Relationship among expression of basic-fibroblast growth factor, MTDH/astrocyte elevated gene-1, adenomatous polyposis coli, matrix metalloproteinase 9,and COX-2 markers with prognostic factors in prostate carcinomas

Serum angiogenesis profile in gestational trophoblastic neoplasm using multiplex immunoassay

AIMS

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTN) exemplify a rare, mostly curable but highly aggressive disease. It is often associated with a rapid formation of distant metastases and most likely with an intense neoangiogenesis processes. The aim of the study was to analyze markers in serum of patients with GTN before chemotherapy compared to healthy pregnant women.

MAIN METHODS

In this study sixteen protein angiogenesis markers were evaluated in serum of 21 patients with GTN before chemotherapy and compared with healthy pregnant women. Markers were measured using BioPlex Pro Human Cancer Biomarker Panel 1 immunoassay. t-Tests and receiver operating characteristic curves were used for statistical analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Receiver operator curve analysis identified six proteins (sTIE-2, osteopontin, sIL-6α, sVEGFR-2, sEGFR, PECAM-1) which had sufficient sensitivity and specificity (AUC > 0,70) to distinguish GTN patients before the treatment from pregnant controls. The levels of three proteins (sTIE-2, osteopontin and sIL-6α) were altered in GTN patients before the treatment as compared to healthy controls (p = 0,0112; p = 0,0442; p = 0,0488, respectively) and thereby may serve as potential disease markers.

SIGNIFICANCE

Serum concentration of proteins related to angiogenesis changes in the course of GTN and may appear useful in the diagnostic process of this disease.

AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC: A Promiscuous Protein Partner Critical in Cancer, Obesity, and CNS Diseases

Since its original discovery in 2002, AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC has emerged as a primary regulator of several diseases including cancer, inflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC has emerged as a key contributory molecule in almost every aspect of cancer progression, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, increased cell migration and invasion, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Additionally, recent studies highlight a seminal role of AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC in neurodegenerative diseases and obesity. By interacting with multiple protein partners, AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC plays multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases. This review discusses the current state of understanding of AEG-1/MTDH/LYRIC regulation and function in cancer and other diseases with a focus on its association/interaction with several pivotal protein partners.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) and the A(E)Ging HIV/AIDS-HAND

Recent attempts to analyze human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-induced gene expression changes in astrocytes uncovered a multifunctional oncogene, astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1). Our previous studies revealed that AEG-1 regulates reactive astrocytes proliferation, migration and inflammation, hallmarks of aging and CNS injury. Moreover, the involvement of AEG-1 in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's disease and migraine, and its induction in the aged brain suggest a plausible role in regulating overall CNS homeostasis and aging. Therefore, it is important to investigate AEG-1 specifically in aging-associated cognitive decline. In this study, we decipher the common mechanistic links in cancer, aging and HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders that likely contribute to AEG-1-based regulation of astrocyte responses and function. Despite AEG-1 incorporation into HIV-1 virions and its induction by HIV-1, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, the specific role(s) of AEG-1 in astrocyte-driven HIV-1 neuropathogenesis are incompletely defined. We propose that AEG-1 plays a central role in a multitude of cellular stress responses involving mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleolus. It is thus important to further investigate AEG-1-based cellular and molecular regulation in order to successfully develop better therapeutic approaches that target AEG-1 to combat cancer, HIV-1 and aging.

Nano-microcapsule basic fibroblast growth factor combined with hypoxia-inducible factor-1 improves random skin flap survival in rats

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nano-microcapsule-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) combined with hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) on the random skin flap survival of rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the McFarlane flap model and subsequently, all model rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, bFGF, HIF-1 and bFGF combined with HIF-1. The model rats were treated with 2.5 µg/day bFGF and 1.0 µg/day HIF-1 for 5 days by intraperitoneal injection. On day 5 following treatment, the boundaries between necrotic and surviving regions were significantly inhibited by bFGF combined with HIF-1. bFGF combined with HIF-1 inhibited oxidative stresses and inflammatory factors in random skin flap survival of rats. bFGF combined with HIF-1 also activated the protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the random skin flap survival of rats. In conclusion, nano-microcapsule bFGF combined with HIF-1 prevented random skin flap survival in rats through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and activation of the protein expression levels of COX-2 and VEGF.

Metadherin in prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer: A systematic review

Metadherin (MTDH) has been identified as an important oncogene in carcinogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis in numerous malignancies, through signal transduction pathways. MTDH is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in cancers. The present systematic review was performed to search for studies regarding MTDH and prostate, bladder and kidney cancer using several databases and the eligible studies were reviewed. MTDH expression was found to significantly increase in prostate, bladder and kidney cancers, not only in clinical tissue samples, but also in cancer cell lines. Reviewing the clinical and statistical analysis revealed that MTDH may be involved in urologic cancer progression, metastasis and prognosis. MTDH may be an independent or one of the cofactors in urologic cancers for prediction of patient survival, and may be involved in potential anticancer strategies. MTDH may be associated with several signal transduction pathways in urologic cancers, indicating latent targets to develop anticancer therapeutic strategy. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1: a novel independent prognostic biomarker for metastatic ovarian tumors

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), a novel tumor-associated gene, was found overexpressed in many tumors. Therefore, our purpose is to estimate whether AEG-1 overexpression is a novel predictor of prognostic marker in metastatic ovarian tumors. Immunohistochemistry was used to estimate AEG-1 overexpression in metastatic ovarian tumors from 102 samples. The association between AEG-1 expression and prognosis was estimated by univariate and multivariate survival analyses with Cox regression. The log-rank test was used to identify any differences in the prognosis between the two groups. The median overall and progression-free survival rates of patients with tumors from gastrointestinal tract origin were 0.97 and 0.51 years, respectively. Similarly, survival rates of patients with tumors of breast origin were 2.68 and 1.96 years (P < 0.0001). Of 102 patients, 77 had high expression, and AEG-1 overexpression had a significant link of prognosis in metastatic ovarian patients (P < 0.01). On the other hand, medians of overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with tumors of gastrointestinal tract origin were significantly lower than those of patients with tumors of breast origin (P < 0.0001). Patients with metastatic ovarian tumors of breast origin had significantly better prognosis than those with the tumors from gastrointestinal tract primary malignancies. It is suggested that AEG-1 overexpression might be an independent prognostic marker of metastatic ovarian tumors.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 is a novel biomarker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in two China regions

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is involved in important biological processes including cell invasion, metastasis, and carcinogenesis. However, its clinical significance has remained largely unknown in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, specimens from 144 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas in Beijing and Heilongjiang regions were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin expressions. A clinicopathological study revealed that AEG-1 expression level in tumor cells was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P = 0.001) and Edmonson grade (P < 0.0001). In addition, AEG-1, vimentin, and E-cadherin (epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarker) expressions were correlated with each other. These findings suggest that AEG-1 may be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated biomarker in human hepatocellular carcinoma and play important roles in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the AEG-1 gene is a potential target for elimination of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.