Long Non-coding RNA DLEU1 Promotes Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Confers Cisplatin Resistance in Bladder Cancer by Regulating the miR-99b/HS3ST3B1 Axis

Although accumulating evidence has shown the important function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance, the role of lncRNA DLEU1 in regulating proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance of bladder cancer (BCA) cells remains largely unknown. Here, we found that DLEU1 was upregulated in BLCA tissues and BCA patients with high DLEU1 expression exhibited a shorter survival time. Furthermore, mechanistic analysis and functional assays validated that DLEU1 induced cell proliferation, invasion, and cisplatin resistance of BCA cells by de-repressing the expression of HS3ST3B1 through sponging miR-99b. Low miR-99b and high HS3ST3B1 levels were correlated with worse prognosis in patients with BCA. Ectopic expression of HS3ST3B1 or inhibition of miR-99b reversed DLEU1 knockdown-mediated suppression of cell proliferation, invasion, and cisplatin resistance. Thus, our study revealed a novel role for the DLEU1/miR-99b/HS3ST3B1 axis in regulating proliferation, invasion, and cisplatin resistance of BCA cells

Three-dimensional nephrometry scoring system: a precise scoring system to evaluate complexity of renal tumors suitable for partial nephrectomy

Purpose Several nephrometry scoring systems have been developed based on two-dimensional computerized tomography images to quantify anatomical features of renal tumors. We have developed an accurate three-dimensional nephrometry scoring system to respond to the urgent need for advanced systems based on three-dimensional images. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 135 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy in our institution. Stereoscopic models were reconstructed from preoperative computerized tomography images and three-dimensional scores were assigned directly on stereoscopic models. All tumors were analyzed for following features: tumor volume; endophytic tumor proportion; renal vascular variations; tumor’s relationships with urinary collecting system or renal sinus; longitudinal distance from tumor to equatorial plane. Correlation between three-dimensional score and warm ischemic time was calculated compared with existing classical nephrometry scoring systems. The value of nephrometry scoring systems predicting longer warm ischemic time was explored by receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Mean tumor volume was 31.25 ml; endophytic volume was less than 50% in 42 cases, more than 50% in 79 cases, and 100% in 14 cases; mean longitudinal distance from tumor to equatorial plane was 1.41 cm; 30 patients (22.2%) presented renal vascular variations; 18 cases (13.3%) involved both urinary collecting system and sinus. Mean three-dimensional score was 8.3. Variance analysis and covariance analysis revealed warm ischemic time a significant association with all evaluated tumor features. Furthermore, three-dimensional scores most highly correlated with warm ischemic time (rs = 0.64, p < 0.001), followed by R.E.N.A.L. scores (rs = 0.21, p = 0.012), centrality index (rs = − 0.20, p = 0.019) and Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for Anatomy score (rs = 0.20, p = 0.019). Area under curve of above nephrometry scoring systems was 0.91, 0.67, 0.68 and 0.67 respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions The three-dimensional scoring system developed in this study was a highly-accurate system to quantify the anatomical features of renal tumors. It was identified to have a value in predicting duration of warm ischemic time

Genomic Analysis Reveals Novel Specific Metastatic Mutations in Chinese Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for more than 75% of renal cell carcinoma. Nearly 25% of ccRCC patients were diagnosed with metastasis. Though the genomic profile of ccRCC has been widely studied, the difference between localized and metastatic ccRCC was not clarified. Primary tumor samples and matched whole blood were collected from 106 sporadic patients diagnosed with renal clear cell carcinoma at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2017 to November 2019, and 17 of them were diagnosed with metastasis. A hybridization capture-based next-generation sequencing of 618 cancer-related genes was performed to investigate the somatic and germline variants, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Five genes with significantly different prevalence were identified in the metastatic group, especially TOP1 (17.65% vs. 0%) and SNCAIP (17.65% vs. 0%). The altered frequency of PBRM1 (0% vs. 27%) and BAP1 (24% vs. 10%) differed between the metastatic and nonmetastatic groups, which may relate to the prognosis. Of these 106 patients, 42 patients (39.62%) had at least one alteration in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes, including 58.82% of metastatic ccRCC patients and 35.96% of ccRCC patients without metastasis. Ten pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants were identified in 11 sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients (10.38%), including rarely reported ATM (n=1), MUTYH (n=1), NBN (n=1), RAD51D (n=1), and BRCA2 (n=1). No significant difference in the ratio of P/LP variant carriers or TMB was identified between the metastatic and nonmetastatic groups. We found a unique genomic feature of Chinese metastatic ccRCC patients with a higher prevalence of alterations in DDR, TOP1, and SNCAIP. Further investigated studies and drug development are needed in the future

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Ameliorates Diabetic Bladder Dysfunction via the Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM)-induced bladder dysfunction is predominantly due to the long-term oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been reported to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic properties against oxidative stress. However, its protective effects against diabetic bladder dysfunction have not been clarified. This study focuses on the effects of GSPE on bladder dysfunction in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. After 8 weeks of GSPE administration, the bladder function of the diabetic rats was improved significantly, as indicated by both urodynamics analysis and histopathological manifestation. Moreover, the disordered activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH-Px) and abnormal oxidative stress levels were partly reversed by treatment with GSPE. Furthermore, the level of apoptosis in the bladder caused by DM was decreased following the administration of GSPE according to the Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. Additionally, GSPE affected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3. Furthermore, GSPE showed neuroprotective effects on the bladder of diabetic rats, as shown by the increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and decreased expression of the precursor of nerve growth factor (proNGF). GSPE also activated nuclear erythroid2-related factor2 (Nrf2), which is a key antioxidative transcription factor, with the concomitant elevation of downstream hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). These findings suggested that GSPE could ameliorate diabetic bladder dysfunction and decrease the apoptosis of the bladder in diabetic rats, a finding that may be associated with its antioxidant activity and ability to activate the Nrf2 defense pathway

Nomograms Combining PHI and PI-RADS in Detecting Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Study

(1) Background: The study aimed to construct nomograms to improve the detection rates of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) in the Asian population. (2) Methods: This multicenter prospective study included a group of 293 patients from three hospitals. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors and construct nomograms. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility were used to assess the performance of the nomogram. The web-based dynamic nomograms were subsequently built based on multivariable logistic analysis. (3) Results: A total of 293 patients were included in our study with 201 negative and 92 positive results in PCa. Four independent predictive factors (age, prostate health index (PHI), prostate volume, and prostate imaging reporting and data system score (PI-RADS)) for PCa were included, and four factors (age, PHI, PI-RADS, and Log PSA Density) for CSPCa were included. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for PCa was 0.902 in the training cohort and 0.869 in the validation cohort. The AUC for CSPCa was 0.896 in the training cohort and 0.890 in the validation cohort. (4) Conclusions: The combined diagnosis of PHI and PI-RADS can avoid more unnecessary biopsies and improve the detection rate of PCa and CSPCa. The nomogram with the combination of age, PHI, PV, and PI-RADS could improve the detection of PCa, and the nomogram with the combination of age, PHI, PI-RADS, and Log PSAD could improve the detection of CSPCa

BTF3 sustains cancer stem-like phenotype of prostate cancer via stabilization of BMI1

Abstract Background Cancer stem-like traits contribute to prostate cancer (PCa) progression and metastasis. Deciphering the novel molecular mechanisms underlying stem-like traits may provide important insight for developing novel therapeutics. Methods Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays in prostatic tissues; gain- and loss-of-function analyses using ectopic overexpression and shRNAs in PCa cell lines; measurements of tumorigenic and stemness properties, and transcription in vitro and in vivo; transcriptional analysis in public databases. Results We identified that overexpression of BTF3 in PCa tissues and BTF3 expression highly correlates to stem-like traits. Cancer stem-like characteristics in PCa including self-renewal and metastatic potential were impaired by BTF3 loss and promoted by BTF3 overexpression. Mechanistically, BTF3 could stabilize BMI1, which is a crucial regulator of prostate stem cell self-renewal. More importantly, our data revealed that BTF3 is highly predictive of poor prognosis and may help in risk stratification of PCa patients. Conclusions BTF3 promotes PCa progression though modeling stem-like traits in PCa. BTF3 represents a stratification marker in PCa progression and outcomes