Galectin-3 (gal-3), a member of the B-galactoside-binding proteins family, was identified as a binding partner of Bcatenin. Analysis of the human gal-3 sequence reveled a structural similarity to B-catenin as it also contains the consensus sequence (S 92 XXXS 96 ) for glycogen synthase kinase-3B (GSK-3B) phosphorylation and can serve as its substrate. In addition, Axin, a regulator protein of Wnt that complexes with B-catenin, also binds gal-3 using the same sequence motif identified here by a deletion mutant analysis. The data presented here give credence to the suggestion that gal-3 is a key regulator in the Wnt/B-catenin signaling pathway and highlight the functional similarities between gal-3 and Bcatenin.

It is well known that phosphoglucose isomerase/autocrine motility factor (AMF) promotes cell migration in an autocrine manner in various tumor cells. However, it remains unclear whether certain cytokines modulate the effects of AMF on tumor cell migration. Because interleukin (IL)-8, a proinflammatory cytokine, is produced by melanoma cells and has been correlated with melanoma migration, the migratory ability of melanoma cells induced by AMF may also involve induction of IL-8 expression. In the present study, we assessed whether AMF promotes melanoma cell migration through autocrine production of IL-8. We found that AMF stimulation increased IL-8 production through up-regulation of IL-8 mRNA transcription, especially in biologically early stage melanoma cells. AMF-induced migration of these cells was inhibited by a specific neutralizing antibody against IL-8. The IL-8 production induced by AMF was mediated by the ERK1/2 pathways. These findings suggest that melanoma migration induced by AMF is mediated by autocrine production of IL-8 as a novel downstream modulator of the AMF signaling pathway.

PTPE could be the first choice for patients with hCC, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatic metastases. Although the TIPE proposed here has some potential disadvantages, we would recommend it especially for patients with GB cancer because of its high potential to cause cancerous peritonitis. When a patient had predisposing cholangitis, radical operation should be scheduled on >21 days after PVE rather than on 14 days.

HBO promoted regeneration of biliary ductal cells and improved postoperative cholestasis after a partial hepatectomy.

In order to obtain a guide line for the best selection of the reconstructive technique of the cervical esophagus after total laryngopharyngectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer, the incidence of salivary fistula was investigated and statistically analyzed in every patient with different local condition that may be embellished mostly in response to the total dose of preoperative radiotherapy.The flaps investigated are DP, slit technique of DP, pectoralis major myocutaneous, skin grafted pectoralis major muscle and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps.As the result of statistical analysis, we conclude that the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap must be utilized as the first choice in patients without preoperative radiotherapy or irradiated by the total dose less than 46 Gy, and that the slit technique of DP is much safer in patients irradiated more than 60 Gy.