Minimal expression of the proto-oncogene int-2 encoded protein in a series of colorectal carcinomas

Characteristics of hypoxic tumor microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer, involving molecular patterns and prognostic signature

Background

The mechanisms of hypoxia or immune microenvironment in cancer have been studied respectively, but the role of hypoxia immune microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still needs further exploration.

Methods

By applying the K-means algorithm, 1,121 patients with NSCLC were divided into three categories. We evaluated the constructed signature in order to link it with the prognosis, which was constructed by univariate and least absolute shrinkage operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis.

Results

A total of three clusters were obtained by clustering five Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and immune infiltration analysis were performed to explore the biological behavior. Cluster one presented an activated state of oncogenic pathways, and compared with the other two clusters, the median risk score was the highest, which was the reason for its poor survival. Cluster three showed that the immune pathway was active and the median risk score was the lowest, so the survival was the best. However, cluster two presented a state in which both immune and matrix pathways were activate. This was manifested as mutual antagonism, and its risk score was in the middle. Its survival was in the middle.

Conclusions

This work revealed the role of hypoxia related genes (HRGs) modification in tumor microenvironment, which was conducive to our comprehensive analysis of the prognosis of NSCLC, and provided direction and guidance for clinical immunotherapy.

LFA-1 expression in a series of colorectal adenocarcinomas

INTRODUCTION

LFA-1 is an adhesion molecule which belongs to the β2-integrin family. Overexpression of LFA-1 in hepatic natural killer cells has been associated with increased apoptosis of neoplastic cells in colorectal cancer (CRC); moreover, studies in CRC have linked LFA-1 overexpression in neoplastic cells with vascular intrusion through adhesion to endothelial cells, thus implying a possible role in creation of metastases.

AIMS AND METHODS

We studied the expression of LFA-1 in a series of 82 patients with CRC. A standard three-step immunohistochemical analysis was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. An IgG2a anti-CD11a monoclonal antibody was used. Cases were characterized according to clinicopathological variables including sex, age, tumor localization, size, grade, Dukes stage, wall invasion, and presence of metastatic lymph nodes (mLNs) or distal metastases.

RESULTS

LFA-1 was expressed at the primary tumor site in 51 cases and 6/33 cases with metastatic lymphnodes. In Dukes D cases (n = 4), only one case was LFA-1(+). LFA-1 expression at the primary tumor site was associated with the absence of metastatic disease and with Dukes B stage. However, in those cases with LFA-1 expression in cancer cells in mLNs, this was associated with its expression at the primary tumor site.

CONCLUSION

The positive association of LFA-1 expression in mLNs when the primary tumor site is also LFA-1(+) could imply an adaptation advantage of this specific cellular clone to its micro-environment, predisposing it to creation of mLNs, pointing to a role for LFA-1 in creation of mLNs in CRC.

Tissue detection of natural killer cells in colorectal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Natural killer (NK) cells represent a first line of defence against a developing cancer; however, their exact role in colorectal cancer remains undetermined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of CD16 and CD57 [immunohistochemical markers of natural NK cells] in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Presence of NK cells was investigated in 82 colorectal adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed, using 2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-Fc Gamma Receptor II, CD16 and an equivalent to Leu-7, specific for CD-57). The number of immunopositive cells (%) was evaluated by image analysis. The cases were characterized according to: patient gender and age, tumor location, size, grade, bowel wall invasion, lymph node metastases and Dukes' stage.

RESULTS

NK cells were detected in 79/82 cases at the primary tumor site, 27/33 metastatic lymph nodes and 3/4 hepatic metastases; they were detected in levels similar to those reported in the literature, but their presence was not correlated to the clinical or pathological characteristics of the series, except for a negative association with the patients' age (p = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data do not support an association of NK cell tissue presence with clinical or pathological variables of colorectal adenocarcinoma, except for a negative association with the patients' age; this might possibly be attributed to decreased adhesion molecule expression in older ages.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on growth regulation in Bel-7402 cell line

AIM

To investigate whether bFGF regulates p21^WAF1 expression of Bel-7402 cell line via PI3K/PKB pathway.

METHODS

32P incorporation assay. The expression of p21^WAF1-mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. The expression of p21^WAF1 protein was detected by Western blot. Cell cycle analysis was performed on a FACScan.

RESULTS

Both membrane and cytosol activity of PKB in Bel-7402 cell which were treated with bFGF (25 mg/L) reached the peak at 10 min. p21^WAF1 mRNA level was upregulated and peaked at 1 h (5.5 fold induction). Correspondingly, p21^WAF1 expression was increased and peaked at 2 h (2.2 folds of reduction). Wortmannin efficiently inhibited the activity of PKB (P <0.05), but not the level of p21^WAF1 mRNA and the expression of p21^WAF1 protein. FCM analysis showed bFGF induced S-phase entry (0.14±0.01→0.28±0.01, P <0.01), which was inhibited by wortmannin effectively (0.28±0.01→0.22±0.01, P <0.01).

CONCLUSION

bFGF stimulates the proliferation of Bel-7402 cell line via PI3K/PKB pathway, and modulates p21^WAF1 expression through separating signaling pathways.