Expression and prognostic significance of livin, caspase-3, and ki-67 in the progression of human ampullary carcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2013;21:525-531. [PMID: 23343959 DOI: 10.1097/PAI.0b013e31827da412]

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma in Russian Mayak Nuclear Workers

Specimens of lung adenocarcinoma (AdCa) from Russian nuclear workers (n = 54) exposed to alpha particles and gamma rays and from individuals non-exposed to radiation (n = 21) were examined using immunohistochemistry. Estimated significant associations with alpha dose were negative for Ki-67 and collagen IV in AdCa. Associations with gamma-ray dose were negative for tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and caspase 3 and positive for matrix metalloproteinase 2 and leukemia inhibiting factor in AdCa. The findings provide some evidence supporting alterations in apoptosis, cell proliferation and extracellular matrix in lung tissues affected by chronic radiation exposure that can contribute to radiogenic cancerogenesis.

125I seeds irradiation inhibits tumor growth and induces apoptosis by Ki-67, P21, survivin, livin and caspase-9 expression in lung carcinoma xenografts

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is a fatal disease and a serious health problem worldwide. Patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the effectiveness of chemotherapy for such patients is very limited. Iodine 125 seed (¹²⁵I) irradiation can be used as an important adjuvant treatment for lung carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of irradiation by 125I seeds in human lung cancer xenograft model and to determine the underlying mechanisms involved, with a focus on apoptosis.

METHODS

40 mice with A549 lung adenocarcinoma xenografts were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (n = 10), sham seed (0 mCi) implant group (n = 10), 125I seed (0.6 mCi) implant group (n = 10) and 125I seed (0.8 mCi) implant group (n = 10), respectively. The body weight and tumor volume, were recorded every 4 days until the end of the study. Apoptotic cells were checked by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 enzyme were tested. Expression of P21, survivin, livin, caspase-9 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki-67) was detected with immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

The results of TUNEL staining assays showed that 125I seed irradiation suppresses the growth of lung cancer xenografts in nude mice and induced apoptosis. The activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was significantly higher. The expression levels Ki67, survivin and livin were substantially downregulated, while P21 and caspase-9 protein expression were significantly increased following 125I seed irradiation. This study revealed that 125I seed irradiation could significantly change apoptosis-related protein in human lung cancer xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our study demonstrates that radiation exposure by 125I seeds could be a new treatment option for lung cancer.

Ampullary carcinoma-A genetic perspective

Ampulla of vater carcinoma (AVC) is a rare gastrointestinal tumour that is associated with a high mortality rate and it's often diagnosed at later stages due to lack of clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis of this condition is essential to effectively treat patients for better prognosis. A significant amount of advancement has been made in understanding the molecular nature of cancer in the past decade. A substantial number of mutations and alterations have been detected in various tumors. Despite the occurrence of AVC across the globe, the number of studies conducted on this tumor type remains low; this is largely due to its rare occurrence. Moreover, AVC tissues are complex and contain mutations in oncogenes, tumour suppressors, apoptotic proteins, cell proliferation proteins, cell signaling proteins, transcription factors, chromosomal abnormalities and cellular adhesion proteins. The frequently mutated genes included KRAS, TP53 and SMAD4 and are associated with prognosis. Several molecules of the PI3K, Wnt signaling, TGF-beta pathway and cell cycle have also been altered in AVCs. This review comprises of all the genetic mutations, associated pathways and related prognosis that are involved in AVCs from the year 1989 to 2017. This report can be used as a stepping-stone to establish biomarkers for early diagnosis of AVC and to discover molecular targets for drug therapy.

Activation of nuclear factor κB pathway and downstream targets survivin and livin by SHARPIN contributes to the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling is strongly associated with tumor progression, and studies have shown that SHANK-associated RH domain interacting protein (SHARPIN) is crucial for NFκB pathway activation. However, the expression and functions of SHARPIN in prostate cancer (PCa) have not yet been defined.

METHODS

The expression of SHARPIN in PCa cell lines and tissues was evaluated with western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. After SHARPIN was silenced in the PCa cell lines, western blots were used to confirm that SHARPIN physically associated with components of the NFκB pathway and the downstream targets (survivin and livin). The functions of SHARPIN in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro were measured with 5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4,5-dimenthylthiazoly)-3-(4-sulfophenyl)tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS), Transwell, and invasion assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was employed to evaluate cell apoptosis. Furthermore, tumorigenesis in vivo was examined with tumorigenicity assays.

RESULTS

SHARPIN expression was upregulated in PCa cell lines and tissues. The knockdown of SHARPIN or incubation with Bay 11-7082 (an NFκB inhibitor) led to dramatically decreased levels of phosphorylated IκBα and phosphorylated p65 in comparison with the control group. Downregulation of survivin and livin due to SHARPIN inhibition was attributable to transcriptional repression (P < .05). Decreases in cell viability, migration, invasion, and survival with a higher sensitivity to docetaxel in vitro and with repressed tumorigenesis in vivo were observed upon SHARPIN silencing, and this was consistent with the results from inhibition of the NFκB pathway and its downstream targets.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrates that overexpression of SHARPIN promotes activation of the NFκB pathway and downstream targets survivin and livin, which potentially contributes to PCa development.

Effects of Jianpi Jiedu decoction on tumor growth and Caspase3 expression in HCT116/L-OHP colon cancer xenografts in nude mice

AIM: To observe whether Jianpi Jiedu decoction and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) have a synergistic effect on human colon cancer HCT116/L-OHP xenografts in nude mice and to explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS: A xenograft tumor model was established using L-OHP-resistant human colon cancer HCT116 cells in nude mice. Mice were randomly divided into a control group, a L-OHP group, a Jianpi Jiedu decoction group, a low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group, and a high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group. During the treatment process, the long and short diameters of tumors were measured to calculate tumor volume according to the formula and depict tumor growth curve. After treatment, the tumor weight was measured to calculate tumor inhibition rate and tumor weight inhibition rate. The expression level of Caspase 3 in tumor xenografts was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTS: Tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly lower in the high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (995.54 mm³ ± 87.26 mm³; 0.85 g ± 0.06 g) and low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (1318.32 mm³ ± 100.68 mm³; 1.06 g ± 0.07 g) than in the Jianpi Jiedu decoction group (1967.83 mm³ ± 178.83 mm³; 1.71 g ± 0.11 g) and L-OHP group (1698.46 mm³ ± 147.61 mm³; 1.56 g ± 0.12 g) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Tumor inhibition rate and tumor weight inhibition rate were significantly higher in the high dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (55.63%; 56.85%) and low dose Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP group (41.25%; 46.19%) than in the Jianpi Jiedu decoction group (12.30%; 13.20%) and L-OHP group (24.31%; 20.81%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP significantly increased the expression of Caspase3 protein in tumor xenografts in nude mice compared to other groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Jianpi Jiedu decoction plus L-OHP can inhibit tumor growth of xenografts in nude mice and increase the efficacy of L-OHP possibly by up-regulating the expression of Caspase 3 to promote apoptosis.

Expression and clinical significance of livin protein in hepatocellular carcinoma

In this study, the two-step PV method of immunohistochemistry was used to determine livin protein expression in HCC tissues, pericarcinoma tissues, hepatitis/hepatic cirrhosis tissues, and normal hepatic tissues, and livin protein expression was detected in the blood plasma of patients with HCC before and after surgery, subjects with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatitis, and healthy blood donors using ELISA. Livin protein expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that in normal hepatic tissues and hepatitis/hepatic cirrhosis tissues, with no significant difference between HCC tissues and pericarcinoma tissues. The HCC patients with positive livin protein expression had a significantly higher survival rate than those with negative livin protein expression. Livin protein expression was significantly higher in the blood plasma of patients with HCC before and after surgery and in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatitis than that in healthy blood donors, whereas livin protein expression in the blood plasma of patients with HCC was not significantly different from that of patients with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatitis. Livin protein expression in HCC tissues did not correlate with that in the blood plasma of the same HCC patients. Livin protein expression may be a potential, effective indicator for assessing prognosis in patients with HCC.