Association of chloride intracellular channel 4 and Indian hedgehog proteins with survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer‐related mortality. Novel molecular biomarkers need to be identified for personalized medicine and to improve survival. The aim of this study was to examine chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) expression in benign and malignant lesions of the pancreas and to examine the eventual association between CLIC4 and Ihh expression, with clinicopathological features and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. A retrospective study of specimens collected from January 2000 to December 2011 at the Department of Pathology of the Second and Third Xiangya Hospitals, Central South University was undertaken to explore this question. Immunohistochemistry of CLIC4 and Ihh was performed with EnVision^? in 106 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma specimens, 35 paracancer samples (2 cm away from the tumour, when possible or available), 55 benign lesions and 13 normal tissue samples. CLIC4 and Ihh expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than in paracancer tissue and benign lesions (CLIC4: P = 0.009 and Ihh: P < 0.0001; CLIC4: P = 0.0004 and Ihh: P = 0.0001 respectively). CLIC4 and Ihh expression was negative in normal pancreatic tissues. The expression of CLIC4 and Ihh was associated significantly with tumour grade, lymph node metastasis, tumour invasion and poor overall survival. Thus CLIC4 and Ihh could serve as biological markers for the progression, metastasis and/or invasiveness of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.     

Vismodegib for treatment of periocular basal cell carcinoma – 6-year experience from a tertiary cancer center

BackgroundThe treatment of advanced periocular basal cell carcinomas becomes a challenge as surgery may involve highly mutilating procedures. Vismodegib is the first selective hedgehog inhibitor approved for the treatment of locally advanced tumors or metastatic disease.ObjectiveAnalyze the results of treatment with vismodegib for advanced periocular basal cell carcinomas in a real-life setting of a reference center between 2014 and 2020.MethodsRetrospective longitudinal study. The patient's demographic profile, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and treatment outcomes were analyzed.ResultsA total of 13 patients were included. Median follow-up and treatment duration were 15.9 and 10.5 months, respectively. Objective clinical response rate was 76.9%: 30.8% had a complete response and 46.2% a partial response. The median duration of response was 13 months. Progressive disease was observed in 38.5% of cases, with a median of 19 months after the beginning of treatment. Eighty-four percent of the patients had at least one adverse event, and 61.54% needed to interrupt treatment temporarily or permanently to increase tolerability.Study limitationsBeing a retrospective study in a real-life setting, the evaluation of objective clinical response was subjective to physician appreciation.ConclusionVismodegib is a safe and effective treatment for locally advanced basal cell carcinoma. To prevent recurrences, the drug should be used continually when tolerated. The role of neoadjuvant vismodegib before surgery is being investigated and might add an important step in searching for a definitive treatment for these cases.     

Dbx2 exhibits a tumor-promoting function in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines via regulating Shh-Gli1 signaling

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common cancer worldwide.HCC patients suffer from a high mortality-to-incidence ratio and low cure rate since we still have no specific and effective treatment.Although tremendous advances have been made in the investigation of HCC,the specific mechanisms of the progression of this disease are still only partially established.Hence,more research is needed to elucidate the underlying potential mechanisms to develop effective strategies for HCC.AIM To determine the role of developing brain homeobox 2(Dbx2)gene in promoting the development of HCC.METHODS Dbx2 expression in clinical specimens and HCC cell lines was detected by Western blot(WB)and immunohistochemistry.Gain and loss of Dbx2 function assays were performed in vitro and in vivo.Cell viability assays were used to investigate cell growth,flow cytometry was employed to assess cell cycle and apoptosis,and trans-well assays were conducted to evaluate cell migration,invasion,and metastasis.The expression of key molecules in the sonic hedgehog(Shh)signaling was determined by WB.RESULTS Compared to matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues,Dbx2 was overexpressed in 5 HCC cell lines and 76 surgically resected HCC tissues.Dbx2 overexpression was correlated with large tumor size.Both gain and loss of function assays indicated that Dbx2 promoted HCC cell proliferation by facilitating the transition from G1 to S phase,attenuating apoptosis and promoted HCC proliferation,migration,and invasion in vitro and in vivo.Mechanistically,Dbx2 modulated Shh signaling by enhancing FTCH1 and GLi1 expression in HCC cells that overexpressed Dbx2,which was reversed in HCC cells with Dbx2 knockdown.CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Dbx2 is significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and plays significant roles in proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by activating the Shh pathway.     

Ptch和Smo在舌鳞状细胞癌Tca8113细胞中的表达及其意义

目的:研究Hedgehog(Hh)信号通路相关因子Ptch和Smo在舌鳞状细胞癌Tca8113细胞株中的表达及其意义。方法:Hh信号通路抑制剂Cyclopamine处理Tca8113细胞后,采用MTT实验检测细胞增殖抑制率,再利用RT-PCR法和Western-Blot方法检测 Ptch和Smo的mRNA和蛋白表达情况。结果:Cyclopamine对Tca8113细胞增殖具有抑制作用。加药后的不同时间段中,显示Ptch、Smo的mRNA和蛋白在Cyclopamine药物组中的表达低于对照组。Smo的mRNA和蛋白分别在加药后24 h、72 h中的表达随着药物浓度增高而降低。结论:Cyclopamine可以抑制Tca8113细胞的生长,降低Smo mRNA和蛋白的表达,Hh信号通路可能在舌癌的发生、发展中起重要作用。[关键词] Hh信号通路 Tca8113细胞 Cyclopamine Ptch Smo     

Sonic Hedgehog在血管新生中的作用

Sonic Hedgehog介导的信号传导通路是血管生成中一个重要调节环节,可调控血管直径加粗、变长和分叉,影响基质细胞分泌众多的血管新生因子以及动脉血管的发生。Sonic Hedgehog可能通过3种机制(COUP-TF Ⅱ、SHH／GLI／SMO、P13K通路)调控血管生成,并有望成为血管新生研究的新靶向因子。