Versatility of berberine as an effective immunomodulator and chemo sensitizer against p53 mutant cell

Cancer is the leading cause of death among individuals due to its poor prognosis. Various therapeutics treatments are available in form radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy but major point of concern is the treatment of cancer resistant cell lines. Homozygous loss of the p53 gene is virtually present in every type of cancer. Mutation in DNA binding domain of p53 leads to formation of mutant forms having altered amino acid sequence which lacks DNA binding activity. Berberine is chemo-sensitizing isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid molecule obtained from Berberis vulgaris. Berberine has the capability to suppress the growth of broad range of tumors. It exhibits pharmacological, biochemical and anticancer properties which can potentiate the activities of the existing therapeutics available in a way that it can re-sensitize the cancer resistant clones. Berberine has an immanent potential to bind with DNA and can communicate with several cellular targets, further it also shows hormetic effect which refers to biphasic dose response curve in order to determine dose dependent stimulatory and inhibitory effect. Mode of action involved is yet not well understood but mechanistic pathway involved are autophagy, up-regulation of tumor-suppressor gene (p53) and epigenetic alterations in the viral DNA. In this review, versatility of berberine can be utilized ideally or in combination with chemotherapeutics drugs to potentiate chemo sensitization of the resistant cancer cell line. Further, cancer cell specific receptor targeting can also be employed in combination with berberine for therapeutic treatment of metastasizing cancer cells.

Speckle type POZ adaptor protein (SPOP) and its role in cancer / La proteína adaptadora Speckle-type POZ (SPOP) y su papel en cáncer

Abstract Proteasomal degradation is an essential regulatory mechanism for cellular homeostasis maintenance. The speckle-type POZ adaptor protein (SPOP) is part of the ubiquitin ligase E3 cullin-3 RING-box1 complex, responsible for the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of biomolecules involved in cell cycle control, proliferation, response to DNA damage, epigenetic control, and hormone signaling, among others. Changes in SPOP have been associated with the development of different types of cancer, since it can act as a tumor suppressor mainly in prostate, breast, colorectal, lung cancer and liver cancer, due to point mutations and/or reduced expression, or as an oncogene in kidney cancer by protein overexpression. In endometrial cancer it has a dual role, since it can act as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene. SPOP is a potential prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target.

Resumen La degradación proteosómica es un mecanismo de regulación esencial para el mantenimiento de la homeostasis celular. La proteína adaptadora Speckle-type POZ (SPOP) hace parte del complejo ubiquitin ligasa E3 cullin-3 RING-box1, encargado de la ubiquitinación y degradación proteosomal de biomoléculas involucradas en el control del ciclo celular, proliferación, respuesta al daño de ADN, control epigenético, señalización hormonal, entre otros. Las alteraciones en SPOP han sido asociadas al desarrollo de diferentes tipos de cáncer, ya que puede actuar como supresor tumoral principalmente en cáncer de próstata, mama, colorrectal y pulmón, debido a mutaciones puntuales y/o expresión reducida o como oncogén en cáncer riñón por sobreexpresión de la proteína. En cáncer endometrial tiene un rol dual, ya que puede actuar como supresor tumoral o como oncogén. SPOP es considerado como un potencial biomarcador pronóstico y un objetivo terapéutico prometedor.

A single-centre observational study of 124 surgically managed glioma patients: molecular subtyping and its correlation with clinico-radiological profile

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification incorporated molecular subtyping in glioma, highlighting the diagnostic and prognostic significance. The study aims to determine the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH-1) gene, α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene, and tumor suppressor gene-53 (p53) mutation in glioma and their correlation with various clinical and radiological parameters.Methods: In this prospective observational study, histopathological slides of glioma (2017-2018), were analyzed for IDH-1, ATRX and p53 mutations and their correlation with various clinical and radiological parameters.Results: IDH-1 mutation was found in 48 (38.7%), ATRX loss in 38 (30.6%) and p53 mutation in 40 (32.5%) patients. The expression of IDH-1 was significantly higher (43.7%) in adults; however, no significant difference was seen with gender. Also 51.2% of patients, who presented with seizures, showed IDH-1 expression; and 27.7% of patients, who had neurological deficit also showed IDH-1 expression. IDH-1 expression was high in glioma located at insula (73.3%) and parietal lobe (71.4%); while ATRX loss was seen in glioma located at insula (80%). Intraventricular glioma characteristically lacks all three markers: IDH-1 expression, p53 overexpression and ATRX loss. IDH-1 expression and p53 overexpression was seen mainly in diffuse fibrillary astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma.Conclusions: Molecular subtyping is of paramount importance in glioma management. IDH-1 mutation is commonly observed in adults and patients presenting with seizures. The duration of symptoms correlates with IDH-1 and ATRX mutations. Hypothalamic tumors lack all three mutations.

Hereditary pituitary tumor syndromes: genetic and clinical aspects

ABSTRACT The pituitary gland is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of various hormones that play a key role in regulating endocrine function and homeostasis. Pituitary adenomas (PA) are benign epithelial tumors arising from the endocrine cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Clinically relevant PA are relatively common and they occur in 0.1% of the general population. They are mostly benign monoclonal neoplasms that arise from any of the five hormone-secreting cell types of the anterior pituitary gland. PA are categorized as either functioning or non-functioning, depending on whether or not they produce a hormonal hypersecretion syndrome. Both functioning and non-functioning adenomas can produce symptoms or signs resulting from compression of the optic chiasm or invasion of cavernous sinuses. Only 5% of PA occur within the context of hereditary syndromes with reasonably well-defined oncogenic mechanisms. The vast majority of PA are sporadic, and their etiopathogenesis remains largely unknown. Pituitary tumor oncogenesis involves several mechanisms that eventually lead to abnormal cell proliferation and dysregulated hormone production. Among these factors, we found inactivating mutations of tumor suppressor genes, activating mutation of oncogenes and the participation of hormonal signals coming from the hypothalamus, all resulting in cell-cycle regulation abnormalities. In this review, we summarize the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of the different hereditary pituitary tumor syndromes.

Prognostic value of the Epstein–Barr virus and tumor suppressor gene p53 gene in nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims and Methods: Retrospectively, this paper compared the differences of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNAs (EBERs), protein expression and gene mutations of tumor suppressor gene p53 (TP53) in keratinized nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (KNSCC) and nonKNSCC, and the relationships between pathological features and the prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results: The positive rate of EBERs hybridization and TP53 expressions was 76.3% and 52.2%, respectively, while the mutation rate of TP53 gene was 39.6%. Logistic regression analysis showed direct relationships between the subtypes of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NPSCC) and EBERs-positive, or frequent consumption of pickled food. Overall survival rates of patients with positive TP53 expression, the TP53 gene mutations, vascular invasions, organ metastases, lymph node metastasis, and clinical recurrence were significantly lower than those of patients without those symptoms. The poorer prognosis was related to regularly drinking and the advanced age. According to the Cox regression analysis, we found that the main prognostic factors of NPSCC patients were the aging, recurrence, TP53 gene mutations, especially exon 7 or 8 mutations. Conclusions: We concluded that there were the correlations between NPSCC subtypes with EBV infection and frequent intaking of pickled food, while aging, clinical recurrence, and TP53 gene mutations were independent predictors for the poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Effect of Modified Si Junzitang Drug Serum on Expression of Apoptosis-related Molecules of Gastric Cancer Cell SGC-7901 / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To explore the effect of modified Si Junzitang (MSJZT) drug serum on the expression of apoptosis-related molecules of gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 and further its anti-tumor mechanism.Method: A total of 40 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:low-dose,middle-dose,high-dose MSJZT (0.213,0.426,0.853 g·kg-1) groups and normal group (n=10).The treatment groups were administrated through gastric perfusion,and the normal group was given the equivalent volume of normal saline for 10 days.1.5 h after the last treatment,chloral hydrate peritoneal anesthesia was performed,blood was collected from heart,and different doses of serum were separated to prepare drug-containing serum of low-dose,middle-dose,high-dose MSJZT groups,in order to incubate SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell.Early and late apoptosis rates were detected with flow cytometry.Afterwards,the tumor suppressor gene p53,c-nucleoprotein gene (c-Myc),cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3(Caspase-3),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) mRNA expressions were confirmed by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR).The protein expressions of p53,c-Myc,Caspase-3,Bcl-2 were detected by immunofluorescence.Result: Compared with the normal group,the high-dose MSJZT group could obviously increase the apoptosis rate to 22.58%(PPPPPPConclusion: MSJZT drug serum could exert an anti-tumor effect by inhibiting the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2,and promoting the expressions of pro-apoptotic-related molecules p53,c-Myc,Caspase-3.

ECRG4: a new potential target in precision medicine / 医学前沿

Given the rapid development in precision medicine, tremendous efforts have been devoted to discovering new biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment. Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (ECRG4), which is initially known as a new candidate tumor suppressor gene, is emerging as a sentinel molecule for gauging tissue homeostasis. ECRG4 is unique in its cytokine-like functional pattern and epigenetically-regulated gene expression pattern. The gene can be released from the cell membrane upon activation and detected in liquid biopsy, thus offering considerable potential in precision medicine. This review provides an updated summary on the biology of ECRG4, with emphasis on its important roles in cancer diagnosis and therapy. The future perspectives of ECRG4 as a potential molecular marker in precision medicine are also discussed in detail.

Recent advances in small activating RNA and tumors / 肿瘤

RNA activation (RNAa) is gene expression up-regulation mediated by small activating RNA (saRNA). At present, the research of RNAa mainly focuses on the tumors. The gene activation mediated by RNAa has obvious advantages in the research and treatment of tumors. By up-regulating the expression of tumor suppressor gene, saRNA can inhibit the malignant biological behaviors of tumor cells, such as proliferation, invasion and metastasis, so as to achieve the therapeutic effects at the gene level. This article summarizes the recent reports on RNAa mediated by saRNA in the treatment of tumors, and also analyzes the clinical application prospects of saRNA.

Research progress of biomarkers in diagnosis and therapy of colorectal cancer / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common human malignant diseases, the cumulative result of genetic and epigenetic mutations, and its mortality rate is second only to that of lung cancer. Most patients with CRC have developed to middle to advanced stage when symptoms appear, and the treatment effects of surgery and chemotherapy are usually not satisfactory. With the emergence of targeted drugs in recent years, individualized treatment of colorectal cancer has gradually become a trend. With the development of colorectal cancer research, more and more molecular markers of colorectal cancer have been continuously discovered, and its impact on tumorigenesis, development and treatment has gradually received more attention. The application of molecular markers in the screening of colorectal cancer can help the early detection and diagnosis. Detection of molecular markers before individualized treatment can optimize the treatment plan and prompt the patient's prognosis. In this paper, the most recent findings of molecular markers with promising clinical application were summarized, in order to provide reference for the early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Research progress of Rab25 in tumor metastasis / 医学研究生学报

Metastasis is the main reason that affects the survival and death of cancer patients. In recent years, it has been found that Rab25 is closely related to tumor invasion and metastasis. Rab25 has dual role in tumor metastasis, which can be used as oncogene or tumor suppressor gene. In most tumor types, Rab25 is an oncogene, and only in a few tumors, Rab25 shows tumor suppressor function. However, the dual action mechanism and signal pathway of Rab25 are not very clear. This article summarizes the related research on the role of Rab25 in tumor metastasis.

Immunohistochemical WWOX expression and association with angiogenesis, p53 expression, cell proliferation and clinicopathological parameters in cervical cancer / Avaliação da expressão do gene WWOX por avaliação imunohistoquímica, sua associação com marcador de angiogênese, expressão do p53, proliferação celular e parâmetros clinicopatológicos no câncer de colo uterino

Abstract Objective The current study evaluated the expression of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), its association with clinicopathological features and with p53, Ki-67 (cell proliferation) and CD31 (angiogenesis) expression in patients with invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (ICSCC). To the best of our knowledge, no other study has evaluated this association. Methods Women with IB stage-ICSCC (n = 20) and women with uterine leiomyoma (n = 20) were prospectively evaluated. Patients with ICSCC were submitted to type BC1 radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Patients in the control group underwent vaginal hysterectomy. Tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation and protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry studies. Results The WWOX expression was significantly lower in the tumor compared with the expression in thebenign cervix (p = 0.019). TheWWOXexpressionwas inversely associated with the CD31 expression in the tumor samples (p = 0.018). There was no association betweentheWWOXexpression with the p53 expression (p = 0.464)or the Ki-67expression (p = 0.360) in the samples of invasive carcinoma of the cervix. There was no association between the WWOX expression and tumor size (p = 0.156), grade of differentiation (p = 0.914), presence of lymphatic vascular invasion (p = 0.155), parametrium involvement (p = 0.421) or pelvic lymph node metastasis (p = 0.310) in ICSCC tissue samples. Conclusion The results suggested that WWOX may be involved in ICSCC carcinogenesis, and this marker was associated with tumor angiogenesis.

Resumo Objetivo O presente estudo avaliou a expressão do WWOX, sua associação com características clinicopatológicas e com a expressão do p53, ki-67 (proliferação celular) e CD31 (angiogênese) em pacientes com carcinoma invasivo de células escamosas do colo uterino, ou simplesmente câncer do colo uterino (CCE). Métodos Foram avaliadas prospectivamente pacientes com CCE no estágio IB (n = 20) e mulheres com mioma uterino, no grupo controle (n = 20). As pacientes com CCE foram submetidas à histerectomia radical e à linfadenectomia pélvica do tipo B-C1. As mulheres no grupo-controle foram submetidas à histerectomia vaginal. As amostras de tecido foramcoradas comhematoxilina e eosina para avaliação histológica e a expressão das proteínas foi detectada por imuno-histoquímico. Resultados A expressão do WWOX foi significativamente menor no tumor quando comparada com sua expressão no colo do útero benigno (p = 0,019). A expressão tumoral de CD31 foi inversamente associada à expressão de WWOX (p = 0,018). Sua expressão não foi associada à expressão tumoral de p53 e Ki-67 em pacientes com CCE (p = 0,464 e p = 0,360, respectivamente). Não houve associação entre a expressão de WWOX e o tamanho do tumor (p = 0,156), grau de diferenciação (p = 0,914), presença de invasão vascular linfática (p = 0,155), comprometimento do paramétrio (p = 0,421) ou metástase dos linfonodos pélvicos (p = 0,310) em pacientes com CCE. Conclusão Os resultados sugeriram que o WWOX pode estar envolvido na carcinogênese do CICECU e esse marcador foi associado à angiogênese tumoral.

The role and clinical significance of migration and invasion inhibitory protein in the de-velopment and progression of tumors / 中国肿瘤临床

Migration and invasion inhibitory protein(MIIP)inhibits cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,impeding tumorigenesis and tumor progression,by interacting with insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2(IGFBP2),histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6),p21 activated kinase 1(PAK1),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),cell division cycle 20(CDC20),and topoisomerase.Recent studies revealed potential roles of MIIP in viral infection and cellular immunity.MIIP has become a research hotspot owing to its involvement in multiple signaling pathways and as a potential therapeutic target for tumors.This review summarizes the characteristics,functions, clinical significance,and possible pathogenic mechanisms of MIIP in multiple carcinomas.

Latest progress of the tumor suppressor gene and oncogene / 基础医学与临床

Under normal circumstances, tumor suppressor gene monitors cellular proliferation signals and prevents abnormal cell proliferation through inhibiting cell cycle progress, promoting cell senescence or apoptosis, thus a-chieves the function of cancer inhibition. On the contrary, the function of oncogene is to facilitate cell to escape from cell cycle control and promote the cell proliferation. Oncogenes may also inhibit cell apoptosis and results in uncontrollable cell growth. However, tumor suppressor gene may be converted to oncogene in different cellular con-text and gene mutation status, and vice versa.

The expression and clinical significance of Sox 11 in cervical carcinogenesis / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To explore the expression level of Sox11 gene in cervical cancer cell lines and cervical pathology tissue .Methods The expression of Sox11 protein was detected in cervical cancer cell lines HeLa , CaSki ,SiHa and C-33A as well as NC ,LSIL ,HSIL and CC using immunohistochemistry and Western blot .We analyzed the relationship between Sox11 expression in cervical cancer and clinicopathologic parameters .Results The expression of Sox11 protein in normal cervical tissue ,low-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia was significantly higher than that in the high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer tissue , and the expression was reduced with the progression of cervical lesions .The expression of Sox11 protein in the invasive cervical cancer was reduced with increased malignant degree .The expression of Sox11 protein in the invasive cervical cancer was significantly correlated with HPV infection ,but not associated with the age , clinical stage ,lymph node metastasis or muscular infiltration depth .Conclusion Sox11 expression is negatively correlated with cervical cancer development ,suggesting that as a tumor suppressor gene ,Sox11 may play a role in cervical cancer development and its absence or low expression is associated with the development of cervical cancer and is an early event of cervical carcinogenesis and may be a sign of malignant change of cervical tissue .

Interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and p16, FHIT gene CpG island methylation in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasias / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the effect ofpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and p16,FHIT gene CpG island methylation,as well as their interaction in cervical intraepithelial neoplasias.Methods Objects of this study were from a cohort of cervical lesions study in Yangqu county of Shanxi province.All the patients were diagnosed pathologically,that including 83 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ),86 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (C1N Ⅰ) and another 91 women under normal cervical (NC) condition.1-hydroxy pyrene in the urine was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)while CpG island methylation status of tumor suppressor gene p16 and FHIT were measured by methylation-specifc polymerase chain reaction (MSP).Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test,chi-square test and trend of chi-square test.Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95％ confidence intervals (95％CI) between influencing factors and the cervical disease by using the SPSS statistical software (version 20.0).The interaction under study was evaluated by using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) model.Results Level of 1-hydroxy pyrene (H=50.743,P＜0.001) and the high exposure rate of 1-hydroxy pyrene (trend x2=20.146,P＜0.001) were gradually increasing along with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.The CpG island methylation rates ofpl6,FHIT in CIN] and CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲl group were higher than that in NC group,and gradually increasing along with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (trend x2=9.75,P=0.002;trend x 2 =10.39,P=0.001).Results from the GMDR model showed that interaction existed among the high exposure of l-hydroxy pyrene and the CpG island methylation ofpl6,FHIT in CIN Ⅰ and CIN Ⅱ]/Ⅲ group.Conclusion Under the high exposure of 1-hydroxy pyrene and the CpG island methylation of p16,FHIT appeared to have increased the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and causing synergistic effect in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Progress of microRNA-29b in tumors / 肿瘤研究与临床

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a kind of highly conserved microRNA molecules that regulate gene expression after transcriptional levels in eukaryotes. Numerous evidences indicate that miRNA can regulate malignant phenotypes of neoplasms by repressing the expressions of critical oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, and abnormal expression of miRNA becomes one of the most important features of cancer. The expression of miR-29b was low in multiple types of tumors and its up-regulated expression will depress the expression of some target genes, which plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various neoplasms and is expected to serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis assessment becoming a novel target of drug development and new treatment.

Progress of microRNA-29b in tumors / 肿瘤研究与临床

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a kind of highly conserved microRNA molecules that regulate gene expression after transcriptional levels in eukaryotes. Numerous evidences indicate that miRNA can regulate malignant phenotypes of neoplasms by repressing the expressions of critical oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, and abnormal expression of miRNA becomes one of the most important features of cancer. The expression of miR-29b was low in multiple types of tumors and its up-regulated expression will depress the expression of some target genes, which plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various neoplasms and is expected to serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis assessment becoming a novel target of drug development and new treatment.

Interaction between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and p16, FHIT gene CpG island methylation in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasias / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the effect ofpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and p16,FHIT gene CpG island methylation,as well as their interaction in cervical intraepithelial neoplasias.Methods Objects of this study were from a cohort of cervical lesions study in Yangqu county of Shanxi province.All the patients were diagnosed pathologically,that including 83 patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲ),86 patients with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (C1N Ⅰ) and another 91 women under normal cervical (NC) condition.1-hydroxy pyrene in the urine was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)while CpG island methylation status of tumor suppressor gene p16 and FHIT were measured by methylation-specifc polymerase chain reaction (MSP).Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test,chi-square test and trend of chi-square test.Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95％ confidence intervals (95％CI) between influencing factors and the cervical disease by using the SPSS statistical software (version 20.0).The interaction under study was evaluated by using the generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) model.Results Level of 1-hydroxy pyrene (H=50.743,P＜0.001) and the high exposure rate of 1-hydroxy pyrene (trend x2=20.146,P＜0.001) were gradually increasing along with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.The CpG island methylation rates ofpl6,FHIT in CIN] and CIN Ⅱ/Ⅲl group were higher than that in NC group,and gradually increasing along with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (trend x2=9.75,P=0.002;trend x 2 =10.39,P=0.001).Results from the GMDR model showed that interaction existed among the high exposure of l-hydroxy pyrene and the CpG island methylation ofpl6,FHIT in CIN Ⅰ and CIN Ⅱ]/Ⅲ group.Conclusion Under the high exposure of 1-hydroxy pyrene and the CpG island methylation of p16,FHIT appeared to have increased the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and causing synergistic effect in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Effect of ionizing radiation at low dose on transgenerational carcinogenesis by epigenetic regulation / 한국실험동물학회지

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ionizing radiation (IR) exposure of parents on carcinogenesis of the next generation focusing on the epigenetic perspective to clarify the relationship between radiation dose and carcinogenesis in F1 generation SD rats. F1 generations from pregnant rats (F0) who were exposed to gamma rays were divided into three groups according to the dose of radiation: 10 rad, 30 rad, and untreated. They were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Carcinogenesis was analyzed by examining expression levels of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and other related genes by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). DNA methylation in liver tissues was evaluated to discern epigenetic regulation of transgenerational carcinogenesis vulnerability following IR exposure. Numerous studies have proved that transcriptional inactivation due to hypermethylation of TSG preceded carcinogenesis. Results of this study revealed hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene SOCS1 in group treated with 30 rad. In addition, genes related to DNA damage response pathway (GSTP1, ATM, DGKA, PARP1, and SIRT6) were epigenetically inactivated in all DEN treated groups. In the case of proto-oncogene c-Myc, DNA hypermethylation was identified in the group with low dose of IR (10 rad). Results of this study indicated that each TSG had different radiation threshold level (dose-independent way) and DEN treatment could affect DNA methylation profile irrelevant of ionizing radiation dose.

BRIP1/FANCJ Mutation Analysis in a Family with History of Male and Female Breast Cancer in India / 한국유방암학회지

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare and poorly studied disease that is a growing global health problem. Interestingly, both the molecular basis of MBC and its histological profile are often quite distinct from the far more prevalent female breast cancer, emphasizing the need for increased focus on MBC. Here, we present a case report of an MBC patient from India with a strong familial history of breast cancer. This patient was normal for BRCA1/2 and many other common breast cancer-associated genes. However, upon further analysis, the individual was found to possess two mutations in the DNA helicase and tumor suppressor gene BRIP1, including a silent mutation at residue 879 as well as a P919S variant. Other family members were also screened for these mutations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BRIP1 mutation in MBC in the Indian population.