Cancer Fusion Hybrids and Desmoplasia

Clinical and preclinical evidence reveal that cancer cells may fuse with hematopoietic cells to obtain properties including migration, proliferation and drug resistance. The investigators hypothesize that cancer cell-macrophage fusion hybrids may lead to pancreatic cancer desmoplasia and progression. Murine tumor models using cre-loxP or gender-mismatched xenografts as well as pdx-cre-KrasLSL-G12D mice after bone marrow transplantation from reporter ROSA mice were established. Fusion hybrids and macrophage markers were detected using immunofluorescence staining and flowcytometry. In vitro co-culture using cre-loxP or dual fluorescence methods of pancreatic cancer cells with macrophages was used to evaluate the frequency of fusion phenomenon. The proliferative, migratory and resistant phenotypes of purified fusion hybrids were measured. Differentially expressed genes between fusion hybrids and non-fused cancer cells were compared by Affymetrix microarray analysis. The investigators are going to collect tumor tissues from cancer patients who received allographic bone marrow transplantation before. We will evaluate Y chromosome or short tandem repeats to identify donor- derived genes in cancer cells and demonstrate the clinical evidence of fusion between cancer cells and macrophages. The tumor tissues will be collected from the Pathology Department. Ten slides of 4-8um will be collected from twenty patients enrolled according to the inclusion criteria. The investigator will collect peripheral mononuclear cells from healthy volunteer ( eg. Donors for bone marrow transplantation) or hyperemia patients. The mononuclear cells will be induced to differentiate into macrophages and will be co-cultured with cancer cells in order to purify fusion hybrids. The fusion hybrids between cancer cells and macrophages will be evaluated for biologic characters including proliferation, radio-sensitivity, migration etc. The investigators planned to collect blood samples from Department of Laboratory Medicine, Blood bank. Thirty subjects of healthy volunteer or hyperemia patients will be enrolled. Ten to 20ml peripheral blood will be collected from each subjects for one time.

Sex

All

Inclusion Criteria:

prospective

1. normal peripheral blood laboratory results within one week.
2. hematopoietic cell growth factors are allowed for peripheral blood stem cell donors.
3. hyperemia patients. .
4. age 20 to 70.

retrospective

1. recipient of bone marrow transplantation and developed malignant tumor after transplantation.
2. tumor was resected or biopsied and preserved in Pathology Department. 4-8um thick, 10 slices.

Exclusion Criteria:

prospective

1. malignant cancer patients with no recurrent disease for less than 5 years
2. major cardiovascular disease, immnologic disease, pregnancy.
3. long term users of immuno-suppressants and steroids.

retrospective

(1)none.