Ciliated Muconodular Papillary Tumors of the Lung: Distinct Molecular Features of an Insidious Tumor.

INTRODUCTION: Ciliated muconodular papillary tumors (CMPTs) are rare special peripheral pulmonary nodule composed of different cell proportions, characterized by papillary structures and significant alveolar mucus. Because of their rarity, underrecognized processes, the full range clinical course and histogenesis of CMPTs remains uncertain. METHODS: Molecular features of 5 CMPTs cases (one case with mucinous adenocarcinoma simultaneously) were observed by whole exon gene detection. The histological features of CMPTs and the development trends of three major constituent cells were studied by immunohistochemistry and PCR. RESULTS: NGS revealed 77 gene mutations in the patient's tumor tissue and 31 mutations in the border tissue. TMB of CMPT tends to TMB of cancer tissues, and both are higher than normal tissues, CMPT share the same phylogenetic tree with cancer tissues. Moreover, PDL1, B7H3, and B7H4 were overexpressed in high columnar cells and eosinophilic ciliated cells of CMPT, tends to cancer tissues, while LAG3 and siglec15 were not found in CMPT. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of driver gene mutations in CMPTs, similar TMB and phylogenetic tree with cancer tissues indicate their malignant potential. Distinct molecular and immune check point features of each component support the notion that ciliated columnar cells in CMPT are insidious with immune escape.

Association of p16 as Prognostic Factors for Oropharyngeal Cancer: Evaluation of p16 in 1470 Patients for a 16 Year Study in Northeast China.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiological risk factor for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC). Our study investigates the prevalence, prognostic, and clinicopathologic features of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in Northeast China and elucidates the involvement of p16 in the tumorigenesis and progression of OPSCC. Specimens from 1470 OPSCC patients collected from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed using the status of HPV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and p16 immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of p16 was observed in 81 (5.51%) of the 1470 cases, and HPV positive was present in 78 cases (5.31%) of the 1470 cases. HPV positive and p16 overexpression have a good concordance. However, we found that the etiological fraction of HPV in cancers of the OPSCCs was obviously lower in Northeast China than other cohorts previously reported. Interestingly, nearly 89% of patients with p16 expression were smokers, and nearly 70% of patients with p16 expression had a history of alcohol. Our study also demonstrates that p16 expression is significantly associated with early stage primary OPSCCs and the patients with p16 expression tend to show better survival following surgery and radiotherapy.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Relationship Between RAS and RAF Mutations and MSI Status of Colorectal Cancer in Northeastern China.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is mainly caused by chromosomal instability (CIN) and microsatellite instability (MSI). The RAS and RAF genes are essential components of the CIN pathway, and several studies have found that RAS and RAF mutations are associated with MSI status in CRC. Here, we examined these three factors in CRC in Northeast China and aimed to reveal new details of the relationship between these mutations and MSI status. METHODS: This study involved 290 patients with CRC who had RAS or RAF gene mutation detected using fluorescence-based allele-specific polymerase chain reaction or Sanger sequencing. The majority of the identified patients were found to harbor MSI (MSI status). Accurate molecular detection was carried out using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue or blood samples. RESULTS: The rates of RAS and RAF mutations were 58.5% and 4.1%, respectively. The prevalence of RAS mutation in CRC was clearly higher and that of RAF mutation was lower in Northeast China compared with previously reported cohorts in other locations. High MSI level (MSI-H status) was more complex, at around 10%. This was consistent with previous data from China. However, compared with data reported from other continents, MSI-H was higher than that of Japan or South Korea in Asia, and lower than that of Europe or the United States. CONCLUSION: RAS/RAF mutations and MSI status in CRC are closely associated with tumor location and ethnicity. Further studies investigating the relationship between these three factors can help in the development of treatment strategies for patients with CRC.

Long non-coding RNA RP11-552M11.4 promotes cells proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting BRCA2 in ovarian cancer.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RP11-552M11.4 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion as well as its targeting genes in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. LncRNA RP11-552M11.4 expression was detected in 67 tumor tissues and paired adjacent tissues obtained from EOC patients. lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 mimic/inhibitor plasmids were transferred into ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3, A-2780) and normal ovarian epithelial cells (IOSE80 cells). In addition, rescue experiment was carried out by transferring BRCA2 inhibitor&lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 inhibitor plasmids into SKOV3 and A-2780 cells. qPCR, western blot, CKK-8, Annexin V/propidium iodide (AV/PI), wound-healing and Matrigel invasion assays were carried out to detect RNA expression, protein expression, cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, respectively. LncRNA RP11-552M11.4 expression was elevated in tumor tissues compared with paired adjacent tissues and correlated with higher pathological grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and worse overall survival in EOC patients. LncRNA RP11-552M11.4 promoted SKOV3 cell proliferation, migration and invasion whereas it inhibited apoptosis. Rescue experiment and luciferase reporter assay showed that lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 regulated SKOV3 cells functions through binding BRCA2. Further experiments in A-2780 cells also validated that lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 induced A-2780 cell proliferation while repressing apoptosis by targeting BRCA2. In addition, upregulation of lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 increased IOSE80 cell proliferation, migration and invasion while decreasing apoptosis. In conclusion, lncRNA RP11-552M11.4 correlates with worse prognosis, and promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibits cell apoptosis by down-regulating BRCA2 in EOC.

Decreased expression of follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein correlates with increased immunoglobulin A production in the tonsils of individuals with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by a qualitative abnormality of IgA in the circulation and IgA deposition in the renal mesangium. Recent research has indicated that pathogenic IgA may originate from affected tonsils. Follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein (FDC-SP), a small novel secretory protein that may regulate the induction of B-cell responses, has been suggested to control IgA production. Given this background, this study investigated the expression of FDC-SP and its correlation with IgA production in the tonsils of IgAN patients. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to compare the expression of FDC-SP in the tonsils of IgAN patients with tonsillitis and of non-IgAN patients with chronic tonsillitis. The location of FDC-SP in tonsillar tissue was confirmed by double immunofluorescence. We found that FDC-SP expression significantly decreased and was correlated negatively with enhanced IgA production in the tonsils of IgAN patients. FDC-SP secreted by follicular dendritic cells may act on germinal center B cells and participate in the modulation of IgA generation in the tonsils. Our study demonstrated that FDC-SP may be involved in IgA production in the tonsils of IgAN patients, making this protein an attractive candidate immunomodulator, and highlighting a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention in IgAN.