AFAP1-AS1 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumorigenesis Through Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) actin filament-associated protein1-antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) is overexpressed in various types of cancers and plays an important role in tumor progression and prognosis. This study investigates the role of AFAP1-AS1 in tumor progression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We found that AFAP1-AS1 was overexpressed in TNBC tissues and cells. Overexpression of LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was associated with poor prognosis in TNBC patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that upregulation of AFAP1-AS1 promoted cell proliferation and invasion, and inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro, while overexpression of AFAP1-AS1 promoted tumor growth in vivo. Our results also revealed that upregulation of AFAP1-AS1 activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote tumorigenesis and cell invasion by increasing the expression of C-myc and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related molecules in TNBC. Collectively, AFAP1-AS1 can be an independent prognostic marker and an effective therapeutic target of triple- negative breast cancer

The Expression of ZNF268 and Its Role in The Cisplatin-based Chemoresistance of Breast Cancer

Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in females worldwide and is one of the leading causes of cancer death and disability in women. Multiple therapies have been applied to breast cancer treatment; however, the long-term survival rate remains low. Although cisplatin has been widely utilized for cancer therapy, chemoresistance still influences the outcome. Methods: After collecting the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 treated with or without cisplatin and sample information from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA), we screened out their common parameters and influences on the prognoses of patients' potential targets. Surgical excisional tissue sections of patients with breast cancer who were admitted and treated in the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Liuzhou People's Hospital from 2017 to 2020 was collected and follow up. After a series of assays combined with clinical information, we tested the reliability of the target. Results: We found that a high expression level of ZNF268 in breast cancer cell lines significantly enhances the sensitivity to cisplatin, contrary to the effects of low expression. Furthermore, a significantly worse prognosis was observed in patients with a high expression of ZNF268 after cisplatin chemotherapy. Conclusion: The expression level of ZNF268 in breast cancer patients after cisplatin chemotherapy may become a potential target to predict the chemoresistance of patients to cisplatin. This study provides a novel idea for improving breast cancer treatment and survival rates

circFBLIM1 act as a ceRNA to promote hepatocellular cancer progression by sponging miR-346

Abstract Backgroud Accumulating evidences indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, play important roles in tumorigenesis. However, the function of circRNAs in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is largely unknown. Methods We performed circRNA microarrays to identify circRNAs that are aberrantly expressed in HCC tissues. Expression levels of a significantly upregulated circRNA, circFBLIM1, was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in HCC cell lines and tissues. Then, we examined the functions of circFBLIM1 in HCC by cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and mouse xenograft assay. In addition, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to explore the miRNA sponge function of circFBLIM1 in HCC. Results Microarray analysis and qRT-PCR verified a circRNA termed circFBLIM1 that was upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circFBLIM1 inhibited proliferation, invasion and promoted apoptosis in HCC. Via luciferase reporter assays, circFBLIM1 and FBLIM1 were observed to directly bind to miR-346. Subsequent experiments showed that circFBLIM1 and FBLIM1 regulated the expression of each other by sponging miR-346. Conclusions Taken together, we conclude that circFBLIM1 may function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate FBLIM1 expression through sponging miR-346 to exert regulatory functions in HCC. circFBLIM1 may be a diagnostic biomarker and potential target for HCC therapy

Squamous cell carcinoma transformation in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a systematic review

Abstract Background 0.17–2% of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary (MCTO) undergo malignant transformation, of which 80% are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transformation in MCTO. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of SCC transformation in MCTO Methods We systematically searched PubMed database and individual patient data about SCC transformation in MCTO were extracted. The published cases were combined with 6 cases of SCC transformation in MCTO from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University. Results The incidence of SCC transformation in MCTO was 0.3%. A total of 435 cases of SCC transformation in MCTO were enrolled in the analysis. The mean age of diagnosis was 53.5 (range 19–87) years old. The most common clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (47.3%) and abdominal mass (26.0%). StageI,II, III and IV accounted for 50.0, 18.8, 26.8 and 4.4% of all cases, respectively. Patients with stage I had significantly better prognosis than stage II, III and IV patients (P < 0.01). Hysterectomy can improve overall survival (P < 0.01). For patients younger than 45 years old with stageIA orIC, there was no difference in mortality between fertility-sparing and radical surgery (P = 1.00). Adjuvant chemotherapy can improve survival in patients with advanced stage (P = 0.02), and chemotherapy with platinum was related to better prognosis (P = 0.02). Conclusion SCC transformation in MCTO is a rare malignancy mainly occurs in older age. FIGO stage is an independent prognostic factor. Hysterectomy and platinum-based chemotherapy are associated with better survival. Fertility-sparing surgery is feasible for young patients with early stage

Study on phytoremediation for heavy metal contaminated sediments by hydrophytes

The remediation performances of heavy metals contaminaged sediment by hydrophytes including Alternanthera Philoxeroides, Canna indica L., Nymphaea tetragona, Typha orientalis, Phragmites australis, Phragmites australis, Hydrilla verticillata, Cyperus alternifolius L., Eichhornia crassipes, Acorus tatarinowii, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop were investigated through batch pot experiments. The results showed that the enrichment effect of Pb was better in Alternanthera Philoxeroides and Acorus tatarinowii with the BCFs of 4.42 and 1.22, and the TFs of 7.84 and 4.23, respectively. The Cr enrichment effects by Nymphaea tetragona, Hydrilla verticillata and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms were better, which BCFs were 2.69, 1.91 and 3.71, and which TFs were 7.93, 2.07 and 2.18, respectively

Arsenic content in the Jie River and its release behaviour from river sediments

Water and sediment samples of Jie River, China were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the average arsenic volume of water sample was 0.42 mg L-1 present in the Jie River. Among the riverway, the arsenic volume and pH kept rising with the flow. Standard leaching experiments showed the leachability of the sediments was lower than the hazardous materials permitted threshold volume but the leaching liquid exceeded the environmental quality standard for surface water which means the sediments might be a source to leach arsenic into aqueous system. In order to figure out the actual situation, simulated leaching experiments were performed. The results revealed that the sediments leaching could aggravate the water quality which was mostly influenced by the agitation and temperature. Solidification procedure was tested and suggested that with clean sand paved on the sediment, the amount of leaching arsenic will decrease 77.89%. Thus, it is of great help to apply cleaned sediments to remediate the contaminated sediments to reduce the leaching of arsenic into the aqueous system