Immunohistochemical analysis revealed CD34 and Ki67 protein expression as significant prognostic factors in colorectal cancer

Multiple sarcomatoid carcinomas in the small intestine with perforation: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine is an exceedingly rare and aggressive malignancy, often diagnosed at advanced stages with a poor prognosis. This study documents a detailed case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and treatment approaches, underscored by a comprehensive review of related literature. Given the rarity of this condition, our report aims to enrich the existing diagnostic and treatment frameworks for this malignancy, emphasizing the necessity for early detection and intervention strategies. By presenting this case in conjunction with a literature review, we seek to shed light on the elusive nature of sarcomatoid carcinoma in the small intestine and propose avenues for improving patient outcomes.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Case presentation A 61-year-old male patient initially presented with recurrent abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. Initial abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed only inflammatory and hyperplastic changes in the duodenum and jejunum, with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Two years later, due to gastrointestinal perforation, the patient was hospitalized again.

DIAGNOSES

CT scans and other examinations revealed small intestinal lesions. Four small intestinal lesions were surgically removed, and pathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine. A short time later, enhanced CT scans revealed metastatic lesions in the hepatic portal and adrenal glands.

INTERVENTIONS

After surgery, the gastrointestinal function gradually recovered, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on a semiliquid diet. No further treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy was administered postoperatively.

OUTCOMES

Five months after the surgery, the patient died due to brain metastasis.

LESSONS

The study outcomes reveal the aggressive nature of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine, characterized by rapid progression and poor prognosis despite surgical interventions. The patient condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to metastasis and death within 5 months postsurgery. These findings underscore the critical need for early detection and possibly innovative treatment approaches to improve survival rates. This case also highlights the potential for gastrointestinal sarcomatoid carcinoma to metastasize to distant organs, including the brain, suggesting a propensity for hematogenous spread.

Prognostic Biomarkers of Cell Proliferation in Colorectal Cancer (CRC): From Immunohistochemistry to Molecular Biology Techniques

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and severe malignancies worldwide. Recent advances in diagnostic methods allow for more accurate identification and detection of several molecular biomarkers associated with this cancer. Nonetheless, non-invasive and effective prognostic and predictive testing in CRC patients remains challenging. Classical prognostic genetic markers comprise mutations in several genes (e.g., APC, KRAS/BRAF, TGF-β, and TP53). Furthermore, CIN and MSI serve as chromosomal markers, while epigenetic markers include CIMP and many other candidates such as SERP, p14, p16, LINE-1, and RASSF1A. The number of proliferation-related long non-coding RNAs (e.g., SNHG1, SNHG6, MALAT-1, CRNDE) and microRNAs (e.g., miR-20a, miR-21, miR-143, miR-145, miR-181a/b) that could serve as potential CRC markers has also steadily increased in recent years. Among the immunohistochemical (IHC) proliferative markers, the prognostic value regarding the patients' overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) has been confirmed for thymidylate synthase (TS), cyclin B1, cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Ki-67. In most cases, the overexpression of these markers in tissues was related to worse OS and DFS. However, slowly proliferating cells should also be considered in CRC therapy (especially radiotherapy) as they could represent a reservoir from which cells are recruited to replenish the rapidly proliferating population in response to cell-damaging factors. Considering the above, the aim of this article is to review the most common proliferative markers assessed using various methods including IHC and selected molecular biology techniques (e.g., qRT-PCR, in situ hybridization, RNA/DNA sequencing, next-generation sequencing) as prognostic and predictive markers in CRC.

Morphological and molecular-biological features of glioblastoma progression in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia Wistar rats

Hypoxia is a major pathogenetic factor in many cancers. Individual resistance to suboptimal oxygen availability is subject to broad variation and its possible role in tumorigenesis remains underexplored. This study aimed at specific characterization of glioblastoma progression in male tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia Wistar rats. Hypoxia resistance was assessed by gasping time measurement in an 11,500 m altitude-equivalent hypobaric decompression chamber. Based on the outcome, the animals were assigned to three groups termed 'tolerant to hypoxia' (n = 13), 'normal', and 'susceptible to hypoxia' (n = 24). The 'normal' group was excluded from subsequent experiments. One month later, the animals underwent inoculation with rat glioblastoma 101.8 followed by monitoring of survival, body weight dynamics and neurological symptoms. The animals were sacrificed on post-inoculation days 11 (subgroup 1) and 15 (subgroup 2). Relative vessels number, necrosis areas and Ki-67 index were assessed microscopically; tumor volumes were determined by 3D reconstruction from histological images; serum levels of HIF-1α, IL-1β, and TNFα were determined by ELISA. None of the tolerant to hypoxia animals died of the disease during observation period, cf. 85% survival on day 11 and 55% survival on day 15 in the susceptible group. On day 11, proliferative activity of the tumors in the tolerant animals was higher compared with the susceptible group. On day 15, proliferative activity, necrosis area and volume of the tumors in the tolerant to hypoxia animals were higher compared with the susceptible group. ELISA revealed no dynamics in TNFα levels, elevated levels of IL-1β in the susceptible animals on day 15 in comparison with day 11 and tolerant ones. Moreover, there were elevated levels of HIF-1α in the tolerant animals on day 15 in comparison with day 11. Thus, the proliferative activity of glioblastoma cells and the content of HIF-1α were higher in tolerant to hypoxia rats, but the mortality associated with the tumor process and IL-1β level in them were lower than in susceptible animals. Specific features of glioblastoma 101.8 progression in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia rats, including survival, tumor growth rates and IL-1β level, can become the basis of new personalized approaches for cancer diseases treatment in accordance to individual hypoxia resistance.

The relationships of OSBPL3 expression with KI-67 expression and KRAS mutations in CRC: implications for diagnosis and prognosis

BACKGROUND

OSBPL3 is overexpressed in a variety of malignancies and is closely associated with tumor growth and metastasis. However, its expression and function in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. We aimed to investigate its prognostic and therapeutic value in this disease by detecting its expression in CRC and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients.

METHODS

A total of 92 CRC samples were included in this study. According to the 2020 WHO diagnostic criteria, the criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition staging system were used. OSBPL3 and Ki-67 expression in these samples was detected by immunohistochemistry. OSBPL3 mRNA expression was detected by qRT-PCR. KRAS/NRAS mutations were detected by an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Data analysis was performed using the statistical analysis software Prism 8.

RESULTS

OSBPL3 was found to be significantly overexpressed in CRC tumor tissues and was associated with worse progression-free survival and overall survival in patients. Additionally, OSBPL3 expression was negatively correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation. KRAS mutations were detected in approximately 32.6% of patients and were significantly associated with high OSBPL3 expression. In addition, OSBPL3 and Ki-67 expression was significantly correlated.

CONCLUSIONS

OSBPL3 is highly expressed in CRC samples and predicts a worse prognosis. OSBPL3 may become a new potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Implication of Different Tumor Biomarkers in Drug Resistance and Invasiveness in Primary and Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

Protein expression profiles are directly related to the different properties of cells and are conditioned by the cellular niche. As an example, they are the cause of the characteristic cell plasticity, epithelium-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and drug resistance of cancer cells. This article characterizes ten biomarkers related to these features in three human colorectal cancer cell lines: SW-480, SW-620, and DLD-1, evaluated by flow cytometry; and in turn, resistance to oxaliplatin is studied through dose-response trials. The main biomarkers present in the three studied lines correspond to EpCAM, CD-133, and AC-133, with the latter two in low proportions in the DLD-1 line. The biomarker CD166 is present in greater amounts in SW-620 and DLD-1 compared to SW-480. Finally, DLD-1 shows high values of Trop2, which may explain the aggressiveness and resistance of these cells to oxaliplatin treatments, as EpCAM is also highly expressed. Exposure to oxaliplatin slows cell growth but also helps generate resistance to the treatment. In conclusion, the response of the cell lines is variable, due to their genetic variability, which will condition protein expression and cell growth. Further analyses in this area will provide important information for better understanding of patients' cellular response and how to prevent resistance.

The mechanism of FZXJJZ decoction suppresses colorectal liver metastasis via the VDR/TGF-β/Snail1 signaling pathways based on network pharmacology-TCGA data-transcriptomics analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fuzheng Xiaojijinzhan (FZXJJZF) decoction is an effective prescription for treating colorectal cancer liver metastasis (LMCRC).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the pharmacological mechanism of the FZXJJZF decoction therapy on LMCRC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, a network pharmacological approach was used to characterize the underlying targets of FZXJJZF on LMCRC. Secondly, LMCRC-related genes are obtained from the public database TCGA, and those genes are further screened and clustered through Mfuzz, an R package tool. Then, targets of FZXJJZF predicted by network pharmacology were overlapped with LMCRC related genes screened by Mfuzz. Meanwhile, FZJZXJF intervened in LMCRC model,epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and migration and invasion of HCT-116 cells. Thirdly, the transcriptomics data of FZJZXJF inhibited HCT-116 cells of EMT cells were overlapped with EMT database data to narrow the possible range of targets. Based on this, the potential targets and signal pathways of FZJZXJF were speculated by combining the transcriptomics data with the targets from network pharmacology-TCGA. Finally, the anti-cancer mechanism of FZXJJZF on LMCRC was verified in vitro by Real-Time PCR and Western Blot in vitro.

RESULTS

By network pharmacological analysis, 282 ingredients and 429 potential targets of FZXJJZF were predicted. The 9268 LMCRC-related genes in the TCGA database were classified into 10 clusters by the Mfuzz. The two clustering genes with the most similar clustering trends were overlapped with 429 potential targets, and 32 genes were found, such as CD34, TRPV3, PGR, VDR, etc. In vivo experiments, FZJZXJF inhibited the tumor size in LMCRC models, and the EMT, migration, and invasion of HCT-116 also be inhibited. Intersecting transcriptomics dates with 32 target genes, it is speculated that the VDR-TGF-β signaling pathway may be an effective mechanism of FZXJJZF. Additionally, it is shown that FZXJJZF up-regulated the expression levels of VDR and E-cadherin and down-regulated the expression levels of TGF-β and Snail1 in vitro. These results confirmed that FZXJJZF plays an effective role in LMCRC mainly by inhibiting EMT phenotype via the VDR-TGF-β signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, this study reveals the anti-LMCRC effect of FZXJJZF and its potential therapeutic mechanism from the perspective of potential targets and potential pathways.

Formulation and Characterization of Doxycycline-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles for Testing Antitumor/Antiangiogenic Action in Experimental Colon Cancer in Mice

Nanotherapeutics can enhance the characteristics of drugs, such as rapid systemic clearance and systemic toxicities. Polymeric nanoparticles (PRNPs) depend on dispersion of a drug in an amorphous state in a polymer matrix. PRNPs are capable of delivering drugs and improving their safety. The primary goal of this study is to formulate doxycycline-loaded PRNPs by applying the nanoprecipitation method. Eudragit S100 (ES100) (for DOX-PRNP1) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate HP55 (for DOX-PRNP2) were tested as the drug carrying polymers and the DOX-PRNP2 showed better characteristics and drug release % and was hence selected to be tested in the biological study. Six different experimental groups were formed from sixty male albino mice. 1,2,-Dimethylhydrazine was used for 16 weeks to induce experimental colon cancer. We compared the oral administration of DOX-PRNP2 in doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg with the free drug. Results indicated that DOX-PRNP2 had greater antitumor activity, as evidenced by an improved histopathological picture for colon specimens as well as a decrease in the tumor scores. In addition, when compared to free DOX, the DOX-PRNP2 reduced the angiogenic indicators VEGD and CD31 to a greater extent. Collectively, the findings demonstrated that formulating DOX in PRNPs was useful in enhancing antitumor activity and can be used in other models of cancers to verify their efficacy and compatibility with our study.

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Proteins in Prognosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Differentiation From Chronic Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

The Hedgehog signaling pathway (Hh) probably plays a role in development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

In our study, 114 patients (83 with PDAC and 31 with chronic pancreatitis [CP]) after pancreatic surgery were enrolled. The immunoexpression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Smoothened (Smo), and Glioblastoma transcription factor 1 (Gli1) and Ki-67 were detected in tissue specimens.

RESULTS

Mean (standard deviation) immunoexpression of all Hh pathway molecules was significantly higher in PDAC than in CP patients: Shh, 2.24 (0.57) versus 1.17 (0.25) (P < 0.01); Smo, 2.62 (0.34) versus 1.21 (0.23) (P < 0.01); and Gli1, 1.74 (0.74) versus 1.15 (0.72) (P < 0.01). Patients with a lower expression level (z score <0) of Shh and Ki-67 have longer overall survival when compared with z score >0 (15.97 vs 8.53 months [P = 0.0087] and 15.20 vs 5.53 months [P = 0.0004], respectively). In addition, Shh sensitivity in PDAC detection was 84.3%; specificity, 93.5%; positive predictive value, 97.2%; and negative predictive value, 69%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the prognostic role of the Hh pathway in PDAC and a role in the differential diagnosis with CP.

Diagnostic and prognostic impact of cytokeratin 19 expression analysis in human tumors: a tissue microarray study of 13,172 tumors

To evaluate cytokeratin 19 (CK19) expression in normal and cancerous tissues, 15,977 samples from 122 tumor types and 608 samples of 76 normal tissue types were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In normal tissues, CK19 expression occurred in epithelial cells of most glandular organs but was strictly limited to the basal cell layer of nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium and absent in the skin. CK19 expression in ≥90% of cases was seen in 34% of the tumor entities including the adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (99.4%), colorectum (99.8%), esophagus (98.7%), and stomach (97.7%), as well as breast cancer (90.0%-100%), high-grade serous (99.1%) or endometrioid (97.8%) ovarian cancer, and urothelial carcinoma (92.6%-100%). A low CK19 positivity rate (0.1-10%) was seen in 5 of 122 tumor entities including hepatocellular carcinoma and seminoma. A comparison of tumor versus normal tissue findings demonstrated that upregulation and downregulation of CK19 can occur in cancer and that both alterations can be linked to unfavorable phenotypes. CK19 downregulation was linked to high grade (p = 0.0017) and loss of estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-expression (p < 0.0001 each) in invasive breast carcinoma of no special type. CK19 upregulation was linked to nodal metastases in neuroendocrine tumors and papillary thyroid carcinomas (p < 0.05 each) and to poor grade in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (p < 0.05). CK19 upregulation was particularly common in squamous cell carcinomas. We concluded that CK19 IHC might separate primary liver cell carcinoma from liver metastases, seminoma from other testicular tumors, and helps in the detection of early neoplastic transformation in squamous epithelium.

A novel nomogram for predicting the risk of epilepsy occurrence after operative in gliomas patients without preoperative epilepsy history

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy is a common complication in glioma patients after undergoing brain tumor surgery combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Whether antiepileptic drug prophylaxis could be used in these patients remains an open question. The purpose of this study was to produce a model for predicting the risk of epilepsy occurrence in such patients.

METHODS

The clinicopathologic data of glioma patients after tumor treatment were reviewed in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to analyze the correlation between the clinicopathologic data and the risk of epilepsy occurrence. A nomogram was built according to the multivariate logistic regression model results.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients with gliomas were reviewed. Univariate analyses revealed that age, WHO glioma classification, CD34, EGFR, Ki67, MGMT, P53 and VIM were significantly associated with the risk of epilepsy occurrence. Multivariate analyses revealed that age, WHO glioma classification, CD34, EGFR, MGMT, and VIM were predictors of risk of epilepsy occurrence. A nomogram of the risk of epilepsy occurrence was built based on statistically significant variables from the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The c-index of the nomogram was 0.755 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.742-0.769).

SIGNIFICANCE

This nomogram model provides reliable information about the risk of epilepsy occurrence for oncologists and neurological physicians.

The Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have proven to be promising agents in a number of solid tumor malignancies. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are ICIs that target programmed cell death protein 1 and both have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of microsatellite instability-high/DNA mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). In MSI-H/dMMR CRC, these agents were found to have considerable antitumor activity and are now used in the treatment of this disease. However, MSI-H/dMMR tumors account for only 5% of metastatic CRC and the remaining patients are identified as being microsatellite stable/DNA mismatch repair proficient (MSS/pMMR). In MSS/pMMR CRC, ICIs were found to have no antitumor activity and they are not currently used in the treatment of the disease. However, ongoing research is expanding our knowledge of how the human immune system interacts with cancer cells. Identifying mechanisms to improve our immune response to MSS/pMMR CRC is of utmost importance. In this review, we discuss available clinical data and the emerging role of immune-based strategies to overcome the resistance to ICI therapy in the treatment of MSS/pMMR CRC.

Can Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors and CD34 Expression Implement NICE (Narrow-Band Imaging International Colorectal Endoscopic) Classification in Colorectal Polypoid Lesion Diagnosis?

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a subfamily of growth factors involved in angiogenesis; CD34+ cells are normally found in endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Colonic adenomatous polyps may not always be completely removable endoscopically, and a preoperative diagnosis might still be necessary. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether VEGF-A, VEGF-C and CD34 mRNA expression along colorectal carcinogenesis steps can implement NICE (Narrow-Band Imaging International Colorectal Endoscopic) classification in the diagnosis of malignancy in colorectal polypoid lesions.

METHODS

Seventy-one subjects with colonic adenoma or cancer who underwent screening narrow-band imaging (NBI) colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled in the MICCE1 project (Treviso center). Polyps were classified according to the NICE classification. Real-time RT-PCR for VEGF-A, VEGF-C and CD34 mRNA expression was performed. Nonparametric statistics, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and logistic multiple regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

VEGF-A and CD34 mRNA expression was significantly higher in sessile adenomas than in polypoid ones (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively). VEGF-A, VEGF-C and CD34 mRNA expression was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma than in adenoma (p = 0.01, p = 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). The accuracy of VEGF-A, VEGF-C and CD34 mRNA expression for prediction of malignancy was 0.79 (95% CI 0.65-0.90), 0.81 (95% CI 0.66-0.91) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.65-0.90), respectively, while the accuracy of the NICE classification was 0.85 (95% CI 0.72-0.94). The determination coefficient R2, which indicates the amount of the variability explained by a regression model, for NICE classification alone was 0.24 (p < 0.001). A regression model that included NICE classification and VEGF-C mRNA expression showed an R2 = 0.39 as well as a model including NICE classification and CD34 mRNA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that VEGF-C and CD34 mRNA levels might be useful to stratify colorectal polyps in different risk of progression classes by implementing the accuracy of the NICE classification. Studies on in vivo detection of these markers are warranted.

Inhibitory Effects of Peroxidase from Foxtail Millet Bran on Colitis-Associated Colorectal Carcinogenesis by the Blockage of Glycerophospholipid Metabolism

Abnormal glycerophospholipid (GPL) metabolism represented by phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has been as a universal metabolic hallmark of cancer, which is involved in tumor progression. Our previous finding showed that peroxidase from foxtail millet bran (FMBP) exhibited significant anticolorectal cancer (CRC) activity in vitro and in nude mice. Presently, the potential of FMBP in clinical application was further evaluated by an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC) mice model, revealed the pivotal role of GPL metabolism in anti-CRC effects of FMBP. Excitedly, FMBP significantly reduced the number and volume of CAC polyps of mice and effectively improved physiological indexes of CAC mice. Meanwhile, the elevated expressions of CRC early markers (cyclooxygenase 2, tumor-proliferating nuclear antigen Ki-67, and EGF module-containing mucin-like receptor 1) in CAC mice were efficiently prevented by FMBP treatment. Metabolomics analysis showed that the elevated abundances of PC and PE involved in GPL metabolism in CAC mice were markedly decreased in FMBP-treated groups, which was also verified in human CRC cells. Further, FMBP reduced the expression levels of PE and PC key metabolic enzymes, resulting in the blockage of GPL metabolism and insufficient adenosine triphosphate to maintain CRC growth. Collectively, FMBP has the potential as a preventive and therapeutic candidate for CRC through the blockage of GPL metabolism.

Clinicopathological significance of Ki67 expression in colorectal cancer: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study will investigate the diagnostic accuracy of Ki67 expression in colorectal cancer (CC).

METHODS

A comprehensive search in electronic bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) will be performed from inception to the February 29, 2020 with no restrictions to the language and publication status. Two authors will examine the collected studies, extract essential data, and appraise study quality separately. If possible, we will estimate receiver operating characteristic (ROC), sensitivity and specificity by utilizing bivariate random effects and hierarchical summary ROC models.

RESULTS

This study will summarize present evidence to explore the diagnostic accuracy of Ki67 expression in CC.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study will clarify the diagnostic accuracy of Ki67 expression in CC.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

INPLASY202030009.

Prognostic value of stem cell markers in esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer: a meta-analysis

Background: Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumor, with poor prognosis and low survival rates. Although diagnosis and treatment have improved considerably, more efficient prognostic factors are urgently needed to prevent postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Cancer stem cells are key players in tumor progression and several studies have investigated the association between the expression of stemness genes and clinical outcome. However, the prognostic value of stemness markers in esophageal cancer remains controversial. We identified six factors involved in angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis and self-renewal that have been associated to poor prognosis in other types of cancer. We conducted a review of the literature and a meta-analysis to assess their potential prognostic role in this malignancy. Material and Methods: The database of PMC, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and The Cochrane Library were searched to investigate the association between CD34, CD133, Nucleostemin, OCT-4, NANOG and CD90, and the survival of patients affected by esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or esophageal adenocarcinoma. Among the 615 eligible studies, a total of 19 articles (including 1586 patients) met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, and the pooled hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Data showed that high expression of CD34 (HR 2.10; 95%CI 1.41-3.14; I2=56%; p=0.0003), CD133 (HR 1.91; 95%CI 1.15-3.19; I2=55%; p=0.01) and Nucleostemin (HR 2.97; 95%CI 1.11-7.98; I2=0%; p=0.03) were associated with poor prognosis in patients affected by esophageal cancer. The expression of NANOG and OCT-4 showed no significant association with survival of patients, whereas no study involving CD90 was included in this meta-analysis. Conclusion: CD34, CD133 and Nucleostemin might represent useful prognostic markers in patients affected by esophageal cancer.

Downregulation of microRNA-214 improves therapeutic potential of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell by targeting PIM-1 in rats with acute liver failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a disease resulted from diverse etiology, which generally leads to a rapid degenerated hepatic function. However, transplantation bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation has been suggested to relieve ALF. Interestingly, microRNA-214 (miR-214) could potentially regulate differentiation and migration of BMSCs. The present study aims to inquire whether miR-214 affects therapeutic potential of BMSCs transplantation by targeting PIM-1 in ALF. 120 male Wistar rats were induced as ALF model rats and transplanted with BMSCs post-alteration of miR-214 or PIM-1 expression. Further experiments were performed to detect biochemical index (alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST], total bilirubin [TBiL]), and expression of miR-214, PIM-1, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), caspase 3, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in rat serum. Apart from the above detection, apoptosis of hepatocytes and Ki67 protein expression in hepatic tissues of rats were additionally assessed. After BMSCs transplantation with miR-214 inhibition, a decreased expression of ALT, AST, and TBiL yet an increased expression of HGF was shown, coupled with a decline in the expression of caspase 3, TNF-α, and IL-10. Meanwhile, alleviated hepatic injury and decreased apoptotic index of hepatic cells were observed and the positive rate of Ki67 protein expression was significantly increased. Moreover, miR-214 and caspase 3, TNF-α, and IL-10 decreased notably, while PIM-1 was upregulated in response to miR-214 inhibition. Strikingly, the inhibition of PIM-1 reversed effects triggered by miR-214 inhibition. These findings indicated that downregulation of miR-214 improves therapeutic potential of BMSCs transplantation by upregulating PIM-1 for ALF.

Effect of Shogaol on the Expression of Intestinal Stem Cell Markers in Experimentally Induced Colitis in BALB/c Mice

Aim

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of Shogaol, a phenolic constituent of ginger, on dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice in comparison with 6-thioguanine (6-TG), an immune-suppressant chemotherapeutic medicine used for treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Material & Methods

Thirty-six adult, male and female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: group 1 (control negative) not exposed to DSS and did not receive any treatment, group 2 (control positive) exposed to DSS but did not receive any treatment, group 3 exposed to DSS and treated by 0.1 mg/kg of 6-thioguanine, and groups 4, 5, and 6 exposed to DSS and treated by 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg b.w. Shogaol, respectively. At day 56, the mice were checked for their disease activity index (DAI) and they were sacrificed. The colons of the mice were examined for length measurement, histological index score, and the expression of CD133 and CD34 stem cell markers.

Results

Shogaol showed a better curative effect than did 6-TG in repairing the colonic mucosal damages in DSS-exposed mice as indicated by the levels of CD133 and CD34 expression in the colonic crypts and by the DAI score, colon length measurements, & histological index score which were significantly reduced in mice treated by Shogaol, particularly the 20 and 40 mg/kg BW doses.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated that oral treatment with the ginger-derived substance Shogaol could be better than the conventional immunosuppressive chemotherapeutic remedy 6-TG in treatment of DSS-induced UC.

Role of postoperative radiotherapy in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a propensity score-matched analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the role of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) and identify the prognostic factors influencing the disease-free survival (DFS).

METHODS

A total of 184 patients with DFSP were analyzed from 2000 to 2016. The regression model was used to examine the prognostic factors for DFS. Baseline covariates were balanced using a propensity score model. The role of RT was assessed by comparing the DFS of the surgery + RT group with that of the surgery group.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 58 months (range, 6-203 months). The 5-year DFS rate was 89.8%. The univariate analysis showed that age ≥ 50 years, presence of fibrosarcoma, margins < 2 cm, and tumor size ≥5 cm were associated with worse DFS (P = 0.002, P <  0.001, P = 0.030, and P = 0.032, respectively). The multivariate Cox regression model revealed that age, margin width, lesion number, and histological subtype independently affected DFS. The Ki-67 expression was related to age and histological subtype. Patients with Ki-67 ≥ 17% showed a worse DFS than those with Ki-67 < 17% (35.8% vs 87.8%, P = 0.002). In the matched cohort, DFS was significantly higher in the S + RT group than in the S group (5-year DFS, 88.1% vs 56.2%, P = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

Age, margin width, lesion number, and histological subtype were independent risk factors for DFS in patients with DFSP. The high expression of Ki-67 could predict a poor prognosis. Postoperative RT could improve DFS for patients with DFSP.

The Emerging Role of Checkpoint Inhibition in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has introduced a revolution in contemporary anticancer therapy. It has led to dramatic improvements in patient outcomes and has spawned tremendous research into novel immunomodulatory agents and combination therapy that has changed the trajectory of cancer care. However, clinical benefit in patients with colorectal cancer has been generally limited to tumors with loss of mismatch repair function and those with specific germline mutations in the DNA polymerase gene. Unfortunately, tumors with these specific mutator phenotypes are in the minority. Recent pre-clinical and clinical studies have begun to reveal encouraging results suggesting that checkpoint inhibitor therapy can be expanded to an increasing number of colorectal tumors with microsatellite stability and the absence of traditional predictive biomarkers of checkpoint inhibitor response. These studies generally rely on combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, radiation therapy, or other novel immunomodulatory agents. This article will review the most current data in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer.

Geminin ablation in vivo enhances tumorigenesis through increased genomic instability

Geminin, a DNA replication licensing inhibitor, ensures faithful DNA replication in vertebrates. Several studies have shown that geminin depletion in vitro results in rereplication and DNA damage, whereas increased expression of geminin has been observed in human cancers. However, conditional inactivation of geminin during embryogenesis has not revealed any detectable DNA replication defects. In order to examine its role in vivo, we conditionally inactivated geminin in the murine colon and lung, and assessed chemically induced carcinogenesis. We show here that mice lacking geminin develop a significantly higher number of tumors and bear a larger tumor burden than sham-treated controls in urethane-induced lung and azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colon carcinogenesis. Survival is also significantly reduced in mice lacking geminin during lung carcinogenesis. A significant increase in the total number and grade of lesions (hyperplasias, adenomas, and carcinomas) was also confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, increased genomic aberrations, identified by increased ATR and γH2AX expression, was detected with immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition, we analyzed geminin expression in human colon cancer, and found increased expression, as well as a positive correlation with ATM/ATR levels and a non-monotonic association with γH2AX. Taken together, our data demonstrate that geminin acts as a tumor suppressor by safeguarding genome stability, whereas its overexpression is also associated with genomic instability. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Knockdown of p57 gene inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation

The aim of the study was to investigate possible effects of p57 on the growth of the human MCF-7 and rat SHZ-88 breast cancer cell lines. Specific oligonucleotide sequences containing small hairpin structure were inserted into a small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression vector. The human MCF-7 and rat SHZ-88 breast cancer cell lines were transfected with recombinant plasmids. The p57 gene expression was blocked in the human MCF-7 breast and rat SHZ-88 breast cancer cells, using chemically modified siRNA. The p57 expression level was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence was conducted to detect p57 expression in the breast cancer cells. Tetrazolium blue (MTT) method was employed to detect the effect of p57 inhibition on the proliferation of the MCF-7 and SHZ-88 cell lines. Cell proliferation in the experimental group was significantly reduced. Immunofluorescence assay results showed p57 siRNA effectively inhibited the p57 level in the MCF-7 and SHZ-88 cells. RT-PCR results showed that 48 h after transfection, the p57 mRNA level in the transfected group was significantly lower compared with the control group. In conclusion, p57 effectively inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer after stable interference.

MIB-1 index is unlikely to predict relapse-free survival in patients who underwent R0-esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

MIB-1 is a cell proliferation marker and has previously been investigated as a diagnostic or prognostic indicator of malignancy. Previous studies have investigated MIB-1 index and clinicopathological factors in relation to prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer, with conflicting results. The aim of this study is to assess the prognostic significance of MIB-1 index in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 78 patients who underwent R0-esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this study. Preoperatively, 29 patients underwent chemotherapy, six underwent chemoradiotherapy, and the remaining did not undergo any preoperative therapy. The MIB-1 labeling index was reported by counting 500 tumor cells in the hot spots of nuclear labeling. Correlations between MIB-1 index, clinicopathological factors, and relapse-free survival (RFS) were investigated. The mean MIB-1 index was 39.3 ± 21.0 (range: 0-91.3). There was no significant correlation between clinicopathological factors and MIB-1 index in the study patients, irrespective of whether they underwent preoperative therapy. Univariate analysis revealed no significant association between MIB-1 index and RFS. However, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and stage, all showed a significant correlation to RFS. Multivariate analysis of RFS revealed that stage was the only significant factor. Conversely, MIB-1 index was not significantly related to RFS (p = 0.41). In conclusion, MIB-1 index is unlikely to be a significant prognostic indicator for esophageal cancer.

Correlations between CD34 Immunolabelled Blood Vessels and CD34 mRNA Expression in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: This study aims to determine the correlation between microvessel density of CD34 immunolabelled blood vessels and CD34 mRNA gene expression in colorectal cancer tissue. Material/Methods: Standard immunohistochemistry and gene expression was perform on samples collected from 76 patients with colorectal cancer in order to determinate the number of CD34 immunolabelled blood vessels and the relative quantity of CD34 mRNA. Results: For the study group, the mean CD34 immunolabelled microvascular density (MVD) was of 307/mm², and the mean CD34 gene expression value for colon cancer was 2.303. The low p value (<0.001) of the Spearman correlation test showed a significant direct correlation between CD34 MVD and CD34 gene expression for the entire study group. Conclusions: CD34 gene`s expression can be looked at as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer.

A retrospective, single-center cohort study on 65 patients with primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma

Primary retroperitoneal liposarcoma (PRPLS) is the most common soft tissue malignancy of the retroperitoneum. To determine the pathological features and the curative effects of surgery in patients with PRPLS, and to elucidate key prognostic factors, the present study retrospectively analyzed the clinical cases of 65 patients with PRPLS. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that vimentin and Ki-67 are better indicators for PRPLS immunohistochemical diagnosis compared with S-100 protein. S-100 protein was predominantly expressed in well-differentiated PRPLS. Positive expression of vimentin and Ki-67 were observed in almost all PRPLS samples, and Ki-67 exhibited a higher expression level in high-grade PRPLS. The level of Ki-67 expression was negatively correlated with disease-specific survival (DSS). Survival analysis revealed that the pathological subtype and histological grade were associated with DSS and local recurrence in the patients, whereas the tumor burden was associated with DSS but not local recurrence. In addition, complete tumor resection and contiguous organ resection were able to improve DSS. Microscopically positive margins did not affect DSS, whereas gross margins did. Multivariate analysis revealed that pathological subtype, histological grade and contiguous organ resection were independent prognostic factors, and that histological grade was an independent factor for local recurrence. Patient sex and age at presentation were not independent factors associated with prognosis or local recurrence. Correlation analysis demonstrated that postoperative local recurrence significantly affected DSS, and local recurrence was the most common cause of mortality among patients. Histological grade was strongly associated with the invasion of adjacent organs but not with tumor burden. Furthermore, the tumor burden was not associated with recurrence or tumor invasion of adjacent organs. Ki-67 expression was associated with prognosis. Pathological subtype, histological grade and contiguous organ resection were independent prognostic factors, while histological grade was an independent factor which affected tumor recurrence.

A novel role for OATP2A1/SLCO2A1 in a murine model of colon cancer

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is associated with proliferation and angiogenesis in colorectal tumours. The role of prostaglandin transporter OATP2A1/SLCO2A1 in colon cancer tumorogenesis is unknown. We evaluated mice of various Slco2a1 genotypes in a murine model of colon cancer, the adenomatous polyposis (APC) mutant (Apc^∆716/+) model. Median lifespan was significantly extended from 19 weeks in Slco2a1^+/+/Apc^Δ716/+ mice to 25 weeks in Slco2a1^−/−/Apc^Δ716/+ mice. Survival was directly related to a reduction in the number of large polyps in the Slco2a1^−/−/Apc^∆716/+ compared to the Slco2a1^+/+/Apc^Δ716/+ or Slco2a1^+/−/Apc^Δ716/+mice. The large polyps from the Slco2a1^−/−/Apc^∆716/+ mice had significant reductions in microvascular density, consistent with the high expression of Slco2a1 in the tumour-associated vascular endothelial cells. Chemical suppression of OATP2A1 function significantly reduced tube formation and wound-healing activity of PGE₂ in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) although the amount of extracellular PGE₂ was not affected by an OATP2A1 inhibitor. Further an in vivo model of angiogenesis, showed a significant reduction of haemoglobin content (54.2%) in sponges implanted into Slco2a1^−/−, compared to wildtype mice. These studies indicate that OATP2A1 is likely to promote tumorogenesis by PGE₂ uptake into the endothelial cells, suggesting that blockade of OATP2A1 is an additional pharmacologic strategy to improve colon cancer outcomes.

P16ink4a Subcellular Expression Patterns in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma, Adenoma and Non-Neoplastic Tissue Samples

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common neoplasms with high mortality at advanced stages worldwide. Thus diagnosis of CRC at an early stage with sensitive molecular methods is a high priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate P16ink4a subcellular expression patterns in colorectal adenocarcinoma, adenoma and non-neoplastic tissue samples. Methods: A total of 137 colorectal formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from the pathology archives of Ali-Ebne-Abitaleb central hospital, Zahedan, Iran, were examined in three groups: adenocarcinoma (n= 63), adenoma (n= 38) and non-neoplastic (n= 36). The subcellular expression pattern was determined by immunocytochemistry. Data analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests with the significance level set as p˂0.05. Results: P16ink4a subcellular localization was observed in three different patterns, nuclear+cytoplasmic (73.33%), cytoplasmic (13.33%) and nuclear (13.33%). In most samples, nuclear+cytoplasmic was the predominant subcellular pattern. However, a significant difference in P16ink4a subcellular expression patterns was observed along the non-neoplastic, adenoma, adenocarcinoma sequence (p˂0.001). An association with the histological tumor type was also noted (p=0.021). Conclusion: Considering variation in localization of P16ink4a under different pathological conditions, P16ink4a night be sensitive prognostic biomarker for benign colon lesions. Its use may improve strategies for screening, prognostic assessment and management of patients with CRC. Further studies are recommended in this field.

MicroRNA-34a: A Key Regulator in the Hallmarks of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence has increased over the past two decades. Recent studies reported microRNAs as promising biomarkers for early cancer detection, accurate prognosis, and molecular targets for future treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of miR-34a and 11 of its bioinformatically selected target genes and proteins to test their potential dysregulation in RCC. Quantitative real-time PCR for miR-34a and its targets; MET oncogene; gene-regulating apoptosis (TP53INP2 and DFFA); cell proliferation (E2F3); and cell differentiation (SOX2 and TGFB3) as well as immunohistochemical assay for VEGFA, TP53, Bcl2, TGFB1, and Ki67 protein expression have been performed in 85 FFPE RCC tumor specimens. Clinicopathological parameter correlation and in silico network analysis have also implicated. We found RCC tissues displayed significantly higher miR-34a expression level than their corresponding noncancerous tissues, particularly in chromophobic subtype. MET and E2F3 were significantly upregulated, while TP53INP2 and SOX2 were downregulated. ROC analysis showed high diagnostic performance of miR-34a (AUC = 0.854), MET (AUC = 0.765), and E2F3 (AUC = 0.761). The advanced pathological grade was associated with strong TGFB1, VEGFA, and Ki67 protein expression and absent Tp53 staining. These findings indicate miR-34a along with its putative target genes could play a role in RCC tumorigenesis and progression.

Downregulation of LIMK1-ADF/cofilin by DADS inhibits the migration and invasion of colon cancer

This study aimed to explore whether the downregulation of LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1)-actin depolymerization factor (ADF, also known as destrin)/cofilin by diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibited the migration and invasion of colon cancer. Previous studies have shown that silencing LIMK1 could significantly enhance the inhibitory effect of DADS on colon cancer cell migration and invasion, suggesting that LIMK1 was a target molecule of DADS, which needed further confirmation. This study reported that LIMK1 and destrin were highly expressed in colon cancer and associated with poor prognosis of patients with colon cancer. Also, the expression of LIMK1 was positively correlated with the expression of destrin. The overexpression of LIMK1 significantly promoted colon cancer cell migration and invasion. DADS obviously inhibited migration and invasion by suppressing the phosphorylation of ADF/cofilin via downregulation of LIMK1 in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, DADS-induced suppression of cell proliferation was enhanced and antagonized by the knockdown and overexpression of LIMK1 in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Similar results were observed for DADS-induced changes in the expression of vimentin, CD34, Ki-67, and E-cadherin in xenografted tumors. These results indicated that LIMK1 was a potential target molecule for the inhibitory effect of DADS on colon cancer cell migration and invasion.

Clinical significance of expression of TKTL1 in gastric carcinoma and gastric precancerous lesions

AIM

To detect the expression of transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) in gastric carcinoma and gastric precancerous lesions and to analyze its clinical significance.

METHODS

Tissue samples of normal gastric mucosa (n = 56), gastric precancerous lesions (n = 79) and gastric carcinoma (n = 79; from patients who underwent curative resection for primary or metastatic gastric carcinoma) were collected from patients treated at the First Hospital of Zibo City from 2013 to 2015. The expression of TKTL1 in these specimens was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression of TKTL1 and clinical and pathological factors was analyzed.

RESULTS

The positive expression of TKTL1 increased gradually from normal mucosa to gastric precancerous lesions and gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). TKTL1 expression was not significantly related with primary site, tumor size, sex, or age (P > 0.05), but significantly correlated with TNM stage and invasive depth in gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

High expression of TKTL1 can be detected in gastric carcinoma and gastric precancerous lesions, and it may be related with the development and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Partial Oxygen Pressure Affects the Expression of Prognostic Biomarkers HIF-1 Alpha, Ki67, and CK20 in the Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer Tissue

Hypoxia is prognostically important in colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. Partial oxygen pressure (pO₂) is an important parameter of hypoxia. The correlation between pO₂ levels and expression levels of prognostic biomarkers was measured in CRC tissues. Human CRC tissues were collected and pO₂ levels were measured by OxyLite. Three methods for tissue fixation were compared, including formalin, Finefix, and Finefix-plus-microwave. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was conducted by using the avidin-biotin complex technique for detecting the antibodies to hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) alpha, cytokeratin 20 (CK20), and cell proliferation factor Ki67. The levels of pO₂ were negatively associated with the size of CRC tissues. Finefix-plus-microwave fixation has the potential to replace formalin. Additionally, microwave treatment improved Finefix performance in tissue fixation and protein preservation. The percentage of positive cells and gray values of HIF-1 alpha, CK20, and Ki67 were associated with CRC development (P < 0.05). The levels of pO₂ were positively related with the gray values of Ki67 and negatively related with the values of HIF-1 alpha and CK20 (P < 0.05). Thus, the levels of microenvironmental pO₂ affect the expression of predictive biomarkers HIF-1 alpha, CK20, and Ki67 in the development of CRC tissues.

Association between Ki67 Index and Clinicopathological Features in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Conflicting results have been reported about the association between the Ki67 labeling index (Ki67-Li) and clinical outcome in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ki67 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 2,233 consecutive CRC cases.

RESULTS

We determined 992 cases to have a low and 1,241 cases to have a high Ki67-Li (representing an approximately 44-56% breakdown in distribution between low versus high patients designated by phenotype). Stage III patients with a high Ki67-Li had higher 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with a low Ki67-Li (DFS 70 vs. 61%; p = 0.02 and OS 75 vs. 64%; p = 0.008). We also found significantly improved 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) for stage IV patients in the high versus the low Ki67-Li group (PFS 14 vs. 10%; p = 0.02). Yet, we found no statistical differences in prognosis for stage I and II patients and in OS for stage IV patients between high versus low Ki67-Li (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that high Ki67-Li can be an independent prognostic biomarker to aid the assessment of patient outcomes in both stage III and IV CRC.

Assessment of the Relation between the Expression of Oxaliplatin Transporters in Colorectal Cancer and Response to FOLFOX-4 Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Case Control Study

Background

Adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is mainly based on the combination of 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX-4). The pharmacological target of oxaliplatin remains intracellular and therefore dependent on its entry into cells. The intracellular distribution of oxaliplatin is mediated by organic cation transporters 1, 2 and 3 (OCT1, 2 and 3), copper transporter 1 (CTR1) and ATPase Cu²⁺ transporting beta polypeptide (ATP7B) and may modulate the efficacy of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective study to assess the relation between the expression of oxaliplatin transporters in colorectal cancer before chemotherapy and the response to FOLFOX-4 adjuvant chemotherapy in responder and non-responder patients.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at a single center (University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France). The target population was patients with resectable colorectal cancer operated between 2006 and 2013. Inclusion criteria were defined for the responder patients as no cancer recurrence 3 years after the end of chemotherapy, and for the non-responder patients as cancer recurrence within 1 year. Other inclusion criteria were stages IIb–IV cancers, first-line adjuvant FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy, and the availability of resected primary tumor samples. Exclusion criteria were preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, a targeted therapy, other anticancer drugs, cancer recurrence between the first and the third year after the end of chemotherapy and follow-up < 3 years. Immunostaining of oxaliplatin transporters (OCT1, 2, 3, CTR1 and ATP7B) and Ki-67 was assessed in tumor samples.

Results

Retrospectively, 31 patients have been selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria (15 responders and 16 non-responders). Before FOLFOX-4 regimen, OCT3 expression was significantly lower in responder patients compared to non-responders (p<0.001). According to multivariate analysis, OCT3 remains an independent criterion for adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy response (p = 0.039). No significant relation is reported between chemotherapy response and the expression of OCT1 (p = 0.49), OCT2 (p = 0.09), CTR1 (p = 0.45), ATP7B (p = 0.94) and Ki-67 (p = 0.34) in tumors.

Conclusions

High expression of OCT3 could be an independent factor related to resistance to FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy.

Clinical significance of expression of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase N2 and proliferation cell nuclear antigen in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To explore the correlation of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase N2 (PTPRN2) and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (Ki-67) expression with clinical parameters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: We collected 186 HCC specimens from patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 180 tumor adjacent normal liver tissues, and 138 non-neoplastic distant tissues. The expression of PTPRN2 and Ki-67 proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry in the above tissues.

RESULTS: The positive expression rates of PTPRN2 and Ki-67 were 55.9% and 49.5%, respectively. The positive expression of PTPRN2 was correlated with serum AFP level, tumor size, TNM stage, and histopathological differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of Ki-67 was correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and histopathological differentiation (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between PTPRN2 and Ki-67 expression (r = -0.161, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The high expression of PTPRN2 and Ki-67 is closely associated with HCC development, but there is no significant correlation between them.

Effect of adipose-derived stem cell-conditioned medium on the proliferation and migration of B16 melanoma cells

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a population of cells derived from adipose tissue. ASCs exhibit multilineage development potential and are able to secrete various factors, which influence adjacent cells. Previous studies have reported the effectiveness of ASC-conditioned medium (ASC-CM) in wound healing, anti-melanogenesis, wrinkle improvement and hair growth. In the present study, the anticancer function of ASC-CM was investigated in vitro and in vivo. An MTT assay revealed that ASC-CM significantly decreased the proliferation of B16 melanoma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Cell cycle analysis indicated that ASC-CM significantly increased the number of cells in G1 phase while reducing the number of cells in the S and G2/M phases (P<0.01). Furthermore, a wound migration model demonstrated that ASC-CM treatment significantly decreased the migration ability of B16 melanoma cells (P<0.01). In addition, C57BL/6 mice were administered with a single intratumoral injection of ASC-CM, daily or every other day, and a significant reduction in the volume of the tumor mass was observed compared with that of the control group (P<0.01). Thus, the findings of the present study indicated that ASC-CM has an anti-tumorigenic effect on B16 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo, and may potentially be used to support the treatment of melanoma in the future.

Perforated sarcomatoid carcinoma of the jejunum: Case report

Sarcomatoid carcinomas exhibit features that are common to epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. These carcinomas are rare, particularly in the small intestine. In the current case report, we describe a case of an intestinal sarcomatoid carcinoma in a 70-year-old Chinese female. Sarcomatoid carcinoma was confirmed based on light microscopy and immunohistochemical observations. The patient presented with symptoms of acute abdomen, which was due to an intestinal perforation caused by sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small bowel. Patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma are usually associated with a poor prognosis. However, this patient experienced a relatively favorable prognosis, which may be attributed to low positivity for Ki67 in the tumor.

Overexpression of LAPTM4B-35 is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lysosome-associated protein transmembrane-4 beta (LAPTM4B) overexpression is associated with the prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

LAPTM4B expression was evaluated in colorectal cancer patients by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between LAPTM4B expression and prognosis.

RESULTS

Among the 136 patients with colorectal cancer, 51 patients had low LAPTM4B expression, and 85 patients had high LAPTM4B expression. The sensitivity and specificity of LAPTM4B overexpression were 62.5% and 100%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for patients with high and low LAPTM4B expression were 37.38% and 98.04%, respectively (hazard ratio = 22.774; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.287-98.091; P < .0001). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 21.15% for patients in the high-expression group and 91.82% for patients in the low-expression group (hazard ratio = 11.674; 95% CI, 3.562-38.263; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

LAPTM4B overexpression is an independent factor in colorectal cancer prognosis, and it may be an important potential biomarker.

Identification of novel phosphorylation modification sites in human proteins that originated after the human-chimpanzee divergence

MOTIVATION

Phosphorylation modifications of specific protein residues are involved in a wide range of biological processes such as modulation of intracellular signal networks. Here, we present the development and application of a bioinformatics procedure for systematic identification of human-specific phosphorylation sites in proteins that may have occurred after the human-chimpanzee divergence.

RESULTS

We collected annotated human phosphorylation sites and compared each site to orthologous mammalian proteins across taxa including chimpanzee, orangutan, rhesus macaque, marmoset, mouse, dog, cow, elephant, opossum and platypus. We identified 37 human-specific gains of annotated phosphorylation sites in 35 proteins: 22 serines, 12 threonines and 3 tyrosines. The novel phosphorylation sites are situated in highly conserved segments of the protein. Proteins with novel phosphorylation sites are involved in crucial biological processes such as cell division (AURKB, CASC5, MKI67 and PDCD4) and chromatin remodeling (HIRA, HIRIP3, HIST1H1T, NAP1L4 and LRWD1). Modified phosphorylatable residues produce novel target sites for protein kinases such as cyclin-dependent kinases and casein kinases, possibly resulting in rewiring and fine-tuning of phosphorylation regulatory networks. The potential human-specific phosphorylation sites identified in this study are useful as candidates for functional analysis to identify novel phenotypes in humans.

CONTACT

hahny@cau.ac.kr

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of EphA3 and CD133 expression in colorectal carcinoma

AIMS

To investigate clinicopathological significance and prognostic implications of EphA3, CD133 and Ki-67 expression in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

EphA3, CD133 and Ki-67 expression was assessed in 201 cases of paraffin-embedded colorectal carcinoma and 60 cases of distal normal mucosal tissue by immunohistochemistry. Medical records were reviewed and clinicopathological analysis was performed. The differential expression of EphA3 and CD133 protein was detected in 20 cases of fresh resected colorectal carcinoma and 20 cases of matched normal mucosal tissue adjacent to the carcinoma by western blot.

RESULTS

The expression of EphA3 and CD133 in carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal mucosal tissue (p=0.008; p=0.004). EphA3 and CD133 were positively correlated with tumour size (p=0.029; p=0.017), histological grade (all p=0.001), infiltrative depth (all p=0.00), lymph node metastasis (all p=0.00), distant metastasis (p=0.017; p=0.030) and TNM stage (all p=0.001). Patients with high expression of EphA3 and CD133 had the lowest survival (all p=0.001) (median survival time of EphA3 positive and negative cases: 34.0 and 72.0 months; median survival time of CD133 positive and negative cases: 34.0 and 77.0 months). Multivariate survival analysis showed that EphA3 and CD133 expression was correlated significantly with shortened survival in patients with colorectal cancer (Cox regression: p=0.001, HR=4.722, 95% CI 2.667 to 8.361; p=0.001, HR=5.224, 95% CI 2.622 to 10.405). EphA3, CD133 and Ki-67 expression in colorectal cancer had positive correlations with each other (all p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

EphA3 and CD133 may play an important role in the development and progression of tumours, and thus become useful indicators for clinical assessment of tumour biological behaviour and prognosis in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Clinical significance of P53 and Ki67 expression in gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the correlation of P53 and Ki67 protein expression with the clinicopathological parameters in gastric cancer.

METHODS: A total of 1 107 surgical specimens of gastric cancer were collected from the Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, The expression of P53 and Ki67 was examined by immunohistochemistry in 775 gastric cancer specimens taken from patients with complete clinical data.

RESULTS: The positive rates of P53 and Ki67 protein expression were 46.84% and 78.97%, respectively. Higher positive rates of P53 and Ki67 protein expression were noted in intestinal-type gastric cancer than in diffuse-type gastric cancer (54.7% vs 38.0%, 86.0% vs 70.0%, both P < 0.05) and in well-differentiated cancer than in poorly-differentiated cancer (54.7 vs 35.4%, 87.0% vs 67.2%, both P < 0.05). A higher positive rate of P53 protein expression was noted in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer than in gastric cancer (53.7% vs 41.9%, P < 0.05) and in cancer without distant metastasis than in that with distant metastasis (49.0% vs 30.3%, P < 0.05). A higher positive rate of Ki67 protein expression was noted in invasive cancer than in less invasive cancer ( 80.3% vs 60.4%, P < 0.05) and in cancer with lymph node metastasis than in that without lymph node metastasis (81.4% vs 72.6 %, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: P53 and Ki67 protein expression might be associated with the development, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer, and can be used to evaluate the malignant behavior and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Immunohistochemical analysis of vascular density and area in colorectal carcinoma using different markers and comparison with clinicopathologic prognostic factors

Analysis of blood and lymphatic vessel in colorectal cancer is controversial in the literature, possibly due to variations in the methods of analysis. In this study, it was aimed to search for a reliable approach in the quantification of angio- and lymphangiovascular density and area as a prognostic factor and to compare such vessel counts in normal mucosa, adenomas and cancer. A retrospective study was performed on 60 sporadic colorectal cancer, 30 colorectal adenomas, and 10 colorectal non-neoplastic lesions. Archival tissues were submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation using antibodies to CD31, CD34, CD105, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and D2-40. Microvessel density and total vascular area were determined by computer image analysis and values were compared in the three groups of lesions; the prognostic value of these parameters was evaluated in the group of colorectal cancer. Most markers showed progressive vessel counts from non-neoplastic tissue to carcinoma, both for microvessel density and total vascular area. Only microvessel density determined by CD34 in the central areas of the cancer correlated with recurrence/metastasis (p = 0.04) and survival (p = 0.02). Different methods of quantification (microvessel counting versus estimation of total vascular area), immunohistochemical markers (pan-endothelial marker versus neovessels and lymphatic markers), and areas of analysis (periphery versus inner portions of the lesion) were assessed using image analysis. The results corroborate the increase in vascularization of carcinoma and suggest that microvessel density determined by immunostaining for CD34 in the inner portion of the tumor might represent a prognostically relevant parameter in colorectal cancer.

Proliferation characteristics of CD133+ cell population in colorectal cancer

In this study, CD133+ subpopulations were isolated from 41 primary colorectal cancer tissues, the proliferation and cell cycle distribution of the cells were examined without in vitro expansion, and then compared to those of cell lines. The detection of CD133 in colorectal cancer tissues, isolation of CD133+ and CD133- epithelial subpopulations, Ki-67/DNA multiparameter assay and cell volume analysis were flow cytometrically conducted. The results showed that Ki-67 expression was correlated with CD133 level in primary cancer tissues, while cell cycle G2/M phase distribution or clinicopathological characteristics was not. In addition, the CD133+ cells showed larger cell volume and higher Ki-67 expression as compared with CD133- cells. But there was no statistically significant difference in G(2)/M phase distribution between the two subpopulations. Our results demonstrated that the CD133+ subpopulation in colorectal cancer tissue contained more actively cycling and proliferating cells, which was not correlated to clinicopathological factors but might contribute to tumor progression and poor clinical outcome.