Prognostic value of Kinesin-4 family genes mRNA expression in early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Correlation Analysis Between Trace Elements and Colorectal Cancer Metabolism by Integrated Serum Proteome and Metabolome

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the third most common cancer with a high mortality rate. The underlying molecular mechanism of CRC, especially advanced CRC, remains poorly understood, resulting in few available therapeutic plans. To expand our knowledge of the molecular characteristics of advanced CRC and explore possible new therapeutic strategies, we herein conducted integrated proteomics and metabolomics analyses of 40 serum samples collected from 20 advanced CRC patients before and after treatment. The mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis was performed under data-independent acquisition (DIA), and the metabolomics analysis was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS/MS). Trace elements including Mg, Zn, and Fe were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. Four of the 20 patients had progressive disease (PD) after treatment, and clinical test results indicated that they all had impaired liver functions. In the proteomics analysis, 64 proteins were discovered to be significantly altered after treatment. These proteins were enriched in cancer-related pathways and pathways participating immune responses, such as MAPK signaling pathway and complement/coagulation cascades. In the metabolomics analysis, 128 metabolites were found to be significantly changed after treatment, and most of them are enriched in pathways associated with lipid metabolism. The cholesterol metabolism pathway was significantly enriched in both the proteomics and metabolomics pathway enrichment analyses. The concentrations of Mg in the serums of CRC patients were significantly lower than those in healthy individuals, which returned to the normal range after treatment. Correlation analysis linked key lipids, proteins, and Mg as immune modulators in the development of advanced CRC. The results of this study not only extended our knowledge on the molecular basis of advanced CRC but also provided potential novel therapeutic targets for CRC treatment.

KIF21A regulates breast cancer aggressiveness and is prognostic of patient survival and tumor recurrence

PURPOSE

Invasion of carcinoma cells into surrounding tissue affects breast cancer staging, influences choice of treatment, and impacts on patient outcome. KIF21A is a member of the kinesin superfamily that has been well-studied in congenital extraocular muscle fibrosis. However, its biological relevance in breast cancer is unknown. This study investigated the functional roles of KIF21A in this malignancy and examined its expression pattern in breast cancer tissue.

METHODS

The function of KIF21A in breast carcinoma was studied in vitro by silencing its expression in breast cancer cells and examining the changes in cellular activities. Immunohistochemical staining of breast cancer tissue microarrays was performed to determine the expression patterns of KIF21A.

RESULTS

Knocking down the expression of KIF21A using siRNA in MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 human breast cancer cells resulted in significant decreases in tumor cell migration and invasiveness. This was associated with reduced Patched 1 expression and F-actin microfilaments. Additionally, the number of focal adhesion kinase- and paxillin-associated focal adhesions was increased. Immunohistochemical staining of breast cancer tissue microarrays showed that KIF21A was expressed in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of carcinoma cells. Predominance of cytoplasmic KIF21A was significantly associated with larger tumors and high grade cancer, and prognostic of cause-specific overall patient survival and breast cancer recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The data demonstrates that KIF21A is an important regulator of breast cancer aggressiveness and may be useful in refining prognostication of this malignant disease.

Prognostic value of Kinesin-4 family genes mRNA expression in early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of Kinesin-4 family genes mRNA expression in early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to figure out the association between Kinesin-4 family genes expression and PDAC patients overall survival time. Joint-effect survival analysis and stratified survival analysis were carried out to assess the prognosis prediction value of prognosis-related gene. Nomogram was constructed for the individualized prognosis prediction. In addition, we had used the gene set enrichment analysis and genome-wide co-expression analysis to further explore the potential mechanism.

RESULTS

KIF21A expression level was significantly associated with PDAC patient clinical prognosis outcome and patient with a high expression of KIF21A would have a shorter overall survival time. The prognosis prediction significance of KIF21A was well validated by the joint-effect survival analysis, stratified survival analysis, and nomogram. Meanwhile, the gene set enrichment analysis and genome-wide co-expression analysis revealed that KIF21A might involve in DNA damage and repair, transcription and translation process, post-translation protein modification, cell cycle, carcinogensis genes and pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current research demonstrated that KIF21A could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for patient with early-stage PDAC after pancreaticoduodenectomy.