LncRNA GIHCG regulates microRNA-1281 and promotes malignant progression of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression characteristics of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GIHCG in breast cancer (BCa), and further investigate its role in BCa and its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine GIHCG expression in 53 pairs of BCa tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. The interaction between the level of GIHCG and the clinical indicators of BCa and the prognosis of patients was then analyzed. Lentivirus was transfected into BCa cell lines to construct the GIHCG knockdown model. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell cloning, and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were performed to analyze the influence of GIHCG on the biological function of BCa cells, as well as to explore whether it could play a role via modulating microRNA-1281. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the GIHCG level was remarkably higher in the BCa tumor tissue than in adjacent ones. Compared with patients with low expression of GIHCG, patients with high expression of GIHCG had higher pathological grades and a lower overall survival. Besides, the proliferation ability of BCa cells in GIHCG knockdown group was significantly decreased compared with NC group. QRT-PCR results indicated that silencing GIHCG increased the expression of miR-1281, thereby promoting the malignant progression of BCa. Also, the silence of miR-1281 reversed the effect of GIHCG on the proliferative capacity of BCa, thus increasing the cell anti-apoptotic ability. CONCLUSIONS: GIHCG levels were remarkably increased in both BCa tissues and cells, which was related to the pathological stage and poor prognosis of BCa patients. Besides, GIHCG might promote the malignant progression of BCa by inhibiting microRNA-1281.

CalliSpheres® drug-eluting beads (DEB) transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is equally efficient and safe in liver cancer patients with different times of previous conventional TACE treatments: a result from CTILC study.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in liver cancer patients with different times of previous conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) treatments. METHODS: 367 liver cancer patients about to receive DEB-TACE treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All patients were divided into no previous cTACE group (NPC group), 1-2 times previous cTACE group (PC group) and triple or above previous cTACE group (TPC group) according to the times of previous cTACE treatments. RESULTS: There was no difference in complete response (CR) (P = 0.671) and objective response rate (ORR) (P = 0.062) among three groups. Additionally, no difference in overall survival (OS) among groups (P = 0.899) was found. As to liver function, most liver function indexes were deteriorative at 1 week after DEB-TACE operation, but returned to baseline at 1-3 months after DEB-TACE operation in all three groups, while percentage of abnormal total bile acid (TBA) patients was higher in TPC group than NPC and PC groups at 1-3 month post-DEB-TACE (P = 0.018). As for safety profiles, the incidence of pain during DEB-TACE operation was lower in TPC group compared to NPC and PC groups (P = 0.005), while no difference of other adverse events was found during and 1 month post-DEB-TACE treatment among three groups. CONCLUSION: DEB-TACE treatment was equally efficient and tolerated in liver cancer patients with different times of previous cTACE treatments.

[YAP regulates the proliferation and modifies the sensitivity to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells].

Objective: To detect the expression level of YES-associated protein 1 (YAP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and investigate its effects on the proliferation activity and the sensitivity to sorafenib in HCC cells. Methods: Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of YAP in SMMC-7721, SK-Hep-1, HepG-2, Huh7 and the normal liver cell line L-O2. YAP specific small interfering RNA (si-YAP) or YAP expression plasmid were transfected in SK-Hep-1 or Huh7 cells, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test was used to detect the cell proliferation activity and the cell cycle test was conducted by flow cytometry. SK-Hep-1 and SK-Hep-1 si-YAP cells were subcutaneously injected into the nude mice which were sequentially treated by intragastric administration of sorafenib, and the tumor growth in vivo were observed and compared. Results: The expression of YAP was upregulated in HCC cell lines. Deletion of YAP expression significantly decreased the survival rate of SK-Hep-1 cells [(78.5±0.3)% vs (92.3±0.2)%, P=0.025]. Knockdown of YAP significantly increased the percentage of G(0)/G(1)-phase cells [ (65.4±3.3) % vs (55.7±3.4) %, P=0.039]. On the contrary, upregulation of the YAP expression in Huh7 cells significantly increased the cell survival rate [(81.2±1.3)% vs (62.5±1.1)%, P=0.013] and reduced the percentage of G(0)/G(1)-phase cells [(38.2±3.8)% vs (48.8±2.9)%, P=0.019]. The survival rate of SK-Hep-1 cells treated by si-YAP combined with sorafenib was (31.13±1.79)%, significantly lower than (48.87±0.58) % of SK-Hep-1 cells treated by sorafenib alone (P=0.001), while overexpression of YAP attenuated the inhibitory effect of sorafenib on the survival of Huh7 cells [(69.98±2.94) % vs (53.53±1.93)%, P=0.001]. The tumor weights of SK-Hep-1 group, sorafenib alone group, SK-Hep-1 si-YAP group and SK-Hep-1 si-YAP combined with sorafenib group were (0.96±0.08) g, (0.62±0.08) g, (0.70±0.06) g and (0.27±0.02) g, respectively. The tumor weights of sorafenib alone group and SK-Hep-1 si-YAP group were significantly lower than that of SK-Hep-1 group (P=0.012 and P=0.031, respectively). The tumor weight of SK-Hep-1 si-YAP combined with sorafenib group was significantly lower than that of SK-Hep-1 si-YAP group (P=0.001). Conclusions: The expression of YAP is upregulated in HCC cell lines, which regulates the proliferation, cell cycle, and sensitivity to sorafenib of HCC cells. YAP is a potential molecular target for HCC treatment.

[Comparison of therapeutics effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with iodine-125 seed implantation and sorafenib for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis].

Objective: To explore the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) combined with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), and to analyze the clinical value of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with iodine-125 seed implantation in such patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 53 patients with HCC combined with PVTT was performed. In the study group, 32 cases were treated with TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation, and 21 cases in the control group were treated with TACE combined with sorafenib. Survival analysis was carried out on eight factors such as gender, age, Child-Pugh classification, alpha fetoprotein level, portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) type, forms of liver tumor, extra-hepatic metastasis and treatment modalities. The efficacy of TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation and TACE combined with sorafenib was further compared. The χ (2) test was used to evaluate the efficacy of the two groups. A single factor survival analysis was calculated by Kaplan-Meier estimator and multifactor survival analysis by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: All 53 patients were successfully treated. The median tumor progression time (mTTP) and median overall survival (mOS) were 8 months and 11 months, respectively. The disease control rate (DCR) of the study group for PVTT was 93.8%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (61.9%, χ (2) = 6.448, P = 0.011). The difference was statistically significant; the objective remission rate of the study group for PVTT was 75.0%. Significantly higher than 9.5% in the control group, P < 0.05, the difference was statistically significant; the DCR of the primary tumor in the study group was 50.0%, which was lower than the 70.0% of the PVTT in the control group, P = 0.231, the difference was not statistically significant. The progression of primary HCC lesions in patients with multivariate survival analysis: Child-Pugh grade A patients were compared to grade B [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.236, P = 0.003]; no extra-hepatic metastasis (HR = 0.258, P = 0.002); and TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation group compared with TACE combined sorafenib group (HR = 0.372, P = 0.002), the differences were statistically significant. Multivariate survival analysis of patients with overall survival: AFP < 400 ng/mL vs. AFP≥400 ng/mL (HR = 0.389, P = 0.030); Child-Pugh grade A vs. B (HR = 0.263, P = 0.006); and no extra-hepatic metastasis (HR = 0.306, P = 0.006), the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: TACE combined with iodine-125 seed implantation for the treatment of HCC with PVTT can effectively control the progression of PVTT and intrahepatic lesions and improve the prognosis of patients.

[Research advances in the role of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in primary liver cancer].

The Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway, which has been confirmed to play an important role in organ volume control, stem cell function, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis. Recent research findings show that the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway is closely associated with the development and progression of primary liver cancer, and inhibition of the activity of this pathway may be a new method for the treatment of liver cancer. This article reviews the research advances in the role of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in primary liver cancer.

CT and ultrasound features of basal cell adenoma of the parotid gland: a report of 22 cases with pathologic correlation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Parotid gland BCA is a rare benign tumor. Only a few studies describing the imaging features of BCA have been published. This study investigated CT and sonography characteristics of BCA of the parotid gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographics of patients with BCA were evaluated, and lesion characteristics of CT (n = 22) and sonography (n = 20) were reviewed. These cases were grouped into 3 types: type 1 tumors, located at the superficial region of superficial lobe of the parotid gland; type 2 tumors, located at the deeper region of superficial lobe; and type 3 tumors, located in the deep lobe. Imaging findings were correlated with pathology. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (73%) were female and 6 (27%) were male. The mean age was 51.5 years (SD 10.2; range 32-73). The size of the tumors was less than 30 mm. The sizes of type 1, type 2, and type 3 tumors were 11.4 ± 3.29 mm, 19.3 ± 5.44 mm, and 26 ± 3.6 mm, respectively. The CT attenuation increase was 64.5 ± 19 HU on contrast CT. The type 1 tumors were solid (11/11), showed homogeneous or slightly heterogeneous enhancement on CT, and were homogeneously or slightly heterogeneously hypoechoic on sonography. Cystic changes tended to occur in type 2 (7/8) or type 3 (2/3) tumors, which showed obvious heterogeneous attenuation on CT and anechoic on sonography. CONCLUSIONS: The BCA tends to be small and shows early intense enhancement. The solid tumor is common in the superficial region of the parotid gland, and cystic lesions occur mostly in the deeper parts of the superficial lobe or in the deep lobe.