食管癌危险因素及预防研究进展

Effect of tumor length, diameter and volume on survival of patients with stage N0 thoracic esophageal cancer after radiation therapy

AIM: To investigate the effect of tumor length, diameter and volume on the survival of patients with stage N0 thoracic esophageal cancer after radiation therapy.

METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with stage N0 thoracic esophageal cancer who received radiation therapy from January 2007 to December 2008 at our hospital were included. The effect of the length, diameter and volume of gross tumor volume (GTV) on the short and long term survival after radiation therapy was analyzed.

RESULTS: The complete remission rate and 5-year survival rate were lower in the GTV length ≥ 5 cm group than in the < 5 cm group (14.29% vs 36.96%, 19.05% vs 43.48%). The complete remission rate and 5-year survival rate in the GTV diameter > 3 cm group were lower than those in the ≤ 3 cm group (16.00% vs 39.47%, 20.00% vs 47.37%). The complete remission rate and 5-year survival rate in the tumor volume ≥ 35 cm³ group were lower than those in the < 35 cm³ group (14.58% vs 40.00%, 20.83% vs 45.00%). Cox risk model analysis showed that tumor length and diameter were risk factors affecting survival in patients with stage N0 thoracic esophageal cancer.

CONCLUSION: GTV length, diameter and volume can affect survival in patients stage with N0 thoracic esophageal cancer after radiotherapy, and tumor length and diameter are independent risk factors for survival of the patients.

Effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on proliferation, cell cycling and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and related molecular mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on proliferation, cell cycling and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells and related molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

ESCC cell line EC9706 cells were randomly divided into untreated (with no transfection), control siRNA (transfected with control siRNA) and HDAC6 siRNA (transfected with HDAC6 small interfering RNA) groups. Effects of HDAC6 siRNA interference on expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry methods. Effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell migration were studied using a CCK-8 kit, flow cytometry and Boyden chambers, respectively. Changes of mRNA and protein expression levels of cell cycle related factor (p21) and cell migration related factor (E-cadherin) were investigated by semi- quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting methods.

RESULTS

After transfection of HDAC6 siRNA, the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells was significantly downregulated. In the HDAC6 siRNA group, cell proliferation was markedly inhibited, the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase evidently increased and the percentage of cells in S phase decreased, and the number of migrating cells significantly and obviously decreased. The mRNA and protein expression levels of p21 and E-cadherin in the HDAC6 siRNA group were significantly higher than those in the untreated group and the control siRNA group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

HDAC6 siRNA can effectively downregulate the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells. Down-regulation of HDAC6 expression can obviously inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycling in the G0/G1 phase and reduce cell migration. The latter two functions may be closely related with the elevation of mRNA and protein expression of p21 and E-cadherin.

Preoperative psychological nursing intervention promotes recovery of patients with esophageal cancer

AIM: To investigate whether preoperative psychological nursing intervention promotes the recovery of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS: Ninety-six patients with esophageal cancer were randomly divided into either an experiment group or a control group. The control group received conventional comprehensive nursing care, while the experiment group received preoperative psychological nursing intervention on the basis of conventional comprehensive nursing care. Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) at different time points as well as anxiety and satisfaction degree were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure and HR 30 min before and after entering into the operating room were significantly lower in the experiment group than in the control group (116.67 mmHg ± 5.65 mmHg vs 124.82 mmHg ± 7.36 mmHg, 117.90 min ± 6.47 min vs 127.67 min ± 6.45 min, 71.95 mmHg ± 7.26 mmHg vs 79.95 mmHg ± 7.26 mmHg, 71.69 min ± 6.20 min vs 80.40 min ± 7.80 min, P < 0.05). The self-rating anxiety scale score and state anxiety inventory score in the experiment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (35.09 ± 3.29 vs 48.04 ± 5.01, 34.65 ± 3.36 vs 44.06 ± 4.18, P < 0.05). The total satisfaction in the experiment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (97.92% vs 85.42%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Preoperative psychological nursing intervention can improve blood pressure, HR and anxiety, and increase the satisfaction degree in patients with esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer spatial and correlation analyses: Water pollution, mortality rates, and safe buffer distances in China

Esophageal cancer exhibits one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in China. Malignant tumors caused by esophageal cancer, and the relationship to environmental factors has been the focus of many public health studies. This study applied spatial analysis to ascertain the relationship between water pollution and esophageal cancer mortality rates nationwide. We employed two datasets, including a national investigation of esophageal cancer rates and distribution, and national water quality grades in China’s primary rivers and lakes. Esophageal cancer data were grouped based on different water quality grades, which included a scaled buffer distance from rivers and lakes. Non-parametric correlation analyses were performed to examine the presence or absence of the following correlations: (i) esophageal cancer mortality and buffer distance from rivers and lakes; and (ii) esophageal cancer mortality and water quality grade values. The present study revealed a significant positive correlation between widespread water pollution and esophageal cancer mortality nationwide; and a significant negative correlation between esophageal cancer mortality, and buffer distance from rivers and lakes.

Effects of DMTB1 over-expression on the biological behavior of esophagus carcinoma cell line EC9706

AIM: To establish the cell line EC9706 of esophagus carcinoma with stable expression of a new candidate tumor suppressor gene DMBT1 and to analyze cell invasiveness and cell proliferation compared to the control group so as to provide any insights into the function of the newly-discovered tumor suppressor gene.

METHODS: The full-length DMBT1 expression plasmid pTRexDest30_DMBT18kb.2 was transfected into esophagus carcinoma cell line EC9706 with Lipofectamine 2000 which was subsequently screened with G418. DMBT1 transcript and protein were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot; then cell growth and proliferation was evaluated with MTT; finally transwell assay was applied to evaluate the ability of its migration before and after the transfection.

RESULTS: After transfection, the levels of DMBT1 protein and mRNA were 3.2 times higher than control group. There was significant difference between transfection group and the control group. The growth curves mapped with MTT indicated that the group transfected with pTRexDest30_DMBT1 showed slower speed of proliferation versus the vector control and the untreated group. In addition, cell survival in serum-free medium was markedly inhibited compared to the vector control. Transwell assay further confirmed conspicuous discrepancy in migration (206 ± 25 vs 367 ± 42, P < 0.01), the experimental group versus the control group.

CONCLUSION: The biological model that stably expresses DMBT1 was successfully established; DMBT1 over-expression significantly inhibits the proliferation and invasive process of esophagus carcinoma cell line in vitro.