Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000700 promotes cell proliferation and migration in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by sponging miR-1229.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer, including that of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The current study aimed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_0000700 in ESCC. hsa_circ_0000700, miR-1229, and related functional gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR. To characterize the functions of hsa_circ_0000700 and miR-1229, ESCC cells were infected with hsa_circ_0000700-specific siRNA, miR-1229 mimics, and an inhibitor alone or in combination. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays were employed to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to confirm the targeting relationship between hsa_circ_0000700 and miR-1229. Finally, a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network was built for hsa_circ_0000700, and miR-1229 targets were analyzed by bioinformatics. circ_0000700 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC cell lines. Actinomycin D and RNase R treatment confirmed that circ_0000700 was more stable than its linear CDH9 mRNA form. Moreover, a cytoplasmic and nuclear fractionation assay suggested that circ_0000700 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of ECA-109 and TE-1 cells. In vitro, the proliferative and migratory capacities of ECA-109 and TE-1 cells were inhibited by knocking down circ_0000700 expression. Additionally, miR-1229 silencing reversed the circ_0000700-specific siRNA-induced attenuation of malignant phenotypes. Mechanistically, circ_0000700 was identified as a sponge of miR-1229 and could activate PRRG4, REEP5, and PSMB5 indirectly to promote ESCC progression. In summary, our results suggest that hsa_circ_0000700 functions as an oncogenic factor by sponging miR-1229 in ESCC.

DCE-MRI-Derived Volume Transfer Constant (Ktrans) and DWI Apparent Diffusion Coefficient as Predictive Markers of Short- and Long-Term Efficacy of Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With Esophageal Cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate both the short- and long-term efficacies of chemoradiotherapy in relation to the treatment of esophageal cancer . This was achieved through the use of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging-derived volume transfer constant and diffusion weighted imaging-derived apparent diffusion coefficient . Patients with esophageal cancer were assigned into the sensitive and resistant groups based on respective efficacies in chemoradiotherapy. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion weighted imaging were used to measure volume transfer constant and apparent diffusion coefficient, while computed tomography was used to calculate tumor size reduction rate. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to analyze correlation between volume transfer constant, apparent diffusion coefficient, and the tumor size reduction rate. Receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to analyze the short-term efficacy of volume transfer constant and apparent diffusion coefficient, while Kaplan-Meier curve was employed for survival rate analysis. Cox proportional hazard model was used for the risk factors for prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer. Our results indicated reduced levels of volume transfer constant, while increased levels were observed in ADCmin, ADCmean, and ADCmax following chemoradiotherapy. A negative correlation was determined between ADCmin, ADCmean, and ADCmax, as well as in the tumor size reduction rate prior to chemoradiotherapy, whereas a positive correlation was uncovered postchemoradiotherapy. Volume transfer constant was positively correlated with tumor size reduction rate both before and after chemoradiotherapy. The 5-year survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer having high ADCmin, ADCmean, and ADCmax and volume transfer constant before chemoradiotherapy was greater than those with respectively lower values. According to the Cox proportional hazard model, ADCmean, clinical stage, degree of differentiation, and tumor stage were all confirmed as being independent risk factors in regard to the prognosis of patients with EC. The findings of this study provide evidence suggesting that volume transfer constant and apparent diffusion coefficient as being tools allowing for the evaluation of both the short- and long-term efficacies of chemoradiotherapy esophageal cancer treatment.

Effect of number and ratio of positive lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The number and ratio of positive lymph nodes are important prognostic factors in gastric cancer, but there is little data reported in hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Medical data from 81 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer undergoing radical hypopharyngectomy and cervical lymph node dissection were reviewed. RESULTS: The median survival time was 84, 54, 30, and 13 months in patients with N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively, and 84, 51, and 17 months with positive lymph node ratios (N ratio) 0, <10%, and >10%, respectively. Of the 24 N1 patients, the 20 patients that had an N ratio <10% had a better prognosis than the 4 patients with an N ratio >10%. Similar data was seen for the N2 patients. Tumor (T) classification, adjuvant therapy, and N ratio were independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The positive lymph node ratio is complementary to the current N classification system.

[Clinicopathological and prognostic analysis of 178 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic factors in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data of 178 cases with hypopharyngeal cancer from January 2000 to December 2006 were studied. RESULTS: Of the 178 hypopharyngeal cancer, the median survival time was 42.8 months (1 - 127 months). Total 3- and 5-year survival rates were 47% and 35%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of stage I + II, stage III and stage IV were 76.2%, 46.7% and 29.6%, respectively. The second primary carcinoma occurred in 14.0% patients (25/178), of them 18 patients with synchronous carcinoma and 7 patients with metachronous carcinoma. The independent risk factors associated with the prognosis of these patients were T staging, N staging, clinical staging, performance status (PS), smoking index and treatment model (all P < 0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that smoking index, staging of tumor and treatment were independent risk factors of prognosis. The rate of larynx function preservation was increasing with years from 2000 to 2006. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery plus radiotherapy is the most important treatment for the patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Tumor stage and treatment model are important predictors of survival in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.

[Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III-IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Most studies on chemoradiotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) showed that induction chemotherapy before radiotherapy could not improve the survival of the patients, but the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy after radiotherapy on advanced NPC is uncertain. A study showed that concurrent chemoradiotherapy could improve the prognosis of advanced NPC. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy on stage III-IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A total of 80 patients with stage III-IVa NPC were randomized into test group (40 patients) and control group (40 patients). Test group received concurrent chemotherapy of weekly cisplatin (25 mg/m2) for 6 weeks, and conventional radiotherapy of standard fractionation at 2 Gy/day to a total of 70 Gy to the nasopharynx, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy of cisplatin (25 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2) daily for 3 days and repeated every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Control group received only conventional radiotherapy. RESULTS: After treatment, 34 patients in test group and 32 in control group achieved complete remission (CR) (P>0.05); the CR rate of neck lymph node was significantly higher in test group than in control group (92.5% vs. 75.0%, P<0.05). The 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival rates were significantly higher in test group than in control group (92.7% vs. 81.2%, 78.6% vs. 52.7%, 64.2% vs. 42.3%, P<0.01). The 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in test group than in control group (91.2% vs. 78.2%, 76.7% vs. 51.9%, 63.5% vs. 40.3%, P<0.01). The 5-year distant metastasis rate was significantly lower in test group than in control group (15.0% vs. 35.0%, P<0.05). Grade III mucositis was more frequently observed in test group than in control group (75.0% vs. 25.0%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy could improve the CR rate of neck lymph node, overall survival, and disease-free survival of stage III-IVa NPC patients, suppress distant metastasis, but increase the risk of grade III mucositis.

[Dosimetry of translating scanning beam irradiation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: It was difficult to get a good tissue dose distribution using fixed field irradiation technique in large field. But the translating scanning beam irradiation can make it. This study was designed to create a treatment method and to evaluate the dosimetry of translating scanning beam irradiation and the clinical indications. MATERIALS & METHODS: The dosage parameter was measured under the status of the translating scanning beam irradiation in the cobalt radiotherapy machine using a translating scanning beam irradiation device which was developed by Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and Zhejiang University. The ionization chamber method was used in the dosage measurement. RESULTS: (1) The translating scanning beam irradiation can increase the percentage depth dose. (2) The dosage homogeneous distribution is better in the translating scanning beam irradiation than fixed field irradiation. (3) There is no problem in dosage connection between two closed fields in one target volume. (4) The moving penumbra was produced in the translating scanning beam irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: According to the dosage distribution property of translating scanning beam irradiation, it has some obvious advantages in big fields irradiation (for example: total spinal cord, half body, and total body irradiation).