Wilms' Tumor 1-Associating Protein Promotes Nonsmall-Cell Lung Cancer Through the Expression of Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 5.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the functional roles and molecular mechanism of Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) in the tumorigenesis of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Retrospective analysis was used. Tumor tissues and surrounding nontumor tissues of 150 patients with NSCLS who were surgically resected in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2016 to January 2018 were selected. The expression of WTAP in NSCLC tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathologic parameters were then subjected to univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis in purpose of uncovering the independent risk factors for overall survival time. MTS (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-zyl]-5-[3-carboxymethoxyphenyl]-2-[4-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazoliuzolium, inner salt) assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assays were performed to estimate cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Meanwhile, the relationship between WTAP and the cell migration and invasion marker-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR. WTAP expression was knocked-down in cell lines by shRNA, and RNA-Seq was performed to investigate the pathways regulated by WTAP. RESULTS: In NSCLC patients, WTAP was highly expressed in tumor tissues and the higher expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P<0.01). Compared with the control group in vitro, the overexpression of WTAP could significantly promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (P<0.01), while knock-down WTAP significantly reduces the above effects (P<0.01). In a mouse orthotopic implantation model, higher WTAP abundance could significantly promote tumor enlargement compared with the control group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the knock-down of WTAP significantly inhibit the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) in cell lines (P<0.01). Besides, in NSCLC, knocked-down CEACAM5 significantly reduced the impact of WTAP on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that high expression of WTAP was associated with poor clinical outcomes. CEACAM5 may play a synergistic role with WTAP to jointly promote NSCLC progression by enhancing cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Next-generation sequencing facilitates differentiating between multiple primary lung cancer and intrapulmonary metastasis: a case series.

BACKGROUND: In lung cancer management, differential diagnosis between multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) and intrapulmonary metastasis (IMP) is a critical point that is of direct therapeutic and clinical importance. However, this process often suffers from absence of a gold standard, resulting in equivocal cases. Herein, we present a series of three cases, in which genomic alteration patterns revealed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) facilitated the differential diagnosis between MPLC and IMP. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1 was a 57-year-old female with two separate lesions in the upper lobe and the lower lobe of left lung, which were both histopathologically determined as T2aN0M0 adenocarcinomas. NGS identified an EGFR L858R in one lesion and an EGFR 20 exon insertion in the other one, suggestive of double primary malignancies. The patient underwent wedge resections and received an adjuvant treatment of icotinib and chemotherapy. She had a disease-free survival (DFS) of 19 months and counting. Case 2 was a 55-year-old female with multiple small lesions in both lungs. Histopathological examinations of resected lesions from right upper lobe revealed three subtypes: atypical adenomatous hyperplasia of alveolar epithelium, adenocarcinomas in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. NGS identified two different BRAF driver mutations G466E and V600_K601delinsE in two lesions of adenocarcinoma in situ, and a BRAF K601E in a lesion of minimally invasive adenocarcinoma. Case 3, a 68-year-old male, had the right upper lobe lesion histophathologically classified as a stage T3NxM0 mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma and the left upper lobe lesion as a stage T1aN0M0 adenocarcinoma. NGS performed with different loci of surgical tissues revealed a rare sensitizing EGFR mutation G719A shared by the right upper lobe lesion and lymph node, and two EGFR mutations L861Q and G719S in left upper lobe lesion. The patient received icotinib treatment postoperatively and achieved a stable disease with a progression-free survival of 5 months. CONCLUSION: Our cases provide evidence for utility of NGS in facilitating diagnosis and treatment decisions.

99mTc-labeled HAb18 McAb Fab fragment for radioimmunoimaging in nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM:To establish a method of labeling anti-hepatoma McAb (HAb18) Fab fragment modifier with (99m)Tc.METHODS:HAb18 Fab was modified with 2-iminotholane and labeled with (99m)Tc by transchelation from (99m)Tc GH.Labeling yield, radiochemical purity and immunoreactivity were determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC-SG), paper chromatography (PC), gel chromatography (GC) and cell binding assay, respectively. The nude mice bearing human hepatoma were used for radioimmunoimaging (RII).RESULTS:A radiolabeling yield of 50%-80% was obtained, and immunoreactivity (IR) was 30%-40%. Radioimaging results showed that (99m)Tc-HAb18 McAb Fab fragment was concentrated in the tumor 4-8 hours after injection,and the maximum concentration was seen in 12-24 hours,and the T/NT value was 5.18 and 7.48 at 6h and 8h after the injection.CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-HAb18 McAb Fab fragment could be specifically localized in the tumor of nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma within 24 hours and this method might be effectively used for labeling McAb Fab fragment with (99m)Tc.