Long non­coding RNA fer­1­like family member 4 serves as a tumor suppressor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells via regulating the AKT/ERK signaling pathway.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common type of malignant tumor of the head and neck. An increasing number of studies have illustrated that long non­coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve an important role in the occurrence and development of LSCC. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression changes and mechanism of lncRNA fer­1­like family member 4 (FER1L4) in the progression of LSCC. The expression levels of FER1L4 in LSCC cell lines (AMC­HN­8, Tu 686, M4E and M2E) and a normal cell line (HBE135­E6E7) were analyzed using reverse transcription­quantitative PCR. The FER1L4 overexpression plasmid (plasmid­FER1L4) was subsequently transfected into Tu 686 cells to upregulate the expression levels of FER1L4. Cell viability was detected using a Cell Counting Kit­8 assay, cell proliferation was analyzed using a colony formation assay, apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry, and cell migration and invasion were determined using wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. In addition, the plasmid­FER1L4 cells were also treated with insulin­like growth factor 1 (IGF­1) to determine the effect of FER1L4 on the AKT/ERK signaling pathway, and the effect of the plasmid­FER1L4 on the expression levels of AKT/ERK signaling pathway­related proteins were analyzed using western blotting. The results of the present study revealed that FER1L4 expression levels were downregulated in AMC­HN­8 and Tu 686 cells. Notably, FER1L overexpression significantly reduced the cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of LSCC cells, while promoting apoptosis. Meanwhile, the plasmid­FER1L4 also significantly suppressed the phosphorylation levels of AKT and ERK. Further studies indicated that the aforementioned changes could be reversed by IGF­1, indicating FER1L4 may regulate the progression of LSCC cells by inhibiting the AKT/ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present study provided a potential novel direction for the treatment of LSCC in the future and suggested that FER1L4 may be a new target in this field.

Association between TERT gene polymorphisms and acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility in a Chinese population: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene polymorphisms and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) susceptibility in a Chinese Han population. METHODS: A total of 102 AML patients and 108 healthy controls were enrolled in this case-control study. TERT gene rs2853669 and rs2736100 polymorphisms were genotyped via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Chi-square test was applied to compare polymorphism distributions between case and control groups. The strength of the association between TERT gene polymorphisms and AML susceptibility was evaluated utilizing odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: CC genotype and C allele of rs2736100 polymorphism were more frequent in AML patients (P < 0.05), and individuals carrying CC genotype showed higher risk of suffering from AML (OR = 2.632, 95% CI 1.129-6.133). But for rs2853669 polymorphism, no significant differences were detected in either genotype or allele distributions between groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested a positive association between TERT gene rs2736100 polymorphism and AML susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

Overexpression of BPIFB1 promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation via the MEK/ERK signal pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a respiratory malignant epithelial carcinoma. Research has indicated that bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold-containing protein B1 (BPIFB1), mostly secreted by nasopharyngeal epithelia, is dysregulated in patients with NPC. This study aimed to explore the effects of BPIFB1 inviability, proliferation, apoptosis and its molecular mechanism. To confirm the effects of BPIFB1 on NPC cells, BPIFB1 was overexpressed or silenced in NPC-KT cells after being transfected with BPIFB1 or siBPIFB1 plasmids. The results showed that BPIFB1 overexpression could induce apoptosis and DNA damage in NPC-KT cells, and silenced BPIFB1 had the opposite effects. BPIFB1 overexpression can inhibit the cell cycle by being arrested at the G0/G1 phase and by regulating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. MEK inhibitor U0126 was used to confirm the effects of BPIFB1 on the MEK/ERK pathway, and U0126 can inverse the effects of siBPIFB1. Additionally, BPIFB1 can enhance the anti-proliferative effect of chemotherapy drugs on NPC-KT cells. All the results indicated that BPIFB1 could be a potential target for the treatment of NPC.

Association of ERCC2 Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to detect the association between ERCC excision repair 2, TFIIH core complex helicase subunit (ERCC2) gene polymorphisms and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) susceptibility. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study used a case-control design. ERCC2 gene rs1799793 (Asp312Asn) and rs13181 (Lys751Gln) polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) both in DLBCL patients and healthy controls. The association between ERCC2 gene polymorphisms and DLBCL risk was assessed by χ² test. Odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to address the association strength. Subgroup analyses were also performed to investigate the genetic effects of ERCC2 polymorphisms on clinical characteristics of DLBCL patients. RESULTS A significant association was discovered between the rs1799793 A allele and increased DLBCL risk (P=0.031, OR=1.928, 95% CI=1.052-3.534). The C allele of rs13181 was obviously associated with elevated DLBCL susceptibility (P=0.047, OR=1.820, 95% CI=1.002-3.305). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that rs1799793 and rs13181 polymorphisms had no relationship with serum lactate dehydrogenase level, nidus number, B-symptoms, Ann Arbor stages, or immunological types in DLBCL cases (P>0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS Minor allele carriers of ERCC2 gene rs1799793 (Asp312Asn) and rs13181 (Lys751Gln) polymorphisms had higher susceptibility to DLBCL.

Decreased calpain 6 expression is associated with tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in HNSCC.

Calpains are a family of intracellular cysteine proteases involved in various biological processes. Previously, the family was identified to have abnormal expression in several types of malignant tumor. Calpain 6 was less well known; however, it was recently identified to be involved in the carcinogenesis of certain types of malignant tumor. However, the expression of calpain 6 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. A total of six datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was analyzed and an association between calpain 6 expression levels and HNSCC was identified, with the expression of calpain 6 observed to be significantly decreased in HNSCC (P<0.01). However, the expression of calpain 6 may vary between distinct tumor stages of HNSCC. Furthermore, calpain 6 expression was positively associated with the survival rate in patients with HNSCC (P<0.05), with increased expression of calpain 6 associated with an improved survival outcome. Calpain 6 expression was analyzed using an HNSCC tissue microarray and these results were consistent with the statistical analysis of the bioinformatics data from the GEO, indicating that calpain 6 may be a tumor suppressor protein in HNSCC.

[Clinical analysis on 18 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of nasal cavity and sinuses].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment effect of adenoid cystic carcinoma in nasal cavity and sinuses. METHOD: Sixteen of all 18 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of nasal cavity and sinuses were performed operation and radiotherapy. Other 2 cases were performed radiotherapy. RESULT: Eighteen cases of patients were followed up for 5 years. Eight patients with early stage had no death. Five in 10 cases of advanced patients died, one case was out of following-up. In 11 of high differentiation group, 1 case died. In 7 of lower differentiation group, 4 cases died, 1 case lost. CONCLUSION: Adenoid cystic carcinomas of nasal cavity and sinuses are distinct clinicopathological category and the clinical symptoms are noncharacteristic. Paying attention to the differential diagnosis and promoting related knowledge can help to avoid misdiagnosis. The prognosis is related to pathological category and clinical stage. High stage and high invasion of adenoid cystic carcinoma lead to poor prognosis.

[Clinical analysis on 14 cases with malignant melanoma in nasal cavity and sinus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of treatment on malignant melanoma in nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. METHOD: Fourteen patients with malignant melanoma in nasal cavity and paranasal sinus were retrospectively analyzed from 1995 to 2002, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up data. RESULT: Thirteen patients were followed up, the survival rates of 3 and 5 years were 42.9% and 21.4% respectively. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal malignant melanoma has an aggressive behavior and easy recurrence. Early diagnosis, radical operation and postoperative radiotherapy could improve the survival rate.

[Comparing between CAUP and UPPP in treatment of OSAHS].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prospective effect of CAUP and applying midline partial glossectomy with UPPP in the treatment of OSAHS. METHOD: One hundred OSAHS patients were distributed into two groups averagely. The patients of the two groups had CAUP and midline partial glossectomy respectively. All patients were followed-up 6 months and 12 months after operation and carried out using PSG every time. RESULT: Therapeutic effect was evaluated by standard of Hangzhou (2002). In general, in 6 months, curative effect was excellent in 41 patients of the group of CAUP, good in 8 patients with effect, bed effect in 1 patients; in 12 months, it was excellent in 28 patients, good in 13 patients, bed in 9 patients. In 6 months, the curative effect the other group were excellent in 44 patients, good in 5 patients, bed in 1 patients; In 12 months, it was excellent in 43 patients , good in 6 patients, bed in 1 patients. In 6 month, the results showed that the effect of the two methods was similar (P > 0.05), but in 12 months the effect of group of CAUP was better than the other obviously (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This operation could enlarge the narrow area of palatopharyngeal cavity effectively and decrease postoperative complications. It's a safe effective and acceptable surgical procedure.