Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A serum levels and common gene polymorphisms in generalized periodontitis affected patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the associations of VEGFA serum levels and SNPs (rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323) with periodontitis in study participants grouped by gender.

METHODS

The study enrolled 261 patients with periodontitis and 441 healthy controls as a reference group. Patients underwent periodontal examination and radiographic analysis to confirm the periodontitis diagnosis. Blood samples were collected, and the DNA salting-out method was used for DNA extraction from peripheral venous blood. Genotyping of VEGFA (rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323) was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and serum level analysis was done for 80 individuals - 40 periodontitis-affected patients and 40 reference group subjects.

RESULTS

The analysis of VEGFA (rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323) showed that the rs3025033 GG genotype was less frequent in the periodontitis group than in the reference group (1.6% vs. 5.7%,p = 0.008). VEGFA serum levels were not statistically significantly different between periodontitis patients and reference group subjects (554.29 (522.38) ng/ml vs. 581.32 (348.16) ng/ml, p = 0.786). Individuals carrying rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323 haplotype A-A-G-A had decreased risks of periodontitis, while rare haplotype of VEGFA (rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323) was associated with increased odds of periodontitis (OR= 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20-0.85; p < 0.017; OR= 4.08; 95% CI: 1.86-8.94; p < 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The rs3025033 GG genotype and the rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, and rs2146323 A-A-G-A haplotypes may play a protective role in the development of periodontitis, but a less common haplotype of the same VEGFA polymorphism may be associated with the risk of developing periodontitis.

Identifying potential metastasis-related long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and message RNAs in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant form with the highest incidence. We aimed to find metastasis-related differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNA (mRNAs) in ESCC. We first obtained the lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs profiles. The differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were obtained, followed by the functional annotation. Then the interaction networks of miRNA-mRNA, lncRNA-mRNA coexpression, lncRNA-miRNA, and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA were constructed. In addition, systematic expression pattern analysis of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNA, and mRNA in the normal, metastasis, and nonmetastasis was performed. Survivability of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNA was analyzed. A total of 613 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 35 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 1586 differentially expressed mRNAs were obtained. Several interactions of H19-hsa-mir-222-chromobox 2 (CBX2), H19-hsa-mir-330-phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 4 (PIK3R4), KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1)/CTB-89H12.4-hsa-mir-374a-vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), MALAT1/X inactive specific transcript (XIST)/XIST antisense RNA (TSIX)-hsa-mir-340-tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10A (NFRSF10A) were identified to play key roles in the metastasis of ESCC. In addition, KCNQ1OT1, TSIX, and XIST were significantly associated with the survival time of patients. In conclusion, our study may be helpful in understanding the pathological mechanism and providing new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for ESCC.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic biomarkers in resectable esophageal adenocarcinomas

Targeted therapy is lagging behind in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). To guide the development of new treatment strategies, we provide an overview of the prognostic biomarkers in resectable EAC treated with curative intent. The Medline, Cochrane and EMBASE databases were systematically searched, focusing on overall survival (OS). The quality of the studies was assessed using a scoring system ranging from 0-7 points based on modified REMARK criteria. To evaluate all identified prognostic biomarkers, the hallmarks of cancer were adapted to fit all biomarkers based on their biological function in EAC, resulting in the features angiogenesis, cell adhesion and extra-cellular matrix remodeling, cell cycle, immune, invasion and metastasis, proliferation, and self-renewal. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived by random effects meta-analyses performed on each hallmarks of cancer feature. Of the 3298 unique articles identified, 84 were included, with a mean quality of 5.9 points (range 3.5-7). The hallmarks of cancer feature 'immune' was most significantly associated with worse OS (HR 1.88, (95%CI 1.20-2.93)). Of the 82 unique prognostic biomarkers identified, meta-analyses showed prominent biomarkers, including COX-2, PAK-1, p14ARF, PD-L1, MET, LC3B, IGFBP7 and LGR5, associated to each hallmark of cancer.

Association of VEGFA polymorphisms with susceptibility and clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese Han population

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is an important angiogenesis regulator, which plays an important role in angiogenesis and progression of tumor, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed at determining whether single nucleotide polymorphisms of VEGFA gene influence the development and clinical outcomes of HCC. We analyzed four potential functional polymorphisms (936C/T, 634G/C, 1612G/A, 2578C/A) of VEGFA gene in 476 HCC patients and 526 controls using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method. Serum VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Kaplan-Meier methods with log-rank test and Cox regression models were used to compare survival of resected HCC patients according to the genotype. We found that only the VEGFA 2578C/A polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased risk of HCC (AA/AC vs. CC; adjusted OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51-0.93). Furthermore, the 2578C/A polymorphism was associated with significantly decreased postoperative recurrence (AA/AC vs. CC, adjusted OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.88) and improved overall survival (AA/AC vs. CC, adjusted HR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.13-0.52) of resected HCC patients. In addition, the VEGF serum levels in HCC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, although no significant association between VEGFA genotype and serum levels of VEGF was observed. These results suggest that the VEGFA 2578 C/A polymorphism may play a potential role in the development and clinical outcome of HCC among Chinese Han population.

Validation of microRNA pathway polymorphisms in esophageal adenocarcinoma survival

Polymorphisms in miRNA and miRNA pathway genes have been previously associated with cancer risk and outcome, but have not been studied in esophageal adenocarcinoma outcomes. Here, we evaluate candidate miRNA pathway polymorphisms in esophageal adenocarcinoma prognosis and attempt to validate them in an independent cohort of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients. Among 231 esophageal adenocarcinoma patients of all stages/treatment plans, 38 candidate genetic polymorphisms (17 biogenesis, 9 miRNA targets, 5 pri-miRNA, 7 pre-miRNA) were genotyped and analyzed. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinicopathological covariates helped assess the association of genetic polymorphisms with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Significantly associated polymorphisms were then evaluated in an independent cohort of 137 esophageal adenocarcinoma patients. Among the 231 discovery cohort patients, 86% were male, median diagnosis age was 64 years, 34% were metastatic at diagnosis, and median OS and PFS were 20 and 12 months, respectively. GEMIN3 rs197412 (aHR = 1.37, 95%CI: [1.04-1.80]; P = 0.02), hsa-mir-124-1 rs531564 (aHR = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.53-0.90]; P = 0.05), and KIAA0423 rs1053667 (aHR = 0.51, 95% CI: [0.28-0.96]; P = 0.04) were found associated with OS. Furthermore, GEMIN3 rs197412 (aHR = 1.33, 95% CI: [1.03-1.74]; P = 0.03) and KRT81 rs3660 (aHR = 1.29, 95% CI: [1.01-1.64]; P = 0.04) were found associated with PFS. Although none of these polymorphisms were significant in the second cohort, hsa-mir-124-1 rs531564 and KIAA0423 rs1053667 had trends in the same direction; when both cohorts were combined together, GEMIN3 rs197412, hsa-mir-124-1 rs531564, and KIAA0423 rs1053667 remained significantly associated with OS. We demonstrate the association of multiple miRNA pathway polymorphisms with esophageal adenocarcinoma prognosis in a discovery cohort of patients, which did not validate in a separate cohort but had consistent associations in the pooled cohort. Larger studies are required to confirm/validate the prognostic value of these polymorphisms in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal cancer: Risk factors, genetic association, and treatment

The poor prognosis and rising incidence of esophageal cancer highlight the need for improved detection and prediction methods that are essential prior to treatment. Esophageal cancer is one of the most fatal malignancies worldwide, with a dramatic increase in incidence in the Western world occurring over the past few decades. Despite improvements in the management and treatment of esophageal cancer patients, the general outcome remains very poor for overall 5-year survival rates (∼10%) and 5-year postesophagectomy survival rates (∼15-40%). Esophageal cancer is often diagnosed during its advanced stages, the main reason being the lack of early clinical symptoms. In an attempt to improve the outcome of patients after surgery, such patients are often treated with neoadjuvent concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in order to decrease tumor size. However, CCRT may enhance toxicity levels and possibly cause a delay in surgery for patients who respond poorly to CCRT. Thus, precise biomarkers that could predict or identify patients who may or may not respond well to CCRT can assist physicians in choosing the appropriate therapy for patients. Identifying susceptible gene and biomarkers can help in predicting the treatment response of patients while improving their survival rates.

Network pharmacology of cancer: From understanding of complex interactomes to the design of multi-target specific therapeutics from nature

Despite massive investments in drug research and development, the significant decline in the number of new drugs approved or translated to clinical use raises the question, whether single targeted drug discovery is the right approach. To combat complex systemic diseases that harbour robust biological networks such as cancer, single target intervention is proved to be ineffective. In such cases, network pharmacology approaches are highly useful, because they differ from conventional drug discovery by addressing the ability of drugs to target numerous proteins or networks involved in a disease. Pleiotropic natural products are one of the promising strategies due to their multi-targeting and due to lower side effects. In this review, we discuss the application of network pharmacology for cancer drug discovery. We provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on network pharmacology, focus on different technical approaches and implications for cancer therapy (e.g. polypharmacology and synthetic lethality), and illustrate the therapeutic potential with selected examples green tea polyphenolics, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis). Finally, we present future perspectives on their plausible applications for diagnosis and therapy of cancer.