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Purpose: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential ability to differentiate into bone, muscle, fat, and cartilage lineage cells. Furthermore, MSCs are known to migrate into tumor-associated stroma of cancer. This tumor microenvironment consists of a dynamic network of growth factors, immune cells, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, and MSCs. MSCs as nonhematopoietic stem cells affect tumor, epithelial cells by alteration proliferative capacity, morphology, and aggregation pattern of tumor cells. Materials and Methods: This research aimed to further elucidate the MSCs effects in the progress of proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis in breast cancer by gene expression analysis in human breast cancer cell lines exposed to MSCs conditioned media (CM). Expression pattern of two genes, including survivin (Birc5) as anti-apoptotic gene and serine threonine kinase 15 as proliferative gene, were studied. Results: Anti-apoptotic and proliferative genes were up-regulated in co-cultured breast tumor cells with MSCs-CM that correlate with tumor progression and poor prognosis. Conclusion: Our results and other findings indicate the interaction of breast tumor cells with MSCs through paracrine factors. Also, the applications of MSCs as therapeutic tools are facing controversial concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to improve the understanding of non-uterine leiomyosarcoma (NULMS) prognostic genes through system biology approaches. This cancer is heterogeneous and rare. Moreover, gene interaction networks have not been reported in NULMS yet. The datasets were obtained from the public gene expression databases. Seven co-expression modules were identified from 5000 most connected genes; using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Using Cox regression, the modules showed favorable (HR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4–0.89, P = 0.0125), (HR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.44–0.98, P = 0.04) and poor (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.06–2.27, P = 0.025) prognosis to the overall survival (OS) (time = 3740 days). The first one was significant in multivariate HR estimates (HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.28–0.69, P = 0.0004). Enriched genes through the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) revealed significant immune-related pathways; suggesting immune cell infiltration as a favorable prognostic factor. The most significant protective genes were ICAM3, NCR3, KLRB1, and IL18RAP, which were in one of the significant modules. Moreover, genes related to angiogenesis, cell–cell adhesion, protein glycosylation, and protein transport such as PYCR1, SRM, and MDFI negatively affected the OS and were found in the other related module. In conclusion, our analysis suggests that NULMS might be a good candidate for immunotherapy. Moreover, the genes found in this study might be potential candidates for targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]