MicroRNA-34a promotes MICB expression in hepatocytes.

MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) behaves as a tumor suppressor by decreasing the expression of oncogenes involved in multiple carcinogenic pathways. Intravenous delivery of miR-34a mimics has been investigated in clinical trials as a potential treatment for advanced cancers; however, the effect of miR-34a on cancer immune surveillance is controversial. In the current study, we found that miR-34a plays a dual role in the regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I-related sequence B (MICB) protein, a ligand of the NKG2D receptor. MiR-34a could both induce and reduce MICB expression by upregulating ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase and downregulating the transcription factor E2F1, respectively. The net effect of miR-34a on MICB expression depended on endogenous E2F1 levels. Overexpression of miR-34a promoted MICB expression in hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells that have low E2F1 levels but not in HCC cells that have high E2F1 levels. In HCC patients, the expression of miR-34a and MICB showed positive correlation in paratumor liver tissues, which have low E2F1 levels, but not in HCC tissues, which have high E2F1 levels. We showed that miR-34a overexpression in non-transformed liver cells enhanced cytolysis and interferon-γ production by NK-92MI cells. Furthermore, higher miR-34a expression in tumor and paratumor tissues was associated with positive and negative outcomes, respectively, in HCC patients. Our findings suggest that miR-34a induces MICB expression in paratumor liver tissues, which may cause liver damage and serious cytokine release syndrome, thus disclosing potential side effects of systemic administration of miR-34a in anticancer therapy.

Effects of Sintilimab Plus Radiotherapy on Levels of Spondin-2 and Glucose Transporter-1 in Patients with Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effects of sintilimab plus radiotherapy on levels of Spondin-2 and glucose transporter-1 (Glut-1) in patients with cervical cancer. Patients and Methods: A total of 112 patients with cervical cancer treated from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected in this randomized control trial and divided into a control group (n = 56) and a study group (n = 56) using the random number table method. Chemotherapy using docetaxel + cisplatin was performed for both groups, based on which the control group was given radiotherapy (external conformal radiotherapy + intracavitary irradiation), and the study group received sintilimab plus radiotherapy. The treatment lasted for six cycles, with 21 days as one cycle. Results: The total response rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (55.36% vs 33.93%) (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in adverse effects between the two groups (P > 0.05). After six cycles of treatment, the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, Spondin-2 and Glut-1 decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment, and they were lower in the study group (P < 0.05). The survival rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (87.50% vs 71.43%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Sintilimab plus radiotherapy can effectively reduce the levels of serum tumor markers, such as Spondin-2 and Glut-1, and enhance the clinical efficacy on patients with cervical cancer, without increasing adverse effects.

[Retracted] MicroRNA­329­3p targets MAPK1 to suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion in cervical cancer.

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that certain of the Transwell cell migration and invasion assay data featured in Figs. 5C and 6C were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had already been published elsewhere prior to the submission of this paper to Oncology Reports, or were submitted for consideration for publication at around the same time. In view of the fact that certain of these data had already apparently been published prior to the submission of this article for publication, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 37: 2743­2750, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5555].

Degradation of endogenous proteins and generation of a null-like phenotype in zebrafish using Trim-Away technology.

Trim-Away is a recent technique to rapidly deplete a protein from any cell type. Guided by antibodies, TRIM21 selects proteins for destruction. However, the applicability of this method in model organisms has not been investigated. Here, we show that Trim-Away can degrade proteins in zebrafish embryos. Trim-Away depletes proteins faster than morpholinos, which enables analysis of protein function during early embryogenesis. Furthermore, Trim-Away can be applied to evaluate the role of maternally contributed proteins in zebrafish embryos. Our findings indicate that Trim-Away is a powerful tool to perform functional analysis of proteins during zebrafish development.

Exploration of the molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer based on mRNA expression profiles and predicted microRNA interactions.

The molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer have been minimally explored with multi-omics data. In the present study, mRNA expression profiles were analyzed and combined with predicted miRNA interactions to contribute to the characterization of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of cervical cancer. A total of 92 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in 33 tumor samples by comparison with 29 normal samples. mRNA-miRNA interaction network analysis revealed that 16 out of the 92 DEGs, including checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), SRY-box 17 (SOX17), centrosomal protein 55, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), and inhibitor of DNA binding 4, were the targets of 4 miRNAs which were previously reported to be involved in the regulation of cervical cancer. Tumor and normal samples could be distinctly classified into two groups based on the expression of the 16 DEGs. Furthermore, survival analysis using the SurvExpress database indicated that the 16 DEGs could individually significantly differentiate low- and high-risk cervical cancer groups. Overall, multiple biological processes are likely to participate in the progression of cervical cancer based on the pathway and function enrichment identified for the DEGs. The dysregulation of SOX17 is associated with the regulation of embryonic development, the determination of cell fate and likely promotes cancer cell transformation. The dysregulation of CHEK1 and CDKN2A further promote cancer cell proliferation by affecting the cell cycle checkpoint in response to DNA damage. The identification of critical genes and biological processes associated with cervical cancer may be beneficial for the exploration of the molecular mechanisms.

MicroRNA-329-3p targets MAPK1 to suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion in cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer worldwide and remains as one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women. Despite great progress in the treatment of cervical cancer, the 5-year overall survival rate for patients with this disease remains unsatisfactory. Over the past decade, an increasing number of studies indicate a central role for microRNAs in the initiation and progression of cervical cancer. microRNA­329-3p (miR-329-3p) has been studied in many types of human cancer; however, the expression level, biological role and the underlying mechanism of miR-329-3p in cervical cancer has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we found that the expression levels of miR-329-3p were reduced in both cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Low miR-329-3p expression was negatively correlated with histological grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, and lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer patients. In addition, upregulation of miR­329-3p suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer. Furthermore, MAPK1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-329-3p. MAPK1 was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and was inversely correlated with miR-329-3p expression in the cervical cancer tissues. Silencing of MAPK1 by RNA interference mimicked the effects of miR-329-3p overexpression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion in cervical cancer. Moreover, rescue experiments showed that restoration of the expression of MAPK1 reversed the effects of miR­329-3p overexpression in cervical cancer cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-329-3p has a critical tumor-suppressive roles by directly targeting MAPK1 in cervical cancer, and it may be investigated as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with this disease.