Investigation of the potential of miRNA candidates as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, and despite advances in treatment, molecular biomarkers are needed for both early diagnosis and prognosis monitoring. It is known that microRNAs (miRNA), one of the epigenetic mechanisms, are effective in the initiation and development of cancer by regulating the activity of tumor suppressors and/or oncogenes. In this study, the potential of the molecules let-7, miRNA125b, and miRNA30a, which are known to play a role in cellular processes, as biomarkers for colorectal cancer and their molecular mechanisms were investigated in this model. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive utility of the target miRNAs in colorectal cancer patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The expression changes of miRNAs let-7, miRNA125b, and miRNA30a were investigated by miRNAs isolation and cDNA synthesis from the serum samples of 60 patients diagnosed with CRC or from the serum samples of 20 healthy individuals. The calculation was performed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method to determine the expression level. The results were compared with clinical parameters.

RESULT

An 8-fold decrease in the expression of let-7 and miRNA125b and a 60-fold decrease in the expression of miRNA30a were found in the serum samples of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to the healthy group. A decrease in let-7 was observed in 53.3%, miRNA125b in 58.3%, and miRNA30a in 55% of patients. A significant correlation was found between the reduced expression status and the stage, lymph nodes, local recurrence, and metastasis (p < 0.05). The ROC analysis showed that the miRNA30a level could be a diagnostic biomarker for CRC (p < 0.001). No significant impact of target miRNA expression changes on overall disease survival was observed.

CONCLUSION

It is thought that the target miRNA30a can be used for early diagnosis and screening and that the target miRNA let-7, miRNA125b, and miRNA30a can be used as non-invasive biomarkers for disease follow-up, with larger patient studies being conducted on CRC patients.

Efficacy of Capecitabine and Temozolomide Regimen in Neuroendocrine Tumors: Data From the Turkish Oncology Group

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to report the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus temozolomide (CAPTEM) across different lines of treatment in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study analyzing the data of 308 patients with metastatic NETs treated with CAPTEM between 2010 and 2022 in 34 different hospitals across various regions of Turkey.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 41.0 months (range: 1.7-212.1), and the median age was 53 years (range: 22-79). Our results across the entire patient cohort showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.6 months and a median overall survival (OS) of 60.4 months. First-line CAPTEM treatment appeared more effective, with a median PFS of 16.1 months and a median OS of 105.8 months (median PFS 16.1, 7.9, and 9.6 months in first-, second- and ≥third-line respectively, P = .01; with median OS values of 105.8, 47.2, and 24.1 months, respectively, P = .003) In terms of ORR, the first-line treatment again performed better, resulting in an ORR of 54.7% compared to 33.3% and 30.0% in the second and third or higher lines, respectively (P < .001). Grade 3-4 side effects occurred only in 22.5% of the patients, leading to a discontinuation rate of 9.5%. Despite the differences in outcomes based on treatment line, we did not observe a significant difference in terms of side effects between the first and subsequent lines of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The substantial superior outcomes in patients receiving first-line CAPTEM treatment highlight its potential as an effective treatment strategy for patients with metastatic NET.

FOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel as the first-line chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreas cancer (PCa) is one of the mortal cancer types with ranking as fourth leading cancer death in both sexes together. FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GNP) are approved as first-line metastatic treatment in PCa. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes, treated with FFX and GNP as first-line metastatic PCa. Medical records of patients diagnosed with metastatic PCa, from January 2010 to December 2020 were analyzed. This study was a retrospective cohort, multi-institution analysis. The focus of the present study was to compare the efficiency of FFX and GNP chemotherapy combinations in the first-line treatment of PCa. Efficacy had been measured by progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). 182 patients diagnosed with PCa receiving metastatic first-line treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups one hundred and three (56.6%) patients treated with FFX and seventy-nine (43.4%) patients treated with GNP. Patients in the FFX group were younger and had a better ECOG performance status. Overall response rate (ORR) was 69.9% in FFX and 37.9% in GNP group (p: 0.000). Disease control rate (DCR) was 73.7% in patients treated with FFX and 39.2% in GNP group (p: 0.000). The median PFS was 8.3 months (FFX 9.1 vs. GNP 6.7, HR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.16-0.38) the median OS was 12.2 months (FFX 14.1 vs. GNP 9.6, HR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31-0.72). Guidelines recommend both FFX and GNP regimens as a first-line treatment of metastatic PCa. In clinical routine, it is still unclear which regiment is more effective. The present study showed increased survival parameters with FFX versus GNP with similar toxicity profiles.

Role of mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/aim

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive cancer types. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding regulatory RNAs that function posttranscriptionally. miRNA deregulation was observed in the development and progression of HCC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression levels of four miRNAs (mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424) in HCC patients in comparison to healthy individuals.

Materials and methods

Venous blood samples were collected from both HCC patients and healthy individuals. In order to determine the relative expression levels of mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and hsa-mir-424 in HCC patients, probe-based quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed. The cycle threshold (Ct) results were analyzed according to the 2−∆∆Ct method and statistical analyses were performed by SPSS Statistics version 15 for Windows.

Results

qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression levels of mir-33a (fold change: 7.3 and P < 0.001), mir-203b (fold change: 4.6 and P < 0.001), and mir361-3p (fold change: 5.1 and P < 0.001)were downregulated compared to healthy individuals and mir-424 did not show any significant change between HCC patients and controls.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that mir-33a, mir-203b, and mir-361-3p may significantly contribute to tumor pathogenesis in HCC and have potential to be used as a noninvasive biomarker for cancer therapy.

Investigation of JAM-A (rs790056) and LFA-1 (rs8058823) gene variants in Turkish colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of leukocytes and containing the binding domain for junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of JAM-A and LFA-1 variants on the formation of colorectal cancer and metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 82 subjects with colorectal cancer and 67 healthy subjects were studied. DNA was isolated from blood samples, and variations were determined using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

JAM-A rs790056 CC genotype and C allele were found to be higher in the colorectal cancer group (p<0.05), and approximately 3-fold increased colorectal cancer risk with CC genotype was determined (p=0.029). Haplotype analysis showed that GC haplotype (LFA-1 rs8058823G and JAM-A rs790056C) frequency was significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.041) than in controls.

CONCLUSION

JAM-A rs790056 variation may be effective in the development of colorectal cancer.

Medical Plants Oils and Extracts Are an Antiproliferative Agent for Cancer Cells

Medical plants are consumed fresh, dried or decocted in herbal tea and they containing various products such as alkaloids have healing activity of folkloric remedy. The topic of this study was to assessment pharmacological activity, cell cytotoxicity and morphologic alteration of valuable oils and extracts from certain plants used traditionally in Anatolia. The antiproliferative activity for all natural products was conducted following the European Pharmacopoeia 8.0 protocol. According to this protocol, we investigated these natural products for in vitro antiproliferative activity against HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) and HT29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) cells using a cell proliferation assay, cytotoxicity assay (LDH), and phase-contrast microscopic image evaluation techniques. Strong antiproliferative activity in 27.5% of the samples was found. The lowest cytotoxicity values were obtained with low or mild effective ones. Almost all samples altered the morphologic shape of the cells from being cell shrinkage and rounding to being decreased cell elongation and volume. Solvent oil system used in solving natural products samples exhibited potent antiproliferative activity at all concentrations. Hence, a synergistic effect of solvent oil was obtained with the combination of notably antiproliferative natural products, but not for the combination rest of products with low or mild. The results of this study support the efficacy of these valuable oils and extracts as an antiproliferative agent for cancer cells, and it suggests that they may be provided as a potential huge source to current chemotherapeutic researches.

The biochemical effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in experimental spinal cord injury in rats

BACKGROUND

In this study, we investigated the biochemical effectiveness of methylprednisolone, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and methylprednisolone combined with NAC treatment in experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODS

Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into four groups. Spinal cord injury was created extradurally with an aneurysm clip at the T4-T5 level. Following the trauma, Group C (Control group, n:8) was not given any treatment. Group M (methylprednisolone group, n:8) was treated with 30 mg x kg(-1) methylprednisolone followed by a maintenance dose of 5.4 mg x kg(-1) per hour. Group N (NAC group, n:8) was given 150 mg x kg(-1) NAC. Group MN (methylprednisolone and NAC group, n:8) was given 30 mg x kg(-1) followed by an hourly maintenance dose of 5.4 mg x kg(-1) methylprednisolone and 150 mg x kg(-1) NAC intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after the trauma, the rats were decapitated under anesthesia, and their spinal cord samples were taken for biochemical examination.

RESULTS

Mean malonyldialdehyde (MDA) values in Groups M, N and MN were significantly reduced compared to Group C. Mean superoxide dismutase (SOD) values in Groups M, N and MN were significantly higher than in Group C (p<0.05). No difference existed between Groups M and N with respect to mean MDA and SOD values.

CONCLUSION

Methylprednisolone, NAC and methylprednisolone plus NAC treatments have potential biochemical benefits in preventing secondary injury in experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

[The opinions of Turkish physicians about the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensary]

Department of tuberculosis control is the main tuberculosis branch of Minister of Health, with coordinators in cities as intermediate departments and Tuberculosis Central Dispensaries (TCD) as peripheral branches. This study was performed through January-May 2007 in seven different geographical regions to figure out opinions of physicians on tuberculosis dispensaries. A specific questionnaire was distributed to doctors in two cities in each geographical region. A number of 1250 doctor participated in the study as at least fifty doctors in each city. Mean age of the subjects was 32.58 +/- 6.63 (22-65), 52.1% (651) of whom had diagnosed tuberculosis before. It was found in the study that two important functions of tuberculosis central dispensaries for the doctors were the treatment of patients regularly and freely, and scanning the persons who have very close contact with active tuberculosis patient. A number of 157 doctors accepted all seven functions of dispensary as important. Female doctors, pediatricians and chest physicians had better knowledge on the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensaries (p< 0.005). This study showed that Turkish physicians did not have enough knowledge about tuberculosis and its tasks. We believe that practical training procedures for the physicians on the goals and functions of TCD will help to treat tuberculosis.