Jun-Feng Liu

The effects of a COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam on squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in vivo

Our previous study showed that aspirin induced apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells in vitro by inhibiting the pathway of NF‐kappaB downstream regulation of cyclooxygenase‐2. The purpose of this study was to determine if similar changes occurred in vivo in the tumors of patients with SCC of the esophagus who were given a preferential COX‐2 inhibitor, meloxicam. Fifty‐three patients who had an esophagectomy for SCC were allocated randomly to either a Treatment group (n = 25) or a control group (n = 28). Patients in the Treatment group were given 7.5 mg/day of meloxicam, for between 10 and 14 days before surgery. Patients in the control group did not take any type of NSAID during this time interval. Samples of the tumor taken from the resected specimens were collected. Proliferation and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The concentration of 6‐keto‐prostaglandin F1α in cancer tissue was determined by radio‐immuno‐assay. Expression of COX‐2 mRNA was measured with RT‐PCR and COX‐2 protein levels with Western blot analysis. Nuclear NF‐kappaB and cytoplasmic IkappaB protein levels were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blot, respectively. There were significantly more apoptotic cells in the tumors of patients who were using meloxicam. It also decreased the levels of COX‐2 mRNA, COX‐2 protein and nuclear NF‐kappaB protein and increased the cytoplasmic IkappaB protein in the cancer. We conclude that meloxicam induces apoptosis in SCC of the esophagus in vivo by inhibiting the pathway of NF‐kappaB downstream regulation of COX‐2.

The tumor-suppressive function of miR-1 by targeting LASP1 and TAGLN2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

This study determined the expression of microRNA‐1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue and cell lines to evaluate its effects on clinicopathological parameters and its target genes LASP1 and TAGLN2.

Aspirin induces apoptosis in oesophageal cancer cells by inhibiting the pathway of NF‐kappaB downstream regulation of cyclooxygenase‐2

Background:  Aspirin has potential in the prevention or treatment of oesophageal cancer, the seventh most common cancer in the world, but its mechanism of action is still not certain.

Worldwide esophageal cancer collaboration: clinical staging data

To address uncertainty of whether clinical stage groupings (cTNM) for esophageal cancer share prognostic implications with pathologic groupings after esophagectomy alone (pTNM), we report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for clinically staged patients from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted data using variables with standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 22,123 clinically staged patients, 8,156 had squamous cell carcinoma, 13,814 adenocarcinoma, 116 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 37 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (18.5-25 mg/kg2 , 47%), little weight loss (2.4 ± 7.8 kg), 0-1 ECOG performance status (67%), and history of smoking (67%). Cancers were cT1 (12%), cT2 (22%), cT3 (56%), cN0 (44%), cM0 (95%), and cG2-G3 (89%); most involved the distal esophagus (73%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for squamous cell carcinoma was not distinctive for early cT or cN; for adenocarcinoma, it was distinctive for early versus advanced cT and for cN0 versus cN+. Patients with early cancers had worse survival and those with advanced cancers better survival than expected from equivalent pathologic categories based on prior WECC pathologic data. Thus, clinical and pathologic categories do not share prognostic implications. This makes clinically based treatment decisions difficult and pre-treatment prognostication inaccurate. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient characteristics, cancer categories, and treatment characteristics and should direct 9th edition data collection.

Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration: pathologic staging data

We report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for patients with pathologically staged cancer of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction after resection or ablation with no preoperative therapy from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted de-identified data using standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 13,300 patients, 5,631 had squamous cell carcinoma, 7,558 adenocarcinoma, 85 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 26 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (62 years) men (80%) with normal body mass index (51%), little weight loss (1.8 kg), 0-2 ECOG performance status (83%), and a history of smoking (70%). Cancers were pT1 (24%), pT2 (15%), pT3 (50%), pN0 (52%), pM0 (93%), and pG2-G3 (78%); most involved distal esophagus (71%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was monotonic and distinctive across pTNM. Survival was more distinctive for adenocarcinoma than squamous cell carcinoma when pT was ordered by pN. Survival for pTis-1 adenocarcinoma was better than for squamous cell carcinoma, although monotonic and distinctive for both. WECC pathologic staging data is improved over that of the 7th edition, with more patients studied and patient and cancer variables collected. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient, cancer, and treatment characteristics, and should direct 9th edition data collection. However, the role of pure pathologic staging as the principal point of reference for esophageal cancer staging is waning.

Worldwide esophageal cancer collaboration: neoadjuvant pathologic staging data

To address uncertainty of whether pathologic stage groupings after neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM) for esophageal cancer share prognostic implications with pathologic groupings after esophagectomy alone (pTNM), we report data-simple descriptions of patient characteristics, cancer categories, and non-risk-adjusted survival-for pathologically staged cancers after neoadjuvant therapy from the Worldwide Esophageal Cancer Collaboration (WECC). Thirty-three institutions from six continents submitted data using variables with standard definitions: demographics, comorbidities, clinical cancer categories, and all-cause mortality from first management decision. Of 7,773 pathologically staged neoadjuvant patients, 2,045 had squamous cell carcinoma, 5,686 adenocarcinoma, 31 adenosquamous carcinoma, and 11 undifferentiated carcinoma. Patients were older (61 years) men (83%) with normal (40%) or overweight (35%) body mass index, 0-1 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (96%), and a history of smoking (69%). Cancers were ypT0 (20%), ypT1 (13%), ypT2 (18%), ypT3 (44%), ypN0 (55%), ypM0 (94%), and G2-G3 (72%); most involved the distal esophagus (80%). Non-risk-adjusted survival for yp categories was unequally depressed, more for earlier categories than later, compared with equivalent categories from prior WECC data for esophagectomy-alone patients. Thus, survival of patients with ypT0-2N0M0 cancers was intermediate and similar regardless of ypT; survival for ypN+ cancers was poor. Because prognoses for ypTNM and pTNM categories are dissimilar, prognostication should be based on separate ypTNM categories and groupings. These data will be the basis for the 8th edition cancer staging manuals following risk adjustment for patient, cancer, and treatment characteristics and should direct 9th edition data collection.

Effects of acetylcholine on sling and clasp fibers of the human lower esophageal sphincter.

Background and Aim:  Manometric studies on the human lower esophageal sphincter (LES) have shown radial asymmetry of the high‐pressure zone (HPZ). The aim of this study was to compare the functional properties of human LES clasp and sling muscles, and to look at their relationship with the expression of muscarinic receptors and intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Responses of human sling and clasp fibers to cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin through CCK receptors

Background and Aim:  Cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin exert their influences via CCK receptors. This research was conducted to look at the responses of the sling and clasp fibers forming the human lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to CCK and gastrin, and the role of CCK receptors in the responses.

Expression of dopamine receptors in human lower esophageal sphincter

Background and Aim:  Dopamine (DA) is considered to be an important modulator of enteric function. Recent experiments have suggested that DA receptors are widely expressed in animal gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of DA receptors (D1R, D2R, D3R, D4R, D5R) in sling fibers and clasp fibers from the human lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Bronchoplastic and Pulmonary Arterioplastic Procedures in the Treatment of Bronchogenic Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES Bronchoplastic and pulmonary arterioplastic procedures have become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative to pneumonectomy, especially for patients with compromised cardiopulmonary reserve. We reviewed our experience with the procedure to determine the operative technique, indication for the procedure and long-term results. METHODS From January 1981 to December 2000, 65 bronchoplasties, four pulmonary arterioplasties and three combined broncho-angioplasties were performed for bronchogenic carcinoma. RESULTS Of the 72 patients, 31 had stage I disease, 29 had stage II and 12 had stage III disease. One patient (1.4%) died of bilateral pneumonitis postoperatively. Atelectasis occurred in two patients (2.8%), empyema in one (1.4%), and bronchial fistula in one (1.4%). There were no bronchial stenoses after bronchoplastic procedures, and no vascular complications after angioplastic procedures. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates for the entire group were 86.0%, 47.0% and 29.8%, respectively. The difference in survival was significant between stage I and II disease (p=0.0001) and between stage I and III disease (p<0.0001), but not between stage II and III disease (p=0.0779). CONCLUSIONS Bronchoplastic, pulmonary arterioplastic and broncho-angioplastic procedures can be performed safely. Bronchoplastic procedures offer patients with bronchogenic carcinoma a long-term result comparable to that with radical lung resection. Angioplastic and combined broncho-angioplastic procedures should only be used in patients who cannot tolerate pneumonectomy due to poor cardiopulmonary reserve.