Objective To observe the effects of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 inhibitor U0126 on hepatoma carcinoma cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods Hepatoma SMMC-7721 cell strain was divided into blank control group and different concentrations of U0126 groups. The proliferation inhibition was measured by MTT assay. FCM was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Results U0126 obviously inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. There were significant differences between control group and different concentrations of U0126 groups on cell proliferation and apoptosis （P＜0.05， P＜0.01）. Conclusion Blocking ERK1/2 pathway may be an important treatment strategy for liver cancer.
Objective To identify the expression of pleiotrophin （PTN） mRNA and protein in the colorectal cancer tissues， and to explore the clinical value of it. Methods The expressions of PTN mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissues （colorectal cancer group） as well as normal colorectal tissues （normal control group） were tested by using in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Results The positive rates of PTN mRNA 〔63.9% （53/83） vs. 40.7%（22/54）〕 and protein〔60.2%（50/83） vs. 33.3%（18/54）〕 in colorectal cancer group were all significantly higher than those of normal control group （P=0.008， P=0.002）. There were no significant relationship between expressions of PTN mRNA and protein with gender， age， and type of tumor （P＞0.05）， but in tissues of Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage and poor differentiation，the positive rates of PTN mRNA and protein were all higher （P＜0.05）. Conclusions The over expressions of PTN mRNA and protein in colorectal cancer tissues may directly related to the invasion and metastasis. Meanwhile， it can be used as an index to predict metastasis and prognosis of colorectal cancer.
Objective To detect expression of Ras association domain family 1A （RASSF1A） gene in the colonic carcinoma tissue and to analyze the relationship of this expression to its clinical features. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were employed for detecting the RASSF1A protein expressions in 34 colonic carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal colon tissues. RT-PCR was employed for detecting RASSF1A mRNA expression. Results ①The RASSF1A protein expression in the colonic carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal colontissues by using immunohistochemistry〔35.3% （12/34） versus 97.1% （33/34）， P＜0.05〕.There were significant relati-onships of RASSF1A protein expressions to the tumor differentiation and TNM stage （P＜0.05）， in other words， the positive rates of RASSF1A protein in the moderately and well differentiated andⅠ＋Ⅱof TNM colonic carcinoma tissues were all higher （P＜0.05）. ② The RASSF1A protein expression in the colonic carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal colon tissues by using Western blot 〔0.316 8±0.019 6 versus 0.914 4±0.177 6， P＜0.05〕， which was close to the result of RT-PCR〔0.158 9±0.223 7 versus 0.572 3±0.193 9， P＜0.05〕. Conclusions Absentexpre-ssion of RASSF1A gene in the colonic carcinoma tissue might play an important role in tumor genesis and tumor progre-ssion， and it might become useful early detection of the colonic carcinoma.