The Prognostic Value of Autophagy-Related Markers Bclin-1 and LC-3 in Colorectal Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: At present, the relationship between autophagosomes and the prognosis of various cancers has become a subject of active investigation. A series of studies have demonstrated the correlation between autophagy microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC-3), Beclin-1, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Since autophagy has dual regulatory roles in tumors, the results of this correlation are also uncertain. Hence, we summarized the relationship between Beclin-1, LC-3, and CRC using systematic reviews and meta-analysis to clarify their prognostic significance in it. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched online up to April 1, 2019. The quality of the involving studies was assessed against the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a fixed or random effects model were used to assess the strength of correlation between Beclin-1, LC-3, and CRC. RESULTS: A total of 9 articles were collected, involving 2,297 patients. Most literatures scored more than 6 points, suggesting that the quality of our including research was acceptable. Our finding suggested that the expression of Beclin-1 was not associated with overall survival (HR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.31-1.52), P=0.351). Nonetheless, LC-3 expression exerted significant impact on OS (HR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.35-0.74), P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis exhibited that Beclin-1 expression was associated with OS at TNM stage III (HR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02-0.08, P < 0.05), surgical treatment (HR = 1.53, 95% CI (1.15-2.02), P=0.003), and comprehensive treatment (HR = 0.27 95% CI (0.08-0.92), P=0.036), respectively. Similarly, the results showed the increased LC-3 expression in CRC was related to OS in multivariate analyses (HR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.34-0.57), P < 0.05), stages (HR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.35-0.74), P < 0.05), and comprehensive treatment (HR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.34-0.57), P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Autophagy-related proteins of LC-3 might be an important marker of CRC progression. However, since the number of the original studies was limited, more well-designed, large-scale, high-quality studies are warranted to provide more convincing and reliable information.

Nomogram to predict overall survival and disease-specific survival with appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma.

To predict the survival of appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma (AMA) by prognostic nomogram.A total of 3234 patients with AMA were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1973 to 2015. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression analyses were used to generate independent prognostic factors. These variables were included in the nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) at 1-, 3-, and 5- years. These data are validated both internally and externally. The consistency index (C-index) and calibration chart were used to estimate the accuracy of the nomogram.The study cohort was randomly divided into the training (n = 2155) and validation group (n = 1799). According to univariate and multivariate analyses, age at diagnosis, marital status, sex, histological differentiation, SEER extent of disease, number of local lymph nodes examined, whether they were positive, and surgical methods were independent prognostic factors for OS and DSS. These factors were incorporated into the nomogram. Internal validation in the training cohort showed that the C-index values for nomogram predictions of OS and DSS were 0.73 (95% CI 0.70-0.76) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.73-0.81), respectively. Similarly, the corresponding C-index values in the external validation cohort were 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.81) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.71-0.80). The Calibration plots revealed that the actual survival and nomogram prediction had a good consistency.Build a nomogram in the SEER database to predict OS and DSS in patients with AMA. It can provide accurate and personalised survival prediction for clinicians and patients.

Anticancer Effects of Emodin on HepG2 Cell: Evidence from Bioinformatic Analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary cause of cancer-related death in the world. Despite the fact that there are many methods to treat HCC, the 5-year survival rate of HCC is still at a low level. Emodin can inhibit the growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the gene regulation of emodin in HCC has not been well studied. In our research, RNA sequencing technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HepG2 cells induced by emodin. A total of 859 DEGs were identified, including 712 downregulated genes and 147 upregulated genes in HepG2 cells treated with emodin. We used DAVID for function and pathway enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING, and Cytoscape was used for module analysis. The enriched functions and pathways of the DEGs include positive regulation of apoptotic process, structural molecule activity and lipopolysaccharide binding, protein digestion and absorption, ECM-receptor interaction, complement and coagulation cascades, and MAPK signaling pathway. 25 hub genes were identified and pathway analysis revealed that these genes were mainly enriched in neuropeptide signaling pathway, inflammatory response, and positive regulation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration. Survival analysis showed that LPAR6, C5, SSTR5, GPR68, and P2RY4 may be involved in the molecular mechanisms of emodin therapy for HCC. A quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay showed that the mRNA levels of LPAR6, C5, SSTR5, GPR68, and P2RY4 were significantly decreased in HepG2 cells treated with emodin. In conclusion, the identified DEGs and hub genes in the present study provide new clues for further researches on the molecular mechanisms of emodin.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy substrate proteins in cancer.

All intracellular proteins undergo continuous synthesis and degradation. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is necessary to maintain cellular homeostasis through turnover of cytosolic proteins (substrate proteins). This degradation involves a series of substrate proteins including both cancer promoters and suppressors. Since activating or inhibiting CMA pathway to treat cancer is still debated, targeting to the CMA substrate proteins provides a novel direction. We summarize the cancer-associated substrate proteins which are degraded by CMA. Consequently, CMA substrate proteins catalyze the glycolysis which contributes to the Warburg effect in cancer cells. The fact that the degradation of substrate proteins based on the CMA can be altered by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation or acetylation. In conclusion, targeting to CMA substrate proteins develops into a new anticancer therapeutic approach.

Glivec enhances the down-regulated cytotoxicity of adriamycin in acquired tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cell line.

OBJECTIVE: To study the alteration of bax, bcl-2, p170 expressing and the second effect on the adriamycin (ADR) induced cytotoxicity in acquired tamoxifen (TAM)-resistant MCF-7 cell line. METHODS: The bax, bcl-2, p170 protein expressions were detected by flow cytometry respectively, as well as the content of intracellular ADR. The in vitro adenosine triphosphate tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of ADR, and also the effect of Glivec on the cytotoxicity of ADR. RESULTS: The percentages of bax, bcl-2 expressions in the acquired TAM resistant MCF-7 were down-regulated from 53.17+/-1.45% to 28.70+/-1.41% (P <0.01), 41.53+/-2.17% to 37.87+/-1.86% P >0.05 respectively, the p170 was up-regulated from 27.43+/-2.16% to 32.13+/-1.31% (P <0.05), after a 16-week-treatment with 1 x 10(-7) mol/L TAM. Accordingly, the chemosensitivity and the fluorescence intensity of intracellular ADR declined, both of them can be significantly reversed by 10 microg/ml Glivec. CONCLUSION: The acquired TAM resistant MCF-7 accompanied with a declined ADR cytotoxicity, down-regulation of bcl-2/bax-induced apoptosis and up-regulation of p170-induced drug efflux may had a synergic devotion. Glivec may enhance the cytotoxicity of ADR on the acquired TAM-resistant MCF-7 cell line.

[Effects of lipofectin-mediated alpha1,4Gal T antisense oligonucleotide on human glioma cell line SWO-38].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of alpha1,4Gal T antisense oligonucleotide mediated by lipofectin on human glioma cell line SWO-38. METHODS: SWO38 glioma cells were exposed to 10 micromol/L alpha1,4Gal T antisense oligonucleotide for 72 h by means of lipofectin transfection, and the growth inhibition of the cells was detected by colony-forming unit assay. Analysis of DNA fragmentation was performed with flow cytometry (FCM) and agarose gel eletrophoresis with Fas protein expression determined by FCM. RESULTS: alpha1,4Gal T antisense oligonucleotide significantly inhibited the growth of glioma cells (P<0.01) and induced apoptosis in SWO-38 cells (P<0.05). Marked up-regulation of Fas protein expression was observed in response to the treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: alpha1,4Gal T antisense oligonucleotide can significantly inhibit SWO-38 cell proliferation and induce cellular apoptosis, the mechanism of which may involve up-regulated Fas expression.

[Molecular mechanism of antisense glycosyltransferase oligonucleotide inhibiting human gliomas cell line SWO-38].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It was reported that Globo series glycoshingolipids have relationship to many human cancers, and alpha 1, 4-galactosyltransferase(alpha 1, 4Gal-T) oligonucleotide is the specific glycosyltransferase for the synthesis of Globo series glycoshingolipids. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of antisense alpha 1, 4Gal-T oligonucleotide on human gliomas cell line SWO-38. MATERIALS & METHODS: SWO-38 glioma cells were reacted with 10 mumol/L antisense alpha 1, 4Gal-T oligonucleotide for 72 hours by means of lipofectin transfection. The growth inhibition was detected by colony-forming unit assay. DNA fragmentation was examined by flow cytometric analysis(FCM) and agarose gel eletrophoresis. The expressions of fas, p53, bax, and bcl-2 protein were determined by flow cytometric analysis (FCM). RESULTS: Antisense alpha 1, 4Gal-T oligonucleotide signifantly inhibited cell growth (P < 0.01), induced the apoptosis (P < 0.05), downregulated expression of bcl-2 protein (P < 0.01) and upregulated expressions of fas and bax protein (P < 0.01), but did not influence p53 expression in glioma cell line SWO-38. CONCLUSIONS: Antisense alpha 1, 4Gal-T oligonucleotide can significantly inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human gliomas cell line SWO-38, which maybe due to the interactions of fas, bax, and bcl-2.