Discovery of Natural Proteasome Inhibitors as Novel Anticancer Therapeutics: Current Status and Perspectives.

Natural products serve as a main resource for drug discovery. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is one of the primary intracellular protein degradation systems, which is responsible for the degradation of most short-lived, mis-folded and aged proteins. The proteasome is a validated target for cancer treatment, since cancer cells are more reliant on high levels of proteasome activity to maintain the dynamic protein homeostasis required for enhanced metabolism and unrestricted proliferation.

LASP1-S100A11 axis promotes colorectal cancer aggressiveness by modulating TGFβ/Smad signaling.

LIM and SH3 protein 1(LASP1) can promote colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and metastasis, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that LASP1 interacts with S100 calcium binding protein A11(S100A11) and enhances its expression in CRC. LASP1-S100A11 axis is essential for TGFβ-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell aggressive phenotype.

Loss of the 14-3-3σ is essential for LASP1-mediated colorectal cancer progression via activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) can promote colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and metastasis, but the direct evidence that elucidates the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, our proteomic data showed that LASP1 interacted with 14-3-3σ and decreased the expression of 14-3-3σ in CRC. Deletion of 14-3-3σ was required for LASP1-mediated CRC cell aggressiveness.

Epigenetic silencing of miR-490-3p promotes development of an aggressive colorectal cancer phenotype through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is known to contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, although little is known about the contribution of β-catenin on this process. We investigated the role of miR-490-3p, which was recently reported to suppress tumorigenesis through its effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. We found that hypermethylation of the miR-490-3p promoter down-regulates miR-490-3p expression in CRC tissue.

Comprehensive profiling of EBV gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through paired-end transcriptome sequencing.

The latent expression pattern of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been extensively investigated, and the expression of several lytic genes in NPC has been reported. However, comprehensive information through EBV transcriptome analysis in NPC is limited. We performed paired-end RNA-seq to systematically and comprehensively characterize the expression of EBV genes in NPC tissue and C666-1 NPC cell line, which consistently carries EBV.

Skp2 is required for Aurora B activation in cell mitosis and spindle checkpoint.

The Aurora B kinase plays a critical role in cell mitosis and spindle checkpoint. Here, we showed that the ubiquitin E3-ligase protein Skp2, also as a cell-cycle regulatory protein, was required for the activation of Aurora B and its downstream protein. When we restored Skp2 knockdown Hela cells with Skp2 and Skp2-LRR E3 ligase dead mutant we found that Skp2 could rescue the defect in the activation of Aurora B, but the mutant failed to do so.

The role of MALAT1/miR-1/slug axis on radioresistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Recent studies demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a critical role in the regulation of cancer progression and metastasis. However, little is known whether lncRNA regulated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell radioresistance. In the present study, we found that MALAT1 was significantly upregulated in NPC cell lines and tissues.

A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Testicular Microlithiasis and Incidence of Testicular Cancer.

Purpose: There are many recent observational studies on testicular microlithiasis (TM) and risk of testicular cancer. Whether TM increases the risk of testicular cancer is still inconclusive. The objective of this updated meta-analysis was to synthesize evidence from clinical observational studies that evaluated the association between TM and testicular cancer.

A sensitive lateral flow biosensor for Escherichia coli O157:H7 detection based on aptamer mediated strand displacement amplification.

Foodborne diseases caused by pathogens are one of the major problems in food safety. Convenient and sensitive point-of-care rapid diagnostic tests for food-borne pathogens have been a long-felt need of clinicians. Commonly used methods for pathogen detection rely on conventional culture-based tests, antibody-based assays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques.

[Chitosan/PIK3CA siRNA nanoparticle-mediated PIK3CA gene interference decreases the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of PIK3CA/siRNA chitosan nanoparticle on the invasiveness of gastric carcinoma and the potential value of PIK3CA/siRNA chitosan nanoparticle in suppressing the metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Gastric cancer cells were treated with PIK3CA/siRNA nanoparticle (with a diameter of 350 nm), and the efficiency of PIK3CA gene interference was evaluated using Western blotting and real-time PCR. The changes of the invasive capacity of the treated cells was assessed with Transwell assay.

LIM and SH3 protein 1 induces TGFβ-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human colorectal cancer by regulating S100A4 expression.

Purpose: The expression of LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) was upregulated in colorectal cancer cases, thereby contributing to the aggressive phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells. However, we still cannot decipher the underlying molecular mechanism associated with colorectal cancer metastasis.

Experimental Design: In this study, IHC was performed to investigate the expression of proteins in human colorectal cancer tissues.

miR-29b suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer via downregulating Tiam1 expression and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Recently, the role of miR-29b in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) development appears to be controversial. Until now, the expression and function of miR-29b in CRC have not been clarified clearly. We showed that decreased expression of miR-29b usually occurred in CRC cell lines and tissue samples.

[Comparison of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and large-scale DWI for evaluation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma bone marrow infiltration].

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) and large-scale diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for evaluation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) bone marrow (BM) infiltration.

Methods: A total of 79 patients with pathologically diagnosed NHL underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, large scale DWI and BM pathological examination. BM examination as the "gold standard", the performance (the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value) of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and large scale DWI for evaluation of BM infiltration was compared and the risk of BM infiltration of different subtypes and sources of NHL was analyzed.

Prognostic relevance of Period1 (Per1) and Period2 (Per2) expression in human gastric cancer.

Period1 (Per1) and Period2 (Per2) are members of the circadian genes. Mounting evidence suggests that the deregulation of the circadian clock plays an important role in the development of mammalian cancer. However, the expression and clinical significance of Per1 and Per2 in gastric cancer is still unexplored.

Prognostic value of kisspeptin expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: The KiSS-1 gene has been reported to serve as a metastasis suppressor gene in various human malignancies. However, no information is available regarding the role of the KiSS-1 gene or its gene product kisspeptin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Loss of RhoGDI is a novel independent prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

RhoGDI (Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor alpha or RhoGDIα) has been identified as a regulator of Rho GTPases, which are essential for tumor progression, but its role in cancer remains controversial and little is known in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using immunohistochemistry, we analyzed RhoGDI expression in 147 clinicopathologically characterized HCC cases. RhoGDI expression was detected in cytoplasm of HCC tissues.

Volume and dosimetric variations during two-phase adaptive intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the volume and dosimetric variations during IMRT for locally advanced NPC and to identify the benefits of a two-phase adaptive IMRT method. Twenty patients with locally advanced NPC having received IMRT treatment were included. Each patient had both an initial planning CT (CT-1) and a repeated CT scan (CT-2) after treatment at a dose of 40 Gy.

Comparison of SPECT/CT, MRI and CT in diagnosis of skull base bone invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Early detection of skull base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is crucial for correct staging, assessing treatment response and contouring the tumor target in radiotherapy planning, as well as improving the patient's prognosis. To compare the diagnostic efficacy of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for the detection of skull base invasion in NPC. Sixty untreated patients with histologically proven NPC underwent SPECT/CT imaging, contrast-enhanced MRI and CT.

Validation of an improved 'diffeomorphic demons' algorithm for deformable image registration in image-guided radiation therapy.

Deformable image registration (DIR) was widely used in radiation therapy, such as in automatic contour generation, dose accumulation, tumor growth or regression analysis. To achieve higher registration accuracy and faster convergence, an improved 'diffeomorphic demons' registration algorithm was proposed and validated. Based on Brox et al.

The feasibility of mapping dose distribution of 4DCT images with deformable image registration in lung.

Calculating an accurate cumulative dose through individual phases for four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images from the lung is time-consuming. Although the dose distribution of different phases is similar, copying the dose distribution of one phase directly to another phase would yield a dosimetric error of approximately 4% without further optimization. To reduce the dosimetric error, three-dimensional B-spline elastic deformable image registration (DIR) was used to quickly obtain a relatively accurate cumulative dose of 4DCT images acquired from ten lung cancer patients.

4D-CT reconstruction based on pulmonary average CT values.

To date, commercial 4D-CT systems typically depend on an external respiratory monitoring device. Immobilizing patients in a thermoplastic mask while receiving radiotherapy may result in a failure of 4D-CT reconstruction. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of 4D-CT reconstruction based on a method using pulmonary average CT values (ACV) without an external respiratory monitoring device.

Esophagogastrostomy plus gastrojejunostomy: a novel reconstruction procedure after curative resection for proximal gastric cancer.

Objective: The choice of surgical strategy for patients with proximal gastric cancer remains controversial. In this study, we recommend that a new reconstruction procedure be performed following proximal gastrectomy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 71 patients who underwent gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer.

Low concentration of metformin induces a p53-dependent senescence in hepatoma cells via activation of the AMPK pathway.

The induction of senescence for cancer treatment has provoked considerable interest recently. Metformin, a first-line drug for diabetes mellitus type 2, appears to be associated with a lower risk and improved outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mechanism involved in function of metformin in HCC is poorly understood.