Twist expression promotes migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Twist, a transcription factor of the basic helix-loop-helix class, is reported to regulate cancer metastasis. It is known to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we evaluated the expression of twist and its effect on cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We examined twist expression using immunohistochemistry in 20 tissue samples of hepatocellular carcinoma, and assessed twist expression in HCC cell lines by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Ectopic twist expression was created by introducing a twist construct in the twist-negative HCC cell lines. Endogenous twist expression was blocked by twist siRNA in the twist-positive HCC cell lines. We studied EMT related markers, E-cadherin, Vimentin, and N-cadherin by Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay, and cell migration was measured by in vitro wound healing assay. We used immunofluorescent vinculin staining to visualize focal adhesion. Results: We detected strong and intermediate twist expression in 7 of 20 tumor samples, and no significant twist expression was found in the tumor-free resection margins. In addition, we detected twist expression in HLE, HLF, and SK-Hep1 cells, but not in PLC/RPF/5, HepG2, and Huh7 cells. Ectopic twist-expressing cells demonstrated enhanced cell motility, but twist expression did not affect cell proliferation. Twist expression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition together with related morphologic changes. Focal adhesion contact was reduced significantly in ectopic twist-expressing cells. Twist-siRNA-treated HLE, HLF, and SK-Hep1 cells demonstrated a reduction in cell migration by 50, 40 and 18%, respectively. Conclusion: Twist induces migratory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma by causing epithelial-mesenchymal transition

An Anisotropic Damage Model for Prediction of Ductile Fracture during Cold-Forging

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An Anisotropic Damage Model for Prediction of Ductile Fracture during Cold-Forging

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Ultrasound guided radio-frequency albation in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hapatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in Japan. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) of microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) have been used to treat small HCC. These two methods are effective methods to treat HCC; however, they have weak points. A period of admission is long to treat patients with PEIT because it requires several sessions to kill HCC completely. The risk of complications of MCT is high because the needle is thick, although it can coagulate HCC completely in one session. Radio frequecy ablation (RFA) is a new method to treat HCC. RFA compensates these weak points and is thought to become a main modality to treat HCC. In this paper, we demonstrated two patients with HCC who were treated with RFA. The effect of the treatment was examined with helical computed tomography and contrast harmonic power doppler, and the results were satisfactory. We also mentioned the merits and demerits of RAF in Discussion

Ultrasound guided radio-frequency albation in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hapatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in Japan. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) of microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) have been used to treat small HCC. These two methods are effective methods to treat HCC; however, they have weak points. A period of admission is long to treat patients with PEIT because it requires several sessions to kill HCC completely. The risk of complications of MCT is high because the needle is thick, although it can coagulate HCC completely in one session. Radio frequecy ablation (RFA) is a new method to treat HCC. RFA compensates these weak points and is thought to become a main modality to treat HCC. In this paper, we demonstrated two patients with HCC who were treated with RFA. The effect of the treatment was examined with helical computed tomography and contrast harmonic power doppler, and the results were satisfactory. We also mentioned the merits and demerits of RAF in Discussion

Standard versus low‐dose nab‐paclitaxel in previously treated patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: A randomized phase II trial (JMTO LC14‐01)

Abstract Background Nab‐paclitaxel (nab‐PTX) has better transfer to tumor tissue than cremophor‐based paclitaxel. It suggests that the optimum dose of nab‐PTX might be lower than the dose and schedule that is widely used. We designed a randomized phase II trial to examine the clinical utility and safety of nab‐PTX in patients with previously treated advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive nab‐PTX monotherapy at 100 mg/m2 (group A) or 70 mg/m2 (group B). The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs). Results Finally, 81 patients were randomized. Similar results were observed in both groups for PFS (3.75 vs. 3.71 months), OS (13.50 vs. 16.13 months), or ORR (20.5% vs. 23.1%). The incidences of grade 3 or worse AEs were 57.5% in group A and 41.5% in group B. The proportion of serious side effects was 10.0% in group A and 4.9% in group B. Conclusion Both standard dose and low dose of nab‐PTX monotherapy are active for previously treated NSCLC patients with better safety profile. Therefore, nab‐PTX 70 mg/m2 dose and schedule in the trial would be a reasonable option