ABSTRACT. We investigated the expression level of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), myeloid cell leukemia-I (MCL-1), and p53 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and para-carcinoma tissues, as well as their clinical significance. The expression levels of PUMA, MCL-1, and p53 in RCC and para-carcinoma tissues were measured using immunohistochemical and quantitative real-time PCR methods. Correlations between protein expression and pathological characteristics were analyzed. Renal clear cell carcinoma showed elevated MCL-1 and p53 protein expression (P > 0.05) and reduced PUMA expression as compared to that in para-carcinoma tissues. Spearman ranking correlation analysis showed that expression of PUMA, MCL-1, and p53 in was negatively correlated with RCC (r = -0.504, P = 0.001; r = -0.413, P = 0.008). We also observed significant correlation between 2 H.B. Xia et al. Genetics and Molecular Research 16 (3): gmr16039278MCL-1 expression and tumor differentiation (P < 0.05), where MCL-1 expression was significantly higher in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma as compared to that in medium or lowly differentiated adenocarcinoma. In addition, p53 expression was highly correlated with TNM staging (P < 0.05). Single factor analysis on COX's proportional hazard model indicated that postoperative survival rate and prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma was highly correlated with TNM staging (P < 0.05). Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated higher expression of PUMA, MCL-1, and p53 in cancer tissues as compared to that in para-carcinoma tissues (P < 0.05).The expression of PUMA, MCL-1, and p53 can reflect the biological behavior of renal cell carcinoma, and can be used to indicate tumor invasion, progression, and prognosis.

ABSTRACT. This retrospective study aimed to observe the curative effect and adverse reactions of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with topotecan chemotherapy in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The chemoradiotherapy group (N = 22) received 15 mv X-rays with 1.8 to 2.0 Gy/f/d radiation, 5 times per week. The total dose was 45 to 65 Gy; the median dose was 52.5 Gy. Topotecan chemotherapy (2.0 mg/m 2 ) was administered after the first week of radiotherapy 2 ) in the first week, and the dose was administered on days 1, 8, and 15; it was repeated every 28 days. The median follow-up times were 18.5 months (2 to 37.7) and 10.8 months (1.5 to 29.6) in the chemoradiotherapy and in the only chemotherapy groups, respectively. The total response rates were 42.1% (8/19) and 11.1% (2/18), respectively. The clinical benefit rates were 68.4% (13/19) and 22.2% (4/18), respectively, with significant difference (P < 0.05). The median disease progression-free periods were 9.8 and 6.6 months, respectively, with significant difference (P < 0.001). The median survival times were 19.7 and 12.5 months, respectively, with significant difference (P < 0.05). The degrees of digestive tract reaction rates were 26.3% (5/19) and 16.7% (3/18), whereas the hematology toxicity rates were 21.1% (4/19) and 22.2% (4/18), respectively, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). As threedimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with topotecan chemotherapy had good curative effect on platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, with mild adverse reactions, this technique can be used as a remedial measure.