Prognostic Value of E-Cadherin, β-Catenin, CD44v6, and HER2/neu in Metastatic Cutaneous Adenocarcinoma

Hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel conjugate inhibits growth of human squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck via a hyaluronic acid-mediated mechanism

Chemotherapeutic regimens incorporating taxanes significantly improve outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). However, treatment with taxanes is limited by toxicities, including bone marrow suppression and peripheral neuropathies. We proposed that conjugating taxanes to targeting carrier molecules would increase antitumor efficacy and decrease toxicity. The cell surface proteoglycan, CD44, is expressed on most SCCHNs, and we hypothesized that it is an attractive candidate for targeted therapy via its natural ligand, hyaluronic acid (HA). We determined whether HA-paclitaxel conjugates were able to decrease tumor growth and improve survival in orthotopic nude mouse human SCCHN xenograft models. HA-paclitaxel concentration-dependent growth inhibition of human SCCHN cell lines OSC-19 and HN5 in vitro, very similarly to free paclitaxel treatment. Tumor cell uptake of FITC-labeled HA-paclitaxel was significantly blocked with free HA, indicating the dependence of uptake on CD44. HA-paclitaxel administered intravenously once per week for three weeks at 120 mg/kg paclitaxel equivalents, far above the paclitaxel maximum tolerated dose, exerted superior tumor growth control to that of paclitaxel in both orthotopic OSC-19-luciferase and HN5 xenograft models in vivo. Mouse survival following HA-paclitaxel administration was prolonged compared with that of controls in mice implanted with either of these xenografts. Mice treated with HA-paclitaxel displayed increased TUNEL(+) cells in tumor tissue, as well as markedly reduced microvessel density compared to those treated with free paclitaxel. No acute histopathological changes were observed in mice treated with HA-paclitaxel. Thus, we conclude that HA-paclitaxel effectively inhibits tumor growth in human SCCHN xenografts via an HA-mediated mechanism and this conjugate should be considered for further preclinical development for this disease.

[Circulating lymphocyte subsets in patients with lung cancer and their prognostic value]

背景与目的

肺癌是最常见的恶性肿瘤之一，本研究旨在探讨肺癌患者外周血中淋巴细胞亚群的表达及与预后的关系。

方法

采用流式细胞仪检测221例原发性肺癌首诊患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺、CD19⁺、CD25⁺、CD44⁺及NK细胞所占比例，并与96例健康人的血标本对比，结合临床及随访资料进行统计分析。

结果

与健康对照组对比，肺癌患者淋巴细胞亚群8项指标中CD3⁺及CD8⁺明显低于健康对照组，CD4⁺/CD8⁺、CD19⁺、CD25⁺、CD44⁺及NK细胞明显高于健康对照组(P < 0.05)。与非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)相比，小细胞肺癌(small cell lung cancer, SCLC)的CD8⁺明显升高而CD4⁺和CD4⁺/CD8⁺明显下降(P < 0.05)。化疗后与化疗前相比CD3⁺明显上升，NK细胞、CD19⁺及CD44⁺明显下降(P < 0.05)，其中CD44⁺在化疗后表达不升高者有生存优势(P=0.021)，而其余3项指标与患者预期生存无关。

结论

肺癌患者外周血淋巴细胞亚群普遍发生改变，CD44⁺在化疗后的改变可能与预后相关。

Desmoplasia: not always a bad thing

Desmoplasia describes a histological pattern characterized by a hyalinized stroma and a minimal cellular infiltrate. In non-cutaneous neoplasms, this pattern of stromal response is classically associated with malignancy, whereas in cutaneous pathology, desmoplasia is observed in malignant as well as benign neoplasms. Given this, the obvious question is whether desmoplasia associated with a benign neoplasm is any different from that associated with malignant tumours. Is the stromal response a mere epiphenomenon, or does it actually contribute to the biological behaviour of the neoplasm? What happens at the tumour-host interface? Which molecules are involved in mediating the desmoplastic reaction pattern? This review is an attempt to answer these questions. Examples of benign and malignant cutaneous neoplasms associated with the desmoplastic reaction pattern will be included.