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Cancer cells often develop drug resistance. In cisplatin-resistant HeLa cisR cells, fibroblast growth factor 13 (FGF13/FHF2) gene and protein expression was strongly upregulated, and intracellular platinum concentrations were kept low. When the FGF13 expression was suppressed, both the cells' resistance to platinum drugs and their ability to keep intracellular platinum low were abolished. Overexpression of FGF13 in parent cells led to greater resistance to cisplatin and reductions in the intracellular platinum concentration. These cisplatin-resistant cells also showed increased resistance to copper. In preoperative cervical cancer biopsy samples from poor prognoses patients after cisplatin chemoradiotherapy, FGF13-positive cells were detected more abundantly than in the biopsy samples from patients with good prognoses. These results suggest that FGF13 plays a pivotal role in mediating resistance to platinum drugs, possibly via a mechanism shared by platinum and copper. Our results point to FGF13 as a novel target and useful prognostic guide for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an ink-jet system which allows arrangements of dots with a submicron minimum size. Using an ultra-fine silver paste, we achieved the direct print of metallic wires of only a few micrometers in width without any pre-patterning treatment of the substrate, hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterning, bank patterning etc. We also propose an application, such as direct printing of ultra-fine redistribution wiring for a build-up board and/or package. Since all of these processes can be carried out at atmospheric pressure on the desktop without special treatment of the substrate. The direct fabrication process using ink-jet printing can be expected to be a powerful tool for both nanotechnology research and applications such as micro electronics, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]