MicroRNAs in colorectal cancer as markers and targets: Recent advances.

MicroRNAs are evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNA molecules encoded by eukaryotic genomic DNA, and function in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression via base-pairing with complementary sequences in target mRNAs, resulting in translational repression or degradation of target mRNAs. They represent one of the major types of epigenetic modification and play important roles in all aspects of cellular activities. Altered expression of microRNAs has been found in various human diseases including cancer.

Dendritic cells pulsed with GST-EGFR fusion protein: effect in antitumor immunity against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Targeting EGFR is an effective approach to treat EGFR-positive HNSCC. However, the clinical benefits of the present EGFR-targeting agents are still limited in HNSCC patients.

[Effect of HAI-1 over-expression on in vitro growth and migration/motility of SW620 cells].

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI-1) is an effective inhibitor for hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) and serine protease Matriptase, and is involved in HGF/c-Met signaling pathway by regulating activities of HGFA and Matriptase. In an attempt to elucidate the roles HAI-1 play in tumor cell growth and migration, we subcloned full length cDNA of human HAI-1 into mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+), and transfected the construct into human colorectal cancer cell SW620.

[Inhibition of hepatitis B virus by combined siRNAs in vitro].

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology is a powerful tool to knockdown gene expression in mammalian cells including genes of viral origin. To study the inhibition of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by combined siRNAs in vitro, HepG2 2.2.

Combination of small interfering RNAs mediates greater inhibition of human hepatitis B virus replication and antigen expression.

Objectives: To evaluate the inhibitory effect mediated by combination of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting different sites of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcripts on the viral replication and antigen expression in vitro.

Methods: (1) Seven siRNAs targeting surface (S), polymerase (P) or precore (PreC) region of HBV genome were designed and chemically synthesized. (2) HBV-producing HepG2.