Association between COX-2 gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development: a meta-analysis

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of COX-2 in glioma patients: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In recent years, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been identified as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker in gliomas. Nevertheless, the clinical and prognostic significance of COX-2 in glioma patients remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correlation of COX-2 with the prognosis in glioma patients.

METHODS

Eligible studies on this subject were included, and pooled odd ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots, and heterogeneity and sensitivity were analyzed as well.

RESULTS

In the present study, 11 articles with a total of 641 patients were included. The high expression of COX-2 in glioma patients was negatively associated with overall survival (OS) (n = 11; HR = 2.26; 95%CI = 1.79-2.86), and the subgroup analysis showed no differences in OS between Asian (n = 5; HR = 2.16; 95%CI = 1.57-2.97) and non-Asian (n = 6; HR = 2.39; 95%CI = 1.69-3.38) glioma patients. The Begg funnel plots test indicated that there was no evident risk of publication bias in the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that COX-2 could be recommended as a useful pathological and prognostic biomarker in the clinical practice.

Associations between twelve common gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma: evidence from a meta-analysis

Background

Associations between polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (VDR)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/interleukin-18 (IL-18)/mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were already explored by many studies, yet the results of these studies were inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to better clarify associations between polymorphisms in VDR/VEGF/IL-18/MBL and HCC by combing the results of all relevant studies.

Methods

Eligible publications were searched from PubMed, Embase, WOS, and CNKI. We used Review Manager to combine the results of individual studies.

Results

Thirty studies were included in this study. Combined results revealed that VDR rs7975232, VDR rs2228570, VEGF rs699947, VEGF rs3025039, IL-18 rs1946518, and MBL rs7096206 polymorphisms were all significantly associated with HCC in the overall pooled population. We also obtained similar significant associations for VDR rs7975232, VDR rs2228570, IL-18 rs1946518, and MBL rs7096206 polymorphisms in Asians.

Conclusions

Collectively, this meta-analysis proved that VDR rs7975232, VDR rs2228570, VEGF rs699947, VEGF rs3025039, IL-18 rs1946518, and MBL rs7096206 polymorphisms may confer susceptibility to HCC in certain populations.

Association between Cyclin D1 G870A (rs9344) polymorphism and cancer risk in Indian population: meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Introduction: Association between Cyclin D1 (CCND1) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9344 and cancer risk is paradoxical. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to explore the association between CCND1 variant and overall cancer risk in Indian population. Methods: Data from 12 published studies including 3739 subjects were collected using Pubmed and Embase. RevMan (Review Manager) 5.3 was used to perform the meta-analysis. OR with 95%CI were calculated to establish the association. Results: Overall, the cumulative findings demonstrated that CCND1 polymorphism (rs9344) was not significantly associated with cancer risk in all the genetic models studied (dominant model: GG vs GA+AA: OR (95%CI) = 0.81 (0.60-1.09), P=0.17; recessive model: GG+GA vs AA: OR (95%CI) = 1.23 (0.96-1.59), P=0.11; co-dominant model: GG vs AA: OR (95%CI) = 1.35 (0.93-1.97), P=0.12; co-dominant model: (GG vs GA: OR (95%CI) = 1.16 (0.85-1.59), P=0.34; allelic model: A vs G: OR (95%CI) = 1.20 (1.14-2.85), P=0.23; allelic model: G vs A: OR (95%CI) = 0.83 (0.62-1.12), P=0.23). Subgroup analysis according to cancer types presented significant association of CCND1 polymorphism and increased breast cancer risk in dominant model (GG vs GA+AA: OR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.54-4.90, P=0.0006) and allelic model (G vs A: OR = 1.63, 95%CI = 1.22-2.19, P=0.001). An increased esophageal cancer risk in recessive model (GG+GA vs AA: OR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.05-2.16, P=0.03) and co-dominant model (GG vs AA: OR = 2.51, 95%CI = 1.10-5.71, P=0.03) was detected. A higher risk for colorectal cancer was detected under both the co-dominant models (GG vs AA: OR = 2.46, 95%CI = 1.34-4.51, P=0.004 and GG vs GA: OR = 1.74, 95%CI = 1.14-2.67, P=0.01). However, in case of cervical cancer risk a non-significant association was reported under the recessive model (GG+GA vs AA: OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 0.60-3.90, P=0.38) with reference to CCND1 polymorphism (rs9344). The trial sequential analysis (TSA) showed that the cumulative Z-curve neither crossed the trial sequential monitoring boundary nor reached the required information size (RIS). Thus, present meta-analysis remained inconclusive due to insufficient evidence. Conclusion:CCND1 polymorphism rs9344 may not have a role in overall cancer susceptibility in Indian population. However, this polymorphism acts as a crucial risk factor for breast, esophageal, and colorectal cancer but not for cervical cancer. Future studies with larger sample size are required to draw a reliable conclusion.

The -250G/A and -514C/T Polymorphisms in Hepatic Lipase Gene Promoter Confers an Increased Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Chinese Population

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal malignancy, but the molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis remain undefined. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of the hepatic lipase (HL) gene promoters and risk of HCC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Totally, 279 HCC patients and 200 healthy individuals were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the genotypes of HL gene. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors of HCC.

RESULTS

There was significant difference in the distribution of smoking history, drinking history, and family history of subjects between the case and control groups (all p < 0.05). Difference in the -250G/A (p = 0.011; OR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.11-2.34) and -514C/T (p = 0.007; OR = 1.65; 95%CI: 1.14-2.38) genotypes and allele frequencies between two groups was significant. A higher risk of HCC was identified in those with polymorphisms in the - 250G/A (p = 0.007; OR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.11-1.89) and -514C/T (p = 0.003; OR = 1.51; 95%CI: 1.15-2.00). Polymorphisms at - 250G/A (GA + AA) (p = 0.025; OR = 1.55; 95%CI: 1.06-2.28), -514C/T (CT + TT) (p = 0.021; OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1.07-2.29), smoking history (p = 0.017; OR = 1.70; 95%CI: 1.10-2.63) and drinking history (p = 0.003; OR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.27-3.27) were significantly related to the risk of HCC (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results obtained from this study indicated that polymorphisms of -250G/A and -514C/T in HL gene promoters were associated with the risk of HCC.

Relevance of MTHFR polymorphisms with response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in oesophagogastric cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and the response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in oesophagogastric cancer.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases from inception up to October 2017 for relevant studies. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA V.12.0 software. The pooled ORs and 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of the association under the allele, dominant and recessive models. We also conducted subgroup analysis stratified by cancer type, ethnicity and study design. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis was performed by sequential omission of individual studies, and the publication bias was detected using both Begg's test and Egger's test.

RESULTS

A total of 2020 patients from 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that there was no significant association between MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131) polymorphisms and the clinical response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy under all of the three genetic models (T vs C: OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.15; C vs A: OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.40. CT+TT vs CC: OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.23; AC+CC vs AA: OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.35. TT vs CC+CT: OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.39; CC vs AA+AC: OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.67). When stratified by cancer type, ethnicity or study design, the association was still not significant in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggested that MTHFR polymorphisms could not be considered as reliable factors for predicting the response to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in oesophagogastric cancer.

Fluorescence imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma with a specific probe of COX-2

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of primary liver cancer. Although the standard treatment method based on surgery has generally extended life, it still causes the second and sixth most prevalent cancer-related death in men and women, respectively. The recurrence of cancer caused by unclear resection margins and any remaining undiscovered metastatic nodules should take a large proportion of responsibility for the poor prognosis after resective surgery. Therefore, a practical and effective method that can be used during hepatectomy to specifically identify HCC is a potentially significant area deserving attention. Tests involving fluorescence have been used in many biological systems. In this study, we use a probe that can combine with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and subsequently emit fluorescence to identify HCC cells and heteroplastic tumors in a mouse model. The results show that this specific probe can clearly differentiate HCC, with differences that could be observed with the naked eye in human samples. The biotechnology of knocking down COX-2 and its inhibitor were used on human HCC cell line SMMC7721, and the outcomes confirmed the above results. The toxic effect also showed that the probe had no harmful effect on normal liver cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates that a COX-2-specific fluorescence probe may be a new and effective method to identify HCC, especially during surgery.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is positively associated with lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in head and neck cancers, especially in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the association between COX-2 expression and lymph node metastasis in NPC remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis meta-analysis investigated the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymph node metastasis and other signs of disease progression in NPC.

METHODS

Previously published studies assessing COX-2 expression and lymph node metastasis in NPC were identified in four English databases and three Chinese ones (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Vip Journal Integration Platform) up to November 2016. Quality of all eligible studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated with fixed-effects or random-effects model to evaluate the effects of COX-2 expression on lymph node metastasis.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies with 1797 NPC patients met the inclusion criteria. The expression of COX-2 was significantly higher in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma than those without the carcinoma, with a combined OR of 21.17 (95%CI = 15.02-29.85, I2 = 35.1%, Pheterogeneity = 0.070). A statistically significant association between COX-2 expression and lymph node metastasis in NPC patients, with an OR of 4.44 (95%CI = 3.46-5.70, I2 = 38.3%, Pheterogeneity = 0.024), and with other indicators of disease progression. Subgroup analyses based on COX-2 assay and staging criteria of TNM showed no significant heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that expression of COX-2 is associated with lymph node metastasis and disease progression in NPC, indicating a potential role in evaluation of prognosis and in treatment decisions. COX-2 inhibitors have potential in the treatment of NPC that should be further investigated.