miR-433 suppresses tumor progression via Smad2 in non-small cell lung cancer

The role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in lung cancer is well known. TGF-β-mediated cellular proliferation and angiogenesis through similar to mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2) protein has also been well elucidated. Smad2 is a predicted target for a microRNAs, namely miR-433. microRNAs are a significant class of non-coding RNAs which play an important role in epigenetic regulation. Here, we show that miR-433 directly binds to Smad2, which is shown to be upregulated in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). miR-433 expression is downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-433 is associated with decreased expression of proteins - namely Cyclin D1, MMP-2/TIMP-2, and MMP-9, and consequently reduced cell proliferation and invasion phenotypes. Complementation of miR-433 leads to rescue of these disrupted phenotypes. miR-433 mediates its action via Smad2 and Id-1. miR-433 may be a candidate worth further exploration for its prognostic and therapeutic potential in NSCLC.     

miRNA-124 down-regulates SOX8 expression and suppresses cell proliferation in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small lung cell carcinoma (NSCLC) is a leading lethal disease and a global health burden. The function of the Sex determining region Y (SRY)-related high mobility group box (SOX) family gene in cancer has attracted the attention of more and more scientists recently, yet there are few reports regarding the role of SOX in NSCLC. Our study aimed to investigate the expression of SOX8, a protein belonging to the E group of the SOX family, as well as SOX9, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the relationship of gene expression to clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to measure the expression of SOX8 in 80 NSCLC and 7 adjacent normal tissues. SOX8 expression was detected as elevated in tumor samples and correlated to tumor size (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), differentiation classification (P = 0.015), and clinical stage (P = 0.013) significantly. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that shorter survival time for patients who had higher SOX8 expression (P < 0.001). In addition, our experiments indicate that miRNA-124 functions as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. We also demonstrate miRNA-124 directly targeted and decreased SOX8 in NSCLC cell lines, suggesting smiRNA-124 may regulate NSCLC cell proliferation via decreasing SOX8 (oncogenicity of biomarker in NSCLC).     

miRNA-124 down-regulates SOX8 expression and suppresses cell proliferation in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small lung cell carcinoma (NSCLC) is a leading lethal disease and a global health burden. The function of the Sex determining region Y (SRY)-related high mobility group box (SOX) family gene in cancer has attracted the attention of more and more scientists recently, yet there are few reports regarding the role of SOX in NSCLC. Our study aimed to investigate the expression of SOX8, a protein belonging to the E group of the SOX family, as well as SOX9, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the relationship of gene expression to clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to measure the expression of SOX8 in 80 NSCLC and 7 adjacent normal tissues. SOX8 expression was detected as elevated in tumor samples and correlated to tumor size (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), differentiation classification (P = 0.015), and clinical stage (P = 0.013) significantly. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that shorter survival time for patients who had higher SOX8 expression (P < 0.001). In addition, our experiments indicate that miRNA-124 functions as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC. We also demonstrate miRNA-124 directly targeted and decreased SOX8 in NSCLC cell lines, suggesting smiRNA-124 may regulate NSCLC cell proliferation via decreasing SOX8 (oncogenicity of biomarker in NSCLC).     

A synthetic tissue kallikrein inhibitor suppresses cancer cell invasiveness.

Serine proteinases modulate the interaction of tumor cells with extracellular matrix components during extravasation and metastasis. The serine proteinase tissue kallikrein has been previously demonstrated in several human adenocarcinomas, and we presently report the localization of immunoreactive kallikrein and its mRNA in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In addition, a synthetic peptide-based inhibitor specific for tissue kallikrein (FE999024) was used in our studies to explore a possible role for kallikrein in cancer cell invasiveness. Matrigel invasion assays were performed with a human breast-cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, which expresses tissue kallikrein in culture. In the presence of FE999024 invasion through Matrigel was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner to a maximum of 39%. We also developed a novel ex vivo assay in which breast cancer cells are infused into the pulmonary circulation of artificially ventilated explanted rat lungs. At intervals up to 6 hours after infusion pulmonary invasion was quantified by bronchial alveolar lavage to recover human cancer cells from the airspace. Invading cells in the lung interstitium were also quantified after immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody specific for human cytokeratin 18. The synthetic kallikrein inhibitor attenuates breast cancer cell invasion into the airspace by 33% when quantified by lavage recovery and up to 34% as quantified in the lung interstitium by cytokeratin 18 immunostaining. Our results indicate tissue kallikrein may participate in the invasion and metastasis of human adenocarcinomas. The newly developed explanted rodent lung assay should be useful for the study of cancer cells, neutrophils, or other extravasating cells.     

Carbonic anhydrase-related protein VIII increases invasiveness of non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma

Carbonic anhydrase-related protein VIII (CA-RP VIII) is believed to be an oncofetal antigen and is overexpressed in colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer. However, the pathobiological properties of CA-RP VIII in lung cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we examined ultrastructural changes caused by exogenous CA-RP VIII expression in a well-differentiated lung adenocarcinoma cell line, PC-9. Many vacuoles lined by cilia, sometimes large vacuoles pushing the nuclei to one side, were found in the cytoplasm of CA-RP VIII-expressing PC-9 cells, but not in control PC-9 cells. Moreover, signet-ring cells containing abundant intracytoplasmic mucin were often found among CA-RP VIII-expressing PC-9 cells, but rarely among control PC-9 cells. We subsequently examined CA-RP VIII expression in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (Stage Ia). Significant expression of CA-RP VIII was observed in invasive lung adenocarcinoma but not in noninvasive adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, CA-RP VIII was strongly expressed in signet-ring cell cancer and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma components. CA-RP VIII also appeared to enhance the invasiveness of PC-9 cells in Matrigel invasion assay. The present findings suggest that CA-RP VIII expression in lung adenocarcinoma is related to cancer cell invasion.     

Salinomycin suppresses TGF-β1-induced EMT by down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 via the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway in non-small cell lung cancer

Salinomycin (Sal) is a recently identified anti-tumor drug for treating several types of solid tumor; however, its effects on the migratory and invasive properties of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. This study investigated the inhibitory effect underlying mechanisms of Salon transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. Sal solidly blocked cell migration and invasion enhancement by TGF-β1-induced EMT, through recovering E-cadherin loss and suppressing mesenchymal markers induction, as well as TGF-β1-mediated AMPK/SIRT signaling activity upregulation. The pharmacologic inhibition or knockdown of AMPK or SIRT1 can act synergistically with Sal to inhibit TGF-β1-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9. In contrast, AMPK or SIRT1 upregulation can protect against TGF-β1-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibition by Sal. Next we demonstrated that the MMP-2 and MMP-9 knockdown can act synergistically with Sal to inhibit TGF-β1-induced EMT. Moreover, treatment of PMA of MMP activator increased TGF-β1-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9, even with Sal. Our results demonstrate that Sal suppresses TGF-β1-induced EMT by downregulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 through the AMPK/SIRT pathway, thereby inhibiting lung cancer cell migration and invasion.     

Sirtuin SIRT6 suppresses cell proliferation through inhibition of Twist1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer

SIRT6 is a member of the NAD⁺-dependent class III deacetylase sirtuin family. Current studies have revealed that SIRT6 plays important roles in the epigenetic regulation of genes expression and contribute to the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cancer cells. However, the biological function of SIRT6 in lung cancer has not been elucidated. The present study showed that the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT6 were decreased in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. MTT assay showed that overexpression of SIRT6 could inhibit the proliferation in NSCLC cells. In contrast, SIRT6 knockdown using small interfering RNA promoted NSCLC cells proliferation. On the molecular level, we found that SIRT6 inhibited the expression of Twist1 both at the mRNA and protein levels in NSCLC cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated for the first time that SIRT6 suppressed NSCLC cells proliferation via down-regulation of Twist1 expression and might provide novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of lung cancer.     

119例非小细胞肺癌中CCR9的表达及其预后分析

目的：探讨 CC 族趋化因子受体9( C-C chemokine receptor 9, CCR9)在非小细胞肺癌( non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC)中的表达及其预后判断的价值。方法应用免疫组化PV-9000两步法检测119例NSCLC及相应癌旁正常肺组织中CCR9蛋白的表达,并分析CCR9表达与临床病理特征及患者总生存率的关系。结果 CCR9在NSCLC中的阳性率(54.6%)明显高于癌旁正常肺组织(10．1%)( P <0．05);CCR9表达与 NSCLC 病理组织类型、淋巴结转移、p-TNM 分期有关( P <0．05)。 Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示肺癌中CCR9蛋白表达与患者术后总生存率呈负相关(Log-rank=9．917,P=0．002)。单因素生存分析显示,淋巴结转移、p-TNM分期、CCR9蛋白表达与NSCLC患者术后总生存率有关( P<0．05)。多因素生存分析显示,CCR9是NSCLC患者术后总生存率的独立预测因素(RR=0．447,95%CI：0．201~0．993,P<0．05)。结论 CCR9阳性患者预后较差,其可作为NSCLC患者预后判断的新生物学标志物。     

FBXL3 is regulated by miRNA-4735-3p and suppresses cell proliferation and migration in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of primary lung cancer and regarded as cancer killer. The aim of this study was to discover the detailed function and molecular mechanism of F-box and leucine rich repeat protein 3 (FBXL3) in NSCLC. In this study, the expression level of FBXL3 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was firstly examined and identified. Moreover, the relationship between FBXL3 and the overall survival rate of NSCLC patients was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier survival curve. Functionally, MTT, colony formation assay and transwell assays were performed to determine the role of FBXL3 in regulating NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. The proliferation and migration were suppressed by overexpression of FBXL3, indicating the potential tumor suppressive role of FBXL3 in NSCLC. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays revealed that miR-4735-3p was a novel upstream modulator of FBXL3. Further study showed that miR-4735-3p was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Finally, rescue assays and function assays revealed that miR-4735-3p exerted oncogenic function in NSCLC, and this function can be attenuated by FBXL3. Taken together, FBXL3 was regulated by miR-4735-3p and suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer.     

Immunotherapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in-depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy.     

RETRACTED: Huaier extract suppresses non-small cell lung cancer progression through activating NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis

Recent studies have reported the anticancer activity of huaier extract in various human malignancies. However, little is known about the effect of huaier extract in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its underlying mechanism. The current study aimed to investigate whether huaier extract affects the progression of NSCLC. mRNA and proteins expression of pyroptotic-related genes (NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) in NSCLC tissues and cells were, respectively, detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The effects of huaier extract on NSCLC cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and LDH detection kit. Besides, we established a xenograft model to assess the antitumor effect of huaier extract on tumor growth in vivo. Our results showed that the expression of pyroptotic-related genes was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Huaier extract pretreatment inhibited cell viability and the percentage of colony formation of H520 and H358 cells, and upregulated the expression of pyroptotic-related genes. Mechanistically, huaier extract exhibited antitumor effect in NSCLC via inducing NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our finding confirmed that huaier extract played an antitumor role in NSCLC progression through promoting pyroptotic cell death, which provided a new potential strategy for NSCLC clinical treatment.     

Adenovirus-mediated TRAIL expression and downregulation of Bcl-2 expression suppresses non-small cell lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo

Primary or acquired resistance to current treatment methods remains a major factor in clinical oncology and may be caused by failures in apoptosis programs. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can induce apoptosis in several human cancer cell types. However, not all cancer cells are susceptible to TRAIL and mechanisms of resistance and new strategies to enhance sensitivity are an area of intense investigation. Therefore, we investigated whether TRAIL resistance is due to Bcl-2 levels. In this study, we generated an adenoviral vector, Ad5.TRAIL/siBcl2, that permitted co-expression of shRNA against Bcl-2 and the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) therapeutic gene from a cytomegalovirus promoter. Infection with Ad5.TRAIL/siBcl2 resulted in significant cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro. In contrast, it had no effect on a normal lung cell line, WI-38. Impressively, treatment of the established NSCLC tumor model with Ad5.TRAIL/siBcl2 resulted in significant tumor regression, compared with other adenoviruses. This potent antitumor activity induced by Ad5.TRAIL/siBcl2 was due to strong inhibition of Bcl-2 and high expression of TRAIL. Thus, this study may provide a framework for future clinical applications of Ad5.TRAIL/siBcl2 in lung tumor gene therapy.     

Stathmin在非小细胞肺癌中表达增强* 基金项目：辽宁省科学技术计划立项课题资助（编号：2007225005-13）

 摘要:目的 探讨Stathmin在非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）组织中和正常组织中的表达,了解其与NSCLC临床病理特征之间的关系。方法 用免疫组化与RT-PCR方法,检测43例NSCLC 术后癌组织及正常组织标本中Stathmin蛋白与mRNA的表达。结果 Stathmin蛋白和基因在NSCLC中阳性表达率分别为62.79%和67.44%,显著高于正常组织的16.28%和20.93%（P＜0.01）,其表达与肿瘤细胞分化程度和有无淋巴结转移有关（P ＜0.05）。结论 Stathmin在NSCLC的发生发展过程中起了重要作用,可能成为预测NSCLC恶性程度的新的生物学及个体化治疗的敏感指标。     

Molecular pathology of non-small cell lung cancer

Our increasing understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly adenocarcinomas, has opened the door to ‘personalised medicine’ and the advent of new therapeutic strategies. Over the last few years new drugs, or classes of drugs, have been licensed and entered clinical practice for use in advanced NSCLC. The activity of these drugs is dependent on the presence of specific molecular or protein changes in cancer cells which are usually identified using ‘companion diagnostic tests’ specifically designed for this purpose. Pathologists and Pathology Departments have had to forge new links with Clinical Scientists in order to facilitate these additional investigations on the, often limited, tissue obtained for diagnosis. This collaboration plays a critical role in providing the link that allows integration of the traditional morphological diagnosis with the results of these new ‘companion diagnostic’ tests to guide patient management.     

Association between COX-2 polymorphisms and non-small cell lung cancer susceptibility

Aim: To explore the association between COX-2 polymorphisms and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) susceptibility. Methods: We collected fasting peripheral venous blood from 60 cases with NSCLC and 62 healthy controls through physical examinations, and applied PCR-RFLP to analyze COX-2 polymorphisms of two groups. Results: With respect to detecting COX-2 rs689466 and rs5275 polymorphisms, the distribution frequency of mutant genotype AA of COX-2 rs689466 in case group was higher than that in control group, which possessed significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). Carriers with AA genotype were 4.05 times at risk of NSCLC than those with GG genotype (P = 0.04, OR=4.05, 95% CI = 1.14-14.43). The distribution of mutant genotype CC of COX-2 rs5275 was different between two groups, and carriers with genotype CC were at 5.70 times higher risk of NSCLC than those with genotype TT. After corrected by sex, gender, smoking and drinking factors, AA genotype of COX-2 rs689466 and CC genotype of COX-2 rs5275 still contributed to increased risk of NSCLC (OR=4.22, 95% CI=1.10-16.17, OR=6.95, 95% CI=1.27-38.11). After analyzed of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotypes of alleles in two SNPs, the distribution frequency of A-C haplotype in case group was higher than that in control group, with significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). After corrected by sex, gender, smoking and drinking factors, statistical difference was still found in the total distribution of A-C haplotype between two groups (P = 0.03, OR=6.11, 95% CI=1.16-32.2). Conclusions: COX-2 rs689466 and rs5275 polymorphisms may be related to NSCLC susceptibility. And A-C haplotype might be a susceptibility haplotype for NSCLC.     

Molecular deletion of 9p sequences in non-small cell lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma

Previously we have reported non-random cytogenetic abnormalities involving the short arm of chromosome 9 (9p) in the majority of primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient samples, which indicated loss of DNA sequences. In another lung tumor, pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM), cytogenetic changes also include apparent deletions of 9p. To define the location and extent of deletions of 9p in NSCLC and MM, Southern blot analyses on six NSCLC and five MM cell lines using molecular probes to 9p loci (IFNA, IFNBI, D9S3, and D9S19) were performed, and DNA dosage was determined by densitometry. Our data demonstrated reduced dosage of 9p sequences in three of six NSCLC and four of five MM lines. A homozygous deletion of D9S3 was found in one NSCLC and one MM cell line. The region of common loss overlapped the D9S3 locus and was flanked by the IFNBI and D9S19 loci. IFNBI has previously been localized to 9p22, and the D9S3 and D9S19 loci have been mapped in this study by in situ hybridization to 9p21 and 9p13, respectively. We hypothesize the existence of one or more tumor suppressor genes on 9p with a role in the development or progression of NSCLC and MM. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

非小细胞肺癌组织中MMP-9、TIMP-1表达及意义

目的 探讨非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)组织中基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)、组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1(TIMP-1)的表达及其生物学行为的关系.方法 应用免疫组织化学SP法检测76例NSCLC和癌旁正常组织中MMP-9、TIMP-1的表达,并分析其表达与肺癌组织类型、肿瘤大小、TNM分期、分化程度、淋巴结转移的相关性.结果 MMP-9、TIMP-1在肺癌组织中的阳性表达率明显高于癌旁正常组织(P<0.05).NSCLC中MMP-9、TIMP-1表达与肿瘤的分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移有相关性(P<0.05),与肿瘤病理分型无关(P>0.05).结论 检测NSCLC中组织的MMP-9、TIMP-1的表达对判断肿瘤的恶性程度和预后评估有一定的意义.