The role of MYB proto-oncogene like 2 in tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

Despite the efficacy of tamoxifen in preventing disease relapse, a large portion of breast cancer patients show intrinsic or acquired resistance to tamoxifen, leading to treatment failure and unfavorable clinical outcome. MYB proto-oncogene like 2 (MYBL2) is a transcription factor implicated in the initiation and progression of various human cancers. However, its role in tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer remained largely unknown. In the present study, by analyzing public transcriptome dataset, we found that MYBL2 is overexpressed in breast cancer and is associated with the poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. By establishing tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines, we also provided evidence that MYBL2 overexpression contributes to tamoxifen resistance by up-regulating its downstream transcriptional effectors involved in cell proliferation (PLK1, PRC1), survival (BIRC5) and metastasis (HMMR). In contrast, inhibiting those genes via MYBL2 depletion suppresses cancer progression, restores tamoxifen and eventually reduces the risk of disease recurrence. All these findings revealed a critical role of MYBL2 in promoting tamoxifen resistance and exacerbating the progression of breast cancer, which may serve as a novel therapeutic target to overcome drug resistance and improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss Are Associated with Lung Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND: The associations between periodontal disease, tooth loss, and lung cancer risk remain debatable. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate whether periodontal disease and tooth loss are associated with lung cancer risk. METHODS: A literature search was performed for relevant studies using PubMed and Embase databases. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied as effect size to summarize the associations between periodontal disease, tooth loss, and lung cancer risk. A further dose-response analysis was also performed. RESULTS: A total of twelve studies comprising 263,238 participants were included. The results indicated that periodontal disease was positively associated with lung cancer risk (RR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.16-1.63). There was a positive association between tooth loss and lung cancer risk (RR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.46-1.96). Moreover, there was a significantly linear dose-response relationship between tooth loss and lung cancer risk, and every 5 increment in tooth loss was associated with 10% increased lung cancer risk. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease and tooth loss are increased risk factors for lung cancer. Prevention and treatment of periodontal disease may be effective potential prevention strategies for lung cancer.

Association between periodontal disease, tooth loss and liver diseases risk.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to assess the associations between periodontal disease, tooth loss and liver diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Embase databases were utilized to search eligible studies. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as effect size to assess the associations between periodontal disease, tooth loss and liver diseases risk. RESULTS: Our results indicated positive associations between periodontal disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06-1.33), liver cirrhosis (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.50-3.48) and elevated transaminase level risk (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.15). Moreover, tooth loss could increase NAFLD (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.12- 1.56) and liver cancer risk (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.04-1.74), and every five increment in tooth loss was associated with 5% increased liver cancer risk (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.10) with a linear relationship. In addition, tooth loss had a positive tendency towards liver cirrhosis risk (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 0.85-4.85) although there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Periodontal disease and tooth loss are positively associated with liver diseases including NAFLD, elevated transaminase level, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Cluster of Differentiation 34 for Assessment of Perioperative Bleeding Risk in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels to supply nutrients to tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) are important signaling proteins involved in angiogenesis. Many studies have demonstrated that VEGF and CD34 are related to tumor progression. This study focused on the relationship between VEGF, CD34, and perioperative hemorrhage in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: To observe the relationship between VEGF and CD34, we tracked 112 patients with advanced gastric cancer for 5 years to assess factors related to hemorrhage, using immunohistochemistry. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using a 2 × 2 contingency table, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test. RESULTS: The concentrations of VEGF and CD34 were critically correlated with perioperative hemorrhage and neural invasion in patients with gastric cancer (P < 0.05). Expression of VEGF and CD34 was related (P < 0.05, χ2 = 6.834). VEGF and CD34 co-expression strongly increased the risk of preoperative bleeding (area under the ROC curve >0.7, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Expression of VEGF and CD34 was critically correlated with perioperative hemorrhage in gastric cancer patients. Co-expression of VEGF and CD34 could be an effective indicator for evaluating the risk of perioperative bleeding in gastric cancer patients.

Treatment of fungal myositis with intra-lesional and intravenous itraconazole: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Fungal myositis is very uncommon, even in patients who are immunocompromised. Because of its rarity and a lack of clinical experience, no consensus has been reached about the best means of treating fungal myositis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of the treatment of fungal myositis with simultaneous intravenous and intra-lesional itraconazole. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old Chinese woman with acute myelomonocytic leukemia developed Candida krusei fungemia and fungal myositis in the right biceps brachii after chemotherapy. A course of intravenous itraconazole and subsequently intravenous voriconazole was initiated and her blood cultures became sterile; however, our patient remained febrile and the myositis did not resolve. Intravenous itraconazole was restarted simultaneously with low-dose intra-lesional itraconazole. The pyrexia settled after 48 hours and within 10 days the lesion could be seen to be resolving. After the course of intravenous and intra-lesional anti-fungals was complete, oral itraconazole was administered as maintenance therapy. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge this is the first case in which fungal myositis was successfully treated with intravenous and intra-lesional itraconazole in a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. The efficacy and safety of locally-administered itraconazole to treat intractable soft tissue infections requires further evaluation.