超基质金属蛋白酶在食管癌组织中的表达及与微量元素含量之间的关系

Spiral CT and magnetic resonance imaging for staging of esophageal cancer

AIM: To assess the value of spiral computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in esophageal carcinoma tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging.

METHODS: One hundred esophageal cancer patients underwent spiral CT and MRI examinations. The imaging features of plain and contrast-enhanced CT and MRI of esophageal carcinoma were observed. Using the pathological result as the standard, the value of spiral CT and MRI in TNM staging of esophageal cancer was analyzed.

RESULTS: Pathological examinations revealed 81 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 16 cases of adenocarcinoma, and 3 cases of small cell undifferentiated carcinoma. Lesion length ranged from 20 mm to 11 mm, with an average value of 6.4 mm ± 2.1 mm. Sixty-eight patients had regional lymph node metastasis. Pathological TNM classification included 9 cases of T1 stage, 23 cases of T2 stage, 40 cases of T3 stage, 28 cases of T4 stage, 32 cases of N0 stage, and 68 cases of N1 stage. Spiral CT TNM classification included 6 cases of T1 stage, 13 cases of T2 stage, 47 cases of T3 stage, 34 cases of T4 stage, 52 cases of N0 stage, and 48 cases of N1 stage. MRI TNM classification included 8 cases of T1 stage, 26 cases of T2 stage, 41 cases of T3 stage, 25 cases of T4 stage, 35 cases of N0 stage, and 65 cases of N1 stage. The diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of MRI for stages T1 and T2 esophageal cancer were significantly higher than those of spiral CT (P < 0.05). The specificity of MRI for diagnosis of stage N0 esophageal cancer was significantly higher than that of spiral CT, but the sensitivity was significantly lower than that of spiral CT (P < 0.05). In the diagnosis of stage N1 esophageal cancer, the diagnostic sensitivity of MRI was significantly higher than that of spiral CT (P < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy of combined MRI and spiral CT for T stage and N stage was significantly better than that of either of the two modalities (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: MRI have high value in the diagnosis of stages T1 and T2 esophageal cancer, and combined application of CT and MRI in T staging and N staging is significantly better their single application.

Clinical effect of alanyl-glutamine in patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery

AIM: To analyze the clinical effect of alanyl-glutamine in patients with esophageal cancer after surgery.

METHODS: Eighty patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical treatment at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2011 were randomly and equally divided into either an observation group or a control group. The control group was given conventional treatment, and the treatment group was treated with alanyl-glutamine and received strengthened nursing measures.

RESULTS: Compared with pre-treatment values, serum levels of albumin and prealbumin were significantly reduced one day after treatment in both the observation group and control group (all P < 0.05). Serum levels of albumin and prealbumin were significantly higher 8 d after treatment in the observation group than in the control group (both P < 0.05). Compared to preoperative data, nitrogen balance was improved 8 d after the treatment in both groups, and the improvement was more significant in the observation group (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (2.5% vs 12.5%, χ² = 7.28, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Alanyl-glutamine shows a good clinical effect in patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery. Strengthened nursing measures can effectively improve the overall effect.

SiRNA-mediated silencing of the CXCR4 gene down-regulates MMP-9 expression in EC-9706 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated blockade of CXCR4 signaling on the expression of MMP-9 in human esophageal carcinoma cell line EC9706 and to provide an experimental foundation for further elucidating the role of CXCR4 in metastasis and invasion of esophageal carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: Two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene and one fluorescence-labeled negative control siRNA were chemically synthesized and transfected into EC9706 cells, Non-transfected EC9706 cells were used as blank controls. The transfection efficiency was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Both CXCR4 and MMP-9 mRNA and protein levels were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot 48 h after transfection. Boyden chamber assay was used to evaluate the invasion capability of cells in vitro and MTT assay was used to evaluate cell growth.

RESULTS: The two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene efficiently suppressed the expression of CXCR4 in EC9706 cells at both mRNA and protein levels compared to negative and blank controls (all P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells transfected with the two siRNAs targeting the CXCR4 gene was also suppressed significantly compared to the two control groups (all P < 0.05). Boyden chamber assay results showed that the number of cells that have passed through the membrane were decreased in EC-9706 cells transfected with two CXCR4-specific siRNAs compared to the two control groups (both P < 0.05). Transfection of CXCR4-specific siRNAs greatly decreased the growth of EC9-706 cells compared to control cells (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CXCR4 may play a role in the metastasis and invasion of ESCC possibly by controlling the expression of MMP-9. CXCR4 may be a potentially valuable therapeutic target for ESCC.