Immunohistochemical correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 in tobacco associated epithelial dysplasia

Molecular markers associated with potentially malignant oral lesions (Review)

According to literature data, potentially premalignant oral lesions are the basis of over 85% of cell carcinomas. Despite multiple advances achieved during the last few decades in the diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous cell carcinomas, there has not been a significant change in the prognosis and 5-year survival rate. The prevention of malignant transformation of these tumors by diagnosis and targeted treatment would be the ideal scenario. These potentially premalignant oral lesions represent an important subject for either the clinical or the research field, due to the higher malignant transformation observed in the last few years at different ages. To date, histopathological examination based on TNM criteria is considered the 'golden standard'. However, this type of examination has its limitation due to staining procedures and photonic microscope examination. Identification of cellular and molecular markers specific to these oral lesions with potentially malignant transformation could lead to early detection, accurate diagnosis, prevention of the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and facilitate a targeted therapeutic approach. In this review, we focused on a series of molecules that are implicated in the malignant transformation of these lesions and considered potential biomarkers.

Effects of histone H4 hyperacetylation on inhibiting MMP2 and MMP9 in human amniotic epithelial cells and in premature rupture of fetal membranes

Histone modification is closely associated with several diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations among histone acetylation, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) during pregnancy. A total of 180 puerperants were divided into three groups: i) Preterm-PROM (PPROM), ii) term-PROM (TPROM) and iii) full-term labor (FTL). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and western blotting were used to determine the protein concentrations of MMP2, MMP9, histone deacetylase (HDAC)1, HDAC2 and HDAC6, and the protein levels of histone H4 lysine (H4K)5 and H4K8 acetylation, respectively, in three types of fetal membranes. Additionally, human amniotic epithelial cells were used to determine the effects of the HDAC inhibitors droxinostat and chidamide on cell viability, histone acetylation and the levels of MMP2, MMP9, HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC6 in vitro, using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, western blotting and ELISA, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of droxinostat and chidamide on the invasion and migration abilities of human amniotic epithelial cells were investigated using transwell assays. In fetal membranes, the activities of MMP2 and MMP9 increased in PPROM, but decreased in TPROM. Further, the expression of HDAC1 was decreased and histone hyperacetylation was increased in both PPROM and TRPOM. In vitro experiments revealed that 5 µM droxinostat and 0.5 µM chidamide selectively decreased the level of HDAC and induced acetylation of H4K5 and H4K8. Additionally, the aforementioned HDAC inhibitors reduced human amniotic epithelial cell viability, invasion and migration, and decreased the expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9. The current study revealed a high expression level of MMP2 and MMP9 in PPROM compared with TPROM and FL tissue, which was in accordance with previously published studies. Furthermore, the in vitro tests performed in the current study revealed the effect of histone H4 hyperacetylation on inhibiting MMP2 and MMP9 levels in vitro was similar to that observed in TPROM. The results obtained in the current study may be used as a theoretical guide for clinical treatment of premature rupture of membranes.

Effect of tumor microenvironment on pathogenesis of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is comprised of many different cell populations, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and various infiltrating immune cells, and non-cell components of extracellular matrix. These crucial parts of the surrounding stroma can function as both positive and negative regulators of all hallmarks of cancer development, including evasion of apoptosis, induction of angiogenesis, deregulation of the energy metabolism, resistance to the immune detection and destruction, and activation of invasion and metastasis. This review represents a summary of recent studies focusing on describing these effects of microenvironment on initiation and progression of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on oral squamous cell carcinoma, since it is becoming clear that an investigation of differences in stromal composition of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma microenvironment and their impact on cancer development and progression may help better understand the mechanisms behind different responses to therapy and help define possible targets for clinical intervention.

Tumor-Infiltrated Lymphocytes, Macrophages, and Dendritic Cells in Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma of Corpus Uteri as Potential Prognostic Factors: An Immunohistochemical Study

AIM

In the present study, we aim to investigate the presence of inflammatory immune cells lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells as prognostic factors in the clinical outcome of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study used data from the Belarus cancer registry and archival histological material of 82 patients with stage I to III (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2009) with retrospectively known good (survival) and poor (disease progression and death) outcomes. All cases were immunohistochemically stained for CD3, CD20, CD57, CD68, and S100. Two independent samples were compared for the characteristics of signs, and obtained results were analyzed by ROC analysis, Mantel-Cox tests. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Expressions of CD3, CD57, and CD68 were significantly higher in the good outcome group (P < 0.001) compared with the poor outcome group. There was no significant difference between CD20 and S100 in the 2 groups. All criteria showed significant difference (P < 0.001) in survival of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study showed for the first time that the low level of expression of markers for tumor-associated T lymphocytes (CD3), NK cells (CD57), macrophages (CD68), and an increased expression of markers for tumor-associated B lymphocytes (CD20) and dendritic cells (S100) in endometrioid adenocarcinoma progression lead to poor survival outcome. The associated criteria of these immune cells may be used as predictive factors in the diagnosis of tumor progression. Our study indicates that local antitumor immune response may be applied to define risk groups to predict clinical outcomes.

Human aqueous humor levels of transforming growth factor-β2: Association with matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

The present study aims to investigate the association of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-3, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 in the aqueous humor of patients with high myopia or cataracts. The levels of TGF-β2 and MMPs/TIMPs were measured with the Luminex xMAP Technology using commercially available Milliplex xMAP kits. The association between TGF-β2 and MMPs/TIMPs levels was analyzed using the Spearmans correlation test. The levels of TGF-β2 were identified to be positively correlated with the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 (TIMP-1: r=0.334; P=0.007; TIMP-3: r=0.309; P=0.012). The levels of MMP-2, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 did not significantly correlate with TGF-β2 levels (P>0.05). A positive correlation was identified between TGF-β2 and TIMPs in the aqueous humor of human eyes with elongated axial length. It appears that TGF-β2 stimulates the expression of TIMPs as a compensatory reaction to the development of high myopia.

Microenvironmental regulation of the progression of oral potentially malignant disorders towards malignancy

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) develop in a complex tissue microenvironment where they grow sustainably, acquiring oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) characteristics. The malignant tumor depends on interactions with the surrounding microenvironment to achieve loco-regional invasion and distant metastases. Unlike abnormal cells, the multiple cell types in the tissue microenvironment are relatively stable at the genomic level and, thus, become therapeutic targets with lower risk of resistance, decreasing the risk of OPMD acquiring cancer characteristics and carcinoma recurrence. However, deciding how to disrupt the OPMD and OSCC microenvironments is itself a daunting challenge, since their microenvironments present opposite capacities, resulting in diverse consequences. Furthermore, recent studies revealed that tumor-associated immune cells also participate in the process of differentiation from OPMD to OSCC, suggesting that reeducating stromal cells may be a new strategy to prevent OPMD from acquiring OSCC characteristics and to treat OSCC. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of the microenvironment of OPMD and OSCC as well as new therapeutic strategies.

The Potential Roles of MELF-Pattern, Microvessel Density, and VEGF Expression in Survival of Patients with Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinoma: A Morphometrical and Immunohistochemical Analysis of 100 Cases

Background

In this study, we hypothesized that microcystic, elongated, fragmented (MELF)-pattern, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by cancer cells and microvessel density of cancer stroma may be associated with progression of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

Methods

The study used data from the Belarus Cancer Registry and archival histological material of 100 patients with retrospectively known good (survival) and poor (disease progression and death) outcomes. All cases were immunohistochemically stained for CD34 and VEGF. Two independent samples were compared for the characteristics of signs, and obtained results were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, χ² test (Yates correction), and Mantel-Cox test. Multivariate Cox hazard analysis and Spearman correlation test were used. A p-value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The observed survival rate of patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma was significantly lower (p = .002) in MELF-pattern positive patients when compared with MELF-pattern negative patients. The overall survival rate of patients whose tumors had more than 114 vessels/mm² of tissue was significantly low (p < .001). Interestingly, a similar observation was found in patients with increased vessel area, evidenced by VEGF expression in the glandular tumor component.

Conclusions

Our study suggests, for the first time, that these criteria may be used as risk factors of endometrioid adenocarcinoma progression during 5 years after radical surgical treatment. However, a large independent cohort of samples should be considered in the future to validate our findings.

Comparative study of the effects of PEGylated interferon-α2a versus 5-fluorouracil on cancer stem cells in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) possess tumor-initiating, metastatic, and drug resistance properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of PEGylated interferon-α2a (PEG-IFN-α2a) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the expression of CSC markers and on specific pathways that contribute to the propagation of CSCs in HCC. HCC was initiated in rats using a single intraperitoneal dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) (200 mg/kg) and promoted by weekly subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 6 weeks. After the appearance of dysplastic nodules, the animals received PEG-IFN-α2a or 5-FU for 8 weeks. CSC markers (OV6, CD90) and molecules related to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and other signaling pathways were assessed in hepatic tissues. The PEG-IFN-α2a treatment effectively suppressed the hepatic expression of OV6 and CD90, ameliorated the diminished hepatic expression of TGF-β receptor II (TGF-βRII) and β2-spectrin (β2SP), and significantly reduced the elevated hepatic expression of TGF-β1, interleukin6 (IL6), signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In contrast, the 5-FU treatment failed to reduce the overexpression of CSC markers and barely affected the disrupted TGF-β signaling. Furthermore, it had no effect on angiogenesis or nitrosative stress. PEG-IFN-α2a, but not 5-FU, could reduce the propagation of CSCs during the progression of HCC by upregulating the disrupted TGF-β signaling, suppressing the IL6/STAT3 pathway and reducing angiogenesis.

Modulating Effect of Enicostemma littorale on the Expression Pattern of Apoptotic, Cell Proliferative, Inflammatory and Angiogenic Markers During 7, 12-Dimethylbenz (a) Anthracene Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Carcinogenesis

Enicostemma littorale leaves are traditionally used for the treatment of several diseases, including inflammation and cancer. This study has taken effort to explore the antitumor initiating potential of E. littorale leaves (ElELet) by analyzing the expression pattern of apoptotic (p53, Bcl-2 and Bcl-2 associated X-protein), cell-proliferative (cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen), angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor), invasive (matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9), and inflammatory (NF-κB and cyclooxygenase-2) markers during 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral tumors were induced in the buccal pouches of hamsters using the potent site and organ specific carcinogen, DMBA. DMBA application 3 times a week for 14 weeks resulted in tumor formation in the buccal pouches. Hundred percent tumor formations with dysregulation in the expression pattern of apoptotic, cell proliferative, inflammatory, angiogenic, and invasive markers were observed in the buccal pouches of hamsters treated with DMBA alone. ElELet at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight orally to DMBA treated hamsters significantly prevented the tumor formation as well as corrected the abnormalities in the expression pattern of above mentioned molecular markers. ElELet thus modulated the expression pattern of all the above mentioned molecular markers in favor of the suppression of cell proliferation occurring in DMBA induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

MicroRNA-429 induces tumorigenesis of human non-small cell lung cancer cells and targets multiple tumor suppressor genes

Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer death globally. MicroRNAs are evolutionally conserved small noncoding RNAs that are critical for the regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of microRNA (miRNA) has been implicated in cancer initiation and progression. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of miR-429 are often upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with normal lung tissues, and its expression level is also increased in NSCLC cell lines compared with normal lung cells. Overexpression of miR-429 in A549 NSCLC cells significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas inhibition of miR-429 inhibits these effects. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-429 down-regulates PTEN, RASSF8 and TIMP2 expression by directly targeting the 3'-untranslated region of these target genes. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-429 plays an important role in promoting the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells and is a potential target for NSCLC therapy.