Automated solar panel assembly line. LSA task; production processes and equipment

An automated solar panel production line which reduces the module assembly costs was designed. The module design, solar cell assembly phototype, and solar panel lamination prototype are discussed

Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of cell lines as models of primary tumors across 22 tumor types.

Cancer cell lines are a cornerstone of cancer research but previous studies have shown that not all cell lines are equal in their ability to model primary tumors. Here we present a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis utilizing transcriptomic profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia to evaluate cell lines as models of primary tumors across 22 tumor types. We perform correlation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis to understand the differences between cell lines and primary tumors. Additionally, we classify cell lines into tumor subtypes in 9 tumor types. We present our pancreatic cancer results as a case study and find that the commonly used cell line MIA PaCa-2 is transcriptionally unrepresentative of primary pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Lastly, we propose a new cell line panel, the TCGA-110-CL, for pan-cancer studies. This study provides a resource to help researchers select more representative cell line models

Metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: consensus on pathology and molecular tests, first-line, second-line, and third-line therapy: 1st ESMO Consensus Conference in Lung Cancer; Lugano 2010

The 1st ESMO Consensus Conference on lung cancer was held in Lugano, Switzerland on 21 and 22 May 2010 with the participation of a multidisciplinary panel of leading professionals in pathology and molecular diagnostics, medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology. Before the conference, the expert panel prepared clinically relevant questions concerning five areas: early and locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), first-line metastatic NSCLC, second-/third-line NSCLC, NSCLC pathology and molecular testing, and small-cell lung cancer to be addressed through discussion at the Consensus Conference. All relevant scientific literature for each question was reviewed in advance. During the Consensus Conference, the panel developed recommendations for each specific question. The consensus agreement on three of these areas: NSCLC pathology and molecular testing, the treatment of first-line, and second-line/third-line therapy in metastatic NSCLC are reported in this article. The recommendations detailed here are based on an expert consensus after careful review of published data. All participants have approved this final updat

Chromosomal Assignment of a Family of Human Oncogenes

A family of human transforming genes, previously shown to share homology with the ras family of viral oncogenes, maps to three different human chromosomes. A well-characterized mouse-human hybrid cell panel, combined with Southern blotting, was used in this study. The transforming gene of the T24 bladder carcinoma cell line maps to human chromosome 11. An oncogene isolated from the lung carcinoma cell line SK-Calu-1 maps to human chromosome 12. The third ras-related gene, cloned from SK-N-SH, a neuroblastoma cell line, maps to human chromosome 1

Quantitative analysis of NRF2 pathway reveals key elements of the regulatory circuits underlying antioxidant response and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells

Cells are constantly exposed to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) produced both endogenously to meet physiological requirements and from exogenous sources. While endogenous ROS are considered as important signalling molecules, high uncontrollable ROS are detrimental. It is unclear how cells can achieve a balance between maintaining physiological redox homeostasis and robustly activate the antioxidant system to remove exogenous ROS. We have utilised a Systems Biology approach to understand how this robust adaptive system fulfils homeostatic requirements of maintaining steady-state ROS and growth rate, while undergoing rapid readjustment under challenged conditions. Using a panel of human ovarian and normal cell lines, we experimentally quantified and established interrelationships between key elements of ROS homeostasis. The basal levels of NRF2 and KEAP1 were cell line specific and maintained in tight correlation with their growth rates and ROS. Furthermore, perturbation of this balance triggered cell specific kinetics of NRF2 nuclear–cytoplasmic relocalisation and sequestration of exogenous ROS. Our experimental data were employed to parameterise a mathematical model of the NRF2 pathway that elucidated key response mechanisms of redox regulation and showed that the dynamics of NRF2-H2O2 regulation defines a relationship between half-life, total and nuclear NRF2 level and endogenous H2O2 that is cell line specific

Duramycin-induced calcium release in cancer cells

Introduction: Duramycin through binding with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has shown potential to be an effective anti-tumour agent. However its mode of action in relation to tumour cells is not fully understood. Methods: PE expression on the surface of a panel of cancer cell lines was analysed using duramycin and subsequent antibody labelling then analysed by flow cytometry. Cell viability was also assessed via flow cytometry using annexin V and propidium iodide (PI). Calcium ion (Ca²⁺) release by tumour cells in response to duramycin was determined by spectrofluorometry following incubation with Fluo-3, AM. Confocal microscopy was performed on the cancer cell line AsPC-1 to assess real time cell response to duramycin treatment. Results: Duramycin was able to detect cell surface PE expression on all 15 cancer cell lines screened, which was shown to be duramycin concentration dependent. However higher concentrations induced necrotic cell death. Duramycin induced calcium ion (Ca²⁺) release from the cancer cell lines also in a concentration and time dependent manner. Confocal microscopy showed an influx of PI into the cells over time and induced morphological changes. Conclusion: Duramycin induces Ca²⁺ release from cancer cell lines in a time and concentration dependent relationship

Metabolic Response to Stress Differentiates Heterogeneous Cancer Cells with Varying Metastatic Potential

Intratumoral heterogeneity is ubiquitously present within primary tumors and contributes to intractable behaviors such as metastasis and mutability spatiotemporally. Mounting evidence has shown that heterogeneous cell populations can adversely affect cell metabolism and metastatic potential. The cell’s only fluorescent molecules within the electron transport chain, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), can allow the quantitation of cell metabolism. We demonstrate the use of the optical redox ratio (FAD/(NADH+FAD)) to determine the metabolic behaviors of a heterogeneous panel of cells with varying metastatic programs at normal conditions and following acute hypoxia. At normal conditions, we reveal an attenuation in the optical redox ratio as metastatic potential decreases, not including the non-metastatic cell line. We reveal that reoxygenating the clonogenic cells after hypoxia enabled further differences in the optical redox ratio for the highly metastatic (increased by 43 ± 9%), semi-metastatic (increased by 33 ± 4%), and non-metastatic (decreased by 14 ± 7%) cell lines. This work coalesces two potential strategies for cancer treatment: 1) the optical redox ratio to assess cell metabolic features and therapy-induced changes 2) the method of inducing a “stress” test to identify further differences in heterogeneous cell populations

Long non-coding RNA expression profiling in the NCI60 cancer cell line panel using high-throughput RT-qPCR

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) form a new class of RNA molecules implicated in various aspects of protein coding gene expression regulation. To study lncRNAs in cancer, we generated expression profiles for 1707 human lncRNAs in the NCI60 cancer cell line panel using a high-throughput nanowell RT-qPCR platform. We describe how qPCR assays were designed and validated and provide processed and normalized expression data for further analysis. Data quality is demonstrated by matching the lncRNA expression profiles with phenotypic and genomic characteristics of the cancer cell lines. This data set can be integrated with publicly available omics and pharmacological data sets to uncover novel associations between lncRNA expression and mRNA expression, miRNA expression, DNA copy number, protein coding gene mutation status or drug response

miR-9 Acts as an OncomiR in Prostate Cancer through Multiple Pathways That Drive Tumour Progression and Metastasis

Identification of dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in prostate cancer is critical not only for diagnosis, but also differentiation between the aggressive and indolent forms of the disease. miR-9 was identified as an oncomiR through both miRNA panel RT-qPCR as well as high-throughput sequencing analysis of the human P69 prostate cell line as compared to its highly tumorigenic and metastatic subline M12, and found to be consistently upregulated in other prostate cell lines including DU-145 and PC3. While miR-9 has been characterized as dysregulated either as an oncomiR or tumour suppressor in a variety of other cancers including breast, ovarian, and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, it has not been previously evaluated and proven as an oncomiR in prostate cancer. miR-9 was confirmed an oncomiR when found to be overexpressed in tumour tissue as compared to adjacent benign glandular epithelium through laser-capture microdissection of radical prostatectomy biopsies. Inhibition of miR-9 resulted in reduced migratory and invasive potential of the M12 cell line, and reduced tumour growth and metastases in male athymic nude mice. Analysis showed that miR-9 targets e-cadherin and suppressor of cytokine signalling 5 (SOCS5), but not NF-ĸB mRNA. Expression of these proteins was shown to be affected by modulation in expression of miR-9

Semisynthesis and in vitro anticancer activities of andrographolide analogues

The plant Andrographis paniculata found throughout Southeast Asia contains Andrographolide 1, a diterpenoid lactone, which has antitumour activities against in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models. In the present study, we report on the synthesis of andrographolide derivatives, 3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide (2), 14-acetyl-3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide (3) and 14-acetylandrographolide (4), and their in vitro antitumour activities against a 2-cell line panel consisting of MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line) and HCT-116 (colon cancer cell line). Compounds 2 and 4 were also screened at the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their activities against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines derived from nine cancer types. Compound 2 was found to be selective towards leukaemia and colon cancer cells, and compound 4 was selective towards leukaemia, ovarian and renal cancer cells at all the dose-response parameters. Compounds 2 and 4 showed non-specific phase of the cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells treated at different intervals with different concentrations. NCI’s COMPARE and SOM mechanistic analyses indicated that the anticancer activities of these new class of compounds were not similar to that of standard anticancer agents, suggesting novel mechanism(s) of action