Prognostic value of circulating tumor cells and its association with the expression of cancer stem cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

The release of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) into vasculature is an early event in the metastatic process and the detection of CTCs has been widely used clinically. In addition, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the source of distant metastasis. However, the relationship between CTCs and CSCs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients was largely unknown.

MicroRNA-148b enhances the radiosensitivity of B-cell lymphoma cells by targeting Bcl-w to promote apoptosis.

Lymphoma is a malignant disease of the hematopoietic system that typically affects B cells. The up-regulation of miR-148b is associated with radiosensitization in B-cell lymphoma (BCL). This study aimed to explore the role of miR-148b in regulating the radiosensitivity of BCL cells and to investigate the underlying mechanism.

[An epidemiological survey of malignant tumors among fluoride-exposed workers in aluminum industry].

Objective: To investigate the incidence of malignant tumors among fluoride-exposed workers in aluminum industry.

Methods: Sampling points were set in the working positions at different radii around an workshop for treating the waste gas from aluminum electrolysis, and the concentrations of fluoride ions, aluminum, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in air were measured by electrode method, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The incidence of tumors among the workers in the aluminum plant from 1995 to 2009 was investigated by questionnaires and medical records and then statistically analyzed.

[Clinicopathological significance of expression of IGF-1R in uveal melanoma and its association with expression of p-AKT Thr308].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological significance of expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and its association with the expression of p-AKT Thr308 in uveal melanoma.

Methods: Experimental study. Twenty-four patients with uveal melanoma were included from January 2000 to December 2008.

Wnt3a promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and proliferation of lens epithelial cells.

Purpose: Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is caused mainly by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, and migration of human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. wingless (Wnt) signaling has been implicated in the fibrotic process by inducing EMT and increasing the proliferation of epithelial cells. This study investigated the role of Wnt3a in PCO formation.

[Wnt3a induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Wnt3a on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human lens epithelial cells and its molecular mechanisms.

Methods: Experimental research. The Wnt3a expression vector was designed and transiently transfected into SRA0104 cells and the PcDNA-HA expression vector was transfected into the controls.

Higher percentage of CD133+ cells is associated with poor prognosis in colon carcinoma patients with stage IIIB.

Background: Cancer stem cell model suggested that tumor progression is driven by the overpopulation of cancer stem cells and eradicating or inhibiting the symmetric division of cancer stem cells would become the most important therapeutic strategy. However, clinical evidence for this hypothesis is still scarce. To evaluate the overpopulation hypothesis of cancer stem cells the association of percentage of CD133+ tumor cells with clinicopathological parameters in colon cancer was investigated since CD133 is a putative cancer stem cell marker shared by multiple solid tumors.

The expression of beclin 1 is associated with favorable prognosis in stage IIIB colon cancers.

Beclin 1 is a key modulator bridging autophagy, apoptosis and differentiation. This study investigated the expression of beclin 1 in human colon cancers and its association with clinicopathological characteristics. A total of 115 cases of cancer tissues with intact follow-up data were obtained from colon cancer patients with stage IIIB.