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Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles
Example of a Well-Written Abstract (Basic Science Study) The following abstract is well written: Although several epidemiologic studies have shown an association between arsenic exposure and prostate cancer, it is still not known whether human prostate epithelial cells are directly susceptible to arsenic-induced transformation. This study was designed to determine whether the nontumorigenic human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 could be malignantly transformed in vitro by arsenite. RWPE-1 cells were continuously exposed to 5 µ M arsenite for up to 29 weeks and monitored for signs of transformation. Increase in matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels, a common finding in prostate malignancies, was considered indicative of transformation. The arsenite-exposed RWPE-1 cells (referred to as CAsE-PE cells) were then injected into nude mice, which were monitored for tumor growth for 10 weeks. To confirm the origin of resulting tumors, tumor sections were stained for human prostate–specific antigen by immunohistochemical analysis. After 29 weeks of exposure, the CAsE-PE cells showed a marked increase in matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion. Malignant transformation was confirmed when CAsE-PE cells produced aggressive undifferentiated malignant epithelial tumors in nude mice. The tumors stained positive for human prostate–specific antigen, confirming their origin. Thus, RWPE-1 cells can be malignantly transformed by arsenite. This is the first report of arsenite-induced malignant transformation of a human epithelial cell line, and our study provides an important in vitro model for identifying the mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced carcinogenesis in humans.
Adapted from Achanzar WE et al. Inorganic arsenite-induced malignant transformation of human prostate epithelial cells. J Natl Cancer Inst 94:1888–1891, 2002. Reprinted with permission.
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