Supplementary Material for: Prognostic effects of RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 promoter methylation in ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis

Introduction: DNA methylation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis, progression, and prognosis of various human cancers. RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 are the frequently methylated genes among patients with ovarian cancer. Therefore, our study aimed to better determine the prognostic and cancer characteristics effects of RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 promoter methylation in ovarian cancer patients. Methods: Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and WanFang were searched for published studies up to March 4, 2024. The outcomes are shown as OR and HR with their 95% CIs. Then, the random or fixed effect model was performed to evaluate the effect sizes. Results: Finally, 27 articles were included in this meta-analysis. No significant relationships were observed between RASSF1A, BRCA1, and APC promoter methylation and the clinical prognostic (including overall survival and progression-free survival) and cancer characteristics (including ascites, lymph node metastasis, and pelvic peritoneal metastasis) in ovarian cancer. p16 promoter methylation was significantly related to poor PFS (HR=1.52, 95% CI=1.14 to 2.04) and OS (HR=1.39, 95% CI=1.06, to 1.83) in univariate, and poor PFS in multivariate Cox regression models (HR =1.42, 95% CI=1.05 to1.92). Besides, our results indicated that the clinical stage was associated with inferior OS while there was no significant association between tumor grade and OS. Conclusion: RASSF1A, BRCA1, and APC promoter methylation were not significantly associated with clinical prognostic and cancer characteristics. P16 may be a useful biomarker for predicting PFS in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the clinical stage was significantly associated with OS. In further research, more prospective and multicenter validation studies remain needed

Supplementary Material for: Kaempferol ameliorated alcoholic hepatitis through improving intestinal barrier function by targeting miRNA-155 signaling

Introduction: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Kaempferol on alcoholic steatohepatitis. Methods: C57BL/6 N mice were utilized to establish Binge-on-Chronic alcohol exposure mice model. Kaempferol was given as the interventional drug to chronic alcohol-fed mice for six weeks to assess its effects. In vitro, intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells were stimulated by alcohol, and miRNA-155 mimics were used to further study the effect of kaempferol to miRNA-155 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. HE staining and oil red O staining were used to observe the liver and intestinal tissue damage in each group of mice, and ALT, AST, IL-1B and TNF-a were detected by kits; LPS expression was detected by ELISA kit, and the expression of IL-1B and TNF-a was assessed by qRT-PCR; activated inflammatory response of liver and colon tissue and the related signalling pathway activation. Results: Kaempferol treatment significantly improved pathological changes such as steatosis and vacuolated lesions in liver tissue of the alcohol diet model group, and reduced serum ALT and AST enzyme activities and liver tissue interleukin-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α mRNA expression levels. Kaempferol significantly reduced the expression of miRNA-155 in the intestinal tissue of alcohol-fed mice, significantly increased their SOCS1 protein expression, inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B and significantly increased the production of the intestinal tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1. What's more, kaempferol significantly reduced serum LPS levels in ASH mice. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the control group, kaempferol significantly inhibited the expression level of miRNA-155 in Caco-2 cells under ethanol exposure, decreased the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B, led to an increase in the expression of SOCS1 protein, and increased the production level of occludin protein in Caco-2 cells under the effect of alcohol. In contrast, overexpression of miRNA-155 significantly decreased occludin and SOCS1 protein production and increased nuclear factor kappa-B activation levels in Caco-2 cells, and the administration of kaempferol significantly inhibited this effect. Conclusion: Kaempferol improved the stability of gut barrier function to ameliorate hepatic injury induced by alcohol intake through enhancing occludin protein expression, by targeting miR-155 to inhibit the excessive inflammatory response in the intestine

Supplementary Material for: The RNA-Binding Protein PCBP1 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Prostate Cancer by Inhibiting Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase 1

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> Poly r(C) binding protein (PCBP) 1 or heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) E1 is a RNA binding protein functional in multiple biological processes. In prostate cancer (PCa), PCBP1 loss was shown to be involved with increased stemness in PCacells; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. <b><i>Method:</i></b> The role of PCBP1 in prostate tumor formationwas determined by xenograft assays. Immunoprecipitationand mass spectrometry were performed to find the pathways altered after PCBP1 knockdown. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and soft agar colony formationassays and xenograft assays were used to determine the role of target protein pathogenesis regulation and formation of PCa. QRT-PCR was performedto quantify relative mRNA expression. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The expression of mitogen activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) or extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) was increased following PCBP1 loss. Attenuation of MAPK1 inhibited <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> tumorigenicity and metastasis in PCa cell line, PC3. Overexpression of MAPK1 in the PC3 cells increased the tumorigenicity and metastasis. Analysis of PCBP1 and MAPK1 mRNA levels in 25 PCa patients compared to tumor-adjacent normal tissue confirmed an inverse correlation between PCBP1 and MAPK1 expression. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> PCBP1 can act as a suppressor of tumor in prostate epithelial cells by inhibiting MAPK1 expression

Supplementary Material for: Late Embryonic and Postnatal Development of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Mouse Esophagus: Distribution, Proliferation and Kit Dependence

This paper investigates alterations in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the esophagus of mice from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to 36 days postpartum (P0–P36) using immunohistochemistry. At E13.5, Kit+ cells presented in clusters and differentiated into spindle-like cells with biopolar processes within the outer (longitudinal) and inner (circular) muscle layers at E17.5. These Kit+ ICC with long processes were also Ano1+ and prominent at birth. The density of ICC gradually decreased, and at P36 it became about one twentieth of that at birth. Kit ligand (stem cell factor) expression is lower in striated muscle cells than that in smooth muscle cells. The ICC number was higher in the distal (close to the cardia) than in the proximal esophagus (close to the pharynx). Some Kit+/Ki67+ and Kit+/bromodeoxyuridine+ cells were observed within the muscle layers, and proliferation persisted from birth through adulthood (P28) with a gradually decreasing cell number. At 24 h, Kit+ ICC were dramatically decreased and almost missing 48 h after administration of imatinib (a Kit inhibitor). Our results indicate that ICC proliferation is age dependent and persists throughout the postnatal period. There is a dramatic decrease in the ICC number from P0 to adult life. The Kit signal is essential for the postnatal development of ICC in the esophagus

Supplementary Material for: Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Promotes Angiogenesis via the Angiopoietin 1/ Tie-2 Signaling Pathway

<i>Background:</i> The flowers of <i>Carthamus tinctorius</i> L. are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), the main constituent of <i>C. tinctorius</i> L. flowers, is known for its multiple biological activities. The present study investigated the effects of HSYA on angiogenesis in vitro and in a mouse hindlimb ischemia model. <i>Methods:</i>Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro and a mouse hindlimb ischemia model in vivo, the angiogenic role of HSYA was evaluated. <i>Results:</i> HSYA significantly increased the capillary-like tube formation and migration of HUVEC. HSYA not only induced a rise in the expression of angiopoietin 1 and Tie-2 but it also increased phosphorylation of Tie-2, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Furthermore, an anti-Tie-2 neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited HSYA-induced HUVEC tube formation and migration. In vivo, the recovery of perfusion of ischemic hindlimb tissue after femoral artery interruption was significantly increased in HSYA-treated mice compared to vehicle controls. Consistent with these results, the arteriole and capillary densities in ischemic gastrocnemius muscles were significantly increased in HSYA-treated mice. <i>Conclusions:</i> These results indicate the potential utility of HSYA for the treatment of ischemic diseases

Supplementary Material for: Efficacy of Bevacizumab plus Erlotinib for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Predictors of Outcome: Final Results of a Phase II Trial

<i>Objective:</i> A phase II study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of bevacizumab and erlotinib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and to investigate clinical and molecular predictors of outcome. <i>Methods:</i> 59 patients with advanced HCC received 10 mg/kg i.v. of bevacizumab every 14 days and 150 mg p.o. of erlotinib daily. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) at 16 weeks. Clinical characteristics and plasma biomarkers expression levels were analyzed. <i>Results:</i> PFS at 16 weeks was 64% (95% CI 51–76): 14 patients achieved partial response (24%), 33 had stable disease (56%), 6 progressed (10%), and 6 were not evaluable (10%). Median overall survival was 13.7 months (95% CI 9.6–19.7), and median PFS was 7.2 months (95% CI 5.6–8.3). Grade 3–4 adverse events included fatigue (30%), diarrhea (17%), hypertension (14%), elevated transaminases (12%), and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (10%). High plasma angiopoietin-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and endothelin-1, and lack of acneiform rash were associated with poor outcome. <i>Conclusions:</i> The combination of bevacizumab with erlotinib achieved encouraging results in patients with advanced HCC. Current correlatives may help to guide future HCC studies

Erratum: Validation of a Preclinical Model of Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatic Neoplasia in Yucatan Miniature Pigs

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to reduce the time to tumor onset in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) swine model via partial liver embolization (PLE) and to characterize the model for use in translational research. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eight Yucatan miniature pigs were injected intraperitoneally with either saline (n = 2) or DEN (n = 6) solution weekly for 12 weeks. Three of the DEN-treated pigs underwent PLE. The animals underwent periodic radiological evaluation, liver biopsy, and blood sampling, and full necropsy was performed at study termination (∼29 months). <b><i>Results:</i></b> All DEN-treated pigs developed hepatic adenoma and HCC. PLE accelerated the time to adenoma development but not to HCC development. Biomarker analysis results showed that IGF1 levels decreased in all DEN-treated pigs as functional liver capacity decreased with progression of HCC. VEGF and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with disease progression. Immunohistochemical probing of HCC tissues demonstrated the expression of several important survival-promoting proteins. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> To our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate an accelerated development of hepatic neoplasia in Yucatan miniature pigs. Our HCC swine model closely mimics the human condition (i.e., progressive disease stages and expression of relevant molecular markers) and is a viable translational model

Supplementary Material for: Reassessing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Staging in a Changing Patient Population

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) staging systems were developed using data predominantly from patients who had hepatitis and cirrhosis. Given the recent change in prevalence of viral hepatitis and cirrhosis at oncology centers, which has altered the natural history of HCC, we aimed at comparing the accuracy of HCC staging systems in patients with or without hepatitis and cirrhosis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 438 patients were enrolled. Baseline clinicopathologic parameters, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program score, TNM (6th edition) stage, Okuda stage, and Chinese University Prognostic Index score were prospectively obtained for all patients, and retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine overall survival (OS), Cox regression analyses were performed, and Harrell's Correspondence Index compared the staging systems' ability to predict OS duration. Subgroup analyses of patients with or without hepatitis or cirrhosis were performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Median patient OS was 13.9 months; 165 patients (37.7%) had no cirrhosis and 256 patients (58.4%) had no hepatitis. Overall, all staging systems were significantly less predictive of OS in patients who did not have cirrhosis or hepatitis. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our results advocate the need to further stratify HCC based on cirrhosis and hepatitis status, which may change patient risk-stratification and, ultimately, treatment decisions