Screening of novel serum biomarkers for gastric cancer in coastal populations using a protein microarray.

Gastric cancer (GC) has high rates of morbidity and mortality, and this phenomenon is particularly evident in coastal regions where local dietary habits favor the consumption of pickled foods such as salted fish and vegetables. In addition, the diagnosis rate of GC remains low due to the lack of diagnostic serum biomarkers. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify potential serum GC biomarkers for use in clinical practice. To identify candidate biomarkers of GC, 88 serum samples were first screened using a high-throughput protein microarray to measure the levels of 640 proteins. Then, 333 samples were used to validate the potential biomarkers using a custom antibody chip. ELISA, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were then used to verify the expression of the target proteins. Finally, logistic regression was performed to select serum proteins for the diagnostic model. As a result, five specific differentially expressed proteins, TGFß RIII, LAG-3, carboxypeptidase A2, Decorin and ANGPTL3, were found to have the ability to distinguish GC. Logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of carboxypeptidase A2 and TGFß RIII had superior potential for diagnosing GC (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.801). The results suggested that these five proteins alone and the combination of carboxypeptidase A2 and TGFß RIII may be used as serum markers for the diagnosis of GC.

Downregulation of miR-519d-3p is Associated with Poor Outcomes and Facilitates Tumor Progression in Papillary Thyroid Cancer by Regulating FOXQ1.

MicroRNA-519d-3p (miR-519d-3p) has emerged as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers. But whether miR-519d-3p is involved in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the potential relevance of miR-miR-519d-3p in PTC. A retrospective study of 119 PTCs was carried out. The RT-qPCR analysis was used to measure the expression of miR-519d-3p and FOXQ1 in PTC tissues and cells. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the clinical and prognostic value of miR-519d-3p in PTC. Then cellular experiments were used to explore its biological effects on PTC cells. Finally, the Pearson correlation coefficient, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and rescue experiments were used to analyze the association between miR-519d-3p and FOXQ1. miR-519d-3p was significantly downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. The decreased expression of miR-519d-3p was associated with reduced overall survival and progression-free survival of patients. The proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of cells were blocked or elevated after upregulation or downregulation of miR-519d-3p, while FOXQ1 reversed these cellular behaviors caused after upregulation or knockdown of miR-519d-3p. In conclusion, miR-519d-3p was downregulated in PTC and associated with OS and PFS of patients. MiR-519d-3p may be a tumor-inhibiting miRNA in PTC, and that miR-519d-3p/FOXQ1 axis mediated PTC tumor progression from cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in PTC cells.

RKI-1447 suppresses colorectal carcinoma cell growth via disrupting cellular bioenergetics and mitochondrial dynamics.

Accumulated evidence suggested the importance of the Rho/Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway in cancer proliferation and invasion. However, its role in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is not well understood. This study evaluated the effect of ROCK signaling pathway on CRC behavior on the basis of a novel Rho/ROCK inhibitor RKI-1447. Here, we found RKI-1447 could drastically suppress HCT-8 and HCT-116 cell growth and promoted apoptosis. Our in vitro data indicated suppressed cytoskeletal dynamics induced by RKI-1447 inhibition on mitochondrial respiration, which was evidenced by basal and maximal respiration rates, and ATP production. Simultaneously, cellular basal and maximal glycolytic rates, and glycolytic capacity were also reduced in response to RKI-1447. Moreover, RKI-1447 caused excessive reactive oxygen species generation and membrane depolarization as well as activated ER-stress. We also demonstrated CHOP is essential for RKI-1447 induced cell apoptosis. Finally, we proved inhibition of ROCK by RKI-1447 could effectively inhibit CRC growth in vivo. Taken together, this study demonstrated that inhibition of ROCK signaling pathway by RKI-1447 could suppress CRC via cytoskeleton associated mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular bioenergetics disruption. Our data suggest RKI-1447 may be an attractive antitumor drug candidate for the treatment of CRC.

CD2AP inhibits metastasis in gastric cancer by promoting cellular adhesion and cytoskeleton assembly.

Diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) is a lethal malignancy lacking effective systemic therapy. Among the most provocative recent results in DGC has been that the alter of the cellular cytoskeleton and intercellular adhesion. CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) is one of the critical proteins regulating cytoskeleton assembly and intercellular adhesion. However, no study has investigated the expression and biological significance of CD2AP in gastric cancer (GC) to date. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore if the expression of CD2AP is associated with any clinical features of GC and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Immunohistochemistry of 620 patient tissue samples indicated that the expression of CD2AP is downregulated in DGC. Moreover, a low CD2AP level was indicative of poor patient prognosis. In vitro, forced expression of CD2AP caused a significant decrease in the migration and invasion of GC cells, whereas depletion of CD2AP had the opposite effect. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that CD2AP promoted cellular adhesion and influenced cell cytoskeleton assembly via interaction with the F-actin capping protein CAPZA1. Overall, the upregulation of CD2AP could attenuate GC metastasis, suggesting CD2AP as a novel biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of patients with GC.

microRNA-33a prevents epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer cells through the Snail/Slug pathway.

Invasion and metastasis are responsible for the majority of deaths in gastric cancer (GC). microRNA-33a (miR-33a) might function as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers. Here, we describe the regulation and function of miR-33a in GC and mechanisms involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. First, GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected. miR-33a upregulation or SNAI2 depletion on GC cells were introduced to assess the detailed regulatory mechanism of them. We assessed the expression of miR-33a, SNAI2, Snail/Slug signaling pathway-related genes, and EMT-related markers in GC tissues and cells. miR-33a distribution in GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was measured. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and cell cycle distribution were assessed. In nude mice, GC tumor growth and lymph node metastasis were observed. Furthermore, the predicative value of miR-33a in the prognosis of GC patients was evaluated. The obtained results indicated that lowly expressed miR-33a, highly expressed SNAI2, activated Snail/Slug, and increased EMT were identified in GC tissues. miR-33a was located mainly in the cytoplasm. miR-33a targeted and negatively regulated SNAI2. MKN-45 and MKN-28 cell lines were selected for in vitro experiments. Upregulated miR-33a expression or siRNA-mediated silencing of SNAI2 suppressed the activation of Snail/Slug, whereby GC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, EMT, tumor growth, and lymph node metastasis were inhibited. High expression of miR-33a was a protective factor influencing the prognosis of GC. This study suggests that miR-33a inhibited EMT, invasion, and metastasis of GC through the Snail/Slug signaling pathway by modulating SNAI2 expression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY miR-33a targets and inhibits the expression of SNAI2, overexpression of SNAI2 activates the Snail/Slug signaling pathway, the Snail/Slug signaling pathway promotes GC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, and overexpression of miR-33a inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study provides a new therapeutic target for the treatment of GC.

Elemene Induces Apoptosis of Human Gastric Cancer Cell Line BGC-823 via Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) 1/2 Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND Elemene is extracted from a traditional herbal medicine and is commonly used in the treatment of cancer in China. However, its effect on gastric cancer cells remains unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate its effect on human gastric cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and a tumor-bearing mouse model were employed to be divided into 4 groups: control group, elemene group, PD98059 group (an ERK 1/2 signaling pathway inhibitor), and the combined group (elemene plus PD98059). The tumor size, cell proliferation, expression of ERK 1/2 and phosphorylated ERK 1/2 (p-ERK 1/2), Bcl-2 mRNA, and Bax mRNA were measured. Moreover, cell apoptosis was detected and the apoptosis index was calculated. RESULTS Elemene and PD98059 each significantly inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells BGC-823, and their combination showed higher synergistic inhibitory effect (P<0.05). We also found increased expression levels of p-ERK l/2 protein and Bax mRNA, but reduced level of Bcl-2 mRNA expression (P<0.05). Elemene presented higher apoptosis rate in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Furthermore, the injection of elemene decreased the weight of transplanted tumors. CONCLUSIONS Elemene can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells associated with the ERK 1/2 signaling pathway and expression levels of Bax mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA.

Expression of AQP1 Was Associated with Apoptosis and Survival of Patients in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, interest in the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in human gastrointestinal carcinogenesis has developed. However, to date no studies have examined relationships between AQP1 expression and specific characteristics of gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We investigated 109 specimens of primary gastric adenocarcinoma and their corresponding normal gastric mucosa using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine AQP1 expression. We then evaluated disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in these patients in association with AQP1 expression. RESULTS: Both immunohistochemical and RT-PCR analyses identified increased AQP1 expression in tumors from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). The 3-year DFS and OS rates were higher in the AQP1-negative group than in the positive group (DFS: 77.2 vs. 52.8%, p < 0.001; OS: 85.1 vs. 70.7%, p < 0.001). The 5-year DFS and OS rates exhibited a similar trend (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma (stages I and II) revealed a total 5-year OS of 90.0%, with 5-year OS being higher in the AQP1-negative group than in the positive group (95.2 vs. 84.2%). Furthermore, incidence of tumor recurrence following surgical treatment was significantly higher in the AQP1-positive group (4/19, 21.1%) compared with the negative group (0/21, 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that AQP1 plays an important role in gastric adenocarcinoma and may therefore represent a novel therapeutic target and prognostic marker in this disease.

Cruciferous vegetable consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies regarding the association between cruciferous vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer risk have reported inconsistent results. We conducted a meta-analysis to demonstrate the potential association between them. METHODS: A systematic literature search of papers was conducted in March 2014 using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, and the references of the retrieved articles were screened. The summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the highest versus the lowest intake of cruciferous vegetables were calculated. RESULTS: Four cohort and five case-control studies were eligible for inclusion. We found a significantly decreased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with the high intake of cruciferous vegetables (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.91). Moderate heterogeneity was detected across studies (P = 0.065). There was no evidence of significant publication bias based on Begg's funnel plot (P = 0.917) or Egger's test (P = 0.669). CONCLUSIONS: Cruciferous vegetable intake might be inversely associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Because of the limited number of studies included in this meta-analysis, further well-designed prospective studies are warranted to confirm the inverse association between cruciferous vegetable intake and risk of pancreatic cancer.

Latexin inhibits the proliferation of CD133+ miapaca-2 pancreatic cancer stem-like cells.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of evidence suggests that pancreatic cancer contains cancer stem cells (CSCs), which may be relevant to the resistance of chemotherapy. Latexin (Lxn) is a negative regulator of stem cell proliferation and we investigate the effects of Lxn on CD133+ pancreatic cancer stem-like cells. METHODS: CD133+ miapaca-2 cells, a human pancreatic carcinoma cell line, were isolated and sorted by magnetic activated cell sorting and flow cytometry. The capacity for self-renewal, proliferation, and tumorigenicity of CD133+ miapaca-2 cells was determined by the floating spheres test and tumor xenograft assays. Protein and mRNA expression of Lxn in CD133+ and CD133- miapaca-2 cells were detected by Western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively. After CD133+ miapaca-2 cells were treated with Lxn in serum-free medium (SFM), cell proliferation was assayed with a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) and apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, bax, and c-myc were also analyzed. RESULTS: We successfully isolated CD133+ miapaca-2 cells that exhibited the capacity for self-renewal in SFM, a proliferation potential in DMEM supplemented with FBS, and high tumorigenicity in nude mice. Lxn protein and mRNA expression levels in CD133+ miapaca-2 cells were significantly lower than those in CD133- cells. Lxn-treated CD133+ miapaca-2 cells exhibited increased apoptosis and low proliferation activity, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and c-myc expression, and up-regulation of Bax expression in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Lxn induces apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of CD133+ miapaca-2 cells. These changes are associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2 and c-myc and up-regulation of Bax.

A Bioinspired Immunostimulatory System for Inducing Powerful Antitumor Immune Function by Directly Causing Plasma Membrane Rupture.

The Gasdermin protein is a membrane disruptor that can mediate immunogenic pyroptosis and elicit anti-tumor immune function. However, cancer cells downregulate Gasdermin and develop membrane repair mechanisms to resist pyroptosis. Therefore, an artificial membrane disruptor (AMD) that can directly mediate membrane rupture in pyroptosis-deficient cells and induce antitumor immune responses in a controllable manner will be valuable in preclinical and clinical research. A micron-scale Ce6-based AMD that can directly induce plasma membrane rupture (PMR) in gasdermin-deficient tumor cells is established. Micron-scale AMDs localize Ce6 specifically to the plasma membrane without labeling other organelles. Compared to free Ce6 molecules, the use of AMDs results in a higher degree of specificity for the plasma membrane. Due to this specificity, AMDs mediate fast and irreversible PMR under 660 nm red light. Furthermore, the AMDs are capable of inducing programmed cell death and lytic cell death in a catalytic manner, demonstrating that the amount of Ce6 used by AMDs is only one-fifth of that used by Ce6 alone when inducing 80% of cancer cell death. In vivo, the AMDs show specificity for tumor targeting and penetration, suggesting that light-driven programmed cell death is specific to tumors. AMDs are applied to antitumor therapy in gasdermin-deficient tumors, resulting in efficient tumor elimination with minimal damage to major organs when combined with anti-PD-1 therapy. Tumor regression is correlated with PMR-mediated inflammation and T-cell-based immune responses. This study provides new insights for designing bioinspired membrane disruptors for PMR and mediating anti-tumor immunotherapy. Additionally, AMD is a dependable tool for examining the immunogenicity of PMR both in vitro and in vivo.

Development and application of an RNA nanostructure to induce transient RNAi in difficult transgenic plants.

The development of RNA interference (RNAi) is crucial for studying plant gene function. Its use, is limited to a few plants with well-established transgenic techniques. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) introduces exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into plants by spraying, injection, or irrigation, triggering the RNAi pathway to instantly silence target genes. As is a transient RNAi technology that does not rely on transgenic methods, SIGS has significant potential for studying gene function in plants lacking advanced transgenic technology. In this study, to enhance their stability and delivery efficiency, siRNAs were used as structural motifs to construct RNA nanoparticles (NPs) of four shapes: triangle, square, pentagon, and hexagon. These NPs, when synthesized by Escherichia coli, showed that triangular and square shapes accumulated more efficiently than pentagon and hexagon shapes. Bioassays revealed that RNA squares had the highest RNAi efficiency, followed by RNA triangles, with GFP-dsRNA showing the lowest efficiency at 4 and 7 days post-spray. We further explored the use of RNA squares in inducing transient RNAi in plants that are difficult to transform genetically. The results indicated that Panax notoginseng-derived MYB2 (PnMYB2) and Camellia oleifera-derived GUT (CoGUT) were significantly suppressed in P. notoginseng and C. oleifera, respectively, following the application of PnMYB2- and CoGUT-specific RNA squares. These findings suggest that RNA squares are highly effective in SIGS and can be utilized for gene function research in plants.

Artesunate inhibits the growth of gastric cancer cells through the mechanism of promoting oncosis both in vitro and in vivo.

This study aims to investigate the significance and mechanism of artesunate involved in suppressing the proliferation of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. In the in-vitro experiments, artesunate inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cell lines (SGC-7901, BGC-823, and AGS) with concentration-dependent activity, with no significant effect on GES-1 cells. BGC-823 cells treated with artesunate showed the typical morphologic features of oncosis rather than apoptosis. Meanwhile, we observed calcium overload, downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression, and upregulation of calpain-2 expression in the artesunate-treated BGC-823 cells. In addition, the in-vivo study showed that artesunate produced a dose-dependent tumor regression in nude mice. The antitumor activity of 240 mg/kg artesunate was similar to that of 10 mg/kg docetaxel. Furthermore, compared with the control group, no significant difference was observed in the body weight of artesunate-treated nude mice other than docetaxel-treated nude mice. These observations show that artesunate has concentration-dependent inhibitory activities against gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo by promoting cell oncosis through an impact of calcium, vascular endothelial growth factor, and calpain-2 expression.

Intermediate endpoints as surrogates for outcomes in cancer immunotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of phase 3 trials.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy shows unique efficacy kinetics that differs from conventional treatment. These characteristics may lead to the prolongation of trial duration, hence reliable surrogate endpoints are urgently needed. We aimed to systematically evaluate the study-level performance of commonly reported intermediate clinical endpoints for surrogacy in cancer immunotherapy. Methods: We searched the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases, between database inception and October 18, 2022, for phase 3 randomised trials investigating the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumours. An updated search was done on July, 15, 2023. No language restrictions were used. Eligible trials had to set overall survival (OS) as the primary or co-primary endpoint and report at least one intermediate clinical endpoint including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and 1-year overall survival. Other key inclusion and exclusion criteria included: (1) adult patients (>18 years old) with advanced solid tumour; (2) no immunotherapy conducted in the control arms; (3) follow-up is long enough to achieve OS; (4) data should be public available. A two-stage meta-analytic approach was conducted to evaluate the magnitude of the association between these intermediate endpoints and OS. A surrogate was identified if the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.7 or greater. Leave-one-out cross-validation and pre-defined subgroup analysis were conducted to examine the heterogeneity. Potential publication bias was evaluated using the Egger's and Begg's tests. This trial was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022381648. Findings: 52,342 patients with 15 types of tumours from 77 phase 3 studies were included. ORR (R2 = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.00-0.24), DCR (R2 = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.00-0.01), and PFS (R2 = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.56) showed weak associations with OS. However, a strong correlation was observed between 1-year survival and clinical outcome (R2 = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.83). These associations remained relatively consistent across pre-defined subgroups stratified based on tumour types, masking methods, line of treatments, drug targets, treatment strategies, and follow-up durations. No significant heterogeneities or publication bias were identified. Interpretation: 1-year milestone survival was the only identified surrogacy endpoint for outcomes in cancer immunotherapy. Ongoing investigations and development of new endpoints and incorporation of biomarkers are needed to identify potential surrogate markers that can be more robust than 1-year survival. This work may provide important references in assisting the design and interpretation of future clinical trials, and constitute complementary information in drafting clinical practice guidelines. Funding: None.

Radiomics based on machine learning algorithms could predict prognosis and postoperative chemotherapy benefits of patients with gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Traditional clinical characteristics have certain limitations in evaluating cancer prognosis. The radiomics features provide information on tumor morphology, tissue texture, and hemodynamics, which can accurately reflect personalized predictions. This study investigated the clinical value of radiomics features on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images in predicting prognosis and postoperative chemotherapy benefits for patients with gastric cancer (GC). Methods: For this study, 171 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and pathology confirmation of the malignancy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were retrospectively enrolled. The general information, pathological characteristics, and postoperative chemotherapy information were collected. Patients were also monitored through telephone interviews or outpatient treatment. GC patients were randomly divided into the developing cohort (n=120) and validation cohort (n=51). The intra-tumor areas of interest inside the tumors were delineated, and 1,218 radiomics features were extracted. The optimal radiomics risk score (RRS) was constructed using 8 machine learning algorithms and 29 algorithm combinations. Furthermore, a radiomics nomogram that included clinicopathological characteristics was constructed and validated through univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Results: Eleven prognosis-related features were selected, and an RRS was constructed. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the RRS had a high prognostic ability in the developing and validation cohorts (log-rank P<0.01). The RRS was higher in patients with a larger tumor size (≥3 cm), higher Charlson score (≥2), and higher clinical stage (Stages III and IV) (all P<0.001). Furthermore, GC patients with a higher RRS significantly benefited from postoperative chemotherapy. The results of univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that the RRS was an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P<0.001). A visual nomogram was established based on the significant factors in multivariate Cox analysis (P<0.05). The C-index was 0.835 (0.793-0.877) for OS and 0.733 (0.677-0.789) for DFS in the developing cohort. The calibration curve also showed that the nomogram had good agreement. Conclusions: A nomogram that combines the RRS and clinicopathological characteristics could serve as a novel noninvasive preoperative prediction model with the potential to accurately predict the prognosis and chemotherapy benefits of GC patients.

Histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases: molecular and clinical implications to gastrointestinal carcinogenesis.

Histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases are two groups of enzymes whose opposing activities govern the dynamic levels of reversible acetylation on specific lysine residues of histones and many other proteins. Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinogenesis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the role of epigenetic abnormalities such as aberrant histone acetylation has been recognized to be pivotal in regulating benign tumorigenesis and eventual malignant transformation. Here we provide an overview of histone acetylation, list the major groups of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, and cover in relatively more details the recent studies that suggest the links of these enzymes to GI carcinogenesis. As potential novel therapeutics for GI and other cancers, histone deacetylase inhibitors are also discussed.

Pan-cancer analysis of SETD2 mutation and its association with the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Histone methyltransferase SETD2 plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and stability. Here, we investigated the characteristics of SETD2 somatic mutation in the cancer genome atlas pan-cancer cohort. Our data revealed that, compared with SETD2 nonmutant patients, SETD2 mutant patients had higher tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability. In addition, the transcriptions of most genes related to immune activities were upregulated in patients with SETD2 mutant tumors. Further examination of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors suggested SETD2 mutation was associated with favorable clinical outcomes. These results have implication for the personalization of cancer immunotherapy.

NSUN2 modified by SUMO-2/3 promotes gastric cancer progression and regulates mRNA m5C methylation.

The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methyltransferase NSUN2 is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and metastasis formation and is upregulated in multiple cancers. However, the biological significance of NSUN2 in gastric cancer (GC) and the modification of NSUN2 itself have not been fully investigated. Here, we analyzed the expression level of NSUN2 in tissue microarrays containing 403 GC tissues by immunohistochemistry. NSUN2 was upregulated in GC, and that it was a predictor of poor prognosis. NSUN2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro. We also demonstrated that small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-2/3 interacts directly with NSUN2 by stabilizing it and mediating its nuclear transport. This facilitates the carcinogenic activity of NSUN2. Furthermore, m5C bisulfite sequencing (Bis-seq) in NSUN2-deficient GC cells showed that m5C-methylated genes are involved in multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. PIK3R1 and PCYT1A may be the target genes that participate in GC progression. Our findings revealed a novel mechanism by which NSUN2 functions in GC progression. This may provide new treatment options for GC patients.

Difference in Perfusion Parameters Between Gastric Cancer and Gastric Stromal Tumors: Evaluation With Oral Contrast Plus Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography.

Objective: To explore the difference of perfusion parameters between gastric cancer (GC) and gastric stromal tumors (GSTs) by using oral contrast plus contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (OC+CEUS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 149 patients with histologically confirmed gastric lesions (80 patients with GC and 69 patients with GST). OC+CEUS was performed in all patients in the GC group and the GST group before surgery. The cine loops of OC+CEUS of all cases were analyzed. The perfusion parameters including arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), basal intensity (BI), and peak intensity (PI) were obtained via a program designed for autotracking contrast quantification (ACQ). The between-group differences in these parameters were compared. Results: According to time-intensity curve (TIC) analysis, high-risk GST had higher PI than low-risk GST (P < 0.05). GC had faster AT and higher PI than normal gastric wall (P < 0.05); GST had higher PI than normal gastric wall (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the GC group had faster AT and higher PI than the GST group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the difference in BI and peak time (TTP) between the groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: AT and PI differ significantly between the GC group and the GST group. As a new method, OC+CEUS has value for the differential diagnosis of GC and GST.

The Diagnostic Value of Ultrasound in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Comparison With Computed Tomography.

PURPOSE: To explore the clinical value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma by comparing with enhanced computed tomography. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed on 62 patients with pathologically confirmed medullary thyroid carcinoma. All patients underwent ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography examinations before surgery. The findings of the pathologic examination of resected specimens were considered as gold standard and were compared with the results of these 2 methods. RESULTS: There were 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 29 benign lesions in 62 patients. In all, 55 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 27 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound; and 45 of 73 medullary thyroid carcinoma lesions and 24 of 29 benign lesions were correctly diagnosed by enhanced computed tomography. The accuracy of ultrasound and enhanced computed tomography was 80.4% and 67.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between 2 methods (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound can be used to observe the location, number, size, shape, border, internal echo, calcification, and blood flow of the lesion. It is a convenient, inexpensive, and nonradiative method with higher accuracy than enhanced computed tomography.

Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score Is A Predictor Of Post-Operative Outcomes In Elderly Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Gastrectomy: A Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is a recently developed measure that is calculated using the serum albumin level, total cholesterol level, and lymphocyte counts. The aim of this study was to examine whether the CONUT score can predict post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing curative gastrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pre-operative CONUT scores were evaluated from August 2014 to September 2016 in 357 gastric cancer patients who were scheduled to undergo curative gastrectomy. The patients were divided into three groups according to pre-operative CONUT scores: normal, light, moderate, and severe. We then calculated the association between the patient's CONUT score and post-operative complications. RESULTS: CONUT scores were statistically associated with age (P = 0.015), body mass index (P < 0.001), pre-operative hemoglobin level (P < 0.001), tumor-node-metastasis stage (P < 0.001), surgical method (P = 0.036), and post-operative complications (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age and the CONUT score were independent predictors of post-operative complications and 1-year survival. CONCLUSION: CONUT scores can be used to predict post-operative complications and 1-year survival in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing curative gastrectomy. They can also be used to classify the nutritional status of patients, which can be helpful for pre-and post-operative nutritional management.