Homeobox Gene Expression Dysregulation as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer.

Homeobox genes serve as master regulatory transcription factors that regulate gene expression during embryogenesis. A homeobox gene may have either tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressive properties depending on the specific organ or cell lineage where it is expressed. The dysregulation of homeobox genes has been reported in various human cancers, including bladder cancer.

Differential Protein Expression Patterns of HOXA13 and HOXB13 Are Associated with Bladder Cancer Progression.

Bladder cancer is a common urological cancer and has the highest recurrence rate of any cancer. The aim of our study was to profile and characterize the protein expression of homeobox A13 () and homeobox B13 () genes in Malaysian bladder cancer patients. The protein expression of HOXA13 and HOXB13 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) bladder cancer tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis.

Analysis of PPI networks of transcriptomic expression identifies hub genes associated with Newcastle disease virus persistent infection in bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer cells can acquire persistent infection of oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) but the molecular mechanism(s) remain unelucidated. This poses a major barrier to the effective clinical translation of oncolytic NDV virotherapy of cancers. To improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) associated with the development of NDV persistent infection in bladder cancer, we used mRNA expression profiles of persistently infected bladder cancer cells to construct PPI networks.

Persistent Newcastle disease virus infection in bladder cancer cells is associated with putative pro-survival and anti-viral transcriptomic changes.

Background: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an oncolytic virus with excellent selectivity against cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Unfortunately, prolonged in vitro NDV infection results in the development of persistent infection in the cancer cells which are then able to resist NDV-mediated oncolysis. However, the mechanism of persistency of infection remains poorly understood.

Oncolytic effects of the recombinant Newcastle disease virus, rAF-IL12, against colon cancer cells in vitro and in tumor-challenged NCr-Foxn1nu nude mice.

Colon cancer remains one of the main cancers causing death in men and women worldwide as certain colon cancer subtypes are resistant to conventional treatments and the development of new cancer therapies remains elusive. Alternative modalities such as the use of viral-based therapeutic cancer vaccine is still limited, with only the herpes simplex virus (HSV) expressing granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec) being approved in the USA and Europe so far. Therefore, it is imperative to continue the search for a new treatment modality.

Cytotoxicity study of the interleukin-12-expressing recombinant Newcastle disease virus strain, rAF-IL12, towards CT26 colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Oncolytic viruses have emerged as an alternative therapeutic modality for cancer as they can replicate specifically in tumour cells and induce toxic effects leading to apoptosis. Despite the great potentials and promising results shown in multiple studies, it appears that their efficacy is still moderate and deemed as not sufficient in clinical studies. In addressing this issue, genetic/molecular engineering approach has paved its way to improve the therapeutic efficacy as observed in the case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) expressing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Matrix Metallopeptidase 3 Polymorphisms: Emerging genetic Markers in Human Breast Cancer Metastasis.

Matrix metallopeptidase 3 or , is a zinc-dependent proteolytic enzyme that is involved in various physiological processes via modification of the extracellular matrix. In particular, its over-expression has been associated with cancer metastasis and tumor growth in various cancers including breast cancer. gene expression is regulated by several factors such as DNA polymorphisms which also serve as risk factors for breast cancer.

Evaluation of Gene as a Potential Biomarker for Bladder Cancer.

The ceramide synthase 2 () gene has been linked to tumour recurrence and invasion in many different types of cancers including bladder cancer. In this study, the expression levels of in bladder cancer cell lines were analysed using qRT-PCR and the protein expression in clinical bladder cancer histopathological specimens were examined via immunohistochemistry. The potential utility of as a predictive biomarker of response to oncolytic virotherapy was assessed by correlating the mRNA expression to IC values of cells treated with the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), AF2240 strain.

Evaluation of a Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing Human IL12 against Human Breast Cancer.

The Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain AF2240 is an avian avulavirus that has been demonstrated to possess oncolytic activity against cancer cells. However, to illicit a greater anti-cancer immune response, it is believed that the incorporation of immunostimulatory genes such as IL12 into a recombinant NDV backbone will enhance its oncolytic effect. In this study, a newly developed recombinant NDV that expresses IL12 (rAF-IL12) was tested for its safety, stability and cytotoxicity.

Human mesenchymal stromal cells modulate T-cell immune response via transcriptomic regulation.

Background Aims: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been identified as pan-immunosuppressant in various in vitro and in vivo inflammatory models. Although the immunosuppressive activity of MSCs has been explored in various contexts, the precise molecular signaling pathways that govern inhibitory functions remain poorly elucidated.

Methods: By using a microarray-based global gene expression profiling system, this study aimed to decipher the underlying molecular pathways that may mediate the immunosuppressive activity of umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) on activated T cells.

CYP2D6 Genetic Polymorphisms and Phenotypes in Different Ethnicities of Malaysian Breast Cancer Patients.

The cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily D, polypeptide 6 (CYP2D6) is an enzyme that is predominantly involved in the metabolism of tamoxifen. Genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2D6 gene may contribute to inter-individual variability in tamoxifen metabolism, which leads to the differences in clinical response to tamoxifen among breast cancer patients. In Malaysia, the knowledge on CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms as well as metabolizer status in Malaysian breast cancer patients remains unknown.

DRD and GRIN2B polymorphisms and their association with the development of impulse control behaviour among Malaysian Parkinson's disease patients.

Background: Impulse control disorder (ICD) and behaviours (ICB) represent a group of behavioural disorders that have become increasingly recognised in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who previously used dopaminergic medications, particularly dopamine agonists and levodopa. It has been suggested that these medications can lead to the development of ICB through the abnormal modulation of dopaminergic transmission and signalling in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. Several studies have reported an association between polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor (DRD) and N-methyl-D-aspartate 2B (GRIN2B) genes with the development of ICB in PD (PD-ICB) patients.