Altered expression of 17‑β‑hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and its prognostic significance in non‑small cell lung cancer

Comparative RNA-sequencing analysis of the prostate in a mouse model of benign prostatic hyperplasia with bladder outlet obstruction

In ageing men, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic disease that leads to progressive lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by obstruction of the bladder outlet (BOO). Patients with LUTS (such as increased frequency and urgency of urination) and complications of BOO (such as hydronephrosis and bladder stones) are at risk of serious health problems. BPH causes a rapidly rising burden of LUTS far exceeding that of other urological conditions. Treatment outcomes are unsatisfactory for BPH largely due to the lacking of fully understanding of the pathogenesis. Hormonal imbalances related to androgen and oestrogen can cause BPH, but the exact mechanism is still unknown, even the animal model is not fully understood. Additionally, there are no large-scale data to explain this mechanism. A BPH mouse model was established using mixed slow-release pellets of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2), and we measured gene expression in mouse prostate tissue using RNA-seq, verified the results using qRT‒PCR, and used bioinformatics methods to analyse the differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Inhibition: A Potential Treatment Option for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

In the face of the clinical challenge posed by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the present need for new therapeutic approaches is genuine. Up to now, no proof existed that 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD1) is a viable target for treating this disease. Synthesis of a rationally designed library of 2,5-disubstituted furan derivatives followed by biological screening led to the discovery of 17β-HSD1 inhibitor 1, capable of fully inhibiting human NSCLC Calu-1 cell proliferation. Its pharmacological profile renders it eligible for further in vivo studies. The very high selectivity of 1 over 17β-HSD2 was investigated, revealing a rational approach for the design of selective inhibitors. 17β-HSD1 and 1 hold promise in fighting NSCLC.