Analysis of HCV Isolates Among the Li Ethnic in Hainan Island of South China Reveals Their HCV-6 Unique Evolution and a New Subtype

Background/Aims: Hainan Island has been inhabited by the “Li” aboriginal minority for centuries where the HCV genotype distribution patterns maybe remarkably different from other parts of China. We aimed to provide a better understanding of the infection with HCV genotype 6 among “Li” aboriginals on Hainan Island. Methods: Firstly, using RT-PCR and DNA sequencing to determined 517 partial HCV Core-E1(115 from Li Ethnic, 402 from Han Ethnic) and 8 full-length genomes from Li ethnic in Hainan Island successfully, and then using the phylogenetic tree to determine the HCV genotype distribution and analyze the evolution of them. Results: Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes among the Han and Li ethnic population exhibits significant diferences: 6a was the most prevalent subtype in Han ethnic of Hainan Island followed by 1b, 3b, 2a, 3a, and 1a. All genomes from Li ethnic were classified into genotype 6, while 84 out of 115 (73%) could not be classified. Nine sequences (HN1350 et al.) from Li ethnic might be assigned to a new subtype 6xh as their p-distances ranged from 5.9∼9.7%. Furthermore, we sequenced and characterized full-length genomes for eight HCV-6 isolates which were all from Li ethnic in Hainan Island. Among these isolates, the HN1350 was classified as a new subtype: 6xh. Conclusion: Overall, we firstly defined a new subtype of genotype 6xh through partial and new full length genome. And we found a unique distribution pattern of HCV 6 in the Li tribe, which might provide a better way to understand the genetic diversity of HCV-6 and to investigate the phylogeny of HCV strains from Li tribe

Survival outcomes and risk factors of patients with stage ⅡB cervical cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy

Objective To investigate the survival outcomes and risk factors of patients with stage ⅡB cervical cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH). Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 178 patients with stage ⅡB cervical cancer who underwent NACT followed by LRH in our department from 2015 to 2018. COX regression analysis was used to analyze the surgical pathological characteristics, and stratified analysis was performed according to the results. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and log-Rank test were employed to analyze the survival outcomes of different subgroups. Results For the 178 subjected patients, their median follow-up period was 51 months, and the rates of 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 75.4% and 82.6%, respectively. COX regression analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (LNM) (HR: 2.04, 95%CI: 1.16~3.60) and deep stromal invasion (DSI) (HR: 4.72, 95%CI: 2.11~10.60) were independent risk factors for DFS. LNM (HR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.48~5.22), DSI (HR: 4.24, 95%CI: 1.64~10.98) and tumor diameter ≥4 cm after NACT (HR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.14~3.94) were independent risk factors for OS. The rates of 3-year DFS of patients with and without LNM was 55.3% and 81.0% (P 50% after NACT were significantly better than those ≤50% (the 3-year DFS rate: 92.9% vs 71.0%, P 50% after NACT have better survival outcomes. LNM, DSI and tumor diameter ≥4 cm after NACT are independent risk factors for the prognosis of stage ⅡB cervical cancer

Correction to: Nanog interaction with the androgen receptor signaling axis induce ovarian cancer stem cell regulation: studies based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Abstract The original article [1] contains errors in Figs. 6 and 8. The corrected figures can be shown ahead

Nanog interaction with the androgen receptor signaling axis induce ovarian cancer stem cell regulation: studies based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) contribute to the poor prognosis of ovarian cancer. Involvement of the androgen receptor (AR) in the malignant behaviors of other tumors has been reported. However, whether AR associates with Nanog (a stem cell marker) and participates in OCSC functions remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the interaction of Nanog with AR and examined whether this interaction induced stem-like properties in ovarian cancer cells. Methods AR and Nanog expression in ovarian tumors was evaluated. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we constructed a Nanog green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker cell model to investigate the expression and co-localization of Nanog and AR. Then, we examined the effect of androgen on the Nanog promoter in ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and SKOV3). After androgen or anti-androgen treatment, cell proliferation, migration, sphere formation, colony formation and tumorigenesis were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Results Both AR and Nanog expression were obviously high in ovarian tumors. Our results showed that Nanog expression was correlated with AR expression. The androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) activated Nanog promoter transcription. Meanwhile, Nanog GFP-positive cells treated with DHT exhibited higher levels of proliferation, migration, sphere formation and colony formation. We also observed that the tumorigenesis of Nanog GFP-positive cells was significantly higher than that of the GFP-negative cells. Xenografts of Nanog GFP-positive cells showed significant differences when treated with androgen or anti-androgen drugs in vivo. Conclusions The interaction of Nanog with the AR signaling axis might induce or contribute to OCSC regulation. In addition, androgen might promote stemness characteristics in ovarian cancer cells by activating the Nanog promoter. This finding merits further study because it may provide a new understanding of OCSC regulation from a hormone perspective and lead to the reevaluation of stem cell therapy for ovarian cancer