Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) immunohistochemical expression is correlated with cell cycle-related molecules in human colon cancer

The aim of this study was to examine glucocorticoid receptor (GR) immunohistochemical expression in colon cancer histopathological specimens and to correlate it with clinicopathological parameters, tumor proliferative capacity, cell cycle-related molecule expression, and patients' survival. Primary tumoral samples from 91 colon cancer patients were immunostained for the detection of GR, cyclins D1 and E, Rb protein (pRb), p16, p21, and Ki-67, using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. GR expression was correlated with tumor histopathological characteristics and proliferative capacity, cell cycle-related molecule expression, and patients' survival. GR positivity was prominent in 44 of 91 (48%) colon cancer cases and was positively correlated with the expression of cell cycle-related molecules pRb (P = 0.008) and p16 (P = 0.002), while lack of correlation was noted with cyclins D1 and E and p21. GR expression was not correlated with tumor location, grade of differentiation, Dukes' stage, lymph node and liver metastasis, venous invasion, tumor proliferative capacity (evident by Ki-67-labeling status) and patient survival. Our findings support evidence for GR participation in the biological mechanisms underlying the carcinogenic evolution in the colon, implying the use of glucocorticoids as an adjuvant treatment for cell cycle modulation in colon cancer cells.

Hepatic stimulator substance administration ameliorates liver regeneration in an animal model of fulminant hepatic failure and encephalopathy

AIMS/BACKGROUND

Hepatic stimulator substance (HSS) is a liver-specific growth factor implicated in hepatocellular proliferation and hepatoprotection in models of acute liver injury. In the present study, we examined the effect of exogenous HSS administration on liver proliferating capacity and survival outcome in an experimental animal model of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and encephalopathy, induced by repeated injections of thioacetamide (TAA) in rats.

METHODS

Fulminant hepatic failure was induced in adult male Wistar rats by three consecutive intraperitoneal injections of TAA (400 mg/kg of body weight), at 24 h time intervals. The animals received intraperitoneally either a saline solution or HSS (50 mg protein/kg of body weight), 2 h after the second and third TAA injections. The animals were killed at 6, 12 and 18 h post the last injection of TAA.

RESULTS

Levels of liver enzymes and urea in serum, blood ammonia values, liver histology, stage of hepatic encephalopathy and survival were statistically significantly improved in TAA-intoxicated and HSS-treated rats compared to TAA-intoxicated and saline-treated ones. Furthermore, HSS ameliorated liver regenerative indices--DNA biosynthesis, thymidine kinase activity and hepatocyte mitotic activity--in a statistically significant manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest the beneficial effect of HSS administration in this animal model of FHF and encephalopathy, supporting evidence for a possible use of HSS as supportive therapy, by increasing hepatocellular proliferation, in management of FHF.