometry assays were applied to determine the rate of QBC939 cell apoptosis. RT-PCR was used to detect transcriptional changes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Immunocytochemistry was used to measure the changes in protein expression of PCNA.

RESULTS: PDT inhibited QBC939 cell growth in vitro, and significant different A values between the PDT group and control group was observed (0.403 ± 0.027 vs 2.028 ± 0.013, P < 0.05). When the concentration of HPD was 8 mg/L and the light irradiation was 5 J/cm², the relative growth inhibition rate of QBC939 cells was 80%. The increase in drug concentration or light dose did not significantly increase the growth inhibition rate. Flow cytometry assays showed that PDT could promote early apoptosis of QBC939 cells (74.6% ± 1.5%). PDT could reduce the transcriptional changes of PCNA (0.68 ± 0.06) and down-regulated the expression of PCNA protein in QBC939 cell nuclei (4.5% ± 1.4%).

CONCLUSION: PDT could inhibit QBC939 cell growth and promote early apoptosis of QBC939 cells. PDT induces QBC939 cell growth inhibition possibly by inhibiting PCNA gene and protein expression and promoting early apoptosis.