Germline Mutation of the CCK Receptor: A Novel Biomarker for Pancreas Cancer

The prognostic and therapeutic role of hormones in colorectal cancer: a review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the commonest cancers in Western society with a poor prognosis in patients with advanced disease. Targeted therapy is of increasing interest and already, targeted hormone treatment for breast and prostate cancer has improved survival. The aim of this literature review is to summarise the role of hormones in CRC prognosis and treatment. A literature review of all human and animal in vivo and in vitro studies in the last 20 years, which assessed the role of hormones in CRC treatment or prognosis, was carried out. The hormones described in this review have been subdivided according to their secretion origin. Most of the studies are based on in vitro or animal models. The main findings point to adipokines, insulin and the insulin growth factor axis as key players in the link between obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and a subset of CRC. Gut-derived hormones, especially uroguanylin and guanylin are being increasingly investigated as therapeutic targets, with promising results. Using hormones as prognostic and therapeutic markers in CRC is still in the preliminary stages for only a fraction of the hormones affecting the GIT. In light of the increasing interest in tailoring treatment strategies, hormones are an important area of focus in the future of CRC management.

MicroRNA-185 suppresses pancreatic cell proliferation by targeting transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif in pancreatic cancer

The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of transcriptional coactivator with the PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients, and to investigate the regulation mechanisms of TAZ in the proliferation of PC. PC tissues and matched peritumoral tissues, pancreatic juice and serum were collected from PC patients who underwent pancreatectomy between June 2012 and December 2015 at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (Qingdao, China). Pancreatic juice and serum were collected from patients with chronic pancreatitis as a control. The levels of taz mRNA expression in the samples were examined by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the protein expression of TAZ was assessed by western blot analysis and ELISA. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate TAZ expression were also predicted by bioinformatics analysis and validated by dual luciferase reporter and rescue assays. In addition, the proliferation of PC cells was evaluated after transfection with TAZ small interfering RNA (siRNA) or its upstream miRNA agomir. Expression of TAZ was significantly increased in the PC tissues, pancreatic juice and serum of PC patients at the mRNA and protein levels compared with controls (P<0.05). Furthermore, TAZ was predicted and verified to be a target of miRNA (miR)-185, and miR-185 and TAZ were inversely expressed in samples from PC patients (P<0.05). In addition, TAZ siRNA or agomiR-185 transfection significantly inhibited human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell proliferation (P<0.05). However, overexpression of TAZ in the agomiR-185 group rescued the inhibition (P<0.05). Finally, the expression of TAZ effector proteins, namely ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein and cysteine-rich 61, were upregulated in PC tissues (P<0.05), but repressed following transfection of PC cells with agomiR-185 (P<0.05). Thus, miR-185 may regulate the proliferation of PC by targeting TAZ, making it a promising diagnostic marker for PC.

MicroRNA-186 affects the proliferation of tumor cells via yes-associated protein 1 in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer

The present study aimed to determine the expression of microRNA (miRNA or miR)-186 in tumor tissues and peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC), as well as its mechanism of regulation. A total of 65 patients with PC who underwent surgery between June 2013 and October 2015 were included. In addition, 59 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the expression of mRNA and miRNA. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine protein expression. Bioinformatics was employed for the prediction of the target gene of miR-186, whereas dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify whether miR-186 directly bound to YAP1 mRNA. Human pulmonary aortic endothelial cells (HPACs) were transfected with ago-miR-186. YAP1 expression in HPACs was silenced by siRNA. MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of HPACs. YAP1 mRNA and protein expression levels were elevated in PC. In addition, expression levels of miR-186 in PC were downregulated. miR-186 regulated the expression of YAP1 by binding with the 3'-untranslated region of YAP1. Elevated expression of miR-186 inhibited the proliferation of HPACs by downregulating the expression of YAP1. Decreased expression of YAP1 by siRNA reduced the viability of HPACs. The present study demonstrates that YAP1 is upregulated in the tumor tissues and blood of PC patients, and this may be associated with the downregulation of miR-186. In addition, miR-186 may affect the occurrence and development of PC by controlling the proliferation of PC cells via YAP1.