Background: Ginsenoside Rg3, a saponin extracted from ginseng, inhibits angiogenesis. The combination of low-dose chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic inhibitors suppresses growth of experimental tumors more effectively than conventional therapy or anti-angiogenic agent alone. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose gemcitabine combined with ginsenoside Rg3 on angiogenesis and growth of established Lewis lung carcinoma in mice.

Chinese herb medicine (CHM) is the most commonly reported traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) modality. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of CHM use in cancer patients in southwestern China. Cancer patients from eleven comprehensive cancer centers were asked to complete a structured questionnaire. Of 587 available replies, 53.0% used CHM. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that educational level, stage of disease, duration of cancer since diagnosis, marital status, and previous use of CHM were strongly associated with CHM use after cancer diagnosis. The source of information about CHM was mainly from media and friends/family. CHM products were used without any consultation with a TCM practitioner by 67.5% of users. The majority used CHM to improve their physical and emotional well-beings and to reduce cancer therapy-induced toxicities. About 4.5% patients reported side effects of CHM. This survey revealed a high prevalence of CHM use among cancer patients. However, these patients did not get sufficient consultation about the indications and contradictions of these drugs. It is imperative for oncologists to communicate with their cancer patients about the usage of CHM so as to avoid the potential side effects.

Here, we presented a case of carcinosarcoma of the pancreas in a 53-year-old woman. The carcinosarcoma was in the head of pancreas. She underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy. The tumor was grossly yellowish-whitish. Histologic evaluation of the tumor revealed 2 elements separated from each other. One component was conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and the other component showed sarcomatous growth pattern composed of pleomorphic spindle cells. Immunohistochemically, the adenocarcinoma component was reactive for antibodies to cytokeratin 18 and epithelial membrane antigen. The sarcomatous component was reactive for smooth muscle antibody. These findings led to a diagnosis of pancreatic carcinosarcoma. The patient was treated with gemcitabine, adriamycin, and cisplatin after the operation. Although previously reported patients with pancreatic carcinosarcoma showed a very poor outcome, this patient has remained free of recurrence for 20 months, which is the longest recurrence-free survival time recorded for this type of cancer. This treatment plan may be a feasible option.

BackgroundTo construct the Bifidobacterium infantis-mediated soluble kinase insert domain receptor (sKDR) prokaryotic expression system and to observe its inhibitory effect on growth of human umbilicus vessel endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and Lewis lung cancer (LLC) on mice in vivo.MethodsThe Bifidobacterium infantis-mediated sKDR prokaryotic expression system was constructed through electroporation and subsequently identified through PCR and Western blot analysis. HUVECs were added to the products of this system to evaluate the anti-angiogenesis effect through MTT assay in vitro. The LLC mice models were divided into three groups: one group treated with saline (group a); one group treated with recombinant Bifidobacterium infantis containing pTRKH2-PsT plasmid group (group b); and one group treated with recombinant Bifidobacterium infantis containing pTRKH2-PsT/sKDR plasmid group (group c). The quality of life and survival of mice were recorded. Tumor volume, tumor weight, inhibitive rate, and necrosis rate of tumor were also evaluated. Necrosis of tumor and signals of blood flow in tumors were detected through color Doppler ultrasound. In addition, microvessel density (MVD) of the tumor tissues was assessed through CD31 immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsThe positively transformed Bifidobacterium infantis with recombinant pTRKH2-PsT/sKDR plasmid was established, and was able to express sKDR at gene and protein levels. The proliferation of HUVECs cultivated with the extract of positively transformed bacteria was inhibited significantly compared with other groups (P < 0. 05). The quality of life of mice in group c was better than in group a and b. The recombinant Bifidobacterium infantis containing pTRKH2-PsT/sKDR plasmid enhanced the efficacy of tumor growth suppression and prolongation of survival, increased the necrosis rate of tumor significantly, and could obviously decrease MVD and the signals of blood flow in tumors.ConclusionThe Bifidobacterium infantis-mediated sKDR prokaryotic expression system was constructed successfully. This system could express sKDR at gene and protein levels and significantly inhibit the growth of HUVECs induced by VEGF in vitro. Moreover, it could inhibit tumor growth and safely prolong the survival time of LLC C57BL/6 mice.

Background: To investigate the effects of ASMase mediated endothelial cell apoptosis in multiple hypofractionated irradiations in CT26 tumor bearing mice. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five CT26 tumor bearing mice were subjected to single ionizing radiation (IR) of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 Gy. Eight hours after IR, the mice were sacrificed and tumor tissues were used for CD31 immunohistochemistry staining, TUNEL and CD31 double staining, ASMase activity assay. Then 6 and 12 Gy were chosen for multiple hypofractionated IR experiments according to the above results. Each time after IR, 5 mice were sacrificed and assayed as above. Results: The ASMase activities were increased significantly after a single IR of 12 Gy or higher which was accompanied with remarkable increased endothelial cell apoptosis and decreased MVD. For 6 Gy which was not high enough to trigger ASMase activation, after 2 or more times of IR, the ASMase activities were significantly increased accompanied with remarkable increased endothelial cell apoptosis and decreased MVD. While for 12 Gy, after 2 or more times of IR, the ASMase activities and endothelial cell apoptosis rates were maintained without remarkable increase; however, the MVD was significantly decreased. What's more, the cancer cell apoptosis rates were significantly increased after multiple IR for both 6 Gy and 12 Gy. Conclusions: ASMase mediated endothelial cell apoptosis may play an important role in the process of multiple hypofractionated IR for CT26 colorectal carcinoma.