Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) X-Inactive Specific Transcript (XIST) Plays a Critical Role in Predicting Clinical Prognosis and Progression of Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in all cancer biology processes of cells. Although functions and associated mechanisms of lncRNAs have been proven in colorectal cancer (CRC), the roles of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) have not been clearly investigated in CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS Expression of XIST was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay in CRC cell lines and 196 clinical samples. Correlations between XIST expression and CRC clinicopathological features were analyzed. Log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier test were performed to assess and compare the prognoses of patients with higher and lower expression of XIST. The multivariate Cox regression and univariate Cox regression were conducted to evaluate the risk factors for prognosis of CRC. RESULTS lncRNA XIST was upregulated in CRC cells lines and tissues (p<0.05). Statistical analysis found high XIST expression was correlated with larger tumor size, N1, M1, and topography lymph node metastasis (TNM) III+IV stage of CRC. Moreover, higher expression of XIST could predict poor progression-free survival (PFS) and poor overall survival (OS) of CRC patients. The M1 stage and high expression of XIST were proven to be independent risk factors for poor prognosis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS XIST is upregulated in CRC and is significantly correlated with CRC clinical progression. lncRNA XIST overexpression predict poor PFS and poor OS for CRC patients. lncRNA XIST can be an independent risk factor for CRC prognosis, and could be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for CRC patients.

Long noncoding RNA microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma is an indicator of poor prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have a fundamental role in cancer initiation and development. LncRNA microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (MVIH) has been identified as a potential prognostic marker in several cancers; however, its role in gastric cancer (GC) has not been elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 152 tissue samples from patients underwent GC surgical resection in Linyi People's Hospital between 2007 and 2010 were collected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to examine the expression level of lncRNA MVIH. The selection of clinically important cut-off scores for MVIH expression was based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Then, the association between MVIH and GC clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to reveal the relationship between MVIH and GC prognosis. RESULTS: GC tissues exhibited a higher lncRNA MVIH expression level than paired nontumoros tissues. High MVIH level was revealed to be associated with the T stage, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and lymphatic metastasis of GC. Specially, patients with high MVIH expression level showed significantly shorter overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate. Moreover, invasion depth, distant metastasis, TNM stage, and MVIH expression were identified as risk factors of GC poor prognosis on univariate Cox regression analyses. By further analyzing these factors with multivariate logistic regression, high MVIH, and distant metastasis were discovered to be independent risk factors of GC prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: High MVIH is an independent risk factor of GC prognosis. LncRNA MVIH may serve as a potential therapeutic target and a prognostic marker of GC patients.

Prognosis and Clinicopathology of CXCR4 in Colorectal Cancer Patients: a Meta-analysis.

The chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been widely used in diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there is no current consensus on the impact of CXCR4 on CRC patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic and clinicopathological importance of CXCR4 in CRC patients. Databases, such as PubMed, Cochrane library, CBM and EMBASE updated to 2014 were searched to include eligible articles. We analysed correlations between CXCR4 expression and clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS). A total of 1, 055 CRC patients from twelve studies were included in the study. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) which indicated CXCR4 expression was likely to be associated with TNM stage (OR=0.43, CI=0.34-0.55, P<0.00001), lymph node status (OR=2.23, CI=1.23-4.05, P=0.008) and vascular invasion (OR=2.21, CI=1.11-4.39, P=0.02). Poor overall survival of CRC cancer was found to be significantly related to CXCR4 overexpression (hazard ratio (HR) 1.36 CI=1.17-1.59, P<0.0001), whereas combined ORs revealed that CXCR4 expression had no correlation with gender or differentiation. Based on the published studies, CXCR4 overexpression in patients with CRC indicates poor survival outcome and clinicopathological factors.

Prognostic Factors and Postoperative Recurrence of Calculus Following Small-Incision Sphincterotomy with Papillary Balloon Dilation for the Treatment of Intractable Choledocholithiasis: A 72-Month Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recurrence of common bile duct stones and risk factors for recurrence following routine endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) versus small-incision endoscopic sphincterotomy plus endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EST-EPBD). METHODS: Three hundred patients who were hospitalized between June 2007 and June 2008 with common bile duct stones >10 mm in diameter were randomly assigned to the EST or EST-EPBD group. We compared the short-term (≤3 years) and long-term (>3 years) recurrence of ductal stones in the two groups over a 72-month follow-up period. Potential risk factors were evaluated using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 291 patients completed the study. The short-term recurrence rate in the EST group was not significantly higher than that in the EST-EPBD group (P > 0.05). The long-term recurrence rate for the EST group was significantly higher than that for the EST-EPBD group (P < 0.05). The serum level of cholesterol, body mass index, gallstones, maximum stone diameter, number of stones, and mechanical lithotripsy were risk factors for the recurrence of ductal stones. Minimal size of the duodenal papilla incision was a protective factor with regard to the recurrence of ductal stones. Cholecystectomy, sex, and age were not associated with the recurrence of ductal stones. CONCLUSIONS: Small-incision EST-EPBD has a similar overall success rate and a significantly lower rate of the recurrence of ductal stones, compared with those of EST alone. Thus, the curative effect of EST-EPBD is better than that of EST alone. Minimal size of the duodenal papilla incision protects against the recurrence of ductal stones.