Search

The objective of the study is to investigate the effects of the Numb/Notch signal pathway on the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cell line H358. MTT assay and colony forming assay were used to detect the effects of different doses of X-rays and MW167 on the in vitro proliferation of the lung cancer cell line H358. Flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the effects of X rays on the apoptosis of H358. Scratch assay and Transwell invasion assay were used to examine the effects of X-rays on the migration and invasion abilities of H358. The mRNA and protein expressions in the signal pathway were detected by real-time PCR and western blot. Assays in vitro confirmed the effects of the Numb/Notch pathway inhibitor on the radiosensitivity to lung cancer. MW167 enhanced the inhibiting effects of X-ray on the proliferation of H358 cell line. After the addition of MW167, the apoptosis rates significantly increased, but the invasion and migration abilities decreased significantly. Meanwhile, MW167 could dose-dependently promote the increase of expression of Numb, which is the upstream gene of the Numb/Notch signaling pathway, but inhibit the expression of and HES1. In vivo experiments revealed that cell proliferation was suppressed in the radiation, pathway inhibitor, and pathway inhibitor + radiation groups, and the pathway inhibitor + radiation group exhibited more active anti-tumor ability when compared with the blank group (all P < 0.05); Numb expression was up-regulated, but Notch1 and HES1 expressions were down-regulated in those three groups, and also, the pathway inhibitor + radiation group exhibited more significant alternation when compared with the blank group (all P < 0.05); cell apoptosis was promoted in those three groups, and the pathway inhibitor + radiation group showed more active apoptosis when compared with the blank group (all P < 0.05). Repression of the Numb/Notch pathway enhances the effects of radiotherapy on the radiosensitivity of the lung cancer cell line H358, and thus the Numb/Notch pathway may be a new target of radiotherapy for lung cancer.

This study investigated the expression of nucleolin in tissue samples in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nucleolin was studied to determine whether it has a prognostic value and if its levels correlate with various clinicopathologic parameters. The relationship between nucleolin and expression of DNA-PKcs was also evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used for detecting the expression levels of nucleolin and DNA-PKcs in tissues from 225 stage IA to IIIB NSCLC patients who underwent lung surgery. Nucleolin was observed predominantly in the cytoplasm, and some levels were observed in the nucleus. Nucleolin expression was higher in NSCLC tissues than adjacent normal lung tissues. Among 225 NSCLC patients, 117 (52.0 %) had high expression of nucleolin. The expression of nucleolin was significantly associated with pathologic stage (P = 0.013) and T status (P = 0.043). Multivariate analysis revealed that nucleolin, cytoplasmic nucleolin, and nuclear nucleolin expression were independent prognostic factors for both overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001). A high level of nuclear nucleolin served as an independent prognostic factor for better survival, while a high level of cytoplasmic nucleolin was closely associated with worse prognosis in NSCLC patients. The expression of nucleolin and cytoplasmic nucleolin positively correlated with DNA-PKcs (P < 0.001). These data suggest that nucleolin could be an effective treatment target and prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC.

Nucleolin (C23) is an important anti-apoptotic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in exponentially growing eukaryotic cells. In order to understand the impact of C23 in radiation therapy, we attempted to investigate the relationship of C23 expression with the radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. We investigated the role of C23 in activating the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA- PKcs), which is a critical protein for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair. As a result, we found that the expression of C23 was negatively correlated with the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines. In vitro clonogenic survival assays revealed that C23 knockdown increased the radiosensitivity of a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, potentially through the promotion of radiation-induced apoptosis and adjusting the cell cycle to a more radiosensitive stage. Immunofluorescence data revealed an increasing quantity of γ-H2AX foci and decreasing radiation-induced DNA damage repair following knockdown of C23. To further clarify the mechanism of C23 in DNA DSBs repair, we detected the expression of DNA-PKcs and C23 proteins in NSCLC cell lines. C23 might participate in DNA DSBs repair for the reason that the expression of DNA-PKcs decreased at 30, 60, 120 and 360 minutes after irradiation in C23 knockdown cells. Especially, the activity of DNA-PKcs phosphorylation sites at the S2056 and T2609 was significantly suppressed. Therefore we concluded that C23 knockdown can inhibit DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 sites, thus reducing the radiation damage repair and increasing the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells. Taken together, the inhibition of C23 expression was shown to increase the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells, as implied by the relevance to the notably decreased DNA-PKcs phosphorylation activity at the S2056 and T2609 clusters. Further research on targeted C23 treatment may promote effectiveness of radiotherapy and provide new targets for NSCLC patients.

The relationship between IL-17A and cancer, whether beneficial or antagonistic, continues to be a controversial issue. In this study, effects of IL-17A on lung adenocarcinoma were investigated using lung cancer cell lines, 95D and 95C. In the presence or absence of IL-17A, cell proliferation and VEGF secretion were detected. Effects of IL-17A on capillary networks and process of angiogenesis were also evaluated. In vivo, the level of IL-17A was assayed in the serum of lung adenocarcinoma patients. At the same time, slices of adenocarcinoma tissue were analyzed for expression of IL-17A, its receptor (IL-17RA), VEGF, CD4(+)-IL-17A+ cells and CD8(+)-IL-17A+ cells by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays. IL-17A did not have effect on the proliferation of 95D or 95C cells, however, the elevated expression of VEGF in supernatant of 95D or 95C cells was found to be IL-17A concentration-dependent. Supernatants from 95D or 95C cells treated with IL-17A could obviously facilitate angiogenesis, compared with IL-17A absence group (P < 0.01). Higher levels of IL-17A were detected in serum of patients with lung adenocarcinoma than healthy controls (P < 0.001). Higher positive expressions of IL-17A, IL-17RA and VEGF were confirmed in lung adenocarcinoma lesion tissues compared to pericancerous normal tissues (P < 0.001). Tnc17 cells, as well as Th17 cells were found in adenocarcinoma tissue, indicating a potential role of these cells in disease. In summary, IL-17A might affect lung adenocarcinoma by promoting angiogenesis, while the role of Tnc17 cells or Th17 cells remains to be elucidated.

Background: Radiotherapy plays a critical role in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was conducted to identify gene expression profiles of acquired radioresistant NSCLC cell line established by fractionated ionizing radiation (FIR) by cDNA microarray., Methods: The human lung adenocarcinoma cell line Anip973 was treated with high energy X-ray to receive 60 Gy in 4 Gy fractions. The radiosensitivity of Anip973R and its parental line were measured by clonogenic assay. Gene expression profiles of Anip973R and its parental line were analyzed using cDNA microarray consisting of 21 522 human genes. Identified partly different expressive genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR)., Results: Fifty-nine upregulated and 43 downregulated genes were identified to radio-resistant Anip973R. Up-regulated genes were associated with DNA damage repair (DDB2), extracellular matrix (LOX), cell adhesion (CDH2), and apoptosis (CRYAB). Down-regulated genes were associated with angiogenesis (GBP-1), immune response (CD83), and calcium signaling pathway (TNNC1). Subsequent validation of selected eleven genes (CD24, DDB2, IGFBP3, LOX, CDH2, CRYAB, PROCR, ANXA1 DCN, GBP-1 and CD83) by Q-RT-PCR was consistent with microarray analysis., Conclusions: Fractionated ionizing radiation can lead to the development of radiation resistance. Altered gene profiles of radioresistant cell line may provide new insights into mechanisms underlying clinical radioresistance for NSCLC.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between the expression of S100A4 and E-cad protein and some clinicopathological factors such as histological types, TNM stages, lymph node metastasis and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and analyze whether there is a correlation between them., Methods: The expression of S100A4 protein and E-cad protein was detected with immunohistochemical SP technique in 116 non-small-cell lung cancers., Results: The positive immunohistochemical staining for S100A4 protein was observed in 64 out of the 116 patients, with a positive rate of 55.2%. The expression rate of S100A4 protein was associated with age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC. The expression of S100A4 protein was not significantly related with histological types, sex and TNM stages. The positive rate of E-cad protein expression was 65.5%. The expression of E-cad protein was associated with TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC. The expression of E-cad protein had no significant correlation with histological types, patient age and sex. An inverse correlation between the levels of S100A4 and E-cad protein expression was found (P < 0.005)., Conclusion: Expression of S100A4 protein and loss of E-cad protein expression are significantly associated with tumor progression, and may become valuable markers in prediction of biological behavior and tendency of metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancers.