Meng-Wei Wang

Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells promote development of cancer‐initiating cells in colorectal cancer

The pathogenesis of CRC remains to be further understood. This study was designed to elucidate the role of Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells in the pathogenesis of CRC. Surgically removed CRC tissue was collected from 12 patients with CRC. The frequency and cytokine profile of Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells in CRC were examined by flow cytometry. Chemokine CXCL11 was examined in CRC tissue by Western blotting. Treg chemotaxis was examined in a transwell system. The effect of Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells on induction of cancer‐initiating cells was examined; the latterˈs Akt and MAPK activities and colony formation were examined afterward. Abundant Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells were detected in CRC tissue that expresses high levels of TGF‐β, CXCR3, CCR6, and RORγt. High levels of CXCL11 were detected in CRC tissue‐derived CD68+ cells, which had a strong chemotactic effect on Foxp3+ Tregs. Hypoxia induced the expression of IL‐17 in Foxp3+ Tregs; Foxp3+IL‐17+ T cells were capable of inducing CRC‐associated cell markers in BMMo and drove the cells to be cancer‐initiating cells. High levels of phosphorylated Akt and MAPK were detected in the induced cancer‐initiation cells; the latter has the capability to form a colony. CRC tissue‐derived Foxp3+IL‐17+ cells have the capacity to induce cancer‐initiating cells.

Recurrence in patients following curative resection of early gastric carcinoma

Post‐gastrectomy recurrences of early gastric cancer occur in a few cases. We investigated the outcome of early gastric cancer patients treated surgically, with special respect to the risk factor(s) for tumor recurrence.

Immunoglobulin kappa and immunoglobulin lambda are required for expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-xL in human colorectal cancer tissue

Abstract Objective. Aberrant expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) by cancer cells has been documented in a number of malignant tumors but its biological significance is unclear. Cancer cells overexpress anti-apoptotic molecules such as Bcl-xL. The present study aimed to examine the role of expression of Ig light-chain Igĸ and Igλ in maintaining the high levels of Bcl-xL in colorectal cancer cells. Material and methods. Thirty patients with colorectal cancer were recruited to this study. Expression of Igĸ, Igλ and Bcl-xL in surgically removed cancer tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry and/or flow cytometry. Using the HT29 cell line as a study platform, RNA interference (RNAi) was employed to knock out the genes of Igĸ and Igλ in the cancer cell line; the expression of Bcl-xL in HT29 cells was subsequently analyzed. Results. Human colorectal cancer cells, but not normal colorectal tissue, expressed both Igĸ and Igλ in the cytoplasm. High levels of Bcl-xL were detected in cancer cells. Using RNAi to knock out the genes of Igĸ and/or Igλ, Bcl-xL expression in HT29 cells was significantly suppressed and the cells became apoptotic. Conclusion. The results suggest that expression of Igĸ and Igλ is required to stabilize Bcl-xL expression in cancer cells.