MicroRNA-145 regulates the proliferation of the human gastric cancer cells by targeting tuftelin 1 (TUFT1).

MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has been shown to regulate the development of different human cancer. However, the role of miR-145 via modulation of tuftelin 1 (TUFT1) expression has not been studied in gastric cancer. TUFT1The results showed that gastric cancer tissues and cell lines exhibit significant (P<0.05) downregulation of miR-145. Overexpression of miR-145 significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the viability and colony formation of the MGC-803 gastric cancer cells. Annexin V/PI staining revealed that miR-145 exerts its tumor-suppressive effects via induction of apoptosis. The apoptotic cell percentage increased from 5.75% in negative control to 22.95% in miR-145 overexpressing MG-803 cells. This was also accompanied by upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 expression. TargetScan analysis and the dual luciferase assay revealed TUFT1 as the functional target of miR-145. The expression of TUFT1 was significantly (P<0.05) upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. However, overexpression of miR-145 causes inhibition of the TUFT1 expression. Silencing of TUFT1 mimicked the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-145. However, tuftelin 1 overexpression attenuated the tumor-suppressive effect of miR-145 in MGC-803 gastric cancer cells. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that miR-145 targets TUFT1 at translational level to exert its tumor suppressive effects in gastric cancer.

High expression of CD39 in gastric cancer reduces patient outcome following radical resection.

Ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (ENTPD1), also known as cluster of differentiation (CD)39, is the rate-limiting enzyme in the generation of immunosuppressive adenosine and is important in tumor progression. The present study evaluated the expression of CD39+ and CD39+ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in gastric cancer (GC), and determined their prognostic roles in patients with GC following radical resection. It was observed that CD39 was expressed at significantly higher rates in tumor tissues as compared with paired peritumoral tissues. Overexpression of tumor CD39 was correlated with overall survival (OS). Furthermore, CD39 expression in GC tissues exhibited a prognostic role in OS. The CD39+ FoxP3+/FoxP3+ ratio in tumor tissues was higher than that in paired peritumoral tissues, and CD39+ FoxP3+ Treg cells were a better prognostic indicator than FoxP3+ Treg cells for OS. Collectively, our study indicates that overexpression of CD39 in GC is a predictor of poor outcome for GC patients following radical resection. CD39+ FoxP3+ Treg cells are a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

The Value of Performing Early Non-enhanced CT in Developing Strategies for Treating Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the value of early abdominal non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) in developing strategies for treating acute gallstone pancreatitis (AGP). METHODS: AGP patients underwent NECT within 48 h after symptom onset to determine the presence of peripancreatic fluid collection, gallstones, and common bile duct stones. Patients with mild AGP who had neither organ failure by clinical data nor peripancreatic fluid collection by NECT (classified as grade A, B, or C based on the Balthazar CT grading system) were randomized to undergo an early laparoscopic cholecystomy (ELC; LC performed within 7 days after a pancreatitis attack, without waiting for symptom resolution) or late laparoscopic cholecystomy (LLC; LC performed ≥ 7 days following an attack, with the patient being completely free of AGP symptoms). RESULTS: The study enrolled 102 patients with mild AGP defined by clinical data and NECT. NECT was 89.2 % and 87.8 % accurate in detecting gallbladder stones and CBD stones, respectively. Totals of 49 and 53 patients were assigned to an ELC and LLC group, respectively. All patients in both groups were cured, no LC-related complications occurred, and no case of AGP increased in severity following LC. The mean lengths of hospital stay and LC operation time were significantly shorter in the ELC group than the LLC group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NECT can accurately detect peripancreatic fluid collection and biliary obstructions; thus, early abdominal NECT is valuable when developing strategies for treating AGP. Patients with mild AGP without organ failure or peripancreatic fluid collection can safely undergo ELC without waiting for complete resolution of their pancreatitis.

Anticancer effect of salidroside on colon cancer through inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Salidroside is considered to have anti-tumor properties. We investigate its effects on colon carcinoma SW1116 cells. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8. Propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to determine the cell cycle by flow cytometry. The migration and invasion were detected by Transwell. Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3 signal related proteins. As the result, high concentrations of salidroside (10, 20. 50 µg/ml) significantly inhibited proliferation of SW1116 cells in a parallelly, cell cycle arrest was increased at the G0/G1 phase after salidroside treatment. Furthermore, salidroside inhibited migration and invasion of SW1116 cells. Salidroside treatment decreased proteins expression of phosphorylation levels in JAK2/STAT3 signaling, while MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins levels were decreased and protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 were down-regulated. In Conclusion, salidroside inhibited proliferation, decreased the migration and invasion of SW1116 cells in JAK2/STAT3-dependent pathway, the specific mechanisms need further study.

Overexpression of CD39 and high tumoral CD39⁺/CD8⁺ ratio are associated with adverse prognosis in resectable gastric cancer.

CD39/ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (ENTPD1) is a cell surface-located, rate-limiting enzyme in the generation of adenosine, and plays a crucial role in tumor development. We examined co-expression of CD39 and CD8in gastric cancer (GC) and showed that the expression of CD39 and CD8 increased significantly in tumor tissues compared to paired peritumor tissues. The expression of tumoral CD39 (tCD39), but not tumoral CD8 (tCD8), was related to overall survival. Furthermore, the CD39(+)/CD8(+) ratio was associated with poor prognosis in resected GC patients. Taken together, our data indicate that highCD39 expression and high tCD39(+)/CD8(+) ratio in GC is a predictor of poor prognosis for GC patients after radical resection. Moreover, CD39 could serve as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

Effects of Danshen injection on the malignant obstructive jaundice in the SD rat model.

To observe the effects of Danshen on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in the SD rats, a model of malignant obstructive jaundice was established by inoculation of transplanted tumor into the hepatic portal with the walker-256 hepatocarcinoma line, which resulted in the obstruction by the infiltration and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. SD rats were divided into 4 groups: the rats were treated by 0.9 % NS (n=24, control group), inosine+vitamin C (n=40, InV group), Danshen (n=40, DS group) and 5-FU (n=40, 5-FU group), respectively. The liver function, morphological changes and the expressions of PCNA, VEGF and ICAM-1 in carcinoma foci, peri-carcinoma tissues, adjacent lobe (left-internal lobe) and lung tissues were observed after the treatment with the 4 agents. Our results showed that the protective effect of Danshen on liver function was significantly better than that of NS and 5-FU (P<0.01). No significant difference in protective effect was observed between DS group and InV group (P>0.05). Danshen also provided protective effect on the morphological damage of liver caused by obstructive jaundice. The rates of carcinoma-inhibition and metastasis inhibition were significantly higher than those of NS and inosine+vitamin C (P<0.01). No significant difference in this regard existed between DS group and 5-FU group (P>0.05). The expressions of PCNA,VEGF and ICAM-1 PCNA, VEGF and ICAM-1 in carcinoma foci, peri-carcinoma tissues, adjacent lobe (left-internal lobe) and lung tissues were lower than those in control group and InV group, with the differences being significant (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between DS group and 5-FU group in the expression levels of PCNA and VEGF (P>0.05) but ICAM-1 (P<0.05). It is concluded that Danshen injection not only has protective effects on liver injury caused by obstructive jaundice, but can inhibit the proliferation and growth of hepatocarcinoma, interfere with the vascularization of tumors, prevent recurrence and metastasis of hepatocarcinoma.