Evaluation of Haptoglobin Genotype and Some Risk Factors of Cancer in Patients with Early Stage Esophageal Cancer

Unlocking the link between haptoglobin polymorphism and noninfectious human diseases: insights and implications

Haptoglobin (Hp) is a polymorphic protein that was initially described as a hemoglobin (Hb)-binding protein. The major functions of Hp are to scavenge Hb, prevent iron loss, and prevent heme-based oxidation. Hp regulates angiogenesis, nitric oxide homeostasis, immune responses, and prostaglandin synthesis. Genetic polymorphisms in the Hp gene give rise to different phenotypes, including Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2. Extensive research has been conducted to investigate the association between Hp polymorphisms and several medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, transplantation, and hemoglobinopathies. Generally, the Hp 2-2 phenotype is associated with increased disease risk and poor outcomes. Over the years, the Hp 2 allele has spread under genetic pressures. Individuals with the Hp 2-2 phenotype generally exhibit lower levels of CD163 expression in macrophages. The decreased expression of CD163 may be associated with the poor antioxidant capacity in the serum of subjects carrying the Hp 2-2 phenotype. However, the Hp 1-1 phenotype may confer protection in some cases. The Hp1 allele has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. It is important to note that the benefits of the Hp1 allele may vary depending on genetic and environmental factors as well as the specific disease or condition under consideration. Therefore, the Hp1 allele may not necessarily confer advantages in all situations, and its effects may be context-dependent. This review highlights the current understanding of the role of Hp polymorphisms in cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, transplantation, hemoglobinopathies, and polyuria.

Glycemic index, glycemic load, dietary insulin index, and dietary insulin load in relation to cardiometabolic risk factors among participants with atherosclerosis: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

We examined the cross-sectional associations of dietary Glycemic Index (GI), Glycemic Load (GL), Dietary Insulin Index (DII), and Dietary Insulin Load (DIL) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) factors in subjects with atherosclerosis.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on subjects with atherosclerosis. Regular dietary intake was assessed using a 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and GI, GL, DIL, and DII were also calculated. Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were estimated for general and central obesity according to the GI, GL, DII, and DIL.

RESULTS

According to the continuous score of GL, there was a significant positive association between GL and central obesity for women in all models. Regarding the association between DIL score and biochemical variables, there was a significant positive association between Na and Aspartate transaminase (AST) with DII. Moreover, there was a significant positive association between LDL-c(p = 0.03) and AST (p = 0.04)with DIL score in all 3 models.

CONCLUSION

In this study, GL was associated with greater odds of central obesity in women, but not in men. Neither dietary DII nor DIL was associated with BMI and central obesity. GI, GL, DII, and DIL were significantly associated with some CVD risk biomarkers in subjects with atherosclerosis.

Familial Esophageal Cancer in Taihang Mountain, China: An Era of Personalized Medicine Based on Family and Population Perspective

In the Taihang Mountain areas, known as the “esophageal cancer zone” in China, the incidence of esophageal cancer (ESCA) ranks the first in the country and shows a familial and regional clustering trend. Taihang Mountain areas are located in a mountainous area, with inconvenient transportation, limited living conditions, unbalanced diet, and poor nutrition. Ninety percent of the pathological types of ESCA in Taihang Mountain areas are squamous cell carcinoma, among which the risk factors have not been well understood. These areas are usually remote villages and mountains with low population mobility, large family members, similar environmental factors, and a clear and stable genetic background. Therefore, according to the current situation, second-generation sequencing and multigroup analysis technology are used to analyze the familial ESCA patients; disease-related genetic variation are located; and then disease-related susceptibility genes associated with ESCA are screened and analyzed. Health education, tobacco control, endoscopic screening, and other health management projects for suspected and high-risk patients in areas with a high incidence of ESCA can be carried out for screening and early diagnosis, and the incidence of ESCA in Taihang Mountain areas can be reduced. A comprehensive continuous care pattern based on traditional medical nursing to track, monitor, evaluate, and intervene with patients diagnosed with ESCA to facilitate them with medications guidance, dietary guidance, and timely health problem-solving is established. Furthermore, statistical analysis of epidemiology, gene sequencing, and family genetics information can be performed on patients with ESCA in the Taihang Mountains areas to clarify the relationship between genetic phenotype and genotype during the occurrence of ESCA.

Impacts of nutritive and bioactive compounds on cancer development and therapy

For persons who survive with progressive cancer, nutritional therapy and exercise may be significant factors to improve the health condition and life quality of cancer patients. Nutritional therapy and medications are essential to managing progressive cancer. Cancer survivors, as well as cancer patients, are mostly extremely encouraged to search for knowledge about the selection of diet, exercise, and dietary supplements to recover as well as maintain their treatment consequences, living quality, and survival of patients. A healthy diet plays an important role in cancer treatment. Different articles are studied to collect information and knowledge about the use of nutrients in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention. The report deliberates nutrition and exercise strategies during the range of cancer care, emphasizing significant concerns during treatment of cancer and for patients of advanced cancer, but concentrating mostly on the requirements of the population of persons who are healthy or who have constant disease following their repossession from management. It also deliberates choice nutrition and exercise problems such as dietary supplements, food care, food selections, and weight; problems interrelated to designated cancer sites, and common questions about diet, and cancer survival. Decrease the side effects of medicines both during and after treatment.

Profiles of immune cell infiltration and immune-related genes in the tumor microenvironment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

As a complex system participating in tumor development and progression, the tumor microenvironment was poorly understood in esophageal cancer especially squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

ESTIMATE algorithm is used to investigate tumor-infiltrating immune cells and prognostic genes which were associated with the tumor microenvironment in ESCC.

RESULTS

Based on the immune and stromal scores, ESCC samples were divided into high and low score groups and 299 overlapping differentially expressed genes were identified. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these genes were mainly involved in muscle-related function. Prognostic genes including COL9A3, GFRA2, and VSIG4 were used to establish a risk prediction model using Cox regression analyses. Then multivariate analysis showed that COL9A3 was an independent discriminator of a better prognosis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the expression of COL9A3 was significantly correlated with the overall survival of ESCC patients. The area under the curve for the risk model in predicting 1- and 3- year survival rates were 0.660 and 0.942, respectively. The risk score was negatively correlated with plasma cells, while positively correlated with the proportions of activated CD4 memory T cells, M1 Macrophages and M2 Macrophages (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that both immune response and immune system process gene sets were significantly enriched in high-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided a comprehensive understanding of the TME in ESCC patients. The establishment of the risk model is valuable for the early identification of high-risk patients to facilitate individualized treatment and improve the possibility of immunotherapy response.

Haptoglobin polymorphism and prostate cancer mortality

Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men worldwide and it is known that oxidative stress is a risk factor for cancer development. A common functional haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism, originating from a duplication of a gene segment spanning over two exons, results in three distinct phenotypes with different anti-oxidative capacities: Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between this Hp polymorphism and prostate cancer mortality. The study was performed on 690 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer, recruited between January 2004 and January 2007. Hp genotypes were determined by a TaqMan fluorogenic 5′-exonuclease assay. Hp1-1 was present in 76 (11%), Hp1-2 in 314 (45.5%), and Hp2-2 in 300 (43.5%) patients. During a median follow-up of 149 months, 251 (35.3%) patients died. Hp genotypes were not significantly associated with higher overall mortality (HR 1.10; 95% CI 0.91–1.33; p = 0.34). This remained similar in a multivariate analysis including age at diagnosis, androgen deprivation therapy, and risk group based on PSA level, GS, and T stage (HR 1.11; 95% CI 0.91–1.34; p = 0.30). We conclude that the common Hp polymorphism does not seem to be associated with overall mortality in prostate cancer patients.