In vitro and clinical data analysis of Osteopontin as a prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Authors: Wei, Ran; Wong, Janet Pik Ching; Lyu, Peng; Xi, Xinping; Tong, Olivia; Zhang, Shu-Dong; Yuen, Hiu Fung; Shirasawa, Senji; Kwok, Hang Fai
Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) progression; however, the mechanism of OPN-induced CRC progression is largely unknown. In this study, we found that OPN overexpression led to enhanced anchorage-independent growth, cell migration and invasion in KRAS gene mutant cells but to a lesser extent in KRAS wild-type cells. OPN overexpression also induced PI3K signalling, expression of Snail and Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), and suppressed the expression of E-cadherin in KRAS mutant cells. In human CRC specimens, a high-level expression of OPN significantly predicted poorer survival in CRC patients and OPN expression was positively correlated with MMP9 expression, and negatively correlated with E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, we have found that 15 genes were co-upregulated in OPN highly expression CRC and a list of candidate drugs that may have potential to reverse the secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) gene signature by connectivity mapping. In summary, OPN is a potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for colon cancer.
Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
GENETIC TESTING AND MOLECULAR BIOMARKERS
Authors: Zhang, Yuan-Qing; Peng, Li-Jun; Cao, Yi-Rong; Zeng, Zhi-Ping; Wu, Yu-Jing; Shi, Hong; Cheng, Shi-Yao; Wang, Ji-Yao; Friedman, Scott L.; Sninsky, John J.; Guo, Jin-Sheng
Abstract
Aims: To investigate the clinical and genetic risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Nine hundred forty-nine Chinese Han patients with CHBwere studied, including noncirrhotic patients withoutHCC(N= 234), cirrhotic patients without (N= 281) and with HCC (N= 434). Patients were genotyped for 10 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ligase detection reaction (LDR) method. Results: By multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for Child-Pugh scores, noneffective antiviral treatment, drinking history, family history of HCC, and age >= 50 years old were associated with HCC risk (odds ratio [OR] = 5.923, 2.456, 2.241, 1.955, respectively). Sixty-two of 170 cirrhotic patients who achieved sustained virological suppression by antiviral treatment developed HCC, with fatty liver disease, family history of HCC, and family history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as the risk factors (OR = 11.646, 3.339, 2.537, respectively). The SNPs associated with HCC risk in patients with cirrhosis and CHB were rs11536889 in TLR4 and rs2853744 in SPP1. Polymorphisms of TLR4 rs2149356, AP3S2 rs2290351, STXBP5L rs2169302, MLEC rs7976497, and SOCS3 rs4969168 were associated with HCC risk in specific stratified analyses with gender, age, and drinking history in the cirrhotic patients. Conclusions: Inadequate antiviral treatment, family history of HCC, drinking history, and age >= 50 years old are risk factors for HCC. Sustained suppression of HBV does not eliminate the risk of HCC. Specific host genetic factors may impact HCC development in Han Chinese cirrhotic patients with CHB, including SNPs in TLR4, SPP1, AP3S2, STXBP5L, MLEC, and SOCS3, which warrant further validation in additional cohorts.