Global cancer statistics, 2012

Prognostic value of cytokeratin 19 in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have investigated the relationship between cytokeratin 19 (CK-19) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognostic value of CK-19 in HCC remains inconclusive.

METHODS

Eligible studies were sought in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Wanfang databases. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

17 studies with 2943 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed that CK-19 over-expression was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) (HR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.32-1.93, univariate analysis; HR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.79-2.83, multivariate analysis) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.35-2.10, univariate analysis; HR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.54-2.53, multivariate analysis). Meanwhile, CK-19 over-expression was also correlated with decreased 1-year OS rate (OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.21-0.50), 5-year OS rate (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.14-0.87) and 1-year DFS rate (OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.34-0.76), but not with 5-year DFS rate (OR=0.62, 95% CI: 0.35-1.10). These results suggested that CK-19 over-expression was significantly associated with poor survival rate and early tumor recurrence rate in HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CK-19 can serve as an indicator of poor prognosis as well as a novel target for treatment in HCC.

New tumour antigen PLAC1/CP1, a potentially useful prognostic marker and immunotherapy target for gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM

To evaluate protein expression and clinical significance of PLAC1/CP1 antigen in primary gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Protein expression of PLAC1/CP1 was analysed by tissue chip and immunohistochemistry in surgical specimens obtained from 119 patients with gastric cancer. The data were analysed using SPSS V.16.0 software applying the χ(2) test and Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The positive expression frequency of PLAC1/CP1 protein was 61.3% (73/119 patients). The overall survival of patients with PLAC1/CP1 protein-positive expression was significantly lower than that of patients with PLAC1/CP1 protein-negative expression (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between PLAC1/CP1 expression and patient gender, age, tumour position, tumour size, differentiation, gross type, lymph node or TNM stage.

CONCLUSIONS

PLAC1/CP1 protein is expressed in over half of cases of primary gastric cancer, and PLAC1/CP1 protein expression is inversely correlated with patient survival. The data indicate that PLAC1/CP1 provides a marker for identifying gastric cancers with poor prognosis, and suggest that PLAC1/CP1 may provide a useful target for immunotherapy.

miR-503 suppresses metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell by targeting PRMT1

Accumulating evidence indicates that microRNAs function as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in human cancer. MiR-503 is deregulated in various human cancers and has been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the underlying mechanisms of miR-503 involvement in the development and progression of HCC remains poorly understood. In the present study, we report that miR-503 suppresses cell metastasis in HCC through targeting the protein arginine methyl transferase 1 (PRMT1) mRNA. Notably, we identified that miR-503 was able to target 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PRMT1 mRNA by luciferase reporter gene assays. Then, we revealed that miR-503 was able to reduce the expression of PRMT1 at the levels of mRNA and protein using RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. The expression levels of miR-503 were negatively related to those of PRMT1 mRNA in clinical HCC tissues. In terms of function, transwell and wound healing assays demonstrated that the miR-503 remarkably inhibited invasion and migration of HCC cells, which was reversed by overexpressed PRMT1. Furthermore, exogenous expression of miR-503 dramatically suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via PRMT1 in HCC cells. In conclusion, we denomstrated PRMT1 as a novel target gene of miR-503 and miR-503-mediated PRMT1 could also emerge as a potential important biomarker for HCC.

Long-term survival after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in metastatic breast cancer

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

The most common indication for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in the 1990s was breast cancer. Several randomized trials and a more recent meta-analysis failed to show a survival benefit for AHCT in metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, they demonstrated a better-than-expected 10-year to 15-year survival in 5-15% of patients. We thus evaluated the long-term results of treatment with HDC and AHCT in MBC at our institution.

METHODS

From 1984 to 2000, 285 patients underwent AHCT for MBC. The patient characteristics were collected through the Cleveland Clinic, United Transplant Database. A retrospective review of the medical records of the long-term surviving breast-cancer patients treated with HDC and AHCT was conducted.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 169 months, 34 (12%) remain alive. Of the 251 patients who died, 218 (87%) died of metastatic disease. A comparison by age (<50 years and >50 years) and hormonal status did not demonstrate any differences in relapse (p=.33 and p=.32, respectively) or survival (p=.13 and p=.42). Of the 34 long-term survivors, sufficient data were available on 28 patients, and further evaluation revealed that the majority had a primary or locally recurrent oligometastatic disease.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent AHCT for MBC demonstrates long-term survival in a small subset of patients, primarily those with primary or recurrent oligometastatic disease. Oligometastatic breast cancer is a distinct entity within MBC, which may be curable with multimodality therapy. We thus conclude there remains no overall-survival benefit to HDC in MBC.

Association of Dietary Vitamin D and Calcium With Genetic Polymorphisms in Colorectal Neoplasia

The incidence trends of colorectal cancer have varied over time, and there is wide geographical variation across the world. Regarding colorectal cancer, diverse modifiable environmental or intrinsic risk factors have been investigated. This review summarizes the effects of both dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium in particular and diet-associated genetic factors on colorectal cancer risk. We searched the electronic database PubMed for articles published between January 2000 and March 2015. We reviewed case-control studies that included dietary factors, genetic polymorphisms, and gene-diet interactions in association with colorectal cancer risk. Overall, 21 studies were selected as eligible studies. These studies demonstrated that dietary consumption of vitamin D and calcium may decrease the risk of colorectal cancer or adenoma. Colorectal carcinogenesis was discussed in conjunction with dietary factors and mediating genetic factors. The epidemiological findings suggested that the gene-diet interactions may possibly alter the associations between dietary intake, genetic polymorphisms, and the risk of colorectal cancer. However, the reported effects of the same potential factors on colorectal cancer risk were inconsistent, depending on the study population and geographical location. This finding may imply the necessity of considering the environmental differences and genetic variations existing between individuals or specified populations. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate modifiable risk factors in diverse locations to derive useful implications for colorectal neoplasia.

Elevated Rictor expression is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer

The rapamycin insensitive companion of mTOR (Rictor) is an essential subunit of mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), maintains the integrity of the complex and functions as regulator of Akt full activation. Rictor has been implicated to be involved in growth and progression of malignancies, however, little is known about its expression and prognostic role in gastric cancer in particular. Therefore, we investigated the relationship of Rictor expression with clinical outcomes, together with pAktSer473 and pS6, two downstream substrates of mTORC2 and mTORC1, in 396 gastric cancer tissue samples via immunohistochemistry. The results showed that 74.0% and 55.8% of tumors were Rictor and pAktSer473 positive staining, respectively, which correlated well with each other. Patients with positive expressions had poorer overall survival and relapse-free survival compared with those negative staining. Both Rictor and pAktSer473 expression were associated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and WHO grading. Rictor was also correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion, and tumor thrombus, while pAktSer473 was also correlated with distant metastasis. In spite of 67.4% expression rate was presented in gastric cancer tissues, no significant association was observed between pS6Ser235/236, representing mTORC1 activity, and clinicopathological features or prognosis. These results suggest that mTORC2/Rictor/pAkt may play a more important role than mTORC1/pS6 in tumor progression, which could act as a prognostic biomarker or potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

UHRF1 promotes proliferation of gastric cancer via mediating tumor suppressor gene hypermethylation

Epigenetic changes play significant roles in cancer development. UHRF1, an epigenetic regulator, has been shown to be overexpressed and to coordinate tumor suppressor gene (TSG) silencing in several cancers. In a previous study, we found that UHRF1 promoted gastric cancer (GC) invasion and metastasis. However, the role and underlying mechanism of UHRF1 in GC carcinogenesis remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated UHRF1 expression and function in GC proliferation and explored its downstream regulatory mechanism. The results demonstrated that UHRF1 overexpression was an independent and significant predictor of GC prognosis. Downregulation of UHRF1 suppressed GC proliferation and growth in vitro and in vivo, and UHRF1 upregulation showed opposite effects. Furthermore, downregulation of UHRF1 reactivated 7 TSGs, including CDX2, CDKN2A, RUNX3, FOXO4, PPARG, BRCA1 and PML, via promoter demethylation. These results provide insight into the GC proliferation process, and suggest that targeting UHRF1 represents a new therapeutic approach to block GC development.

Green tea, black tea consumption and risk of endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have assessed the association between green and black tea consumption and the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) and have yielded inconsistent results.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to systematically analyze the effect of green tea and black tea on EC risk.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and China Biological Medicine Database were searched through February 2, 2015 to identify studies that met pre-stated inclusion criteria. Overall relative risk (RR) was estimated based on the highest and lowest levels of green/black tea consumption. Dose-response relationships were evaluated with the data from categories of green/black tea intake in each study.

RESULTS

For green tea, the summary RR indicated that the highest green tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of EC (RR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.66-0.92). Furthermore, an increase in green tea consumption of one cup per day was associated with an 11 % decreased risk of developing EC. (RR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.84-0.94). For black tea, no statistically significant association was observed in the meta-analysis (highest versus non/lowest, RR 0.99, 95 % CI 0.79-1.23; increment of one cup/day, RR 0.99, 95 % CI 0.94-1.03). The power of the estimate of green tea and black tea with risk of EC was 84.33 and 5.07 %, respectively. The quality of evidence for the association between green and black tea with EC risk was moderate and very low, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this meta-analysis indicate that green tea, but not black tea, may be related to a reduction of EC risk. Large population-based randomized controlled trials and large prospective cohort studies are required to obtain a definitive conclusion and determine the mechanisms underlying this association.

Correcting the Shrinkage Effects of Formalin Fixation and Tissue Processing for Renal Tumors: toward Standardization of Pathological Reporting of Tumor Size

Given the importance of correctly staging renal cell carcinomas, specific guidelines should be in place for tumor size measurement. While a standard means of renal tumor measurement has not been established, intuitively, tumor size should be based on fresh measurements. We sought to assess the accuracy of postfixation and microscopic measurements of renal tumor size, as compared to fresh measurements and radiographic size. Thirty-four nephrectomy cases performed by a single surgeon were prospectively measured at different time points. The study cases included 23 clear cell renal cell carcinomas, 6 papillary renal cell carcinomas, and 5 other renal tumors. Radiologic tumors were 12.1% larger in diameter than fresh tumors (P<0.01). Furthermore, fresh specimens were 4.6% larger than formalin-fixed specimens (P<0.01), and postfixation measurements were 7.1% greater than microscopic measurements (P<0.01). The overall mean percentage of shrinkage between fresh and histological specimens was 11.4% (P<0.01). Histological processing would cause a tumor stage shift from pT1b to pT1a for two tumors in this study. The shrinkage effects of formalin fixation and histological processing may result in understaging of renal cell carcinomas. The shrinkage factor should be considered when reporting tumor size.

Predictive biomarkers in precision medicine and drug development against lung cancer

The molecular characterization of various cancers has shown that cancers with the same origins, histopathologic diagnoses, and clinical stages can be highly heterogeneous in their genetic and epigenetic alterations that cause tumorigenesis. A number of cancer driver genes with functional abnormalities that trigger malignant transformation and that are required for the survival of cancer cells have been identified. Therapeutic agents targeting some of these cancer drivers have been successfully developed, resulting in substantial improvements in clinical symptom amelioration and outcomes in a subset of cancer patients. However, because such therapeutic drugs often benefit only a limited number of patients, the successes of clinical development and applications rely on the ability to identify those patients who are sensitive to the targeted therapies. Thus, biomarkers that can predict treatment responses are critical for the success of precision therapy for cancer patients and of anticancer drug development. This review discusses the molecular heterogeneity of lung cancer pathogenesis; predictive biomarkers for precision medicine in lung cancer therapy with drugs targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), c-ros oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1), and immune checkpoints; biomarkers associated with resistance to these therapeutics; and approaches to identify predictive biomarkers in anticancer drug development. The identification of predictive biomarkers during anticancer drug development is expected to greatly facilitate such development because it will increase the chance of success or reduce the attrition rate. Additionally, such identification will accelerate the drug approval process by providing effective patient stratification strategies in clinical trials to reduce the sample size required to demonstrate clinical benefits.

A population-based study elicits a reverse correlation between age and overall survival in elderly patients with rectal carcinoma receiving adjuvant chemotherapy

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death globally. This population-based study aimed to explore the predictive factors that affected the overall survival of rectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery using a Cox proportional hazards modeling approach. A total of 619 patients with rectal cancer who underwent surgery were enrolled between October 2006 and May 2013. Clinical characteristics of the patients were compared among the groups and potential prognostic factors were analyzed using the spss program, version 19.0. Patients aged ≥ 70 years have distinctive characteristics such as lager tumour size (≥ 5 cm), damaged micturition and higher incidence of diabetes compared to younger and middle-aged patients. Male gender, tumour size (≥ 5 cm), poor differentiation, later stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, damaged micturition, hypertension or diabetes are associated with a worse prognosis for rectal cancer patients (P < 0.05). However, smoking is a favourable factor to the patients (P = 0.018). Age of ≥ 70 years is an independent prognostic factor for patients with rectal cancer after surgery (P = 0.000) and elderly patients with Stage II and III disease receiving adjuvant chemotherapy show a favourable prognosis. The elderly patients who suffered from diabetes receiving adjuvant chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. Further prospective and large population studies are warranted to confirm the findings of this study.

Differential expression of bone morphogenetic protein 5 in human lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion. However, the expression patterns of BMPs in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their correlations with NSCLC pathogenesis have not been examined yet. In this study, the mRNA levels of BMP family members in NSCLC tissues were analyzed and results showed that the mRNA levels of BMP5 and BMP7 were significantly down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, in tumor tissues compared with those in the corresponding noncancerous tissues. Interestingly, the mRNA level of BMP5 was significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than that in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, results from immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed stronger expression of BMP5 protein in lung adenocarcinoma than in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Our findings suggested that BMP5 might be a potential prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target for patients with NSCLC.

Rectal and colon cancer: Not just a different anatomic site

Due to differences in anatomy, primary rectal and colon cancer require different staging procedures, different neo-adjuvant treatment and different surgical approaches. For example, neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is administered solely for rectal cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer might be responsible in part for the differing effect of adjuvant systemic treatment on overall survival, which is more evident in colon cancer than in rectal cancer. Apart from anatomic divergences, rectal and colon cancer also differ in their embryological origin and metastatic patterns. Moreover, they harbor a different composition of drug targets, such as v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF), which is preferentially mutated in proximal colon cancers, and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is prevalently amplified or overexpressed in distal colorectal cancers. Despite their differences in metastatic pattern, composition of drug targets and earlier local treatment, metastatic rectal and colon cancer are, however, commonly regarded as one entity and are treated alike. In this review, we focused on rectal cancer and its biological and clinical differences and similarities relative to colon cancer. These aspects are crucial because they influence the current staging and treatment of these cancers, and might influence the design of future trials with targeted drugs.

High expression of CD39/ENTPD1 in malignant epithelial cells of human rectal adenocarcinoma

The ectonucleotidase CD39 is pivotal in the conversion of immunostimulatory adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into immunosuppressive adenosine which potently inhibits host immune responses against cancer. This study investigated the expression level and prognostic significance of CD39 in human rectal adenocarcinoma. Our data demonstrated that CD39 staining strongly marked malignant epithelial cells where the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of CD39 were significantly increased compared with paracancerous controls. In addition to primary tumors, CD39 was also abundantly expressed in liver metastases and tumor-draining lymph nodes from metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma. Although patients with higher CD39 density in tumor cells were more likely to have favorable characteristics (early TNM and N stages) and overall survival, the singular parameter cannot be used as an independent factor for predicting patients' prognosis. Intriguingly, combined analysis of CD39 and CD73 expression was more efficient to foretell patient's outcome where patients with increased CD73 but decreased CD39 levels displayed a worst prognosis. Taken together, the current study revealed that malignant epithelial cells of human rectal adenocarcinoma strongly express CD39 that may play a potential role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. Although high expression of CD39 in tumor cells is correlated with favorable clinical outcome, the combination of CD39 and CD73 expression may have a better prognostic value.

Lung cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2011

Background

The National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) of China is responsible for cancer surveillance. Cancer registration data from registries located in each province are submitted annually to the NCCR for analysis and publication. The lung cancer incidences, and mortalities were estimated in 2011 in China by NCCR.

Methods

In 2014, 234 population‐based cancer registries' data in 2011 were submitted to the NCCR and 177 cancer registries' data were selected after quality evaluation. The selected data were classified into urban and rural areas; the crude incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer were calculated by age and gender. Age‐standardized rates were calculated by China and World standard population. The 6^thNational Population Census data of China was used to estimate the 2011 lung cancer burden in China.

Results

Lung cancer remained the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in China in 2011. Lung cancer incidence and mortality were higher in men and urban areas than those in women and rural areas. The rates were relatively low in patients under 40 years of age, and dramatically increased after age 40, reaching a peak in patients aged 80–84.

Conclusion

The burden of lung cancer was serious in China in 2011, especially for men in urban areas. Effective methods of intervention, such as air pollution and smoking controls, should be enhanced in the future.

Potential Role of Circulating microRNA-21 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Circulating microRNA-21 (miR-21) is known to be aberrantly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and this implies that microRNA-21 is a promising and novel indicator of HCC. However, a systematic evaluation of the performance of microRNA-21 as a diagnostic marker for HCC has yet to be conducted. Therefore, the test performance of circulating miR-21 for HCC was assessed in this study.

METHODS

Three common international databases and a Chinese electronic database were used to search for literature on the diagnostic accuracy of microRNA-21 for HCC. The pooled results included the sensitivity and specificity of microRNA-21 for HCC detection and were analyzed with a random effect model. The area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to estimate overall test performance.

RESULTS

A total of 339 HCC patients and 338 controls without HCC from four published studies were eligible for the meta-analysis and included in our study. The test performance of circulating miR-21 in HCC detection was assessed with the summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity, which were 81.2% (95% CI: 70.8% to 88.4%) and 84.8% (95% CI: 75.1% to 91.2%), respectively. The value of AUC was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87 to 0.92). Significant inter-study heterogeneity was detected by our analysis, and sub-group analyses suggested that the type of control group was probably a source of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current findings suggested that circulating miR-21 can serve as a potential co-biomarker for early-stage HCC diagnosis. Thorough large-scale studies are needed to confirm the generalizability of our findings.

Differentially expressed and activated proteins associated with non small cell lung cancer tissues

Background

Lung cancer is a leading cause of mortality. The most common cancer subtype, non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounts for 85-90 % all cases and is mainly caused by environmental and genetic factors. Mechanisms involved in lung carcinogenesis include deregulation of several kinases and molecular pathways affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Despite advances in lung cancer detection, diagnosis and staging, survival rate still remains poor and novel biomarkers for both diagnosis and therapy need to be identified. In the present study, we have explored the potential of novel specific biomarkers in the diagnosis of NSCLC, and the over-expression/activation of several kinases involved in disease development and progression.

Method

Lung tumor tissue specimens and adjacent cancer-free tissues from 8 NSCLC patients undergoing surgery were collected. The differential activation status of ERK1/2, AKT and IKBα/NF-κβ was analyzed. Subsequently, protein expression profile of NSCLC vs normal surrounding tissue was compared by a proteomic approach using LC-MS MS. Subsequently, MS/MS outputs were analyzed by the Protein Discoverer platform for label-free quantitation analysis. Finally, results were confirmed by western blotting analysis.

Results

This study confirms the involvement of ERK1/2, AKT, IKBα and NF-κβ proteins in NSCLC demonstrating a significant over-activation of all tested proteins. Furthermore, we found significant differential expression of 20 proteins (R_sc ≥ 1.50 or ≤ −1.50) of which 7 are under-expressed and 13 over-expressed in NSCLC lung tissues. Finally, we validated, by western blotting, the two most under-expressed NSCLC tissue proteins, carbonic anhydrase I and II isoforms.

Conclusion

Our data further support the possibility of developing both diagnostic tests and innovative targeted therapy in NSCLC. In addition to selective inhibitors of ERK1/2, AKT, IKBα and NF-κβ, as therapeutic options, our data, for the first time, indicates carbonic anhydrase I and II as attractive targets for development of diagnostic tools enabling selection of patients for a more specific therapy in NSCLC.

Bilateral breast cancer with a unilateral carcinoma within a fibroadenoma: A case report

Fibroadenomas are a type of benign tumor that occur in young women below the age of 35 years old. The tumors are the second most common type of tumor after fibrocystic disease. The chance of carcinoma arising in a fibroadenoma is extremely low. To date, <130 such cases have been reported. Previous studies have reported that fibroadenomas can evolve into a number of different types of malignancy. The present study is the first to describe a case of bilateral primary breast cancer with a unilateral invasive ductal carcinoma within a fibroadenoma. The current study presents a case of a 48-year-old female who presented with 2 stiff lumps on bilateral breasts, diagnosed as bilateral breast carcinoma, with a unilateral invasive ductal carcinoma within a fibroadenoma in the right breast. The patient underwent a bilateral mastectomy and subsequently received 4 cycles of chemotherapy (epirubicin, 60 mg/m² and cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m²) every 21 days, followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel chemotherapy (100 mg/m²) every 21 days. The patient then received maintenance endocrine therapy (tamoxifen, 20 mg, twice daily) for 19 months. The patient was followed up every 3 months, and at the last follow-up examination in May 2015, the patient exhibited no signs of recurrence.

Combinational Treatment of Curcumin and Quercetin against Gastric Cancer MGC-803 Cells in Vitro

Gastric cancer remains a major health problem worldwide. Natural products, with stronger antitumor activity and fewer side effects, are potential candidates for pharmaceutical development as anticancer agents. In this study, quercetin and curcumin were chosen for testing and were applied separately and in combination to human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. The MTT assay was used to evaluate cell growth inhibition. Annexin V-FITC/PI was carried out to measure apoptosis rate. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze mitochondrial membrane potential levels. Western blots were applied to detect expression of cytochrome c, total and phosphorylated ERK and AKT. Combined treatment with curcumin and quercetin resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation, accompanied by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), release of cytochrome c and decreased phosphorylation of AKT and ERK. These results indicate that the combination of curcumin and quercetin induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Notably, effect of combined treatment with curcumin and quercetin on gastric cancer MGC-803 cells is stronger than that of individual treatment, indicating that curcumin and quercetin combinations have potential as anti-gastric cancer drugs for further development.

Quantum dot-based multispectral fluorescent imaging to quantitatively study co-expressions of Ki67 and HER2 in breast cancer

Both Ki67 and HER2 are key prognostic molecules for invasive breast cancer (BC), but the individual relative impacts on prognosis of these molecules are not known. This study was aimed at establishing a quantum dot (QD)-based double-color in-situ quantitative imaging technique to study the co-expressions of Ki67 and HER2, and delineate the individual impacts of these molecules on prognosis. The QD-based fluorescent immunostaining technique could simultaneously image the co-expressions of Ki67 and HER2 in BC specimens, with the former stained as clear red fluorescence in cancer cell nucleus, and the latter as bright green fluorescence on cancer cell membrane. Both Ki67 and HER2 expressions were significantly correlated with 8-year disease free survival (8-DFS) (P<0.05). However, the two molecules had different weights in terms of negative impacts on clinical prognosis. The median 8-DFS was statistically significantly shorter in High-Ki67 High-HER2 subgroup than Low-Ki67 High-HER2 subgroup (11.7 vs. 60.1months, P<0.05), shorter in High-Ki67 Low-HER2 subgroup than Low-Ki67 Low-HER2 subgroup (16.4 vs. 96.0months, P<0.01), shorter in High-Ki67 High-HER2 subgroup than Low-Ki67 Low-HER2 subgroup (11.7 vs. 96.0months, P<0.01), but there were no statistically significant differences in median 8-DFS between High-Ki67 Low-HER2 subgroup and High-Ki67 High-HER2 subgroup (11.7 vs. 16.4months, P=0.586). The hazard ratio (HR) of Ki67 negative impact on 8-DFS was about 3 fold of that of HER2 (HR 4.493 vs. 1.481). This study demonstrated that QD-based fluorescent imaging technique could help the quantitative study on the co-expressions of Ki67 and HER2 in BC, and Ki67 has a greater negative impact on BC prognosis than HER2.

Can Some Marine-Derived Fungal Metabolites Become Actual Anticancer Agents?

Marine fungi are known to produce structurally unique secondary metabolites, and more than 1000 marine fungal-derived metabolites have already been reported. Despite the absence of marine fungal-derived metabolites in the current clinical pipeline, dozens of them have been classified as potential chemotherapy candidates because of their anticancer activity. Over the last decade, several comprehensive reviews have covered the potential anticancer activity of marine fungal-derived metabolites. However, these reviews consider the term "cytotoxicity" to be synonymous with "anticancer agent", which is not actually true. Indeed, a cytotoxic compound is by definition a poisonous compound. To become a potential anticancer agent, a cytotoxic compound must at least display (i) selectivity between normal and cancer cells (ii) activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells; and (iii) a preferentially non-apoptotic cell death mechanism, as it is now well known that a high proportion of cancer cells that resist chemotherapy are in fact apoptosis-resistant cancer cells against which pro-apoptotic drugs have more than limited efficacy. The present review thus focuses on the cytotoxic marine fungal-derived metabolites whose ability to kill cancer cells has been reported in the literature. Particular attention is paid to the compounds that kill cancer cells through non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms.

E2F1 promote the aggressiveness of human colorectal cancer by activating the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2

As the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit, the high expression of ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2 (RRM2) induces cancer and contributes to tumor growth and invasion. In several colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, we found that the expression levels of RRM2 were closely related to the transcription factor E2F1. Mechanistic studies were conducted to determine the molecular basis. Ectopic overexpression of E2F1 promoted RRM2 transactivation while knockdown of E2F1 reduced the levels of RRM2 mRNA and protein. To further investigate the roles of RRM2 which was activated by E2F1 in CRC, CCK-8 assay and EdU incorporation assay were performed. Overexpression of E2F1 promoted cell proliferation in CRC cells, which was blocked by RRM2 knockdown attenuation. In the migration and invasion tests, overexpression of E2F1 enhanced the migration and invasion of CRC cells which was abrogated by silencing RRM2. Besides, overexpression of RRM2 reversed the effects of E2F1 knockdown partially in CRC cells. Examination of clinical CRC specimens demonstrated that both RRM2 and E2F1 were elevated in most cancer tissues compared to the paired normal tissues. Further analysis showed that the protein expression levels of E2F1 and RRM2 were parallel with each other and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM), TNM stage and distant metastasis. Consistently, the patients with low E2F1 and RRM2 levels have a better prognosis than those with high levels. Therefore, we suggest that E2F1 can promote CRC proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis by regulating RRM2 transactivation. Understanding the role of E2F1 in activating RRM2 transcription will help to explain the relationship between E2F1 and RRM2 in CRC and provide a novel predictive marker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

MiR-570 inhibited the cell proliferation and invasion through directly targeting B7-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

A recent study reported that miR-570 was the most important microRNA in the microRNA gene networks of alcoholic liver disease that has the potential of progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, litter is known regarding the expression and specific function of miR-570 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially its molecular mechanisms by which miR-570 exerts its functions and modulates the malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Here, we observed that miR-570 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (Bel-7404, Huh-7, and HepG2), while B7-H1 was lowly expressed, compared to nonmalignant cell line (L-02 and HL-7702). Transfection of miR-570 mimics or knockdown of B-H1 suppressed the expression of B7-H1, which promotes cell apoptosis and inhibits the cell proliferation and invasion. Using a dual-luciferase reporter system, we verified that B7-H1 is a direct target of miR-570. The overexpression of B7-H1 reversed the inhibition of proliferation and invasion by miR-570. In addition, miR-570 suppressed tumorigenicity in vivo. Hence, our observation confirmed that miR-570 works as proliferation and metastatic suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through directly targeting B7-H1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell and rationally presents that miR-570 has the potential to be a useful clinical noninvasive diagnostics or predictive marker in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Impact of hepatitis C virus eradication on hepatocellular carcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents one of the most common risk factors for HCC development, and cases of HCV-related complications have been rising over the last 2 decades. Although the standard for HCV therapy has been interferon (IFN)-based for many years, the therapeutic revolution spurred by the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) promises to usher in a new era in which chronic HCV becomes a rare disease. On the basis of long-term follow-up of patients experiencing IFN-based sustained virological responses (SVRs), it can be expected that rates of HCV-associated HCC will decrease significantly after the widespread adoption of DAAs, but there remains a persistent risk for HCC even among some patients with advanced fibrosis who have achieved SVR. As such, individuals treated for HCV with advanced fibrosis should continue to be screened regularly for HCC after SVR. Furthermore, as the population of SVR patients grows, it will become imperative to accurately identify those individuals at high risk for developing HCC, appropriately allocate resources for screening, and consider cost-effective chemopreventive strategies. Risk factors include preexisting advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis, older age, diabetes mellitus, and ethanol use. In addition, laboratory biomarkers and genetic signatures are currently being identified that not only predict the likelihood of HCC development in SVR patients but also may serve as dynamic indicators of therapeutic response.

Gastric cancer and gene copy number variation: emerging cancer drivers for targeted therapy

Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most common malignancy in the world with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. It has been established that gastric carcinogenesis is caused by a complex interaction between host and environmental factors. Copy number variation (CNV) refers to a form of genomic structural variation that results in abnormal gene copy numbers, including gene amplification, gain, loss and deletion. DNA CNV is an important influential factor for the expression of both protein-coding and non-coding genes, affecting the activity of various signaling pathways. CNV arises as a result of preferential selection that favors cancer development, and thus, targeting the amplified 'driver genes' in GC may provide novel opportunities for personalized therapy. The detection of CNVs in chromosomal or mitochondrial DNA from tissue or blood samples may assist the diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy of GC. In this review, we discuss the recent CNV discoveries that shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of GC, with a specific emphasis on CNVs that display diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic significances in GC.

Deregulated HOXB7 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis of Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates Cancer Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo

Background

We observed abnormal HOXB7 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) previously. This study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of HOXB7 and reveal the potential mechanism.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the abnormal expression of HOXB7 in ESCC. The prognostic significance of HOXB7 expression was analyzed in two independent cohorts. RNAi was used to establish two stable HOXB7-knockdown cell strains. CCK8 assay, cell growth curve assay, colony formation assay, flow cycle analysis and tumorigenicity assay in nude mice were employed to investigate the effect of HOXB7 on proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Immunohistochemistry confirmed the abnormal expression of HOXB7 in ESCC compared with paracancerous mucosa (18/23 vs. 9/23, p=0.039). HOXB7 expression was positively correlated with the T stage, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. The median survival of patients with high HOXB7 expression was significantly shorter than that with low expression (45 months vs. 137 months, p = 0.007 for cohort 1; 19 months vs. 34 months, p = 0.001 for cohort 2). Multivariate survival analysis showed that HOXB7 expression was another independent prognostic factor (HR [95% CI] = 0.573 [0.341–0.963], p = 0.036 for cohort 1; HR [95%CI] = 0.543 [0.350–0.844], p = 0.024 for cohort 2). Experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that after knockdown of HOXB7, the proliferation rate dropped, growth rate descended, colony-formation ability reduced, G1-phase arrest occurred and the tumorigenicity reduced remarkably.

Conclusions

HOXB7 could promote cancer cell proliferation and might be an independent prognostic factor for patients with ESCC.

Visceral Kaposi's Sarcoma Presenting as Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome- (AIDS-) related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has decreased dramatically. While cutaneous KS is the most common and well-known manifestation, knowledge of alternative sites such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is important. GI-KS is particularly dangerous because of its potential for serious complications including perforation, obstruction, or bleeding. We report a rare case of GI-KS presenting as upper GI bleeding in a human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) infected transgendered individual. Prompt diagnosis and early initiation of therapy are the cornerstones for management of this potentially severe disease.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) among women in urban Tianjin, China

To investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women in urban Tianjin, China. A cervical cancer screening program for 2,000 women aged 21-65 years old was performed in urban Tianjin from April to October in 2013. The program included ThinPrep cytologic tests (TCT), HPV DNA detection and genotyping using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with Pyrosequencing technology. Colposcopy examination and biopsy were needed if TCT reported greater or equal atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). One thousand nine hundred seventy-eight women were enrolled in the final study, 14.71% (291/1,978) of women were tested HPV positive. Of HPV-positive specimens, 248 (85.22%) and 43 (14.78%) were infected with high- and low-risk HPV genotypes, respectively. Twenty-eight types of HPV were detected in all, the most frequently detected types were HPV16, 58, 18, and 66 orderly. The single infection rate was 92.28% among HPV-positive samples while the multiple infection rate was 7.72%. Among multiple infection models, HPV16 was the most common type co-infection with other types. This study is, to our knowledge, the first population-based survey to provide data on HPV infection and genotype distribution among women in urban Tianjin, China. There was a high prevalence of HPV infection in this area, and HPV16, 58, 18, 66 were the most frequently detected genotypes. Our study provide important information regarding the necessity of early cervical cancer screenings and prophylactic HPV vaccinations, and the knowledge of HPV distribution can also inform us about the HPV ecological change after the vaccination.

Association between STAT3 polymorphisms and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Five polymorphisms, rs2293152, rs4796793, rs12949918, rs6503695, rs744166, in the STAT3 gene have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer, but the results were inconclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between the five polymorphisms and cancer risk. All eligible case-control studies published up to March 2015 were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, VIP, and CNKI. Effect sizes of odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were calculated by using a fixed- or random-effect model. A total of 15 articles were included. Overall, a significantly decreased risk was found for rs12949918 polymorphism (dominant model: OR = 0.83, 95 % CI: 0.75-0.91, recessive model: OR = 0.77, 95 % CI: 0.68-0.87, TC vs. TT: OR = 0.87, 95 % CI: 0.79-0.96, CC vs. TT: OR = 0.71, 95 % CI: 0.62-0.81), and for rs744166 polymorphism (recessive model: OR = 0.75, 95 % CI: 0.58-0.98; GG vs. AA: OR = 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.51-0.90), while there was no significant association for other three polymorphisms under all genetic models. In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, for rs12949918 polymorphism, similar results were detected among Caucasians, similarly, a significant decreased risk was observed in Asians under dominant and CC vs. TT model; for rs2293152 polymorphism, significant association was detected among Asians under recessive model. This meta-analysis suggests that the STAT3 rs12949918 and rs744166 polymorphisms, but not other three polymorphisms, may be an important protective factor for cancer.

Small-molecule BH3 mimetic and pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor AT-101 enhances the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin through inhibition of APE1 repair and redox activity in non-small-cell lung cancer

AT-101 is a BH3 mimetic and pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor that has shown potent anticancer activity in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in murine models, but failed to show clinical efficacy when used in combination with docetaxel in NSCLC patients. Our recent study has demonstrated that AT-101 enhanced the antitumor effect of cisplatin (CDDP) in a murine model of NSCLC via inhibition of the interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. This study explored the underlying mechanisms for the enhanced anticancer activity of CDDP by AT-101. Our results show that, when compared with monotherapy, AT-101 significantly enhanced the inhibitory effects of CDDP on proliferation and migration of A549 cells and on tube formation and migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. AT-101 promoted the proapoptotic activity of CDDP in A549 cells. AT-101 also enhanced the inhibitory effect of CDDP on DNA repair and redox activities of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) in A549 cells. In tumor tissues from nude mice treated with AT-101 plus CDDP or monotherapy, the combination therapy resulted in greater inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation than the monotherapy. These results suggest that AT-101 can enhance the antitumor activity of CDDP in NSCLC via inhibition of APE1 DNA repair and redox activities and by angiogenesis and induction of apoptosis, but other mechanisms cannot be excluded. We are now conducting a Phase II trial to examine the clinical efficacy and safety profile of combined use of AT-101 plus CDDP in advanced NSCLC patients.

Staged resection of bilobar colorectal liver metastases: surgical strategies

BACKGROUND

Radical resection is the treatment of choice for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). Unfortunately, only about 20 % of patients present with initially resectable disease, in most cases due to bilobar disease. In the last two decades, major achievements have been made to extend surgical indications to patients with bilobar CLM, such as two-stage hepatectomy with or without portal vein occlusion and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review article was to summarize current surgical approaches and their safety and efficacy for patients with initially unresectable bilobar CLM.

CONCLUSION

In selected patients, two-stage hepatectomy and ALPPS are efficient and safe to convert unresectable to resectable CLM. Further studies are required to evaluate long-term outcome of these procedures.

PKCα promotes generation of reactive oxygen species via DUOX2 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and elevated rates of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been considered as a hallmark of almost all types of cancer including HCC. Protein kinase C alpha (PKCα), a serine/threonine kinase among conventional PKC family, is recognized as a major player in signal transduction and tumor progression. Overexpression of PKCα is commonly observed in human HCC and associated with its poor prognosis. However, how PKCα is involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis remains not fully understood. In this study, we found that among the members of conventional PKC family, PKCα, but not PKCβI or βII, promoted ROS production in HCC cells. PKCα stimulated generation of ROS by up-regulating DUOX2 at post-transcriptional level. Depletion of DUOX2 abrogated PKCα-induced activation of AKT/MAPK pathways as well as cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC cells. Moreover, the expression of DUOX2 and PKCα was well positively correlated in both HCC cell lines and patient samples. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that PKCα plays a critical role in HCC development by inducing DUOX2 expression and ROS generation, and propose a strategy to target PKCα/DUOX2 as a potential adjuvant therapy for HCC treatment.

A repeatable assembling and disassembling electrochemical aptamer cytosensor for ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of human liver cancer cells

In this work, a repeatable assembling and disassembling electrochemical aptamer cytosensor was proposed for the sensitive detection of human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) based on a dual recognition and signal amplification strategy. A high-affinity thiolated TLS11a aptamer, covalently attached to a gold electrode through Au-thiol interactions, was adopted to recognize and capture the target HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, the G-quadruplex/hemin/aptamer and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) modified gold nanoparticles (G-quadruplex/hemin/aptamer-AuNPs-HRP) nanoprobe was designed. It could be used for electrochemical cytosensing with specific recognition and enzymatic signal amplification of HRP and G-quadruplex/hemin HRP-mimicking DNAzyme. With the nanoprobes as recognizing probes, the HepG2 cancer cells were captured to fabricate an aptamer-cell-nanoprobes sandwich-like superstructure on a gold electrode surface. The proposed electrochemical cytosensor delivered a wide detection range from 1×10(2) to 1×10(7) cells mL(-1) and high sensitivity with a low detection limit of 30 cells mL(-1). Furthermore, after the electrochemical detection, the activation potential of -0.9 to -1.7V was performed to break Au-thiol bond and regenerate a bare gold electrode surface, while maintaining the good characteristic of being used repeatedly. The changes of gold electrode behavior after assembling and desorption processes were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. These results indicate that the cytosensor has great potential in disease diagnostic of cancers and opens new insight into the reusable gold electrode with repeatable assembling and disassembling in the electrochemical sensing.

Radiotherapy in patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators: a literature review

An increasing number of patients with implantable cardiac rhythm devices undergo radiotherapy (RT) for cancer and are thereby exposed to the risk of device failure. Current safety recommendations seem to have limitations by not accounting for the risk of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators malfunctioning at low radiation doses. Besides scant knowledge about optimal safety measures, only little is known about the exact prevalence of patients with devices undergoing RT. In this review, we provide a short overview of the principles of RT and present the current evidence on the predictors and mechanisms of device malfunctions during RT. We also summarize practical recommendations from recent publications and from the industry. Strongly associated with beam energy of photon RT, device malfunctions occur at ∼3% of RT courses, posing a substantial issue in clinical practice. Malfunctions described in the literature typically consist of transient software disturbances and only seldom manifest as a permanent damage of the device. Through close cooperation between cardiologists and oncologists, a tailored individualized approach might be necessary in this patient group in waiting time for updated international guidelines in the field.

Immunotherapy of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Prevailing Challenges and New Perspectives

Patients with recurring or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have strikingly low long-term survival, while conventional treatments such as chemotherapeutic intervention and radiation therapy marginally improve longevity. Although, many factors involving immunosurveillance and immunosuppression were recently validated as important for patient prognosis and care, a multitude of experimental immunotherapies designed to combat unresectable mCRC have, in few cases, successfully mobilized antitumor immune cells against malignancies, nor conclusively or consistently granted protection, complete remission, and/or stable disease from immunotherapy - of which benefit less than 10% of those receiving therapy. After decades of progress, however, new insights into the mechanisms of immunosuppression, tolerance, and mutation profiling established novel therapies that circumvent these immunological barriers. This review underlines the most exciting methods to date that manipulate immune cells to curb mCRC, including adoptive cell therapy, dendritic cell vaccines, and checkpoint inhibitor antibodies - of which hint at effective and enduring protection against disease progression and undetected micrometastases.

Prognostic value of circulating CD133(+) cells in patients with gastric cancer

OBJECTIVES

Gastric cancer is an important cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide (1). There is increasing evidence that the existence of cancer stem cells (CSC) is responsible for tumour formation and maintenance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was designed to recognise circulating CSCs from blood samples of patients with gastric cancer, using CD133 and ABCG2 as potential markers. CD133(-) , CD133(+)  ABCG2(-) and CD133(+)  ABCG2(+) cells lines were analysed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and real-time PCR. Furthermore, functional assays (clonogenic assay in vitro and tumourigenic assay in vivo) were also performed using these cell lines.

RESULTS

Higher percentages of CD133(+) cells were identified in blood samples from gastric cancer patients compared to normal controls. In addition, we found by using Kaplan-Meier analysis, that numbers of CD133(+) cells correlated with poor prognosis gastric cancer patients. Finally, tumourigenic properties of CD133(+)  ABCG2(+) cells were determined in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that CD133(+)  ABCG2(+) cells exhibited well-known CSC characteristics; thus when circulating they could be used as a prognostic marker for gastric cancer.

Upregulation of Abelson interactor protein 1 predicts tumor progression and poor outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer

Abelson interactor protein 1 (Abi1) is a key regulator of actin reorganization and lamellipodia formation. Because of its role in cell migration, Abi1 has been implicated in tumor progression. In the present study, we investigated the role of Abi1 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) by analyzing its expression and correlation with clinicopathological and survival data. We evaluated the expression of Abi1 in 223 paraffin-embedded EOC specimens by immunohistochemistry and 46 frozen EOC samples by Western blot and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results showed that Abi1 protein and mRNA expression was significantly higher in EOC tissue compared with noncancerous tumors and normal ovaries (P < .05). Moreover, high level of Abi1 expression was significantly correlated with advanced stage, high grade, elevated Ca-125 level, and suboptimal surgical debulking (P < .05). By Western blot analysis, Abi1 was expressed in highly invasive cells compared with weakly invasive cells (P < .05). Immunofluorescence was performed to demonstrate Abi1 expression in SKOV3 cells. Additionally, upregulation of Abi1 significantly correlated with shorter survival (P < .05). Most importantly, multivariate analysis showed that Abi1 overexpression is an independent prognostic factor, complementary to clinical stage and residual tumor size. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Abi1 acts as a tumor-promoting gene in EOC progression, which may lead to unfavorable prognosis. Abi1 may serve as a potential effective prognostic marker for EOC.

Effect of coffee consumption on the risk of gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background and Objectives

Results from observational epidemiologic studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and gastric cancer are inconsistent and inconclusive. To assess the association between coffee consumption and the risk of gastric cancer, we summarized evidence from prospective cohort studies.

Methods

Relevant studies were retrieved through computer searches (PubMed, EmBase and the Cochrane Library) and a review of references up to December 2014. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. We used a meta-analytic approach to estimate overall hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for regular coffee drinkers versus individuals who seldom drank coffee. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to assess the reliability of our results. A dose–response analysis was performed to assess the risk of gastric cancer based on the level of coffee consumption.

Results

Nine prospective cohort studies involving 1,250,825 participants and 3027 gastric cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled HR of gastric cancer for the study-specific regularly versus seldom coffee drinking categories was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.88 to 1.25) with significant heterogeneity across studies (I² = 74.0%, P = 0.000). After the sensitivity analysis, three studies were deleted; however the association remained insignificant (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.08). Subgroup analysis by anatomic location showed a risk for coffee consumption associated with cardia cancer (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.45; heterogeneity, I² = 36.4, P = 0.207). In the dose–response analysis, there was no significant association between coffee intake (in cups) and the risk of gastric cancer (P for linearity trend and non-linearity > 0.05).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that coffee consumption was not associated with overall gastric cancer risk; however, coffee consumption may be a risk factor for gastric cardia cancer.

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and regulates cell proliferation by epigenetic silencing of KLF2

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, especially in China. And the mechanism of its progression remains poorly understood. Growing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are found to be dysregulated in many cancers, including HCC. CDKN2B antisense RNA1 (ANRIL), a lncRNA, coclustered mainly with p14/ARF has been reported to be dysregulated in gastric cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and lung cancer. However, its clinical significance and potential role in HCC is still not documented.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, expression of ANRIL was analyzed in 77 HCC tissues and matched normal tissues by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). ANRIL expression was up-regulated in HCC tissues, and the higher expression of ANRIL was significantly correlated with tumor size and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage. Moreover, taking advantage of loss of function experiments in HCC cells, we found that knockdown of ANRIL expression could impair cell proliferation and invasion and induce cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. We also found that ANRIL could epigenetically repress KLF2 transcription in HCC cells by binding with PRC2 and recruiting it to KLF2 promoter region. We also found that Sp1 could regulate the expression of ANRIL.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that lncRNA ANRIL, as a growth regulator, may serve as a new biomarker and target for therapy in HCC.