LOC389641 promotes papillary thyroid cancer progression by regulating the EMT pathway.

Aim: Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common types of endocrine malignancy and poses a significant challenge to human health. The long noncoding RNA 389641 (LOC389641) has been found to be associated with many types of cancer. However, the function of LOC389641 in papillary TC (PTC) remains unknown. Our aim is to explore LOC389641 expression and its role in TC. Materials & methods: The function of LOC389641 was determined by colony formation, migration and invasion assays in PTC. Western blot assays were performed to determine the biomarker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Results: In this study, we show that LOC389641 is involved in PTC, which suggests that it may be a target for TC therapies.

Eva-1 homolog A promotes papillary thyroid cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the Hippo signalling pathway.

Recently, the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common histological type of thyroid cancer. Whole-transcriptome sequence analysis was performed to further understand the primary molecular mechanisms of the occurrence and progression of PTC. Results showed that Eva-1 homolog A (EVA1A) may be a potential gene for the PTC-associated gene in thyroid cancer. In this work, the role of EVA1A expression in thyroid cancer was investigated. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression level of EVA1A in 43 pairs of PTC and four thyroid cancer cell lines. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to evaluate the relationship between the expression level of EVA1A and the pathological feature of PTC. The logistic regression analysis of the TCGA data set indicated that the expression of EVA1A was an independent risk factor for tumour, nde and metastasis (TNM) in PTC. This study shows the down-regulation of EVA1A inhibited the colony formation, proliferation, migration and invasion of PTC cell lines. In the protein level, knockdown of EVA1A can regulate the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, Bcl-xL, Bax, YAP and TAZ. This study indicated that EVA1A was an oncogene associated with PTC.

Effect and mechanism of the metastasis suppressor gene BRMS1 on the migration of breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the transfected Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1) gene on the migration of breast cancer cells and the possible mechanisms involved. METHODS: MDA-MB-231HM cells which have a high propensity of metastasize to lung was sieved from MDA-MB-231 and its derivative cells stable transfected with BRMS1 were used to study in vitro. Cell migratory ability was observed. The cellular cyclic adenylic acid (cAMP) concentration was tested by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The activity of adenylate cyclase (AC), phosphodiesterase (PDE) and protein kinase A (PKA) were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and (γ-(32)P) ATP incorporation. The effect of BRMS1 on connexins (Cx) expression was analyzed by by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Overexpression of BRMS1 significantly inhibited cell migration in MDA-MB-231HM cells in vitro. However, BRMS1's effect on cell migration could be eliminated after pretreating with pertussis toxin (PTX). BRMS1 overexpression increased cellular cAMP and PKA activity by activating the activity of AC. Furthermore, BRMS1 overexpression up-regulated Cx26 expression, whereas Cx32, Cx43 expressions did not changed. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated G-protein-coupled cAMP signaling pathway was involved in BRMS1 related MDA-MB-231HM cells migration, and BRMS1 could change connexins (Cx) expression profiles through increasing expression of Cx26 in cells.

[Effect of 5-fluorouracil on the expression of ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 in human colon cancer cell SW480].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the expression of ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in human colon cancer cell SW480. METHODS: SW480 cells were treated with various concentrations of 5-FU. CCK8 assay was utilized to detect the 5-FU IC50 to SW480 cells. Positive expression of ABCG2 was detected by flow cytometry, and mRNA expression of ABCG2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The 5-FU IC50 to SW480 cells increased as the drug concentration increased (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that positive expression rate of ABCG2 in normal SW480 cells (group A) was (6.26±0.86)%. Immediately after treatment with 5-FU for 48 hours, the positive expression rate of ABCG2 (group B) was (3.43±1.18)% (P<0.05). In the second passage of cells after treatment with 5-FU for 48 hours, the positive expression rate of ABCG2 (group C) was (12.91±3.42)% (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of ABCG2 detected by RT-PCR was in accordance with the results from flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: Expression of ABCG2 in SW480 cells can be affected by various concentrations of 5-FU.

The BRAF mutation is predictive of aggressive clinicopathological characteristics in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the utility of BRAF mutation screening of ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens for predicting aggressive clinicopathological characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: We assessed the T1799A BRAF mutation status in FNAB specimens obtained from 61 PTMC patients before undergoing operations for PTMC. We examined whether the BRAF mutation was associated with clinicopathologic characteristics in PTMC. Additionally, we reviewed the BRAF mutation status, and clinical, ultrasound (US), hematological, and pathology records of the patients and analyzed the associations between these characteristics and lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM). RESULTS: Analysis of the preoperative FNABs accurately reflected the BRAF status of the resected tissues in 19 of the 20 paired samples (95% concordance). We observed that the BRAF mutation was statistically significantly associated with multifocality, extrathyroidal invasion, lateral LNM, and advanced tumor stages III and IV. The BRAF mutation, pathologic features (central LNM), and US features (upper pole location) were independent predictive factors for lateral LNM in a multivariate analysis with odds ratios of 18.144 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.999-164.664; P = 0.01), 8.582 (95% CI, 1.014-76.662; P = 0.049) and 9.576 (95% CI, 1.374-66.728; P = 0.023), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BRAF mutation-positive PTMCs were more likely to manifest aggressive characteristics (extrathyroidal extension and LNM). The BRAF mutation screening of FNAB specimens can be used to predict aggressive clinicopathological characteristics of PTMC. Lateral neck nodes should be meticulously analyzed for cases of PTMC demonstrating the following three characteristics: BRAF mutation, central LNM, and US features in the upper pole location.

[Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the advantage and disadvantage of laparoscopic abdomino-perineal resection and open abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with low rectal cancer, collected from July 2003 to April 2006, were randomly divided into laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection group (37 cases) and open abdominoperineal resection group (37 cases). Operation time, number of lymph node removed, intra-operative blood loss, time to pass flatus, time to ambulate, time to discharge, complications, early recurrence, and economical cost were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: All patients were performed successfully. For the first 10 patients, operation time of laparoscopic group was significantly longer than that of open group, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Intra-operative blood loss of laparoscopic group was significantly less than that of open group, but it was reverse for the first 10 patients. There was no significant difference in time to pass flatus between the 2 groups. Time to ambulate in laparoscopic group was significantly earlier than that in open group. There was no significant difference in time to discharge between the 2 groups, but it was earlier for perineum closure in laparoscopic group. Relative complications of laparoscopic group, including pulmonary infection, abdominal wound infection or split, were significantly less than those of open group. There was no significant difference in number of lymph nodes removed, early recurrence between the 2 groups. Operation cost of laparoscopic group was significantly higher than that of open group, but there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Advantages of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection were characterized for not only minimal invasion and good cosmetic outcome but also less blood loss, complications, and earlier postoperative recovery. The operation time, total costs and oncological clearance of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection patients were comparable with those of open procedure patients.