Trends in the lung cancer incidence and mortality in the Slovak and Czech Republics in the contexts of an international comparison

Clustering Trend Changes of Lung Cancer Incidence in Europe via the Growth Mixture Model during 1990-2016

Background

Lung cancer accounts for half of all deaths from cancer in Europe and has the highest incidence in Southern Europe. The current study aimed to cluster trend changes of lung cancer incidence in Europe via the growth mixture model.

Methods

The dataset included incidence rates of female and male lung cancer per 100,000 for 42 European countries during 1990–2016 compiled from the Gapminder database. The growth mixture model was implemented to recognize different longitudinal patterns and estimate the linear trend of each pattern in Mplus 7.4 software.

Results

The observed overall trend of incidence for female and male lung cancer was raising and falling, respectively, and Iceland was the only country with higher incidence of female versus male lung cancer in 2016. The growth mixture model suggests 3 main patterns for the trend of lung cancer incidence both for males and females. In male lung cancer, a sharp decreasing pattern was detected for 6 countries including Belarus, Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom; also, a moderately decreasing pattern was observed among the other countries. In female lung cancer, a moderate increasing trend was observed for 8 countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Montenegro, Netherlands, and Norway; the other patterns were categorized into two clusters with slow increasing trends.

Conclusion

Given the raising patterns in the incidence of lung cancer among European females, especially in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Montenegro, Netherlands, and Norway, urgent effective measures are recommended to be taken.

Diagnostic value of CA-153 and CYFRA 21-1 in predicting intraocular metastasis in patients with metastatic lung cancer

Lung cancer is prone to metastasis to various organs. Although intraocular metastasis (IOM) occurs at a later stage than metastasis to other organs, it often adversely affects the quality of life and suggests a poor prognosis. In this study, we selected 1608 patients with lung cancer who had metastasis to at least one site and explored clinical differences between those with IOM and non‐IOM (NIOM). An independent t test and chi‐squared test were used to analyze the clinical features of the patients. The statistically significant parameters were analyzed by binary logistic regression to determine the risk factors for IOM. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to assess their diagnostic value in IOM. The results showed that no significant differences were noted in age, gender, and pathological type between the IOM and NIOM groups. However, the IOM group had higher levels of alpha‐fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, cancer antigen (CA)‐125, CA‐153, cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA 21‐1), and total prostate‐specific antigen, compared with the NIOM group. Binary logistic regression indicated that CA‐153 and CYFRA 21‐1 were risk factors for IOM in patients with MLC (P < 0.05). Area under the curve of CA‐153, CYFRA 21‐1 and their combination were 0.791, 0.860, and 0.872 respectively. The cutoff values for CA‐153 and CYFRA 21‐1 were 22.2 U/mL and 6.785 ng/mL. In conclusion, both CA‐153 and CYFRA 21‐1 were independent risk factors for IOM in patients with metastatic lung cancer (MLC), whereas the combination of CA‐153 and CYFRA 21‐1 assessment yields the most value in the detection of IOM in patients with MLC.

Overexpression of microRNA‑125a‑3p effectively inhibits the cell growth and invasion of lung cancer cells by regulating the mouse double minute 2 homolog/p53 signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a family of small non-coding RNAs that are 21‑24 nucleotides in length. Decreased expression of hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p is observed in a number of patients with non‑small cell lung cancer; however, it is not clear how this miRNA regulates the growth and invasion of lung tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to identify the function of hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p in the growth and invasion of lung cancer cells. The expression of hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p in the A549, NCI‑H460 and SPCA‑1 lung cancer cell lines was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the human bronchiolar epithelium cell line (HBE) was used as a control. The results demonstrated that the expression of hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p was significantly lower in NCI‑H460, A549 and SPCA‑1 cells, compared with that in HBE cells. Overexpression of sense miR‑125a‑3p in the A549 lung cancer cell line inhibited cell proliferation for 5‑7 days (P<0.01), and transfection of antisense miR‑125a‑3p did not suppress the cell growth of the lung cancer cells. In addition, overexpression of miR‑125a‑3p in the NCI‑H460 lung cancer cell line markedly induced cell apoptosis, which was detected by fluorescence‑activated cell sorting with annexin V‑fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining. The results of the Transwell migration assay also revealed that transfection of miR‑125a‑3p resulted in decreased migration of lung cancer tumor cells. The pro‑apoptotic gene p53 expression was detected by western blot analysis. The results revealed that the expression of mouse double minute (MDM)‑2 homolog, the principal cellular antagonist of p53, was decreased and p53 expression was upregulated in sense has‑miR‑125a‑3p transfected A549 cells. This was consistent with that observed in NCI‑H460 cells, suggesting that hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p may be involved in the regulation of the MDM2/p53 signaling pathway in lung cancer cells. In conclusion, overexpression of hsa‑miR‑125a‑3p significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells, which may aid in determining the mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancer.

Inhibition of livin expression suppresses cell proliferation and enhances chemosensitivity to cisplatin in human lung adenocarcinoma cells

Livin is a novel member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family that has been reported to be overexpressed in various types of human malignancy. Although several studies have demonstrated that livin may be used as an effective target for tumor therapy, few studies have investigated its role in human lung adenocarcinoma. In the present study, two different methods were used in order to investigate the tumor‑suppressing effect of livin in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Firstly, small interfering (si)RNA technology was used to down regulate livin expression; siRNA-mediated knockdown of livin was confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, and cell proliferations was assessed using an MTT assay in vitro. Secondly, inhibition of livin expression was induced through the synergistic inhibitory effect between flavopiridol and tumor necrosis factor‑related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Experimental results revealed that, following transfection of the livin gene-silencing vector, the gene expression of livin was markedly decreased, SPC-A1 cell proliferation was significantly reduced and the therapeutic effect of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin was markedly improved. This growth inhibitory effect was also observed in the flavopiridol and TRAIL combination treatment group. In the flavopiridol and TRAIL combination treatment group, the protein expression of livin was significantly reduced and the survival rate of SPC‑A1 cells was significantly lower than the flavopiridol and TRAIL single operation group. In conclusion, the RNA silencing and the synergistic inhibitory effect between flavopiridol with TRAIL was able to effectively inhibit the expression of livin, significantly decrease SPC-A1 tumor cell proliferation and significantly enhance sensitivity to the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. These findings suggest that livin may be used as a novel target for tumor gene therapy.

Pathway crosstalk analysis of non-small cell lung cancer based on microarray gene expression profiling

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the lung tissue. A major challenge in cancer research is the biological interpretation of the complexity of cancer somatic mutation profiles. This study examines the role of pathway crosstalk in the metastatic process of lung cancer cells based on DNA microarray analysis.

METHODS

We downloaded the gene expression profile GSE10096 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and the gene functions of selected DEGs were further analyzed. After KEGG pathway analysis, dysfunctional pathways and dysfunctional crosstalk between pathways in two types of lung cancer cells (low metastasis, M1, and high metastasis, M5) were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 13433 genes were filtered as DEGs, and after pathway analysis, 108 signaling pathways related to cancer signaling pathways were screened, including a host pathway hsa05223 and 79 neighbor pathways. Dysfunctional crosstalk analysis of pathways revealed that pathway crosstalk dysfunction of M1 and M5 cells mainly occurred between hsa05223 (non-small cell lung cancer) and hsa04310 (Wnt signaling pathway), and between non-small cell lung cancer and hsa04520 (adherens junction), respectively. Significant pathway crosstalk dysfunction also existed between adherens junction and other classical signaling pathways such as hsa04110 (cell cycle), hsa04310 (Wnt signaling pathway), hsa04350 (TGF-beta signaling pathway), and hsa04630 (Jak-STAT signaling pathway).

CONCLUSIONS

Our discovery will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the high carcinogenic and metastatic potential of lung cancer cells. In addition, it will pave the way to developing effective therapies for lung cancer.

Estrogen receptor beta and CXCR4/CXCL12 expression: differences by sex and hormonal status in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Studies have reported differences in lung cancer behavior between sex and hormonal status that suggest a role of estrogens and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in lung carcinogenesis. In some types of hormone-dependent cancer, estrogens may regulate CXCL12/CXCR4 expression through ERβ signaling. High expression of CXCL12/CXCR4 is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer because it promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether lung adenocarcinoma tissues from pre- and postmenopausal women and from men exhibit different ERβ, CXCR4/CXCL12 expression and whether this expression is associated with clinicopathological features.

METHODS

Sixty primary tumor samples of lung adenocarcinoma from pre- and postmenopausal women and from men were collected for this study. Thirty samples of healthy lung tissue adjacent to the tumor site were used as controls. ERβ and CXCL12/CXCR4 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Expression of these proteins was measured by digital image software and compared between sex and hormonal status.

RESULTS

Lung adenocarcinomas overexpressed ERβ, CXCR4 and CXCL12 compared to normal lung. Moreover, lung adenocarcinomas from premenopausal women exhibited higher signals for ERβ, CXCL12 and CXCR4 compared to postmenopausal women and to men, who showed lower signals for these proteins. A multivariate analysis revealed a strong association between the immunoreactivity level of ERβ, CXCL12/CXCR4 and both sex and hormonal status, but not with tumor stage and smoking.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that ERβ and CXCL12/CXCR4 expression in lung adenocarcinoma depends on sex and hormonal status, which may partly explain the sex and hormonal differences in lung cancer behavior.