Tocilizumab Exerts Anti-Tumor Effects on Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Xenografts Corresponding to Expression Levels of Interleukin-6 Receptor.

The use of tocilizumab against the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) has been demonstrated as inhibiting the progression of diverse cancers in vitro and in vivo. Nonetheless, evidence regarding the anti-tumor effects of tocilizumab on human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) corresponding to IL-6R expression levels remains scarce. To investigate the influence of IL-6R expression, SW480 and HT-29 cells inoculated subcutaneously into NU/NU mice were used as human CRC xenograft models with anti-IL-6R antibody (tocilizumab) therapy.

Alterations of Cytoskeleton Networks in Cell Fate Determination and Cancer Development.

Cytoskeleton proteins have been long recognized as structural proteins that provide the necessary mechanical architecture for cell development and tissue homeostasis. With the completion of the cancer genome project, scientists were surprised to learn that huge numbers of mutated genes are annotated as cytoskeletal or associated proteins. Although most of these mutations are considered as passenger mutations during cancer development and evolution, some genes show high mutation rates that can even determine clinical outcomes.

Ribosome Biogenesis Serves as a Therapeutic Target for Treating Endometriosis and the Associated Complications.

Ribosome biogenesis is a cellular process critical for protein homeostasis during cell growth and multiplication. Our previous study confirmed up-regulation of ribosome biogenesis during endometriosis progression and malignant transition, thus anti-ribosome biogenesis may be effective for treating endometriosis and the associated complications. A mouse model with human endometriosis features was established and treated with three different drugs that can block ribosome biogenesis, including inhibitors against mTOR/PI3K (GSK2126458) and RNA polymerase I (CX5461 and BMH21).

A More Diverse Cervical Microbiome Associates with Better Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis: A Pilot Study.

Infection-induced chronic inflammation is common in patients with endometriosis. Although microbial communities in the reproductive tracts of patients have been reported, little was known about their dynamic profiles during disease progression and complication development. Microbial communities in cervical mucus were collected by cervical swabs from 10 healthy women and 23 patients, and analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

Genetic impacts on thermostability of onco-lncRNA HOTAIR during the development and progression of endometriosis.

HOTAIR is a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) involved in various cellular signaling, whereas its functional impacts on endometriosis development are still largely unknown. To this end, six potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HOTAIR, with minor allele frequencies more than 10% in Han population and altered net energy of RNA structures larger than 0.5 kcal/mol, were selected for genotyping study.

Somatic mutational landscapes of adherens junctions and their functional consequences in cutaneous melanoma development.

Cell-cell interaction in skin homeostasis is tightly controlled by adherens junctions (AJs). Alterations in such regulation lead to melanoma development. However, mutations in AJs and their functional consequences are still largely unknown.

Overexpression of wild type or a Q311E mutant MB21D2 promotes a pro-oncogenic phenotype in HNSCC.

Cadherin-mediated cell-cell contacts regulated by intracellular binders play critical roles in tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Here, we screened mutational profiles of 312 annotated genes involved in cadherin binding in human squamous cell carcinomas and found MB21D2 to carry a unique recurrent Q311E mutation. MB21D2 overexpression was also frequently found in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) and was associated with poor clinical outcomes.

YWHAZ amplification/overexpression defines aggressive bladder cancer and contributes to chemo-/radio-resistance by suppressing caspase-mediated apoptosis.

The objective of this study was to characterize the oncogenic actions of a recently identified cancer-associated gene YWHAZ (also named as 14-3-3 ζ/δ) in urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder (UCUB). A genome-wide study revealed YWHAZ to be involved in the amplicon at 8q22.3, and its genetic amplification was detected predominantly in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

Novel K6-K14 keratin fusion enhances cancer stemness and aggressiveness in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Keratin intermediate filament (IF) is one component of cellular architectures, which provides necessary mechanical support to conquer environmental stresses. Recent findings reveal its involvement in mechano-transduction and the associated stem cell reprogramming, suggesting the possible roles in cancer development. Here, we report t(12;17)(q13.

Suppression of Cell Growth, Migration and Drug Resistance by Ethanolic Extract of Antrodia cinnamomea in Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells and C57BL/6J Allograft Tumor Model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory activities of ethanolic extracts from (EEAC) on lung cancer. Cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution were analyzed using (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Wound-healing assay, Western blotting, and a murine tumor model were separately used to examine cell migration, protein expression, and tumor repression.

RSF-1 overexpression determines cancer progression and drug resistance in cervical cancer.

Background: Remodeling spacing factor 1 (RSF-1/HBXAP) has been linked to a variety of cancer types, however, its roles and the therapeutic potential are not clear in cervical cancer.

Methods: RSF-1 expression in cancer tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining followed by statistical analysis with SPSS. Anti-RSF-1 studies were performed by treating cells with specific siRNA or a dominant mutant form (RSF-D4).

Exploration of anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of Zuo-Jin-Wan and its alkaloid components in vitro and in orthotopic HepG2 xenograft immunocompetent mice.

Background: Zuo-Jin-Wan (ZJW), a two-herb formula consisting of Coptis chinensis (CC) and Evodia rutaecarpa (ER), is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancers. However, the efficacies and mechanisms of ZJW and its alkaloid components on cancers are still unclear.

Methods: Here we investigated the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of ZJW, CC, ER, berberine, and evodiamine in cells and in intrahepatic xenograft mice.

Up-regulation of ribosome biogenesis by MIR196A2 genetic variation promotes endometriosis development and progression.

Aberrant miRNA expression has been reported in endometriosis and miRNA gene polymorphisms have been linked to cancer. Because certain ovarian cancers arise from endometriosis, we genotyped seven cancer-related miRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (MiRSNPs) to investigate their possible roles in endometriosis. Genetic variants in MIR196A2 (rs11614913) and MIR100 (rs1834306) were found to be associated with endometriosis development and related clinical phenotypes, such as infertility and pain.

Genetic variations of MUC17 are associated with endometriosis development and related infertility.

Background: Genetic alterations of mucin genes, such as MUC2 and MUC4, were previously identified to be associated with endometriosis and related infertility. Additionally, gene expression profiling has confirmed MUC17 to be overexpressed in mucinous ovarian carcinoma; however, its associated risk for endometriosis remains unclear. This study was focused on the potential impact of genetic variations in MUC17 on endometriosis development and associated clinical features.

High cytoplasmic expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 is an independent prognostic factor of better survival in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Hepatocarcinogenesis is complex, with an extraordinary molecular heterogeneity. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation, and it can function as a tumor suppressor or an oncoprotein, depending on tissue type.

2'-hydroxyflavanone induces apoptosis of human osteosarcoma 143 B cells by activating the extrinsic TRAIL- and intrinsic mitochondria-mediated pathways.

Flavanones demonstrate a propensity to antiproliferation and induce apoptosis of malignant cells. Among the 4 flavanones under study, 2'-hydroxyflavanone exhibited the greatest potency to reduce the cell viability of 143 B cells in 4 osteosarcoma cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 2'-hydroxyflavanone increased the hypodiploid cells in the sub-G1 phase but resulted in the reduced DNA content in the G0/G1 phase in 143 B cells.

BMPR1B up-regulation via a miRNA binding site variation defines endometriosis susceptibility and CA125 levels.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein receptor I B (BMPR1B) is a transmembrane receptor mediating TGF-β signal transduction. Recent studies indicate a tumor suppressor role for BMPR1B in ovarian cancer. Polymorphism at BMPR1B 3'UTR within the miR-125b binding site alters its binding affinity toward the miRNA, which may result in insufficient post-transcriptional repression.

Rubus idaeus L. reverses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and suppresses cell invasion and protease activities by targeting ERK1/2 and FAK pathways in human lung cancer cells.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been considered essential for cancer metastasis, a multistep complicated process including local invasion, intravasation, extravasation, and proliferation at distant sites. Herein we provided molecular evidence associated with the antimetastatic effect of Rubus idaeus L. extracts (RIE) by showing a nearly complete inhibition on the invasion (p<0.

Decreased Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expression may correlate with poor survival in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) play either anti- or pro-proliferation roles in different human cancers. Here, we investigated the expression of KLF4 in gastric cancers and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival. KLF4 expression was measured in 118 surgical specimens by immunohistochemical microarray assay.

Elucidating the inhibitory mechanisms of the ethanolic extract of the fruiting body of the mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea on the proliferation and migration of murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells and their tumorigenicity in a BALB/c allograft tumor model.

The aim of this study was to explore whether the ethanolic extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (EEAC), a medical mushroom form Taiwan, could affect the proliferation and migration of WEHI-3 cells in vitro and to explore the antitumor effects of EEAC in BALB/c mice engrafted with WEHI-3 cells. The results showed that EEAC inhibited the proliferation of WEHI-3 cells, resulting in the accumulation of cell in G0/G1 and G2/M phases, as determined by flow cytometry. Moreover, EEAC markedly reduced the migration of WEHI-3 cells, as determined by a transwell assay.

Rsf-1, a chromatin remodelling protein, interacts with cyclin E1 and promotes tumour development.

Chromosome 11q13.5 containing RSF1 (HBXAP), a gene involved in chromatin remodelling, is amplified in several human cancers including ovarian carcinoma. Our previous studies demonstrated requirement of Rsf-1 for cell survival in cancer cells, which contributed to tumour progression; however, its role in tumourigenesis has not yet been elucidated.

Protective effect of Flos carthami extract against ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats.

Flos carthami (FC), also known as Carthamus tinctorius, is a traditional Chinese herbal plant that has been prescribed since centuries for treating various symptoms related to blood circulation improvement. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FC on calcium oxalate (CaOx) formation in ethylene glycol (EG)-fed rats. A total of 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following 6 groups: group 1, as the normal control (n = 5); group 2 received gastric gavages of starch and 0.

Safrole-2',3'-oxide induces cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells and in mice.

Safrole-2',3'-oxide (SAFO) is a reactive electrophilic metabolite of the hepatocarcinogen safrole, the main component of sassafras oil. Safrole occurs naturally in a variety of spices and herbs, including the commonly used Chinese medicine Xi xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) and Dong quai (Angelica sinensis). SAFO is the most mutagenic metabolite of safrole tested in the Ames test.