Restoration of microRNA-29c in type I endometrioid cancer reduced endometrial cancer cell growth

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer worldwide, and the prognosis of patients with advanced disease remains poor. MicroRNAs (miRs) are dysregulated in endometrial cancer. miRs-29-a, -b and -c expression levels are downregulated in endometrial cancer; however, a specific role for miR-29c and its target genes remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to determine the functional effect of restoring miR-29c expression in endometrial cancer cell lines and to identify miR-29c targets involved in cancer progression. miR-29c expression in human endometrial tumour grades 1-3 and benign tissue as well as in the endometrial cancer cell lines Ishikawa, HEC1A and AN3CA were analysed using reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The cell lines were transfected with miR-29c mimic, miR-29c inhibitor or scrambled control. xCELLigence real-time cell monitoring analysed proliferation and migration, and flow cytometry was used to analyse apoptosis and cell cycle. The expression of miR-29c target genes in transfected cell lines was analysed using RT-qPCR. miR-29c was downregulated in grade 1-3 endometrial cancer samples compared with benign endometrium. miR-29c was reduced in Ishikawa and AN3CA cells, but not in HEC1A cell lines compared with non-cancerous primary human endometrial epithelial cells. Overexpression of miR-29c variably reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and reduced the expression levels of miR-29c target genes, including cell division cycle 42, HMG-box transcription factor 1, integrin subunit β 1, MCL1 apoptosis regulator BCL2 family member, MDM2 proto-oncogene, serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1, sirtuin 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor A, across the three cell lines investigated. Inhibition of miR-29c in HEC1A cells increased proliferation and collagen type IV α 1 chain expression. The re-introduction of miR-29c to endometrial cancer cell lines reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and reduced miR-29c target gene expression in vitro. The present results suggested that miR-29c may be a potential therapeutic target for endometrial cancer.

Galectin-7 is elevated in endometrioid (type I) endometrial cancer and promotes cell migration

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most commonly diagnosed gynecological malignancy in Australian women. Notably, its incidence and mortality rate is increasing. Despite this, there are limited treatment options for EC. Galectin-7 regulates tumorigenesis in numerous epithelial cancer types, but the role of galectin-7 has not been investigated in EC. It was hypothesized that galectin-7 expression would be altered in EC and contribute to the development of EC. Galectin-7 levels in EC and benign endometrium were quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and ELISA. The effect of recombinant galectin-7 (1 µg/ml) on cell adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis (xCELLigence and flow cytometry), migration (wound healing assay) and gene expression (RT-qPCR) was investigated using three human EC cell lines (Ishikawa, HEC1A and AN3CA). Galectin-7 gene and protein expression was significantly elevated in Grade 3 EC, compared with benign tissues. Galectin-7 was almost undetectable in Ishikawa and AN3CA cells, but highly expressed by HEC1A cells. Recombinant galectin-7 had no significant effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis in any cell line, but significantly reduced cell adhesion in Ishikawa (at 4 and 6 h) and AN3CA (at 2, 3, 4 and 6 h). Galectin-7 significantly promoted Ishikawa migration and significantly elevated collagen type IV α 1 chain and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) gene expression during wound healing. The present study demonstrated that galectin-7 production increased in EC with increasing cancer grade; therefore, galectin-7 may promote the metastasis of EC by reducing cell-cell adhesion and enhancing cell migration.

Utilising handheld computers to monitor and support patients receiving chemotherapy: results of a UK-based feasibility study

GOALS OF WORK

Recent changes in cancer service provision mean that many patients spend a limited time in hospital and therefore experience and must cope with and manage treatment-related side effects at home. Information technology can provide innovative solutions in promoting patient care through information provision, enhancing communication, monitoring treatment-related side effects and promoting self-care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The aim of this feasibility study was to evaluate the acceptability of using handheld computers as a symptom assessment and management tool for patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. A convenience sample of patients (n = 18) and health professionals (n = 9) at one Scottish cancer centre was recruited. Patients used the handheld computer to record and send daily symptom reports to the cancer centre and receive instant, tailored symptom management advice during two treatment cycles. Both patients' and health professionals' perceptions of the handheld computer system were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the project.

MAIN RESULTS

Patients believed the handheld computer had improved their symptom management and felt comfortable in using it. The health professionals also found the handheld computer to be helpful in assessing and managing patients' symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This project suggests that a handheld-computer-based symptom management tool is feasible and acceptable to both patients and health professionals in complementing the care of patients receiving chemotherapy.

Variations in the carcinogenicity of tremolite dust samples of differing morphology

Six samples of tremolite of different morphological type were prepared as dusts of respirable size and used in intraperitoneal injection studies in rats. Three "asbestiform" tremolites produced mesotheliomas in almost all animals, although with significantly different tumor-induction periods. A brittle type of fibrous tremolite which, when manipulated to prepare "respirable dust," produced a sample with relatively few asbestiform fibers remaining nonetheless produced tumors in 70% of rats. Two samples of nonfibrous tremolite produced respirable dust samples containing numerous elongated fragments with aspect ratios greater than 3:1, which therefore fitted the definition of respirable fibers. Both these samples produced relatively few tumors, although one had more long "fibers" than did the brittle tremolite that produced 70% of tumors. This study has therefore demonstrated that different morphologic forms of tremolite produce dusts with very different carcinogenic potential. Carcinogenicity does not depend simply on the number of elongated particles injected, and we need to develop methods of distinguishing carcinogenic tremolite fibers from relatively innocuous tremolite dusts, with similar numbers of elongated particles of similar aspect ratios.

Mesothelioma dose response following intraperitoneal injection of mineral fibres

The relationship between injected dose and the development of peritoneal mesotheliomas has been examined in rats using the UTCC standard reference samples of chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite as well as a sample of fibrous erionite from Oregon. Doses injected into the peritoneal cavity ranged from 0.005 to 25 mg and with each dust a clear dose response was found. The proportion of animals developing tumours increased with the amount of dust injected while the tumour induction period was reduced. When times to death from mesothelioma were analysed using standard hazard models, erionite was the most carcinogenic dust by mass followed by chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite. The hazard slopes for erionite, chrysotile and crocidolite, over the range of doses examined, were parallel while the slope for amosite was shallower. The relative hazards for the various dust types were also examined with dose expressed as the number of injected fibres in a range of sizes as measured by SEM. No combination of fibre dimensions was found at which the hazard for the four dust types was equal although when dose was expressed as the number of long fibres injected (> 8 microns in length) the hazard slopes for chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite were relatively close. The hazard level of erionite remained well above the other dust types regardless of how the dose was expressed.