Retraction Note: HAX-1 Promotes the Chemoresistance, Invasion, and Tumorigenicity of Esophageal Squamous Carcinoma Cells.

The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article [1] because Figure 3c appears to have been modified and reused as Figure 3d.

Luteolin inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis via down-regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential in esophageal carcinoma cells EC1 and KYSE450.

In current study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of luteolin in human ESCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo and tried to explore the potential mechanisms. Results from flow cytometry showed that luteolin could induce apoptosis and caspase-3 activation and induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in a dose- and time-dependent manner in EC1 and KYSE450 cells. JC-1 test results showed that membrane potential of mitochondria after luteolin treatment was down-regulated and this was an indicator for intrinsic apoptosis.

Epigenetic silencing of HIC1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and drives progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Downregulation of the novel tumor suppressor gene HIC1 (hypermethylated in cancer 1) occurs frequently in various tumors where it causes tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, we investigated a role of HIC1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the underlying mechanisms. Downregulation of HIC1 occurred in approximately 70% of primary ESCCs at both mRNA and protein level where it was associated significantly with vascular invasion, advanced clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor disease free survival (DFS).

Roles of GST-π and polβ genes in chemoresistance of esophageal carcinoma cells.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the roles of GST-π and polβ genes in the chemoresistance of esophageal carcinoma cells. Eukaryotic expression vectors containing each gene were constructed and transfected into EC9706 cells, and the biological effects of the two genes assessed based on a resistance index. We additionally investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-resistance effects of GST-π and polβ genes using recombinant lentiviruses carrying siRNAs against the two genes.

Down-regulation of PTEN expression modulated by dysregulated miR-21 contributes to the progression of esophageal cancer.

Background And Aim: miR-21, a putative tumor oncomiR, is a frequently overexpressed miRNA in a variety of tumors. Because it targets tumor-suppressor genes it has been linked to tumor progression. In this study we investigated the role of miR-21 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and its possible mechanism.

Epigenetic inactivation of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF1), as one of most important Wnt antagonists, has been detected frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in various types of cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the promoter methylation profiles of WIF1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and cell lines, as well as the functional roles of WIF1 in the human ESCC metastatic behavior. WIF1 mRNA levels and promoter methylation status in ESCC tissues and cell lines were detected using RT-PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR), respectively.

HAX-1 promotes the chemoresistance, invasion, and tumorigenicity of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.

Background: HAX-1 is an anti-apoptotic factor and regulates the expression of DNA pol β. Interestingly, DNA polymerase pol β is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the functional role of HAX-1 in ESCC remains unclear.

[Effect of CEA gene regulation on the anti-tumor activity of oncolytic adenovirus H101 to esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To study the effect of CEA gene regulation on the anti-tumor activity of oncolytic adenovirus H101 to esophageal carcinoma, and to explore the intrinsic factors influencing H101 sensitivity.

Methods: Stable human esophageal cancer cell line EC9706 cells with lower (EC9706-SCEA) and higher CEA expression (EC9706-CEA) were chosen, thawed and cultured, and then to analyse the influence of CEA expressed at different levels on cell growth. The cytotoxic effect of H101 was assayed by in vitro and nude mouse in vivo.

Genotypic variants at 2q33 and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies.

Genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We conducted a meta-analysis of all single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that showed nominally significant P-values in two previously published genome-wide scans that included a total of 2961 ESCC cases and 3400 controls. The meta-analysis revealed five SNPs at 2q33 with P< 5 × 10(-8), and the strongest signal was rs13016963, with a combined odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.

Enrichment of breast cancer stem cells using a keratinocyte serum-free medium.

Background: Keratinocyte serum-free medium (K-SFM) is a defined medium used to support the growth of primary keratinocytes and embryonic stem cell. The aim of this research was to optimize enrichment of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) using K-SFM.

Methods: A K-SFM was used to enrich CSCs from two breast cancer cell lines and a primary culture of breast cancer.

[Expression and prognostic significance of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in ovarian serous carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the expression and prognostic significance of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in ovarian serous carcinomas.

Methods: Ninety five tumors from the patients with ovarian serous carcinomas and 2 ovarian cancer cell lines were recruited. The expressions of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 were examined by means of immunohistochemistry.

Toxicity of derivatives from semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase-mediated deamination of methylamine against Toxoplasma gondii after infection of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells.

Adipose tissue plays an active role in normal metabolic homeostasis as well as in the development of human diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. We report here antimicrobial activities of the metabolites from adipocytes. Specifically, semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was found to utilize methylamine for producing formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide, accounting for the inhibition of infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii and its replication in these cells.

[Construction of a recombinant lentiviral expression vector carrying carcinoembryonic antigen gene and its expression in dendritic cells].

Objective: To construct a lentiviral expression vector of human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and identify its expression in dendritic cells (DCs).

Methods: Human CEA-encoding sequence was amplified, purified, ligated with lentiviral vector plasmid pLentiGFP and verified by sequencing. The verified recombinant vector plasmid (pLentiGFP-CEA), the packaging plasmid p 8.

[Study on the specific immunity of dendritic cell vaccine loading human umbilical vein endothelial cell antigen against U14 cervical cancer].

Aim: To explore the specific immunity of dendritic cell (DC) vaccine loading human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) antigen.against U14 cervical cancer of mice.

Methods: Primary HUVECs were cultured, identified and made into antigen.

[Preliminary study of DNA polymerase beta gene silencing by small interfering RNA in human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells].

Objective: To study the influence of DNA polymerase beta (polbeta) gene silencing by small interfering RNA on biological behavior of human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823.

Methods: The siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors targeting polbeta gene were constructed and transfected into BGC-823 cells by liposome. Stable cell lines were screened with G418.

[Effect of the microenvironment of esophageal carcinoma on dendritic cells].

Aim: To study the effect of microenvironment simulated by esophageal carcinoma homogenate supernatant on the differentiation and development of human dendritic cells (DCs) and to investigate the mechanisms of tumor immune escape for the clinical application of DC vaccines.

Methods: Fresh esophageal carcinoma and peri-cancer tissues were collected to prepare homogenate supernatant and the content of VEGF-A was detected by ELISA. The peripheral blood monouclear cells were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and cultured with RPMI1640 medium including rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4 to induce to DCs.

[Effect of CTL on K562 cell induced by exosomes and in combination with CPG OND].

To investigate the specific anti-leukemia effect of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cells (DCs) activated by exosomes alone or in combination with CpG ODN in vitro and the feasibility of exosomes as remedial vaccine, the DCs induced from normal volunteer PBMNCs were divided into 7 groups. Three groups of them were added with the exosomes: Kexo (exosomes derived from K562 cells) or DCexo (exosomes derived from DCs induced from K562 cells) or FTexo (exosomes derived from DCs induced from K562 cells and pulsed by freeze-thawing antigen of K562 cells) as experimental groups (Kexo, DCexo and FTexo). The other three groups were added with CPG ODN while added the exosomes (Kexo, DCexo and FTexo), and were used as experimental groups also (Kexo+CpG, DCexo+CpG and FTexo+CpG).

[Construction of a siRNA vector targeting human MTA1 gene and the gene-silencing effect].

Objective: To construct an expression vector of siRNA targeting human MTA1 gene and observe its gene-silencing effect in esophageal carcinoma cells.

Methods: The siRNA sequences targeting MTA1 gene were designed and synthesized with two complementary oligonucleotide strands. The oligonucleotide strands were annealed and recombined into pRNAT-U6.

[Effects of novel human chemokine-like factor superfamily 8 on proliferation and EGFR expression of HL-60 cells].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of chemokine-like factor superfamily 8 (CKLFSF8) on proliferation and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of HL-60 cells. Expression of CKLFSF8 mRNA on HL-60 cell line was assayed by RT-PCR; the target gene was transfected into the cells by lipid vector, cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, while expression of EGFR in HL-60 was determined by immunocytochemical technique. The results indicated that expression of CKLFSF8 existed in HL-60 cells.

[Production of specific CTL induced by exosomes derived from K562 cells].

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exosomes derived from K562 cells and human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with total RNA of K562 cells are capable of inducing antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses in vitro. DCs were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of healthy volunteers in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and then were transfected with K562 RNA by using DOTAP lipofection. Exosomes was extracted from the supernatant of DCs and K562 cells.

[Study on the association of polymorphisms in homocysteine metabolism related enzymes with deep venous thrombosis].

Objective: To explore the significance of gene mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, methionine synthase (MS) 2756 AG and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) 844ins68 in the development of deep venous thrombosis.

Methods: One hundred and three cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT group) and 250 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited in the study. The polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T, MS A2756G and CBS 844ins68 were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).

[Expressions of estrogen receptor subtypes in epithelial ovarian carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of estrogen receptor(ER) subtypes ERa and ERP in epithelial ovarian carcinomas.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen Norwegian patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were included in this study. The expressions of ERalpha and ERbeta were examined by means of immunohistochemistry.

[cDNA microarray-based study of gene expression profile changes in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the differentially expressed genes between human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and normal esophageal mucosa and explore an effective method with high throughput for screening the molecular markers closely correlated with the development, invasion and metastasis of ESCC.

Methods: With cDNA microarray and laser capture microdissection, T7-based amplification were used to detect the mRNA from both the primary carcinoma and the corresponding esophageal epithelium in 15 ESCC cases, and the results were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.

Results: Among the 886 target genes, 110 (12.