Sakiko Kojiro

Overexpression of the myc target gene Mina53 in advanced renal cell carcinoma

The myc target gene Mina53 was reported to be overexpressed in esophageal cancer with a poor prognosis. The purpose of the present study was to examined Mina53 expression and its relationship to clinicopathological parameters in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Mina53 and Ki‐67 expression was examined on immunohistochemistry for 64 surgically resected RCC and non‐cancerous tissue. In addition, the relationship between Mina53 expression and clinicopathological prognostic factors of RCC such as age, stage, microvenous invasion (MVI), histological subtype, Ki‐67 labeling index (LI), and prognosis, was examined. Mina53 was expressed in the nuclei of tumor cells and tubular nuclei of normal renal tissue. The expression level of Mina53 was significantly higher in patients with poor prognostic factors (stage IV, MVI‐positive, and sarcomatoid RCC, and high Ki‐67 LI). The prognosis of high Mina53‐expressing tumors was significantly poorer than that of non‐Mina53‐high tumors (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, Mina53 is overexpressed in RCC tissue from patients with poor prognostic factors, suggesting that Mina53 overexpression is one of the factors for poor prognosis in RCC.

Growth inhibitory effects of pegylated IFN α‐2b on human liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Abstract: Purpose: We investigated the effects of pegylated IFN‐α2b (PEG‐IFN‐α2b) on the growth of human liver cancer cells.

Growth inhibitory effects of interferon-α subtypes vary according to human liver cancer cell lines

Background:  Interferon (IFN)‐α preparations used in the treatment of viral and neoplastic disease consist of single or multiple IFN‐α subtypes that may possess different biological activity, but there are no data on liver cancer cells.

Antiproliferative Effects of Interferon-αCon1 on Ovarian Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma In vitro and In vivo

Purpose: We examined the antiproliferative effect of IFN-αCon1 and its mechanism on ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Experimental Design: (a) The effects of IFN-αCon1 on growth, morphology, cell cycle, and type I IFN-α receptor (IFNAR-2) expression were examined on two ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma cell lines (KOC-5C and KOC-7C) in vitro. (b) KOC-5C or KOC-7C cells were transplanted into nude mice, and changes in tumor volume, tumor weight, apoptosis, necrosis, and microvessel density were investigated. The expression of angiogenesis factors was examined in the serum and the developed tumors. Results: Both cell lines expressed IFNAR-2 mRNA, but its protein was detected only in KOC-7C. In KOC-7C cells, antiproliferative effects were observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner and cell division was blocked at the S phase. The KOC-7C tumors showed decreases in tumor volume and weight; a decreasing tendency in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor, and interleukin (IL)-8 protein expression in the tumor; a significant decrease in bFGF and IL-8 protein expression in the serum, and of microvessel density; and significant increase in apoptosis and necrosis in the tumor. In the KOC-5C tumors, these in vitro and in vivo changes were not apparent, and the antiproliferative effects of IFN-αCon1 were not obvious. Conclusions: IFN-αCon1 suppresses tumor proliferation by inducing apoptosis, blocking the cell cycle, and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Our findings show that the clinical efficacy of IFN-αCon1 can be predicted by examining IFNAR-2 expression on tumor cells, and the efficacy of IFN-αCon1 treatment can be evaluated by measuring serum bFGF and IL-8 levels.

Antiproliferative effects of 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha in combination on a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line in vitro and in vivo

Background and Aim:  We investigated the antiproliferative effects of interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α) and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) in combination on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line.