Phylogenetic position of the Atlantic Gnomefish, Scombrops oculatus (Teleostei: Scombropidae), within the genus Scombrops, inferred from the sequences of complete mitochondrial genome and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic Gnomefish, Scombrops oculatus (Scombropidae). The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,515 bp and included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region. The gene arrangement of S. oculatus was identical to those of three Japanese scombropid species and those of other teleosts. The phylogenetic analysis using the whole mtDNA, excluding the control region, indicates the Atlantic species is distinct from the Japanese clade, whereas that using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene showed the Atlantic species is most closely related to the African species.

0001 Activation of Nociceptin/Orphanin-FQ Peptide (NOP) Receptors Produces an Increase in Non-REM Sleep in Rats and Constitutes a Novel and Attractive Target for the Treatment of Insomnia

Introduction

Treatments for insomnia have targeted GABA, histamine, serotonin, melatonin and orexin receptors. The nociceptin/orphanin-FQ peptide (NOP) receptor is widely expressed in the nervous system. High doses of NOP agonists administered systemically or locally into the CNS can result in sedation, however, the utility of targeting this receptor to treat insomnia has not been fully described.

Methods

V117957 is a recently described investigational oral, potent and selective NOP receptor partial agonist. We determined the brain Kp in whole brain and multiple sub-regions (50mg/kg) and receptor occupancy in the hypothalamus (30, 300mg/kg) via in vivo displacement using [3H]-NOP-1A. EEG/EMG were determined in rats chronically implanted with electrodes (cortex and dorsal neck muscle) and recorded via telemetry following dosing (3, 30, 300mg/kg); sleep stage was determined from visual analysis of EEG level. Sleep parameters were also assessed in NOP receptor knock-out rats (300mg/kg). The side-effect profile for V117957 was determined by functional observation battery, whole-body plethysmography, Morris water maze (MWM) (up to 600mg/kg) and conditioned place preference (CPP) assay (up to 300mg/kg).

Results

V117957 displayed limited distribution into the CNS but achieved a high level of receptor occupancy (75% at 30mg/kg). Administration of V117957 produced dose-dependent and statistically significant increases in non-REM sleep with a minimally efficacious dose of 30mg/kg; a coincident dose-dependent and statistically significant decrease in wakefulness and a non-dose-dependent effect on REM sleep occurred. These changes were not seen in knock-out animals demonstrating effects are via NOP receptors. At doses higher than those that increased non-REM sleep, V117957 had no effects in a functional observational battery, did not affect escape latency in MWM or produce CPP; additionally, V117957 did not affect respiratory parameters.

Conclusion

We conclude that activation of NOP receptors decreases wakefulness and increases non-REM sleep in rats with an improved preclinical profile compared to historical profiles of current treatments and, therefore, may represent a novel and attractive target for the treatment of insomnia.

Support

Funded by Shionogi and Imbrium Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Purdue Pharma L.P.

Species composition of the genus Scombrops (Teleostei, Scombropidae) in the waters around the Japanese Archipelago: detection of a cryptic species

Current literature states that family Scombropidae consists of a single genus Scombrops comprising three species worldwide, with two of them, Scombrops boops and Scombrops gilberti, distributed in the waters around the Japanese Archipelago. Although these two scombropids are commercially important species, little is known about the ecology of these fishes. It is difficult to discriminate between these two species based on external characteristics because of their morphological similarity. Here, we report two different morphotypes characterized by the relative growth between the otolith size and the standard length (SL) of the scombropid specimens caught in southern waters off Kyushu Island, Japan, and show the genetic relationship between the morphotypes by means of phylogenetic analyses using complete DNA sequences of the cytochrome b gene. The relationship between otolith weight and SL was significantly different between specimens < 505 mm SL and those > 550 mm SL. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the sequences from these scombropid specimens formed three clades: two corresponded to S. boops and S. gilberti, while the third did not correspond to any sequence recorded in databases, suggesting that these specimens are undescribed scombropid species. Almost all the specimens with SL < 505 mm (n = 76) were identified as S. boops, and only nine as S. gilberti. On the other hand, almost all the specimens with SL > 550 mm (n = 41) fell in the unidentified group except for four specimens, whose sequences were identical to that of S. boops.

Complete mitochondrial genome of an undescribed gnomefish of the genus Scombrops (Teleostei, Scombropidae) from southern waters off Kyushu Island, Japan

The complete mitochondrial genome of an undescribed gnomefish species of the genus Scombrops was determined using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,521 bp, and included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and one control region. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of this gnomefish species was identical to that of two previously described scombropid species, Scombrops boops and Scombrops gilberti, and also to those of other teleosts. Maximum likelihood analysis showed that the undescribed scombropid species is most closely related to S. boops.

Phylogenetic position of Scombropidae within teleostei: the complete mitochondrial genome of the gnomefish, Scombrops gilberti

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Japanese gnomefish, Scombrops gilberti, was determined using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is 16 518 bp, which includes 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one control region. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of S. gilberti was found to be identical to that of other scombropid and indeed, other teleosts as well. Maximum likelihood analysis revealed that Scombropidae forms a sister group to Pempheriformes.

Temperature-Responsive Chromatography Using Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Modified Silica

A new concept in chromatography is proposed that utilizes a temperature-responsive surface with a constant aqueous mobile phase. The surface of the silica stationary phase in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been modified with temperature-responsive polymers to exhibit temperature-controlled hydrophilic/hydrophobic changes. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) was grafted onto (aminopropyl)silica using an activated ester-amine coupling method. These grafted silica surfaces show hydrophilic properties at lower temperatures which, as temperature increases, transform to hydrophobic surface properties. The elution profile of five mixed steroids on an HPLC column packed with this material depends largely on the temperature of the aqueous mobile phase. Retention times increase with increasing temperature without any change in the eluent. Changes in the retention times of hydrophobic steroids were larger than those for hydrophilic steroids. The temperature-responsive interaction between PIPAAm-modified silica and these steroids is proposed to result from changes in the surface properties of the HPLC stationary phase by the transition of hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface-grafted IPAAm polymers. We demonstrate a novel and useful new chromatography system in which surface properties and the resulting function of the HPLC stationary phase are controlled by external temperature changes. This method should be effective in biological and biomedical separations of peptides and proteins using only aqueous mobile phases.

Bufalin, a traditional oriental medicine, induces apoptosis in human cancer cells

Bufalin is a traditional oriental medicines which induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. It constitutes the major digoxin-like immunoreactive component of Chan Su, obtained from the skin and parotid venom glands of toads. Bufalin is cardioactive C-24 steroids that exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as cardiotonic, anaesthetic, blood pressure stimulatory, respiratory and antineoplastic effects. In terms of its anti-tumor activity, bufalin has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of tumors, such as endometrial and ovarian cancers. This commentary introduces biologic and therapeutic effects of bufalin in treating some cancers. The compound is able to mediate inhibition of cell growth, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and expression of genes related to the malignant phenotype in human cancer cells.

Ovarian small cell carcinoma complicated by carcinomatous meningitis

Meningeal metastasis is rare in the clinical course of ovarian carcinoma and its prognosis is extremely poor. We experienced a case of carcinomatous meningitis from metastatic ovarian small cell carcinoma. A 33-year-old woman with atypical genital bleeding, was diagnosed with a right ovarian tumor and referred to our department. She underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and lymphadenectomy. It was an optimal debulking surgery. She was diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma classified as Stage IIIc according to the Féderation Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique classification system. Histological findings showed small cell carcinoma of the pulmonary type. The tumor was bilateral with paraaortic lymph node involvement. The patient was treated with irinotecan and cisplatin (CPT-P therapy). After 4 courses of CPT-P therapy, multiple liver metastases and Virchow's lymph node metastases were found. She was treated with amrubicin as a second-line chemotherapy, but the treatment was ineffective. Five months after surgery, the patient complained of severe headache and nausea. Lumbar puncture was performed and cytology was positive. Magnetic resonance brain imaging indicated meningeal thickening. The patient was diagnosed with meningeal metastasis and received 19-Gy whole cranial irradiation. In spite of these treatments, her disease progressed rapidly and she was often drowsy. She died of aspiration pneumonia 6 months after surgery.

Small cell carcinoma of the endometrium: a report of two cases

Primary small cell carcinoma of the endometrium is rare and has an extremely poor prognosis. This report describes two cases of small cell carcinoma of the endometrium diagnosed as stage III. Case 1 was diagnosed as stage IIIc. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy. For a locally recurrent tumor, she received radiotherapy. She has been well with no evidence of disease for 4 years. Case 2 was diagnosed as stage IIIa. She underwent surgery. The tumor recurred soon after the surgery, and she died 33 days after the surgery. In the literature, the median survival reported for patients with stage III and IV is only 5 months. Case 1 is the 4th case showing long-term survival with advanced-stage disease. The optimal treatment for this rare tumor has not been established. Considering its rarity and variability, it is difficult to establish an evidence-based therapeutic regimen.

Array-based approaches for the identification of epigenetic silenced tumor suppressor genes

Carcinogenesis involves the inactivation or inhibition of genes that function as tumor suppressors. Deletions, mutations, or epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes can lead to altered growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. DNA methylation and histone modifications are important epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation and play essential roles both independently and cooperatively in tumor initiation and progression. Realization that many tumor suppressor genes are silenced by epigenetic mechanisms has stimulated discovery of novel tumor suppressor genes. One of the most useful of these approaches is an epigenetic reactivation screening strategy that combines treatment of cancer cells in vitro with DNA methyltransferase and/or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, followed by global gene expression analysis using microarrays, to identify upregulated genes. This approach is most effective when complemented by microarray analyses to identify genes repressed in primary tumors. Recently, using cancer cell lines treated with a DNA methylation inhibitor and/or a HDAC inhibitor in conjunction with cDNA microarray analysis, candidate tumor suppressor genes, which are subject to epigenetic silencing, have been identified in endometrial, colorectal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. An increasing number of studies have utilized epigenetic reactivation screening to discover novel tumor suppressor genes in cancer. The results of some of the most recent studies are highlighted in this review.

Aberrant DNA methylation status of endometriosis: epigenetics as the pathogenesis, biomarker and therapeutic target

Endometriosis, a common, benign, estrogen-dependent disease affecting 3-10% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue that is found primarily in the peritoneum, ovaries and rectovaginal septum. Recently, endometriosis has been alternatively described as an immune disease, a genetic disease and a disease caused by exposure to environmental factors, in addition to its usual description as a hormonal disease. In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that various epigenetic aberrations play definite roles in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Epigenetic alterations reported to date in endometriosis include the genomic DNA methylation of progesterone receptor-B, E-cadherin, homeobox A10, estrogen receptor-β, steroidogenic factor-1 and aromatase. Aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferases, which attach a methyl group to the 5-carbon position of cytosine bases in the CpG island of the promoter region and silence the corresponding gene expression, has also been demonstrated in endometriosis. This review summarizes the recent studies on the aberrant DNA methylation status and aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferases, which regulate DNA methylation, in endometriosis. We also discuss the recent information on the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of epigenetic alterations occurring in endometriosis.

Advanced small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin followed by radical surgery

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare form of cervical cancer characterized by extreme aggressiveness and poor prognosis because of its rapid growth, frequent distant metastases, and resistance to conventional treatment modalities. We report here a case of advanced-stage small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery, resulting in locoregional disease control. A 39-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed as having stage IIIb small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. She was treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan/cisplatin, followed by extended radical hysterectomy with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The patient was further treated by adjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan/cisplatin. Intrapelvic recurrence has not been detected throughout the postoperative course. However, the patient died with distant metastases of the disease, 27 months following the initial treatment. It has been suggested that neoadjuvant chemotherapy therapy followed by radical surgery is a treatment option for advanced-stage small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix for the locoregional disease control. Further studies are necessary to obtain information regarding multimodal treatment including sequence, duration, frequency, and type of effective chemotherapy agents to be used in the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Erucylphosphocholine induces growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma cells

A membrane-targeted, lipophilic ether lipid of synthetic phospholipid analog, erucylphosphocholine (ErPC), induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. We investigated the effect of ErPC in the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. BeWo cells were treated with various concentrations of ErPC, and changes in cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis, and related parameters were examined. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that BeWo cells were sensitive to the growth inhibitory effect of ErPC. Cell cycle analysis indicated that exposure to ErPC decreased the proportion of cells in the S phase and increased the proportion in the G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by Annexin V staining of externalized phosphatidylserine and by the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. This induction occurred in conjunction with the altered expression of genes related to cell growth, malignant phenotype, and apoptosis. These results suggest that ErPC may serve as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of choriocarcinoma.

Novel chemotherapy using histone deacetylase inhibitors in cervical cancer

Since epigenetic alterations are believed to be involved in the repression of tumor suppressor genes and promotion of tumorigenesis in cervical cancers, novel compounds endowed with a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity are an attractive therapeutic approach. In this review, we discuss the biologic and therapeutic effects of HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) in treating cervical cancer. HDACIs were able to mediate inhibition of cell growth, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and the expression of genes related to the malignant phenotype in a variety of cervical cancer cell lines. Furthermore, HDACIs were able to induce the accumulation of acetylated histones in the chromatin of the p21WAF1 gene in human cervical carcinoma cells. In xenograft models, some HDACIs have demonstrated antitumor activity with only few side effects. Some clinical trials demonstrate that HDACI drugs provide an important class of new mechanism-based therapeutics for cervical cancer. In this review, we discuss the biologic and therapeutic effects of HDACIs in treating cervical cancer, especially focusing on preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Aberrant expression of apoptosis-related molecules in endometriosis: a possible mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Endometriosis, a disease affecting 3% to 10% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue under the influence of estrogen. It is also becoming recognized as a condition in which ectopic endometrial cells exhibit abnormal proliferative and apoptotic regulation in response to appropriate stimuli. Apoptosis plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and represents a normal function to eliminate excess or dysfunctional cells. Accumulated evidence suggests that, in healthy women, endometrial cells expelled during menstruation do not survive in ectopic locations because of programmed cell death, while decreased apoptosis may lead to the ectopic survival and implantation of these cells, resulting in the development of endometriosis. Both the inability of endometrial cells to transmit a "death" signal and the ability of endometrial cells to avoid cell death have been associated with increased expression of antiapoptotic factors and decreased expression of preapoptotic factors. Further investigations may elucidate the role of apoptosis-associated molecules in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Medical treatment with apoptosis-inducing agents may be novel and promising therapeutic strategy for endometriosis.

Aberrant expression of apoptosis-related molecules in endometriosis: a possible mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Endometriosis, a disease affecting 3% to 10% of women of reproductive age, is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial tissue under the influence of estrogen. It is also becoming recognized as a condition in which ectopic endometrial cells exhibit abnormal proliferative and apoptotic regulation in response to appropriate stimuli. Apoptosis plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and represents a normal function to eliminate excess or dysfunctional cells. Accumulated evidence suggests that, in healthy women, endometrial cells expelled during menstruation do not survive in ectopic locations because of programmed cell death, while decreased apoptosis may lead to the ectopic survival and implantation of these cells, resulting in the development of endometriosis. Both the inability of endometrial cells to transmit a "death" signal and the ability of endometrial cells to avoid cell death have been associated with increased expression of antiapoptotic factors and decreased expression of preapoptotic factors. Further investigations may elucidate the role of apoptosis-associated molecules in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Medical treatment with apoptosis-inducing agents may be novel and promising therapeutic strategy for endometriosis.

Synchronous ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma with a functioning stroma and endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma by different loss of heterozygosity findings

PURPOSE

Mucinous epithelial ovarian tumors generally have estrogenic stroma, although the frequency of endometrioid adenocarcinoma with functioning stroma is very low. And while synchronous development of carcinomas in the endometrium and ovaries is a fairly common phenomenon, the distinction of a single clonal tumor with metastasis from two independent primary tumors may present a diagnostic challenge. We present a rare case of a 31-year-old woman with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary with functioning stroma and endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma who showed symptoms of virilization. Her preoperative levels of serum testosterone and estradiol were as high as 553 ng/dL and 177 pg/mL, respectively, and her serum gonadotropin levels were suppressed. After surgery, the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol decreased and that of follicle-stimulating hormone increased.

METHODS

To develop a mean of differentiating a single tumor with metastasis from synchronous primary ovarian and endometrial cancers, we performed a microsatellite analysis. Twenty-five dinucleotide microsatellite markers were selected, and microsatellite analysis was performed by a high-resolution method using fluorescence-labeled polymerase chain reaction and laser scanning.

RESULTS

In this case, both ovarian carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma demonstrated loss of heterozygosity (LOH). However, the LOH findings of the ovarian tumor and endometrial tumor were different.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of heterozygosity analysis may be helpful to differentiate synchronous primary ovarian and endometrial cancers from a single tumor with metastasis.

Distribution and species composition of juvenile and adult scombropids (Teleostei, Scombropidae) in Japanese coastal waters

Two scombropid fishes, Scombrops boops and Scombrops gilberti, are closely related and commercially important species in Japan. These species are often confused in commercial markets because of their morphological similarity. In this study, scombropid specimens collected from various Japanese coastal waters were subjected to polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene in mitochondrial DNA. These analyses showed that all the scombropid specimens collected from localities in the Sea of Japan were identified as S. boops, whereas those from the Pacific Ocean included two species, S. boops and S. gilberti. Almost all juvenile (<200 mm standard body length, S(L)) S. gilberti originated from the Pacific coastal waters of the northern Japan, whereas adults (>400 mm S(L)) were found only in deep water off the Izu Peninsula to the Izu Islands. This suggests that S. gilberti might migrate extensively during its life cycle. In addition, differences in the number of specimens and the distribution between the two species suggest that S. gilberti is less abundant than S. boops in Japanese waters.

PK11195 enhances chemosensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel in human endometrial and ovarian cancer cells

The potential anticancer agent 1-(2-chlorophenyl-N-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (PK11195), a translocator protein ligand, facilitates the induction of cell death by a variety of cytotoxic and chemotherapeutic agents in various human tumor cell lines. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of PK11195 on three endometrial cancer cell lines, two ovarian cancer cell lines and normal human endometrial epithelial cells. Endometrial and ovarian cancer cells were treated with various concentrations of PK11195 alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs (cisplatin, paclitaxel), and its effect on cell growth, the cell cycle, apoptosis and related measurements was investigated. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay revealed that all endometrial and ovarian cancer cell lines were sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effect of PK11195, although normal endometrial epithelial cells were viable after treatment with the same doses of PK11195 that induced growth inhibition in endometrial and ovarian cancer cells. Synergistic anti-neoplastic effects were obtained by a combination of PK11195 with cytostatic drugs. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V staining of externalized phosphatidylserine and loss of the transmembrane potential of mitochondria. This induction occurred in concert with altered expression of genes related to apoptosis. These results suggest that PK11195 alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs might be a new therapeutic option for the treatment of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina

PURPOSE

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina is a rare disease which is characterized by aggressiveness and poor prognosis because of its rapid growth and recurrence, its frequent distant metastases, and its relative resistance to conventional treatment modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. We report a case of advanced stage primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina that showed a highly aggressive course and resistance to combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.

CASE

A 46-year-old multigravid Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital to be treated for Stage IVb primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina. She had no history of in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol. She was treated by two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with tri-weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin, which were not effective. Subsequently, total pelvic exenteration with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. However, the disease progressed rapidly and the patient died five months after the initial treatment.

CONCLUSION

Because of its rarity, little is known about the behavior of primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina. Additional data about patients with this rare tumor should be collected and analyzed in an attempt to elucidate its prognostic factors, characteristics, optimal treatment, and outcome.

Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix diagnosed during pregnancy

Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma (VPA) is a very rare subtype of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix but a well recognized variant of cervical adenocarcinoma with a favorable prognosis generally occurring in women of child-bearing age. Only five cases of VPA and pregnancy have been reported. Herein, we report a case of VPA diagnosed during pregnancy and this patient delivered a healthy baby. A successful pregnancy can be completed in patients with VPA without lymph-vascular invasion, when treated conservatively. This management is particularly desirable in young women to preserve reproductive capability.

Metastatic uterine cervical cancer originating in the lung: a case report

We report a case of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma which metastasized to the uterine cervix. A 69-year-old postmenopausal Japanese female was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue and atypical genital bleeding. Four years before, she had undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy, for primary lung cancer (adenocarcinoma), stage IIIb, pT3N1M0. Gynecologic investigation showed a cauliflower-like tumor in the uterine cervix and parametrial invasion towards the bilateral pelvic wall. Metastasis of extragenital carcinoma to the cervix uteri is rare. Most such reported cases originated in the breast and gastrointestinal tract. In this case, cervical biopsy specimens were revealed to be adenocarcinomatous, similar in pathological features to the previously resected lung cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 and pulmonary surfactant apoprotein A and negative for CA125 and thyroglobulin. Although rare, the respiratory tract should be considered as a possible primary site of uterine cervical metastatic carcinoma.

Targeting calcium/calmodulin-dependence kinase I and II as a potential anti-proliferation remedy for endometrial carcinomas

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) I and II expression in endometrial cancer cells correlates with the malignant potential of this tumor, and CaMKI and II are potential therapeutic targets in endometrial cancer. CaMKI and II expression was significantly associated with PCNA-labeling index, clinical stage, histological grade, the presence of invasion to greater than one-half the myometrium, and clinical outcome. All endometrial cancer cell lines examined were sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effect of KN-93, a membrane-permeant CaMKs-selective inhibitor that is competitive with calmodulin. KN-93 induced the G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis, rising hopes that KN-93 may become a useful treatment for endometrial cancers.

A successful pregnancy and delivery after resectoscopic surgery for early invasive endometrial cancer

Among young women, the incidence of uterine corpus cancer is increasing. Most young women can not preserve fertility because simple total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is the standard method for early endometrial cancer so far. We present a case of early endometrial adenocarcinoma which succeeded in pregnancy and delivery after resectoscopic surgery. Following a circumferential resection of the lesion including the mucosa and muscle layer under resectoscopic guidance, the patient became pregnant by means of in vitro fertilization-embyo transfer with hormone replenishment. She underwent cesarean section at 33 weeks and five days of gestation and had a healthy baby. Resectscopic surgery can help to preserve fertility among young women who have early invasive endometrial cancer.

Erucylphosphocholine shows a strong anti-growth activity in human endometrial and ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

A membrane-targeted, lipophilic ether lipid of synthetic phospholipid analog, erucylphosphocholine (ErPC) induces apoptosis in some lines of human tumor cells. We investigated the effect of ErPC on three endometrial cancer cell lines, two ovarian cancer cell lines, and normal human endometrial epithelial cells.

METHODS

Endometrial and ovarian cancer cells were treated with various concentrations of ErPC, and its effect on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis, and related measurements was investigated.

RESULTS

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that all endometrial and ovarian cancer cell lines were sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effect of ErPC, although normal endometrial epithelial cells were viable after treatment with the same doses of ErPC that induced growth inhibition in endometrial and ovarian cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis indicated that their exposure to ErPC decreased the proportion of cells in the S-phase and increased the proportion in the G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V staining of externalized phosphatidylserine and loss of the transmembrane potential of mitochondria. This induction occurred in concert with altered expression of genes related to cell growth, malignant phenotype, and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the anticancer activity of ErPC may occur with higher sensitivity of cancer cells compared with normal healthy cells, when using low concentration, rising hopes that ErPC may become a useful adjuvant therapy for endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Glassy cell carcinoma arising in the vagina

Glassy cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm that occurs most frequently in the uterine cervix. We describe the first reported case of glassy cell carcinoma arising in the vagina. A 77-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital for atypical genital bleeding. Gynecological examination revealed a macroscopic vaginal cancer of 1.5 cm in diameter located in the upper 1/3 of the vagina. The pathological diagnosis of the biopsied specimen was glassy cell carcinoma. She was successfully treated by conventional radiation therapy and chemotherapy under the diagnosis of stage I vaginal cancer (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians classification, 1986). The patient is alive, without evidence of recurrence, 21 months following the radiation therapy. Glassy cell carcinoma is classified as the most poorly differentiated form of adenosquamous carcinoma. The present case illustrates the potential for glassy cell carcinoma to arise in the Mullerian epithelium throughout the female genital tract.