Are Serum Mac 2-Binding Protein Levels Elevated in Esophageal Cancer? A Control Study of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Association Between CYP1A1 Polymorphisms and Esophageal Cancer Susceptibility: A Case-control Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Environmental and genetic factors (such as polymorphisms) contribute to the development of esophageal cancer (EC), but the disease's molecular genetic markers are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate previously unstudied cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 polymorphisms (rs2606345, rs4646421 and rs4986883) in EC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to identify CYP1A1 polymorphisms (rs2606345, rs4646421, and rs4986883) in 100 patients and 100 controls.

RESULTS

Smoking and tandoor fumes were significantly higher in all EC and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients compared to the control group (p<0.0001). The risk of EC was two-fold higher in hot tea drinkers compared to non-drinkers, but this factor was not significant for ESCC or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) (p>0.05). The rs4986883 T>C polymorphism was not found in our population. The rs2606345 C allele was significantly associated with EC risk in men, and C-carriers who drank hot black tea had a nearly threefold higher risk of EC than non-drinkers. In addition, EC risk in hot black tea drinkers was approximately 12 times higher in rs4646421 A carriers than in non-A carriers, and approximately 17 times higher in the presence of both rs2606345 C allele and rs4646421 A allele. Furthermore, the rs2606345 AA genotype may act as a protective factor for the rs4646421 GG genotype.

CONCLUSION

Among the CYP1A1 polymorphisms, rs2606345 may increase the risk of EC only in men. The risk of EC in hot tea drinkers may increase in the presence of rs4986883 and rs2606345 polymorphisms.

Circulating microRNAs as the Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

microRNAs are endogenous non-coding miRNAs, 19–25 nucleotides in length, that can be detected in the extracellular environment in stable forms, named circulating miRNAs (CIR-miRNAs). Since the first discovery of CIR-miRNAs, a large number of studies have demonstrated that the abnormal changes in its expression could be used to significantly distinguish nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from healthy cells. We herein reviewed and highlighted recent advances in the study of CIR-miRNAs in NPC, which pointed out the main components serving as promising and effective biomarkers for NPC diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, brief descriptions of its origin and unique characteristics are provided.

Loss of miR-204-5p Promotes Tumor Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion Through Targeting YWHAZ/PI3K/AKT Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE

MicroRNAs dysregulation has been confirmed in multiple malignancies. This paper reported the molecular mechanism of miR-204-5p in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

miR-204-5p expression in 30 ESCC tumor tissues and 10 normal tissues was downloaded from RNA-seq data. ESCC tissues/normal tissues of 97 ESCC patients were collected. TE-1 and KYSE510 cells were transfected by miR-204-5p mimic, inhibitor, siYWHAZ or their corresponding controls. The phenotype of cells was detected by CCK-8 assay, transwell experiment, and flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) were performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-204-5p and YWHAZ. miR-204-5p and YWHAZ expression in tissues/cells was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Xenograft tumor experiment was performed.

RESULTS

miR-204-5p expression was declined in ESCC patients and cells, which was indicated the poor outcome of patients. Compared with siNC group, TE-1 cells in miR-204-5p inhibitor group had higher OD450 value, less cell percentage in G1 phase, and more cell percentage in S phase, lower apoptosis percentage, and higher migration and invasion cell numbers. Moreover, KYSE510 cells of miR-204-5p mimic group showed lower OD450 value, more cell percentage in G1 phase and less cell percentage in S phase, higher apoptosis percentage, and lower migration and invasion cell numbers than control. YWHAZ was directly inhibited by miR-204-5p. Relative to siNC group, TE-1 cells of miR-inhibitor group exhibited higher YWHAZ protein expression, higher OD450 value, less cell percentage in G1 phase and more cell percentage in S phase, lower apoptosis percentage, higher migration and invasion cell numbers, and higher p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT protein expression, while siYWHAZ rescued the effects of miR-inhibitor. miR-204-5p up-regulation inhibited ESCC growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

miR-204-5p inhibits ESCC progression by targeted inhibition of YWHAZ/PI3K/AKT.

Esophageal Cancer Development: Crucial Clues Arising from the Extracellular Matrix

In the last years, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been reported as playing a relevant role in esophageal cancer (EC) development, with this compartment being related to several aspects of EC genesis and progression. This sounds very interesting due to the complexity of this highly incident and lethal tumor, which takes the sixth position in mortality among all tumor types worldwide. The well-established increase in ECM stiffness, which is able to trigger mechanotransduction signaling, is capable of regulating several malignant behaviors by converting alteration in ECM mechanics into cytoplasmatic biochemical signals. In this sense, it has been shown that some molecules play a key role in these events, particularly the different collagen isoforms, as well as enzymes related to its turnover, such as lysyl oxidase (LOX) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In fact, MMPs are not only involved in ECM stiffness, but also in other events related to ECM homeostasis, which includes ECM remodeling. Therefore, the crucial role of distinct MMPs isoform has already been reported, especially MMP-2, -3, -7, and -9, along EC development, thus strongly associating these proteins with the control of important cellular events during tumor progression, particularly in the process of invasion during metastasis establishment. In addition, by distinct mechanisms, a vast diversity of glycoproteins and proteoglycans, such as laminin, fibronectin, tenascin C, galectin, dermatan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid exert remarkable effects in esophageal malignant cells due to the activation of oncogenic signaling pathways mainly involved in cytoskeleton alterations during adhesion and migration processes. Finally, the wide spectrum of interactions potentially mediated by ECM may represent a singular intervention scenario in esophageal carcinogenesis natural history and, due to the scarce knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in EC development, the growing body of evidence on ECM’s role along esophageal carcinogenesis might provide a solid base to improve its management in the future.