Significance of Lymph Node Metastasis in Cancer Dissemination of Head and Neck Cancer

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) in many solid cancers is a well-known prognostic factor; however, it has been debated whether regional LNM simply reflects tumor aggressiveness or is a source for further tumor dissemination. Similarly, the metastatic process in head and neck cancer (HNC) has not been fully evaluated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relative significance of LNM in metastatic cascade of HNC using functional imaging of HNC patients and molecular imaging in in vivo models. First, we analyzed ¹⁸Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) parameters of 117 patients with oral cancer. The primary tumor and nodal PET parameters were measured separately, and survival analyses were conducted on the basis of clinical and PET variables to identify significant prognostic factors. In multivariate analyses, we found that only the metastatic node PET values were significant. Next, we compared the relative frequency of lung metastasis in primary ear tumors versus lymph node (LN) tumors, and we tested the rate of lung metastasis in another animal model, in which each animal had both primary and LN tumors that were expressing different colors. As a result, LN tumors showed higher frequencies of lung metastasis compared to orthotopic primary tumors. In color-matched comparisons, the relative contribution to lung metastasis was higher in LN tumors than in primary tumors, although both primary and LN tumors caused lung metastases. In summary, tumors growing in the LN microenvironment spread to systemic sites more commonly than primary tumors in HNC, suggesting that the adequate management of LNM can reduce further systemic metastasis.     

The small molecule TGF-β signaling inhibitor SM16 synergizes with agonistic OX40 antibody to suppress established mammary tumors and reduce spontaneous metastasis

Effective tumor immunotherapy may require not only activation of anti-tumor effector cells, but also abrogation of tumor-mediated immunosuppression. The cytokine TGF-β, is frequently elevated in the tumor microenvironment and is a potent immunosuppressive agent and promoter of tumor metastasis. OX40 (CD134) is a member of the TNF-α receptor superfamily and ligation by agonistic antibody (anti-OX40) enhances effector function, expansion, and survival of activated T cells. In this study, we examined the therapeutic efficacy and anti-tumor immune response induced by the combination of a small molecule TGF-β signaling inhibitor, SM16, plus anti-OX40 in the poorly immunogenic, highly metastatic, TGF-β-secreting 4T1 mammary tumor model. Our data show that SM16 and anti-OX40 mutually enhanced each other to elicit a potent anti-tumor effect against established primary tumors, with a 79% reduction in tumor size, a 95% reduction in the number of metastatic lung nodules, and a cure rate of 38%. This positive treatment outcome was associated with a 3.2-fold increase of tumor-infiltrating, activated CD8⁺ T cells, an overall accumulation of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and an increased tumor-specific effector T cell response. Complete abrogation of the therapeutic effect in vivo following depletion of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells suggests that the anti-tumor efficacy of SM16+ anti-OX40 therapy is T cell dependent. Mice that were cured of their tumors were able to reject tumor re-challenge and manifested a significant tumor-specific peripheral memory IFN-γ response. Taken together, these data suggest that combining a TGF-β signaling inhibitor with anti-OX40 is a viable approach for treating metastatic breast cancer.     

顺铂联合VEGF抗体对食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫调节以及癌细胞增殖和肺转移的影响

摘要 目的：研究顺铂联合血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）治疗对食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫功能、癌细胞增殖以及肺转移的影响。方法：30只BALB/c小鼠通过皮下注射食管癌移植瘤模型。一周后,30只食管癌移植瘤模型小鼠被随机均分为3组,即模型组、顺铂组和联合组。模型组不进行治疗,顺铂组腹腔注顺铂治疗,联合组腹腔注射顺铂联合尾静脉注射VEGF抗体进行治疗,共治疗7周。比较各组小鼠体重,食管癌移植瘤体积和重量,卵巢癌细胞肺组织转移结节数、癌细胞转移面积和转移病灶总数,以及食管癌移植瘤外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺以及CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T淋巴细胞比例。结果：（1）顺博组和联合组小鼠体重均显著高于对照组,而联合组小鼠体重显著高于顺铂组（P<0.05）;（2）顺铂组和联合组小鼠CD4+和CD8+细胞比例均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,而CD4⁺/CD8⁺却显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;（3）联合组小鼠CD4⁺和CD8⁺细胞比例均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,而CD4⁺/CD8⁺却显著低于顺铂组（P<0.05）;（4）顺铂组和联合组小鼠食管癌肿瘤组织体积和重量,肺转移结节数、转移面积和转移病灶数均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,而联合组小鼠显著低于顺铂组（P<0.05）。结论：VEGF抗体可以显著增强顺铂在体内对食管癌的抗癌特性,并有助于增强食管癌移植瘤小鼠免疫功能、抑制癌细胞体内增殖和肺部转移。     

Tumor‐propagating cells and Yap/Taz activity contribute to lung tumor progression and metastasis

Metastasis is the leading cause of morbidity for lung cancer patients. Here we demonstrate that murine tumor propagating cells (TPCs) with the markers Sca1 and CD24 are enriched for metastatic potential in orthotopic transplantation assays. CD24 knockdown decreased the metastatic potential of lung cancer cell lines resembling TPCs. In lung cancer patient data sets, metastatic spread and patient survival could be stratified with a murine lung TPC gene signature. The TPC signature was enriched for genes in the Hippo signaling pathway. Knockdown of the Hippo mediators Yap1 or Taz decreased in vitro cellular migration and transplantation of metastatic disease. Furthermore, constitutively active Yap was sufficient to drive lung tumor progression in vivo. These results demonstrate functional roles for two different pathways, CD24‐dependent and Yap/Taz‐dependent pathways, in lung tumor propagation and metastasis. This study demonstrates the utility of TPCs for identifying molecules contributing to metastatic lung cancer, potentially enabling the therapeutic targeting of this devastating disease.     

HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌诊断中的临床价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨人乳头状瘤病毒感染状态（HPV-DNA）、p16基因和表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）在口咽癌诊断中的临床价值。方法：选取我院2015年5月到2021年10月共收治的口咽癌60患者作为研究对象,进行回顾性分析,分析HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌患者的表达情况,分析HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR与肿瘤病理的关系,之后对所有患者进行随访,应用Cox比例风险回归模型分析患者的生存情况与HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR的关系。结果：HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌患者中的阳性表达对比无明显差异（P＜0.05）;HPV-DNA阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,肿瘤分期与淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;p16阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄、肿瘤分期对比无差异（P＞0.05）,淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;EGFR阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,肿瘤分期与淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;在患者生存分析之中,有20例患者因为随访数据不全被剔除,其中无病生存率之中,P16/EGFR、p16对比差异显著（P＜0.05）,总生存率中淋巴结转移、P16/EGFR对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;口咽癌中HPV-DNA水平与p16水平呈现负相关关系,与EGFR呈现正相关关系,p16与EGFR呈现负相关关系（P＜0.05）。结论：p16的表达是口咽癌最可靠的预后标志物,而且可能是HPV阳性口咽癌的替代标记物。HPV1/p161肿瘤倾向于减少EGFR的表达,但使用两种免疫组织学标记物对预后有显著影响。     

T cells are crucial for the anti-metastatic effect of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies

Experimental evidences supporting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as an important molecule for tumor metastasis had been accumulated. Currently, anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) constitute a promising approach for the treatment of patients with metastatic tumors. However, the mechanisms associated with the potent anti-metastatic effect of these mAbs have not been completely elucidated due to the lack of appropriate syngeneic preclinical models. In this paper, we have investigated the effects of 7A7, an antibody specific to murine EGFR, on the metastatic properties of D122 murine lung carcinoma. 7A7 mAb significantly impaired metastatic spread of D122 cells in C57BL/6 mice by direct anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on tumor metastasis. 7A7 mAb capacity to inhibit EGFR activation on D122 cells could contribute to its anti-metastatic effect. In addition, 7A7 mAb was able to induce in vitro antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity on D122 cells. Interestingly, 7A7 mAb treatment increased the number of natural killer cells, T lymphocytes and dendritic cells infiltrating the metastatic sites. More strikingly, depletion of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells in vivo completely abrogated the 7A7 mAb anti-metastatic activity whereas function of natural killer cells was irrelevant. This study supports an in vivo role for T cell response in the mechanism of action of anti-EGFR mAbs, suggesting the induction of an adjuvant effect. This work was supported by the Cuban Government.     

非小细胞肺癌CD166+干细胞的分离和鉴定

目的:分选人非小细胞肺癌中的CD166+细胞,并验证其肿瘤干细胞的特性。方法:收集手术切除的15例非小细胞癌组织标本以及患者的临床资料,并通过流式细胞术对组织中CD166+的表达水平进行检测,对CD166+细胞进行原代培养,对比CD166+细胞和CD166-细胞的成球能力和集落形成能力;并将CD166+细胞和CD166-细胞注射到小鼠体内,比较其体内肿瘤形成能力。结果:在15例临床样本中均检测到CD166+细胞,CD166阳性表达率最高为12.1%,最低为0.3%。CD166的高表达与肿瘤TNM分期、肿瘤转移、以及肿瘤分型密切相关(P均0.05)。CD166+细胞的成球形成能力和集落形成能力显著的高于CD166-细胞,且CD166+细胞在裸鼠体内肿瘤形成能力显著高于CD166-细胞(P均0.05)。结论:非小细胞肺癌CD166+细胞具有肿瘤干细胞的特征,CD166在非小细胞肺癌的发生发展中可能具有重要的作用。     

血浆纤维蛋白原和D-二聚体在老年NSCLC患者预后中的意义

目的:探讨老年非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)患者抗癌治疗前血浆纤维蛋白原(fibrinogen,FIB)和D-二聚体(D-dimer)的预后意义。方法:测定97例肺癌患者(肺癌组)及36例健康体检者(对照组)血浆D-dimer、FIB水平并进行比较,并分析其与NSCLC临床病理因素之间关系及预后价值。结果:肺癌组血浆FIB、D-dimer水平高于健康对照组(P0.05)。肺癌组FIB与TNM分期有关,D-dimer与淋巴结转移和TNM分期有关。单因素分析提示FIB、D-dimer、肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、TNM分期与总体生存时间(overall survival,OS)和无进展生存时间(progression free survival,PFS)相关,而多因素分析仅提示D-dimer、FIB是老年NSCLC患者的独立危险预后因素。结论:检测老年NSCLC患者抗癌治疗前纤维蛋白原和D-二聚体可以指导预后,为肺癌个体化治疗提供一定的参考价值。     

外周血CTC、VEGF的水平与晚期非小细胞肺癌临床特征及化疗疗效关系的研究

摘要 目的：探讨外周血循环肿瘤细胞（CTC）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的水平与晚期非小细胞肺癌临床特征及化疗疗效的关系。方法：选取我院2017年1月到2020年1月收治的80例晚期非小细胞肺癌患者作为研究对象,所有患者均采取一线方案化疗,分析外周血CTC、VEGF的水平与患者的年龄、性别等的关系,并对晚期非小细胞肺癌化疗疗效进行单因素与多因素COX分析。结果：CTC、VEGF与不同性别、年龄患者和TNM分期无明显关系（P＞0.05）,与淋巴结转移、肿瘤分化程度、肿瘤大小有关（P＜0.05）;80例患者中,客观缓解率（ORR）为51.25 %（41/80）,疾病控制率（DCR）为71.25 %（57/80）;淋巴结转移、肿瘤分化程度、CTC和血清VEGF水平为晚期非小细胞肺癌患者ORR、DCR的影响因素（P＜0.05）;COX分析分析表明：肿瘤中、低分化、CTC阴性、VEGF降低为晚期非小细胞肺癌化疗ORR和DCR提升的独立影响因素（P＜0.05）。结论：外周血CTC、VEGF检测对于晚期非小细胞肺癌化疗近远期疗效评估具有重要价值,属于预后独立影响因素。因此,CTC、VEGF可作为晚期非小细胞肺癌的预后及疗效判断的指标。     

生物钟基因PER2在结直肠癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨PER2基因表达水平和结直肠癌发生发展的关系。方法:收集203例在上海市第一人民医院接受根治性肠切除术结直肠癌患者的标本,通过实时定量PCR和免疫组织化学技术检测PER2在肿瘤组织和邻近正常组织中的表达水平,并对PER2的表达与患者的病理资料和临床预后的相关性进行统计学分析。结果:PER2在结直肠患者肿瘤组织的表达较正常组织减少(P0.001)。与PER2阳性患者相比,PER2阴性的结直肠癌患者有远处转移(P=0.026)、AJCC分期为IV期(P=0.011)的比例更高。结论:PER2基因在结直肠癌患者中存在低表达现象,其对于患者的AJCC分期评价以及了解患者有无远处转移有一定的参考价值。     

PD-1、PD-L1的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性分析

目的:分析程序性死亡因子-1(PD-1)、程序性死亡1-配体(PD-L1)的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法:回顾性分析我院2015年3月～2016年6月收治的73例肺癌患者的临床资料,取距离切除肿瘤边缘3cm内的非癌组织作为癌旁组织。比较两组PD-1、PD-L1的表达,分析其和肺癌患者临床病理特征和预后的关系,采用COX比例回归分析肺癌患者预后的影响因素。结果:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率均显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05)。不同性别、年龄、病理类型、吸烟情况、EGFR表达、肿瘤大小肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1的阳性表达率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);低分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ及Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率分别高于中分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ期、无淋巴结转移患者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达及阴性表达组无疾病进展生存期比较均有统计学差异(P0.05)。COX比例风险回归模型显示分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移、PD-1、PD-L1的表达是影响肺癌患者预后的危险因素(P0.05)。结论:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1呈高表达,可能参与肺癌的发生发展,有助于病情严重程度的评价和预后预测。     

Melanoma cell expression of CD200 inhibits tumor formation and lung metastasis via inhibition of myeloid cell functions

CD200 is a cell surface glycoprotein that functions through engaging CD200 receptor on cells of the myeloid lineage and inhibits their functions. Expression of CD200 has been implicated in a variety of human cancer cells including melanoma cells and has been thought to play a protumor role. To investigate the role of cancer cell expression of CD200 in tumor formation and metastasis, we generated CD200-positive and CD200-negative B16 melanoma cells. Subcutaneous injection of CD200-positive B16 melanoma cells inhibited tumor formation and growth in C57BL/6 mice but not in Rag1^−/−C57BL/6 mice. However, i.v. injection of CD200-positive B16 melanoma cells dramatically inhibited tumor foci formation in the lungs of both C57BL/6 and Rag1^−/−C57BL6 mice. Flow cytometry analysis revealed higher expression of CD200R in Gr1⁺ myeloid cells in the lung than in peripheral myeloid cells. Depletion of Gr1⁺ cells or stimulation of CD200R with an agonistic antibody in vivo dramatically inhibited tumor foci formation in the lungs. In addition, treatment with tumor antigen specific CD4 or CD8 T cells or their combination yielded a survival advantage for CD200 positive tumor bearing mice over mice bearing CD200-negative tumors. Taken together, we have revealed a novel role for CD200-CD200R interaction in inhibiting tumor formation and metastasis. Targeting CD200R may represent a novel approach for cancer immunotherapy.     

Silencing of CD44 Gene Expression in Human 143-B Osteosarcoma Cells Promotes Metastasis of Intratibial Tumors in SCID Mice

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent primary malignant bone cancer in children and adolescents with a high propensity for lung metastasis. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify molecular markers leading to increased metastatic potential in order to devise more effective therapeutic strategies that suppress metastasis, the major cause of death in OS. CD44, the principal receptor for the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA), is frequently found overexpressed in tumor cells and has been implicated in metastatic spread in various cancer types. Here, we investigated the effects of stable shRNA-mediated silencing of CD44 gene products on in vitro and in vivo metastatic properties of the highly metastatic human 143-B OS cell line. In vitro, CD44 knockdown resulted in a 73% decrease in the adhesion to HA, a 57% decrease in the migration rate in a trans-filter migration assay, and a 28% decrease in the cells'' capacity for anchorage-independent growth in soft agar compared to the control cells, implicating that CD44 expression contributes to the metastatic activity of 143-B cells. However, making use of an orthotopic xenograft OS mouse model, we demonstrated that reduced CD44 expression facilitated primary tumor growth and formation of pulmonary metastases. The enhanced malignant phenotype was associated with decreased adhesion to HA and reduced expression of the tumor suppressor merlin in vivo. In conclusion, our study identified CD44 as a metastasis suppressor in this particular experimental OS model.     

腮腺肿瘤患者行游离保留SMAS术后的复发及预后影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨腮腺肿瘤患者行游离保留SMAS术后的复发及预后影响因素分析。方法：以我院2016年3月-2022年1月收治的60例腮腺肿瘤患者作为研究对象。所有患者均行游离保留SMAS联合全腮腺切除术治疗。术后进行随访。采用χ²检验和独立样本t检验进行腮腺肿瘤患者预后复发及预后存活情况的亚组分析。采用Pearson检验进行相关性分析;采用Cox回归模型计算腮腺肿瘤患者预后的独立危险因素。结果：复发和未复发患者性别、年龄、BMI、糖尿病病史和高血压病史无显著差异（P＞0.05）;复发和未复发患者的淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、AJCC临床分期差异显著（P<0.05）;预后死亡和预后存活患者性别、年龄、BMI、糖尿病病史和高血压病史无显著差异（P＞0.05）;预后死亡和预后存活患者的淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、AJCC临床分期和复发情况差异显著（P<0.05）;淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、复发、AJCC临床分期与腮腺肿瘤患者预后存活情况密切相关（P<0.05）;多因素Cox分析结果显示,淋巴结转移、病理类型、TNM分期、复发、AJCC临床分期是独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：疾病相关因素是导致腮腺恶性肿瘤患者复发和死亡的重要因素,临床早期可针对性调整治疗方案以降低患者术后复发和恶性肿瘤。     

CD105 Expression on CD34-Negative Spindle-Shaped Stromal Cells of Primary Tumor Is an Unfavorable Prognostic Marker in Early Breast Cancer Patients

Several studies have confirmed that the breast tumor microenvironment drives cancer progression and metastatic development. The aim of our research was to investigate the prognostic significance of the breast tumor microenvironment in untreated early breast cancer patients. Therefore, we analyzed the association of the expression of α-SMA, FSP, CD105 and CD146 in CD34-negative spindle-shaped stromal cells, not associated with the vasculature, in primary breast tumors with classical prognostic marker levels, metastatic recurrence, local relapse, disease-free survival, metastasis-free survival and the overall survival of patients. In the same way, we evaluated the association of the amount of intra-tumor stroma, fibroblasts, collagen deposition, lymphocytic infiltration and myxoid changes in these samples with the clinical-pathological data previously described. This study is the first to demonstrate the high CD105 expression in this stromal cell type as a possible independent marker of unfavorable prognosis in early breast cancer patients. Our study suggests that this new finding can be useful prognostic marker in the clinical-pathological routine.     

Immune and Inflammatory Cell Composition of Human Lung Cancer Stroma

Recent studies indicate that the abnormal microenvironment of tumors may play a critical role in carcinogenesis, including lung cancer. We comprehensively assessed the number of stromal cells, especially immune/inflammatory cells, in lung cancer and evaluated their infiltration in cancers of different stages, types and metastatic characteristics potential. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung cancer tissue arrays containing normal and lung cancer sections was performed. This analysis was combined with cyto-/histomorphological assessment and quantification of cells to classify/subclassify tumors accurately and to perform a high throughput analysis of stromal cell composition in different types of lung cancer. In human lung cancer sections we observed a significant elevation/infiltration of total-T lymphocytes (CD3⁺), cytotoxic-T cells (CD8⁺), T-helper cells (CD4⁺), B cells (CD20⁺), macrophages (CD68⁺), mast cells (CD117⁺), mononuclear cells (CD11c⁺), plasma cells, activated-T cells (MUM1⁺), B cells, myeloid cells (PD1⁺) and neutrophilic granulocytes (myeloperoxidase⁺) compared with healthy donor specimens. We observed all of these immune cell markers in different types of lung cancers including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, metastatic adenocarcinoma, and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. The numbers of all tumor-associated immune cells (except MUM1⁺ cells) in stage III cancer specimens was significantly greater than those in stage I samples. We observed substantial stage-dependent immune cell infiltration in human lung tumors suggesting that the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role during lung carcinogenesis. Strategies for therapeutic interference with lung cancer microenvironment should consider the complexity of its immune cell composition.     

Ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73) is a potential target of hepatocellular carcinoma

High expression of ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73) has been reported in a number of epithelium origin malignancies. Here, we hypothesize that CD73 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and metastasis and that the effect is mediated by epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). HCC cells with different malignancies and Tissue microarrays of the tumor and peritumoral liver tissues from 30 independent patients were used to examine CD73 and EGFR expression. Then, MTT and Ki67 detection, together with cell adhesion, invasion, and migration assays were used to evaluate the effects of CD73 on cell growth and metastasis. The expression of EGFR in HCC cells was also tested after suppressing or overexpressing CD73. Lastly, tumor tissues from nude mice, which had been injected subcutaneously with HCC cells, were transplanted subcutaneously into CD73^−/− and wild-type (WT) C57 mice. CD73 expression was higher in HCC cells with greater metastatic potentials and tumor tissues compared with low metastatic cells and peritumor tissues. CD73 and EGFR were coexpressed and positively correlated in tumor and peritumor liver tissues in HCC tissue microarrays. Up-regulationof CD73 by plasmid transfection or by pharmacological agents promoted EGFR expression in HCC cells, whereas suppression of CD73 inhibited these effects. The growth of transplanted tumor tissues was dramatically slower in CD73^−/− mice than in WT type mice in the in vivo experiments. CD73 promotes HCC growth and metastasis and upregulated the expression of EGFR in HCC. Thus, CD73 and EGFR are potential targets in the treatment of HCC.     

兔VX2肺外周肿瘤超声造影特征与CD31和CD34微血管密度的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨兔VX2肺外周肿瘤超声造影特征与CD31和CD34微血管密度的相关性研究。方法：15只雌性新西兰白兔进行VX2 肺肿瘤模型，总共有30个VX2 癌植入15只兔子的肺中。通过高倍镜分析不同期VX2肿瘤的MVD。通过双重免疫荧光化学染色分析不同生长期VX2肿瘤Ki67和CD31阳性表达。分析肿瘤形态学组织病理学结果与微血管分布和CEUS结果之间的相关性。结果：随着生长周期的进展，VX2肿瘤的MVD增大（P<0.05）。随着生长周期的进展，VX2肿瘤内Ki67和CD31的阳性表达率增加（P<0.05）。CEUS显示VX2 肿瘤在早期动脉期有明显的外周增强和短暂的内部增强。肺外周VX2 肿瘤中 PI和CD31 MVD值之间呈显著正相关性（r=0.734，P<0.05）。CD31 MVD和CD34 MVD之间呈负相关（r=-0.691，P<0.05）。PI和CD34 MVD值之间不存在显著相关性（r=-0.412，P>0.05）。结论：与CD34 MVD 相比，CD31 MVD 可以更有效地评估肿瘤血管生成。CEUS作为一种无创成像方法，可以有效评估兔周围型肺癌的肿瘤血管生成情况。     

Decitabine and vorinostat cooperate to sensitize colon carcinoma cells to Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in vitro and tumor suppression in vivo

The death receptor Fas and its physiological ligand (FasL) regulate apoptosis of cancerous cells, thereby functioning as a critical component of the host cancer immunosurveillance system. To evade Fas-mediated apoptosis, cancer cells often downregulate Fas to acquire an apoptosis-resistant phenotype, which is a hallmark of metastatic human colorectal cancer. Therefore, targeting Fas resistance is of critical importance in Fas-based cancer therapy and immunotherapy. In this study, we demonstrated that epigenetic inhibitors decitabine and vorinostat cooperate to upregulate Fas expression in metastatic human colon carcinoma cells. Decitabine also upregulates BNIP3 and Bik expression, whereas vorinostat decreased Bcl-x(L) expression. Altered expression of Fas, BNIP3, Bik, and Bcl-x(L) resulted in effective sensitization of the metastatic human colon carcinoma cells to FasL-induced apoptosis. Using an experimental metastasis mouse model, we further demonstrated that decitabine and vorinostat cooperate to suppress colon carcinoma metastasis. Analysis of tumor-bearing lung tissues revealed that a large portion of tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T cells are FasL(+), and decitabine and vorinostat-mediated tumor-suppression efficacy was significantly decreased in Fas(gld) mice compared with wild-type mice, suggesting a critical role for FasL in decitabine and vorinostat-mediated tumor suppression in vivo. Consistent with their function in apoptosis sensitization, decitabine and vorinostat significantly increased the efficacy of CTL adoptive transfer immunotherapy in an experimental metastasis mouse model. Thus, our data suggest that combined modalities of chemotherapy to sensitize the tumor cell to Fas-mediated apoptosis and CTL immunotherapy is an effective approach for the suppression of colon cancer metastasis.