Long noncoding RNA HOTTIP is a significant indicator of ovarian cancer prognosis and enhances cell proliferation and invasion.

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are involved in the occurrence and progression of human tumors including ovarian cancer (OC). Long noncoding RNA HOTTIP has been found to be involved in several human tumors development. However, the role of HOTTIP in OC remains large unknown. In the present study, our results observed that lncRNA HOTTIP expression levels were notably higher in ovarian cancer tissue samples compared to adjacent normal tissue samples. Increased lncRNA HOTTIP expression levels were significantly associated with advanced FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis of ovarian cancer patients. Survival plots analysis results showed high lncRNA HOTTIP expression levels in ovarian cancer patients showed a poor prognosis compared to patients with low lncRNA HOTTIP expression levels. Function assays showed that lncRNA HOTTIP knockdown in ovarian cancer cells decreased cell proliferation and cell invasion capacities. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibition of lncRNA HOTTIP suppressed Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by downregulating ß-catenin expression. Thus, these results suggest that aberrant HOTTIP expression level could serve as a promising biomarker for monitoring ovarian cancer and potential target of ovarian cancer treatment.

Prognostic Impact of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Overexpression in Patients with Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Clinical trials have provided conflicting results regarding whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression predicts poor survival in cervical cancer patients. In this study, we perform a meta-analysis of the association between EGFR expression and survival in cervical cancer patients. We searched clinical studies in the Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. A total of 22 studies with 2,505 patients were included, and pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each study. Heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins I2 to select a Mantel-Haenszel fixed effects model (I2 ≤50%) or a DerSimonian-Laird random effects model (I2 ≥50%). High EGFR levels predicted poor overall survival (OS) (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10-1.78) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.51-2.24). Stratified analyses showed that EGFR overexpression was significantly related to poor DFS in patients treated with chemoradiation or surgery. Moreover, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) revealed associations between EGFR expression and clinicopathological features, such as lymph node metastasis (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.23-2.40) and tumor size ≥4 cm (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.20-2.23). This meta-analysis demonstrates that EGFR overexpression is closely associated with reduced survival in patients with cervical cancer. These results may facilitate the individualized management of clinical decisions for anti-EGFR therapies in cervical cancer patients.

[RNA interference silencing expression of survivin gene and reversing drug resistance of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3/ADM].

OBJECTIVE: To examine expression of survivin gene in ovarian epithelial carcinoma drug resistant cell line SKOV3/ADM and its parental cell line SKOV3, and induction of cells apoptosis and reversal of drug resistance in SKOV3/ADM after RNA interference (RNAi) silencing survivin gene. METHODS: The transcription of survivin gene in cells was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, the protein expression level of survivin gene was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. SKOV3/ADM cells were treated with pshRNA-survivin and paclitaxel (Taxol), and acridine orange (AO)/ethidium bromide (EB) staining was performed to evaluate the apoptosis of cells. RESULTS: Survivin gene mRNA expressed by 99.1% and 75.3% respectively in cell lines SKOV3/ADM and SKOV3, while fluorescent cells were 59 +/- 5 and 42 +/- 3 (P < 0.05). After the introduction of pshRNA-survivin into SKOV3/ADM, mRNA transcription level of survivin gene decreased distinctly from 99.1% to 7.9%. The apoptotic cells of control group detected by AO/EB staining was 3.6 +/- 0.6, of Taxol group 10.2 +/- 1.0, of RNAi group 48.5 +/- 4.9, of RNAi + Taxol group 71.5 +/- 6.8. Apoptosis ratio between RNAi + Taxol group and RNAi group had significant difference (P < 0.05), and that between RNAi + Taxol group and Taxol group also had significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both survivin gene mRNA and its protein are over-expressed in ovarian epithelial carcinoma cell lines SKOV3 and SKOV3/ADM, the level of survivin gene expressed in SKOV3/ADM is obviously different compared with that in its parental cell line SKOV3. RNA interference targeted against specific sequences of survivin in SKOV3/ADM cell could significantly reduce the level of survivin mRNA transcripts and protein, effectively induce the cells apoptosis and restore the sensitivity of cell to conventional chemotherapeutic agents Taxol.

[Pathological studies of tissue damage in experimental rabbit liver cancer induced by energy controllable steep pulses].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of energy controllable steep pulses (ECSP) in the treatment of rabbit VX2 cancer implanted in livers. METHODS: A tumor model was successfully established using 30 rabbits. ECSP were applied to liver cancer in half of these rabbits and the rest were used as controls. After exposure to ECSP, tissues were obtained and subjected by routine HE and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation. The survival time of the animals and the statuses of each group were recorded. RESULTS: From pathological observations, ECSP showed effectively destructive action compared with that of the unexposed group. A clear borderline can be seen between necrotic cancer and its surrounding normal tissue. Irreversible cell changes were present under TEM. The survival periods of the experimental and control group were 83.1 days and 39.0 days respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (Z = -2.943, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ECSP can effectively treat rabbit VX2 cancer implanted in the liver; also it is safe for its surrounding normal tissues. ECSP can be a useful method for local treatment of liver cancer.