Molecule action mechanisms of NM-3 on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in vivo or in vitro

The active fraction from the tuber of Bolboschoenus yagara inhibits melanoma B16 cells metastasis LPS-induced in vitro and in vivo

This study was to identify anti-metastatic active fractions and compounds of Bolboschoenus yagara (B. yagara). The results indicated that 50 µg/mL ethyl acetate fraction (Et) can dramatically inhibit mouse melanoma B16 cells migration and invasion in vitro. In B16 cells pulmonary and hepatic metastasis assays, 50 µg/mL Et alleviated mouse lung and liver weights, the number of metastatic nodules and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in mouse serum and organs. Histological studies showed that Et fraction was able to prevent liver and lung metastasis. And the inhibition of 50 µg/mL Et fraction against hepatic metastasis was almost equivalent to that of 1 µM TAK242. In addition, fourteen compounds of Et were quantified by HPLC analysis, in which, isocoumarins, stilbenes and xanthones obviously abated LPS-modulated B16 cells migration and invasion.[Formula: see text].

Effect of Oxymatrine Combined with Low Dose 5-FU on Lymphatic Vessel and Microvascular Endothelial Cell Growth of Gastric Cancer in a Severe Combined Immunodeficient Mouse Orthotopic Implantation Model

In this study, we explored the effect of Oxymatrine combined with low dose 5-Fu on lymphatic vessel and vascular endothelial growth factor of orthotopic implantated gastric cancer in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) nude mice. Human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was orthotopically implanted into the gastric tract of nude mice. Nude mice were treated with normal saline (control group), low dose 5-Fu, oxymatrine, oxymatrine combined with low dose 5-Fu using intraperitoneal injection. The expression of LVD, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-R-3 and their Ct were analyzed in a severe combined immunodeficient mouse orthotopic implantatation gastric cancer model. We found that oxymatrine combined with low dose 5-Fu could decrease LVD and inhibit VEGF expression by a synergistic effect in SCID nude mouse orthotopic implantatation gastric cancer model.

Gene profiles between non-invasive and invasive colon cancer using laser microdissection and polypeptide analysis

AIM: To explore the expression of differential gene expression profiles of target cell between non-invasive submucosal and invasive advanced tumor in colon carcinoma using laser microdissection (LMD) in combination with polypeptide analysis.

METHODS: Normal colon tissue samples from 20 healthy individuals and 30 cancer tissue samples from early non-invasive colon cancer cells were obtained. The cells from these samples were used LMD independently after P27-based amplification. aRNA from advanced colon cancer cells and metastatic cancer cells of 40 cases were applied to LMD and polypeptide analysis, semiquantitative reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical assays were used to verify the results of microarray and further identify differentially expressed genes in non-invasive early stages of colon cancer.

RESULTS: Five gene expressions were changed in colon carcinoma cells compared with that of controls. Of the five genes, three genes were downregulated and two were upregulated in invasive submucosal colon carcinoma compared with non-invasive cases. The results were confirmed at the level of aRNA and gene expression. Five genes were further identified as differentially expressed genes in the majority of cases (> 50%, 25/40) in progression of colon cancer, and their expression patterns of which were similar to tumor suppressor genes or oncogenes.

CONCLUSION: This study suggested that combined use of polypeptide analysis might identify early expression profiles of five differential genes associated with the invasion of colon cancer. These results reveal that this gene may be a marker of submucosal invasion in early colon cancer.

Molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in a severe combined immune deficiency mice orthotopic implantation model

AIM: To explore the molecular mechanisms of action of paclitaxel and NM-3 on human gastric cancer in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice.

METHODS: Human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 were implanted into SCID mice and mice were treated with paclitaxel and NM-3. The effects of paclitaxel and NM-3 on apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, TUNEL assays, and DNA fragment analyses.

RESULTS: Apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was successfully induced by paclitaxel, NM-3, and the combination of paclitaxel and NM-3 24 h after injection as shown by the presence of apoptotic hypodiploid peaks on the flow cytometer before G1-S and a characteristic apoptotic band pattern in the DNA electrophoresis. The apoptotic rate detected by TUNEL assay was found to be significantly higher in the paclitaxel/NM-3 compared to the control group (38.5% ± 5.14% vs 13.2% ± 1.75%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel in combination with NM-3 is able to induce apoptosis of the human gastric cancer cells in SCID mice effectively and synergistically.

Synergistic effect of oxymatrine and angiogenesis inhibitor NM-3 on modulating apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the synergistic effect of oxymatrine (OM) and angiogenesis inhibitor NM-3 on modulating apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901, MKN-45, MKN-74.

METHODS: Human gastric cancer lines SGC-7901, MKN-45, MKN-74 were treated with OM in the absence and presence of NM-3. The inhibitory rates were detected by MTT assay. Synergistic effect of OM and NM-3 on the growth of survivin, bcl-2, bax and p53 in SGC-7901 cells were examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting, and their growth inhibitory effects were also observed on SGC-7901 tumor xenograft in nude mice.

RESULTS: OM combined with NM-3 exhibited a synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of SGC-7901, MKN-45 and MKN-74 cells in a time-dependent manner. Twenty-four hours after treatment with OM, NM-3 alone and their combination, mRNA expression of survivin and bcl-2 in SGC-7901 cells decreased, p53 mRNA expression increased. OM (4 g/L) combined with NM-3 significantly increased the expression of p53 mRNA and decreased the expression of survivin and bcl-2 compared with either agent alone (193% ± 34% vs 129% ± 12%; 44% ± 18% vs 92% ± 18%; 36 ± 17% vs 93% ± 23%, P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that the synergistic effect of OM and NM-3 on protein translation of survivin, bcl-2 and p53 was in accordance with their mRNAs. Furthermore, OM/NM-3 combination obviously exhibited antitumor growth effect in xenografted human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 compared with either agent alone.

CONCLUSION: OM combined with NM-3 has synergistic inhibitory effects on human gastric cancer cells in vitro and can suppress the growth of xenografted human gastric cancer cells SGC-7901 in vivo.

Comparison of gene expression profiles between primary tumor and metastatic lesions in gastric cancer patients using laser microdissection and cDNA microarray

AIM: To study the differential gene expression profiles of target cells in primary gastric cancer and its metastatic lymph nodes using laser microdissection (LMD) in combination with cDNA microarray.

METHODS: Normal gastric tissue samples from 30 healthy individuals, 36 cancer tissue samples from primary gastric carcinoma and lymph node metastasis tissue samples from 58 patients during gastric cancer resection were obtained using LMD in combination with cDNA microarray independently. After P27-based amplification, aRNA from 36 of 58 patients (group 1) with lymph node metastasis and metastatic tissue specimens from the remaining 22 patients (group 2) were applied to cDNA microarray. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical assay verified the results of microarray in group 2 and further identified genes differentially expressed in the progression of gastric cancer.

RESULTS: The expression of 10 genes was up-regulated while the expression of 15 genes was down-regulated in 22 gastric carcinoma samples compared with that of genes in the normal controls. The results were confirmed at the level of mRNA and protein, and suggested that four genes (OPCML, RNASE1, YES1 and ACK1) could play a key role in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer. The expression pattern of 3 genes (OPCML, RNASE1 and YES1) was similar to tumor suppressor genes. For example, the expression level of these genes was the highest in normal gastric epithelium, which was decreased in primary carcinoma, and further decreased in metastatic lymph nodes. On the contrary, the expression pattern of gene ACK1 was similar to that of oncogene. Four genes were further identified as differentially expressed genes in the majority of the cases in the progression of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION: LMD in combination with cDNA microarray provides a unique support foe the identification of early expression profiles of differential genes and the expression pattern of 3 genes (OPCML, RNASE1 and YES1) associated with the progression of gastric cancer. Further study is needed to reveal the molecular mechanism of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

A novel isocoumarin derivative induces mitotic phase arrest and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma cells

PURPOSE

The isocoumarin NM-3 reverses resistance of human multiple myeloma (MM) cells to dexamethasone and is in clinical trials. In the present work, the NM-3 analog, 185322, has been studied for activity against MM cells.

METHODS

Human U266, RPMI8226 and primary MM cells were analyzed for the effects of 185322 on cell cycle distribution, tubulin polymerization and induction of apoptosis.

RESULTS

We show that, in contrast to NM-3, treatment with 185322 is associated with a marked arrest of MM cells in M phase. The results also demonstrate that treatment with 185322 is associated with a rapid decrease in tubulin assembly and an increase in Bcl-2 phosphorylation, consistent with disruption of mitosis. Our results further demonstrate that mitotic failure induced by 185322 results in activation of an apoptotic response in MM cell lines and primary MM cells. By contrast, 185322 had little if any effect on growth and survival of human carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings identify a novel inhibitor of microtubule assembly that induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis of MM cells.

Mutation of mismatch repair gene hMLH3 in familial gastric cancer

AIM: To detect the mutations of mismatch repair gene hMLH3 and to investigate its possible role in familial gastric cancer.

METHODS: A total of 84 members from 16 suggestive hereditary gastric cancer families were investigated with PCR, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and direct sequencing. The diagnostic criteria for familial gastric cancer are as follows: (1) at least two successive generations, (2) at least two patients with gastric cancer, (3) one of them should be first-degree relative of the other, and (4) at least one patient was diagnosed before 50 years old.

RESULTS: Five missence mutations were identified in five gastric cancer families, four mutations within exon 1 and one mutation within exon 12. Carcinogenesis was obviously associated with hMLH3 mutations in family 6, but not in other families. No mutations were found in sporadic gastric cancer and normal controls.

CONCLUSION: hMLH3 probably acts as a low risk gene in familial gastric cancer. The mutations of hMLH3 may work together with other genes and result in an elevated risk of gastric cancer in the family.