Role of Mir-452-5p Overexpression in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Early-stage Colorectal Cancer.

Background/aim: The microRNA miR-452-5p holds a critical role in the progression of multiple tumor formations, but there is limited understanding regarding the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression and its underlying mechanisms in the early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to explore the change in miRNA expression in early-stage CRC and examine the role of these miRNAs in CRC.

Materials And Methods: The expression levels of miR-452-5p in tissues and cells of early-stage CRC were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Cisplatin in Liver Cancer Therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is often diagnosed at an unresectable advanced stage. Systemic chemotherapy as well as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) are used to treat advanced HCC. TACE and HAIC have long been the standard of care for patients with unresectable HCC but are limited to the treatment of intrahepatic lesions.

The Roles of Epigenetic Regulation and the Tumor Microenvironment in the Mechanism of Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major histologic type with a poor prognosis owing to the difficulty in early detection, the chemotherapy resistance, and the high recurrence rate of the disease. Despite recent advancements in HCC prevention and diagnosis, over 50% of patients are diagnosed at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage B or C.

Effect of Aspirin on G/G Cell Cycle Arrest and microRNA Signatures in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Background/aim: Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, have attracted attention as anticancer agents that can be applied to standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to examine the antitumour effects and possible fundamental mechanisms of aspirin in pancreatic cancer cells.

Materials And Methods: We appraised the antitumour effects of aspirin on cell proliferation and tumour growth, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, signalling pathways, angiogenesis-related proteins, and phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinases (p-RTKs) and identify miRNAs associated with its antitumour effects.

Characterization of Cisplatin Effects in Lenvatinib-resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Background/aim: Drug resistance to molecular targeted agents, such as lenvatinib, is an important issue. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism of lenvatinib resistance and to investigate potential drugs that may improve the treatment of lenvatinib-resistant (LR) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: LR cells were developed by long-term culture under lenvatinib exposure.

Importance of mediastinal screening-based observation during endoscopic ultrasound to examine gastrointestinal pathologies.

In all endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations performed at our hospital, the heart, vasculature, and mediastinal lymph nodes from the esophagus are observed after checking for gastrointestinal pathologies. Since the introduction of EUS using a convex linear-array echoendoscope at our hospital in April 2015, EUS examinations have been performed in 371 cases for examining pancreaticobiliary diseases, submucosal tumors, and other pathologies during the 3-year period, till March 2018. We diagnosed 2 patients with asymptomatic cardiovascular disease while observing the mediastinum during EUS examination to examine identified pancreaticobiliary disease.

Extracorporeal abdominal massage may help prevent recurrent bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is effective, but recurrent bile duct stones are a common late complication. Because there are still no effective therapies for preventing this complication, some patients have experienced bile duct stone recurrence many times. We describe herein a method of abdominal massage to treat patients with prior cholecystectomy who have experienced recurrence of bile duct stones.