Kejun Wang^*1, Lin Yan^*1, Fen Lu^†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 157-163, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15190861873459

Abstract miR-363-3p has been shown to suppress tumor growth and metastasis in various human cancers. However, the function of miR-363-3p in osteosarcoma (OS) has not been determined. In our study, we found that the expression of miR-363-3p was significantly downregulated in OS tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. miR-363-3p expression was associated with the poor overall survival rate of OS patients. Moreover, we found that overexpression of miR-363-3p markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U2OS and MG63 cells. Moreover, we found that SOX4 was a direct target of miR-363-3p in OS cells. Overexpression of miR-363-3p significantly inhibited the expression… More >

Zheng-Gang Chen^*, Chuan-Yi Zheng^*, Wang-Qing Cai^†, Da-Wei Li^*, Fu-Yue Ye^*, Jian Zhou^*, Ran Wu^*, Kun Yang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 147-155, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15021536183517

Abstract Glioma is the most common malignant tumor of the nervous system. Studies have shown the microRNA-26b (miR-26b)/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) axis in the development and progression in many tumor cells. Our study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of the miR-26b/COX-2 axis in glioma. Decreased expression of miR-26b with increased levels of COX-2 was found in glioma tissues compared with matched normal tissues. A strong negative correlation was observed between the level of miR-26b and COX-2 in 30 glioma tissues. The miR-26b was then overexpressed by transfecting a miR-26b mimic into U-373 cells. The invasive cell number and wound closing rate… More >

Fan-Chun Meng, Jun-Kai Lin

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 139-146, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15185747911701

Abstract Inhibition of tumor metastasis is one of the most important purposes in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. This study aimed to explore the effects of liquiritigenin, a flavonoid extracted from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, on HCT116 cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We found that liquiritigenin significantly inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation, invasion, and the EMT process, but had no influence on cell apoptosis. Moreover, liquiritigenin remarkably reduced the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in HCT116 cells. Overexpression of Runx2 obviously reversed the liquiritigenininduced invasion and EMT inhibition. Furthermore, liquiritigenin inactivated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/ protein kinase B… More >

Kecheng Zhou^*†1, Jie Chen^*†1, Jiayu Wu^*†1, Yangxinzi Xu^‡, Qiaoyun Wu^*†, Jingjing Yue^*†, Yu Song^§, Shengcun Li^*†, Peng Zhou^¶, Wenzhan Tu^*†, Guanhu Yang^*†, Songhe Jiang^*†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 1079-1088, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15579146061957

Abstract Profilin 2 (PFN2) was found to be mainly expressed in neurons and involved in the development of the brain. In recent years, emerging evidence indicated that PFN2 is also significantly upregulated in various cancers including head and neck cancer (HNSC) and influences cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the role of PFN2 in HNSC development and progression remains unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of PFN2 in the development of HNSC and its possible molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics showed that increased expression of PFN2 in tumors correlated highly with poor prognosis of HNSC patients. Our… More >

Lili Zhao^*, Yao Zhang^*, Jiaoxia Liu^*, Wei Yin^†, Dan Jin^‡, Dandan Wang^*, Wei Zhang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 1015-1023, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15247341491655

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenous noncoding RNAs that frequently play vital roles in many cancer types. Herein we demonstrated that miR-185 was remarkably downregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. A lower level of miR-185 was associated with lymph node metastasis. Functional assays showed that upregulation of miR-185 inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, and invasion capacities of NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, we found that miR-185 suppressed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that Kruppellike factor 7 (KLF7) was the target of miR-185. Overexpression of miR-185 reduced the expression of KLF7… More >

Jian-Wei Wang, Xiao-Feng Wu, Xiao-Juan Gu, Xing-Hua Jiang

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.9, pp. 979-986, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15336368805108

Abstract Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a predominant role in regulating tumor progression. Understanding how CAFs communicate with osteosarcoma is crucial for developing novel approaches for osteosarcoma therapy. Exosomes are able to transmit messages between cells. In this study, we demonstrated that CAFs transfer exosomes to osteosarcoma cells, which promotes osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Using a miRNA microarray analysis, we identified 13 miRNAs that are significantly increased in exosomes derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and corresponding paracancer fibroblasts (PAFs). In vitro studies further validated that the levels of microRNA-1228 (miR-1228) were increased in CAFs, its secreted exosomes, and in recipient osteosarcoma… More >

Wei Wu^*, Linyan He^†‡, Yan Huang^*, Likun Hou^*, Wei Zhang^*, Liping Zhang^*, Chunyan Wu^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.8, pp. 879-887, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15451308507747

Abstract An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) may play key roles in various cancer carcinogenesis and progression, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the expressions, roles, and mechanisms of miR-510 in NSCLC have, up to now, been largely undefined. In vivo assay showed that miR-510 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with that in adjacent nontumor lung tissues. miR-510 expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. In vitro assay indicated that expressions of miR-510 were also increased in NSCLC cell lines. Downregulation of miR-510 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro.… More >

Jianye Li^*, Bin Zhang^†, Jizhao Cui^‡, Zhen Liang^§, Kexia Liu^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.7, pp. 789-799, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15444387696532

Abstract Many studies have shown that downregulated miR-203 level is in a variety of cancers including gastric cancer (GC). However, the precise molecule mechanisms of miR-203 in GC have not been well clarified. In the current study, we investigated the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of miR-203 in GC cell lines. We found that miR-203 is downregulated in GC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, the low level of miR-203 was associated with increased expression of annexin A4 in GC tissues and cell lines. The invasion and EMT of GC cells were suppressed by overexpression of miR-203. However, downregulation of miR-203 promoted… More >

Yankun Zhang^*, Wei Qian^*, Feng Feng^†, Qian Cao^*, Yanqi Li^*, Ying Hou^*, Luyang Zhang^*, Jufeng Fan^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 371-377, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15178740729367

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of lncRNA CASC2 in malignant melanoma (MM). Expression of CASC2 in MM tissues and cells was detected. A375 cells were transfected with pc-CASC2, si-CASC2, miR-18a-5p inhibitor, or corresponding controls, and then cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected using MTT assay, colony formation assay, and Transwell analysis, respectively. The relationship of miR-18a-5p and CASC2 or RUNX1 was detected by luciferase reporter assay. The levels of CASC2 and RUNX1 were significantly reduced in MM tissues compared with normal skin tissues or cells, while the miR-18a-5p level was obviously increased (all p<0.01).… More >

Hongliang Yang^*1, Lei Yan^†1, Kai Sun^‡, Xiaodong Sun^†, Xudong Zhang,§ Kerui Cai^†, Tiejun Song^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 359-369, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15220594629967

Abstract This study aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA BCAR4 on the viability and aggressiveness of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of BCAR4 and GLI2 downstream genes in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification (CHIRP) and Western blot were employed to measure the expression of the GLI2 downstream proteins. Ki-67 expression in nude mice tumors was tested by immunohistochemistry. MTT assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were used to assess NSCLC cell viability and aggressiveness, respectively. Tumor xenograft was conducted to determine the effects of BCAR4 and… More >