Effect of multicomponent exercise intervention in community dwelling frail elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of multicomponent exercises on physical functions of frail elderly in communities, evaluating their effect on muscle strength, balance, and endurance, and their influence on quality of life. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched to collect relevant randomized controlled trials. The search cutoff date was January 24, 2024. Included studies met pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 and Stata 15.0 software. RESULT: This analysis included 19 studies. After 12 weeks, the multicomponent exercises significantly enhanced participants' performance in various physical function assessments. Specifically, in the Timed Up and Go Test, the exercise group showed a significant reduction in time [SMD = -0.86 (95 % CI: -1.40 to -0.33)]. In the Short Physical Performance Battery, interventions shorter than 6 weeks significantly increased scores [SMD = 1.01 (95 % CI: 0.64 to 1.37)], and those longer than 6 weeks showed improvements [SMD = 0.53 (95 % CI: 0.26 to 0.80)]. Muscle strength also improved, with handgrip strength and knee extensor strength enhancements [SMD = 0.93 (95 % CI: 0.27 to 1.59); SMD = 0.72 (95 % CI: 0.24 to 1.20)]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in walking speed between the groups [SMD = 0.04 (95 % CI: -0.33 to 0.40)]. CONCLUSION: Although multicomponent exercises significantly improve muscle strength, balance, and endurance in frail elderly individuals, there is no conclusive evidence of their effect on enhancing quality of life or long-term health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the specific impacts of different types and intensities of exercises on this population.

Exploring the immune landscape and drug prediction of an M2 tumor-associated macrophage-related gene signature in EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Improving immunotherapy efficacy for EGFR-negative lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients remains a critical challenge, and the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy is largely determined by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the top-ranked immune infiltrating cells in the TME, and M2-TAMs exert potent roles in tumor promotion and chemotherapy resistance. An M2-TAM-based prognostic signature was constructed by integrative analysis of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data to reveal the immune landscape and select drugs in EGFR-negative LUAD. METHODS: M2-TAM-based biomarkers were obtained from the intersection of bulk RNA-seq data and scRNA-seq data. After consensus clustering of EGFR-negative LUAD into different clusters based on M2-TAM-based genes, we compared the prognosis, clinical features, estimate scores, immune infiltration, and checkpoint genes among the clusters. Next, we combined univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses to establish an M2-TAM-based prognostic signature. RESULTS: CCL20, HLA-DMA, HLA-DRB5, KLF4, and TMSB4X were verified as prognostic M2-like TAM-related genes by univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses. IPS and TMB analyses revealed that the high-risk group responded better to common immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: The study shows the potential of the M2-like TAM-related gene signature in EGFR-negative LUAD, explores the immune landscape based on M2-like TAM-related genes, and predict immunotherapy response of patients with EGFR-negative LUAD, providing a new insight for individualized treatment.

Comprehensive expression, prognostic and validation analysis of necroptosis-related lncRNAs in esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that necroptosis-related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) risk models can be used to predict prognosis and immune infiltration in patients with esophageal cancer. However, further analysis of the regulatory mechanisms of necroptosis-related lncRNAs used in risk models remains to be conducted. The purpose of the present study was to identify valuable necroptosis-related lncRNAs in esophageal cancer and to verify their molecular and cellular functions. METHODS: Esophageal cancer data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The expression of eight genes (LINC00299, AC090912.2, AC244197.2, AL158166.1, AC079684.1, AP003696.1, AC079684.1 and AP003696.1) in the necroptosis-related lncRNA risk model, their relationships with clinicopathological stage, and their diagnostic receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed. The prognostic value of these lncRNAs for overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) was analyzed, and time-dependent ROC curves were generated. The AP003696.1 target gene (lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1) was further investigated through immune infiltration analysis, Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (GO/KEGG) enrichment analyses, and gene coexpression analysis. Finally, in vitro functional assays based on lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1 were conducted to explore its regulatory role in esophageal cancer. RESULTS: A bioinformatics approach was used to study the eight genes in the necroptosis-related lncRNA risk model. AP003696.1 (lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1) was highly expressed in esophageal cancer tissues, and its high expression was correlated with poor OS and DFdS. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1 is an independent prognostic factor. The lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1 gene was demonstrated to play a definite role in the invasion of esophageal cancer immune cells and in signaling pathways in these cells. In vitro cell functional assays revealed that lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1 expression was elevated in the KYSE150 and KYSE410 esophageal cancer cell lines. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing of lncRNA ENSG00000253385.1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of KYSE150 and KYSE410 cells, as well as promoted their apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The ENSG00000253385.1 gene may be a key gene in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of esophageal cancer. These findings provide new ideas and references for the screening of therapeutic targets, as well as the development of targeted drugs, for esophageal cancer treatment.

Effect of voice training intervention on swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of voice training in patients with head and neck cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. METHOD: This study used a randomized controlled trial design. IBM SPSS 26.0 was used to randomly divide 74 patients into a control group and an experimental group. The control group followed a swallowing exercises program, and the experimental group additionally received ABCLOVE voice training. Both training programs continued throughout the entire radiotherapy cycle. We compared standardized swallowing assessment (SSA), maximum phonation time (MPT), the Voice Handicap Index-10, and incidence of complications such as difficulty opening the mouth, malnutrition, and aspiration between the two groups at T1 (0 radiotherapy sessions, before radiotherapy), T2 (15-16 radiotherapy sessions, middle of radiotherapy), and T3 (30-32 radiotherapy sessions, end of radiotherapy). RESULTS: 70 participants completed this study. Swallowing function and MPT intergroup and interaction effects were statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). At the end of radiotherapy (T3), the SSA score (20.77 ± 1.96) and MPT (10.98 ± 1.75) s in the experimental group were superior to those in the control group (SSA: 22.06 ± 2.38 and MPT: 9.49±1.41 s), with statistical significance (P<0.05). Moreover, the incidence of malnutrition and aspiration in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Voice training can improve swallowing function and MPT and reduce complications related to swallowing disorders in patients with head and neck cancer.

Association of the TNF-α-308G>A gene polymorphism with left ventricular geometry and functional abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) can induce left ventricular remodeling. In this study, we investigated whether the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism is associated with left ventricular geometry (LVG) and left ventricular functional abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-eight subjects were enrolled. Echocardiography and genetic data were assessed in all patients. Geometric patterns of the left ventricle were determined from the relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Genetic analysis for the TNF-α-308G>A SNP rs1800629 was identified by Sanger sequencing. The correlations of the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism with LVG and left ventricular function were analyzed by difference analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: The chi-square test showed that there were differences in genotype distributions among the four groups (p = 0.033), such that the frequency of GA+AA genotypes was significantly higher in the concentric hypertrophy group than in the normal geometry group (p < 0.05). Independent sample T tests showed that the GA+AA genotypes had higher IVST, LVPWT, LVMI, E/e' values, and lower e' values than those of the GG genotype (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism was independently correlated with eccentric hypertrophy (OR = 2.456, p = 0.047) and concentric hypertrophy (OR = 2.456, p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: In OSA patients, the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism was linked to LVG and abnormal left ventricular diastolic function, suggesting that the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism may have an important influence on LVG alterations.

Prognostic gene HLA-DMA associated with cell cycle and immune infiltrates in LUAD.

BACKGROUND: The dominant subclass of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a crucial feature of carcinogenesis and progression in LUAD. Furthermore, immune and stromal components of TME are crucial factors to investigating and curing LUAD. Thus, the study assessed the value of TME-related genes for LUAD prognosis and immune infiltration. METHODS: All data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases. The immune and stromal scores were downloaded from ESTIMATE, and the association between the scores and prognosis was explored by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and univariate Cox regression were used to find TME-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and HLA-DMA was regarded as a prognostic hub gene. Western blot analyses, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence were applied to verify HLA-DMA expression in clinical samples. NSCLC cell lines were used to verify the effect of HLA-DMA on cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. At last, the alteration of immunotherapy response and TME transition caused by HLA-DMA different expression were further studied. RESULTS: The immune score was positively correlated with survival. The functional analyses suggested that TME-related DEGs may be involved in the immune response. The expression level of HLA-DMA was decreased in LUAD. In addition, HLA-DMA expression was associated with several clinical features and was positively associated with survival. Furthermore, HLA-DMA may suspend cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle. HLA-DMA expression was closely associated with immune infiltration and positively correlated with TMB, indicating that patients with high HLA-DMA level were more suitable for immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: These results reveal that HLA-DMA might act as a biomarker for immune infiltration and immunotherapy response.

Contact Guidance Drives Upward Cellular Migration at the Mesoscopic Scale.

Introduction: Cancer metastasis is associated with increased cancer incidence, recurrence, and mortality. The role of cell contact guidance behaviors in cancer metastasis has been recognized but has not been elucidated yet. Methods: The contact guidance behavior of cancer cells in response to topographical constraints is identified using microgrooved substrates with varying dimensions at the mesoscopic scale. Then, the cell morphology is determined to quantitatively analyze the effects of substrate dimensions on cells contact guidance. Cell density and migrate velocity signatures within the cellular population are determined using time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy. The effect of soluble factors concentration is determined by culturing cells upside down. Then, the effect of cell-substrate interaction on cell migration is investigated using traction force microscopy. Results: With increasing depth and decreasing groove width, cell elongation and alignment are enhanced, while cell spreading is inhibited. Moreover, cells display preferential distribution on the ridges, which is found to be more pronounced with increasing depth and groove width. Determinations of cell density and migration velocity signatures reveal that the preferential distribution on ridges is caused by cell upward migration. Combined with traction force measurement, we find that migration toward ridges is governed by different cell-substrate interactions between grooves and ridges caused by geometrical constraints. Interestingly, the upward migration of cells at the mesoscopic scale is driven by entropic maximization. Conclusions: The mesoscopic cell contact guidance mechanism based on the entropic force driven theory provides basic support for the study of cell alignment and migration along healthy tissues with varying size, thereby aiding in the prediction of cancer metastasis. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00766-y.

Lipid transformation during postmortem chilled aging in Mongolian sheep using lipidomics.

This present study aimed to investigate the effects of postmortem chilled aging on lipid and molecular transformation mechanisms in Mongolian sheep. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify 812 lipids in Mongolian sheep within four days of chilled aging. Using multivariate analysis, 95 significant differential lipids were identified. The levels of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and certain free fatty acids were observed to rise significantly, while other phospholipids and acylcarnitines showed a downward trend. In addition, levels of most of the lysophospholipids increased significantly in the early postmortem period; however, their levels did not alter significantly after 48 h. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis revealed that these differential lipids are primarily involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and thermogenesis. Our results have important implications in terms of understanding lipid transformation and changes in meat quality during postmortem chilled aging in Mongolian sheep.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular regulatory network of muscle development and meat quality in Sunit lamb supplemented with dietary probiotic.

Supplementing animal feed with probiotic additives can promote muscle production and improve meat quality. The study aimed to explore the effects of dietary probiotics supplementation on the performance, meat quality and muscle transcriptome profile in Sunit lamb. Overall, feeding probiotics significantly increased the body length, LT area, pH24h and intramuscular fat (IMF) content, but decreased cooking loss and meat shear force compared to the control group (P < .05). A total of 651 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in probiotic supplemented lambs. Pathway analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in multiple pathways related to muscle development and fat deposition, such as the ECM-receptor interactions, the MAPK signaling pathway and the FoxO signaling pathway. Therefore, dietary probiotic supplementation can improve muscle development and final meat quality in Sunit lambs by altering gene expression profiles associated with key pathways, providing unique insights into the molecular mechanisms by which dietary probiotics regulate muscle development in the lamb industry.

Synthesis and Growth Mechanism of SiS2 Rods.

The SiS2 rods exhibit a significant anisotropy property applied in a special field such as in the one of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and so on. In this work, the orthorhombic SiS2 rods with high chemical/phase purity were prepared by an elemental method, either through a boiling or a steaming process, at 1023-1073 K for 3 h and under the saturated S-vapor pressure (2.57-3.83 MPa) in a closed sealed-tube system. The composition, crystal structure, morphology, and growth mechanism were investigated. Results showed that the growth orientation of SiS2 along the <0 0 1> is intrinsically governed by the crystal structure motif. It could exist in both processes and the latter tends to show in macroscopic morphology. Using the pressure-temperature diagram, structure refinement, pole figures, image analyses, and so forth, factors influencing the purity and growth of SiS2 rods were concluded from the thermodynamics and kinetics viewpoints.

Application of iTRAQ Technology to Identify Differentially Expressed Proteins of Sauce Lamb Tripe with Different Secondary Pasteurization Treatments.

Vacuum-packed sauce lamb tripe was subjected to secondary pasteurization by high-pressure processing (HPP) and heat treatment (HT), and iTRAQ technology was applied to investigate the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). The analysis revealed 484 and 398 DEPs in the HPP and HT samples, respectively, compared with no treatment. These DEPs were sorted by texture results, and it was revealed that these DEPs acted in different biological processes with many structural proteins and protein subunits related to lamb tripe texture. The results verified by Western blot were consistent with the protein expression changes observed by proteomics. The bioinformatics analysis showed that the hardness and gumminess of the sauce lamb tripe after HT might be related to changes in the expression of CNN1 and FN1. The changes in the expression of TMP, FN1, YWHAG, TTN, collagen isoforms, and ARPC3 might be related to the improved springiness and chewiness of lamb tripe after HPP.

Noncovalently Fused-Ring Electron Acceptors with C2v Symmetry for Regulating the Morphology of Organic Solar Cells.

Four noncovalently fused-ring electron acceptors p-DOC6-2F, o-DOC6-2F, o-DOC8-2F, and o-DOC2C6-2F have been designed and synthesized. p-DOC6-2F and o-DOC6-2F have the same molecular backbone but different molecular shapes and symmetries. p-DOC6-2F has an S-shaped molecular backbone and C2h symmetry, whereas o-DOC6-2F possesses a U-shaped molecular backbone and C2v symmetry. The molecular shape and symmetry can influence the dipole moment, solubility, optical absorption, energy level, molecular packing, and film morphology. Compared with the corresponding p-DOC6-2F, o-DOC6-2F exhibits better solubility, a wider band gap, and a larger dipole moment. When blended with the donor polymer PBDB-T, the C2v symmetric o-DOC6-2F can form an appropriate active layer morphology, whereas the C2h symmetric p-DOC6-2F forms oversized domains. Organic solar cells (OSCs) based on p-DOC6-2F, o-DOC6-2F, o-DOC8-2F, and o-DOC2C6-2F obtained power conversion efficiencies of 9.23, 11.87, 11.23, and 10.80%, respectively. The result reveals that the molecular symmetry can facilely regulate the performance of OSCs.

Inclusion complexes of tea polyphenols with HP-ß-cyclodextrin:Preparation, characterization, molecular docking, and antioxidant activity.

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize inclusion complexes between tea polyphenol (TP) and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD), and to evaluate their antioxidant properties. Freeze-drying was used to prepare the inclusion complex of TP/HP-ß-CD at different component ratios (1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2). The supermolecular structure of the TP/HP-ß-CD complex was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular docking was used to simulate the positions and interactions of the binding sites of TP/HP-ß-CD inclusion complexes and target protein receptors. In addition, the effects of TP/HP-ß-CD inclusion complexes on myofibrillar protein (MP) from lamb tripe were observed under oxidative conditions. Results showed that TP was encapsulated in the cavity of HP-ß-CD to form an optimal complex with 1:2 molar ratio of stoichiometry, while the FTIR, TGA, and SEM studies also support the inclusion process. Molecular modeling results were systematically analyzed to determine the stability of inclusion complexes and protein. Furthermore, the addition of an appropriate concentration (5 to 105 µmol/g) of TP/HP-ß-CD inclusion complex decreased the carbonyl content, hydrophobicity, and protein aggregation of MP from lamb tripe, whereas it increased the sulfhydryl content. This improved antioxidant activity and bioavailability of the inclusion complexes will be beneficial for its potential applications in food. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Tea polyphenol was an antioxidant with potential for the field of food. In this study, the unstable properties of tea polyphenols were evaluated and were improved by inclusion of HP-ß-cyclodextrin. The binding mode of the inclusion complex with protein was revealed via the molecular docking method, and the application of inclusion complex to control protein oxidation was studied. Results showed that the inclusion complex could effectively inhibit protein oxidation, which can provide a reference for the application of polyphenols in meat products and the improvement of protein properties.

Preparation and Characterisation of Polyphenol-HP-ß-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex that Protects Lamb Tripe Protein against Oxidation.

Grape seed extract (GSE) displays strong antioxidant activity, but its instability creates barriers to its applications. Herein, three HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes with host-guest ratios of 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2 were successfully prepared by co-precipitation method to improve stability. Successful embedding of GSE in the HP-ß-CD cavity was confirmed by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The Autodock Tools 1.5.6 was used to simulate the three-dimensional supramolecular structure of the inclusion complex of 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin and grape seed extract (HP-ß-CD/GSE) by molecular docking. The MALDI-TOF-MS technology and chemical database Pubchem, and structural database PDB were combined to reconstitute the three-dimensional structure of target protein. The binding mode of the HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complex to target protein was studied at the molecular level, and the antioxidant ability of the resulting HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes was investigated by measuring 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. The effects of HP-ß-CD/GSE on myofibrillar protein from lamb tripe were also investigated under oxidative conditions. The positions and interactions of the binding sites of HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes and target protein receptors were simulated by molecular docking. The results showed that HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes were successfully prepared, optimally at a molar ratio of 1:2. At low (5 µmol/g) to medium (105 µmol/g) concentrations, HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes decreased the carbonyl content, hydrophobicity, and protein aggregation of myofibrillar protein from lamb tripe, and increased the sulphydryl content. Furthermore, high concentration (155 µmol/g) of HP-ß-CD/GSE inclusion complexes promoted protein oxidation.

An Alternative Method of Endoscopic Intrasphenoidal Vidian Neurectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an easy surgical approach to facilitate clinical management. STUDY DESIGN: A novel transnasal endoscopic 3-step surgical method for vidian neurectomy was designed and tried in 91 cases with a mild-to-severe degree of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis refractory to routine medical therapy. SETTING: Endoscopic vidian neurectomy requires accurate localization of the vidian canal. However, it is not easy to localize during surgery because of its deep location and the complex anatomy of the pterygopalatine fossa. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This technique consists of 3 steps, including transnasal endoscopic perforation of the anterior wall of the sphenoidal sinus as the first step and removal of the anterior wall until the exposure of the vidian canal in the junction between the anterior wall and the floor of the sphenoid sinus as the second step. The last step is the accurate resection and cauterization of the vidian nerve. In some cases in which the sphenoid sinus developed well with a big lateral space, an extended procedure of posterior ethmoidectomy was included to allow good exposure of the vidian canal. RESULTS: Using this technique, successful endoscopic vidian neurectomy in this series of patients was confirmed by both histology and Schirmer test, showing its distinct advantages of easy localization of the vidian canal and less risk of injury to the nerve and vessel bundles within the pterygopalatine fossa. CONCLUSION: Taken together, this novel 3-step procedure of endoscopic vidian neurectomy plus an extended procedure guarantees good exposure of the vidian canal and therefore accurate vidian neurectomy.

Effect of Non-fullerene Acceptors' Side Chains on the Morphology and Photovoltaic Performance of Organic Solar Cells.

Three indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene (IT) cored small molecular acceptors (ITIC-SC6, ITIC-SC8, and ITIC-SC2C6) were synthesized, and the influence of side chains on their performances in solar cells was systematically probed. Our investigations have demonstrated the variation of side chains greatly affects the charge dissociation, charge mobility, and morphology of the donor:acceptor blend films. ITIC-SC2C6 with four branched side chains showed improved solubility, which can ensure the polymer donor to form favorable fibrous nanostructure during the drying of the blend film. Consequently, devices based on PBDB-ST:ITIC-SC2C6 demonstrated higher charge mobility, more effective exciton dissociation, and the optimal power conversion efficiency up to 9.16% with an FF of 0.63, a Jsc of 15.81 mA cm-2, and a Voc of 0.92 V. These results reveal that the side chain engineering is a valid way of tuning the morphology of blend films and further improving PCE in polymer solar cells.

Exploiting Noncovalently Conformational Locking as a Design Strategy for High Performance Fused-Ring Electron Acceptor Used in Polymer Solar Cells.

We have developed a kind of novel fused-ring small molecular acceptor, whose planar conformation can be locked by intramolecular noncovalent interaction. The formation of planar supramolecular fused-ring structure by conformation locking can effectively broaden its absorption spectrum, enhance the electron mobility, and reduce the nonradiative energy loss. Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on this acceptor afforded a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.6%. In contrast, PSCs based on similar acceptor, which cannot form a flat conformation, only gave a PCE of 2.3%. Such design strategy, which can make the synthesis of small molecular acceptor much easier, will be promising in developing a new acceptor for high efficiency polymer solar cells.

The expression of MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 in breast cancer and their clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Our study aims to analyze the expression pattern, mechanism, and prognostic significance of melanoma-associated antigen MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 in breast cancer. METHODS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expressions of MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 in breast benign disease specimens, tumor-free breast specimens, and breast cancer specimens; their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and recurrence-free survival was elucidated. We examined the influence of DNA methylase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) together with histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A on the expression of MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 in breast cancer cell lines. RESULT: Proteins for MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 expressions were 38.3% and 58.3% in breast cancer specimens, messenger RNA for MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 expressions were 43.3% and 61.7%, respectively. MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 expressions were positively associated with high tumor grade and reduced recurrence-free survival; MAGE-C2 expression was also associated with tumor embolus and histologic type. 5-aza-CdR treatment alone could induce expression of MAGE-C2, whereas trichostatin A was able to synergistically enhance 5-aza-CdR-mediated MAGE-C2 transcription. CONCLUSIONS: MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2 maybe potential targets for tumor immunotherapy, and their expressions are associated with advanced breast cancer and poor outcome.