MiR-128 suppresses metastatic capacity by targeting metadherin in breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women worldwide, causes the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Undoubtedly, tumor metastasis and recurrence are responsible for more than 90 percent of these deaths. MicroRNAs are endogenous noncoding RNAs that have been integrated into almost all the physiological and pathological processes, including metastasis. In the present study, the role of miR-128 in breast cancer was investigated. RESULTS: Compared to the corresponding adjacent normal tissue, the expression of miR-128 was significantly suppressed in human breast cancer specimens. More importantly, its expression level was reversely correlated to histological grade of the cancer. Ectopic expression of miR-128 in the aggressive breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 could inhibit cell motility and invasive capacity remarkably. Afterwards, Metadherin (MTDH), also known as AEG-1 (Astrocyte Elevated Gene 1) and Lyric that implicated in various aspects of cancer progression and metastasis, was further identified as a direct target gene of miR-128 and its expression level was up-regulated in clinical samples as expected. Moreover, knockdown of MTDH in MDA-MB-231 cells obviously impaired the migration and invasion capabilities, whereas re-expression of MTDH abrogated the suppressive effect caused by miR-128. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these findings demonstrate that miR-128 could serve as a novel biomarker for breast cancer metastasis and a potent target for treatment in the future.

Podoplanin expression and clinical prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To analyze the Podoplanin expression in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and to find out the relationship between Podoplanin expression and tumor embolus, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation as well as prognosis, and to provide clinical evidence for reducing the recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and prolonging the disease-free survival and overall survival. Methods    A retrospective analysis of 70 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in our hospital from June 2010 to June 2012 was conducted, including 39 males and 31 females, with a mean age of 63.6 years. Positive diagnosis of tumor thrombus was achieved in 35 patients and negative in 35 patients. Postoperative pathological specimens were examined and normal esophageal tissues (esophageal tissue more than 5 cm from the edge of the tumor) of patients were excised as a control group. Results    The positive rate of Podoplanin was 34.2% in normal esophageal tissues and 62.8% in tumor tissues. The positive rate of Podoplanin expression was 77.1% and 48.6% in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with or without tumor embolus, respectively. The positive rate of Podoplanin expression in tumor cells of patients with positive and negative lymph node metastasis was 71.9% and 23.1%, respectively (P<0.05). The mean disease-free survival of patients with Podoplanin expression-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 15.2 months, which was significantly longer than that of patients with Podoplanin expression-positive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05).  Conclusion    Podoplanin expression in the tumor cells and vessels can be an important reference index to the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Correlation of Twist expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with clinical prognosis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To observe the expression of Twist in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyze the relationship between positive expression of Twist and disease-free survival, and to provide clinical evidence for reducing tumor recurrence, prolonging disease-free survival and improving prognosis. Methods    Retrospective analysis of 70 ESCC patients receiving thoracic surgery from June 2010 to June 2012 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital was done, including 39 males and 31 females with an average age of 63.6 years. The expression of Twist in normal esophageal tissue, tumor tissue and vascular tumor emboli was observed by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin specimens. Results    The positive rate of Twist in normal esophageal tissues was 42.9%, and in tumor tissue was 77.1% (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of Twist in tumor cells was 74.3% in patients with vascular tumor emboli and 80.0% in patients without vascular tumor emboli (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of Twist in tumor cells and in vascular tumor emboli was 74.3% and 71.4%, respectively (P>0.05). The expression of Twist in lymphatic vessels and blood vessels of patients with vascular tumor emboli was 56.0% and 72.0%, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusion    Twist expression in esophageal cancer tissues is significantly higher than that in normal tissues, but there is no significant difference in the positive expression of Twist between tumor cells and the mean disease-free survival (P>0.05). At present, Twist expression can not be used as a prognostic indicator of esophageal cancer, and more researches need be further implemented.