Ecdysone and gene expressions for chromatin remodeling, histone modification, and Broad Complex in relation to pupal commitment in Bombyx mori.

In the present study, we tried to clarify when and how pupal commitment (PT) better to use PC occurs and what is involved in the PT of Bombyx mori. To clarify this, we examined the responsiveness of a wing disc to ecdysone, referring to metamorphosis-related BR-C, development-related Myc and Wnt, and chromatin remodeling-related genes at around the predicted PT stage of the Bombyx wing disc. Wing disc responsiveness to juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysone was examined using Methoprene and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in vitro. The body weight of B. mori increased after the last larval ecdysis, peaked at Day 5 of the fifth larval instar (D5L5), and then decreased. The responsiveness of the wing disc to JH decreased after the last larval ecdysis up to D3L5. Bmbr-c (the Broad Complex of B. mori) showed enhanced expression in D4L5 wing discs with 20E treatment. Some chromatin remodeler and histone modifier genes (Bmsnr1, Bmutx, and Bmtip60) showed upregulation after being cultured with 20E in D4L5 wing discs. A low concentration of 20E is suggested to induce responsiveness to 20E in D4L5 wing discs. Bmbr-c, Bmsnr1, Bmutx, and Bmtip60 were upregulated after being cultured with a low concentration of 20E in D4L5 wing discs. The expression of Bmmyc and Bmwnt1 did not show a change after being cultured with or without 20E in D4L5 wing discs, while enhanced expression was observed with 20E in D5L5 wing discs. From the present results, we concluded that PT of the wing disc of B. mori occurred beginning on D4L5 with the secretion of low concentrations of ecdysteroids. Bmsnr1, Bmutx, Bmtip60, and BR-C are also involved.

Fibroblast-derived Extracellular Vesicles Induce Lung Cancer Progression in the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Microenvironment.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive aging-related lung disease associated with increased lung cancer risk. Although previous studies have shown that IPF worsens the survival of patients with lung cancer, whether IPF independently affects cancer malignancy and prognosis remains inconclusive. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as active carriers of molecular biomarkers and mediators of intercellular communication in lung homeostasis and pathogenesis. EV cargo-mediated fibroblast-tumor cell communication might participate in the development and progression of lung cancer by modulating various signaling pathways. In this study, we examined the impact of lung fibroblast (LF)-derived EVs on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) malignancy in the IPF microenvironment. Here, we showed that LFs derived from patients with IPF have phenotypes of myofibroblast differentiation and cellular senescence. Furthermore, we found that IPF LF-derived EVs have markedly altered microRNA compositions and exert proproliferative functions on NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, the phenotype was attributed mainly to the enrichment of miR-19a in IPF LF-derived EVs. As a downstream signaling pathway, mir-19a in IPF LF-derived EVs regulates ZMYND11-mediated c-Myc activation in NSCLC, potentially contributing to the poor prognosis of patients with NSCLC with IPF. Our discoveries provide novel mechanistic insights for understanding lung cancer progression in the IPF microenvironment. Accordingly, blocking the secretion of IPF LF-derived EV miR-19a and their signaling pathways is a potential therapeutic strategy for managing IPF and lung cancer progression.

Expression and localization of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus GP37.

Mitochondria play an essential role in intracellular energy metabolism. This study described the involvement of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) GP37 (BmGP37) in host mitochondria. Herein, the proteins associated with host mitochondria isolated from BmNPV-infected or mock-infected cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were compared. One mitochondria-associated protein in virus-infected cells was identified as BmGP37 by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Furthermore, the BmGP37 antibodies were generated, which could react specifically with BmGP37 in the BmNPV-infected BmN cells. Western blot experiments showed that BmGP37 was expressed at 18 h post-infection and was verified as a mitochondria-associated protein. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that BmGP37 localized to the host mitochondria during BmNPV infection. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed that BmGP37 is a novel component protein of the occlusion-derived virus (ODV) of BmNPV. The present results indicated that BmGP37 is one of the ODV-associated proteins and may have important roles in host mitochondria during BmNPV infection.

Impaired TRIM16-Mediated Lysophagy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pathogenesis.

Insufficient autophagic degradation has been implicated in accelerated cellular senescence during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Aging-linked and cigarette smoke (CS)-induced functional deterioration of lysosomes may be associated with impaired autophagy. Lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) is indicative of damaged lysosomes. Galectin-3 and tripartite motif protein (TRIM) 16 play a cooperative role in recognizing LMP and inducing lysophagy, a lysosome-selective autophagy, to maintain lysosome function. In this study, we sought to examine the role of TRIM16-mediated lysophagy in regulating CS-induced LMP and cellular senescence during COPD pathogenesis by using human bronchial epithelial cells and lung tissues. CS extract (CSE) induced lysosomal damage via LMP, as detected by galectin-3 accumulation. Autophagy was responsible for modulating LMP and lysosome function during CSE exposure. TRIM16 was involved in CSE-induced lysophagy, with impaired lysophagy associated with lysosomal dysfunction and accelerated cellular senescence. Airway epithelial cells in COPD lungs showed an increase in lipofuscin, aggresome and galectin-3 puncta, reflecting accumulation of lysosomal damage with concomitantly reduced TRIM16 expression levels. Human bronchial epithelial cells isolated from COPD patients showed reduced TRIM16 but increased galectin-3, and a negative correlation between TRIM16 and galectin-3 protein levels was demonstrated. Damaged lysosomes with LMP are accumulated in epithelial cells in COPD lungs, which can be at least partly attributed to impaired TRIM16-mediated lysophagy. Increased LMP in lung epithelial cells may be responsible for COPD pathogenesis through the enhancement of cellular senescence.

Resveratrol inhibits development of colorectal adenoma via suppression of LEF1; comprehensive analysis with connectivity map.

Although many chemopreventive studies on colorectal tumors have been reported, no effective and safe preventive agent is currently available. We searched for candidate preventive compounds against colorectal tumor comprehensively from United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds by using connectivity map (CMAP) analysis coupled with in vitro screening with colorectal adenoma (CRA) patient-derived organoids (PDOs). We generated CRA-specific gene signatures based on the DNA microarray analysis of CRA and normal epithelial specimens, applied them to CMAP analysis with 1309 FDA-approved compounds, and identified 121 candidate compounds that should cancel the gene signatures. We narrowed them down to 15 compounds, and evaluated their inhibitory effects on the growth of CRA-PDOs in vitro. We finally identified resveratrol, one of the polyphenolic phytochemicals, as a compound showing the strongest inhibitory effect on the growth of CRA-PDOs compared with normal epithelial PDOs. When resveratrol was administered to ApcMin/+ mice at 15 or 30 mg/kg, the number of polyps (adenomas) was significantly reduced in both groups compared with control mice. Similarly, the number of polyps (adenomas) was significantly reduced in azoxymethane-injected rats treated with 10 or 100 mg/resveratrol compared with control rats. Microarray analysis of adenomas from resveratrol-treated rats revealed the highest change (downregulation) in expression of LEF1, a key molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway. Treatment with resveratrol significantly downregulated the Wnt-target gene (MYC) in CRA-PDOs. Our data demonstrated that resveratrol can be the most effective compound for chemoprevention of colorectal tumors, the efficacy of which is mediated through suppression of LEF1 expression in the Wnt signaling pathway.

TIMP1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion capability of right-sided colon cancers via the FAK/Akt signaling pathway.

Although right-sided colorectal cancer (CRC) shows a worse prognosis than left-sided CRC, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We established patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from left- and right-sided CRCs and directly compared cell proliferation and invasion capability between them. We then analyzed the expression of numerous genes in signal transduction pathways to clarify the mechanism of the differential prognosis. Cell proliferation activity and invasion capability in right-sided cancer PDOs were significantly higher than in left-sided cancer PDOs and normal PDOs, as revealed by Cell Titer Glo and transwell assays, respectively. We then used quantitative RT-PCR to compare 184 genes in 30 pathways among right-sided and left-sided cancer and normal PDOs and found that the TIMP1 mRNA level was highest in right-sided PDOs. TIMP1 protein levels were upregulated in right-sided PDOs compared with normal PDOs but was downregulated in left-sided PDOs. TIMP1 knockdown with shRNA significantly decreased cell proliferation activity and invasion capability in right-sided PDOs but not in left-sided PDOs. Moreover, TIMP1 knockdown significantly decreased pFAK and pAkt expression levels in right-sided PDOs but not in left-sided PDOs. A database analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that TIMP1 expression in right-sided CRCs was significantly higher than in left-sided CRCs. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significantly shorter overall survival in high-TIMP1 patients versus low-TIMP1 patients with right-sided CRCs but not left-sided CRCs. Our data suggest that TIMP1 is overexpressed in right-sided CRCs and promotes cell proliferation and invasion capability through the TIMP1/FAK/Akt pathway, leading to a poor prognosis. The TIMP1/FAK/Akt pathway can be a target for therapeutic agents in right-sided CRCs.

Real-life effectiveness of dupilumab in patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma comorbid with CRSwNP.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab, an anti-IL-4α receptor antibody, is a new treatment for severe or refractory asthma. However, real-world evidence on the efficacy of dupilumab in patients with mild to moderate bronchial asthma is lacking. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the effects of dupilumab in 62 patients who received dupilumab for eosinophilic sinusitis comorbid with asthma at a single centre in Japan. Type 2 inflammatory markers, ACT, respiratory function tests, and forced oscillation technique (FOT) were analysed before, three months after, and one year after dupilumab administration, mainly in patients with mild to moderate asthma. RESULTS: FEV1, %FEV1, %FVC, treatment steps for asthma and ACT improved significantly after three months of dupilumab treatment. FeNO was markedly decreased, whereas IgE and eosinophil counts showed no significant changes. Pre- and post-treatment respiratory resistance (Rrs) and respiratory reactance (Xrs) correlated significantly with FEV1. Improvement in %FEV1 was associated with higher FeNO and higher serum IgE before dupilumab treatment. CONCLUSION: Dupilumab treatment for sinusitis may improve respiratory functions, asthma symptoms, and asthma treatment reduction, even if the associated bronchial asthma is not severe.

The Impact of Postoperative Renal Function Recovery after Laparoscopic and Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between warm ischemic time (WIT) and postoperative renal function using Trifecta achievement in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who underwent robotic (RAPN) or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with RCC who underwent RAPN (RAPN group) or LPN (LPN group) at three institutions in Japan between March 2012 and October 2021. The primary endpoints were the rate of trifecta achievement in both surgical techniques and the association between WIT and recovery of postoperative renal function surgical outcomes. Results: The rate of trifecta achievement was significantly lower in patients with LPN than in those with RAPN (p < 0.001). WIT ≥ 25 min were 18 patients (18%) in the RAPN group and 89 (52.7%) in the LPN group. The postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was almost the same. However, 13 patients (7.7%) had a decreased in eGFR ≥ 15% at 3 months after LPN compared with the preoperative eGFR. Conclusions: The rate of trifecta achievement in the RAPN group was significantly higher than that in the LPN group. However, eGFR was identified as relatively better preserved after PN in both groups.

Indocyanine green-labeled dasatinib as a new fluorescent probe for molecular imaging of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It is difficult to differentiate gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) from other subepithelial lesions under gastrointestinal endoscopy. Because most GISTs express tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT, fluorescence-labeled c-KIT-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors seem to be useful agents for molecular imaging of GIST. We aimed to develop a near-infrared fluorescent imaging technology for GIST targeting c-KIT using the novel fluorescent probe indocyanine green-labeled dasatinib (ICG-dasatinib) and to investigate the antitumor effect of ICG-dasatinib on GIST cells. METHODS: Indocyanine green-labeled dasatinib was synthesized by labeling linker-induced dasatinib with ICG derivative 3-indocyanine-green-acyl-1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione. Human GIST cell lines GIST-T1 and GIST-882M were incubated with ICG-dasatinib and observed by fluorescent microscopy. GIST cells were incubated with ICG-dasatinib, unlabeled dasatinib, or imatinib, and cell viabilities were evaluated. Subcutaneous GIST model mice or orthotopic GIST model rats were intravenously injected with ICG-dasatinib and observed using an IVIS Spectrum. RESULTS: Strong fluorescent signals of ICG-dasatinib were observed in both GIST cell lines in vitro. IC50 values for ICG-dasatinib, unlabeled dasatinib, and imatinib were 13.9, 1.17, and 16.2 nM in GIST-T1 and 26.6, 3.63, and 47.6 nM in GIST-882M cells, respectively. ICG-dasatinib accumulated in subcutaneous xenografts in mice. Fluorescent signals were also observed in liver and gallbladder, indicating biliary excretion; however, fluorescence intensity of tumors was significantly higher than that of intestine after washing. Strong fluorescent signals were observed in orthotopic xenografts through the covering normal mucosa in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Indocyanine green-labeled dasatinib could visualize GIST cells and xenografted tumors. The antitumor effect of ICG-dasatinib was preserved to the same degree as imatinib.

Recent Advances in Molecular Imaging of Colorectal Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Recent endoscopic studies have revealed that small colorectal tumors are often overlooked during colonoscopy, indicating that more sensitive detection methods are needed. SUMMARY: Molecular imaging has received considerable attention as a new endoscopic technique with high sensitivity. It generally employs a fluorescence-labeled compound that specifically binds to a molecule on the tumor. Fluorescent probes for molecular imaging are largely classified as 2 types: a fluorescence-labeled antibody targeting a molecule specifically expressed on the tumor cell surface such as epidermal growth factor receptor or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); and a fluorescence-labeled small molecule compound targeting a molecule specifically expressed in tumor cells including c-Met, glutathione S-transferase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, cathepsin, or endothelin A receptor. These probes successfully detected colorectal tumors in several animal studies. Moreover, 3 recent human clinical trials evaluating endoscopic molecular imaging for colorectal tumors have been reported. In one study, a Cy5-labeled synthetic peptide against c-Met was developed, and fluorescent endoscopic observation with this probe detected a greater number of colorectal adenomas than with white light observation. Another trial used IR800-labeled anti-VEGF antibody, which sensitively detected human colorectal adenomas by fluorescent endoscopy. Last, a fluorescent probe with synthetic peptide against BRAF-positive cells was able to visualize sessile serrated lesions. The fluorescent probes accumulated at very high levels in colorectal tumor cells but at lower levels in surrounding nonneoplastic mucosa. Key Messages: We expect that molecular imaging techniques with fluorescent probes will soon lead to the establishment of a highly sensitive endoscopic method for colorectal tumor detection.

S100P Expression via DNA Hypomethylation Promotes Cell Growth in the Sessile Serrated Adenoma/Polyp-Cancer Sequence.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/Ps) are a putative precursor lesion of colon cancer. Although the relevance of DNA hypermethylation in the SSA/P-cancer sequence is well documented, the role of DNA hypomethylation is unknown. We investigated the biological relevance of DNA hypomethylation in the SSA/P-cancer sequence by using 3-dimensional organoids of SSA/P. METHODS: We first analyzed hypomethylated genes using datasets from our previous DNA methylation array analysis on 7 SSA/P and 2 cancer in SSA/P specimens. Expression levels of hypomethylated genes in SSA/P specimens were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. We established 3-dimensional SSA/P organoids and performed knockdown experiments using a lentiviral shRNA vector. DNA hypomethylation at CpG sites of the gene was quantitated by MassARRAY analysis. RESULTS: The mean number of hypomethylated genes in SSA/P and cancer in SSA/P was 41.6 ± 27.5 and 214 ± 19.8, respectively, showing a stepwise increment in hypomethylation during the SSA/P-cancer sequence. S100P, S100α2, PKP3, and MUC2 were most commonly hypomethylated in SSA/P specimens. The mRNA and protein expression levels of S100P, S100α2, and MUC2 were significantly elevated in SSA/P compared with normal colon tissues, as revealed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Among these, mRNA and protein levels were highest for S100P. Knockdown of the S100P gene using a lentiviral shRNA vector in 3-dimensional SSA/P organoids inhibited cell growth by >50% (p < 0.01). The mean diameter of SSA/P organoids with S100P gene knockdown was significantly smaller compared with control organoids. MassARRAY analysis of DNA hypomethylation in the S100P gene revealed significant hypomethylation at specific CpG sites in intron 1, exon 1, and the 5'-flanking promoter region. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DNA hypomethylation, including S100P hypomethylation, is supposedly associated with the SSA/P-cancer sequence. S100P overexpression via DNA hypomethylation plays an important role in promoting cell growth in the SSA/P-cancer sequence.

Clinical utility of thoracoscopy in elderly tuberculous pleurisy patients under local anesthesia.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy is important in Japan because it currently has a moderate tuberculosis prevalence. However, physicians often have difficulty making a diagnosis. It was reported that thoracoscopy under local anesthesia is useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, but there are no reports focusing on elderly patients. METHODS: In this study, the usefulness of thoracoscopy under local anesthesia was evaluated in elderly patients. Among 170 patients who underwent thoracoscopy under local anesthesia at our hospital during 11 years from January 2008 to December 2018, those aged 75 years or older (n = 75) were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients underwent thoracoscopy under local anesthesia for detailed examination of pleural effusion of unknown cause. Of these, 18 were diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy. The median age was 82 years (range: 75-92 years). The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy was made in 11 patients in whom Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected and in four patients whose pathological findings indicated epithelioid granuloma accompanied by caseous necrosis. Clinical diagnosis was made in the remaining three patients based on thoracoscopic findings of the pleural cavity and a high level of adenosine deaminase in pleural fluid. No serious complications attributable to the examination were observed in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopy under local anesthesia was useful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy in elderly patients, with useful information being also obtained for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Low Body Mass Index as a Predictive Factor for Postoperative Infectious Complications after Ureterorenoscopic Lithotripsy.

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate predictive factors of postoperative fever (POF) after ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy (URSL). Materials and Methods: A total of 594 consecutive patients who underwent URSL for urinary stone disease at Gifu Municipal Hospital and Chuno Kosei Hospital between April 2016 and January 2021 were enrolled in this study. In all patients, antibiotics were routinely administered intraoperatively and the next day after surgery. We used rigid and/or flexible ureterorenoscopes depending on the stone location for URSL. Stones were fragmented using a holmium: YAG laser. The fragments of the stone were manually removed as much as possible using a stone basket catheter. A ureteral stent was placed at the end of the surgery in all cases. Results: The median age and body mass index (BMI) in all patients were 62 years and 23.8 kg/m2, respectively. The median operation duration was 52 min. The most common URSL-related complication was POF in 28 (4.7%) patients. In these patients, the rates of antibiotic administration and ureteral stent insertion before surgery were significantly higher than in those without POF. In multivariate analysis, BMI was associated with POF after URSL. There were no significant differences in predicting POF after surgery in patients who had bacteriuria or received antibiotics before surgery. Conclusions: A low BMI was significantly associated with POF after URS or URSL.

[A Case of Pyonephrosis Due to Urethral Stent Forgotten for 4 Years].

A 53-year-old woman had left pyonephrosis and bladder stone. A double-J ureteral stent was placed for left ureterostenosis and she was lost to followup. Five years later, she had back pain. Computed tomography revealed left hydronephrosis, pyonephrosis and bladder stone. After drainage by percutaneous nephrostomy and antibiotic treatment, left nephroureterectomy was performed. She has been free from recurrence of infection for 3 months after the surgery.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy receptor modulates tumor growth and chemoresistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a lysosomal degradation pathway of selective soluble proteins. Lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2a (LAMP2A) is the key receptor protein of CMA; downregulation of LAMP2A leads to CMA blockade. Although CMA activation has been involved in cancer growth, CMA status and functions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by focusing on the roles in regulating chemosensitivity remain to be clarified. In this study, we found that LAMP2A expression is elevated in NSCLC cell lines and patient's tumors, conferring poor survival and platinum resistance in NSCLC patients. LAMP2A knockdown in NSCLC cells suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation and increased the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro. Furthermore, we found that intrinsic apoptosis signaling is the mechanism of cell death involved with CMA blockade. Remarkably, LAMP2A knockdown repressed tumorigenicity and sensitized the tumors to cisplatin treatment in NSCLC-bearing mice. Our discoveries suggest that LAMP2A is involved in the regulation of cancer malignant phenotypes and represents a promising new target against chemoresistant NSCLC.

Whole-genome sequencing and comparative transcriptome analysis of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus La strain.

The Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) La is a variant BmNPV strain isolated in Laos. La has different features from BmNPV type strain T3 in virulence, production of the polyhedrin protein, and the formation of multicapsid occlusion-derived viruses. Here, the whole-genome sequence of La was compared to the sequences of nine BmNPV and two Bombyx mandarina nucleopolyhedrovirus strains. The complete La genome consisted of 127,618 base pairs with a G + C content of 40.3% and contained putative 136 open reading frames encoding more than 60 amino acids. The La genome lacked the bro-b gene and had the highest identity with that of the T3 strain. A comparison of the transcriptomes of La- and T3-infected cells showed that the expression levels of the polyhedrin and cathepsin genes were greater in cells infected with La as compared to those infected with T3. Interestingly, the virus genes with different RNA levels between the two BmNPV strains were assembled into five clusters in the genome of La. Also, the RNA levels of host ribosomal protein genes were significantly decreased in cells infected with La as compared to those infected with T3.

A case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy during treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis in a type 1 diabetic patient.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) patients with non-hematological malignancy are far less than with hematological malignancy patients. We encountered a very rare case of IPA in which type 1 diabetes was the only conceivable risk factor. Further, according to the diagnostic categories of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria for IPA, the frequency of proven diagnosis is very low. Here we report a proven IPA, which rapidly developed when the patient with type 1 diabetes was being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis, which was successfully treated with the combination therapy of voriconazole (VRCZ) and micafungin (MCFG), based on early diagnosis using bronchoscopy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted molecular imaging of colorectal tumors: Detection and treatment evaluation of tumors in animal models.

To overcome the problem of overlooking colorectal tumors, a new and highly sensitive modality of colonoscopy is needed. Moreover, it is also important to establish a new modality to evaluate viable tumor volume in primary lesions of colorectal cancer (CRC) during chemotherapy. Therefore, we carried out molecular imaging of colorectal tumors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is highly expressed on tumor cells, for evaluating chemotherapeutic efficacy and for endoscopic detection of colorectal adenomas. We first attempted to image five CRC cell lines with various levels of EGFR expression using an Alexa Fluor-labeled anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (AF-EGFR-Ab). A strong fluorescence signal was observed in the cells depending on the level of EGFR expression. When nude mice xenografted with LIM1215 CRC cells, which highly express EGFR, were i.v. injected with AF-EGFR-Ab, a strong fluorescence signal appeared in the tumor with a high signal to noise ratio, peaking at 48 hours after injection and then gradually decreasing, as shown using an IVIS Spectrum system. When the xenografted mice were treated with 5-fluorouracil, fluorescence intensity in the tumor decreased in proportion to the viable tumor cell volume. Moreover, when the colorectum of azoxymethane-treated rats was observed using a thin fluorescent endoscope with AF-EGFR-Ab, all 10 small colorectal adenomas (≤3 mm) were detected with a clear fluorescence signal. These preliminary results of animal experiments suggest that EGFR-targeted fluorescent molecular imaging may be useful for quantitatively evaluating cell viability in CRC during chemotherapy, and also for detecting small adenomas using a fluorescent endoscope.

First report of an Asian family with gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS) revealed with the germline mutation of the APC exon 1B promoter region.

A 48-year-old Japanese female with left hypochondralgia presented at our hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed gastric cancers and carpeting fundic gland polyposis (FGPs) without Helicobacter pylori infection. Computed tomography showed multiple liver metastases. Total colonoscopy revealed a colonic tubular adenoma but not polyposis. She was diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis and received chemotherapy. Her mother had died from gastric cancer, and her elderly brother and niece had FGPs as revealed by EGD. Thus, the pedigree was diagnosed as gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). Germline mutation analysis exhibited a point mutation in exon1B of the APC gene (c.-191T > C). Adenocarcinoma showed a gastric mucinous phenotype and was positive for a somatic mutation of p53, suggesting that p53 mutation may play a role in FGPs carcinogenesis. This is the first family with GAPPS in Asia in whom germline mutation of APC exon 1B has been detected.

Lansoprazole inhibits the development of sessile serrated lesions by inducing G1 arrest via Skp2/p27 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Although the serrated-neoplasia pathway reportedly accounts for 15-30% of colorectal cancer (CRC), no studies on chemoprevention of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) have been reported. We searched for effective compounds comprehensively from a large series of compounds by employing Connectivity Map (CMAP) analysis of SSL-specific gene expression profiles coupled with in vitro screening using SSL patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and validated their efficacy using a xenograft mouse model of SSL. METHODS: We generated SSL-specific gene signatures based on DNA microarray data, and applied them to CMAP analysis with 1309 FDA-approved compounds to select candidate compounds. We evaluated their inhibitory effects on SSL-PDOs using a cell viability assay. SSL-PDOs were orthotopically transplanted into NOG mice for in vivo evaluation. The signal transduction pathway was evaluated by gene expression profile and protein expression analysis. RESULTS: We identified 221 compounds by employing CMAP analysis of SSL-specific signatures, which should cancel the gene signatures, and narrowed them down to 17 compounds. Cell viability assay using SSL-PDOs identified lansoprazole as having the lowest IC50 value (47 µM) among 17 compounds. When SSL-PDO was orthotopically transplanted into murine intestinal tract, the tumor grew gradually. Administration of lansoprazole to mice inhibited the growth of SSL xenograft whereas the tumor in control mice treated with vehicle alone grew gradually over time. The Ki67 index in xenograft lesions from the lansoprazole group was significantly lower compared with the control group. Cell cycle analysis of SSL-PDOs treated with lansoprazole exhibited a significant increase in G1 phase cell population. Microarray and protein analysis revealed that lansoprazole downregulated Skp2 expression and upregulated p27 expression in SSL-PDOs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data strongly suggest that lansoprazole is the most effective chemopreventive agent against SSL, and that lansoprazole induces G1 cell cycle arrest by downregulating Skp2 and upregulating p27 in SSL cells.