MiR-208a enhances cell proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer by targeting SFRP1 and negatively regulating MEG3.

The present studies have identified that microRNAs function as regulators in different diseases including cancers. However, the expression patterns and underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-208a involved in gastric cancer (GC) remain little known. In the study, our results demonstrated that miR-208a expression was significantly increased in GC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues by performing qRT-PCR. Higher miR-208a expression was association with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage in GC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis verified that patients with higher miR-208a expression were significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS) time. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and higher miR-208a were independent risks factors of OS time. Ectopic expression of miR-208a by treatment with miR-208a mimic promoted cell proliferation and invasion abilities, but downregulation of miR-208a by treatment with miR-208a inhibitor had an opposite effects. Furthermore, we identified specific targeting sites for miR-208a in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the SFRP1 gene by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Upregulation of MiR-208a promoted cell proliferation and invasion by suppressing SFRP1 expression in GC cells. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that miR-208a targeted MEG3 and negatively regulated MEG3 expression in GC cells. Thus, these data indicated that miR-208a promoted GC progression by targeting SFRP1 and negatively regulating MEG3, which may be a potential therapeutic target of GC.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy on advanced gastric cancer.

Neoadjuvant and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapies have been shown to be effective in the treatment of resectable advanced gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical efficiency and security of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of postoperative advanced gastric cancer. A total of 192 patients diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer were randomly divided into the following four groups (n=48 per group): Control, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy and joint groups. The joint group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy. Complications, adverse reactions, recurrence rates within 2 years and the 1- and 3-year survival rates following surgery were observed. No significant differences were observed in the occurrence rates of I-II degree myelosuppression, III-IV degree myelosuppression, I-II degree nausea or III-IV degree nausea and vomiting among the four groups (P>0.05). The median progression-free survival times were 26, 31, 33 and 28 months in the control, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy and joint groups, respectively (P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the recurrence-free 2-year survival rate of the joint group was significantly lower (P=0.04). The difference among the median survival times of the four groups was statistically significant (P=0.001). The 1-year survival rate of the joint group was significantly higher when compared with the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.03). However, no statistically significant difference was identified among the 1-year survival rates of the four groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the 3-year survival rates of the other three groups were significantly higher (P<0.05). Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer is well tolerated and exhibits improved compliance and efficiency.