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Pathania AS. Immune Microenvironment in Childhood Cancers: Characteristics and Therapeutic Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2201. [PMID: 38927907 PMCID: PMC11201451 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor immune microenvironment is pivotal in cancer initiation, advancement, and regulation. Its molecular and cellular composition is critical throughout the disease, as it can influence the balance between suppressive and cytotoxic immune responses within the tumor's vicinity. Studies on the tumor immune microenvironment have enriched our understanding of the intricate interplay between tumors and their immunological surroundings in various human cancers. These studies illuminate the role of significant components of the immune microenvironment, which have not been extensively explored in pediatric tumors before and may influence the responsiveness or resistance to therapeutic agents. Our deepening understanding of the pediatric tumor immune microenvironment is helping to overcome challenges related to the effectiveness of existing therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapies. Although in the early stages, targeted therapies that modulate the tumor immune microenvironment of pediatric solid tumors hold promise for improved outcomes. Focusing on various aspects of tumor immune biology in pediatric patients presents a therapeutic opportunity that could improve treatment outcomes. This review offers a comprehensive examination of recent literature concerning profiling the immune microenvironment in various pediatric tumors. It seeks to condense research findings on characterizing the immune microenvironment in pediatric tumors and its impact on tumor development, metastasis, and response to therapeutic modalities. It covers the immune microenvironment's role in tumor development, interactions with tumor cells, and its impact on the tumor's response to immunotherapy. The review also discusses challenges targeting the immune microenvironment for pediatric cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anup Singh Pathania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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2
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Zhang Q, Zou W, He L, Zhang C, Wang Y. The Sonic hedgehog pathway inhibitor GDC0449 induces autophagic death in human Medulloblastoma Daoy cells. Ultrastruct Pathol 2023; 47:529-539. [PMID: 37953603 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2023.2270676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a frequently occurring malignant brain tumor in children, and many of these tumors are identified by the abnormal activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. Although the Shh inhibitor GDC0449 initially shows some effectiveness in certain tumors, they eventually recur due to drug resistance mechanisms, highlighting the need for new treatment options. In this study, we explore whether GDC0449 induces autophagy in the human MB cell lines. To investigate the ultrastructural pathology changes of GDC0449-treated Daoy and D283 cells, we employed Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) technology to identify the expression of autophagic vacuoles. Our results indicate that GDC0449 only increases autophagy in Daoy cells by increasing the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and autophagosome formation.We also analyzed Beclin1, LC3, Bax, and Cleaved-caspase3 protein and mRNA expression levels of autophagic and apoptotic markers using fluorescence confocal microscopy, RT-PCR, and Western blot. We found that cell autophagy and apoptosis increased in a dose-dependent manner with GDC0449 treatment. Additionally, we observed increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation and decreased protein kinase B (AKT/PKB), Ribosomal Protein S6, eIF4E-binding protein (4EBP1) phosphorylation in GDC0449-treated Daoy cells. It was observed that inhibiting autophagy using Beclin1 siRNA significantly blocked the apoptosis-inducing effects of GDC0449, suggesting that GDC0449 mediates its apoptotic effects by inducing autophagy.Our data suggests that GDC0449 inhibits the growth of human MB Daoy cells by autophagy-mediated apoptosis. The mechanism of GDC0449-induced autophagy in Daoy cells may be related to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Ultrastructural Pathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wanjing Zou
- Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Longtao He
- Ultrastructural Pathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Cuiping Zhang
- Ultrastructural Pathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Neural Reconstructional Department, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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3
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Systems level analysis of sex-dependent gene expression changes in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:8. [PMID: 36681675 PMCID: PMC9867746 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00446-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a heterogeneous disorder, and among the factors which influence the symptom profile, biological sex has been reported to play a significant role. While males have a higher age-adjusted disease incidence and are more frequently affected by muscle rigidity, females present more often with disabling tremors. The molecular mechanisms involved in these differences are still largely unknown, and an improved understanding of the relevant factors may open new avenues for pharmacological disease modification. To help address this challenge, we conducted a meta-analysis of disease-associated molecular sex differences in brain transcriptomics data from case/control studies. Both sex-specific (alteration in only one sex) and sex-dimorphic changes (changes in both sexes, but with opposite direction) were identified. Using further systems level pathway and network analyses, coordinated sex-related alterations were studied. These analyses revealed significant disease-associated sex differences in mitochondrial pathways and highlight specific regulatory factors whose activity changes can explain downstream network alterations, propagated through gene regulatory cascades. Single-cell expression data analyses confirmed the main pathway-level changes observed in bulk transcriptomics data. Overall, our analyses revealed significant sex disparities in PD-associated transcriptomic changes, resulting in coordinated modulations of molecular processes. Among the regulatory factors involved, NR4A2 has already been reported to harbor rare mutations in familial PD and its pharmacological activation confers neuroprotective effects in toxin-induced models of Parkinsonism. Our observations suggest that NR4A2 may warrant further research as a potential adjuvant therapeutic target to address a subset of pathological molecular features of PD that display sex-associated profiles.
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4
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Sonawala K, Ramalingam S, Sellamuthu I. Influence of Long Non-Coding RNA in the Regulation of Cancer Stem Cell Signaling Pathways. Cells 2022; 11:3492. [PMID: 36359888 PMCID: PMC9656902 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as an immensely studied and experimental topic, however a wide range of questions concerning the topic still remain unanswered; in particular, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor stem cells and their characteristics. Understanding the cancer stem-cell signaling pathways may pave the way towards a better comprehension of these mechanisms. Signaling pathways such as WNT, STAT, Hedgehog, NOTCH, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, TGF-β, and NF-κB are responsible not only for modulating various features of CSCs but also their microenvironments. Recently, the prominent roles of various non-coding RNAs such as small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in developing and enhancing the tumor phenotypes have been unfolded. This review attempts to shed light on understanding the influence of long non- coding RNAs in the modulation of various CSC-signaling pathways and its impact on the CSCs and tumor properties; highlighting the protagonistic and antagonistic roles of lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Iyappan Sellamuthu
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai 603202, India
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5
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Schakelaar MY, Monnikhof M, Crnko S, Pijnappel E, Meeldijk J, Ten Broeke T, Bovenschen N. Cellular Immunotherapy for Medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2022; 25:617-627. [PMID: 36219688 PMCID: PMC10076947 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, making up ~20% of all primary pediatric brain tumors. Current therapies consist of maximal surgical resection and aggressive radio- and chemotherapy. A third of the treated patients cannot be cured and survivors are often left with devastating long-term side effects. Novel efficient and targeted treatment is desperately needed for this patient population. Cellular immunotherapy aims to enhance and utilize immune cells to target tumors, and has been proven successful in various cancers. However, for MB, the knowledge and possibilities of cellular immunotherapy are limited. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of cellular immunotherapy for MB, from fundamental in vitro research to in vivo models and (ongoing) clinical trials. In addition, we compare our findings to cellular immunotherapy in glioma, an MB-like intracranial tumor. Finally, future possibilities for MB are discussed to improve efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Y Schakelaar
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Monnikhof
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Crnko
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Bachelor Research Hub, Educational Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emma Pijnappel
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Bachelor Research Hub, Educational Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Meeldijk
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Bachelor Research Hub, Educational Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Toine Ten Broeke
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Bachelor Research Hub, Educational Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Bovenschen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Bachelor Research Hub, Educational Center, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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6
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STAT3 in medulloblastoma: a key transcriptional regulator and potential therapeutic target. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10635-10652. [PMID: 35716286 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07694-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood accounting for about 60% of all pediatric embryonal tumors. Despite improvements in the overall survival rate, this tumor still lacks an efficient, reliable, and less toxic therapeutic approach. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in medulloblastoma initiation and progression is a crucial step for the development of effective therapies. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is a convergence point for several signaling cascades that are implicated in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Accumulated evidence has revealed the pivotal role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in medulloblastoma pathogenesis such as proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression as well as maintenance, drug resistance, and recurrence. In this review, we focus on the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis and discuss the recent advances of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inhibition as a promising developed strategy for medulloblastoma therapy.
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Pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation: a systematic review and contemporary management of 389 cases reported during the last two decades. Neurosurg Rev 2021; 45:1135-1155. [PMID: 34668090 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-021-01674-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID) is a WHO grade II and III tumor arising from pineal parenchymal cells. PPTID is a rare tumor accounting for less than 1% of all primary central nervous system neoplasms. Therefore, reports describing the clinical characteristics and biological features of PPTID are lacking. Moreover, the therapeutic strategy remains controversial. The current study aimed to evaluate treatment results and problems of contemporary therapeutic modalities of PPTID based on its features compared with other pineal parenchymal tumors. A comprehensive systematic literature review of 69 articles was performed, including articles on PPTID (389 patients) and similar tumors. Patient demographics, disease presentation, imaging characteristics, biological features, and current therapeutic options and their results were reviewed. We found that histopathological findings based on current WHO classification are well associated with survival; however, identifying and treating aggressive PPTID cases with uncommon features could be problematic. A molecular and genetic approach may help improve diagnostic accuracy. Therapeutic strategy, especially for grade III and aforementioned uncommon and aggressive tumors, remains controversial. A combination therapy involving maximum tumor resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy could be the first line of treatment. However, although challenging, a large prospective study would be required to identify ways to improve the clinical results of PPTID treatment.
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8
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Yuan L, Zhang H, Liu J, Malhotra A, Dey A, Yu B, Jella KK, McSwain LF, Schniederjan MJ, MacDonald TJ. STAT3 is required for Smo-dependent signaling and mediates Smo-targeted treatment resistance and tumorigenesis in Shh medulloblastoma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:1009-1025. [PMID: 34482626 PMCID: PMC8847987 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)‐driven medulloblastoma (Shh MB) cells are dependent on constitutive Shh signaling, but targeted treatment of Shh MB has been ineffective due to drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to address the critical role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in Shh signaling and drug resistance in Shh MB cells. Herein, we show that STAT3 is required for Smoothened (Smo)‐dependent Shh signaling and, in turn, is reciprocally regulated by Shh signaling, and demonstrate that STAT3 activity is critical for expression of HCK proto‐oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase (Hck) in Shh MB. We also demonstrate that maintained STAT3 activity suppresses p21 expression and promotes colony formation of Shh MB cells, whereas dual treatment with inhibitors of both Smo and STAT3 results in marked synergistic killing and overcomes drug resistance in vitro of Smo antagonist‐resistant Shh MB cells. Finally, STAT3 inhibitor treatment significantly prevents in vivo tumor formation in genetically engineered Shh MB mice. Collectively, we show that STAT3 is necessary to maintain Shh signaling and thus is a potential therapeutic target to treat Shh MB and overcome anti‐Smo drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangping Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jingbo Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anshu Malhotra
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abhinav Dey
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kishore Kumar Jella
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Leon F McSwain
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Matthew J Schniederjan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tobey J MacDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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9
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Pan L, Zhang R, Ma L, Pierson CR, Finlay JL, Li C, Lin J. STAT3 inhibitor in combination with irradiation significantly inhibits cell viability, cell migration, invasion and tumorsphere growth of human medulloblastoma cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2021; 22:430-439. [PMID: 34254873 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2021.1951573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is frequently reported in cancers and plays important roles in tumor progression. Therefore, directly targeting persistent STAT3 signaling is an attractive cancer therapeutic strategy. The aim of this study is to test the inhibitory efficacy of novel STAT3 small molecule inhibitors, LLY17 and LLL12B, in combination with irradiation in human medulloblastoma cells. Both LLY17 and LLL12B inhibit the IL-6-induced and persistent STAT3 phosphorylation in human medulloblastoma cells. Irradiation using 4 Gy alone exhibits some inhibitory effects on medulloblastoma cell viability, and these effects are further enhanced by combining with either STAT3 inhibitor. Irradiation alone also shows certain inhibitory effects on medulloblastoma cell migration and invasion and the combination of LLY17 or LLL12B with irradiation further demonstrates greater inhibitory effects than monotherapy. STAT3 inhibitor alone or irradiation alone exhibits some suppression of medulloblastoma tumorsphere growth, and the combination of LLY17 or LLL12B and irradiation exhibits greater suppression of tumorsphere growth than monotherapy. Combining either STAT3 inhibitor with irradiation reduces the expression of STAT3 downstream targets, Cyclin D1 and Survivin, and induces apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells. These results support that combination of a potent STAT3 inhibitor such as LLY17 or LLL12B with irradiation is an effective and novel therapeutic approach for medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ruijie Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ling Ma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher R Pierson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pathology and Department of Biomedical Education & Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Jonathan L Finlay
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and BMT, the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Chenglong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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10
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Yu J, Gao H, Su Z, Yue F, Tian X. Effect of FAT1 gene expression on the prognosis of medulloblastoma in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e23020. [PMID: 33181666 PMCID: PMC7668459 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000023020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It was reported that cloning human adipose atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1) has an effect on the prognosis of medulloblastoma (MB), while the conclusion still needs to be further proved. Therefore, this study attempted to explore the effect of the high expression of FAT1 on the prognosis of MB children. METHODS The database was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical literature Database (CBM), Chinese Scientific and Journal Database (VIP), Wan Fang database, PubMed, and EMBASE. Hazard ratios (HRs) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to assess the prognostic effect of FAT1 on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RevMan 5.3 and STATA 16.0 software were used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS The results of the study would be published in peer-reviewed journals or at relevant meetings. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed the effect of the high expression of FAT1 on the prognosis of MB children. Such studies may find a new prognostic marker for MB children and help clinicians and health professionals make clinical decisions. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5FN8M.
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Brooks AJ, Putoczki T. JAK-STAT Signalling Pathway in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071971. [PMID: 32698360 PMCID: PMC7409105 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Brooks
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Qld 4072, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Tracy Putoczki
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia;
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