The Diagnostic Accuracy of miR-371a-3p for Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to assess the utility of miR-371a-3p levels as a tool for diagnosing testicular germ cell tumors. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis we reviewed available published studies assessing the accuracy of miR-371a-3p as a tool for diagnosing testicular germ cell tumors. STATA 16.0 was used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood ratio (NLR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and area under the curve (AUC) values. RESULTS: In total, six studies incorporating 1835 individuals were included in this analysis. Pooled results suggested that miR-371a-3p was able to differentiate between testicular germ cell tumors and non-testicular germ cell tumors or healthy individuals with a sensitivity of 0.90 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-0.92], a specificity of 0.93 (95% CI 0.87-0.96), a PLR of 12.2 (95% CI 6.90-18.24), an NLR of 0.11 (95% CI 0.09-0.14) a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 121.56 (95% CI 64.84-227.89), and an AUC of 0.94. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-371a-3p represents a viable biomarker associated with testicular germ cell tumors.

Diagnostic accuracy of photodynamic diagnosis for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) by performing a meta-analysis. METHOD: Relevant articles were retrieved from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases. Studies evaluating the accuracy of PDD for the diagnosis of upper UTUC were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated by STATA 16.0 at the per-lesion level. RESULTS: Six studies with 289 lesions were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that PDD can differentiate upper UTUC from benign lesions with a sensitivity of 0.96 (95 % confidence interval: 0.85-0.99) and a specificity of 0.86 (95 % confidence interval: [0.64-0.95]; AUC, 0.97). Compared with white-light ureterorenoscopy, PDD can significantly improve the additional detection rate of UTUC (RR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.07-0.34 P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: PDD is a valid technique that improves the diagnostic accuracy of UTUC compared with standard white-light ureterorenoscopy at the per-lesion level. PDD is a promising endoscopic technique for upper UTUC.

Human antigen R and drug resistance in tumors.

The human embryonic lethal abnormal visual protein, HuR, belongs to the Hu family of RNA-binding proteins. Over the past two decades, HuR has been extensively associated with multiple biological characteristics of tumors, including tumor development and progression, angiogenesis, invasion, migration and prognosis, since this protein regulates the stability of cancer-associated target mRNAs due to its posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. A recent investigation of the multiple functions of HuR has provided emerging evidence of its role in drug resistance in various tumors. Herein, we demonstrate the roles of HuR proteins in the development of drug resistance, examine their involvement in various mechanisms, including apoptosis, the ABC transporter family, the cell cycle and the DNA damage response, and provide insight into ongoing studies for developing therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting this molecule in tumor cells.

Multiple functions of HuR in urinary tumors.

PURPOSE: Human embryonic lethal abnormal visual-like protein, HuR, belongs to a member of the Hu family of RNA-binding protein and plays a critical role in urinary tumors. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature to demonstrate the importance of HuR in urinary tract tumors' biology and explore the potential role in therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting this molecule in cancer cells. METHODS: The relevant literature from PubMed and Medline databases is reviewed in this article. RESULTS: Increasing evidence supports that HuR plays a critical role in urinary tumors' biology because it regulates the expression of many urinary tumors-associated molecules through post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms (including mRNA trafficking, mRNA decay and protein translation). Recent studies have demonstrated that HuR is associated with chemoresistance of urinary tumors, suggesting that HuR might be a novel therapeutic target and a marker for therapeutic response and prognosis assessment. CONCLUSION: HuR is associated with various urinary tumors biological characteristics. Targeted therapy of HuR may become an attractive treatment strategy. What's more, more preclinical and clinical trials of this targeted strategy are necessary for the treatment of urinary tumors.

Targeting strategies of adenovirus­mediated gene therapy and virotherapy for prostate cancer (Review).

Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a high risk to older men and it is the second most common type of male malignant tumor in western developed countries. Additionally, there is a lack of effective therapies for PCa at advanced stages. Novel treatment strategies such as adenovirus­mediated gene therapy and virotherapy involve the expression of a specific therapeutic gene to induce death in cancer cells, however, wild­type adenoviruses are also able to infect normal human cells, which leads to undesirable toxicity. Various PCa­targeting strategies in adenovirus­mediated therapy have been developed to improve tumor­targeting effects and human safety. The present review summarizes the relevant knowledge regarding available adenoviruses and PCa­targeting strategies. In addition, future directions in this area are also discussed. In conclusion, although they remain in the early stages of basic research, adenovirus­mediated gene therapy and virotherapy are expected to become important therapies for tumors in the future due to their potential targeting strategies.

Structural and functional changes in gap junctional intercellular communication in a rat model of overactive bladder syndrome induced by partial bladder outlet obstruction.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between connexin (Cx)43 levels and alterations in gap junctional mediation of intercellular communication in overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), and to examine the effects of connexin inhibitor on this condition. Adult female Wistar rats with OAB following partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBBO) (OAB group, n=37) and sham-operated rats (control group, n=17) were studied. The ultrastructure of the rat detrusor was observed by transmission electron microscopy and the protein expression levels of Cx43 were analyzed using western blot analysis. Furthermore, bladder detrusor cells in both groups were cultured and cells in the OAB group were randomly divided into ten groups. In nine of these groups, 18-ß glycyrrhetinic acid (18ß-GA) was administered at various doses and durations. All groups were compared using fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching and a laser scanning confocal microscope. Cystometry demonstrated that gap junctions were an abundant mechanism among adjacent cells, and Cx43 protein expression levels were increased in the OAB group following 6 weeks of obstruction, as compared with the control group. Mean fluorescence recovery rates in the OAB group were significantly increased, as compared with the control group (P<0.01). Mean fluorescence recovery rates were noted following 18ß-GA administration. These results suggested that upregulation of Cx43 induces structural and functional alterations in gap junctional intercellular communication following PBOO, and connexin inhibitors may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the clinical treatment of OAB.