Relationship between the expression of MDR1 in hepatocellular cancer and its biological behaviors

Objective: By the detection of HBV infection, AFP and AST, the targets of biological behavior and the gene expression of multi-drug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigate characteristics of the expression of MDR1 in HCC and its relationship with HCC biological behavior. Methods: Using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) to detect the expressions of MDR1 in 102 samples of HCC tissue and 20 samples of non-cancerous tissue, we analyze the relationship between expressions of MDR1 and biological characteristics of HCC. Results: The expression of MDR1 in HCC is 0.55±0.27, and in normal liver tissues is 0.23±0.10, respectively. The expression in HCC is higher than it in normal liver tissue, the difference is statistically significant (P<0.05) and the difference between the expression and the HCC envelopes is statistically significant, and the expression increases along with the increase of Edmondson classification (P<0.05). HBV infection, AFP positive, the rise of AST, all these factors have positive correlations with the expression (r=0.463, 0.473, 0.299). In MDR1 expressions of HCC patients, the survival curve of the negative is higher than that of the positive, but the difference is not statistically significant. Conclusion: There are drug resistance phenomena in HCC, MDR1 expression may play an important role in primary HCC drug resistance. HBV infection can be detected as a reference indicator of HCC chemotherapy resistance, plasma levels of AFP, AST can be used as a reference index change dynamic monitoring of MDR1 expression.     

Synergistic effects of snail and quercetin on renal cell carcinoma Caki-2 by altering AKT/mTOR/ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Renal cell carcinoma has become the most common subtype of kidney cancer, and has the highest propensity to manifest as metastatic disease. Because of lack of knowledge in events that correlated with tumor cell migration and invasion, few therapeutic options are available. Therefore, in current study, we explore the anti-tumoral effect of a potential chemopreventive natural product, quercetin, combined with anti-sense oligo gene therapy (inhibiting Snail gene). We found that either one of them had the remarkable effects in suppressing cell proliferation and migration, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a ccRCC cell line, Caki-2 cells. The combination of both means provides even strong suppressive effects toward these ccRCC cells. Our study, for the first time, provides the possibility of using a novel treatment for renal cancer, by combining natural product and gene therapy.     

Aberrant LRP16 protein expression in primary neuroendocrine lung tumors

Background: The Leukemia related protein 16 gene (LRP16) localized on chromosome 11q12.1, is an important estrogen-responsive gene and a crucial regulator for NF-kB activation. LRP16 is frequently expressed in human cancers; however, the LRP16 gene remains unexplored in lung neuroendocrine tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of LRP16 expression in primary lung neuroendocrine tumors. Methods: lung neuroendocrine tumors were analyzed for LRP16 gene expression by two-step non-biotin immunohistochemical method. Results: Fifty of ninety (55.6%) cases of neuroendocrine lung tumors tested were positive for LRP16 protein by immunohistochemistry. The expression of LRP16 was mainly located in cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells. LRP16 protein was corresponding to tumor type and clinical stage, as well as survival time. Conclusions: The results indicate that abnormal LRP16 expression is noted in neuroendocrine lung tumors and the expression can give insight into the pathogenesis of the disease. The LRP16 protein may serve as a potential marker in predicting prognosis of neuroendocrine lung tumors.     

Prognostic significance of microRNA-203 in cholangiocarcinoma

MircroRNA functions as a tumor suppressor or a promoter in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Researchers have found that miR-203 functioned as tumor suppressor in many types of cancer. However, the role of miR-203 that plays in CCA remains to be clarified. We aimed to detect the expression level and the prognostic significance of miR-203 in CCA tissues. qRT-RCR was performed to examine the miR-203 expression levels in CCA tissue specimens and corresponding normal tissues. Our findings suggest that miR-203 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for CCA patient overall survival. Therefore, miR-203 may serve as a valuable prognostic marker and promising treatment target for CCA.     

ALEX1 may be a novel biomarker for human cervical squamous cell carcinoma

The armadillo repeat proteins were first found in armadillo gene of Drosophila. Since then a number of proteins containing armadillo repeats have been noticed and studied. These proteins that consist of 6 to 13 armadillo repeat domains are classified as family of armadillo repeat proteins. Recently, several studies indicated that armadillo repeat family of proteins play an important role in the tumorigenesis and maintenance of tissue integrity. ALEX1 (Arm protein lost in epithelial cancers, on chromosome X), contains two armadillo repeats domains, is expressed different in normal and carcinomas tissues. Several studies have found that ALEX1 protein lost in tumors that originated in epithelial tissues. We evaluated the ALEX1 protein expression in 53 cervical cancers and in 53 non-cancerous cervical tissues from patients and adjacent non-cancerous tissues using immunohistochemistry Results: ALEX1 protein expression is significantly increased in 53 cervical cancers tissues compared with non-cancerous tissues. We found, for the first time, that ALEX1 protein expression in cervical cancers tissues is higher than non-cancerous tissues. It is suggested that the ALEX1 protein is associated with tumorigenesis in cervical cancer and we speculate that the ALEX1 may plays a role as an oncogene in cervical cancer. Moreover, ALEX1 may serve as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker in identifying cervical cancer.     

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells: a rare case report and review of the literature

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UCPOGC) is an extremely rare non-endocrine pancreatic tumor. To date, some cases have been reported, however, histogenesis and biologic behavior of UCPOGC remain controversial. We report a case of an UCPOGC in a 54-year-old female, who presented with a three-month history of recurrent abdominal pain without any incentive. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a large cystic mass of 10.5 × 9.3 cm in the body and tail of the pancreas compressing the adjacent bowel loop and stomach. The preliminary diagnosis was considered as a malignant tumor of body and tail of the pancreas. The patient had open distal pancreatic mass resection with splenectomy and according to the results of histopathological and immunohistochemical studies, the diagnosis of an UCPOGC was established.     

Curcumin prevents the non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis via mitochondria protection and apoptosis reduction

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis (NASH) is highly prevalent, mitochondria damage is the main pathophysiological characteristic of NASH. However, treatment for mitochondria damage is rarely reported. Methods: NASH model was established in rats, the protective effects of curcumin were evaluated by histological observation; structure and function assessments of mitochondria; and apoptotic genes expression. Results: NASH rats treated with curcumin displayed relatively slight liver damage when compared with NASH livers. The average mitochondrial length and width of NASH (12.0 ± 3.2 and 5.1 ± 1.1 micrometers) were significantly longer than that of normal (6.2 ± 2.1 and 2.1 ± 1.5 micrometers) and NASH treated with curcumin (7.4 ± 1.2 and 3.2 ± 1.5 micrometers) rats. The average malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxy nonyl alcohol (HNE) levels in liver homogenates of NASH rats (4.23 ± 0.22 and 19.23 ± 2.3 nmol/Ml) were significantly higher than these in normal (1.32 ± 0.12 and 3.52 ± 0.43 nmol/mL) and NASH treated with curcumin (1.74 ± 0.11 and 4.66 ± 0.99 nmol/mL) rats. The expression levels of CytC, Casp3 and Casp8 of the NASH livers were significantly higher than normal and NASH treated with curcumin rats livers. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that curcumin prevents the NASH by mitochondria protection and apoptosis reduction and provided a possible novel treatment for NASH.