Effect and Mechanism of Curdione Combined with Gemcitabine on Migration and Invasion of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa), which usually occurs in bladder epithelial cells and is the fifth most common type of cancer in the world. he recurrence rate within 5 years after surgery is 0.8-45% of patients with early bladder cancer. Therefore, finding appropriate drug therapy for patients with bladder cancer can provide a reference for clinical treatment and play an important role in improving the prognosis of patients. In this study, CCK8 assay result showed that the inhibition of bladder cancer cell activity by Curdione and GEM increased with time and dose. Subsequently, CCK8, clone formation assay and Transwell result showed Curdione enhances GEM inhibition of bladder cancer cell activity, clonal formation and migration, these combine therapeutic schedule also could inhibited growth of in vivo xenograft tumors. The comprehensive database showed that CA2 is a potential target genes of Curdione, and Knockdown CA2 enhances GEM induced inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. Based on these advantages, Curdione may be a new type of action drug or adjunct for the treatment of bladder cancer.

LINC00174 is an oncogenic lncRNA of hepatocellular carcinoma and regulates miR-320/S100A10 axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumour suppressors. In this study, we explored the effects of LINC00174 on the progression of HCC. Expression levels of LINC00174 and microRNA-320 (miR-320) in HCC tissue samples were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association between pathological indices and LINC00174 was also analysed. Human HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 were used as cell models. CCK-8 and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were used to assess the effect of LINC00174 on HCC cell line proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to study the effect of LINC00174 on HCC apoptosis. Transwell assay was conducted to detect the effect of LINC00174 on migration and invasion. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to confirm the binding relationship between miR-320 and LINC00174. Additionally, western blot was used to detect the regulatory function of LINC00174 on oncogene S100 calcium binding protein A10 (S100A10). We demonstrated that LINC00174 expression in HCC clinical samples was significantly increased and this was correlated with higher T stage. Its overexpression remarkably accelerated proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells while reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, knockdown of it suppressed the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Overexpression of LINC00174 significantly reduced the expression of miR-320 by sponging it, in turn enhanced the expression of S100A10. In conclusion, LINC00174 is a sponge of tumour suppressor miR-320, enhances the expression of S100A10 indirectly and functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in HCC. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: LINC00174 is a novel lncRNA, whose function is rarely investigated. It is reported that it is oncogenic in colorectal cancer, while its role in HCC remains unclear. Herein, we report that LINC00174 is significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and promotes the malignant phenotypes. We demonstrate that LINC00174 functions as a sponge for miR-320, increases the expression level of oncogene S100A10 in HCC. This study helps clarify the mechanism of HCC tumorigenesis and progression, and uncover the role of LINC00174 in human disease.

Downregulation of hsa_circ_0000285 serves as a prognostic biomarker for bladder cancer and is involved in cisplatin resistance

Bladder cancer remains a very challenging disease to treat with the high rates of recurrence and progression associated with current therapies. Although the association between bladder cancer pathology and circRNAs remains undetermined, circRNAs signatures may be useful as prognostic and predictive factors and clinical tools for assessing disease state, treatment response and outcome. This study investigates if these circRNAs can be used as biomarkers for bladder cancer diagnosis and predicting treatment response. Herein, qPCR measured the expression of hsa_circRNA_100783, hsa_circ_0000285 and hsa_circRNA_100782 in bladder cancer tissues. It was established that sa_circ_0000285, but not hsa_circRNA_100782 and hsa_circRNA_10078, are significantly reduced in bladder cancer tissues and serum compared to adjacent tissues and healthy controls. Moreover, hsa_circ_0000285 expression was lower in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer patients than in those who were cisplatin-sensitive. Here, hsa_circ_0000285 was associated with tumor size (p<0.001), differentiation (p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.038), distant metastasis (p=0.004) and TNM stage (p=0.013). Further analysis showed that hsa_circ_0000285 would be an independent prognostic factor for bladder cancer patient outcome. In conclusion, our study indicates hsa_circ_0000285 may be a novel biomarker for bladder cancer because of its involvement in bladder cancer chemo-sensitivity.

Silencing of CCR7 inhibits the growth, invasion and migration of prostate cancer cells induced by VEGFC

Early in prostate cancer development, tumor cells express vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), a secreted molecule that is important in angiogenesis progression. CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), another protein involved in angiogenesis, is strongly expressed in most human cancers, where it activated promotes tumor growth as well as favoring tumor cell invasion and migration. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of down-regulating CCR7 expression on the growth of human prostate cancer cells stimulated by VEGFC. The CCR7-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) plasmid vector was constructed and then transfected into prostate cancer cells. The expression of CCR7 mRNA and protein was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and cell migration were assessed following knockdown of CCR7 by RNA interference (RNAi). Western blot analysis was used to identify differentially expressed angiogenesis- and cell cycle-associated proteins in cells with silenced CCR7. The expression levels of CCR7 in prostate cancer cells transfected with siRNA were decreased, leading to a significant inhibition of prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion induced by VEGFC. Western blot analysis revealed that silencing of CCR7 may inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that RNAi can effectively silence CCR7 gene expression and inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells, which indicates that there is a potential of targeting CCR7 as a novel gene therapy approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Protocadherin-17 promoter methylation in serum-derived DNA is associated with poor prognosis of bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prognostic value of protocadherin 17 (PCDH17) promoter methylation in serum-derived DNA of patients with bladder cancer.

METHODS

DNA was isolated from serum of patients with bladder cancer and from age- and sex-matched controls. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the methylation status of the PCDH17 promoter. The correlations between methylation status and clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival were examined.

RESULTS

PCDH17 promoter methylation was detected in 79/151 (52.3%) of patients with bladder cancer, and none of the 43 control subjects. Methylation was significantly associated with larger tumour diameter (>3 cm), high grade (G3) and advanced stage (T2-T4). Patients with PCDH17 promoter methylation had significantly shorter overall survival than those with unmethylated PCDH17 promoter. Methylation was an independent predictor of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

PCDH17 promoter methylation was significantly associated with malignant behaviour and poor prognosis of bladder cancer. The detection of PCDH17 promoter methylation in serum-derived DNA may be a convenient and noninvasive predictive biomarker in routine clinical practice.

[Effects of plasma Hcy on the contents of CO and HO-2 in the corpus cavernosum of ED rats with hyperhomocysteinemia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the changes in the activities of carbon monoxide (CO) and heme oxygenase 2 (HO-2) in ED rats with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy).

METHODS

This study included 40 male Wistar rats weighing 280 - 310 g, 10 as normal controls (group A). HHcy models were made in the other 30 by giving 3% methionine for 4 weeks, and then divided into groups B, C and D. The rats in group B continued to be fed with 3% methionine, those in group C were treated with betaine hydrochloride, and those in group D were given zinc porphyrin IX at 45 micromol per kg per d. Penile erections of the rats were recorded, and 4 weeks later, all were killed for determination of the levels of homocysteine (Hcy) in the blood plasma and the activities of CO and HO-2 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis.

RESULTS

The level of plasma Hcy, penile erection frequency and the content of CO in the corpus cavernosum were (12.55 +/- 0.82) micromol/L, (1.88 +/- 0.05) times and (10.55 +/- 1.73) micromol/L in group A, the Hcy level significantly higher while the penile erection frequency and CO content remarkably lower than in group B ([25.01 +/- 0.94] micromol/L, [0.70 +/- 0.05] times and [9.51 +/- 1.52] micromol/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), with a negative correlation between the level of Hcy and that of CO and HO-2 (P < 0.01). Compared with group B, the three parameters were all significantly increased in C ([14.37 +/- 0.47] micromol/L, [1.18 +/- 0.08] times and [10.36 +/- 1.56] micromol/L, all P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Decreased expressions of CO and HO-2 in the corpus cavernosum of the penis may result in ED in HHcy rats. Betaine can reduce the Hcy level in the blood plasma and CO content in the corpus cavernosum, which might be one of the mechanisms of its action on ED with HHcy.

[Correlation of homocysteine in plasma with NOS and endogenous CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of type 2 diabetic rats]

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation of homocysteine (Hcy) in plasma with nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in the penile corpus cavernosum of type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODS

This study included 40 male Wistar rats, 10 as controls (Group A) and the other 30 as diabetes mellitus (DM) models. Four weeks after the model establishment, the model rats were divided into a DM group (Group B, n = 10), an insulin treated group (Group C, n = 10), and a folic acid and vitamin B12 treated group (Group D, n = 10). All the rats were injected with apomorphine and observed for penile erection at 8 and 12 weeks, and the levels of total plasma Hcy (tHcy), NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum were measured at 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Compared with Group A, the level of tHcy was significantly increased, while NOS and CO activities in the penile cavernous tis-sue and erectile function remarkably decreased in Group B (P < 0.01). The incidence rate of high Hcy was 55% in the DM rats. In comparison, the level of tHcy was obviously decreased, and the NOS activity and erectile function markedly increased in Groups C and D (P < 0.01). The Hcy level showed a significant negative correlation with NOS activity (rA = -0.89, rB = -0.76, rc = -0.91, rD = -0.91) and CO content (TA = -0.82, r, = -0.77, rc = -0.93, rD = -0.81).

CONCLUSION

High plasma Hcy can decrease NOS and CO activities in the penile corpus cavernosum, and consequently induce erectile dysfunction in DM rats, while insulin, folic acid and vitamin B12 can improve their penile erectile function by increasing NOS and CO activities.

[Aging reduces contents of endogenous CO, cAMP and cGMP in rat penile tissues]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship of aging with the changes of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO), cGMP and cAMP contents in the penile tissues of rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four male rats were equally divided into an 8-month, a 16-month and a 24-month group, and their penile erection was detected by injecting apomorphine, their penile cavernous body harvested, and the contents of CO, cAPM and cGMP detected by improved dual wavelength spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The contents of CO, cAPM and cGMP were reduced with the increase of age, with statistically significant differences between the three age groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Aging significantly decreased the contents of CO, cAMP and cGMP in the penile tissues of the rats, which suggests that aging might play an important role in erectile dysfunction.