Role of synaptotagmin 13 (SYT13) in promoting breast cancer and signaling pathways.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of tumor death worldwide in female, and the five-year overall survival of breast cancer patients remains poor. It is an urgent need to seek novel target for its treatment. Synaptotagmin 13 (SYT13) is a synaptic vesicle transporting protein that regulates the malignant phenotypes of various cancers. However, its role in breast cancer is still unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of SYT13 on the progression of breast cancer. METHODS: Twenty-five pairs of breast cancer tissues and non-tumor tissues were obtained to assess the expression of SYT13. We manually modified the expression of SYT13 in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. CCK-8 assay, EdU staining, and cell cycle analysis were carried out to measure the proliferated ability of cells. Annexin V/PI and TUNEL assays were used to detect the apoptotic ability of cells. Wound healing and transwell assays were employed to evaluate the migrated and invasive ability of breast cancer cells. RESULTS: The results revealed that the mRNA and protein levels of SYT13 were higher in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of SYT13 inhibited the cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase of MCF-7 cells by downregulating cyclin D1 and CDK4, as well as upregulating p21. The migration and invasion of MCF-7 cells were repressed by the loss of SYT13 via the gain of E-cadherin and the loss of vimentin. Overexpression of SYT13 in MDA-MB-231 cells led to the opposite effects. Silencing of SYT13 induced the apoptosis ability of MCF-7 cells by the upregulation of bax and the downregulation of bcl-2. Moreover, we found that SYT13 depletion suppressed the FAK/AKT signaling pathway. PF573228 (a FAK inhibitor) and MK2206 (an AKT inhibitor) reversed the SYT13 overexpression-induced promotion of proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that SYT13 promoted the malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells by the activation of FAK/AKT signaling pathway.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, management, and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. METHOD: 24 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis with accurate pathological diagnosis were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: 15 male patients and nine female patients were diagnosed at the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1999 to November 2011. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 44.2 ± 11.3 years (range: 24 to 65 years). Among these patients, 13 had other comorbidities. 15 were symptomatic and the other nine were asymptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, chest tightness, expectoration, and fever. None had concurrent cryptococcal meningitis. The most frequent radiologic abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) scans were solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules, and masses or consolidations, and most lesions were located in the lower lobes. All patients had biopsies for the accurate diagnosis. Among the 24 patients, nine patients underwent surgical resections (eight had pneumonectomy via thoracotomy and one had a pneumonectomy via thoracoscopy). Five of the patients who underwent surgery also received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole) for one to three months after the surgery. The other 15 only received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole or voriconazole) for three to six months (five patients are still on therapy). The follow-up observation of 19 patients who had already finished their treatments lasted from two to 11 years, and there was no relapse, dissemination, or death in any of these patients. CONCLUSION: Non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis have a good prognosis with appropriate management.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, management, and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. METHOD: 24 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis with accurate pathological diagnosis were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: 15 male patients and nine female patients were diagnosed at the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1999 to November 2011. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 44.2±11.3 years (range: 24 to 65 years). Among these patients, 13 had other comorbidities. 15 were symptomatic and the other nine were asymptomatic. The most common presenting symptoms were cough, chest tightness, expectoration, and fever. None had concurrent cryptococcal meningitis. The most frequent radiologic abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) scans were solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules, and masses or consolidations, and most lesions were located in the lower lobes. All patients had biopsies for the accurate diagnosis. Among the 24 patients, nine patients underwent surgical resections (eight had pneumonectomy via thoracotomy and one had a pneumonectomy via thoracoscopy). Five of the patients who underwent surgery also received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole) for one to three months after the surgery. The other 15 only received antifungal drug therapy (fluconazole or voriconazole) for three to six months (five patients are still on therapy). The follow-up observation of 19 patients who had already finished their treatments lasted from two to 11 years, and there was no relapse, dissemination, or death in any of these patients. CONCLUSION: Non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis have a good prognosis with appropriate management.