MPZL1 suppresses the cancer stem-like properties of lung cancer through ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling.

This study was designed to explore the influence of myelin protein zero-like protein 1 (MPZL1) on the stem-like properties of cancer cells and the underlying mechanism in lung adenocarcinoma. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to evaluate mRNA expression level. CCK8, wound healing, and transwell assays were applied to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Tumorsphere-formation assay was utilized to assess cancer stem cell-like properties. LF3 was used to block the ß-catenin/Transcription factor 4 (TCF-4) signaling. Xenograft nude mouse model was conducted; tumor weight and volume were recorded. Western blot assay was utilized to detect the expression levels of CD44, CD133, ß-catenin, TCF-4, and MPZL1. Following MPZL1 knockdown, the mRNA expression levels of MPZL1, ß-catenin, and TCF-4 were inhibited, while the mRNA expression levels of the above genes were increased after the MPZL1 overexpression. MPZL1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, reduced the tumorsphere-formation capacity, and restrained the expression levels of CD44 and CD133. However, MPZL1 overexpression promoted the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, enhanced the tumorsphere-formation capacity, and increased the expression levels of CD44 and CD133. Interestingly, LF3 treatment partially revised the effect of MPZL1 overexpression. These findings were further corroborated by in vivo experiments. We concluded that MPZL1 could suppress the lung adenocarcinoma cells' proliferation, migration, invasion, and lung cancer stem cells characteristics. The underlying mechanism is involved in the activation of ß-catenin/TCF-4 signaling.

Integrating Bulk-seq and Single-cell-seq Reveals Estrogen and MAPK Pathways Associating with Neuroblastoma Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have a 5-year survival rate less than 50% after extensive treatment. Signaling pathways control cell fate decisions that dictate the behavior of tumor cells. The deregulation of signaling pathways is etiological in cancer cells. Thus, we speculated that the pathway activity of neuroblastoma contains more prognostic information and therapeutic targets. METHODS: Using a footprint-based method, we calculated the activity of fourteen pathways in neuroblastoma. Through stepwise Cox regression analyses, we established a three-gene prognostic signature whose predictive performance was evaluated by external validation. Combining a single-cell sequencing dataset, the most active pathways in high-risk neuroblastoma were found. RESULTS: We found that several pathway activities were correlated with neuroblastoma outcomes. We built a three-gene model comprising DLK1, FLT3, and NTRK1, which exhibited superior internal and external performances. We created a nomogram that combines clinical characteristics to aid in the selection and visualization of high-risk neuroblastoma patients. Furthermore, by integrating a single-cell sequencing dataset, we found that estrogen and MAPK were the most active pathways in high-risk neuroblastoma. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that pathway-related therapies may hold promise for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Contribution of fluorescence imaging to thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy: a multicenter propensity matching analysis.

Background: Thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy is increasingly recognized for managing early-stage lung cancer. However accurately identifying intersegmental planes (ISPs), especially in complex lung segments, remains challenging. In comparison to conventional methods, fluorescence imaging represents a novel solution. This study aimed to examine the potential benefits of fluorescence imaging in single-port thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy. Methods: A multicenter (three regional hospitals), retrospective, comparative analysis was conducted using data from 402 consecutive patients who underwent single-port thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy from June 2020 to December 2022. The cohort included 191 patients treated with the fluorescence method and 211 patients treated with the modified inflation-deflation method. Among the cohort, 130 patients were placed in the simple segmentectomy group and 272 in the complex segmentectomy group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for baseline differences between the fluorescence and modified inflation-deflation subgroups in the complex segmentectomy group. Perioperative outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: In the simple segmentectomy group, no significant differences were observed between the fluorescence and modified inflation-deflation methods regarding segmental resection time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative chest tube drainage and duration, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, complication rate, or hospital costs. In the complex segmentectomy group, however, fluorescence imaging significantly shortened segmental resection time (69.37±28.22 vs. 78.80±34.66 min; P=0.03), while reducing intraoperative blood loss (P=0.046); and improving visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores on the first postoperative day (P=0.006). Both methods demonstrated comparable safety and oncologic effectiveness. Conclusions: Fluorescence-guided single-port thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy demonstrated comparable perioperative safety and effectiveness to the modified inflation-deflation technique while offering advantages, such as shorter segmental resection time, for complex segmentectomies.

miR-134 inhibits osteosarcoma cell invasion and metastasis through targeting MMP1 and MMP3 in vitro and in vivo.

miR-134 has been shown to be associated with angiogenesis and the progression of osteosarcoma. This study further assessed the effects of miR-134 expression on osteosarcoma cell migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in a nude mouse xenograft model, exploring the underlying molecular events. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-134 directly targets the 3'-UTRs of MMP1 and MMP3 to reduce their expression in osteosarcoma cells. In conclusion, overexpression of miR-134 suppresses osteosarcoma cell invasion and metastasis through the inhibition of MMP1 and MMP3 expression. We propose miR-134 as an attractive novel therapeutic target for the treatment of osteosarcoma.

The effect of CYP2D6 *10 polymorphism on adjuvant tamoxifen in Asian breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 *10 polymorphism (C 100C>T, rs1065852) on clinical outcomes of female Asian breast cancer patients with tamoxifen adjuvant treatment. METHODS: Meta-analysis of retrospective cohort studies published in July 2017 was performed. Fifteen studies with 1,794 Asian breast cancer patients were included, using strict eligibility requirements. Associations of disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and recurrence rate after tamoxifen intake, with CYP2D6 *10 polymorphism were investigated through random effects models. RESULTS: CYP2D6 *10 polymorphism was found to have effect on DFS and recurrence rate in various comparison models, but not on overall survival in the female Asian breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggests that significant association of *10/*10 (TT) genotype with poorer DFS and recurrence exists in female Asian breast cancer patients with tamoxifen 20 mg/day adjuvant treatment. In the future, large and well-designed studies are required to illustrate the interactions of CYP2D6 genetic variants, including *10 polymorphism and tamoxifen response on female breast cancer patients.

Facile Preparation and Self-Assembly of Monodisperse Polystyrene Nanospheres for Photonic Crystals.

We have developed boiling emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization recipes for the synthesis of monodisperse polystyrene (PS) nanospheres with diameters between ca. 100 and 300 nm. The morphologies of the nanospheres during growth were characterized and the results showed that the PS nanospheres with uniform structures could be synthesized rapidly by modifying the reaction conditions. These nanospheres readily self-assemble into three-dimensionally colloidal photonic crystal film and whose photonic band-stop could be tuned over the entire visible spectral region by altering the sphere diameters.