Yan Li^*, Shan Ji^†, Li-Ye Fu^*, Tao Jiang^*, Di Wu^*, Fan-Dong Meng^*

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 721-731, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14772375848616

Abstract Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) has been reported to promote tumorigenesis. Since it is unclear whether CDKN3 participates in the development of human gastric cancer, this study assessed the association between CDKN3 expression and cell biological function and demonstrated the clinical significance and prognosis of CDKN3 in human gastric cancer. In this study, we found that CDKN3 showed a high expression in 35 paired human gastric cancer tissues and was correlated with poor patient survival, AJCC clinical staging, and recurrence. Silencing of CDKN3 in human gastric cancer cells can significantly reduce proliferation, migration, invasion, and More >

Feng Zhang^*, Hong Sun^†, Sai Zhang^†, Xin Yang^‡, Guogang Zhang^*, Tao Su^†

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 709-719, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14772331883976

Abstract PER3, a circadian clock gene, plays an important role in colorectal cancer, but its action and underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) remain unclear. In this study, the colorectal CSCs were enriched in colorectal HCT-116 sphere-forming cells, expressing lower levels of stem cell markers CD133, CD44, LGR5, and SOX2 compared with HCT-116 cells. A drug-resistant strain from HCT-116 was established. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that PER3 was downregulated in colorectal CSCs and drug-resistant HCT-116. Overexpression of PER3 could strengthen 5-FU-induced inhibitory effects on colorectal CSCs, but knockdown of PER3 decreased its… More >

Bingqian Ding^*1, Huimin Liang^†1, Ming Gao^*, Zhenjiang Li^*, Chenyang Xu^*, Shaokang Fan^*, Na Chang^†

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 701-708, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14772378087005

Abstract The forkhead box A2 (FOXA2) is the key transcriptional factor that plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, until now the expression pattern and role of FOXA2 in glioma have yet to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of FOXA2 in glioma and investigate its role in glioma cells. Our data showed that FOXA2 was significantly downregulated in human glioma cell lines. Forced expression of FOXA2 suppressed the ability of glioma cells to proliferate, migrate, and invade and influenced the expression level of EMT-associated proteins. In addition, forced More >

Zewei Zhang^*1, Chao Xu^†1, Xiafang Zhang^†1, Lulu Huang^†, Cheng Zheng^‡, Haitao Chen^†, Yan Wang^†, Haixing Ju^§, Qinghua Yao^†

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 691-699, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14774897404770

Abstract The tripartite motif-containing protein 11 (TRIM11), a member of the TRIM protein family, has attracted much attention because of its involvement in the development of the central nervous system. It has gained renewed focus because of its newly found function in promoting tumors. However, little is known about its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we found TRIM11 to be overexpressed in HCC tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of TRIM11 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo as well as suppressed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In addition, More >

Sheng-Qiang Lu^*1, Yan Qiu^†1, Wei-Jie Dai^‡, Xiao-Yu Zhang^§

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 681-689, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14771034190471

Abstract Forkhead box R2 (FOXR2), a member of the FOX gene family, has not been very well investigated for its role in cancer. A recent study has shown that FOXR2 is highly expressed in breast cancer samples and is associated with poor prognosis. In addition, FOXR2 was identified as an oncogene in medulloblastoma. Nevertheless, whether FOXR2 plays a role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In the present study, we conducted several in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the expression and effect of FOXR2 in CRC. The study results demonstrated that FOXR2 was upregulated More >

Cheng-Jen Ma^*†‡, Ching-Wen Huang^*‡§, Yung-Sung Yeh^*†¶, Hsiang-Lin Tsai^*§#**, Huang-Ming Hu^††‡‡, I-Chen Wu^††‡‡, Tian-Lu Cheng^§§¶¶, Jaw-Yuan Wang^{*†‡§**¶¶}

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 673-679, 2017, DOI:10.3727/97818823455816X14786040691928

Abstract We analyzed the results of previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who received regorafenib plus FOLFIRI with the irinotecan dose escalation on the basis of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) genotyping. Thirteen patients with previously treated mCRC were subjected to UGT1A1 genotyping between October 2013 and June 2015 and were administered regorafenib plus FOLFIRI with irinotecan dose escalation. Patients with UGT1A1*1/*1 and *1/*28 genotypes were administered 180 mg/m² of irinotecan, whereas those with the UGT1A1*28/*28 genotype were administered 120 mg/m2 of irinotecan. For all patients, the irinotecan dose was increased by 30 mg/m2 every… More >

Fang Zhou^*1, Shunchang Wang^†1, Jianjun Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 663-671, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14761384026719

Abstract Progestin and adipoQ receptor family member III (PAQR3), a member of the PAQR family, is frequently downregulated in different types of human cancer. However, its expression and functions in esophageal cancer are still unknown. This study aimed to explore the expression of PAQR3 in esophageal cancer cell lines and to investigate the role of PAQR3 in the development of esophageal cancer. Our data showed that PAQR3 is expressed in low amounts in human esophageal cancer cell lines. Overexpression of PAQR3 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal cancer cells. In addition, overexpression of More >

Zhe Huang, Yong Feng

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.5, pp. 651-661, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14752792816791

Abstract Cancer cell-derived exosomes have been actively released into the tumor microenvironment with pleiotropic roles in tumor growth and metastasis, including angiogenesis and immune modulation. However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of exosomes shed by colorectal cancer (CRC) cells under hypoxic conditions remain unknown. Here we found that exosomes derived from hypoxic CRC cells promoted the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Suppression of exosome secretion through RAB27a knockdown in CRC cells inhibited exosomal-induced proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Furthermore, we discovered that these exosomes enriched with Wnt4 were dependent on HIF1α. Exosomal Wnt4 increased More >

Gamal A. Elfar^*†, Mohamed A. Ebrahim^‡, Nehal M. Elsherbiny^*, Laila A. Eissa^*

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 641-650, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14768398678750

Abstract Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a robust antiresorptive molecule that acts as a decoy receptor for the receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL), the mediator of osteoclastogenesis. This study was designed to explore the possible role of serum OPG and RANKL in detecting bone metastasis in breast cancer and its interaction with clinicopathologic parameters. Serum levels of RANKL and OPG were estimated in 44 metastatic and 36 nonmetastatic breast cancer patients using ELISA kits. Serum OPG levels were significantly reduced in patients with bone metastasis and correlated negatively with the number of bone lesions and… More >

Xuyang Wen^*, Xiaoping He^†, Feng Jiao^‡, Chunhui Wang^§, Yang Sun^‡, Xuequn Ren^¶, Qianwen Li^*

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 629-640, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14768383625385

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the main causes of cancer death. The tumor microenvironment has a profound effect on inducing tumor growth, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Fibroblast activation protein-a (FAP) is a protein that is usually expressed in fibroblasts, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, which are major components of the tumor microenvironment. However, the role of FAP in GC progression and treatment is still unknown. In this study, we explored these problems based on GC patient samples and experimental models. We found that high FAP expression was an independent prognosticator of poor survival in GC patients. More >