[en] Objective: This study was to evaluate the efficacy of Samarium-153-EDTMP in breast cancer with bone metastases. Methods: 438 cases with advanced breast cancer that had metastatic bone pain were treated with ¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP at a dosage of 25.9 MBq/Kg once a month. One course of treatment was 3 to 4 times. Results: The results were evaluated according to the degree of pain relief, mobility, analgesic intake and general feeling. 52.7% (231/438) of patients got complete remission and 33.8% (148/438) incomplete remission. There was no response in the remaining 13.8% (59/438). 52 cases had improved bone scan findings. Conclusion: Palliative treatment of metastatic bone pain from breast cancer with ¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP improves the quality of life and may be safely repeated with the same benefit and without significant myelosuppression

[en] Effects of long-term intake of lanthanum in drinking water on the concentrations of twelve kinds of macro- and trace elements in rat brains were primarily studied by neutron activation analysis. The results show that, along with the elevation of the dose of lanthanum, more and more elements were affected in the rat brain tissues. Compared with control group, the concentrations of five elements were changed in the 1000 mg/L group. These elements have close relations with brain function. Accordingly, intake of lanthanum may have negative effects on brain function. (authors)

[en] The KRAB–zinc-finger protein ZNF545 was recently identified as a potential suppressor gene in several tumors. However, the regulatory mechanisms of ZNF545 in tumorigenesis remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression and roles of ZNF545 in multiple myeloma (MM). ZNF545 was frequently downregulated in MM tissues compared with non-tumor bone marrow tissues. ZNF545 expression was silenced by promoter methylation in MM cell lines, and could be restored by demethylation treatment. ZNF545 methylation was detected in 28.3% of MM tissues, compared with 4.3% of normal bone marrow tissues. ZNF545 transcriptionally activated the p53 signaling pathway but had no effect on Akt in MM, whereas ectopic expression of ZNF545 in silenced cells suppressed their proliferation and induced apoptosis. We therefore identified ZNF545 as a novel tumor suppressor inhibiting tumor growth through activation of the p53 pathway in MM. Moreover, tumor-specific methylation of ZNF545 may represent an epigenetic biomarker for MM diagnosis, and a potential target for specific therapy. -- Highlights: •Downregulated ZNF545 in MM tissues and cell lines and ectopic expression of ZNF545 suppresses tumor growth. •Tumor-specific methylation of ZNF545 represents an epigenetic biomarker for MM diagnosis, and a potential target for specific therapy. •ZNF545 exerts its tumor suppressive effects via transcriptional activating p53 pathway.