Upregulation of long noncoding RNA MALAT1 in papillary thyroid cancer and its diagnostic value.

AIM: To investigate the expression level of lncRNA MALAT1 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and evaluate its clinical diagnostic value as a biomarker in PTC. METHODS: MALAT1 lncRNA expression in tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. The diagnostic value of MALAT1 as a biomarker in PTC was evaluated with receiver operating characteristics. RESULTS: MALAT1 expression was upregulated in PTC tissues compared with paired corresponding noncancerous tissues. We also found that upregulated MALAT1 expression was correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastases (p = 0.011) and WHO disease stage. The area under the curve was 0.6320, 0.7192, 0.7089 and 0.7000 for PTC, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension and WHO disease stage prediction, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggests that MALAT1 may exert oncogenic function in PTC and may be a potential diagnostic marker for this cancer.

Effect of pyruvate kinase M2-regulating aerobic glycolysis on chemotherapy resistance of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) on chemotherapy resistance of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (ER BC) by regulating aerobic glycolysis. The expression of PKM2 in ER BC MCF-7 cells, T47D cells and MCF-7/ADR cells (which are subject to adriamycin/ADR induction) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. MCF-7/ADR (M/A) cells were grouped into blank group (M/A), negative group (M/A+NC), low expression of PKM2 group (M/A+si-PKM2 group), overexpression of PKM2 group (M/A+PKM2 group) and glycolysis inhibition group (M/A+PKM2+2-DG group). Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were applied to measure the expressions of PKM2, multidrug resistance, and glutathione-S-transferase π. Glucose and lactic acid kit was used to detect the amount of glucose uptake and lactic production. Cell variability, clone formation ability, and cell apoptosis were respectively measured by MTT, clone formation assay, and flow cytometry. Transwell assay and scratch assay were applied for cell invasion and migration ability. By overexpressing PKM2 in MCF-7 and T47D cells and using 2-DG, the effect on sensitivity of adriamycin amycin was explored. MCF-7/ADR cells have both elevated mRNA and protein expressions of PKM2 when compared with MCF-7 cells (both P<0.05). The cell activity of the M/A+si-PKM2+ADR group was notably lower than that in the M/A+ADR group and M/A+NC+ADR group (both P<0.05). In the M/A+si-PKM2 group, expressions of PKM2, multidrug resistance, and glutathione-S-transferase π, along with the amount of glucose uptake and lactic production, as well as cell variability, clone formation ability, and cell invasion and migration ability were inhibited, whereas cell apoptosis was increased in comparison with the M/A group and M/A+NC group (all P<0.05). On comparing with both the M/A group and the M/A+NC group, the M/A+si-PKM2 group displayed contrary tendency with the M/A+PKM2 group. The M/A+PKM2+2-DG group had elevated PKM2 expression compared with the M/A group and the M/A+NC group (all P<0.05). In MCF-7 and T47D cells with overexpression of PKM2, the sensitivity to adriamycin amycin, and cell apoptosis were suppressed, whereas the clone formation, invasion, and migration ability were enhanced. After 2-DG, the sensitivity on MCF-7 and T47D cells was enhanced while clone formation, invasion, migration and cell apoptosis rate were decreased (all P<0.05). PKM2 enhances chemotherapy resistance on ER BC by promoting aerobic glycolysis.

[Experimental study of NK4 gene targeted therapy mediated by human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter for colon cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate anti-tumor effect of the recombined adenovirus encoding NK4 gene regulated by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (HTERT) promoter (Ad HTERTp-NK4) on human colon cancer. METHODS: Colon cell line HCT116 was infected with Ad HTERTp-NK4. NK4 expression was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. The cell-growth inhibition rate and the invasive capacity of cells were evaluated by MTT method and reconstituted basement membrane invasion assay. The model of subcutaneous tumor was generated by injection of HCT116 cells into the dorsum of nude mice. Ad HTERTp-NK4 was injected around the tumor tissues, and tumor growth was observed. RESULTS: NK4 gene was highly expressed in infected HCT116 cells. The cell growth inhibition rate and the invasive inhibition rate in Ad HTERTp-NK4 cells were 47.14% and 40.63% respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control cells (2.75% and 2.31%, P<0.05). Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in mice injected with Ad HTERTp-NK4, and the tumor growth inhibition rate was 47.3%, which was significantly higher than that in the controls (4.6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ad HTERTp-NK4 can inhibit tumor growth and decrease the invasive capacity of tumor cells, which makes it an ideal candidate for new gene therapy for colon carcinoma.

[Impact of fragile histidine triad gene transfection on the proliferation and apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cell].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene transfection on human colorectal cancer cell line SW480 through up-regulation of caspase-8 expression. METHODS: The eukaryotic expression plasmid containing FHIT, pRc/CMV2-FHIT was prepared and purified, and then identified by restrictive enzyme digestion. pRc/CMV2-FHIT was transfected into SW480 cells, and positive cell clones (SW480-FHIT, study group) were selected and amplified. Empty plasmid-transfected SW480 cells(SW480-pRc/CMV2, negative control) and normal SW480 cells (bland control) were used as control. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to test the changes in the proliferation of SW480 cells. Cell-cycle kinetics and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The changes of pro-caspase-8, caspase-8 mRNA and caspase-8 relative activity were analyzed by Western blot, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and colorimetric assay with pan labeled substrate, respectively. RESULTS: At 96 hours after transfection, cell inhibition rates of the study group and the negative control group were 71.7% and 16.9%. G0/G1 ratio was (63.2±3.5)% and (50.6±2.1)%, optical density of caspase-8 mRNA band 107 and 41, and relative activity of caspase-8 0.43 and 0.25, respectively. All the differences above were statistically significant (P<0.05). When FHIT inhibitor was added, the relative activity of caspase-8 decreased to 0.22, comparable to that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: FHIT gene transfection can significantly inhibit the proliferation and induce G0/G1 arrest in human colon cancer cell line SW480. The mechanism is related to the up-regulation of caspase-8 expression.