Constitutively nuclear FOXO3a localization predicts poor survival and promotes Akt phosphorylation in breast cancer.

Background: The PI3K-Akt signal pathway plays a key role in tumorigenesis and the development of drug-resistance. Cytotoxic chemotherapy resistance is linked to limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis.

Methodology/principal Findings: Examination of FOXO3a and phosphorylated-Akt (P-Akt) expression in breast cancer tissue microarrays showed nuclear FOXO3a was associated with lymph node positivity (p = 0.

Granulin-epithelin precursor as a therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cancer killer in the world. There is no effective therapeutic option for most HCC patients. A new therapeutic strategy is essential.

Inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma invasion by suppression of claudin-10 in HLE cells.

Previously, we showed that down-regulation of claudin-10 (CLDN-10) in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with prolonged disease-free survival after curative surgery. Claudins are important tight junction components. Increasing evidence shows that claudins are involved in cancer progression but each member of claudins is specifically expressed in a variety of malignancies.

Atypical localization of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase in the nucleus is associated with aggressive features of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a versatile proteinase and recent studies indicated it could be internalized. Our earlier study found that it is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and could promote intrahepatic metastasis. The present study was conducted to examine its subcellular localization and its clinicopathological significance in HCC after curative partial hepatectomy.

Preoperative plasma transcript AA454543 level is an independent prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma after partial hepatectomy.

Background: We have previously reported that tissue expression levels of transcript AA454543 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are significantly higher than those of normal livers, livers with cirrhosis, and livers with hepatitis. In addition, a higher level of transcript AA454543 in tumor tissues is associated with poor prognosis. We aim to examine whether quantitative measurement of preoperative plasma transcript AA454543 can provide similar prognostic information.

Mechanism of metastasis by membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the precise role of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis.

Methods: Human HCC cells Hep3B with overexpression of MT1-MMP were established by stable transfection, and compared with control cells carrying the empty vector. Cells were examined in vivo for their differences in the metastatic ability of athymic nude mice, and analyzed in vitro for their differences in invasion ability by invasion chamber coated with Matrigel, adhesion towards collagen I and migration through culture chamber.

Claudin-10 expression level is associated with recurrence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with the same clinicopathologic features can have remarkably different disease outcomes after curative hepatectomy. To address this issue, we evaluated the cDNA microarray gene expression profiles of HCCs and identified claudin-10 expression level was associated with disease recurrence. The aim of the current study is to validate the microarray data by an alternative research method applicable for routine practice.

Liver as an ideal target for gene therapy: expression of CTLA4Ig by retroviral gene transfer.

Background And Aims: Liver has been a target organ for gene therapy as it plays a central role in metabolism and production of serum proteins. Many metabolic disorders result from a deficiency of liver-derived protein products. In transplantation settings, modulation of the immune responses caused by CTLA4Ig protein has been shown to be an attractive direction.