Search

Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) is recommended as the primary treatment for advanced bladder cancer (BC). However, the benefits of this approach are limited owing to the acquisition of drug resistance. Here, we found that gemcitabine‐resistant and cisplatin‐resistant BCs do not exhibit cross‐resistance, and that these BCs exhibit different mRNA patterns, as revealed using RNA sequence analysis. To overcome drug resistance, we used the newly developed pan‐RAS inhibitor Compound 3144. Compound 3144 inhibited cell viability through suppression of RAS‐dependent signaling in gemcitabine‐ and cisplatin‐resistant BCs. RNA sequencing revealed that several genes and pathways, particularly those related to the cell cycle, were significantly downregulated in Compound 3144‐treated BCs. These findings provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for treating BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to evaluate the mutation profile, transcriptional variants, and prognostic impact of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)‐wildtype glioblastomas (GBMs). Methods: We sequenced EGFR, evaluated the EGFR splicing profile using a next‐generation sequencing oncopanel, and analyzed the outcomes in 138 grade IV IDH‐wildtype GBM cases. Results: EGFR mutations were observed in 10% of GBMs. A total of 23.9% of the GBMs showed EGFR amplification. Moreover, 25% of the EGFR mutations occurred in the kinase domain. Notably, EGFR alterations were a predictor of good prognosis (p = 0.035). GBM with EGFR alterations was associated with higher Karnofsky Performance Scale scores (p = 0.014) and lower Ki‐67 scores (p = 0.005) than GBM without EGFR alterations. EGFRvIII positivity was detected in 21% of EGFR‐amplified GBMs. We identified two other EGFR variants in GBM cases with deletions of exons 6–7 (Δe 6–7) and exons 2–14 (Δe 2–14). In one case, the initial EGFRvIII mutation transformed into an EGFR Δe 2–14 mutation during recurrence. Conclusions: We found that the EGFR gene profiles of GBM differ among cohorts and that EGFR alterations are good prognostic markers of overall survival in patients with IDH‐wildtype GBM. Additionally, we identified rare EGFR variants with longitudinal and temporal transformations of EGFRvIII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central nervous system tumors are classified based on an integrated diagnosis combining histology and molecular characteristics, including IDH1/2 and H3‐K27M mutations, as well as 1p/19q codeletion. Here, we aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of a glioma‐tailored 48‐gene next‐generation sequencing (NGS) panel for integrated glioma diagnosis. We designed a glioma‐tailored 48‐gene NGS panel for detecting 1p/19q codeletion and mutations in IDH1/2, TP53, PTEN, PDGFRA, NF1, RB1, CDKN2A/B, CDK4, and the TERT promoter (TERTp). We analyzed 106 glioma patients (grade II: 19 cases, grade III: 23 cases, grade IV: 64 cases) using this system. The 1p/19q codeletion was detected precisely in oligodendroglial tumors using our NGS panel. In a cohort of 64 grade Ⅳ gliomas, we identified 56 IDH‐wildtype glioblastomas. Within these IDH‐wildtype glioblastomas, 33 samples (58.9%) showed a mutation in TERTp. Notably, PDGFRA mutations and their amplification were more commonly seen in TERTp‐wildtype glioblastomas (43%) than in TERTp‐mutant glioblastomas (6%) (P =.001). Hierarchical molecular classification of IDH‐wildtype glioblastomas revealed 3 distinct groups of IDH‐wildtype glioblastomas. One major cluster was characterized by mutations in PDGFRA, amplification of CDK4 and PDGFRA, homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/B, and absence of TERTp mutations. This cluster was significantly associated with older age (P =.021), higher Ki‐67 score (P =.007), poor prognosis (P =.012), and a periventricular tumor location. We report the development of a glioma‐tailored NGS panel for detecting 1p/19q codeletion and driver gene mutations on a single platform. Our panel identified distinct subtypes of IDH‐ and TERTp‐wildtype glioblastomas with frequent PDGFRA alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report two autopsy cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome ( SFTS) with a high fatality rate in aged Japanese patients. Both cases were caused by a tick-bite. The pathognomonic histological feature was necrotizing lymphadenitis of systemic lymphoid tissue with SFTS viruses and SFTSV-RNA copies. Marked fungal infections were also observed in the lungs of both patients. Since cellular immune function may be suppressed in SFTS patients, physicians should be aware of possible fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is important, and a screening test with high sensitivity and specificity is urgently needed. Therefore, in this study, the authors investigated the methylation status of tumor-related genes with the objective of establishing a noninvasive method for the detection of OSCC. METHODS: Oral rinse samples were obtained from 34 patients with OSCC and from 24 healthy individuals (controls). The methylation status of 13 genes was determined by using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis and was quantified using a microchip electrophoresis system. Promoter methylation in each participant was screened by receiver operating characteristic analysis, and the utility of each gene's methylation status, alone and in combination with other genes, was evaluated as a tool for oral cancer detection. RESULTS: Eight of the 13 genes had significantly higher levels of DNA methylation in samples from patients with OSCC than in controls. The genes E-cadherin ( ECAD), transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor-like and 2 follistatin-like domains 2 ( TMEFF2), retinoic acid receptor beta ( RARβ), and O-6 methylguanine DNA methyltransferase ( MGMT) had high sensitivity (>75%) and specificity for the detection of oral cancer. OSCC was detected with 100% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity using a combination of ECAD, TMEFF2, RARβ, and MGMT and with 97.1% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity using a combination of ECAD, TMEFF2, and MGMT. CONCLUSIONS: The aberrant methylation of a combination of marker genes present in oral rinse samples was used to detect OSCC with >90% sensitivity and specificity. The detection of methylated marker genes from oral rinse samples has great potential for the noninvasive detection of OSCC. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins that play important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor invasion. Our immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that MUC1 or MUC4 expression is related to the aggressive behavior and poor outcome of human neoplasms. MUC2 is expressed in indolent pancreatobiliary neoplasms, but these tumors sometimes show invasive growth with MUC1 expression in invasive areas. MUC5AC shows de novo high expression in many types of precancerous lesions of pancreatobiliary cancers and is an effective marker for early detection of the neoplasms. The combination of MUC1, MUC2, MUC4 and MUC5AC expression may be useful for early detection and evaluation of the potential for malignancy of pancreatobiliary neoplasms. Regarding the mechanism of mucin expression, we have recently reported that expression of the mucin genes is regulated epigenetically in cancer cell lines, using quantitative MassARRAY analysis, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, with confirmation by the treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. We have also developed a monoclonal antibody against the MUC1 cytoplasmic tail domain, which has many biological roles. Based on all of the above findings, we suggest that translational research into mucin gene expression mechanisms, including epigenetics, may provide new tools for early and accurate detection of human neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: High de novo expression of MUC5AC (a gastric-type secreted mucin) is observed in many types of pancreatobiliary neoplasms, including precursor lesions. In this study, we show that the DNA methylation pattern is intimately correlated with MUC5AC expression in ten cancer cell lines (breast, lung, pancreas, and colon). Methods: The CpG methylation status of the MUC5AC promoter from −3855 to +321 was mapped using MassARRAY analysis, which utilizes base-specific cleavage of nucleic acids. ChIP assays and micro-RNA (miRNA) microarray expression profiling were also carried out in both MUC5AC-positive cells and in those with no or low MUC5AC expression. Results: In the distal region from −3718 to −3670 of the promoter, MUC5AC-negative cancer cells (e.g., MDA-MB-453) were highly methylated, whereas MUC5AC-positive cells (e.g., MCF-7) had low methylation levels. The modification status of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3-K9) was also closely related to MUC5AC expression. Expression levels of miRNAs in the cancer cells were not correlated with MUC5AC expression. Conclusion: Our results indicate that MUC5AC is regulated by CpG methylation and histone H3-K9 modification of the MUC5AC promoter distal region, but not by miRNAs. An understanding of the epigenetic regulation of MUC5AC may be of importance for the diagnosis of carcinogenic risk in the pancreatobiliary system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins that play important roles in carcinogenesis and tumor invasion. We have described, for the first time, that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) with an aggressive behavior and a poor outcome expressed MUC1 (pan-epithelial membrane-associated mucin) but did not express MUC2 (intestinal-type secreted mucin), whereas intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) with indolent behavior and a favorable outcome did not express MUC1 but did express MUC2. These expression profiles of MUC1 and MUC2 related to the prognoses of the patients were also observed in biliary neoplasms such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)-mass-forming type (MF), mucin-producing bile duct tumor (MPBT), and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma (EHBDC). We also found recently that high expression of MUC4 (tracheobronchial membrane-associated mucin) in PDACs, ICCs-MF, and EHBDCs was a new independent poor prognostic factor, although MUC4 was not expressed in normal pancreatobiliary tissue. High de novo expression of MUC5AC (gastric-type secreted mucin) was observed in many types of pancreatobiliary neoplasms, including all grades of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and biliary intraepithelial neoplasia (BilIN), and all types of IPMNs and MPBTs, as well as PDACs and ICCs-MF, although MUC5AC was not expressed in normal pancreatobiliary tissue. The combined status of MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, and MUC5AC expression may be useful for the early detection of pancreatobiliary neoplasms and evaluation of their malignancy. In regard to the mechanism of mucin expression, we have recently reported that MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, and MUC5AC gene expression is regulated by epigenetics (DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 modification) in cancer cell lines, including PDAC cells. Translational research of mucin gene expression mechanisms, including epigenetics, in pancreatobiliary neoplasms may give us new tools for the early and accurate detection of these neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides are important components of the host innate immune responses by exerting broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against pathogenic microbes. Cy-AMP1 found in the cycad ( Cycas revoluta) seeds has chitin-binding ability, and the chitin-binding domain was conserved in knottin-type and hevein-type antimicrobial peptides. The recombinant Cy-AMP1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to study the role of chitin-binding domain. The mutants of Cy-AMP1 lost chitin-binding ability completely, and its antifungal activity was markedly decreased in comparison with native Cy-AMP1. However, the antimicrobial activities of the mutant peptides are nearly identical to that of native one. It was suggested that the chitin-binding domain plays an essential role in antifungal, but not antimicrobial, activity of Cy-AMP1. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]