ABSTRACT
Pancreatic cancer is a serious malignancy accompanied by a well-documented poor prognosis. Accumulating studies have indicated the crucial roles played by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of cancer cells. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of lncRNA LINC01207 in autophagy and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells and its regulatory mechanism interacting with miR-143-5p. Initially, expression profiles of lncRNAs and genes associated with pancreatic cancer were identified. The expression patterns of LINC01207, miR-143-5p and AGR2 in both pancreatic cancer and adjacent tissues were then determined. The binding relationship of LINC01207 to miR-143-5p and targeting relationship of miR-143-5p to AGR2 were subsequently verified. Silencing of LINC01207, or up-regulation or down-regulation of miR-143-5p was introduced into the pancreatic cancer cells, so as to analyze their effects on the cell growth, apoptosis and autophagy. Besides, these regulatory effects were further explored with the determination of the autophagy- and apoptosis-related gene or proteins. LINC01207 and AGR2 were highly expressed while miR-143-5p was poorly expressed in pancreatic cancer. Functionally, LINC01207 can bind to miR-143-5p, and AGR2 was a target gene of miR-143-5p. Importantly, silencing of LINC01207 down-regulated the expression of AGR2 by up-regulating miR-143-5p. Moreover, silencing of LINC01207 and up-regulation of miR-143-5p promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy, corresponding to increased expression of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins, in addition to inhibited cell growth. Taken together, silencing of LINC01207 prevents the progression of pancreatic cancer by impairing miR-143-5p-targeted AGR2 expression, providing a potential target for pancreatic cancer treatment.
Subject(s)
MicroRNAs/genetics , Mucoproteins/genetics , Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics , RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics , Apoptosis , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics , Autophagy , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mucoproteins/metabolism , Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features and biological behavior of spermatocytic seminoma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed as seminoma, spermatocytic seminoma between January 2003 and May 2011, was performed. Clinical data, HE stained section and immunohistochemical staining (SP method) were reviewed with follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-six cases of seminoma and 5 cases of spermatocytic seminoma were identified. The average age at the diagnosis of 5 cases of spermatocytic seminoma was 53 years, and no patient had a history of crytorchidism or germ cell tumor. All five patients had stage pT1 tumor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that spermatocytic seminoma was negative for CK, vimentin, OCT3/4, PLAP, and LCA, and PAS staining was also negative. All five patients were well after operation. In contrast, the average age at diagnosis of the 66 cases of seminoma was 37 years, in which 12% had a history of crytorchidism and 11% were in stage pT2 or the above. Immunohistochemical studies showed that seminoma was positive for OCT3/4, PLAP, and CD117. During the follow-up, 2 patients developed metastasis and 3 patients died of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Spermatocytic seminoma is rare and appears to follow a benign clinical course Due to its favourable prognosis, further treatment is not necessary after orchidectomy. Accurate pathologic diagnosis is critical for patient management and for avoiding over-treatment.
