• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6685-6690
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• 2015

Background: Genetic studies have shown a possible relationship between the rs16969968 polymorphism in CHRNA5 and the risk of lung cancer. However, the results have been conflicting. Thus we rigorously conducted a meta-analysis to clarify any association. Materials and Methods: A total of 10 case-control studies involving 17,962 lung cancer cases and 77,216 control subjects were analysed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the strength of the association. Results: We found the CHRNA5 rs16969968 polymorphism to be associated with the risk of lung cancer (AA vs GG: OR=1.60, 95%CI=1.51-1.71). On stratified analysis by smoking status, a statistically significant increased risk was observed in the smoking group (AA vs GG: OR=1.80, 95%CI=1.61-2.01). However, this polymorphism was not associated with lung cancer risk in Asians (AA vs GG: OR=0.95, 95%CI=0.35-2.59), whereas it was linked to increased risk of lung cancer among Caucasians (AA vs GG: OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.55-1.76). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis provided statistical evidence for a strong association between rs16969968 polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers and Caucasians. Application of this relationship may contribute to identification of individuals at high risk of lung cancer and indicate a chemoprevention target.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6255-6259
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in gallbladder cancer (GBC). Materials and Methods: Serum ALP and GGT levels and clinicopathological parameters were retrospectively evaluated in 199 GBC patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the cut-off values of ALP and GGT. Then, associations with overall survival were assessed by multivariate analysis. Based on the significant factors, a prognostic score model was established. Results: By ROC curve analysis, $ALP{\geq}210U/L$ and $GGT{\geq}43U/L$ were considered elevated. Overall survival for patients with elevated ALP and GGT was significantly worse than for patients within the normal range. Multivariate analysis showed that the elevated ALP, GGT and tumor stage were independent prognostic factors. Giving each positive factor a score of 1, we established a preoperative prognostic score model. Varied outcomes would be significantly distinguished by the different score groups. By further ROC curve analysis, the simple score showed great superiority compared with the widely used TNM staging, each of the ALP or GGT alone, or traditional tumor markers such as CEA, AFP, CA125 and CA199. Conclusions: Elevated ALP and GGT levels were risk predictors in GBC patients. Our prognostic model provides infomration on varied outcomes of patients from different score groups.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1667-1674
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• 2012

Objective: To explore the differential protein expression profile in EC304 gastric cancer cells induced by alphastatin. Methods: Cultured EC304 cells in the exponential phase of growth were randomly divided into alphastatin and control groups. Total proteins were extracted and the two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) technique was applied to analyze differences in expression with ImageMaster 2D Platinum 5.0 software. Proteins were identified using the MASCOT database and selected differently expressed proteins were characterised by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results: $1350{\pm}90$ protein spots were detected by the ImageMaster software in the 2-DE gel images from the control and alphastatin groups. The match rate was about 72-80% for the spectrum profiles, with 29 significantly different protein spots being identified, 10 upregulated, 16 downregulated, two new and one lost. The MASCOT search scores were 64-666 and the peptide matching numbers were 3-27 with sequence coverage of 8-62%. Twenty-three proteins were checked by mass spectrometry, including decrease in Nm23 and profilin-2 isoform b associated with the regulation of actin multimerisation induced by extracellular signals. Conclusion: The proteome in EC304 cells is dramatically altered by alphastatin, which appears to play an important role in modulating cellular activity and anti-angiogenesis by regulating protein expression and signal transduction pathways through Nm23 and profilin-2 isoform b, providing new research directions for anti-angiogenic therapy of gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7271-7275
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• 2014

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presentation, clinical course and outcome between children and young adults with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treated in our hospital. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 145 patients with DTC who underwent surgery followed by radioiodine and thyroid hormone (TSH) suppression were retrospectively reviewed. The follow up was between January 2006 and June 2012. These patients consisted of 38 children (age${\leq}18y$) and 107 young adult patients (age${\leq}30y$). The clinical characteristics and outcome were analyzed and compared, and the progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: At initial diagnosis, a greater degree of extra thyroidal extension was found in children than adults patients (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the tumor size and the presence of lymph node or distant metastasis (p=0.172, p=0.050 and p=0.068, respectively). The extent of surgery and the cumulative or mean dose of radioiodine were similar in both groups. During the follow up, the overall survival rate was 100% for both groups, and the PFS rate was similar in children and in young adults group (log rank test, ${\chi}^2$=0.126, p=0.723). Conclusions: In comparison to the young adult patients, DTC in children presents with more aggressive behavior, but outcomes are similar between the two groups after the intensive management of surgery followed by radioiodine and TSH suppression therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1745-1749
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• 2014

Background: Platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Platycodonis radix, possesses anti-cancer effects in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate its anticancer activities in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: MTT and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, along with flow cytometry and Western blotting for apoptosis. Cell adhesion was tested by observing cellular morphology under a microscope, while the transwell assay was employed to investigate the cell migration and invasion. Results: PD concentration-dependently inhibited cell proliferation in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and significantly suppressed colony formation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The protein levels of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Bax were up-regulated while that of survivin was down-regulated after treatment with PD. Moreover, PD not only obviously suppressed the adhesion of HepG2 cells to Matrigel, but also remarkably depressed their migration and invasion induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Conclusions: PD presents anti-cancer potential in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting cell adhesion, migration and invasion, indicating promising features as a lead compound for anti-cancer agent development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1817-1822
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen for possible biomarkers of metastatic osteosarcoma (OS) using a DNA microarray. Methods: We downloaded the gene expression profile GSE49003 from Gene Expression Omnibus database, which included 6 gene chips from metastatic and 6 from non-metastatic OS patients. The R package was used to screen and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between metastatic and non-metastatic OS patients. Then we compared the expression of DEGs in the two groups and sub-grouped into up-regulated and down-regulated, followed by functional enrichment analysis using the DAVID system. Subsequently, we constructed an miRNA-DEG regulatory network with the help of WebGestalt software. Results: A total of 323 DEGs, including 134 up-regulated and 189 down-regulated, were screened out. The up-regulated DEGs were enriched in 14 subcategories and most significantly in cytoskeleton organization, while the down-regulated DEGs were prevalent in 13 subcategories, especially wound healing. In addition, we identified two important miRNAs (miR-202 and miR-9) pivotal for OS metastasis, and their relevant genes, CALD1 and STX1A. Conclusions: MiR-202 and miR-9 are potential key factors affecting the metastasis of OS and CALD1 and STX1A may be possible targets beneficial for the treatment of metastatic OS. However, further experimental studies are needed to confirm our results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6533-6535
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new type of tumor biomarker, eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), in serum for the early diagnosis, confirmative diagnosis as well as assessment of treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 130 patients with NSCLC and 50 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in our hospital provided the observation and healthy control groups. An enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method was applied to determine serum eEF2 levels. Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) levels in the observation group were assessed with an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results: The median levels of eEF2 in the serum of NSCLC patients was found to be significantly higher than the healthy control group (p < 0.01) and it was markedly higher in stages III, IV than stages I, II (p < 0.05). eEF2 was higher with tumor size ${\geq}2$ cm than <2 cm (P< 0.01). Furthermore, two weeks after surgery patients showed a significant trend for eEF2 decrease (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) has certain clinical values for early diagnosis, verification, and prognosis as well as classification of lung cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6481-6486
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• 2013

Background: Our previous study demonstrated cytotoxicity of a crude extract from Patrinia heterophylla Bunge (PHEB). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of isovaltrate acetoxyhydrin (IA) isolated from PHEB on the gastric cancer cell SGC-7901, in order to explore a potential treatment for gastric cancer. Methods: MTT assays were employed to determine the effects of IA on cell vitality and proliferation, with monitoring of cell morphology changes and examination of apoptosis with Annexin V-PI staining. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell cycle progression and mitochondrial membrane potential. The activity of caspase 3, 9 was evaluated by spectrophotometry, and the protein levels of Bax, Bcl2 and Cyclin B1 were analyzed with Western blotting of total proteins extracted from cultured cells. Results: The results demonstrated direct toxicity of IA towards SGC-7901 cells. Evidence of apoptosis included blebbing and chromatin condensation. Annexin V-PI assays revealed early apoptosis, involving rapid depolarization of mitochondrial membranes and activity of caspase 3, 9 signaling pathways. Western blotting showed that Bcl2 and Bax proteins was down- and up-regulated, respectively, and cyclin B1 was up-regulated. Cell cycle analysis further indicated that IA could induce G2/M phase arrest in SGC-7901 cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, we believe that IA induces apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells, therefore providing a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of gastric cancer.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2017

Based on the super elastic properties of the shape memory alloy (SMA) and the inverse piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric (PZT) ceramics, a kind of hybrid semi-active control device was designed and made, its mechanical properties test was done under different frequency and different voltage. The local search ability of genetic algorithm is poor, which would fall into the defect of prematurity easily. A kind of adaptive immune memory cloning algorithm(AIMCA) was proposed based on the simulation of clone selection and immune memory process. It can adjust the mutation probability and clone scale adaptively through the way of introducing memory cell and antibody incentive degrees. And performance indicator based on the modal controllable degree was taken as antigen-antibody affinity function, the optimization analysis of damper layout in a space truss structure was done. The structural seismic response was analyzed by applying the neural network prediction model and T-S fuzzy logic. Results show that SMA and PZT friction composite damper has a good energy dissipation capacity and stable performance, the bigger voltage, the better energy dissipation ability. Compared with genetic algorithm, the adaptive immune memory clone algorithm overcomes the problem of prematurity effectively. Besides, it has stronger global searching ability, better population diversity and faster convergence speed, makes the damper has a better arrangement position in structural dampers optimization leading to the better damping effect.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.272-278
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• 2010

In this study, we cloned, sequenced and characterized porcine y+L Amino Acid Transporter-1 (y+LAT1). By screening a translated EST database with the protein sequence of the human $y^{+}$LAT1 and by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), the full-length cDNA encoding porcine $y^{+}$LAT1 was isolated from porcine intestine RNA. It was 2,111 bp long, encoding a 511 amino acid trans-membrane glycoprotein composed of 12 transmembrane domains. The predicted amino acid sequence was found to be 91%, 90%, 87% and 87% identical to those of cattle, human, mouse and rat $y^{+}$LAT1 respectively. Real-time RT-PCR results indicated that the small intestine had the highest $y^{+}$LAT1 mRNA abundance and the lung had the lowest $y^{+}$LAT1 mRNA abundance. Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged porcine $y^{+}$LAT1 cDNA indicated that the cellular localization of the gene product in BHK was on the plasma membrane.