Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content in the endoscopic biopsy tissues of gastric cancer

DNA image cytometry for diagnosis of early gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, with high morbidity and mortality. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the key to improve the curative effect and prolong the survival of the patients. At present, tumor cell DNA detection technology has been used for the assistant diagnosis of a variety of common tumors and can improve the early detection rate of benign and malignant tumors. In the process of malignant transformation of cells, changes in genetic material such as DNA are earlier than the morphological changes of cells. Therefore, the DNA image cytometry of cells can be used to find early malignant cells with genetic material abnormalities. Being able to detect GC earlier, DNA image cytometry can increase the detection rate of early GC and improve the treatment and prognosis of patients.This article reviews the application of DNA image cytometry in the diagnosis of early GC.

Possible carcinogenic potential of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate in experimental animals

Dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB) has been extensively used in the treatment of liver diseases accounting for 1–6% of the global disease burden. Cell replication, DNA synthesis, and proliferation, providing significant information about behavior of cells were examined in mice exposed to subchronic administration with DDB. Conventional liver functions specifically gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), a marker expressing liver canceration was also investigated. Normal mice were allocated into two groups each of 10 mice. The 1^st and 2^nd groups were treated with DDB in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week for 1 month and 3 months, respectively. Comparable groups of normal mice were left without treatment as controls. Compared to normal control group, animals receiving DDB for 3 months showed marked elevations of both alanine aminotransferase and γ-GT, significant inhibition in cytochrome P450, a significant increase in the mean ploidy and 4C with moderate to marked increase in S-phase populations and the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells. In conclusion, this is the first report on the potential relationship between the subchronic administration of DDB and the increase in the hepatocyte proliferation, cell replication and DNA synthesis that may raise an alarm regarding possible DDB insult on the biological behavior of cells.

Doubling time of serum CA 19-9 in the clinical course of patients with pancreatic cancer and its significant association with prognosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic cancer is generally a disease with a poor prognosis, and relationship between change of serum CA 19-9 level and progression of this disease was investigated with regard to clinical pace of disease and tumor growth.

METHODS

CA 19-9 doubling time was examined in 75 patients with pancreatic cancer, including 41 inoperable cases. Then, its relation with their prognosis and change in tumor was evaluated.

RESULTS

The doubling time of CA 19-9 and CEA could be calculated in 90.2% and 58.5% of patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer. CA 19-9 doubling time was clearly associated with survival time in inoperable and palliatively operated cases, but not with sex, age, site of the lesion, or liver metastasis, and was significantly correlated with the tumor volume doubling time.

CONCLUSIONS

Examination of CA 19-9 doubling time may be useful in clinical evaluation of the prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer and could possibly prove valuable in terms of the analysis of the growth process in this disease.