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Objective: The current prospective randomized study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined intrapleural cisplatin and OK-432 (picibanil) plus hyperthermotherapy in patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Methods: A total of 358 patients with MPE due to end-stage malignancies were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups, A and B: the intrapleural combination of cisplatin and OK-432 with hyperthermotherapy (n == 179) or without hyperthermotherapy (n == 179), respectively. Mild toxicities such as nausea, vomiting or anorexia, bone marrow depression, and pyrexia were similar in both groups. Result: Patients in Group A (with hyperthermotherapy) showed a significantly higher overall response (93.4%%) compared to those in Group B (79.8%%, χ2 == 43.11, p < .05). The median survival time for patients in Group A and Group B were 8.9 and 6.2 months, respectively ( p > .05). After treatment, the quality of life scores were significantly increased in both groups as compared to prior treatment ( p < .05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study suggests that combined intrapleural cisplatin and OK-432 followed by hyperthermotherapy are more effective in the control of MPE and improve patients' quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein and mRNA expression of focal adhesion plaque associated cytoskeletons, including talin, vinculin, paxillin, and tensin, was studied using immunofluorescence in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 41 matched samples of human normal colorectal mucosae, primary colorectal adenocarcinomas, and 19 separate lymph node metastases. All specimens showed expression. The results showed talin, vinculin, tensin, and paxillin expression were correlated with carcinogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Talin, vinculin, and tensin underwent downregulation while paxillin went up. So these cytoskeletons may play bidirectional regulating roles during the progression of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]