Identification of Prognosis-Related Molecular Subgroups and Construction of a Prognostic Prediction Model Using Immune-Related Genes in Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer patients with similar clinicopathological status exhibit substantially different therapeutic responses, which might be caused by the vast molecular heterogeneity of tumors. In this study, we attempted to identify specific molecular subgroups and construct a prognostic prediction model based on the expression level of immune-related genes in pancreatic cancer. The transcriptome profiling, single nucleotide variation, copy number variation, clinicopathological information, and follow-up data of pancreatic cancer patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database.

Downregulation of long noncoding RNA SNHG14 suppresses cell proliferation and invasion by regulating EZH2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Backgrounds: Previous studies have showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators in many cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical role and functional effects of long non-coding RNA SNHG14 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: The expression of SNHG14 in 58 pairs of pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis.

Aurora A Inhibition Eliminates Myeloid Cell-Mediated Immunosuppression and Enhances the Efficacy of Anti-PD-L1 Therapy in Breast Cancer.

The Aurora A inhibitor alisertib shows encouraging activities in clinical trials against advanced breast cancer. However, it remains unclear whether and how the inflammatory microenvironment is involved in its efficacy. Here, we demonstrated that inhibition of Aurora A directly reshaped the immune microenvironment through removal of tumor-promoting myeloid cells and enrichment of anticancer T lymphocytes, which established a tumor-suppressive microenvironment and significantly contributed to the regression of murine mammary tumors.

Circular RNA ciRS-7 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer by regulating miR-7-mediated EGFR/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most deadly type of tumor, and its pathogenesis remains unknown. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) may be functional and bind to microRNAs and consequently, influence the activity of targeted mRNAs. Recent researches indicate that one circRNA, ciRS-7, acts as a sponge of miR-7 and thus, inhibits its activity.

The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable cholangiocarcinoma: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear due to the lack of randomized control studies. This study aimed to investigate the possible benefit of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable cholangiocarcinoma.

Data Sources: Relevant research articles published before 1st March 2018 in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library databases were retrieved.

MSI2 knockdown represses extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma growth and invasion by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Purpose: To investigate the expression and functional role of Musashi2 (MSI2), an RNA-binding protein, in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA).

Patients And Methods: We measured MSI2 expression in human specimens and cell lines using Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and we analyzed its association with clinicopathologic features in eCCA patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival.

The BET inhibitor I-BET762 inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and enhances the therapeutic effect of gemcitabine.

As one of the most fatal malignancies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has significant resistance to the currently available treatment approaches. Gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapeutic agent for locally advanced and metastatic PDAC, has limited efficacy, which is attributed to innate/acquired resistance and the activation of prosurvival pathways. Here, we investigated the in vitro efficacy of I-BET762, an inhibitor of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of proteins, in treating PDAC cell lines alone and in combination with gemcitabine (GEM).

Circulating microRNA-21 as a prognostic, biological marker in cholangiocarcinoma.

Aims: The prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is generally poor because there is a lack of effective diagnostic tools including laboratory assessments and imageological examination. Therefore, a novel biological marker (biomarker) to effectively diagnose cancer is highly desirable in clinical. Previously, serum microRNAs as biomarkers of cancers have been reported.

Benchtop and animal validation of a portable fluorescence microscopic imaging system for potential use in cholecystectomy.

We propose a portable fluorescence microscopic imaging system (PFMS) for intraoperative display of biliary structure and prevention of iatrogenic injuries during cholecystectomy. The system consists of a light source module, a camera module, and a Raspberry Pi computer with an LCD. Indocyanine green (ICG) is used as a fluorescent contrast agent for experimental validation of the system.

miR-21 and KLF4 jointly augment epithelial‑mesenchymal transition via the Akt/ERK1/2 pathway.

miR-21 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. In the present study, high throughput platform was employed to detect the genes that are differential expressed in QBC939 cells transfected with a hsa-miR-21 antagomir or control vectors.

[The clinical value of pancreatic fistula risk predicting system after pancreaticoduodenectomy].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of a preoperative predictive scoring system which was established by the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) for the postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methods: The clinical data of 269 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at the Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University from February 2008 to February 2014 were studied retroprospectively. The five indexes which including gender, portal invasion, pancreatic cancer, main pancreatic duct index and intra abdominal fat thickness were calculated in the NCCH predictive score system.

MicroRNA-21 regulates biological behavior by inducing EMT in human cholangiocarcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been demonstrated to play a crucial role in malignant progression including differentiation, proliferation, metastasis and invasion, MicroRNA-21 (mir-21) also has been reported to have association with tumor invasion and metastasis in some tumors including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In this study, we further investigated the association of mir-21 with CCA biological behavior by transfecting miR-21 mimics or mir-21 inhibitor into QBC939 and RBE cells accompanied with the tumor xenografts experiment. Results indicated that over-expression of miR-21 significantly promoted cell migration, invasion and xenografts growth, whereas contrary phenomenon was observed in mir-21 inhibitor group.

Risk factors of postoperative complications of pancreatoduodenectomy.

Background/aims: To investigate the risk factors of postoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Methodology: 207 cases suffered from pancreatic carcinoma or periampullary carcinoma received pancreatoduodenectomy in the Anhui Provincial Hospital from Dec. 2007 to Dec.

Analysis of diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: results of 47 cases in a single institution.

Background/aims: There are few large sample, single-center series that focus on the methods of diagnosis, treatment and long-term survival of patients with Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs).

Methodology: Forty-seven patients with pNENs treated at Anhui province hospital affliated of Anhui Medical University during January 2002 to December 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical data were collected and statistically analyzed.

Postoperative anastomotic bile duct stricture is affected by the experience of surgeons and the choice of surgical procedures but not the timing of repair after obstructive bile duct injury.

Bile duct injury (BDI) is one of the most severe complications of biliary operation. This study is to investigate the correlation between the timing of bile duct repair and anastomotic bile duct stricture. Transverse BDI models were constructed in 60 dogs that were divided randomly into BDI₅, BDI₁₀, BDI₁₅, BDI₂₀, and BDI₃₀ groups according to days of injury (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 days).

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) suppresses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells by blocking PI3K-Akt pathway.

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) is a tumor suppressor protein that regulates cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, its exact mechanism of action is poorly understood. Phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K)-Akt-survivin is an important signaling pathway that was regulated by FHIT in lung cancer cells.

Prognostic value of HIF-1α expression in patients with gastric cancer.

The role of hypoxia-inducible factors-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression in gastric cancer remains controversial. We performed a systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis. Electronic databases were used to identify published studies before December 1, 2012.

[Molecular mechanism of γ-aminobutyric acid inhibitory on the growth of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line].

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory on the growth of cholangiocarcinoma cell line (QBC939).

Methods: QBC939 cells were cultured in different groups and treated with GABA, GABA + bicuculine (A receptor antagonist), GABA + phaclofen (B receptor antagonist) for 48 hours. MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation of QBC939 cells.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T gene polymorphism association with digestive tract cancer: a meta-analysis.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T gene polymorphisms have been reported to influence the risk for digestive tract cancer (DTC) in many studies; however, the results remain controversial and ambiguous. We therefore carried out a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to derive a more precise estimation of any associations. Electronic searches were conducted on links between this variant and DTC in several databases through April 2012.

MicroRNA-21 regulates the invasion and metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma and may be a potential biomarker for cancer prognosis.

Background: MicroRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression. The aim of this study was to determine the role of microRNA-21 in cholangiocarcinomas and its relationship to cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell capacity for invasion and metastasis.

Methods: MicroRNA-21 expression was investigated in 41 cases of cholangiocarcinoma samples by in situ hybridization and real-time PCR.

Expression of Smad7 in cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic significance and implications for tumor metastasis.

Background: There are few molecular markers known to predict cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) prognosis. Smad7 has a certain relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but its relevance to CCA in unclear. Therefore expression and clinical significance of Smad7 in CCA was the focus of this study.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid binds to GABAb receptor to inhibit cholangiocarcinoma cells growth via the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been reported to inhibit the growth of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells, but the mechanisms are still not fully understood.

Aims: To explore the mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect of GABA on QBC939 cells.

Methods: An initial immunohistochemistry study of the expressions of GABA receptors in cholangiocarcinoma tissues was followed by the culture and treatment of QBC939 cells for 48 h with GABA, GABA + bicuculine (GABAA receptor antagonist), GABA + phaclofen (GABAB receptor antagonist), and GABA + AG490 (Janus Kinase inhibitor).

Polymorphisms in the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 gene and acute rejection risk in transplant recipients.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphisms have been reported to influence the risk for acute rejection (AR) in transplant recipients. However, the results still remain controversial and ambiguous. The objective of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the association between polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene and the risk of AR in transplant recipients.

FHIT promotes the apoptosis of QBC939 by reducing the expression of cyclin D1.

Background/aims: The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. Recent studies have found that FHIT protein is lost in digestive system neoplasms. However, there is limited information on the effect of FHIT on apoptosis and the regulation functions on cyclin D1 in cholangiocarcinoma.