Elevated prevalence of Helicobacter species and virulence factors in opisthorchiasis and associated hepatobiliary disease

Recent reports suggest that Opisthorchis viverrini serves as a reservoir of Helicobacter and implicate Helicobacter in pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Here, 553 age-sex matched cases and controls, 293 and 260 positive and negative for liver fluke O. viverrini eggs, of residents in Northeastern Thailand were investigated for associations among infection with liver fluke, Helicobacter and hepatobiliary fibrosis. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in O. viverrini-infected than uninfected participants. H. pylori bacterial load correlated positively with intensity of O. viverrini infection, and participants with opisthorchiasis exhibited higher frequency of virulent cagA-positive H. pylori than those free of fluke infection. Genotyping of cagA from feces of both infected and uninfected participants revealed that the AB genotype accounted for 78% and Western type 22%. Participants infected with O. viverrini exhibited higher prevalence of typical Western type (EPIYA ABC) and variant AB'C type (EPIYT B) CagA. Multivariate analyses among H. pylori virulence genes and severity of hepatobiliary disease revealed positive correlations between biliary periductal fibrosis during opisthorchiasis and CagA and CagA with CagA multimerization (CM) sequence-positive H. pylori. These findings support the hypothesis that H. pylori contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic opisthorchiasis and specifically to opisthorchiasis-associated CCA

Elevated prevalence of Helicobacter species and virulence factors in opisthorchiasis and associated hepatobiliary disease.

Recent reports suggest that Opisthorchis viverrini serves as a reservoir of Helicobacter and implicate Helicobacter in pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Here, 553 age-sex matched cases and controls, 293 and 260 positive and negative for liver fluke O. viverrini eggs, of residents in Northeastern Thailand were investigated for associations among infection with liver fluke, Helicobacter and hepatobiliary fibrosis. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in O. viverrini-infected than uninfected participants. H. pylori bacterial load correlated positively with intensity of O. viverrini infection, and participants with opisthorchiasis exhibited higher frequency of virulent cagA-positive H. pylori than those free of fluke infection. Genotyping of cagA from feces of both infected and uninfected participants revealed that the AB genotype accounted for 78% and Western type 22%. Participants infected with O. viverrini exhibited higher prevalence of typical Western type (EPIYA ABC) and variant AB\u27C type (EPIYT B) CagA. Multivariate analyses among H. pylori virulence genes and severity of hepatobiliary disease revealed positive correlations between biliary periductal fibrosis during opisthorchiasis and CagA and CagA with CagA multimerization (CM) sequence-positive H. pylori. These findings support the hypothesis that H. pylori contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic opisthorchiasis and specifically to opisthorchiasis-associated CCA

RET rearrangements are relevant to histopathologic subtypes and clinicopathological features in Thai papillary thyroid carcinoma patients

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. The RET gene rearrangements CCDC6::RET and NCOA4::RET are the most common RET gene rearrangements in PTC patients. Different RET::PTC rearrangements are associated with different PTC phenotypes.Methods: Eighty-three formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) PTC samples were examined. The prevalence and expression levels of CCDC6::RET and NCOA4::RET were determined using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association of these rearrangements with clinicopathological data was investigated.Results: The presence of CCDC6::RET rearrangement was significantly associated with the classic subtype and absence of angio/lymphatic invasion (p < 0.05). While NCOA4::RET was associated with the tall-cell subtype, and presence of angio/lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an absence of extrathyroidal extension and extranodal extension were independent predictive factors for CCDC6::RET, whereas the tall-cell subtype, large tumor size, angioinvasion, lymphatic invasion and perineural invasion were independent predictive factors for NCOA4::RET (p < 0.05). However, the mRNA expression level of CCDC6::RET and of NCOA4::RET were not significantly associated with clinicopathological data.Conclusion:CCDC6::RET was correlated with an innocent PTC subtype and characteristics, but NCOA4::RET correlated with an aggressive phenotype of PTC. Therefore, these RET rearrangements strongly associated with clinicopathological phenotypes and can be used as predictive markers in PTC patients

5′-UTR and 3′-UTR Regulation of MICB Expression in Human Cancer Cells by Novel microRNAs

The treatment of cancer through the induction of natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) ligands is of interest, but understanding of mechanisms controlling expression of individual ligand is limited. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain related protein B (MICB) is a member of NKG2D ligands. We aimed to investigate the role of 3′-untranslated (3′-UTR) and 5′-untranslated regions (5′-UTR) in post-transcriptional regulation of MICB. Nine novel microRNAs (miRNAs) predicted to interact with 3′-UTR and 5′-UTR using TargetScan, RNAhybrid and miBridge were identified. Their regulation of 3′-UTR, 5′-UTR and both 3′- and 5′-UTR sequences of MICB were indicated by the reduction of luciferase activities of luciferase reporter constructs. Mutations of miRNA binding sites at 3′- and 5′-UTRs resulted in increased luciferase activities confirming the regulation of nine candidate miRNAs. In addition, overexpression of candidate miRNAs also down-regulated the expression of reporter constructs. Consequently, the overexpression and inhibition of candidate miRNAs lead to the decreased and increased. MICB protein expressions on the cells tested, respectively. This study has identified a new role of miRNAs in regulation of MICB expression via both 3′-UTR and 5′-UTR sequences applicable for cancer immunotherapy

Up-regulation of annexin A2 in cholangiocarcinoma caused by Opisthorchis viverrini and its implication as a prognostic marker

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), or cancer of the bile ducts, is primarily associated with infection with the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini in northeast Thailand. The disease is associated with late presentation, poses challenges for diagnosis and has a high mortality rate--features that highlight the need for tumor markers. At present, there are no specific tumor markers that can indicate the early stages and status of CCA. Proteomic analysis of the proteins expressed on the surface of tumor cells is particularly difficult since proteome-wide analysis of surface membrane proteins has thus far been hampered by the lack of effective strategies to profile hydrophobic membrane proteins. In this study, a sequential protein extraction was utilized to overcome this problem. Membrane protein was extracted from four CCA cell lines with different tumor forming capabilities. The non-tumor H69 biliary cell line was used as a control. Two-dimensional-PAGE followed by MALDI-TOF-MS was used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Among 20 up-regulated membrane proteins identified in the CCA cell lines was ANXA2, a participant in tumor invasion and metastasis in other cancers. Accordingly, ANXA2 was verified in human subjects by probing, using a commercial anti-mouse monoclonal antibody and a tissue microarray of CCA (301 diagnosed cases), where it was found to associate with one of several tumor progression stages as reflected by lymphatic invasion (P=0.014) and metastasis (P=0.026). Patients with high expression of ANXA2 had a significantly shorter survival time (P=0.011). ANXA2 expression in tumors may be useful for predicting the poor outcome of CCA patients

Simultaneous Extensive Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct and Pancreas: A Very Rare Entity

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a specific type of bile duct tumor. It has been proposed that it could be the biliary counterpart of the intraductal papillary neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN-P). This hypothesis is supported by the presence of simultaneous intraductal tumors of both the bile duct and pancreas. There have been five reports of patients with simultaneous IPNB and IPMN-P. In all of these cases, biliary involvement was limited to the intrahepatic and perihilar bile duct, which had characteristics similar to IPMN-P and usually had slow progression in nature. Herein, we present the first case of extensive intraductal neoplasm involving the extrahepatic bile duct, intrahepatic bile duct, and entire length of the pancreas with a poor outcome, even after being treated aggressively with radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, we summarize previous case reports of simultaneous intraductal lesions of the bile duct and pancreas

High Monopolar Spindle 1 Is Associated with Short Survival of Cholangiocarcinoma Patients and Enhances the Progression Via AKT and STAT3 Signaling Pathways

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignancy of the bile duct epithelium. The major problems of this cancer are late diagnosis and a high rate of metastasis. CCA patients in advanced stages have poor survival and cannot be cured with surgery. Therefore, targeting molecules involved in the metastatic process may be an effective CCA treatment. Monopolar spindle 1 (MPS1) is a kinase protein that controls the spindle assemble checkpoint in mitosis. It is overexpressed in proliferating cells and various cancers. The functional roles of MPS1 in CCA progression have not been investigated. The aims of this study were to examine the roles and molecular mechanisms of MPS1 in CCA progression. Immunohistochemistry results showed that MPS1 was up-regulated in carcinogenesis of CCA in a hamster model, and positive expression of MPS1 in human CCA tissues was correlated to short survival of CCA patients (n = 185). Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-induced knockdown of MPS1 expression reduced cell proliferation via G2/M arrest, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, MPS1 controlled epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated migration via AKT and STAT3 signaling transductions. MPS1 was also involved in MMPs-dependent invasion of CCA cell lines. The current research highlights for the first time that MPS1 has an essential role in promoting the progression of CCA via AKT and STAT3 signaling pathways and could be an attractive target for metastatic CCA treatment