Circular RNA circTNIK promotes tumor progression and metastasis in gastric cancer by regulating ZEB2.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tumor progression and distant metastasis are the main causes of deaths in gastric cancer. Growing evidence revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical role in the pathology of malignant disease, the role of circRNAs in gastric cancer progression and metastasis is still unknown. METHODS: Differentially expressed circRNAs was identified by circRNA microarray and validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase reaction. The biological function of circTNIK was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments after ectopic expression or siRNA mediated knockdown of circTNIK. The interaction between circTNIK and miR-138-5p was determined by luciferase activity assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence in situ hybridization assays. RESULTS: circTNIK rather than linear TINK mRNA was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues, cell lines compared with normal controls. Higher circTNIK expression was correlated with aggressive tumor phenotypes and poor overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Ectopic circTNIK expression promoted cell proliferation, invasion, tumorigenesis, and metastasis in gastric cancer cells whereas knockdown of circTNIK inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, tumorigenesis, and metastasis in gastric cancer cells. Importantly, circTNIK functions as a molecular sponge for miR-138-5p to regulate the expression of ZEB2. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study demonstrates how circTNIK regulates gastric cancer progression and metastasis by sponging miR-138-5p to modulate the expression of ZEB2. CircTNIK might be used as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer patients.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Radiopaque Polycarbonate.

Polymeric materials implanted in the human body are usually invisible under X-ray, and the mixing of heavy metal salts into polymeric materials by physical compounding often poses compatibility problems. A new iodine-containing cyclic carbonate monomer, 4-iodo-N-(2-oxo-1,3-dioxan-5-yl)benzamide (IBTMC), is synthesized, which has a degradable carbonate group as its basic structural unit and iodine atoms attached to the side chain in the form of covalent bonds. The ring-opening polymerization of IBTMC is achieved at room temperature under the catalysis of the solid superbase 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD). The structure and X-ray developing ability of the synthesized polycarbonate are characterized by 1 H-NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT). The iodine atoms remain bound to the polymer as covalent bonds after a series of reactions and exhibit a high level of X-ray opacity. In vitro degradation experiments of the polymer prove that the polymer is degradable.

The circular RNA circDLG1 promotes gastric cancer progression and anti-PD-1 resistance through the regulation of CXCL12 by sponging miR-141-3p.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) plays an important role in the development of gastric cancer; thus, revealing the biological and molecular mechanisms of abnormally expressed circRNAs is critical for identifying novel therapeutic targets in gastric cancer. METHODS: A circRNA microarray was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs between primary and distant metastatic tissues and between gastric cancer tissues sensitive or resistant to anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) therapy. The expression of circRNA discs large homolog 1 (DLG1) was determined in a larger cohort of primary and distant metastatic gastric cancer tissues. The role of circDLG1 in gastric cancer progression was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro, and the effect of circDLG1 on the antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 was evaluated in vivo. The interaction between circDLG1 and miR-141-3p was assessed by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays. RESULTS: circDLG1 was significantly upregulated in distant metastatic lesions and gastric cancer tissues resistant to anti-PD-1 therapy and was associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and adverse prognosis in gastric cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Ectopic circDLG1 expression promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune evasion of gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, circDLG1 interacted with miR-141-3p and acted as a miRNA sponge to increase the expression of CXCL12, which promoted gastric cancer progression and resistance to anti-PD-1-based therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings demonstrate how circDLG1 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and immune evasion and provide a new perspective on the role of circRNAs during gastric cancer progression.

The predicting role of circulating tumor DNA landscape in gastric cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

A more common and noninvasive predicting biomarker for programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody remains to be explored. We assessed 46 patients with advanced gastric cancer who received PD-1 antibody immunotherapy and 425-genes next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing. Patients who had a > 25% decline in maximal somatic variant allelic frequency (maxVAF) had a longer progression free survival (PFS) and higher response rate than those who did not (7.3 months vs 3.6 months, p = 0.0011; 53.3% vs 13.3%, p = 0.06). The median PFS of patients with undetectable and detectable post-treatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was 7.4 months vs. 4.9 months (p = 0.025). Mutation status of TGFBR2, RHOA, and PREX2 in baseline ctDNA influenced the PFS of immunotherapy (p < 0.05). Patients with alterations in CEBPA, FGFR4, MET or KMT2B (p = 0.09) gene had greater likelihood of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ctDNA can serve as a potential biomarker of the response to immunotherapy in advanced gastric cancers, and its potential role in predicting irAEs worth further exploration.

PD-L1 expression in liver metastasis: its clinical significance and discordance with primary tumor in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients with liver metastases are poor, which may be related to a different tumor microenvironment in liver metastases from primary tumors. This study was aimed to analyze PD-L1 expression and the immune microenvironment status in liver metastases and compare the differences of PD-L1 expression between primary tumors and liver metastases of colorectal cancer. METHODS: 74 cases of pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer with liver metastasis underwent resection from our hospital were included. Tissue microarrays were used for the interpretation of PD-L1 expression, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) and CD8 density by immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the disparity between primary tumor and liver metastasis in PD-L1 expression, CD4 and CD8 density and analyzed the factors associated with obvious PD-L1 disparity. RESULTS: The expression of PD-L1 was positively related to the density of CD4 and CD8 in liver metastases. The expression of PD-L1 in liver metastases was higher than in primary tumors in certain subgroups, including patients with concurrent liver metastases (n = 63, p = 0.05), patients receiving concurrent resection of primary and metastatic tumors (n = 56, p = 0.04). The two subgroups generally reflected those without inconsistent external influences, such as treatment and temporal factors, between primary tumors and liver metastases. In these subgroups, the intrinsic differences of microenvironment between primary tumors and liver metastases could be identified. Furthermore, tumor differentiation [moderate vs. poor: OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.03-0.99, p = 0.05)] were demonstrated to be associated with obvious discordance of PD-L1 expression between primary tumors and liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of PD-L1 in liver metastases was higher than in primary tumors in subgroups, reflecting intrinsic microenvironment differences between primary and metastatic tumors. Obvious discordance of PD-L1 expression between primary tumor and liver metastasis was significantly related to the tumor differentiation.

Elemental analysis and imaging of sunscreen fingermarks by X-ray fluorescence.

Chemical composition in fingermarks could provide useful information for forensic studies and applications. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of analysis and imaging of fingermarks via elements by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) and commercial X-ray fluorescence (XRF). As a proof of concept, we chose four brands of sunscreens to make fingermarks on different substrates, including plastic film, glass, paper, and silicon wafer. We obtained an evident image of fingermarks via zinc and titanium by XRF methods. In addition, the ratios of element concentrations in sunscreen fingermarks were obtained, which were in accordance with the results obtained by acid digestion and ICP-OES analysis. In comparison, commercial XRF offers the most advantages in terms of non-destructive detection, easy accessibility, fast element images, and broad applicability. The possibility to acquire fingermark images simultaneously with element information opens up new avenues for forensic science. Graphical abstract.

Berberine Alleviates Oxidative Stress in Islets of Diabetic Mice by Inhibiting miR-106b Expression and Up-Regulating SIRT1.

Mounting studies have indicated the role of berberine, SIRT1, and oxidative stress in diabetes, respectively. However, few studies have demonstrated their correlation and regulation function in diabetes. Therefore, the protective effect of berberine in diabetic and the underlying core mechanism were investigated in the current study. Diabetic mice model in vivo were established. Mouse pancreatic beta-cell line NIT-1 cells were treated with 30 mM high glucose to induce diabetic condition in vitro. Serum biochemical parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) were detected. Oxidative stress indicators (MDA, SOD1), along with miR-106b and SIRT1 expression in islets and cells were also assessed. Direct targeting relationship between miR-106b and SIRT1 was discussed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Diabetic model in vivo and in vitro were both established successfully. The expression of serum biochemical parameters was increased, and oxidative stress parameters, and miR-106b, SIRT1 were abnormally expressed in diabetic mice and NIT-1 cells. Meanwhile, berberine could alleviate oxidative stress injury in diabetic progression. Through dual luciferase reporter gene assay, we found that SIRT1 was a target gene of miR-106b. In addition, miR-106b over-expression could reverse the protection of berberine in NIT-1 cells against from oxidative stress induced by high glucose. Berberine could attenuate oxidative stress of diabetic mice at least partly through miR-106b/SIRT1 pathway and affecting the function of islets, which might be beneficial in reducing the cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4349-4357, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Identification of microRNA-214 as a negative regulator of colorectal cancer liver metastasis by way of regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 expression.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the pathology of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis and investigate their underlying mechanisms. A total of 39 miRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed between 16 primary CRC tissues with liver metastases and 16 CRC tissues without liver metastases from 32 patients by Affymetric miRNA microarrays. A panel of eight miRNAs were confirmed to be significantly and differentially expressed between CRC tissues with and without liver metastases through quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in the 32 patients. In a validated cohort of 99 CRC patients (44 with and 55 without liver metastases), only miR-214 was validated to be significantly down-regulated in CRC with liver metastases, which was associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Ectopic expression of miR-214 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, tumor growth and liver metastasis in an in vivo xenograft mouse model, whereas miR-214 knockdown promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion in CRC cell lines. Further studies indicated that fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) was a potential target of miR-214. Restoring miR-214 expression in CRC cells decreased endogenous FGFR1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. FGFR1 knockdown mimicked the tumor suppressive effect of miR-214 on CRC cells, while reintroduction of FGFR1 abolished the tumor suppressive effect of miR-214 on CRC cells. Moreover, miR-214 expression levels were inversely correlated with FGFR1 in CRC patients. CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of miR-214 expression was correlated with increased FGFR1 expression levels, which may contribute to increased CRC liver metastasis. miR-214 may serve as a potential marker to predict survival, and the miR-214-FGFR1 axis may be a therapeutic target in CRC patients.

Circular RNA circNCOA3 promotes tumor progression and anti-PD-1 resistance in colorectal cancer.

Aim: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be involved in tumor progression, but their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) immune escape remains to be elucidated. Methods: circRNAs differentially expressed in responsive and resistant CRC tissues to programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody therapy were identified by microarray analysis. The clinical and pathological significance of circNCOA3 was validated in a separate cohort of CRC samples. The function of circNCOA3 was explored experimentally. RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase activity assays were conducted to identify downstream targets of circNCOA3. Results: The circNCOA3 was markedly overexpressed in CRC samples resistant to PD-1 blockade. circNCOA3 expression was significantly correlated with adverse tumor phenotypes and poor outcomes in CRC patients. Knockdown of circNCOA3 expression markedly suppressed the proliferative and invasive capability of CRC cells. Moreover, knockdown of circNCOA3 increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells while decreasing the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Knockdown of circNCOA3 inhibited tumor growth and increased the sensitivity to PD-1 antibody treatment in mouse tumor models. Further studies revealed that circNCOA3 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-203a-3p.1 to influence the level of CXCL1. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that circNCOA3 might be useful as a potential biomarker to predict the efficacy and prognosis of CRC patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy.

Exploring ALK fusion in colorectal cancer: a case series and comprehensive analysis.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion-positive colorectal cancer (CRC) is a rare and chemotherapy-refractory subtype that lacks established and effective treatment strategies. Additionally, the efficacy and safety of ALK inhibitors (ALKi) in CRC remain undetermined. Herein, we examined a series of ALK-positive CRC patients who underwent various lines of ALKi treatment. Notably, we detected an ALK 1196M resistance mutation in a CRC patient who received multiple lines of chemotherapy and ALKi treatment. Importantly, we found that Brigatinib and Lorlatinib demonstrated some efficacy in managing this patient, although the observed effectiveness was not as pronounced as in non-small cell lung cancer cases. Furthermore, based on our preliminary analyses, we surmise that ALK-positive CRC patients are likely to exhibit inner resistance to Cetuximab. Taken together, our findings have important implications for the treatment of ALK-positive CRC patients.

Overexpression of paxillin induced by miR-137 suppression promotes tumor progression and metastasis in colorectal cancer.

The deregulation of paxillin (PXN) has been involved in the progression and metastasis of different malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). miR-137 is frequently suppressed in CRC. PXN is predicted to be a direct target of miR-137 in CRC cells. On this basis, we hypothesized that overexpression of PXN induced by suppression of miR-137 may promote tumor progression and metastasis and predicts poor prognosis. We detected the expression of PXN and miR-137 in clinical tumor tissues by immunohistochemical analysis and real-time PCR, positive PXN staining was observed in 198 of the 247 (80.1%) cases, whereas no or weak PXN staining was observed in the adjacent non-cancerous area. Higher level of PXN messenger RNA (mRNA) and lower level of miR-137 was observed in cancer tissues than adjacent non-cancerous tissues. High expression of PXN and low expression of miR-137 was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and adverse prognosis. Moreover, the expression of PXN was negatively correlated with miR-137 expression. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay validated that PXN was a direct target of miR-137. The use of miR-137 mimics or inhibitor could decrease or increase PXN mRNA and protein levels in CRC cell lines. Knockdown of PXN or ectopic expression of miR-137 could markedly inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and repress tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrated that overexpression of PXN induced by suppression of miR-137 promotes tumor progression and metastasis and could serve as an independent prognostic indicator in CRC patients.

CDC20 overexpression predicts a poor prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The cell division cycle 20 homolog (CDC20) is an essential cofactor of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C). CDC20 overexpression has been detected in many types of human cancers; however, its clinical role in colorectal cancer remains unknown. METHODS: Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to compare CDC20 expression in adjacent non-cancerous, cancerous and liver metastatic tissues as well as in colon cancer cell lines and normal colon epithelial cell lines. Additionally, the correlation of CDC20 expression with patient clinical parameters and its diagnostic value were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: CDC20 was overexpressed in colon cancer cell lines/primary cancer tissues compared with normal colon epithelial cell lines/adjacent noncancerous tissue samples. Interestingly, CDC20 expression was further increased in metastatic liver tissues. CDC20 protein expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage (P = 0.008), N classification (P = 0.020), M classification (P = 0.013) and pathologic differentiation (P = 0.008). Patients with higher CDC20 expression had a shorter overall survival than those with lower CDC20 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that CDC20 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: CDC20 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker of human colorectal cancer.

Abnormal expression of paxillin correlates with tumor progression and poor survival in patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Paxillin (PXN) has been found to be aberrantly regulated in various malignancies and involved in tumor growth and invasion. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PXN in gastric cancer is still unclear. METHODS: The expression of PXN was determined in paired gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of PXN in 239 gastric cancer patients. Statistical analysis was applied to investigate the correlation between PXN expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients. Additionally, the effects of PXN on gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration were also evaluated. RESULTS: PXN was up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines as compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Overexpression of PXN was correlated with distant metastasis (P=0.001) and advanced tumor stage (P=0.021) in gastric cancer patients. Patients with high PXN expression tended to have poor prognosis compared with patients with low PXN expression (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PXN expression was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.020). Moreover, ectopic expression of PXN promotes cell proliferation and migration in AGS cells whereas knockdown of PXN inhibits cell proliferation and migration in SGC7901 cells. CONCLUSIONS: PXN plays an important role in tumor progression and may be used as a potential prognostic indicator in gastric cancer.

Prognostic relevance of BRD7 expression in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: BRD7 is a member of bromodomain-containing protein and was found to be a cofactor of P53. Down-regulation of BRD7 has been shown in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines and tissues. However, the clinical role of BRD7 in colorectal cancer remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR, Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to examine BRD7 expression in CRC cell lines/tissues compared with normal epithelia cells/adjacent non-tumorous tissues. In addition, statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the diagnostic value and associations of BRD7 expression with clinical parameters of patient samples. RESULTS: BRD7 was down-regulated in colorectal cancer cell lines and cancerous tissues compared with that in normal colon epithelial cells and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples. BRD7 protein expression was positively correlated with clinical stage (P  <  0·001), T classification (P  =  0·001), N classification (P  <  0·001), M classification (P <  0·001) and pathologic differentiation (P =  0·008). Patients with low/none BRD7 expression had shorter overall survival time than those with higher BRD7 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated BRD7 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: BRD7 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker of human colorectal cancer.

Comprehensive Analysis of Clinicopathological and Molecular Features to Predict Anti-PD-1-Based Therapy Efficacy in Patients with Advanced Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a specific type of gastric cancer. The clinicopathological and molecular characteristics that can be used to predict the response to anti-PD-1 therapy for these patients are still not clear. METHODS: Patients with advanced SRCC who received first-line anti-PD-1-based treatment were enrolled in this study. The clinicopathological characteristics of these patients were obtained from their medical records. The molecular features of these patients were analyzed by means of a next-generation-sequencing-based panel. The predictive significance of clinicopathological and molecular features for efficacy was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients with measurable lesions were included in this study, among which 46 patients had enough tissues for next-generation sequencing. The overall objective response rate (ORR) was 46.4%. ORR was significantly higher in mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient (dMMR) patients than in MMR-proficient (pMMR) patients, in patients with lymph node metastasis only than those with other metastasis sites, and in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 than with a PS of 1 or 2. The progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients with dMMR, lymph node metastasis only, PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5, and CDH1 wild type. CONCLUSIONS: Several clinicopathological and molecular features are associated with anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy in SRCC, which might be used to identify patients who can benefit most from these therapies.

Circular RNAs: Emerging regulators of glucose metabolism in cancer.

Aberrant glucose metabolism is one of the most striking characteristics of metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Thus, clarifying the regulatory mechanism of glucose metabolism is crucial to understanding tumor progression and developing novel therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Recent developments in circular RNAs have explained the regulatory mechanism of glucose metabolism from a new dimension. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent advances in circRNA research on cancer glucose metabolism and emphasize the different regulatory mechanisms, including acting as miRNA sponges, interacting with proteins and being translated into proteins. Additionally, we discuss the future research directions of circular RNAs in the field of glucose metabolism.

Case report: PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment strategies in gastric cancer complicated by bone marrow metastasis and disseminated intravascular coagulation: A report of two cases.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) complicated by bone marrow metastasis (BMM) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) represents poor prognosis and most of these patients would die in a few months. Active treatment strategies such as chemotherapy are effective in restoring coagulation function and prolonging patients' survival time. Immunotherapy including programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors has emerged as a first-line treatment of gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment strategies in these patients remains unknown. Case description: Herein, we presented two cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) complicated by BMM and DIC, in which two patients received chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor as the first-line treatment. Both of them achieved a partial response after treatment, and the coagulation function was restored. The patient who discontinued the PD-1 inhibitor after 6 months experienced DIC relapse, whereas the other patient who maintained the PD-1 inhibitor treatment cycle remained responsive after 10 months. Conclusions: We speculate that PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment strategies are effective and safe in prolonging survival against gastric cancer with BMM and DIC, and the coagulation function is well controlled by the treatment with a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

ABO blood group, hepatitis B viral infection and risk of pancreatic cancer.

Little is known about the role of association between ABO blood type and risk of pancreatic cancer develops through effects on hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. Our study aimed to determine whether joint ABO blood type and HBV infection could increase the risk for pancreatic cancer. A total of 645 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 711 age- and sex-matched individuals who had nonmalignant diseases treated at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in China were retrospectively analyzed. Blood samples were tested for ABO blood type and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). Multivariable unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios [AORs] and 95% confidence interval [CI]. Multivariable analysis with adjustment for risk factors showed that A blood type, HBsAg-positive/anti-HBc-positive, anti-HBs-positive/anti-HBc-positive were significantly associated with pancreatic cancer. The estimated AORs (95% CI) were as follows: A blood type, 1.425 (1.071-1.894), HBsAg-positive/anti-HBc-positive, 1.610 (1.125-2.304), anti-HBs-positive/anti-HBc-positive, 1.526 (1.159-2.011). The effect of A blood type significantly modified the risk of pancreatic cancer among subjects with anti-HBc-positive (AORs = 1.882, 95% CI, 1.284-2.760). In our study, we reported an association between A blood type, infection with HBV and pancreatic cancer risk. Moreover, we found a synergism between A blood type and HBV infection in the development of pancreatic cancer.

Prognostic relevance of melanoma antigen D1 expression in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma antigen D1 (MAGED1) is a member of the type II melanoma antigen (MAGE) family. The down-regulation of MAGED1 expression has been shown in breast carcinoma cell lines and in glioma stem cells and may play an important role in apoptosis and anti-tumorigenesis. However, there is no report on its clinical role in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We examined the expression of MAGED1 by qPCR in colorectal cancer tissues and their adjacent non-tumorous tissues taken from 6 cases and performed Western blotting and IHC analyses. In addition, we analyzed MAGED1 expression in 285 clinicopathologically characterized colorectal cancer patients. RESULTS: MAGED1 expression was significantly down-regulated in colorectal cancer tissues compared with adjacent non-tumorous tissues and was associated with clinical stage (p < 0.001), T classification (p = 0.001), N classification (p < 0.001), M classification (p < 0.001) and pathologic differentiation (p = 0.002). Patients with lower MAGED1 expression had a shorter survival time than those with higher MAGED1 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that MAGED1 expression was an independent prognostic factors (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MAGED1 may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker of human colorectal cancer.

Evaluation of right ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycemic control by layer specific global longitudinal strain and strain rate.

BACKGROUND: In order to evaluate right ventricular (RV) systolic and diastolic dysfunctions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with poor glycemic control by layer specific global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (GLSr). METHODS: 68 T2DM patients and 66 normal controls were enrolled for the present study. RV layer specific GLS (GLSEpi, GLSMid and GLSEndo represent the epimyocardial, middle layer and endomyocardial strains, respectively) and GLSr (GLSr-S, GLSr-E and GLSr-A represent the systole, early-diastole and late-diastole strain rate) were calculated by averaging each of the three regional peak systolic strains and strain rates along the entire RV free-wall (RVFW), entire RV free-wall and septal wall (RVFSW) on RV-focused view. RESULTS: The absolute values of RV layer specific GLS (GLSEpi, GLSMid and GLSEndo) in RVFW in T2DM patients were significantly lower than normal controls (P < 0.01), while GLSr-A was significantly larger than normal controls (P < 0.001). The absolute values of RV layer specific GLS (GLSEpi and GLSMid) in RVFSW in T2DM patients were significantly lower than normal controls (P < 0.05), while GLSr-A was significantly larger than normal controls (P < 0.001). HbA1c were poor negatived correlated with GLSEpi in RVFW and RVFSW in T2DM patients (P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that RV layer specific GLS and GLSr-A had a high diagnostic efficacy in T2DM patients, and GLSr-A in RVFSW have the best diagnostic value in RV diastolic function in T2DM patients (AUC: 0.773). CONCLUSION: From the research, we found that layer specific GLS and GLSr could detect the RV myocardial dysfunctions and confirmed that the impaired RV systolic and diastole functions in T2DM patients with poor glycemic control. GLSr-A in RVFSW had the best diagnostic value in evaluating RV diastolic function in T2DM patients.