Lip symmetry following rotation advancement cleft lip repair in 5-year-old children treated by Ralph Millard and Ron Pigott

Objective

To compare the symmetry of the lip following Rotation-Advancement cleft lip repair by Millard and Pigott and to investigate the effect on the symmetry of cleft side and gender by using different surgical protocols. Symmetry following cleft surgery was compared to that of non-cleft children.

Design

Retrospective study of photographs of children aged 5 years.

Setting

Three decades of post-operative photographs of children treated by Millard and Pigott.

Patients

Eighty-nine children treated by Millard, 87 by Pigott and 91 non-cleft children.

Interventions

Photographs were assessed using the Symnose Computer program, a rapid semi-objective quantitative assessment of lip symmetry.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Asymmetry score for each surgeon, and non-cleft children.

Results

There was no significant difference in the median lip % mismatch score of Millard, 36.65% and Pigott, 38.52%. Right-sided clefts showed better symmetry than left-sided clefts for Millard (p<.001). This was reversed for Pigott (P=.0121). There was a difference (P<.001) between the symmetry of the two cleft cohorts and the non-cleft children (asymmetry 19.9%), and between Millard's outcomes following different lip surgical protocols (P < .0001), but no difference between Pigott's outcomes using different palate surgical protocols (P = 0.59).

Conclusions

Cleft lip repair by Millard and Pigott resulted in similar lip asymmetry (37% and 39% symmetry mismatch, respectively). Lip surgical protocol and cleft side may affect lip asymmetry. Palate surgery did not affect lip asymmetry. Following cleft surgery, children were more asymmetric than non-cleft children.

Community Engagement Practices at Research Centers in U.S. Minority Institutions: Priority Populations and Innovative Approaches to Advancing Health Disparities Research

This paper details U.S. Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Community Engagement Cores (CECs): (1) unique and cross-cutting components, focus areas, specific aims, and target populations; and (2) approaches utilized to build or sustain trust towards community participation in research. A mixed-method data collection approach was employed for this cross-sectional study of current or previously funded RCMIs. A total of 18 of the 25 institutions spanning 13 U.S. states and territories participated. CEC specific aims were to support community engaged research (94%); to translate and disseminate research findings (88%); to develop partnerships (82%); and to build capacity around community research (71%). Four open-ended questions, qualitative analysis, and comparison of the categories led to the emergence of two supporting themes: (1) establishing trust between the community-academic collaborators and within the community and (2) building collaborative relationships. An overarching theme, building community together through trust and meaningful collaborations, emerged from the supporting themes and subthemes. The RCMI institutions and their CECs serve as models to circumvent the historical and current challenges to research in communities disproportionately affected by health disparities. Lessons learned from these cores may help other institutions who want to build community trust in and capacities for research that addresses community-related health concerns.

Abstract 877: Novel role of truncated HMGA2 in regulating reactive oxygen species in prostate cancer cells

High mobility group A (HMGA2), a non-histone protein, is up-regulated in several cancers. Due to chromosomal rearrangement of HMGA2 gene, full-length or wild-type HMGA2 can be truncated leading to loss of the C-terminus and the 3’UTR. Both wild-type and truncated isoforms have been detected in uterine leiomyoma patients. However, the functional role of truncated HMGA2 has not been investigated. We hypothesize that truncated HMGA2 plays a role in prostate cancer progression. We analysed expression of wild-type vs truncated HMGA2 in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines using real-time PCR and western blot analyses. We utilized LNCaP cells stably overexpressing wild-type HMGA2 or truncated HMGA2 in LNCaP cells to detect the basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels using DCFDA dye. We analysed Jun-D expression, a putative downstream effector of HMGA2, by western blot analysis, and utilized siRNA to knockdown Jun-D. We performed migration and cell viability assays following Jun-D knockdown. Additionally, we performed proteomic analysis following immunoprecipitation with HMGA2 antibody in nuclear extracts from LNCaP cells overexpressing wild-type HMGA2 WT or cytoplasmic extracts from cells overexpressing truncated HMGA2. Finally, we utilized tissue microarray to analyse expression of HMGA2 by immunohistochemisty. Our results showed that prostate cancer cell lines expressed varying amounts of wild-type and truncated HMGA2. LNCaP cells overexpressing truncated HMGA2 exhibited increased nuclear expression of Jun-D, as well as increased ROS compared to LNCaP cells overexpressing wild-type HMGA2 or empty vector Neo control. Knockdown Jun-D in LNCaP cells overexpressing truncated HMGA2 abrogated ROS induction and cell migration with no effect on cell proliferation. Additionally, truncated HMGA2 interacted with a number of proteins, including Ras GTPase-activating protein-binding protein 1(G3BP1), a cytoplasmic stress granule protein that responds to oxidative stress. Truncated HMGA2 is mainly localized to the cytoplasm, and interestingly we also observed cytoplasmic HMGA expression in prostatic tissue with chronic inflammation. Therefore, truncated HMGA2 may promote prostate cancer progression via Jun-D-mediated ROS. GRANT SUPPORT: NIH 1P20MD002285 and NIH/NCRR/RCMI G12RR003062-22

Citation Format: Ohuod Hawsawi, Veronica Henderson, Liza Burton, Jodi Dougan, Ana Cecillia Millena, Vanessa Adams, Elshaddai Z. White, Guang Di Wang, Qiang Zhang, Cimona Hinton, Shafiq Khan, Valerie Odero-Marah. Novel role of truncated HMGA2 in regulating reactive oxygen species in prostate cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 877.

Proteomics-Metabolomics Combined Approach Identifies Peroxidasin as a Protector against Metabolic and Oxidative Stress in Prostate Cancer

Peroxidasin (PXDN), a human homolog of Drosophila PXDN, belongs to the family of heme peroxidases and has been found to promote oxidative stress in cardiovascular tissue, however, its role in prostate cancer has not been previously elucidated. We hypothesized that PXDN promotes prostate cancer progression via regulation of metabolic and oxidative stress pathways. We analyzed PXDN expression in prostate tissue by immunohistochemistry and found increased PXDN expression with prostate cancer progression as compared to normal tissue or cells. PXDN knockdown followed by proteomic analysis revealed an increase in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and gluconeogenesis pathways. Additionally, Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics confirmed that PXDN knockdown induced global reprogramming associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased nucleotide biosynthesis. We further demonstrated that PXDN knockdown led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Finally, PXDN knockdown decreased colony formation on soft agar. Overall, the data suggest that PXDN promotes progression of prostate cancer by regulating the metabolome, more specifically, by inhibiting oxidative stress leading to decreased apoptosis. Therefore, PXDN may be a biomarker associated with prostate cancer and a potential therapeutic target.

Abstract 4989: Cannabinoid receptor 2 and C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 interact to abrogate CXCL12-mediated cellular response

The expression of C-X-C Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been correlated with increased metastatic potential of cancer cells. CXCR4 increases tumor malignancy by encouraging tumors cells to migrate to distal organs expressing its cognate ligand, CXCL12, facilitating metastasis. Thus, targeting the CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling axis provides a good strategy to inhibit the metastatic spread of tumor cells and slow cancer progression. Recent studies suggest that cannabis may have anti-proliferative as well as anti-metastatic properties, though a biochemical mechanism describing how this occurs has yet to be discovered. Our lab has confirmed that an interaction between agonist-bound CXCR4 and agonist-bound Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) can decrease cancer cell migration. Simultaneous treatment of the breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 with CXCL12 and AM1241, a synthetic ligand for CB2, desensitized the intrinsic cellular response to migrate toward areas of high CXCL12 concentration. Furthermore, through co-immunoprecipitation, we determined that there was increased interaction between the two receptors with co-stimulation. When CXCR4 and CB2 were activated simultaneously with various agonists, decreases in migration were observed, confirming that the regulatory activity was receptor-based, not agonist-based. Moreover, when cells were treated with the CB2 antagonist (AM630) and CXCL12 simultaneously, the decrease in migration was no longer seen, as CXCL12 was able to induce cell movement. In order to determine whether receptors were activated in response to simultaneous stimulation, calcium mobilization assays were performed and results showed that transiently activated calcium levels were significantly lower in response to simultaneous treated cells when compared to cells treat with their individual ligands. Therefore, we propose that the interaction of CB2 with CXCR4 may play a role in inhibiting the cells response to CXCL12, leading to a loss in metastatic potential and presenting a new mechanism for regulating oncogenic signaling.

Citation Format: Christopher Coke, Ahriea Johnson, Kia Jones, Cimona Hinton. Cannabinoid receptor 2 and C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 interact to abrogate CXCL12-mediated cellular response. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4989. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4989

Abstract C60: Snail transcription factor contributes to bone metastasis in prostate and breast cancer cells

Prostate cancer that is hormone refractory and has metastasized preferentially to bone is the main cause of prostate cancer death, especially in African American men. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its receptor (RANK) contributes to bone metastatic lesions and bisphosphonates such as Zometa and Fosamax have been used as antagonists of RANKL for the treatment of breast and prostate cancer metastasis. African American men have the highest bone mineral density compared to any other race, and the role this may play in prostate cancer metastasis to bone is not clear. A better understanding of bone metastasis may lead to alternative treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer. Snail transcription factor is important early in development and in cancer cells and promotes cancer cell migration and progression by inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). We have observed increased expression of Snail in prostate cancer bone metastatic human patient samples. We hypothesized that Snail can mediate EMT-mediated prostate cancer migration towards bone of high bone mineral density and mediate the vicious cycle of tumor-tumor microenvironment reciprocal interactions through calcium and RANKL signaling. We generated an EMT model for prostate and breast cancer utilizing the ARCaP human prostate and MCF-7 breast cancer cells overexpressing Snail and identified increased RANKL expression that was associated with increased osteoclastogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, as well as decreased bone volume and density. We utilized pre-molded bone discs which are allograft bone/polyurethane (PUR) composite bone void fillers with tunable properties that have advantage over existing bone implant models in that it contains bigger pore sizes that support rapid cellular infiltration and remodeling. We treated the bone discs with hydrochloric acid which decreased the bone density to a ratio of 1:1.18 for low (HCL-treated): high (untreated) bone density, which is quite close to the 1: 1.2 ratio seen in Caucasian vs African American men. Incubation of these bone discs with prostate or breast cancer cells overexpressing Snail led to increased calcium release from bone of high density as compared to low density. We are currently testing whether this increased calcium release in response to Snail may promote paracrine cell proliferation. Since Snail is not required by adult cells except during injury, targeting Snail that is mainly expressed by cancer cells may antagonize metastatic lesions in bone without affecting normal bone in other areas of the body.

Citation Format: Basil A. Smith, Veronica Henderson, Christopher Coke, Jerald Dumas, Cimona Hinton, Manu Platt, Leland K. Chung, Majd Zayzafoon, Valerie A. Odero-Marah. Snail transcription factor contributes to bone metastasis in prostate and breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C60. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C60

Abstract 1131: Snail- and ERK2-dependent signaling enhances breast cancer cell resistance to hydroxytamoxifen

Snail transcription factor and MAPK/ERK signaling regulate EMT and chemotherapy resistance in various tumor models by binding to target promoters (i.e., E-cadherin, maspin, ER-α). ERK1 is expressed during embryogenesis and in non-metastatic cells; ERK2 is implicated during vasculogenesis and promotes stem cell phenotype in triple negative breast cancer. Nuclear-localized ERK is associated with more active and potentially metastatic breast and ovarian carcinoma cells; cytoplasmic-localized ERK is a good prognostic factor. The role that Snail plays during the transition from cytoplasmic ERK1 to nuclear ERK2 has not been investigated. We hypothesized that both nuclear Snail and ERK2 are required for breast cancer cells to become resistant to 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). We utilized MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells, MCF-7 transfected stably with empty Neo vector control (MCF-7 Neo) or constitutively active Snail cDNA (MCF-7 Snail). MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail have previously represented a breast cancer EMT model; we used this model to analyze ERK signaling and therapy response. Preliminary data suggest that MCF-7 Neo express higher levels of p-ERK, ER-α, and E-cadherin and no Snail. MCF-7 Snail expressed higher levels of Snail and vimentin, low levels of p-ERK, and low ER-α and no E-cadherin. MCF-7 Neo expressed higher ERK1 and MCF-7 Snail expressed higher ERK2. Immunocytochemistry indicated that p-ERK was nuclear and cytoplasmic in MCF-7 Neo, but mostly nuclear in MCF-7 Snail. We treated MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail with control siRNA, ERK1 siRNA, or ERK2 siRNA, then determined the expression of Snail, p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, E-cadherin, and ER-α. We found that ERK1 siRNA decreased E-cadherin, while ERK2 siRNA increased E-cadherin in MCF-7 Neo. ERK2 siRNA decreased Snail, but ERK1 siRNA had no effect on Snail. ERK1 siRNA increased active ERK2 and ERK2 siRNA increased ERK1 in MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail. To determine the role that Snail plays in resistance, we treated MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail with 4-OHT and/or UO126 then mitochondrial permeability and caspase-3/7 activity assays. MCF-7 Neo had higher mitochondrial permeability than MCF-7 Snail, indicative of the dimmer staining using TMRM stain, and MCF-7 Neo had higher caspase-3/7 activity after treatments. Overall, cell death in MCF-7 Snail was caspase-independent. These data imply that Snail and ERK2 collaborate through an unknown mechanism to promote EMT and therapy resistance in breast cancer cells. Targeting Snail and/or ERK2 in advanced breast cancer may be a potential therapeutic or preventive strategy.

Citation Format: Bethany N. Smith, Peri Nagappan, Latonia Taliaferro-Smith, Roman Mezencev, Clayton Yates, Cimona Hinton, Valerie Odero-Marah. Snail- and ERK2-dependent signaling enhances breast cancer cell resistance to hydroxytamoxifen. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1131. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1131

Camalexin-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells involves alterations of expression and activity of lysosomal protease cathepsin D

Camalexin, the phytoalexin produced in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, possesses antiproliferative and cancer chemopreventive effects. We have demonstrated that the cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of camalexin on several prostate cancer (PCa) cells are due to oxidative stress. Lysosomes are vulnerable organelles to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-induced injuries, with the potential to initiate and or facilitate apoptosis subsequent to release of proteases such as cathepsin D (CD) into the cytosol. We therefore hypothesized that camalexin reduces cell viability in PCa cells via alterations in expression and activity of CD. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS cell proliferation assay in LNCaP and ARCaP Epithelial (E) cells, and their respective aggressive sublines C4-2 and ARCaP Mesenchymal (M) cells, whereby the more aggressive PCa cells (C4-2 and ARCaPM) displayed greater sensitivity to camalexin treatments than the lesser aggressive cells (LNCaP and ARCaPE). Immunocytochemical analysis revealed CD relocalization from the lysosome to the cytosol subsequent to camalexin treatments, which was associated with increased protein expression of mature CD; p53, a transcriptional activator of CD; BAX, a downstream effector of CD, and cleaved PARP, a hallmark for apoptosis. Therefore, camalexin reduces cell viability via CD and may present as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of metastatic prostate cancer cells.

Abstract 1485: Snail activation of MAPK pathway may contributes to tumor insensitivity to tamoxifen chemotherapy in breast cancer cells

Snail is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor that induces epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) and is expressed at high levels in tumors. Snail contributes to chemotherapy resistance in ovarian, liver, colorectal, and breast carcinomas by activating the MAPK/ERK1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway .

ERK1/2 controls cell proliferation, survival, migration, and adhesion.

However, a role for MAPK in

Snail-mediated EMT in breast cancer is unclear. We hypothesized that Snail promotes EMT by decreasing cell adhesion and increasing cell migration through the MAPK pathway, resulting inresistance to Tamoxifen chemotherapy. Preliminary results suggest that breast cancer cells express variable levels of Snail that is higher than in normal MCF10A cells.

We utilized MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells transfected stably with empty

Neo vector control (MCF-7 Neo) or constitutively active Snail cDNA (MCF-7

Snail). MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail have previously represented a breast cancer

EMT model; we used this model to examine cell adhesion and cell migration. We injected these cells into female nude mice to examine tumor size. We also examined activation of MAPK pathway using phospo-ERK (p-ERK) antibodies in response to Snail overexpression and the effect of inhibiting this pathway with

UO126 (MEK inhibitor, 20uM). Finally, we tested how Snail overexpression affects response to UO126 and/or Tamoxifen treatments using MTS cell proliferation assay. Our results showed that Snail overexpression led to decreased cell adhesion and increased cell migration on collagen and fibronectin in vitro, and increased tumorigenicity in vivo. Interestingly, immunofluorescent analysis revealed that activated ERK1/2 (p-ERK) had cytoplasmic localization in MCF-7 Neo, and exclusive nuclear localization in

MCF-7 Snail. Inhibition of activated ERK1/2 with UO126 antagonized cell adhesion primarily in MCF-7 Neo cells, while it decreased cell migration primarily in MCF-7 Snail cells. This would suggest that cytoplasmic p-ERK may be important for cell adhesion while nuclear p-ERK may be important for cell migration. MCF-7 Neo proliferation was consistently higher than MCF-7 Snail indicating that Snail may not play a significant role in cell proliferation, but other EMT functions like migration and adhesion. Tamoxifen treatment did not affect MCF-7 Snail cells morphologically, but led to sickly-appearing MCF-7

Neo cells. Additionally, MCF-7 Snail cells treated with Tamoxifen proliferated at similar rates to control untreated cells but co-treatment with UO126 greatly inhibited cell proliferation. This suggests that antagonizing nuclear p-ERK may sensitize breast cancer cells to Tamoxifen therapy. In conclusion, our study shows that Snail activation of MAPK pathway specifically within the nucleus promotes resistance to Tamoxifen and future ERK1/2 inhibition within the nucleus may sensitize cells to chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Bethany N. Smith, Peri Nagappan, Mahandranauth Chetram, LaTonia Taliaferro-Smith, Clayton Yates, Cimona Hinton, Valerie Odero-Marah. Snail activation of MAPK pathway may contributes to tumor insensitivity to tamoxifen chemotherapy in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1485. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1485

Abstract 5747: Elucidating the mechanisms by which Snail transcription factor promotes resistance to chemotherapy in breast carcinomas

Snail (Snail1) is a zinc finger transcription factor that can induce EMT and is expressed at high levels in tumors. Maspin is a potential tumor suppressor, whose expression is lost as breast and prostate tumors progress during EMT. Maspin can be transcriptionally repressed by androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cells. We hypothesized that overexpression of Snail will inhibit maspin expression and confer resistance to chemotherapy. Initially, we examined the expression of Snail and maspin in a panel of breast epithelial and breast cancer cells by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Preliminary results suggest that breast cancer cells express variable levels of Snail that is higher in breast cancer cells than in the normal MCF10A cells. We then utilized MCF-7 cells transfected stably with an empty Neo vector (MCF-7 Neo) or constitutively active Snail cDNA (MCF-7 Snail) that have been shown previously to represent an EMT model, and examined maspin, estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) and AR levels by western blot analysis. MCF-7 Snail cells had upregulated levels of Snail and lower levels of maspin, ER-α and AR, as compared to MCF-7 Neo. MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail cells were also xenografted into nude mice and tissue sections stained immunohistochemically for Snail, maspin, and ER-α. Tumor volumes of MCF-7 Snail tumor xenografts were significantly larger than the MCF-7 Neo xenografts. MCF-7 Snail tissue sections expressed higher levels of Snail and lower levels of maspin and ER-α as compared to MCF-7 Neo sections. MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail cells were also treated with estradiol (E2, 0.01uM), tamoxifen (TAM, 10uM), and docetaxel (DOX, 1uM) individually; and in combination with E2 plus TAM and TAM plus DOX for periods of 24h and 72h to analyze changes in cell morphology and EMT marker expression. No effect on cell morphology or cell death was observed in MCF-7 Snail cells after TAM treatments, whereas TAM induced cell death in MCF-7 Neo. Expression of Snail was increased with E2 treatments and decreased with TAM, DOX, and combination treatments in MCF-7 Neo and MCF-7 Snail. AR expression decreased further in MCF-7 Snail cells and MCF-7 Neo following treatments with TAM and DOX. Overall, the Snail overexpression appears to promote resistance to TAM and DOX chemotherapeutic agents. The mechanism of Snail-regulated EMT needs to be investigated further to determine changes in breast cancer progression.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5747. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5747

Vascular endothelial growth factor mediates intracrine survival in human breast carcinoma cells through internally expressed VEGFR1/FLT1

BACKGROUND

While vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in breast tumors has been correlated with a poor outcome in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, the expression, localization, and function of VEGF receptors VEGFR1 (also known as FLT1) and VEGFR2 (also known as KDR or FLK1), as well as neuropilin 1 (NRP1), in breast cancer are controversial.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We investigated the expression and function of VEGF and VEGF receptors in breast cancer cells. We observed that VEGFR1 expression was abundant, VEGFR2 expression was low, and NRP1 expression was variable. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, transfected with antisense VEGF cDNA or with siVEGF (VEGF-targeted small interfering RNA), showed a significant reduction in VEGF expression and increased apoptosis as compared to the control cells. Additionally, specifically targeted knockdown of VEGFR1 expression by siRNA (siVEGFR1) significantly decreased the survival of breast cancer cells through down-regulation of protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, while targeted knockdown of VEGFR2 or NRP1 expression had no effect on the survival of these cancer cells. Since a VEGFR1-specific ligand, placenta growth factor (PGF), did not, as expected, inhibit the breast cancer cell apoptosis induced by siVEGF, and since VEGFR1 antibody also had no effects on the survival of these cells, we examined VEGFR1 localization. VEGFR1 was predominantly expressed internally in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Specifically, VEGFR1 was found to be colocalized with lamin A/C and was expressed mainly in the nuclear envelope in breast cancer cell lines and primary breast cancer tumors. Breast cancer cells treated with siVEGFR1 showed significantly decreased VEGFR1 expression levels and a lack of VEGFR1 expression in the nuclear envelope.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides, to our knowledge for the first time, evidence of a unique survival system in breast cancer cells by which VEGF can act as an internal autocrine (intracrine) survival factor through its binding to VEGFR1. These results may lead to an improved strategy for tumor therapy based on the inhibition of angiogenesis.

Rotational spectra of the carbon-chain radicals HC5O, HC6O, and HC7O

Three new free carbon-chain radicals, HC5O, HC6O, and HC7O, and their deuterated isotopic species have been observed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy of a supersonic molecular beam. In contrast to the shorter HCnO radicals, these all have linear heavy-atom backbones and 2Pi electronic ground states. Like the isovalent HCnS radicals, the ground states of the HCnO radicals alternate with odd and even numbers of carbon atoms: those of HC5O and HC7O are 2Pi1/2 and that of HC6O is 2Pi3/2. From frequency measurements between 6 and 26 GHz, the rotational constant B, the centrifugal distortion constant D, and the lambda-type doubling and magnetic hyperfine constants have been determined to high precision for each chain. Predicted properties from coupled-cluster calculations are also reported for chains up to HC9O. The production of HCnO radicals for n even was highly favored when O2 was used as the source of oxygen, but those with n odd were best produced with CO.

Selective processing of food and body size words: application of the Stroop Test with obese restrained eaters, anorexics, and normals

The specificity of the retardation effect on the Stroop Naming task with eating disorder clients was examined by comparing anorexic patients and normal weight controls with obese restrained eaters. Although the expected differences between normal weight controls and anorexics were found for color naming of food and body size words, obese restrained eaters were not differentiated from the clinical sample. It is suggested, therefore, that the Stroop phenomena do not have a precise relationship to the extent of psychopathology and that factors such as the ability to "fake" the test and poor concentration leading to general slowing, may explain the results.

Changing patterns of student nurse recruitment--2

In 1970, a study was carried out to assess the type of information provided by schools of nursing to recruit prospective candidates to the profession. A follow-up study in 1980 showed that some response had been made to suggestions about particular types of information that potential recruits required (see Part 1, April 29). This week, in Part 2, the changes that have taken place in information exchange between 1980 and 1990 are assessed.

Changing patterns of student nurse recruitment--1

Just over 20 years ago, an attempt was made to determine to what extent schools of nursing provide recruitment information for potential candidates to nursing. The recruitment literature and application forms of 40 general hospitals and 20 psychiatric hospitals were analysed. A follow-up investigation was carried out 10 years later, in 1980, which sought to establish to what extent the recruitment process, in terms of information-provision and requisition, for potential nursing candidates had changed. The study was also expanded to include an analysis of the recruitment literature and application forms of 20 mental handicap hospitals. The conclusions from the initial study and the 1980 follow-up, together with a second follow-up study completed in 1990, are outlined here and in Part 2 next month, looking at the extent to which schools of nursing have changed their initial recruitment processes over the past 20 years.

Synchronous diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma presenting as splenomegaly and iron deficiency anemia

Diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (D-WDLL) and chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) represent closely related neoplasms which may have indolent courses. Dating back more than one century, reports of associated second primary malignancies continue to intrigue clinicians. A case of synchronous D-WDLL and gastric adenocarcinoma, presenting as splenomegaly and iron deficiency anemia, is presented. The case and literature are reviewed.

Tumour aneuploidy, prognostic parameters and survival in primary breast cancer

Cellular DNA content of primary tumours from 280 patients with operable breast cancer was determined by flow cytometry using nuclei from paraffin sections stained with DAPI, and 199 of these patients were followed for 8-13 years after surgery. Tumours from 67 patients have also been analyzed for their DNA content using single cell suspensions from fresh tumour tissue stained with mithramycin and ethidium bromide, and the results compared with those obtained from paraffin blocks of the same tumours. Overall 60% of the tumours contained cells with abnormal DNA content (DNA-aneuploid populations). Survival and disease free interval were not significantly different in patients with DNA-diploid and DNA-aneuploid tumours when analysed by Mantel's life table method. There was however, an early advantage for patients with DNA-diploid tumours: during the first 30 months after surgery DNA-aneuploidy was associated with higher rate of recurrence and shorter survival. DNA-aneuploidy was strongly related to histological grade. Thus 11/49 (22%) grade I, 60/102 (59%) grade II, and 96/129 (74%) grade III tumours were DNA-aneuploid. Although there was no significant difference in survival of patients with DNA-diploid and DNA-aneuploid tumours overall, there appears to be an unexpected association between DNA-aneuploidy and better survival in grade II patients (P less than 0.01); a similar trend was observed for grade I patients. Although the proportion of DNA-aneuploid tumours was similar in oestrogen receptor positive and negative tumours, DNA-aneuploidy was associated with lower levels of oestrogen receptors in comparison to DNA-diploid tumours. Comparison between the modal DNA values of fresh and paraffin embedded samples showed high rate of comparability (64/67, P less than 0.0001).

Intra-articular variation of synovial changes in knee arthritis: biopsy study comparing changes in patellofemoral synovium and the medial tibiofemoral synovium

Variation of synovial changes in the knee joint was studied in 23 patients. Histological features of biopsies taken from the patellofemoral joint synovium were compared with biopsies taken from the synovium of the medial tibiofemoral joint. The patellofemoral compartment showed more fibrosis compared to the medial tibiofemoral compartment where there was more inflammatory cell infiltration, pigmentation, an increase in vascularity, increased fragment deposition and synovial hyperplasia. Multiple biopsy with reference to compartmental localization is likely to give more information than biopsy of a single site.

The effect of decalcified bone matrix on the osteogenic potential of bone marrow

Rabbit bone marrow cells were cultured in diffusion chambers with or without decalcified bone matrix. The chambers were assayed after 28 days for alkaline phosphatase activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), calcium, and phosphorus contents. Morphologically, marrow cells incubated with or without matrix differentiated to form bone and cartilage. With bone matrix, the calcium and phosphorus contents of chambers were significantly higher than control chambers. Alkaline phosphatase activity and DNA content were not influenced by inclusion of bone matrix. These results indicate that bone matrix constituents exert a stimulatory effect on bone formation from marrow cells. This osteogenic stimulation could be due to the influence of an osteoinductive factor and/or to stimulation of osteoprogenitor cells known to be present in the marrow.

Experimental murine amyloidosis II: effect of penicillamine therapy

D-penicillamine was used in 2 different doses to treat experimental amyloidosis in mice. No beneficial effect, as measured by duration of survival or amount of amyloid in the liver, could be demonstrated.