曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合用药逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药

近年来, 肿瘤靶向药物因其特异性强与对正常细胞损伤小等特点,已成为癌症治疗的热点药物。但由肿瘤异质性导致的靶向药物的耐受现象,成为癌症治疗需要解决的难题之一。为解决单一药物的耐受现象,可以通过药物组合来达到理想的治疗效果。本课题以结直肠癌为研究对象,评估8种结直肠癌细胞对30种靶向药物的敏感性,并筛选可逆转耐药的药物组合,探究药物组合的作用。通过MTT实验测定细胞存活率,计算IC50值进行敏感性分析,敏感标准为IC50值≤100 nmol/L。对敏感的单药进行组合筛选,选取细胞存活率最小的组合。采用流式细胞术和Western印迹检测联合用药对细胞凋亡及MAPK、PI3K通路相关蛋白质表达水平的影响。MTT结果显示,结直肠癌SW480细胞耐受30种肿瘤靶向药物,经联合用药筛选,SW480细胞对曲美替尼与GSK2126458组合最为敏感,与对照组和单药组相比,该组合可使SW480细胞凋亡明显增加。免疫印迹结果显示,ERK、Akt和mTOR磷酸化水平降低,Cleaved PARP表达增加。上述结果表明,8种结直肠癌细胞存在不同程度耐受靶向抑制剂的现象,曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合应用可逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药现象。     

miR-153-5p靶向SNAI1介导结直肠癌细胞的放疗抵抗

目的 探讨miR-153-5p在结直肠癌放疗抵抗中的作用,并进一步研究其潜在分子机制。方法 首先对放疗敏感细胞系SW480及放疗抵抗结直肠癌细胞系SW480R中miR-153-5p表达水平进行RT-qPCR检测;然后利用转染技术构建过表达miR-153-5p的SW480R细胞株,检测过表达miR-153后SW480R在接受放射后其细胞活力、侵袭能力、集落形成能力、凋亡水平的改变;免疫组织化学染色观察放疗敏感及放疗抵抗结直肠癌组织中SNAI1的表达差异;TargetScan分析miR-153-5p潜在靶点并利用荧光素酶实验验证;检测过表达miR-153-5p及SNAI1后SW480R细胞侵袭能力、集落形成能力及凋亡水平。结果 与SW480组相比,SW480R组细胞中miR-153-5p表达降低;过表达miR-153-5p的SW480R细胞细胞活力、侵袭能力、集落形成能力均明显减弱,而凋亡水平显著增加;与放疗敏感结直肠癌组织相比,放疗抵抗结直肠癌组织中SNAI1显著增加;SNAI1可能为miR-153-5p的作用靶点;过表达miR-153-5p及SNAI1后SW480R细胞侵袭能力、集落形...     

STAT3-siRNA对人结直肠癌细胞的干涉作用

目的:研究STAT3-siRNA对STAT3基因表达阳性的结直肠癌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:应用脂质体转染试剂将STAT3-siRNA表达盒(STAT3-siRNA expression cassettes,STAT3-SECs)体外转染至人结直肠癌SW480细胞及人成纤维细胞中,同时分别设立人成纤维对照组、SW480对照组、SW480错配链-SECs组和SW480空转染试剂组。于48h后收集细胞,先经荧光染色方法观察细胞表象变化,再通过流式细胞仪检测人结直肠癌SW480细胞凋亡情况,后分别提取细胞总RNA,用RT-PCR测定STAT3基因在mRNA水平的表达。结果:SW480STAT3-SECs组的细胞可见凋亡小体,出现明显的凋亡现象,而人成纤维对照组、人成纤维STAT3-SECs组、SW480对照组、SW480错配链-SECs组和SW480空转染试剂组未出现明显的凋亡现象。SW480STAT3-SECs组细胞的凋亡比率较SW480对照组、SW480错配链-SECs组和SW480空转染试剂组有明显的增高。RT-PCR所得数据经统计学处理得出:SW480STAT3-SECs组细胞的STAT3基因表达在mRNA水平上显著低于SW480对照组(P0.01);而人成纤维对照组与人成纤维STAT3-SECs组,SW480细胞对照组与SW480错配链-SECs组、SW480空转染试剂组之间无明显差异(P0.05)。结论:应用RNAi技术沉默STAT3基因可以降低人结直肠癌SW480细胞中STAT3的表达,诱导细胞的凋亡。     

沉默c2orf68基因对结直肠癌细胞增殖的影响

目的:通过RNA干扰技术抑制人结直肠癌SW480、SW620及LS174T细胞株中c2orf68基因的表达,进一步观察其生物学特性的改变,以阐明c2orf68基因对结直肠癌细胞增殖的影响。方法:利用siRNA在线设计软件设计合成干扰片段,并将2个干扰片段转入所试细胞株中。应用RT-PCR法检测细胞mRNA的表达;利用MTT实验观察细胞增殖情况;应用流式细胞技术检测细胞凋亡。结果:转染siRNA片段后,SW480、SW620及LS174T细胞株的mRNA表达都下降,其抑制率分别为:50.05%、44.79%;49.69%、30.00%;50.15%、45.79%。随后,选取干扰效率高的siRNA1干扰片段做后续实验。MTT实验发现,siRNA转染LS174T细胞后,细胞的增殖能力明显下降,细胞的增殖抑制率为21.2%(P0.05)。同时,采用流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡,实验表明,实验组细胞凋亡率为18.13%(P0.05)。结论:成功筛选了抑制结直肠癌c2orf68基因的特异性干扰片段,该片段可以下调人结直肠癌细胞株中c2orf68的mRNA,抑制人结直肠癌细胞的生长,促进细胞凋亡,说明该基因可能与结直肠癌的细胞增殖有关,进一步调控相应生物学特性的改变,引起结直肠癌的发生。     

CXC趋化因子配体8促进结直肠癌微环境中M2型巨噬细胞趋化及浸润

CXC趋化因子配体8(CXC chemokine ligand 8,CXCL8)在结直肠癌等多种肿瘤中高表达,并促进肿瘤恶性进展。研究发现,结直肠癌微环境中有大量M2型巨噬细胞浸润,但CXCL8是否影响M2型巨噬细胞的浸润及其潜在机制尚未可知。本文旨在探讨CXCL8对结直肠癌中M2型巨噬细胞浸润及趋化作用的影响。本研究首先分析了TCGA数据库结直肠癌样本中CXCL8表达水平及免疫细胞浸润情况,并在临床组织中进行验证。随后Western 印迹及qRT-PCR检测5种结直肠癌细胞株CXCL8的表达情况。佛波酯(PMA)及IL-4诱导THP-1至M2型巨噬细胞后,与HCT116、SW480细胞及过表达CXCL8的HCT116(CXCL8/HCT116)、SW480(CXCL8/SW480)共培养,检测M2型巨噬细胞趋化情况。白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)处理HCT116、SW480细胞,检测CXCL8表达情况,与M2型巨噬细胞共培养,分析趋化结果。结果显示,患者癌组织CXCL8表达高于癌旁组织,CXCL8高表达癌组织中存在更多M2型巨噬细胞浸润;IL-1β作用于HCT116或SW480后,CXCL8的mRNA及蛋白质表达水平升高(P<0.05)。Transwell实验证实,CXCL8趋化M2型巨噬细胞(P<0.05)。综上所述,结直肠癌细胞中CXCL8可由IL-1β诱导产生,CXCL8表达增加能够促进M2型巨噬细胞的趋化,结直肠癌微环境中M2型巨噬细胞大量浸润可能与CXCL8表达升高有关。     

具核梭杆菌通过调节肠道代谢产物丁酸钠上调Cdk1促进结直肠癌发展

该文探讨了肠道微生物具核梭杆菌(Fusobacterium nucleatum,Fn)通过调节代谢产物丁酸钠(NaB)对结直肠癌(CRC)发生发展的影响及其分子机制。提取临床组织RNA和蛋白,RT-qPCR和Western blot检测肿瘤组织与正常/癌旁组织Cdk1的mRNA及蛋白表达,同时检测具核梭杆菌的mRNA的相对水平,并分析其与Cdk1的相关性。具核梭杆菌处理结直肠癌细胞24 h后检测周期相关蛋白Cdk1和P21的表达水平,核磁共振检测培养基上清差异代谢物。不同浓度差异代谢物NaB处理结直肠癌细胞DLD-1、SW480、HCT116,使用MTT和克隆形成实验检测DLD-1、SW480、HCT116增殖能力。流式细胞术检测NaB对结直肠癌细胞SW480周期阻滞位点,Western blot检测周期相关蛋白Cdk1、P21、C-myc的表达水平。流式细胞术检测NaB处理后结直肠癌细胞SW480凋亡率变化情况,Western blot检测凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved-Casepase3、Cleaved-PARP、Bcl-2的表达水平。采用MTT实验检测不同MOI具核梭杆菌作用结直肠癌细胞4、8、24 h后对其增殖能力的影响。将结直肠癌细胞与具核梭杆菌共培养24 h,Western blot检测相关蛋白Cdk1、c-myc、Cleaved-Caspase3的表达情况。结果显示,在肿瘤组织中Cdk1蛋白水平和mRNA水平均明显高于正常/癌旁组织(P0.05),并且Cdk1与具核梭杆菌mRNA表达水平存在一定相关性。具核梭杆菌处理结直肠癌细胞DLD-1和HCT116后,Western blot结果显示Cdk1和P21蛋白水平上升。核磁共振结果表明,菌处理组代谢模式与未处理组存在明显差异,主要代谢物NaB相对含量明显低于未处理组(P0.01)。使用1 mmol/L NaB处理结直肠癌细胞系DLD-1、SW480、HCT116 24 h后,细胞生存率分别为(89.18±1.92)%、(85.07±0.61)%、(83.59±2.18)%,且随着药物浓度升高,药物对细胞活性的抑制率逐步上升。同时,经1 mmol/L NaB处理后,DLD-1、HCT116和SW480细胞的克隆形成率相比于对照分别下降了(20.07±4.85)%、(36.47±5.31)%、(31.13±5.22)%。流式检测细胞周期显示,NaB引起结直肠癌细胞S期阻滞。NaB处理结直肠癌细胞24 h后,周期相关蛋白P21表达水平上升,Cdk1、C-myc蛋白表达水平下降(P0.05)。流式检测细胞凋亡显示,NaB引起结直肠癌细胞SW480凋亡增加。NaB处理结直肠癌细胞24 h后,凋亡相关蛋白Cleaved-Casepase3、Cleaved-PARP表达水平上升,抗凋亡蛋白Bcl-2表达水平下降。MOI=50的具核梭杆菌分别处理结直肠癌细胞SW480、HCT116 4 h后,细胞增殖率分别增加了(4.45±0.25)%、(2.61±0.75)%;并且随着具核梭杆菌MOI的增加和处理时间的延长,结直肠癌细胞的增殖率逐渐上升。将SW480细胞与HCT116细胞与具核梭杆菌共培养24 h,Western blot结果显示,具核梭杆菌感染促进了周期相关蛋白Cdk1、C-myc的表达,而其与NaB共同处理时则大大减弱了这一作用;NaB诱导Caspase3的剪切,导致Cleaved-Caspase3表达增加,而具核梭杆菌感染则减弱了这一作用。综上所述,肠道微生物具核梭杆菌通过调节肠道代谢物NaB上调Cdk1,促进结直肠癌细胞增殖,抑制结直肠癌细胞凋亡,进而影响结直肠癌的发生发展。     

蛋白酶体抑制剂硼替佐米抑制PI3K/Akt通路致结肠癌SW480细胞凋亡

目的:研究蛋白酶体抑制剂硼替佐米对结肠癌SW480细胞凋亡作用,并进一步探讨其作用机制.方法:硼替佐米1-500nmol/L处理结肠癌SW480细胞24-48小时,MTT法检测细胞存活率、药物IC50值.流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率.Western blot技术检测caspase-3,p-Akt和PTEN蛋白表达水平变化.结果:硼替佐米以时间-剂量依赖方式抑制结肠癌SW480细胞增殖,48小时IC50值:87.36 nmol/L.细胞凋亡实验显示药物作用24小时细胞开始出现凋亡,48小时凋亡明显.硼替佐米作用24小时后细胞周期明显阻滞在G0/G1期.Westemblot实验显示,80 nmol/L硼替佐米处理结肠癌SW480细胞后PTEN蛋白表达水平随时间明显增加,而p-Akt蛋白随时间表达下降.结论:硼替佐米可以抑制结肠癌SW480细胞增殖.其机制可能与抑制PTEN蛋白降解,抑制p-Akt途径有关.为结肠癌治疗药物的发展和更新提供了新的候选分子.     

沉默FOXQ1可逆转SW480细胞的上皮-间质转化

FOXQ1是FOX家族的的重要成员之一,其参与了多种人类肿瘤的上皮间质转化(epithelial- mesenchymal transition,EMT).本研究设计合成了FOXQ1基因的shRNA（short hairpin RNA）,用此转染SW480细胞,通过显微镜观察细胞形态,Transwell小室、细胞黏附试验检测转移能力及黏附能力,以探索FOXQ1与结直肠癌细胞EMT的关系.结果显示,沉默FOXQ1后,SW480细胞顶底极性及细胞间紧密连接增加,侵袭、迁移的细胞数目减少,同种黏附能力增加,异种黏附能力降低.进一步的机制研究表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以导致SW480细胞的上皮标志因子E-cadherin表达显著增高,而间质细胞标志因子N-cadherin、Vimentin及MMP2表达均降低.以上结果表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以逆转SW480细胞EMT,其机制可能与E-cadherin的上调和N cadherin、Vimentin、MMP2的下调有关,这为进一步研究FOXQ1在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用提供实验基础.     

HMGB1低表达对结直肠癌细胞迁移和侵袭的影响

该文研究了低表达高迁移率族蛋白(high mobility group box 1, HMGB1)对结直肠癌细胞迁移侵袭的影响,构建了稳定低表达HMGB1的结直肠癌细胞系SW480和HCT-15。采用Transwell实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力,免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测蛋白表达水平。Transwell实验结果表明, shHMGB1组(HMGB1低表达组)的迁移侵袭能力明显强于shNC组(阴性对照组)(**P0.01,***P0.001)。Western blot结果显示,与shNC组相比, shHMGB1组上皮标志物E-Cadherin蛋白的表达水平下降(*P0.05,**P0.01),间质标志物Snail蛋白的表达水平上升(*P0.05)。此外shHMGB1组的c-Myc和GSK3B蛋白表达水平明显高于shNC组(*P0.05,**P0.01,***P0.001)。上述结果表明,低表达HMGB1能显著促进结直肠癌细胞SW480和HCT-15的迁移和侵袭能力以及上皮–间质化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT),这为结直肠癌的治疗提供了新的潜在靶点和视角。     

ROR1激活AKT/FOXO1信号介导非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药

EGFR-TKI靶向治疗在非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）综合治疗中显示出重要作用;然而,耐药性却极大限制其临床治疗效果。受体酪氨酸激酶样孤儿受体（receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1, ROR1）是I型受体酪氨酸激酶家族中的成员,在肿瘤发生发展中发挥重要作用。本研究拟探讨ROR1介导非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药的作用及机制。采用吉非替尼反复诱导非小细胞肺癌HCC827细胞,建立吉非替尼耐药细胞株HCC827/GR。应用荧光定量PCR和Western 印迹检测HCC827/GR内ROR1的表达。采用shRNA的方法体外检测ROR1敲除前后HCC827/GR对吉非替尼耐药的变化,采用体外检测ROR1过表达前后HCC827对吉非替尼耐药的变化。体内检测ROR1敲除前后HCC827/GR对吉非替尼耐药的变化。Western 印迹检测HCC827/GR内ROR1下游信号分子的活化。实时荧光定量PCR及Western 印迹结果显示,HCC827/GR耐药细胞中的ROR1 mRNA和蛋白质表达水平显著高于HCC827敏感细胞。体外干扰ROR1表达,可明显增强HCC827/GR耐药细胞对吉非替尼的敏感性 (IC50 15.3±3.69 vs. 4.2±1.38),增加吉非替尼诱导的细胞凋亡 (20.5±2.52 vs. 41.8±3.74)。体外过表达ROR1显著增强HCC827敏感细胞对吉非替尼的耐药性(IC50 0.8±0.52 vs. 2.2±0.87)。体内裸鼠移植瘤实验同样发现,干扰ROR1能增强HCC827/GR移植瘤对吉非替尼的敏感性。进一步研究发现,AKT/FOXO1信号在HCC827/GR耐药细胞中异常活化,而干扰ROR1能够抑制AKT的磷酸化,并上调FOXO1的表达。上述结果表明,ROR1参与非小细胞肺癌吉非替尼耐药,抑制ROR1能够逆转吉非替尼耐药,其机制与ROR1调控AKT/FOXO1信号有关。     

Antiproliferative effect of a lectin- and anti-Thy-1.2 antibody-targeted HPMA copolymer-bound doxorubicin on primary and metastatic human colorectal carcinoma and on human colorectal carcinoma transfected with the mouse Thy-1.2 gene

The aim of this study was to compare the potential of two plant lectins [peanut agglutinin (PNA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)], monoclonal antibody (anti-Thy-1.2), its F(ab')(2) fragments, and galactosamine as targeting moieties bound to the polymer drug carrier to deliver a xenobiotic, doxorubicin, to selected cancer cell lines. We have used primary (SW 480, HT 29) and metastatic (SW 620) human colorectal cancer cell lines and a transfectant, genetically engineered SW 620 cell line with mouse gene Thy-1.2 (SW 620/T) to test the possibility of marking human cancer with xenogeneic mouse gene and use it for effective site-specific targeting. The targeting moieties and doxorubicin were conjugated to a water-soluble copolymer based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) acting as a carrier responsible for controlled intracellular release of the targeted drug. FACS analysis showed a strong binding of WGA-FITC to all tested cell lines. Binding of PNA-FITC was considerably weaker. The in vitro antiproliferative effect of lectin-targeted HPMA carrier-bound doxorubicin evaluated as [(3)H]TdR incorporation reflected both the intensity of the binding and the different sensitivity of the tested cancer cells lines to doxorubicin. The antiproliferative effect of conjugates targeted with WGA was comparable to that with the conjugates targeted with the anti-Thy-1.2 monoclonal antibody or their F(ab')(2) fragments. The magnitude of the cytotoxic effect of HPMA-doxorubicin targeted with PNA was lower in all tested cell lines. While the conjugates with WGA were more cytotoxic, the conjugates with PNA were more specific as their binding is limited to cancer cells and to the sites of inflammation. Noncytotoxic conjugates with a very low concentration of doxorubicin and targeted with PNA, anti-Thy-1.2, or their F(ab')(2) fragments exerted in some lines (SW 480, SW 620) low mitogenic activity. The Thy-1.2 gene-transfected SW 620 metastatic colorectal cancer cell line was sensitive to the antiproliferative effect of Thy-1.2-targeted doxorubicin as was shown for the Thy-1. 2(+) EL4 cell line and for Thy-1.2(+) concanavalin A-stimulated mouse T lymphocytes. These results represent the first indication of the suitability of transfection of human cancer cells with selected targeting genes for site-specific therapy of malignancies.     

丙戊酸协同顺铂抑制乳腺癌和结直肠癌细胞生长

摘要 目的：探究丙戊酸（Valproic acid, VPA）协同顺铂抑制乳腺癌和结直肠癌细胞增殖。方法：首先使用Western blot 检测 VPA 对Acetyl-Histone H3蛋白水平的影响,使用Cell Counting Kit-8（CCK-8）法检测 VPA 对乳腺癌和结直肠癌细胞的细胞活力的影响。其次单药顺铂、VPA 和联合用药处理乳腺癌细胞 MDA-MB-231 和结直肠癌细胞 HCT-15,使用 IncuCyte 动态检测细胞生长过程和生长终点。结果：发现VPA 可抑制组蛋白去乙酰化酶的功能,升高Acetyl-Histone H3的蛋白水平,VPA 可抑制乳腺癌细胞和结直肠癌细胞增殖,且对 VPA 的药物敏感性相似;顺铂和 VPA 连用后可显著抑制乳腺癌和结直肠癌细胞增殖和活力。结论：本文发现 VPA 抑制组蛋白去乙酰化酶发挥抑制乳腺癌和结直肠癌细胞生长的新机制,并可以与顺铂连用提高抗肿瘤效果和药物敏感性,为同时患有癫痫和肿瘤的人群提供新的治疗思路。     

Effects of silk sericin on the proliferation and apoptosis of colon cancer cells

Sericin is a silk protein woven from silkworm cocoons (Bombyx mori). In animal model, sericin has been reported to have anti-tumoral action against colon cancer. The mechanisms underlying the activity of sericin against cancer cells are not fully understood. The present study investigated the effects of sericin on human colorectal cancer SW480 cells compared to normal colonic mucosal FHC cells. Since the size of the sericin protein may be important for its activity, two ranges of molecular weight were tested. Sericin was found to decrease SW480 and FHC cell viability. The small sericin had higher anti-proliferative effects than that of the large sericin in both cell types. Increased apoptosis of SW480 cells is associated with increased caspase-3 activity and decreased Bcl-2 expression. The anti-proliferative effect of sericin was accompanied by cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Thus, sericin reduced SW480 cell viability by inducing cell apoptosis via caspase-3 activation and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. The present study provides scientific data that support the protective effect of silk sericin against cancer cells of the colon and suggests that this protein may have significant health benefits and could potentially be developed as a dietary supplement for colon cancer prevention.     

Selective Targeting of CTNNB1-, KRAS- or MYC-Driven Cell Growth by Combinations of Existing Drugs

The aim of combination drug treatment in cancer therapy is to improve response rate and to decrease the probability of the development of drug resistance. Preferably, drug combinations are synergistic rather than additive, and, ideally, drug combinations work synergistically only in cancer cells and not in non-malignant cells. We have developed a workflow to identify such targeted synergies, and applied this approach to selectively inhibit the proliferation of cell lines with mutations in genes that are difficult to modulate with small molecules. The approach is based on curve shift analysis, which we demonstrate is a more robust method of determining synergy than combination matrix screening with Bliss-scoring. We show that the MEK inhibitor trametinib is more synergistic in combination with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib than with vemurafenib, another BRAF inhibitor. In addition, we show that the combination of MEK and BRAF inhibitors is synergistic in BRAF-mutant melanoma cells, and additive or antagonistic in, respectively, BRAF-wild type melanoma cells and non-malignant fibroblasts. This combination exemplifies that synergistic action of drugs can depend on cancer genotype. Next, we used curve shift analysis to identify new drug combinations that specifically inhibit cancer cell proliferation driven by difficult-to-drug cancer genes. Combination studies were performed with compounds that as single agents showed preference for inhibition of cancer cells with mutations in either the CTNNB1 gene (coding for β-catenin), KRAS, or cancer cells expressing increased copy numbers of MYC. We demonstrate that the Wnt-pathway inhibitor ICG-001 and trametinib acted synergistically in Wnt-pathway-mutant cell lines. The ERBB2 inhibitor TAK-165 was synergistic with trametinib in KRAS-mutant cell lines. The EGFR/ERBB2 inhibitor neratinib acted synergistically with the spindle poison docetaxel and with the Aurora kinase inhibitor GSK-1070916 in cell lines with MYC amplification. Our approach can therefore efficiently discover novel drug combinations that selectively target cancer genes.     

Rapid assessment of drug resistance of cancer cells to gefitinib and carboplatin using optical imaging

The overall goal of this study was to evaluate optical molecular imaging approaches to determine the drug response of chemotherapy and molecular targeted agents in drug sensitive and drug resistant cell lines. The optical molecular imaging approaches selected in this study were based on changes in intracellular uptake and retention of choline and glucose molecules. The breast cancer cell lines were treated with a molecular targeted anti-EGFR therapy. The bladder cancer cell lines were treated with a conventional chemotherapy approach. Sensitivity of optical molecular imaging approach was also compared with conventional cell viability and cell growth inhibition assays. Results demonstrate that optical molecular imaging of changes in intracellular uptake of metabolites was effective in detecting drug susceptibility for both molecular targeted therapy in breast cancer cells and chemotherapy in bladder cancer cells. Between the selected metabolites for optical molecular imaging, changes in glucose metabolic activity showed higher sensitivity in discrimination between the drug sensitive and drug resistant cell lines. The results demonstrated that optical molecular imaging approaches more significantly sensitive as compared to the conventional cell viability and growth assays. Overall, the results demonstrate potential of optical molecular imaging of metabolic activity to improve sensitivity of in-vitro drug response assays.     

Nogo-B (Reticulon-4B) functions as a negative regulator of the apoptotic pathway through the interaction with c-FLIP in colorectal cancer cells

Nogo-B is a member of the Nogo/Reticulon-4 family and has been reported to be an inducer of apoptosis in certain types of cancer cells. However, the role of Nogo-B in human cancer remains less understood. Here, we demonstrated the functions of Nogo-B in colorectal cancer cells. In clinical colorectal cancer specimens, Nogo-B was obviously overexpressed, as determined by immunohistochemistry; and Western blot analysis showed its expression level to be significantly up-regulated. Furthermore, knockdown of Nogo-B in two colorectal cancer cell lines, SW480 and DLD-1, by transfection with si-RNA (siR) resulted in significantly reduced cell viability and a dramatic increase in apoptosis with insistent overexpression of cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved PARP. The transfection with Nogo-B plasmid cancelled that apoptosis induced by siRNogoB in SW480 cells. Besides, combinatory treatment with siR-Nogo-B/staurosporine (STS) or siR-Nogo-B/Fas ligand (FasL) synergistically reduced cell viability and increased the expression of apoptotic signaling proteins in colorectal cancer cells. These results strongly support our contention that Nogo-B most likely played an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer cells, mainly by negatively regulating the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in them. Finally, we revealed that suppression of Nogo-B caused down-regulation of c-FLIP, known as a major anti-apoptotic protein, and activation of caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway. Interaction between Nogo-B and c-FLIP was shown by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies.In conclusion, Nogo-B was shown to play an important negative role in apoptotic signaling through its interaction with c-FLIP in colorectal cancer cells, and may thus become a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.     

Ex vivo hemodialysis culture system for assessing the activity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents

Summary An ex vivo culture system was developed for assessing the activity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents against tumor cells. The system utilizes artificial capillary culture units and the technique of hemodialysis to expose tumor cells to a chemotherapeutic drug and its metabolites following injection of the drug into an experimental animal. This ex vivo culture system was used to test the activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against four human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (SW 403, SW 480, SW 620, and SW 707). Cell killing by 5-FU or its metabolites in blood dialysate following intravenous injection was measured by determining colony formation of cells attached to plastic and suspended in 0.3% agar after short-term exposures of 1 to 2 h. The technique was shown to discriminate between the sensitivities of these cell lines and the respective sensitivities to the drug were reproducible. Kinetics of drug clearance from the host animal’s blood were shown to be similar to that in humans. The results suggest the system may be useful for testing diverse drugs, including those requiring metabolic activation, against a variety of types of tumor cells. Presented in part at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, St. Louis, Missouri, June 1–5, 1980.