Epigenetic silencing of microRNA-149 in cancer-associated fibroblasts mediates prostaglandin E2/interleukin-6 signaling in the tumor microenvironment.

Tumor initiation and growth depend on its microenvironment in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor stroma play an important role. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin (IL)-6 signal pathways are involved in the crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells. However, how PGE2-mediated signaling modulates this crosstalk remains unclear.

[Expression of metastasis associated 1 family member 2 (MTA2) in gastric cancer and its relationship with transcription factor Sp1].

Objective: To determine the expression patterns of metastasis associated 1 family member 2 (MTA2) in gastric cancer and non-cancerous gastric mucosa, and analyze its relationship with nuclear transcription factor Sp1 expression.

Methods: Tissue samples and clinicopathological information from 83 gastric cancer patients, who underwent surgery, were collected from Shanghai Rui Jin Hospital. All samples included cancer tissue and non-cancerous mucosa which was 5 cm away from the tumor lesion.

UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms and the toxicities of FOLFIRI in Chinese Han patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Background: Neutropenia and diarrhea are the common dose-limiting toxicities of irinotecan, and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) gene polymorphisms are considered to be one of the predictive markers of irinotecan related toxicities. This study aims to investigate the association between UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms and irinotecan related toxicities in Chinese Han gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving FOLFIRI regimen chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 94 gastrointestinal cancer patients with metastasis (72 colon and rectum, 20 stomach, 1 pancreas and 1 duodenum), were enrolled from 2007 to 2010 in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital.

microrna expression signature of gastric cancer cells relative to normal gastric mucosa.

micrornas (miRNAs) play an important role in a wide range of physiological and developmental processes by negatively regulating the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we investigated the differential miRNA expression signature between gastric cancer cells and normal gastric mucosa to determine changes in miRNA expression during gastric cancer development. We analyzed the global miRNA expression profiles of 9 gastric cancer cell lines and 6 normal gastric mucosa lines using miRNA microarrays.

microRNA-155 is downregulated in gastric cancer cells and involved in cell metastasis.

microRNA-155 (miR-155), an important multifunctional microRNA, has been implicated in the development of multiple solid tumors, yet, its role in gastric cancer cells has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we find that miR-155 was significantly downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines compared with an immortalized gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1). Overexpression of miR-155 in SGC-7901 and MKN-45 gastric cancer cells dramatically suppressed cell migration, invasion and adhesion in vitro.

[Impacts of Bevacizumab on vascular endothelial growth factor and Sp1 expression in gastric cancer xenografts].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Bevacizumab on the tumor growth, proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer xenograft, and the impacts on the VEGF and Sp1 expression.

Methods: Gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice were established using SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell line. The nude mice were randomly divided into two groups, Bevacizumab treatment group and PBS group.

Effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeted against NF-κB/P65 on cell proliferation and tumorigenesis of gastric cancer.

To study the inhibitory effect of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B(NF-κB) antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(ASODN) on the growth and tumorgenesis of human gastric cancer. We synthesized and transfected the ASODN of NF-κB/P65 to gastric cancer cell line. The effect of ASODN of NF-κB/P65 on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells was measured by MTT method.

[Establishment of experimental angiogenic models with applications of quantitative digital image analysis].

Objective: To establish experimental models for tumor neovascularization and to apply quantitative digital imaging analysis in the study.

Methods: An endothelial tube formation model was established by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A vasculogenic mimicry model was established by SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell line.

Salinomycin can effectively kill ALDH(high) stem-like cells on gastric cancer.

Salinomycin is a novel identified cancer stem cells (CSCs) killer. Higher ALDH activity represents CSCs characterization. Here, we screened ALDH activities on several gastric cancer cell lines and divided them into ALDH(high) and ALDH(low) gastric cancer groups.

Cell cycle dependent genes from the gastric cancer cell MKN45 can affect tumorigenesis.

Background/aims: To investigate the cell cycle dependent genes involved in gastric tumorigenesis, possibly determining the relationship between the cell cycle and tumorigenesis.

Methodology: MKN45 cells were collected every hour from Oh to 12h after release from G2/M and G1/S blocks. Nine samples (a-i), chosen at key times of the cell cycle, were prepared for RNA isolation and cDNA microarray analysis.

Helicobacter pylori induces promoter hypermethylation and downregulates gene expression of IRX1 transcription factor on human gastric mucosa.

Background And Aim: Gene silence of IRX1 tumor suppressor by promoter CpG methylation combined with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has been identified in human gastric cancer. This study investigated the association between methylation of IRX1 and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric mucosa tissues and cell line.

Methods: IRX1 methylation was studied by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and bisulfate sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP) methods in gastric mucosa tissues from H.

Significance of biological resource collection and tumor tissue bank creation.

Progress in the molecular oncology of gastrointestinal carcinomas depends on high quality cancer tissues for research. Recent acceleration on new technological platforms as well as the "omics" revolution increases the demands on tissues and peripheral blood for research at the DNA, mRNA and protein levels. Tissue bank creation emerges as a priority.

[Promoter cloning and activity analysis for iroquois homeobox gene 1 in gastric mucosa cell line].

Objective: To clone core promoter regions of iroquois homeobox gene 1 (IRX1) gene and evaluate the regulatory mechanism of IRX1 transcription.

Methods: Upstream sequence from transcriptional start site was predicted using bioinformatics methods. Serial deleted fragments from IRX1 promoter sequences were amplified by PCR and luciferase reporter plasmids were constructed.

[Discovery and verification of matrix gla protein, a TNM staging and prognosis-related biomarker for gastric cancer].

Objective: To analyze microarray datasets deposited in the public database and to identify TNM associated genes in gastric cancers.

Methods: Microarray datasets of gastric cancer were selected from GEO database. Differentially expressed genes related to TNM staging were evaluated by significant analysis of the microarray using MultiExperiment Viewer (MEV) platform.

[Significance of plasmic L-plastin levels in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of plasmic L-plastin level in patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods: From March 2008 to March 2009, plasma samples were collected from 40 patients and 40 healthy controls. Plasmic L-plastin level was measured by ELISA kit and was compared to TIMP-1.

[EGFR-blockade by antibody Cetuximab inhibits the growth of human gastric cancer xenograft in nude mice and its possible mechanism].

Objective: EGFR-mediated tumor proliferation plays an important role in the development of cancer, and is a key candidate for targeted therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab (C225) on the growth, proliferation and apoptsis of gastric cancer xenograft in nude mice, and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: A gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 with high EGFR expression level was screened from 7 gastric cancer cell lines.

[Correlation between liver stem cell activation and histopathologic changes in liver with hepatic failure].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between liver stem cell activation and histopathologic changes in liver transplant recipients with hepatic failure.

Methods: A total of 33 cases of hepatic failure were enrolled into the study. Donor liver tissues were used as normal controls.

No mutation was found in the alpha-subunit of the mitochondrial tri-functional protein in one patient with severe acute fatty liver of pregnancy and her relatives.

Background And Aim: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a serious hepatic disorder and a devastating late gestational complication associated with substantial maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Several studies have demonstrated a strong association between AFLP in the mother and fetal deficiency of the enzyme long-chain L-3 hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD). LCHAD resides in the alpha-subunit of the mitochondrial tri-functional protein and catalyzes the third step in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids in the mitochondria.

Disordered beta-catenin expression and E-cadherin/CDH1 promoter methylation in gastric carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the distribution of beta-catenin in nuclei or membrane/cytoplasm of gastric carcinoma cells, the relationship between E-cadherin gene methylation and its expression, and the role of beta-catenin and E-cadherin as potential molecular markers in predicting tumor infiltration.

Methods: Twenty-nine cases of gastric carcinoma, classified as diffuse and intestinal variants, were selected for study. Nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins were purified and beta-catenin content was detected by ELISA.

[High-resolution analysis of chromosome 5 and identification of candidate genes in gastric cancer].

Objective: To explore the relationship between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 5p with the histological phenotype in gastric cancer.

Methods: Eighty pairs of tumor and adjacent normal mucosa samples were collected and genomic DNA was extracted. Total of 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers for 5p were used for LOH analysis.

[Transcription factor Sp1 expression in gastric cancer and its prognostic value].

Objective: To investigate the expression of transcription factor Sp1 in human gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa, and its prognostic significance.

Methods: By using immunohistochemistry, we studied the Sp1 expression patterns in 65 cases of gastric cancer with various clinico-pathologic characteristics, and 40 normal gastric mucosa specimens obtained from patients who underwent partial gastrectomy for benign gastric diseases. The significance of Sp1 expression on the survival of patients was evaluated.

[COX- 2 expression in gastric cancer and its relationship with lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis].

Objective: To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in human gastric cancer, the relationship between their expression and the clinicopathological features,as well as the relationship between these two parameter expression and lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis.

Methods: COX-2 and VEGF-C expressions were detected in 63 gastric cancer samples by immunostaining. Lymphangiogenesis was evaluated by immunostaining with the specific antibody LYVE-1.