ABSTRACT
B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2), a tumor suppressor gene, is downregulated in several types of human cancer cell. However, its function in skin cancer cells has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated the expression and function of BTG2 in skin cancer cells, and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism. The results indicated that BTG2 expression was downregulated in skin cancer cell lines. Overexpression of BTG2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and the invasion and migration of skin cancer cells. Furthermore, it was determined that overexpression of BTG2 significantly decreased the protein expression levels of ßcatenin, cyclin D1 and vmyc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog in skin cancer cells. This suggests that BTG2 may function as a tumor suppressor by interfering with the Wnt/ßcatenin signaling pathway in skin cancer cells. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies and agents targeting BTG2 may be potential treatments for skin cancer.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Immediate-Early Proteins/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin/pathology , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , Wnt Signaling Pathway , Cell Cycle , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Humans , Immediate-Early Proteins/metabolism , Skin/metabolism , Skin Neoplasms/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Wnt Proteins/analysis , Wnt Proteins/metabolism , beta Catenin/analysis , beta Catenin/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the operative technique and therapeutic effect of free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap in the correction of facial depression. METHODS: From Oct. 1996 to Jan. 2007, 32 patients with facial depression deformities were treated with free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps. The bone defects in 8 cases were corrected with Medpor implants at the same stage. RESULTS: 33 free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flaps were used in 32 patients. 2 flaps were used bilaterally in one patient. The size of the flaps ranged from 12 cm x 8 cm to 20 cm x 11 cm (average, 16.5 cm x 10.5 cm). 30 flaps survived completely. Flap edge resorption happened in 3 flaps within half a year postoperatively. Satisfactory results were achieved in 23 patients after one-stage treatment. Another 9 patients underwent secondary operation 6 months postoperatively. Among them, 6 patients underwent flap liposuction because of fatty appearance, 3 patients underwent fat transplantation because of flap edge resorption. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2.5 years. All the deformities were improved greatly, and the faces were almost symmetrical. The wounds at the donor sites were primarily healed with no functional morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap is a large size flap. The flap thickness can be adjusted for three-dimensional reconstruction. The vascular anatomy is relatively stable. The bone defects can also be corrected at the same stage.
