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To investigate the transfection efficiency and the optimal conditions of delivering latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene to dendritic cells (DCs) by ultrasound exposure combined with contrast agent.Human DCs were cultured in vivo and transfected with the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C3-LMP1 under varying conditions including ultrasound intensities, exposure time and microbubble contrast agent concentration. The transfection efficiency was assessed by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry, and the cell viability by trypan blue exclusion test.An exposure time of 60 s at MI 1.0 with a microbubble contrast agent concentration of 20% resulted in the optimal effect of delivering the recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C3-LMP1 into the DCs, with a transfection efficiency of (14.37∓2.12)%. Over 90% of the transfected cells were viable after the transfection.Microbubble contrast agent combined with ultrasound exposure can enhance the delivery of recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C3-LMP1 into the DCs.

To evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of endostar in combination with XELIRI as the second-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.Twenty-one patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with intravenous infusion of endostar (15 mg/day for 14 consecutive days) and irinotecan (250 mg/m(2), single dose on the first day), and oral administration of capecitabine (1.0 mg/m(2), twice daily for 14 days), and the treatment cycle was repeated every 21 days. The efficacy and toxicity of the treatments were evaluated according to RECIST and NCI-CTCAE3.0 standard, respectively.The overall response rate was 9.5% in these patients, with a median time to progression (mTTP) of 3.9 months. The main adverse effects associated with the treatment included leucopenia, nausea/vomiting and peripheral neuritis.Endostar combined with XELIRI is effective and safe as the second-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, and further clinical investigation is warranted.

To assess the value of (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in ultrasound-guided local ablation of malignant liver tumors.Thirteen patients with 35 local residual tumor foci following previous tumor ablation underwent (18)F-FDG PET-CT and ultrasound-guided local ablation with intratumoral alcohol injection.After the second local ablation guided by (18)F-FDG PET-CT and ultrasound, radioactive defects were detected in the corresponding location in 31 of the 35 residual foci, and after the third local ablation, the other 4 foci also showed radioactive defects.(18)F-FDG PET-CT can sensitively and accurately identify tissue necrosis and residual tumors, and serves as an excellent approach for ultrasound-guided local ablation of local residual tumors.

To investigate the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in serums of colorectal cancer patients at stage IV.Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the VEGF levels in serums of 45 colorectal cancer patients at stage IV, and 20 healthy served as normal control.The mean concentration of VEGF in 45 colorectal cancer patients at the 7 day after operation were significantly lower than that before operation (P0.01). The mean concentration of VEGF in the patients who benefit from bevacizumab showed no statistical difference from the levels of who did not benefit (P=0.554).The VEGF levels in colorectal patients at stage IV are lowed as the load of tumor decrease. The circulating levels of VEGF seem not predict the response to bevacizumab in colorectal cancer patients at stage IV.

To study the feasibility of transfecting breast cancer BA46 gene into dendritic cells (DCs) using adeno-associated virus (AAV) to induce specific cellular immunity.Mononuclear cells (DC precursor) were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors by density gradient centrifugation and infected with rAAV/BA46/Neo virus stock (transfection group) or pulsed with 293 cell lysate (control group). In both groups, maturation of the DC precursor was induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha). On day 7, the DCs were collected and mixed with T cells at the ratio of 1 to 20 to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The capacity of the DCs in stimulating T lymphocyte proliferation was assessed using (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay. The expressions of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-4, CD4, CD8, CD25 and CD69 in the CTLs were analyzed with cytometry, and the cytotoxicity of the CTLs was evaluated with (51)Cr-release assay using BA46-positive breast cancer cell line Hs578T as the target.The DCs transfected with BA46 gene exhibited potent capacity to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation. The CTL population induced by the transfected DCs expressed high levels of CD8, CD69 and IFN-gamma, and showed strong cytotoxicity against BA46-positive breast cancer cell line Hs578T, which was BA46 antigen-specific and MHC-limited.The success in BA46 gene transfer in the DCs that induce specific cellular immunity provides the experimental basis for breast cancer immunotherapy using genetically modified cells.

To investigate the effects of matrine on the cell cycle and apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma SW620 cells and explore the possible mechanisms.The effect of matrine on cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay, and the cell cycle arrest induced by matrine was determined by flow cytometry. The changes of cell morphology were observed through optical microscope, fluorescence microscope and electron microscope, and the cell apoptosis was detected using Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay.Matrine inhibited the proliferation of SW620 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, the matrine-treated cells showed increased cell percentage arrested in G 0/G1 phase with decreased S-phase cells. Morphologically, the SW620 cells treated with matrine exhibited cell shrinkage, cell size reduction, plasma condensation, cytoplasmic vacuolar changes, and formation of apoptotic body with also the presence of the signet-ring cells, all typical of apoptotic cells.Matrine exposure of SW620 cells inhibits the cell proliferation, causes cell cycle arrest at G 0/G1 phase, and induces apoptosis in a dose- and time- dependent manner.

To evaluate safety and effect of percutaneous chemotherapy pump placement for portal vein chemotherapy in management of colorectal cancer with hepatic metastasis.Twenty-three cases of colorectal cancer with liver metastasis were treated with percutaneous chemotherapy pump placement for portal vein chemotherapy, and the therapeutic effect of this treatment was observed.Partial remission of the hepatic lesions was achieved in 13 (56.5%) of the patients following the treatment, and the condition was stabilized in 5 patients (21.7%). No severe complications were observed in these patients.Percutaneous chemotherapy pump placement for portal vein chemotherapy can be safe and effective for management of hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer.

To evaluate the efficacy of Avastin in combination with irinotecan for metastatic colorectal cancer.Ninety patients were randomly divided into 3 equal groups to receive Avastin plus irinotecan (group A), FOLFIRI (group B) and FOLFOX7 (group C) for two cycles, respectively. The response rate and changes in tumor maker levels were observed.The tumor response rate was 43.3% in group A, 27.7% in group B and 30.0% in group C. The disease control rate (complete response+partial response+stable disease) was 80% in group A, 53.3% in group B and 50.0% in group C. Obvious changes in tumor marker levels were observed in the 3 groups after treatment, which were most conspicuous in group A (P0.05).The addition of Avastin to irinotecan chemotherapy results in significant improvement of clinical efficacy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.