Signal intensity distribution among MA (A), PLF (B), and CM (C) samples and among the groups (D).

<p>Signal intensity distribution among MA (A), PLF (B), and CM (C) samples and among the groups (D).</p

Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with gastric cancer.

<p>Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (well); moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (mod); poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (poor). Malignant ascites (MA); Peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF); TMN stage (UICC 7th edition); Present (P) Absent (A); Peritoneal lavage cytology (CY);</p

Relative expression levels of exosomal miRNAs in intraoperative peritoneal lavage fluid of T4 and T1–T3 gastric cancer patients.

<p>An asterisk indicates P < 0.05.</p

Exosomal miRNA expression in malignant ascites (MA), peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF), and cell culture media (CM).

<p>Variation and commonality between the samples were examined. Evaluation of total exosomal RNA used a Bioanalyzer 2100. The electropherograms show the size distribution (nucleotides, nt) and fluorescence intensity (FU) of total exosomal RNA isolated from CM, MA, and PLF. The lowest spike (around 25 nt) in each sample is the marker of the Agilent RNA 6000 Pico kit.</p

The number of detected miRNA species in 14 samples.

<p>The number of detected miRNA species in 14 samples.</p

Coefficient of correlation between samples. MA, Malignant ascites; PLF, Peritoneal lavage fluid; CM, Cell culture medium

<p>Coefficient of correlation between samples. MA, Malignant ascites; PLF, Peritoneal lavage fluid; CM, Cell culture medium</p

Identification of five exosomal miRNAs related to peritoneal dissemination.

<p>Schematic representation of the step-wise approach to screening miRNAs related to peritoneal dissemination. Step 1: selection of miRNAs differentially expressed (fold-change, >2) in culture medium (CM) of the highly metastatic peritoneal cell line OCUM-2MD3 (OCUM-2M parental cell line was used as control). Step 2: six peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) samples were divided into T4 (n = 4) and T1–T3 groups according to gastrointestinal cancer stage; miRNAs differentially expressed (fold-change, >2) in the T4 group were selected. Step 3: the selected miRNA species common for Steps 1 and 2 and expressed in malignant ascites (MA) with signal intensity > log₂ 10 in MA and PLF were considered as candidate miRNAs related to peritoneal metastases.</p

Clinicopathological parameters and microRNA expression.

<p>^aWell-differentiated adenocarcinoma (well), moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (moderate), poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (poor), other histological type (other)</p><p>Clinicopathological parameters and microRNA expression.</p

The number of miRNA species detected in malignant ascites, peritoneal lavage fluids, and cell culture media groups; 196 miRNAs were common to all groups.

<p>The number of miRNA species detected in malignant ascites, peritoneal lavage fluids, and cell culture media groups; 196 miRNAs were common to all groups.</p

Antibody labelling of the pancreatic cancer patient derived orthotopic xenograft.

<p>The patient’s pancreatic cancer was diagnosed as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with H&E staining (A). The tumor was strongly stained with anti-CA19-9 antibody (B), whereas the signal was very weak with anti-CEA antibody (C). Scale bars: 100 µm. (D and E) Whole body images of a subcutaneous tumor in nude mice labeled with anti-CA19-9- or anti-CEA-conjugated DyLight 650. Fifty µg anti-CA19-9 DyLight 650 or anti-CEA DyLight 650 was injected in the tail vain of the mice with subcutaneous tumors. Twenty-four hours later, whole body images were taken with the OV100 (Olympus). Yellow arrowheads indicate subcutaneous tumors. The subcutaneous tumors were brightly labeled with anti-CA19-9 DyLight 650 (D), whereas, the fluorescence signal from the tumor labeled with anti-CEA DyLight 650 was very weak (E). Scale bars: 10 mm.</p