Yanhui Li^*†, Su Dong^*†, Arya Tamaskar^†, Heather Wang^†, Jing Zhao^†, Haichun Ma^*, Yutong Zhao^†

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.5, pp. 497-507, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15929939001042

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for 85% of all lung carcinomas. The hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met) has been considered as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC. Proteasome inhibition induces cell apoptosis and has been used as a novel therapeutic approach for treating diseases including NSCLC; however, the effects of different proteasome inhibitors on NSCLC have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study is to determine a precise strategy for treating NSCLC by targeting c-Met using different proteasome inhibitors. Three proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib, MG132, and ONX 0914, were… More >

Chenglin Qin^*†, Linfang Jin^*‡, Jia Li^*§, Wenzhang Zha^†, Huiming Ding^†, Xiaorong Liu^*¶, Xun Zhu^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.5, pp. 483-495, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15928179818438

Abstract Long intergenic nonprotein-coding RNA 02163 (LINC02163) has been reported to be upregulated and work as an oncogene in gastric cancer. The aims of the present study were to determine the expression profile and clinical value of LINC02163 in breast cancer. Additionally, the detailed functions of LINC02163 in breast cancer were explored, and relevant molecular events were elucidated. In this study, LINC02163 was upregulated in breast cancer, and its expression level was closely associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and TNM stage. Patients with breast cancer presenting high LINC02163 expression exhibited shorter overall survival than those presenting low LINC02163 expression.… More >

Dong Li^*1, Fei-fan Sun^*1, Dan Wang^*1, Tao Wang^*, Jing-jing Peng^*, Jian-Qiong Feng^*, Hua Li^*, Chao Wang^†, Dai-jun Zhou^*, Hong Luo^*, Zeng-qiang Fu^*, Tao Zhang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.5, pp. 467-481, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15925659763817

Abstract Sorafenib, a multityrosine kinase inhibitor, is a standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the clinical response to sorafenib is seriously limited by drug resistance. Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is one of the most important inhibitory molecules involved in tumor immune evasion. Recently, it has been reported that PD-L1 could play crucial roles in drug resistance of many kinds of cancers. However, the expression, function, and regulation of PD-L1 in sorafenib-resistant hepatoma cells remain unclear. In this study, we reported that PD-L1 was overexpressed in sorafenib-resistant hepatoma cells, and shRNA-mediated PD-L1 depletion attenuated drug resistance and suppressed the migration,… More >

Leonard Lothstein^*, Judith Soberman^†, Deanna Parke^*, Jatin Gandhi^*, Trevor Sweatman^‡, Tiffany Seagroves^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.5, pp. 451-465, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15898794315356

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unresponsive to antiestrogen and anti-HER2 therapies, requiring the use of cytotoxic drug combinations of anthracyclines, taxanes, cyclophosphamide, and platinum compounds. Multidrug therapies achieve pathological cure rates of only 20–40%, a consequence of drug resistance and cumulative dose limitations necessitated by the reversible cardiotoxic effects of drug therapy. Safer and more effective treatments for TNBC are required to achieve durable therapeutic responses. This study describes the mechanistic analyses of the novel anthracycline, pivarubicin, and its in vivo efficacy against human primary TNBC. Pivarubicin directly activates PKCd, triggers rapid mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, and circumvents resistance conferred by overexpression… More >

Yang Sun^*1, Jun-Gong Jin^*1, Wei-Yang Mi^†, Hao-Wu^*, Shi-Rong Zhang^‡, Qiang Meng^*, Shi-Tao Zhang^‡

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 683-684, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504021X16137463165433

Abstract Glioma is the most common and lethal malignant intracranial tumor. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as pivotal regulators in the tumorigenesis of glioma. However, the role of lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) in glioma genesis is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying function of UCA1 on glioma genesis. The results demonstrated that UCA1 was upregulated in glioma tissue and indicated a poor prognosis. UCA1 knockdown induced by si-UCA1 significantly suppressed the proliferative, migrative, and invasive activities of glioma cell lines (U87 and U251). Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay verified the complementary… More >

Juan Gu^*, Chang-fu Cui^†, Li Yang^‡, Ling Wang^*, Xue-hua Jiang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 681-682, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504021X16137463165424

Abstract Colon cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Emodin is an anthraquinone-active substance that has the ability to affect tumor progression. Our study aims to explore the effects and the relevant mechanism of emodin on the invasion and migration of CC in vitro and in vivo. In our study, we found that emodin inhibited the invasion and migration abilities of RKO cells and decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a dose-dependent manner. Further research suggested that emodin inhibited EMT by increasing the mRNA level of E-cadherin and decreasing the… More >

Chang Li^*, Shuohui Gao^*, Xiaoping Li^†, Chang Li^‡, Lianjun Ma^§

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 675-679, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504021X16137463165406

Abstract Colon cancer is one of the most lethal varieties of cancer. Chemotherapy remains as one of the principal treatment approaches for colon cancer. The anticancer activity of procaine (PCA), which is a local anesthetic drug, has been explored in different studies. In our study, we aimed to explore the anticancer effect of PCA on colon cancer and its underlying mechanism. The results showed that PCA significantly inhibited cell viability, increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, and decreased the expression level of RhoA in HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Moreover, PCA increased the… More >

Yu Sun, Wei Wang, Chenghai Zhao

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 661-674, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X16014648664459

Abstract Wnt molecules play crucial roles in development and adult homeostasis through their receptors Frizzled proteins (Fzds). Fzds mediate canonical b-catenin pathway and various noncanonical b-catenin-independent pathways. Aberrant Fzd signaling is involved in many diseases including cancer. Wnt/b-catenin is a well-established oncogenic pathway involved in almost every aspect of tumor development. However, Fzd-mediated noncanonical Wnt pathways function as both tumor promoters and tumor suppressors depending on cellular context. Fzd-targeted therapies have proven to be effective on cultured tumor cells, tumor cell xenografts, mouse tumor models, and patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Moreover, Fzd-targeted therapies synergize with chemotherapy in preclinical models. However, the occurrence… More >

Linn Woelber^*1, Sabrina Mathey^*1, Katharina Prieske^*†, Sascha Kuerti^*, Christoph Hillen^*, Eike Burandt^‡, Anja Coym^§, Volkmar Mueller^*, Barbara Schmalfeldt^*, Anna Jaeger^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 645-659, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X16076861118243

Abstract Therapeutic options in recurrent or metastasized vulvar squamous cell cancer (VSCC) not amenable to radiotherapy or radical surgery are limited. Evidence for the use of targeted therapies is sparse. All patients with VSCC treated at the Gynecological Cancer Center Hamburg-Eppendorf 2013–2019 were retrospectively evaluated for targeted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, a MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID database search was performed using the terms: “vulvar cancer” AND “targeted therapy,” “erlotinib,” “EGFR,” “bevacizumab,” “VEGF,” “pembrolizumab,” or “immunotherapy.” Twelve of 291 patients (4.1%) with VSCC received at least one targeted therapy at our institution. Previously, one or more platinumbased chemotherapy was… More >

Andrea Lapucci^*†1, Gabriele Perrone^*†1, Antonello Di Paolo^‡§, Cristina Napoli^*†, Ida Landini^*†, Giandomenico Roviello^*†, Laura Calosi^¶, Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato^#, Alfredo Falcone^#, Daniele Bani^¶, Enrico Mini^*†§2, Stefania Nobili^*†§2,3

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.6, pp. 631-644, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X16056983169118

Abstract The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in the early stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still disappointing and the prediction of treatment outcome quite difficult. Recently, through a transcriptomic approach, we evidenced a role of PNN and KCNQ1OT1 gene expression in predicting response to fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III CRC patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to validate in an independent cohort of stages II–III CRC patients our previous findings. PNN and KCNQ1OT1 mRNA expression levels were evaluated in 74 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor and matched normal mucosa samples obtained by stages II–III CRC patients treated with fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant… More >