tRF-3013b inhibits gallbladder cancer proliferation by targeting TPRG1L.

BACKGROUND: tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are newly discovered noncoding RNAs and regulate tumor progression via diverse molecular mechanisms. However, the expression and biofunction of tRFs in gallbladder cancer (GBC) have not been reported yet. METHODS: The expression of tRFs in GBC was detected by tRF and tiRNA sequencing in GBC tissues and adjacent tissues. The biological function of tRFs was investigated by cell proliferation assay, clonal formation assay, cell cycle assay, and xenotransplantation model in GBC cell lines. The molecular mechanism was discovered and verified by transcriptome sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), target gene site prediction, and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP). RESULTS: tRF-3013b was significantly downregulated in GBC compared with para-cancer tissues. Decreased expression of tRF-3013b in GBC patients was correlated with poor overall survival. Dicer regulated the production of tRF-3013b, and its expression was positively correlated with tRF-3013b in GBC tissues. Functional experiments demonstrated that tRF-3013b inhibited GBC cell proliferation and induced cell-cycle arrest. Mechanically, tRF-3013b exerted RNA silencing effect on TPRG1L by binding to AGO3, and then inhibited NF-κB. TPRG1L overexpression could rescue the effects of tRF-3013b on GBC cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that Dicer-induced tRF-3013b inhibited GBC proliferation by targeting TPRG1L and repressed NF-κB, pointing to tRF-3013b as a novel potential therapeutic target of GBC.

MicroRNA-1275 inhibits cell migration and invasion in gastric cancer by regulating vimentin and E-cadherin via JAZF1.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence has shown that miR-1275 plays a critical role in tumour metastasis and the progression of various types of cancer. In this study, we analysed the role and mechanism of miR-1275 in the progression and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Target genes of miR-1275 were identified and verified by luciferase assay and Western blotting. The function of miR-1275 in invasion and metastasis was analysed in vitro and in vivo in nude mice. The signal pathway regulated by miR-1275 was examined by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses. The expression of miR-1275and JAZF1 were measured in specimens of GC and adjacent non cancerous tissues. RESULTS: We identified JAZF1 as a direct miR-1275 target. miR-1275 supresses migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro and in vivo, which was restored by JAZF1 overexpression. Moreover, JAZF1 was recognized as a direct regulator of Vimentin. Knocking-down miR-1275 or overexpressing JAZF1 resulted in upregulation of Vimentin but downregulation of E-cadherin. Meanwhile, we validated in 120 GC patients specimens that low miR-1275expression and high JAZF1 mRNA expression levels were closely associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. The expression of JAZF1 in protein level displayed the correlations with Vimentin but inversely with E-cadherin. CONCLUSIONS: Increased miR-1275 expression inhibited GC metastasis by regulating vimentin/E-cadherin via direct suppression of JAZF1expression, suggesting that miR-1275 is a tumour-suppressor miRNA with the potential as a prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target in GC.

LncRNA-PAGBC acts as a microRNA sponge and promotes gallbladder tumorigenesis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play roles in the development and progression of many cancers; however, the contributions of lncRNAs to human gallbladder cancer (GBC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we identify a group of differentially expressed lncRNAs in human GBC tissues, including prognosis-associated gallbladder cancer lncRNA (lncRNA-PAGBC), which we find to be an independent prognostic marker in GBC Functional analysis indicates that lncRNA-PAGBC promotes tumour growth and metastasis of GBC cells. More importantly, as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), lncRNA-PAGBC competitively binds to the tumour suppressive microRNAs miR-133b and miR-511. This competitive role of lncRNA-PAGBC is required for its ability to promote tumour growth and metastasis and to activate the AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, lncRNA-PAGBC interacts with polyadenylate binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1) and is stabilized by this interaction. This work provides novel insight on the molecular pathogenesis of GBC.

MYBL2 is a Potential Prognostic Marker that Promotes Cell Proliferation in Gallbladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive and highly lethal biliary tract malignancy, with extremely poor prognosis. In the present study, we analyzed the potential involvement of MYBL2, a member of the Myb transcription factor family, in the carcinogenesis of human GBC. METHODS: MYBL2 expression levels were measured in GBC and cholecystitis tissue specimens using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. The effects of MYBL2 on cell proliferation and DNA synthesis were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (CCK-8), colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) retention assay, flow cytometry analysis, western blot, and a xenograft model of GBC cells in nude mice. RESULTS: MYBL2 expression was increased in GBC tissues and associated with histological differentiation, tumour invasion, clinical stage and unfavourable overall survival in GBC patients. The downregulation of MYBL2 expression resulted in the inhibition of GBC cell proliferation, and DNA replication in vitro, and the growth of xenografted tumours in nude mice. Conversely, MYBL2 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. CONCLUSIONS: MYBL2 overexpression promotes GBC cell proliferation through the regulation of the cell cycle at the S and G2/M phase transitions. Thus, MYBL2 could serve as a potential prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in GBC patients.

Correction: Xiang, S., et al. Schisandrin B Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest of Gallbladder Cancer Cells. Molecules 2014, 19, 13235-13250.

We would like to change the Affiliation addresses on Page 13235 of paper [1], [...].

SPOCK1 as a potential cancer prognostic marker promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gallbladder cancer cells by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and its prognosis remains poor, with 5-year survival of approximately 5%. In this study, we analyzed the involvement of a novel proteoglycan, Sparc/osteonectin, cwcv, and kazal-like domains proteoglycan 1 (SPOCK1), in the tumor progression and prognosis of human GBC. METHODS: SPOCK1 expression levels were measured in fresh samples and stored specimens of GBC and adjacent nontumor tissues. The effect of SPOCK1 on cell growth, DNA replication, migration and invasion were explored by Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, EdU retention assay, wound healing, and transwell migration assays, flow cytometric analysis, western blotting, and in vivo tumorigenesis and metastasis in nude mice. RESULTS: SPOCK1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in human GBC tissues compared with those in nontumor tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that SPOCK1 levels were increased in tumors that became metastatic, compared with those that did not, which was significantly associated with histological differentiation and patients with shorter overall survival periods. Knockdown of SPOCK1 expression by lentivirus-mediated shRNA transduction resulted in significant inhibition of GBC cell growth, colony formation, DNA replication, and invasion in vitro. The knockdown cells also formed smaller xenografted tumors than control GBC cells in nude mice. Overexpression of SPOCK1 had the opposite effects. In addition, SPOCK1 promoted cancer cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by regulating the expression of relevant genes. We found that activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway was involved in the oncogenic functions of SPOCK1 in GBC. CONCLUSIONS: SPOCK1 activates PI3K/Akt signaling to block apoptosis and promote proliferation and metastasis by GBC cells in vitro and in vivo. Levels of SPOCK1 increase with the progression of human GBC. SPOCK1 acts as an oncogene and may be a prognostic factor or therapeutic target for patients with GBC.

Magnolol inhibits growth of gallbladder cancer cells through the p53 pathway.

Magnolol, the major active compound found in Magnolia officinalis has a wide range of clinical applications due to its anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effects. This study investigated the effects of magnolol on the growth of human gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) cell lines. The results indicated that magnolol could significantly inhibit the growth of GBC cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Magnolol also blocked cell cycle progression at G0 /G1 phase and induced mitochondrial-related apoptosis by upregulating p53 and p21 protein levels and by downregulating cyclin D1, CDC25A, and Cdk2 protein levels. When cells were pretreated with a p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-a), followed by magnolol treatment, pifithrin-a blocked magnolol-induced apoptosis and G0 /G1 arrest. In vivo, magnolol suppressed tumor growth and activated the same mechanisms as were activated in vitro. In conclusion, our study is the first to report that magnolol has an inhibitory effect on the growth of GBC cells and that this compound may have potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of GBC.

Evaluation of two inflammation-based prognostic scores in patients with resectable gallbladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Survival after surgery for gallbladder cancer is generally poor. A number of inflammation-based prognostic scores have been established to help predict survival after surgery for several types of cancer. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the utility of two inflammation-based prognostic scores, the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), for predicting survival in patients with gallbladder cancer after surgery with curative intent. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 85 patients with histologically confirmed, resectable gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), who were to receive curative surgery in our department. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the variables to overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A significant difference was detected in OS in patients with low and high GPS and NLR scores. Univariate analyses using clinicopathological characteristics revealed that tumor differentiation; tumor invasion; lymph node metastasis; tumor, node, metastasis classification system stage; positive margin status; combined common bile duct resection; serum levels of C-reactive protein, albumin, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA125; white blood cell count; and GPS and NLR were all associated with OS. Among these characteristics, multivariate analysis demonstrated that a high GPS was independently associated with poorer OS, together with tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and positive margin status. CONCLUSIONS: GPS is superior to NLR with respect to its prognostic value for patients with GBC after surgery with curative intent. GPS is not only associated with tumor progression but is also an independent marker of poor prognosis.

Bufalin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in gallbladder carcinoma cells.

Bufalin, a major digoxin-like immunoreactive component of the Chinese medicine Chan Su, has been shown to exert a potential for anticancer activity against various human cancer cell lines in vitro. However, no detailed studies have so far been reported on its action on human gallbladder carcinoma cells. In this study, bufalin remarkably inhibited growth in human gallbladder cancer cells by decreasing cell proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Bufalin also disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and regulated the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory molecules. Activation of caspase-9 and the subsequent activation of caspase-3 indicated that bufalin may be inducing mitochondria apoptosis pathways. Intraperitoneal injection of bufalin for 3 weeks significantly inhibited the growth of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC-SD) xenografts in athymic nude mice. Taken together, the results indicate that bufalin may be a potential agent for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Ursolic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of gallbladder carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Ursolic acid (UA), a plant extract used in traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits potential anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines in vitro. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-tumoral properties of UA against gallbladder carcinoma and investigated the potential mechanisms responsible for its effects on proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro. METHODS: The anti-tumor activity of UA against GBC-SD and SGC-996 cells was assessed using MTT and colony formation assays. An annexin V/PI double-staining assay was used to detect cell apoptosis. Cell cycle changes were detected using flow cytometry. Rhodamine 123 staining was used to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and validate UA's ability to induce apoptosis in both cell lines. The effectiveness of UA in gallbladder cancer was further verified in vivo by establishing a xenograft GBC model in nude mice. Finally, the expression levels of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: Our results suggest that UA can significantly inhibit the growth of gallbladder cancer cells. MTT and colony formation assays indicated dose-dependent decreases in cell proliferation. S-phase arrest was observed in both cell lines after treatment with UA. Annexin V/PI staining suggested that UA induced both early and late phases of apoptosis. UA also decreased ΔΨm and altered the expression of molecules regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. In vivo study showed intraperitoneally injection of UA can significantly inhibited the growth of xenograft tumor in nude mice and the inhibition efficiency is dose related. Activation of caspase-3,-9 and PARP indicated that mitochondrial pathways may be involved in UA-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that UA exhibits significant anti-tumor effects by suppressing cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis and inducing 7cell cycle arrest both in vitro and in vivo. It may be a potential agent for treating gallbladder cancer.

Clinical and prognostic significance of preoperative plasma hyperfibrinogenemia in gallbladder cancer patients following surgical resection: a retrospective and in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Coagulation and fibrinolysis activation is frequently observed in cancer patients, and the tumors in these cases are thought to be associated with a higher risk of invasion, metastasis, and worse long-term outcome. The objective of this study was to elucidate the prognostic significance of blood coagulation tests and various clinicopathological characteristics in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) after surgical resection. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 115 patients with histologically confirmed GBC who underwent surgical resection in our department. The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen levels, and platelet counts were measured pretreatment at the time of diagnosis. The predictive value of fibrinogen levels for tumor staging was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Correlations between the preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, and univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with overall survival (OS). Cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro were examined to investigate the function of fibrinogen in GBC cell migration. RESULTS: The plasma levels for all coagulation tests, with the exception of INR, were significantly different between the GBC patients and control patients (p < 0.001). Hyperfibrinogenemia (>402 mg/dL) was associated with poorly differentiated tumors, advanced tumor invasion, lymphatic metastasis, and advanced tumor stage (p < 0.001), and had a statistically significant adverse effect on survival (p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, hyperfibrinogenemia (p = 0.031) was independently associated with worse OS, tumor stage (p = 0.016), margin status (p < 0.001), and lymphatic metastasis (p = 0.035). Moreover, cell migration and invasion in vitro were significantly enhanced by fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels was associated with tumor progression and may be an independent marker of poor prognosis in GBC patients. Furthermore, fibrinogen may contribute to cell migration by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Oridonin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of gallbladder cancer cells via the mitochondrial pathway.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer is the most frequent malignancy of the bile duct with high aggressive and extremely poor prognosis. The main objective of the paper was to investigate the inhibitory effects of oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens, on gallbladder cancer both in vitro and in vivo and to explore the mechanisms underlying oridonin-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. METHODS: The anti-tumor activity of oridonin on SGC996 and NOZ cells was assessed by the MTT and colony forming assays. Cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/PI double-staining and Hoechst 33342 staining assays. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed by Rhodamine 123 staining. The in vivo efficacy of oridonin was evaluated using a NOZ xenograft model in athymic nude mice. The expression of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related proteins in vitro and in vivo was analyzed by western blot analysis. Activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9) was measured by caspases activity assay. RESULTS: Oridonin induced potent growth inhibition, S-phase arrest, apoptosis, and colony-forming inhibition in SGC996 and NOZ cells in a dose-dependent manner. Intraperitoneal injection of oridonin (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg) for 3 weeks significantly inhibited the growth of NOZ xenografts in athymic nude mice. We demonstrated that oridonin regulated cell cycle-related proteins in response to S-phase arrest by western blot analysis. In contrast, we observed inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and an increase Bax/Bcl-2 ratio accompanied by activated caspase-3, caspase-9 and PARP-1 cleavage after treatment with oridonin, which indicate that the mitochondrial pathway is involved in oridonin-mediated apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Oridonin possesses potent anti-gallbladder cancer activities that correlate with regulation of the mitochondrial pathway, which is critical for apoptosis and S-phase arrest. Therefore, oridonin has potential as a novel anti-tumor therapy for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Effects of oxymatrine on the apoptosis and proliferation of gallbladder cancer cells.

Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract and is associated with a very poor outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of oxymatrine (OM) on gallbladder cancer cells and the possible mechanism of its effects. The effects of OM on the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cells (GBC-SD and SGC-996) were investigated using cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining was performed to investigate whether OM could induce apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins were evaluated to identify a mechanism for the effects of OM. In addition, the RNA expression of relevant genes was measured by qRT-PCR using the SYBR Green method. Finally, a subcutaneous implantation model was used to verify the effects of OM on tumor growth in vivo. We found that OM inhibited the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cells. In addition, Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining showed that OM induced apoptosis after 48 h and the ΔΨm decreased in a dose-dependent manner after OM treatment. Moreover, the activation of caspase-3 and Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and nuclear factor κB were observed in OM-treated cells. Finally, OM potently inhibited in-vivo tumor growth following subcutaneous inoculation of SGC-996 cells in nude mice. In conclusion, OM treatment reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells, which suggests that this drug may serve as a novel candidate for adjuvant treatment in patients with gallbladder cancer.

Tetrandrine induces apoptosis in gallbladder carcinoma in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to observe the apoptosis effects of tetrandrine on human gallbladder carcinoma cell line (SGC-996), and to explore its related mechanism. METHODS: First, the anti-proliferative activities of tetrandrine on SGC-996 cells were determined by using the MTT assays. Then, cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometry analysis. The apoptosis of cells was detected by the annexin V/propidium iodide double-staining assay. Detection of mitochondrial membrane potential was used to validate the ability of tetrandrine on inducing apoptosis. Finally, the expressions of the apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3, PARP, Bcl-2, and Bax) were analyzed by western blot. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student’s t-test for comparison of the results obtained from cells with or without treatment of tetrandrine. RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed a significant inhibition of cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cells treated with tetrandrine were arrested at the S phase, according to the flow cytometric analysis. Tetrandrine produced a dose-dependent increase in the apoptotic cell population compared with control cells. Tetrandrine can also affect mitochondrial function by changing the mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, western blot assay demonstrated that the tetrandrine induced apoptosis in SGC-996 cells by regulating the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and activating the expression of cleaved caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that tetrandrine may be a potential agent for the treatment of gallbladder carcinoma.

Triptolide induces s phase arrest and apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells.

Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract, with a very low 5-year survival rate and extremely poor prognosis. Thus, new effective treatments and drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of this malignancy. In this study, for the first time we investigated the effects of triptolide on gallbladder cancer cells and identified the mechanisms underlying its potential anticancer effects. The MTT assay showed that triptolide decreased cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results of the colony formation assay indicated that triptolide strongly suppressed colony formation ability in GBC-SD and SGC-996 cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that triptolide induced S phase arrest in gallbladder cancer cells. In addition, triptolide induced apoptosis, as shown by the results of annexin V/propidium iodide double-staining and Hoechst 33342 staining. Furthermore, triptolide decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, western blot analysis of triptolide-treated cells revealed the activation of caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP, and Bcl-2; this result demonstrated that triptolide induced apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells by regulating apoptosis-related protein expression, and suggests that triptolide may be a promising drug to treat gallbladder carcinoma.

Schisandrin B induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of gallbladder cancer cells.

Gallbladder cancer, with high aggressivity and extremely poor prognosis, is the most common malignancy of the bile duct. The main objective of the paper was to investigate the effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) on gallbladder cancer cells and identify the mechanisms underlying its potential anticancer effects. We showed that Sch B inhibited the viability and proliferation of human gallbladder cancer cells in a dose-, time -dependent manner through MTT and colony formation assays, and decrease mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) at a dose-dependent manner through flow cytometry. Flow cytometry assays also revealed G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in GBC-SD and NOZ cells. Western blot analysis of Sch B-treated cells revealed the upregulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP and downregulation of Bcl-2, NF-κB, cyclin D1 and CDK-4. Moreover, this drug also inhibited the tumor growth in nude mice carrying subcutaneous NOZ tumor xenografts. These data demonstrated that Sch B induced apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells by regulating apoptosis-related protein expression, and suggests that Sch B may be a promising drug for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.

Cordycepin induces S phase arrest and apoptosis in human gallbladder cancer cells.

Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract, and this condition has a rather dismal prognosis, with an extremely low five-year survival rate. To improve the outcome of unresectable and recurrent gallbladder cancer, it is necessary to develop new effective treatments and drugs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cordycepin on human gallbladder cells and uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays revealed that cordycepin affected the viability and proliferation of human gallbladder cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that cordycepin induced S phase arrest in human gallbladder cancer cell lines(NOZ and GBC-SD cells). Cordycepin-induced apoptosis was observed using an Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double-staining assay, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, western blot analysis revealed the upregulation of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP and Bax and the downregulation of Bcl-2, cyclin A and Cdk-2 in cordycepin-treated cells. Moreover, cordycepin inhibited tumor growth in nude mice bearing NOZ tumors. Our results indicate that this drug may represent an effective treatment for gallbladder carcinoma.

Prognostic significance of nemo-like kinase (NLK) expression in patients with gallbladder cancer.

Nemo-like kinase (NLK), a serine/threonine protein kinase, has been implicated in tumor development and progression, and plays an important role in diverse signaling pathways by phosphorylating a variety of transcription factors. Recent studies demonstrated that altered expression of NLK was observed in various types of human cancers. However, the clinical significance of NLK expression in gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the clinical significance of NLK in GBC, and found that nuclear NLK protein overexpression was frequently detected in GBC tissues. The overexpression of NLK was significantly correlated with histological grade, TNM stage, and perineural invasion. The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that a high expression level of NLK resulted in a significantly poorer prognosis of GBC patients (P = 0.002). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high NLK expression was an independent prognostic factor for GBC patients (HR = 3.077). In conclusion, overexpression of NLK is closely related to progression of GBC, and NLK could be used as a potential prognostic marker for GBC patients.

[Change of coagulation in patients with gallbladder cancer and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the change of coagulation and the clinicopathologic characteristics in patients with gallbladder cancer. METHODS: The 64 gallbladder cancer patients (GBC group) and 60 cholecystitis patients (control group) had been reviewed from January 2007 to June 2013. The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (Fib), and thrombin time (TT) had been measured and compared between patients of GBC group and control group. The relationship of coagulation function and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, APTT in GBC group ((29.0 ± 4.2) s) was significantly shortened (t = -4.265, P = 0.000) and PT ((11.5 ± 1.4) s), TT ((15.3 ± 3.5) s), Fib ((4.1 ± 0.9) g/L) were significantly increased in GBC group (t = 2.521, 4.147 and 4.365, all P < 0.05). The level of Fib was higher in patients with medium or poor-differentiated tumor cells (F = 4.069, P = 0.022), lymph metastasis (t = 2.640, P = 0.010) and advanced staging (II-IV) (t = 3.003, P < 0.01) than those of well-differentiated, non-lymph metastasis and early staging (0-I). The ratio of gallbladder cancer with hyperfibrinogenemia (32/64) was significantly higher than control group (11/60, χ(2) = 13.709, P < 0.01). In GBC group, compared with normal Fib patients, hyperfibrinogenemia patients showed significantly difference in clinicopathologic characteristics (χ(2) = 5.851-10.573, P < 0.05). The average survival period of hyperfibrinogenemia patients and normal Fib patients were 8.63 months and 16.73 months. The 1-, 3-year survival rate of patients with hyperfibrinogenemia were significantly lower than those with normal Fib (64.7%, 14.9% vs. 74.9%, 21.1%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative plasma level of Fib might be a new promising biomarker in patients with gallbladder cancer for evaluating disease progression and prognosis.