中国大气颗粒物污染与致癌研究进展

 室外空气污染和污染空气中的颗粒物是一类致癌物，而近年中国的大气颗粒物污染仍然维持在较高浓度水平。通过综述中国近年大气颗粒物污染现状和开展的颗粒物致癌机制研究，分析中国研究中颗粒物有关实验动物致癌性的证据和颗粒物致癌的人群流行病学线索，阐述大气颗粒物与癌症的关系，提出中国亟需开展相关研究。     

The molecular role of the Rothmund-Thomson-, RAPADILINO- and Baller-Gerold-gene product, RECQL4: recent progress

The RecQ family of DNA helicases is highly conserved throughout evolution and plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability in all organisms. Mutations in three of the five known family members in humans, BLM, WRN and RECQL4, give rise to disorders that are characterized by predisposition to cancer and premature aging, emphasizing the importance of studying the RecQ proteins and their cellular activities. Interestingly, three autosomal recessive disorders have been associated with mutations in the RECQL4 gene: Rothmund-Thomson, RAPADILINO, and Baller-Gerold syndromes, thus making RECQL4 unique within the RecQ family of DNA helicases. To date, however, the molecular function of RECQL4 and the possible cellular pathways in which it is involved remain poorly understood. Here, we present an overview of recent findings in connection with RECQL4 and try to highlight different directions the field could head, helping to clarify the role of RECQL4 in preventing tumorigenesis and maintenance of genome integrity in humans. Received 31 October 2006; received after revision 4 January 2007; accepted 5 February 2007     

Eph受体家族和Ephrin-A5在NSCLCs中上调表达及其临床意义

采用荧光实时定量PCR的方法在48个非小细胞肺癌组织以及配对的正常肺组织中检测Eph/ephrin 基因的mRNA水平.发现肺癌组织中EphB4, EphB3 和 ephrin-A5的表达水平与配对的正常肺组织相比分别上调了60%,81%和65%,并具有显著的统计学差异. 而且,统计学分析发现ephrin-A5的表达水平与肿瘤分型、转移、性别、吸烟以及诊断年龄等临床病理学参数之间存在显著的相关性.此外,EphA2的表达水平与肿瘤大小、家族遗传史以及诊断年龄之间也存在显著的相关性.总之,这些结果提示EphB4, EphA2, EphB3 和ephrin-A5 在肺癌的发生和发展过程中可能以一种单独或者协同的形式发挥作用.这些蛋白有可能成为研究和诊断肺癌的重要靶向基因.     

局部复发性直肠癌的再手术治疗

探讨局部复发性直肠癌(直肠癌根治术后)再次手术的价值、方法、回顾性分析再手术治疗的局部复发性直肠癌33例.结果:21例行根治术,12例行姑息性手术.根治术组和姑息性手术组中位生存期分别为35.2个月(8～82个月)、13个月(2～23个月),再手术5年生存率为34.8%.结论:对于局部复发性直肠癌仍应积极手术,有助于延长生存期,提高生存质量.     

Targeted inhibition of Livin resensitizes renal cancer cells towards apoptosis

Cancer cells are typically characterized by apoptosis deficiency. In order to investigate a possible role for the anti-apoptotic livin gene in renal cell cancer (RCC), we analyzed its expression in tumor tissue samples and in RCC-derived cell lines. In addition, we studied the contribution of livin to the apoptotic resistance of RCC cells by RNA interference (RNAi). Livin gene expression was detected in a significant portion of RCC tumor tissue specimens (13/14, 92.9%) and tumor-derived cell lines (12/15, 80.0%). Moreover, targeted inhibition of livin by RNAi markedly sensitized RCC cells towards proapoptotic stimuli, such as UV irradiation or the chemotherapeutic drugs etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and vinblastine. These effects were specific for livin expressing tumor cells. We conclude that livin can contribute significantly to the apoptosis resistance of RCC cells. Targeted inhibition of livin could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to increase the sensitivity of renal cancers towards pro-apoptotic agents. Received 30 November 2006; received after revision 22 February 2007; accepted 20 March 2007     

Common Molecular Mechanisms of Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

During its lifetime, the mammary gland undergoes many phases of development and differentiation. Much of this occurs during puberty, when the ductal epithelium expands by branching morphogenesis, invading the surrounding fat pad to form an organised mammary tree. Throughout its existence, the epithelium will go through several cycles of proliferation and cell death during pregnancy, lactation and involution. Many of the signalling mechanisms which control the initial invasion of the fat pad by the epithelium, and regulate its continuing plasticity, can be harnessed or corrupted by tumour cells in order to support their aberrant growth and progression towards invasion. This is true not just for the epithelial cells themselves but also for cells in the surrounding microenvironment, including fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes. This review examines the complex web of signalling and adhesion interactions controlling branching morphogenesis, and how their alteration can promote malignancy. Current in vivo and in vitro mammary gland models are also discussed. (Part of a Multi-author Review)     

癌痛及其处理对癌症患者生存质量的影响

目的 :探讨癌痛及其处理对癌症患者生存质量的影响。方法 :对 4 8例癌痛患者采用线段分级法(VAS)和 KPS评分法于治疗前后进行评估。结果 :无论是轻度、中度还是重度疼痛 ,均严重影响患者的日常生活、情绪、行走能力、工作、睡眠 ,且随着疼痛程度的加重 ,影响也逐渐加深 ;经三阶梯止痛法治疗后生存质量明显提高 ,治疗前后比较有显著的差异 (P<0 .0 5 )。结论 :疼痛是影响癌症患者生存质量的一个重要因素 ,对癌痛患者应给予必要的止痛治疗 ,以提高患者的生存质量     

Frequent mtDNA mutations and its role in gastric carcinogenesis

In order to disclose the relationship between mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and gastric carcinogenesis, we screened the entire mtDNA sequence in 30 cases of human gastric cancer and matched normal tissues by using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and DNA sequencing. Our data showed that high frequency (66.7%, 20/30) of mitochondrial genome mutation occurred in gastric cancer. Among these variants, 17 cases (56.7%, 17/30) were identified to be somatic mutation. High level mutant frequency was found in ND4, ND5 coding genes and D-loop control region, which was 36.7%, 26.7% and 30% respectively. Comparing with complexes Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴof the electron transport chain, we found that variants appeared to be more frequent in the subunit genes of complexⅠ. Most of mutations were base substitutions (85.4%, 41/48). Our results suggested that mutations of subunit genes encoding complexⅠ, especially ND3, ND4 and ND5 genes, might contribute to human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Cancer and blood coagulation

In human patients, blood coagulation disorders often associate with cancer, even in its early stages. Recently, in vitro and in vivo experimental models have shown that oncogene expression, or inactivation of tumour suppressor genes, upregulate genes that control blood coagulation. These studies suggest that activation of blood clotting, leading to peritumoral fibrin deposition, is instrumental in cancer development. Fibrin can indeed build up a provisional matrix, supporting the invasive growth of neoplastic tissues and blood vessels. Interference with blood coagulation can thus be considered as part of a multifaceted therapeutic approach to cancer. Received 30 November 2005; received after revision 7 February 2005; accepted 8 February 2006