Tumor cell‑fibroblast heterotypic aggregates in malignant ascites of patients with ovarian cancer.

Ascitic multicellular aggregates (MCAs) promote peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in MCA formation and metastasis in patients with high‑grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the cell phenotypes and the presence of CAFs in ascitic MCAs.

The metastatic phenotype shift toward myofibroblast of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes ovarian cancer progression.

Ovarian cancer metastasizes to organs in the abdominal cavity, such as the omentum that is a rich source of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). In present, ADSCs have received more and more attention for their roles in the development of cancer. In this study, we examined α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and carcinoma-associated fibroblast (CAF)-like differentiation capabilities in ADSCs from omentum of different patients.

Dicer affects cisplatin‑mediated apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Dicer is an essential enzyme that processes micro (mi)-RNA precursors into mature miRNAs, and serves a critical role in cancer development and progression by regulating gene expression. However, the role of Dicer in cisplatin‑mediated apoptosis and chemotherapy resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells is poorly understood. In the present study, Dicer was expressed at low levels in cisplatin‑resistant A2780 cells when compared with parental cells.

Metformin inhibits ovarian cancer via decreasing H3K27 trimethylation.

Metformin has been used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus for decades. Recently, used of metformin in the therapy of diverse human cancer types has received widespread attention, while the underlying mechanisms have been not fully elucidated. In the current study, 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine assay to detect cell proliferation, flow cytometry to detect apoptosis, scratch wound healing and Transwell migration assay to detect cell migration capacity.

Adipose‑derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate cisplatin‑induced apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Environment-mediated drug resistance (EMDR) serves an important role in tumor chemotherapy resistance. Adipose‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment. However, the role of ADSC in EMDR remains unclear.

Role of EZH2 in cancer stem cells: from biological insight to a therapeutic target.

Epigenetic modifications in cancer stem cells largely result in phenotypic and functional heterogeneity in many solid tumors. Increasing evidence indicates that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the catalytic subunit of Polycomb repressor complex 2, is highly expressed in cancer stem cells of numerous malignant tumors and has a critical function in cancer stem cell expansion and maintenance. Here, we review up-to-date information regarding EZH2 expression patterns, functions, and molecular mechanisms in cancer stem cells in various malignant tumors and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting EZH2 in tumors.

SOX2 is required to maintain cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer cells can form spheroids under serum-free suspension culture conditions. The spheroids, which are enriched in cancer stem cells, can result in tumor dissemination and relapse. To identify new targetable molecules in ovarian cancer spheroids, we investigated the differential expression of genes in spheroids compared with that under monolayer culture conditions by qPCR microarray.

Comparison of different sample preparation methods for platinum determination in cultured cells by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Background: Platinum-based agents are widely used in chemotherapy against solid tumors and insufficient intracellular drug accumulation is one of the leading causes of platinum resistance which is associated with poor survival of tumor patients. Thus, the detection of intracellular platinum is pivotal for studies aiming to overcome platinum resistance. In the present study, we aimed to establish a reliable graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS)-based assay to quantify the intracellular platinum content for cultured cells.

Role of HER family members in predicting prognoses in epithelial ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.

Aims And Background: Human epidermal receptor (HER) family receptors are commonly overexpressed in various human tumors, and their overexpression is thought to play a critical role in tumor progression. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognostic significance of HER family members in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: Relevant studies published between January 1, 1980, and April 24, 2013, that evaluated the associations of HER family members with overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response to platinum-based chemotherapy, lymph node metastasis, or ascites in EOC were identified via searches of PubMed and EMBASE.

Circulating soluble neuropilin-1 in patients with early cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia can be used as a valuable diagnostic biomarker.

Objective: To investigate soluble neuropilin-1 (sNRP-1) in circulating and NRP-1 protein in cervical tissues from patients with cervical cancer or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Methods: sNRP-1 was measured in 64 preoperative patients and 20 controls. NRP-1 protein in cervical tissue was detected in 56 patients and 20 controls.

Tumor-associated macrophages induce lymphangiogenesis in cervical cancer via interaction with tumor cells.

Our studies were conducted to investigate the clinical and functional significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in cervical tumor lymphatic metastasis. We found that the increase in macrophages in tumor stroma is significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis (p = 0.017), through performing immunohistochemical staining in 111 cervical samples (55 invasive squamous carcinomas of uterine cervix, 27 cervical intraepithelial neoplasms III, and 29 normal cervix).

Proteomic identification of target proteins following Drosha knockdown in cervical cancer.

The nuclear microRNA (miRNA) processing enzyme Drosha is upregulated in cervical cancer, and its overexpression is related to an invasive tumour phenotype. However, the mechanisms that underlie this effect remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the potential targets of Drosha in cervical cancer.

[Disfigurement of p16INK4A gene expression in development of ovarian cancer and the mechanism].

Objective: To evaluate the expression of p16INK4A gene in ovarian cancer and analyze the relation between this alteration and the promoter methylation of p16INK4A DNA.

Methods: The expression of p16INK4A mRNA was detected with RT-PCR in ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues, and the protein was detected by western blot. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to check whether it was methylated in the promoter of p16INK4A, and normal ovarian tissues were used as control.