Cancer vaccines: single-epitope anti-idiotype vaccine versus multiple-epitope antigen vaccine

In this study, we compared the immunogenicity and tumor-protective activity of anti-idiotypic antibodies mimicking a single tumor-associated epitope and tumor-associated antigen expressing multiple potentially immunogenic epitopes. We focused our study on the colorectal-carcinoma(CRC)-associated antigen GA733 (also known as CO17-1A/KS1-4/KSA/EpCAM). Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) BR3E4 was produced against murine anti-CRC mAb CO17-1A (Ab1) in rats. Full-length native GA733 protein was isolated from human tumor cells, and the extracellular domain protein (GA733-2E) was isolated from supernatants of recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells by immunoafffinity chromatography. The immunomodulatory activity of the Ab2 was compared with that of the antigen, both in rabbits and in mice. Mice, like humans but not rabbits, express a GA733 antigen homologue on some of their normal tissues. Thus, these in vivo models allow the comparison of the immunogenicity of Ab2 and antigen in the presence (mice) and absence (rabbits) of normal tissue expression and immunological tolerance of the GA733 antigen homologue. In rabbits, aluminum-hydroxide(alum)-precipitated native GA733 antigen was superior to alum-precipitated Ab2 in inducing specific humoral immunity. In mice, alum-precipitated recombinant GA733-2E antigen, but not alum-precipitated Ab2, induced specific humoral immunity. However, when the Ab2 was administered to mice in Freund's complete adjuvant, specific humoral immune responses were elicited. Ab2 in complete Freund's adjuvant and GA733-2E in alum were compared for their capacity to induce antigen-specific cellular immunity in mice. Whereas lymphoproliferative responses were obtained with the recombinant antigen only, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses were obtained with both recombinant antigen and Ab2, although these responses were lower than after antigen immunization. The recombinant antigen in alum did not protect mice against challenge with antigen-positive syngeneic murine CRC cells. Similar studies with Ab2 BR3E4 mimicking the CO17-1A epitope were not possible because the tumor cells do not express this epitope after transfection with the human GA733-2 cDNA. However, similar studies with Ab2 mimicking the epitope defined by mAb GA733, which is expressed by the transfected tumor cells, indicated a lack of tumor-protective activity of this Ab2. In contrast, the full-length antigen expressed by recombinant adenovirus inhibited the growth of established tumors in mice. In conclusion, soluble antigen is a more potent modulator of humoral and cellular immune responses than Ab2, both administered in adjuvant. However, for induction of protective immunity, the immunogenicity of the antigen must be further enhanced, e.g., by expression of the antigen in a viral vector. Received: 27 December 1999 / Accepted: 27 January 2000     

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein moves along microtubules and concentrates at their growing ends in epithelial cells

Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor protein has been shown to be localized near the distal ends of microtubules (MTs) at the edges of migrating cells. We expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fusion proteins with full-length and deletion mutants of Xenopus APC in Xenopus epithelial cells, and observed their dynamic behavior in live cells. During cell spreading and wound healing, GFP-tagged full-length APC was concentrated as granules at the tip regions of cellular extensions. At higher magnification, APC appeared to move along MTs and concentrate as granules at the growing plus ends. When MTs began to shorten, the APC granules dropped off from the MT ends. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that fuzzy structures surrounding MTs were the ultrastructural counterparts for these GFP signals. The COOH-terminal region of APC was targeted to the growing MT ends without forming granular aggregates, and abruptly disappeared when MTs began to shorten. The APC lacking the COOH-terminal region formed granular aggregates that moved along MTs toward their plus ends in an ATP-dependent manner. These findings indicated that APC is a unique MT-associated protein that moves along selected MTs and concentrates at their growing plus ends through their multiple functional domains.     

Notes from some crypt watchers: regulation of renewal in the mouse intestinal epithelium

The mouse intestinal epithelium undergoes rapid renewal throughout life, thereby requiring continuous coordination of its cellular proliferation, differentiation, and death programs. Recent advances in our understanding of this process have highlighted some of the molecules that regulate renewal and their potential roles in gut neoplasia.     

应用PCR产物直接银染测序技术检测大肠癌p53基因点突变

应用PCR-SSCP结合PCR产物直接银染测序技术对24例大肠癌p53基因第5-7外显子进行点突变的研究。结果检出5例(26.7%)阳性,均为错义突变;其中3例为碱基GC到 AT的转换, 1例为GC到TA的颠换,另1例为AT到CG的颠换,后者尚未见报道。突变位点分布在p53基因第141、175、245、248和258位密码子,其中4例发生在CpG位点。本文对p53基因点突变谱的分析为大肠癌的病因学研究提供了科学依据, 并讨论了PCR产物直接银染测序技术的优越性。 Abstract:Mutations in exon 5~7 of p53 were screened in 24 cases of colorectal carcinoma by a combination of PCR-SSCP and PCR-product DNA silver sequencing.The results showed that all 5(26.7%) cases of point mutations detected were missense mutations,including 3 cases of GC to AT transitions,1 case of GC to TA transversion and another case of AT to CG transversion.The latter has not been reported before.The mutations occurred at codons 141,175,245,248 and 258 respectively,and 4 cases of these five mutations occurred at CpG dinucleotides.The analysis of p53 mutation spectra can provide clues to the etiology of colorectal carcinoma.The advantages of DNA silver sequencing are also discussed.     

结直肠癌组织miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与上皮间充质转化和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨结直肠癌（CRC）组织微小RNA-137-3p（miR-137-3p）、微小RNA-410-3p（miR-410-3p）的表达与上皮间充质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选取2017年2月至2019年2月本院收治的115例接受CRC根治术治疗的患者，采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（qRT-PCR）检测癌组织及癌旁组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达、EMT标志物E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、波形蛋白（Vimentin）的mRNA表达并进行相关性分析，分析癌组织中miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与CRC临床病理特征的关系。术后随访3年，采用Kaplan-Meier法分析miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p高表达和低表达患者的预后情况。结果：癌组织中miR-137-3p表达及E-cadherin mRNA表达水平低于癌旁组织，miR-410-3p表达及Vimentin mRNA表达水平高于癌旁组织（P＜0.05）。癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平分别呈正相关（P＜0.05），癌组织中miR-137-3p表达与Vimentin mRNA表达水平、miR-410-3p表达与E-cadherin mRNA表达水平分别呈负相关（P＜0.05）。miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达与TNM分期、肿瘤分化程度、淋巴结转移有关（P＜0.05）。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示，miR-137-3p低表达、miR-410-3p高表达患者3年累积生存率下降（P＜0.05）。结论：CRC组织中miR-137-3p表达下调、miR-410-3p表达上调，miR-137-3p、miR-410-3p表达水平与EMT密切相关，且miR-137-3p高表达、miR-410-3p低表达患者的预后更好。     

Analysis of colorectal cancer glyco‐secretome identifies laminin β‐1 (LAMB1) as a potential serological biomarker for colorectal cancer

The high mortality rate in colorectal cancer is mostly ascribed to metastasis, but the only clinical biomarker available for disease monitoring and prognosis is the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). However, the prognostic utility of CEA remains controversial. In an effort to identify novel biomarkers that could be potentially translated for clinical use, we collected the secretomes from the colon adenocarcinoma cell line HCT‐116 and its metastatic derivative, E1, using the hollow fiber culture system, and utilized the multilectin affinity chromatography approach to enrich for the secreted glycoproteins (glyco‐secretome). The HCT‐116 and E1 glyco‐secretomes were compared using the label‐free quantitative SWATH‐MS technology, and a total of 149 glycoproteins were differentially secreted in E1 cells. Among these glycoproteins, laminin β‐1 (LAMB1), a glycoprotein not previously known to be secreted in colorectal cancer cells, was observed to be oversecreted in E1 cells. In addition, we showed that LAMB1 levels were significantly higher in colorectal cancer patient serum samples as compared to healthy controls when measured using ELISA. ROC analyses indicated that LAMB1 performed better than CEA at discriminating between colorectal cancer patients from controls. Moreover, the diagnostic performance was further improved when LAMB1 was used in combination with CEA.     

MUC1对人结肠癌细胞HCT116生物学行为的影响

目的:观察MUC1对人结肠癌细胞HCT116增殖、侵袭及化疗敏感性的影响。方法:采用MUC1表达阴性的结肠癌细胞株HCT116,通过慢病毒转染、嘌呤霉素筛选、半定量RT-PCR和Western blot鉴定构建稳定表达MUC1的HCT116细胞株;实验分空病毒组和MUC1病毒组;CCK实验和软琼脂克隆形成实验检测两组细胞的增殖能力,Transwell侵袭实验检测两组细胞的侵袭能力;MTT法和流式细胞仪检测两组细胞对奥沙利铂的敏感性,酶底物法检测Caspase-3活性。结果:获得稳定表达MUC1的HCT116细胞株;两组细胞贴壁生长无差异;与空病毒组相比,MUC1病毒组细胞软克隆形成数增加,穿过小室的细胞数增加(P0.05);MUC1病毒组细胞对奥沙利铂的敏感性降低,MUC1病毒组Caspase-3活性水平低于空病毒组(P0.05)。结论:MUC1与结肠癌的非锚定依赖生长、侵袭和化疗敏感性有关。     

腹腔镜监控肠镜下（LMCP）息肉摘除术对比常规肠镜下息肉切除的随机对照临床研究

目的:探讨腹腔镜监控下的肠息肉摘除术(LMCP)治疗效果,比较LMCP肠息肉摘除术对比常规肠镜下息肉切除的临床治疗效果及预后情况。方法:将符合条件的所有手术患者随机分为两组,每组各41例,其中试验组使用腹腔镜监控下结肠镜息肉摘除术,对照组单纯使用肠镜行息肉切除术。所有病人均观察并记录其预后情况。结果:研究共纳入82例病人,男53例,女29例,平均年龄70岁。息肉平均大小为2.0 cm。所有患者术后无并发症。试验组和对照组的第一次通便时间分别为13.2 h和24.5h,统计学具有显著性差异P<0.001,风险比为1.81,95%置信区间为[1.13-3.00]。试验组和对照组的总住院天数分别为4.5天和8.0天,统计学具有显著性差异P<0.001,风险比为4.15,置信区间95%CI为[2.40-7.18]。结论:LMCP术对病人具有显著的获益,可以避免不必要的并发症,手术操作更安全。因此,LMCP是一种安全有效的方法,并且创伤更小,住院周期更短,是息肉切除术首选的方法。     

Interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in relation to colorectal cancer

Meat intake is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in order to identify biological pathways involved in meat carcinogenesis. We performed a literature search of PubMed and Embase using “interaction”, “meat”, “polymorphisms”, and “colorectal cancer”, and data on meat–gene interactions were extracted. The studies were divided according to whether information on meat intake was collected prospectively or retrospectively. In prospective studies, interactions between meat intake and polymorphisms in PTGS2 (encoding COX-2), ABCB1, IL10, NFKB1, MSH3, XPC (P_int = 0.006, 0.01, 0.04, 0.03, 0.002, 0.01, respectively), but not IL1B, HMOX1, ABCC2, ABCG2, NR1I2 (encoding PXR), NR1H2 (encoding LXR), NAT1, NAT2, MSH6, or MLH1 in relation to CRC were found. Interaction between a polymorphism in XPC and meat was found in one prospective and one case–control study; however, the directions of the risk estimates were opposite. Thus, none of the findings were replicated. The results from this systematic review suggest that genetic variation in the inflammatory response and DNA repair pathway is involved in meat-related colorectal carcinogenesis, whereas no support for the involvement of heme and iron from meat or cooking mutagens was found. Further studies assessing interactions between meat intake and genetic variation in relation to CRC in large well-characterised prospective cohorts with relevant meat exposure are warranted.

Electronic supplementary material

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