Hua Zhang^*, Xiuquan He^†, Wenfei Yu^†, Bingqing Yue^†, Ziting Yu^†, Ying Qin^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.8, pp. 859-869, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15049209129277

Abstract As the noncatalytic subunit of mammalian DNA polymerase, mitotic arrest-deficient protein 2B (MAD2B) has been reported to play a role in cell cycle regulation, DNA damage tolerance, gene expression, and carcinogenesis. Although its expression is known to be associated with poor prognosis in several types of human cancers, the significance of MAD2B expression in lung malignancies is still unclear. Our study showed that MAD2B expression significantly increased in lung cancer, especially in the metastatic tissues. We also found that knockdown of MAD2B inhibited the migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of lung cancer cells in vitro and the metastasis in vivo,… More >

Juan Li^*†1, Chunyan Liu^‡1, Dawei Li^§, Meng Wan^¶, Hong Zhang^†, Xiaoxia Zheng^†, Xuemei Jie^†, Pengju Zhang^¶, Jingjing Li^#, Hongchun Hou^†, Qing Sun^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.7, pp. 763-771, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15399955297355

Abstract OLFM4 has been shown to play an important role in tumor initiation and progression. This study aims to investigate the role of OLFM4 in metastatic cervical cancer and its underlying mechanism. Here we discover that OLFM4 expression is significantly reduced in metastatic cervical cancer. Accordingly, overexpression of OLFM4 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion in human cervical cancer cells. To further explore its molecular mechanisms, we reveal that OLFM4 augmentation interferes with mTOR signaling pathway, and the suppressive effects of OLFM4 on cell migration and invasion are largely weakened by phosphatidic acid (PA)-induced mTOR signal activation, which implicates the… More >

Chao Liu^*†, Min Jian^‡, Hong Qi^†, Wei-Zheng Mao^†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 389-397, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15223159811838

Abstract Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to participate in multiple biological processes. However, the effects of miR-495 on gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the functions of miR-495 in GC cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. SGC-7901 and BGC-823 cell lines were transfected with miR-495 mimic, miR-495 inhibitor, and negative controls (mimic control and inhibitor control). The expressions of miR-495, cell viability, migration, apoptosis, and apoptosis-related factors were examined by qRT-PCR, trypan blue staining, Transwell, flow cytometry, and Western blot, respectively. Simultaneously, key factor expression levels of EMT were detected by qRT-PCR and Western… More >

Yang Zhang^*†, Min Zhu^‡, Yuanbo Sun^§, Wenyuan Li^*†, Ying Wang^*†, Weiguang Yu^¶

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 379-387, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15199531937158

Abstract Breast cancer is one of the major malignancies with a mounting mortality rate in the world. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) has been identified to regulate the initiation and progression of multiple tumorous diseases according to previous studies. However, its biological role has been rarely reported in breast cancer. In the present study, lncRNA CASC2 was found to be significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines using real-time quantitative PCR. Furthermore, gain-offunction assays demonstrated that overexpression of lncRNA CASC2 significantly repressed breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, CASC2 induced cell cycle arrest and… More >

Fang Chen^*, Dongqiang Yang^†, Yuhua Ru^‡, Shan Cao^*, Aishe Gao^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.6, pp. 691-701, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15426763753594

Abstract Escalating evidence suggests that microRNA-101 (miR-101) is implicated in the development and progression of various cancers, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the biological function and molecular mechanisms of miR-101 in PTC are still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-101 expression was significantly decreased in PTC tissues and cell lines. Clinically, a low level of miR-101 was positively associated with advanced histological stages and lymph node and distant metastases. The expression of CXCL12 was negatively correlated with miR-101 level in PTC. CXCL12 was validated as a direct target of miR-101 in PTC cells. Functional experiments proved that miR-101… More >

Zhongyi Mu^*†1, Dan Dong^*1, Ning Wei^‡§, Mingli Sun^¶, Wei Wang^*, Yue Shao^*, Jian Gao^*, Ping Yin^*, Chenghai Zhao^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.6, pp. 653-661, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15420748671075

Abstract The lncRNA AFAP1-AS1, oriented from an antisense direction to the protein-coding gene AFAP1 in the opposite strand, was upregulated in a variety of tumors and associated with poor prognosis, including lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and so on. However, the biological role of AFAP1-AS1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is still unknown. We observed that AFAP1-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and that patients with high-level expression of AFAP1-AS1 had a shorter overall survival. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 markedly suppressed the progression of proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT in ccRCC cells. Downregulation of AFAP1-AS1 resulted in… More >

Qiang Li^*†1, Qi Liu^*1, Wanpeng Cheng^*, Huiyan Wei^*, Wenqian Jiang^*, Fang E^*, Yuan Yu^*, Jianfeng Jin^*, Chaoxia Zou^*‡

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.6, pp. 643-651, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15415906335771

Abstract Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays an important role in the progression of several malignancies including breast cancer. However, its role in breast cancer metastasis is still ambiguous. In this study, we observed the effect of HO-1 on mouse mammary carcinoma metastasis using the in vivo tumor metastasis model. Our results revealed that overexpression of HO-1 strongly inhibits the lung metastasis of 4T1 cells. In in vitro analysis, associated indices for epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were evaluated. The results show that HO-1 inhibits EMT, migration, and proliferation of 4T1 cells. In addition, the Notch1/ Slug pathway is… More >

Hong Ye^*, Qing Yang^†, Shujie Qi^*, Hairong Li^‡

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.5, pp. 613-621, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15410353669149

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has high morbidity and mortality rates, and the number of new cases and deaths from liver cancer are increasing. However, the details of the regulation in HCC remain largely unknown. Plant homeodomain finger protein 8 (PHF8) is a JmjC domain-containing protein. Recently, PHF8 was reported to participate in several types of cancer. However, the biological function and clinical significance of PHF8 in HCC remain unknown. In this study, we investigate the role of PHF8 in HCC growth and metastasis. We used bioinformatics analysis and identified the differentially expressed PHF8 in primary HCC and metastasis HCC. Immunohistochemistry analysis… More >

Jun Shan Ruan^*†, Huan Zhou^*, Lin Yang^‡, Ling Wang^*, Zong Sheng Jiang^§, Hong Sun^*, Shao Ming Wang^*†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.5, pp. 593-600, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15051723858706

Abstract Transforming growth factor- 1 (TGF- 1)-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may contribute to tumor metastasis. TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells (a human NSCLC cell line) resulted in the adoption of mesenchymal responses that were predominantly mediated via the TGF- 1–integrin signaling pathway. Ursolic acid has been previously reported to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in several cancers. However, whether ursolic acid can attenuate TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, ursolic acid significantly attenuated the TGF- 1-induced decrease in E-cadherin level and elevated the level of… More >

Yong Wang^*, Rui-Zhi Jia^*, Shu Diao^*, Jun He^†, Li Jia^†

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 203-212, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15761480623959

Abstract Despite the considerable knowledge on the involvement of microRNA-101 (miR-101) in the evolution of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In this study, miR-101 expression was markedly downregulated in the OSCC cell lines and tissues. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), ethynyl deoxyuridine (EdU), and colony formation assays showed that miR-101 inhibited the proliferation of OSCC cells. Flow cytometry and caspase 3 activity assays indicated that miR-101 induced OSCC cell apoptosis. Transwell assays demonstrated that this miRNA also repressed OSCC cell migration and invasion. Moreover, tube formation assay showed that miR-101 abated the proangiogenesis of OSCC cells. Dual-luciferase… More >