KIF4A Regulates the Progression of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma through Proliferation and Invasion.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract, which is difficult to diagnose and treat due to bad early diagnosis. We aimed to explore the role of kinesin superfamily 4A (KIF4A) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: We first used the bioinformatic website to screen the data of pancreatic cancer in TCGA, and KIF4A protein was detected among the 86 specimens of patients in our hospital combined with clinic-pathological characteristics and survival analysis. KIF4A loss-expression cell lines were established by RNA interference (RNAi). In addition, we performed in vitro cell assays to detect the changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The proteins involved in the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells were also detected by western blot. The above results could be proved in vivo. Further, the correlation between KIF4A and CDC5L was analyzed by TCGA and IHC data. RESULTS: We first found a high expression of KIF4A in pancreatic cancer, suggesting a role of KIF4A in the development of pancreatic cancer. KIF4A was found to be differentially expressed (P < 0.05) among the 86 specimens of patients in our hospital and was significantly associated with PDAC TNM stages and tumor size. High KIF4A expression also significantly worsened overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rate (DFS) (P < 0.05, respectively). In addition, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited by the KIF4A-shRNA group compared with the control (P < 0.05, respectively). In the end, knockdown of KIF4A could inhibit tumor development and metastasis in vivo. Further, the positive correlation between KIF4A and CDC5L existed, and KIF4A might promote pancreatic cancer proliferation by affecting CDC5L expression. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the high expression level of KIF4A in PDAC was closely related to poor clinical and pathological status, lymphatic metastasis, and vascular invasion. KIF4A might be involved in promoting the development of PDAC in vitro and in vivo, which might be a new therapeutic target of PDAC.

KIF20B Promotes Cell Proliferation and May Be a Potential Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Cancer.

KIFs have been reported to play a critical role in a variety of tumors, and KIF20B is a protein in KFIs. In this research, KIF20B was highly expressed in the GEO database and our hospital's data, and high expression of KIF20B suggested poor prognosis. We detect the expression of KIF20B in pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues using immunohistochemistry. Knockdown of KIF20B in pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cells, inhibited cell proliferation which are detected by colony formation assays, CCK8, and western bolt of Ki-67 and PCNA. Xenograft assay showed a similar result in vivo. KIF20B is a potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

Activation of mesenchymal stem cells by macrophages promotes tumor progression through immune suppressive effects.

Cancer development and progression is linked to tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Distinct TAMs subsets perform either protective or pathogenic effects in cancer. A protective role in carcinogenesis has been described for M1 macrophages, which activate antitumor mechanisms. By comparison, TAMs isolated from solid and metastatic tumors have a suppressive M2-like phenotype, which could support multiple aspects of tumor progression. Currently, it has not been clearly understood how macrophages in tumor-associated stroma could be hijacked to support tumor growth. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) actively interact with components of the innate immune system and display both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effects. Here, we tested whether MSCs could favor the tumor to escape from immunologic surveillance in the presence of M1 macrophages. We found that MSCs educated by M1 condition medium (cMSCs) possessed a greatly enhanced ability in promoting tumor growth in vivo. Examination of cytokines/chemokines showed that the cMSCs acquired a regulatory profile, which expressed high levels of iNOS and MCP1. Consistent with an elevated MCP1 expression in cMSCs, the tumor-promoting effect of the cMSCs depended on MCP1 mediated macrophage recruitment to tumor sites. Furthermore, IL-6 secreted by the cMSCs could polarize infiltrated TAMs into M2-like macrophages. Therefore, when macrophages changed into M1 pro-inflammation type in tumor microenvironment, the MSCs would act as poor sensors and switchers to accelerate tumor growth.

[Cardiac Ultrastructure and Changes of HSP70 and HIF-1α Expression in Electric Shock Death Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe cardiac ultrastructure and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and hypoxia inducible factor-lα (HIF-lα) in electric shock death rats and to explore the application of these indexes as the basis of medical identification in electric shock death. METHODS: Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into electric shock death group, postmortem electric shock group and the control group. The changes of myocardial ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope, and the expressions of myocardial HSP70 and HIF-1α were observed by immunohistochemical technology. RESULTS: Myocardial myofibril fracture, mitochondrial cristae and membrane dissolution, and disordered arrangement of Z lines and M lines were observed in electric shock rats. HSP70 and HIF-lα were strong positive expressions in the electric shock death group, significantly compared with the control and postmortem electric shock groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expressions of HSP70 and HIF-lα were obviously increased in electric shock death group, which may be used as the diagnostic indicator of electric shock death.

A young man with primary prostatic extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a rare case report and review of the literature.

Mounting evidence demonstrates the presence of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor (EGIST) which originates from tissues outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and shares overlapping immunohistological features with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). GIST emanating from prostate is extremely rare. To our knowledge, there are only 3 definitely reported cases of primary prostatic EGIST. Herein, we report a case of prostatic EGIST in 31-year-old man with low urinary tract symptoms who was initially misdiagnosed as sarcoma of prostate. Imaging studies assist in determining the origin and location of EGIST. Immunohistochemical assessment (DOG-1, CD117, and CD34) helps in differentiating such lesion from other stromal tumors and in addressing an appropriate and optimal therapeutic strategy.