HSP70 Expression Signature in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Clinical and Bioinformatic Analysis Approach.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are cytoprotective against stressful conditions, as in the case of cancer cell metabolism. Scientists proposed that HSP70 might be implicated in increased cancer cell survival. This study aimed to investigate the HSP70 (HSPA4) gene expression signature in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in correlation to cancer subtype, stage, grade, and recurrence, combining both clinicopathological and in silico analysis approaches. One hundred and thirty archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, including 65 RCC tissue specimens and their paired non-cancerous tissues, were included in the study. Total RNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed using TaqMan quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. Correlation and validation to the available clinicopathological data and results were executed. Upregulated HSP70 (HSPA4) gene expression was evident in RCC compared to non-cancer tissues in the studied cohort and was validated by in silico analysis. Furthermore, HSP70 expression levels showed significant positive correlations with cancer size, grade, and capsule infiltration, as well as recurrence in RCC patients. The expression levels negatively correlated with the overall survival (r = -0.87, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves showed lower survival rates in high HSP70 expressor group compared to the low expressors. In conclusion, the HSP70 expression levels are associated with poor RCC prognosis in terms of advanced grade, capsule infiltration, recurrence, and short survival.

Migration/Differentiation-Associated LncRNA SENCR rs12420823*C/T: A Novel Gene Variant Can Predict Survival and Recurrence in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have key roles in tumor development and the progress of many cancers, including breast cancer (BC). This study aimed to explore for the first time the association of the migration/differentiation-associated lncRNA SENCR rs12420823C/T variant with BC risk and prognosis. Genotyping was carried out for 203 participants (110 patients and 93 controls) using the TaqMan allelic discrimination technique. The corresponding clinicopathological data, including the recurrence/survival times, were analyzed with the different genotypes. After adjustment by age and risk factors, the T/T genotype carrier patients were more likely to develop BC under homozygote comparison (T/T vs. C/C: OR = 8.33, 95% CI = 2.44-25.0, p = 0.001), dominant (T/T-C/T vs. C/C: OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.72-8.33, p = 0.027), and recessive (T/T vs. C/T-C/C: OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.08-4.55, p < 0.001) models. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the T/T genotype carriers were more likely to be triple-negative sub-type (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.02-6.95, p = 0.046), at a higher risk of recurrence (OR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.33-9.59, p = 0.012), and had short survival times (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.52-10.05, p = 0.005). Moreover, Cox regression analysis supported their twofold increased risk of recurrence (HR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.27-3.59, p = 0.004). Furthermore, the predictive nomogram confirmed the high weight for SENCR rs12420823*T/T and C/T genotypes in predicting recurrence within the first year. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated low disease-free survival (T/T: 12.5 ± 1.16 months and C/T: 15.9 ± 0.86 months versus C/C: 22.3 ± 0.61 months, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the LncRNA SENCR rs12420823*C/T may be associated with an increased risk of BC in women and could be a promising genetic variant for predicting recurrence and survival.