Search

Background: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component of propolis, has beneficial effects on cancer prevention. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is an antitumor gene of bladder cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the anti-cancer effect of CAPE on bladder carcinoma cells and related mechanisms. Methods: The expressions of GDF15, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), and maspin, and the activations of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun Nterminal kinase (JNK), p38, and 50 adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1/2 in human bladder cells after gene transfection or knockdown were determined by immunoblot, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and reporter assays. The assays of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), CyQUANT cell proliferation, and Matrigel invasion, and the xenograft animal study were used to assess the cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis. Results: GDF15 expression in epithelial cells was negatively correlated with neoplasia in vitro. Also, GDF15 exhibits in bladder fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. CAPE-induced expressions of NDRG1 and maspin decreased cell proliferation and invasion of bladder carcinoma cells in a GDF15-dependent manner in vitro. The xenograft animal study suggesting CAPE attenuated tumor growth in vivo. CAPE increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and AMPKα1/2 to modulate the GDF15 expressions. Pretreatments with ERK, JNK, or p38 inhibitors partially inhibited the CAPE effects on the inductions of GDF15, NDRG1, or maspin. Knockdown of AMPKα1/2 attenuated the CAPE-induced GDF15 expression and cell proliferation in bladder carcinoma cells. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that CAPE is a promising agent for anti-tumor growth in human bladder carcinoma cells via the upregulation of GDF15.

The androgen-dependent or -independent pathways are regarded as primary therapeutic targets for the neoplasm of the prostate. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) acting as a paracaspase in the regulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction plays a central role in inflammation and oncogenesis in cancers. This study confirmed the potential linkages between androgen and NF-κB activation by inducing MALT1 in the androgen receptor-full length (ARFL)-positive LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. Although androgen did not stimulate MALT1 expression in AR-null or ectopic ARFL-overexpressed PC-3 cells, the ectopic overexpression of the AR splicing variant 7 (ARv7) upregulated MALT1 to activate NF-κB activities in 22Rv1 and PC-3 cells. Since the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 was facilitated by ARv7 to motivate NF-κB activity, the expressions of MALT1, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) were therefore induced in ectopic ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells. Ectopic ARv7 overexpression not only enhanced 22Rv1 or PC-3 cell growth and invasion in vitro but also the tumor growth of PC-3 cells in vivo. These results indicate that an androgen receptor induces MALT1 expression androgen-dependently and -independently in ARFL- or ARv7-overexpressed prostate cancer cells, suggesting a novel ARv7/MALT1/NF-κB-signaling pathway may exist in the cells of prostate cancer.

Background: We determined the effect of prostate-specific antigen velocity (PSAV) on the surgical outcome of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods: A retrospective review was performed of prospectively collected data of patients with BPH who underwent ThuLEP at any time from 2017 to 2019. Patients who had undergone BPH surgery or had prostate cancer previously were excluded, and patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) > 4 ng/ml were examined through transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy to rule out prostatic malignancy. Furthermore, patients were excluded if prostatic malignancy was diagnosed during postsurgery follow-up.Results: The PSA level, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life (QoL) of 27 male patients at 3 and 15 months postsurgery differed significantly from those at presurgery; the maximum flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual (PVR) significantly differed between 3 months postsurgery and presurgery; and 22 and 5 patients had good to excellent and fair to poor outcomes, respectively, at 15 months postsurgery. Patients were divided into two groups (fair and poor vs. good and excellent outcomes at 15 months postsurgery), which significantly differed with respect to PSAV at 3 months postsurgery (P = 0.04), IPSS presurgery (P < 0.02), surgical length (P = 0.01), and hospitalization duration (P = 0.04). In a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the optimal cutoff value of PSAV of −0.52 ng/ml characterized effectiveness at 15 months after ThuLEP, and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.82 (P < 0.02), 0.80, and 0.82, respectively. For PSAV < -0.52 and ≥-0.52 ng/ml, the percentages of reduction for IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and PVR were −78.6 and −71.4%, −33.3 and 0.0%, 94.4 and 40.0%, and −85.1 and −38.7%, respectively.Conclusions: Postsurgical PSAV was positively correlated with surgical success, and the PSAV cutoff was −0.52 ng/ml. PSAV can, thus, be used to guide the postsurgical follow-up treatment at 3 months after BPH surgery.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties and is deemed as a tissue protector. However, effects of HO-1 in prostate cancer remain in controversy. We evaluated the role of HO-1 in prostate carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.Overexpression of HO-1 did not affect prostate cell proliferation in the normal condition but enhanced cell proliferation under serum starvation. HO-1 overexpression enhanced cell invasion of PC-3 cells through epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction, which was supported by increased Slug, N-cadherin, and vimentin expressions. In the xenograft animal study, HO-1 overexpression enhanced PC-3 cell tumor growth in vivo. HO-1 attenuated reactive oxygen species induced by H2O2 or pyocyanin treatment in PC-3 and DU145 cells. HO-1 further reduced PC-3 and DU145 cell apoptosis induced by H2O2 or serum starvation. Our results suggested that HO-1 was able to increase prostate carcinoma cell invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The EMT induction and antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of HO-1 in the prostate carcinoma cells may be responsible for these findings.

This study investigated and compared the surgical outcomes of using endoscopic enucleation (thulium: YAG laser and bipolar plasma; ThuLEP) with robotic-assisted simple prostatectomy (RASP) in the treatment of prostates larger than 80 cm 3 . Records were obtained for the period from January 2014 to December 2020 for selected patients with BPO who underwent RASP, ThuLEP, or bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP). Patients were excluded if they had active malignant disease, neurogenic bladder, lower urinary tract syndrome for reasons other than BPO, and a history of prostate surgery. Data of 396 patients who underwent B-TUEP, ThuLEP, and RASP were examined. A total of 112 patients met the including criteria, 85 of whom (B-TUEP: 29; ThuLEP: 41; RASP: 15) completed the final visit. The mean operation time and duration of postoperative hospital stays in the RASP group were significantly longer than those of the B-TUEP and ThuLEP groups. Only 1 patient in the RASP group required blood transfusion. The RASP group was superior to the other groups in voiding improvement including Qmax and IPSS voiding score. The pain score of the ThuLEP group after surgery was significantly lower than that of the other two groups during hospitalization, whereas the QoL scores were identical between the three groups at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post operation. The rates of returning to ER within the first postoperative month did not differ significantly between the three groups, and all the reasons for return involved minor complications that required no additional invasive treatment. These three surgical methods (B-TUEP, ThuLEP, and RASP) are all effective and safe for treating prostates larger than 80 cm3, with each having its particular advantages. B-TUEP requires the shortest operation time, ThuLEP causes the lowest postoperative pain, and RASP results in superior voiding function improvement.

Background: We evaluated the impact of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate on testosterone levels in hypotestosteronemic patients with bladder outlet obstruction. Methods: We enrolled 294 men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who received surgery between January 2019 and December 2020 in simple tertiary centre. The inclusion criteria were as follows: being a male patient aged 45–95 years and having recurrent urinary tract infection, having previously failed medical treatment for LUTS or urine retention, and undergoing bipolar or thulium laser enucleation of the prostate. The preoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively reviewed. Results: This study included 112 men with a mean age of 69.4 years. The mean preoperative and postoperative testosterone levels were 4.8 and 4.98, respectively. Of the patients, 88 (78.6%) received ThuLEP and 24 received BipolEP. We divided the patients into two groups according to preoperative serum testosterone levels: normal-testosterone (≥3 ng/mL) and low-testosterone (p = 0.025) was observed in the low-testosterone group. In contrast, no significant difference in testosterone levels was noted in the normal-testosterone group (p = 0.698). Conclusions: Endoscopic enucleation surgery of the prostate could improve postoperative testosterone levels in hypotestosteronemic patients with bladder outlet obstruction.

Few studies have addressed the impact of diagnostic urine metabolites and the clinical outcomes associated with genitourinary urothelial (GU) cancer to date. Furthermore, longitudinal analysis of the dynamics of urine metabolites contributing to the detection of GU cancer has not yet been fully investigated; therefore, the discovery of novel diagnostic urine biomarkers is of enormous interest. We explored the correlation of the urine metabolomic profiles to GU cancers. The aqueous metabolites of the GU cancer and the control were also identified and analyzed through high-resolution1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Compared with the control, the urine metabolites of the tumor were studied in relation to changes over time in a linear mixed model for repeated measures. The urine metabolites of sixty-three (44 male and 19 female) patients with GU cancers were systemically analyzed. The urine metabolite profile in GU cancer was significantly higher than those in the control group (p

The WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a member of the connective tissue growth factor family, plays a crucial role in several important cellular functions in a highly tissue-specific manner. Results of a RT-qPCR indicated that WISP1 expressed only in cells of the human prostate fibroblasts, HPrF and WPMY-1, but not the prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Two major isoforms (WISP1v1 and WISP1v2) were identified in the HPrF cells determined by RT-PCR and immunoblot assays. The knock-down of a WISP1 blocked cell proliferation and contraction, while treating respectively with the conditioned medium from the ectopic WISP1v1- and WISPv2-overexpressed 293T cells enhanced the migration of HPrF cells. The TNFα induced WISP1 secretion and cell contraction while the knock-down of WISP1 attenuated these effects, although TNFα did not affect the proliferation of the HPrF cells. The ectopic overexpression of WISP1v1 but not WISP1v2 downregulated the N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) while upregulating N-cadherin, slug, snail, and vimentin gene expressions which induced not only the cell proliferation and invasion in vitro but also tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells in vivo. The results confirmed that WISP1 is a stroma-specific secreting protein, enhancing the cell migration and contraction of prostate fibroblasts, as well as the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells.

Functions of metallothionein 2A (MT2A) in bladder cancer have not been extensively explored even though metallothioneins are regarded as modulators in several biological regulations including oxidation and cancerous development. We evaluated MT2A in bladder carcinoma cells in terms of the mechanisms of regulation and the underlying functions. MT2A overexpression not only downregulated endogenous ROS but also blocked ROS induced by H2O2. We used the annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay to determine the modulation of H2O2-induced cell apoptosis by MT2A expression. Results of immunoblot and reporter assays indicated that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) treatment induced MT2A and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions; moreover, the involvement of CAPE in either upregulation of the HO-1 expression or downregulation of endogenous ROS is MT2A dependent in bladder carcinoma cells. Knockdown of MT2A increased invasion and cell growth in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic overexpression of MT2A had the reverse effect in bladder carcinoma cells. Unlike bladder cancer tissues, the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis showed a significant level of MT2A mRNA in the normal bladder tissues. Collectively, our results indicated that MT2A is acting as an antioxidant and also a tumor suppressor in human bladder carcinoma cells.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is known as a TGFβ-like cytokine acting on the TGFβ receptor to modulate target genes. GDF15 is regarded as a tumor suppressor gene in the human bladder and the caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) induces GDF15 expression to inhibit the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. However, the interactions among GDF15, CAPE, and TGFβ/Smads signaling in the human bladder carcinoma cells remain unexplored. Results revealed that TGFβ downregulated the expression of GDF15 via the activation of Smad 2/3 and Smad 1/5. Induction of GDF15 on its downstream genes, NDRG1 and maspin, is dependent on the TGFβ/Smad pathways. Moreover, TGFβ blocked the CAPE-inducing expressions of GDF15, maspin, and NDRG1. Pretreatment of TGF receptor kinase inhibitor not only blocked the activation of TGFβ but also attenuated the activation of GDF15 on the expressions of maspin and NDRG1. The CAPE treatment attenuated the activation of TGFβ on cell proliferation and invasion. Our findings indicate that TGFβ downregulated the expressions of GDF15, maspin, and NDRG1 via TGFβ/Smad signaling. Whereas, CAPE acts as an antagonist on TGFβ/Smad signaling to block the effect of TGFβ on the GDF15 expression and cell proliferation and invasion in bladder carcinoma cells.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a honeybee propolis-derived bioactive ingredient, has not been extensively elucidated regarding its effect on prostate cancer and associated mechanisms. The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 gene (MALT1) modulates NF-κB signal transduction in lymphoma and non-lymphoma cells. We investigated the functions and regulatory mechanisms of CAPE in relation to MALT1 in prostate carcinoma cells. In p53- and androgen receptor (AR)-positive prostate carcinoma cells, CAPE downregulated AR and MALT1 expression but enhanced that of p53, thus decreasing androgen-induced activation of MALT1 and prostate-specific antigen expressions. p53 downregulated the expression of MALT in prostate carcinoma cells through the putative consensus and nonconsensus p53 response elements. CAPE downregulated MALT1 expression and thus inhibited NF-κB activity in p53- and AR-negative prostate carcinoma PC-3 cells, eventually reducing cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. CAPE induced the ERK/JNK/p38/AMPKα1/2 signaling pathways; however, pretreatment with the corresponding inhibitors of MAPK or AMPK1/2 did not inhibit the CAPE effect on MALT1 blocking in PC-3 cells. Our findings verify that CAPE is an effective antitumor agent for human androgen-dependent and -independent prostate carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo through the inhibition of MALT1 expression via the AR/p53/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Abstract Background To evaluate the long-term surgical outcomes of patients with urinary retention (UR) caused by a benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and compare their outcomes with those of patients who received medication without surgical intervention. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed claims data collected during the period of 1997–2012 from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. We examined geriatric adverse events among patients who had received a diagnosis of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and whom experienced UR, and compared those who received TURP and medication only. Primary outcomes included urinary tract infection (UTI), UR, inguinal hernia, hemorrhoids, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and bony fracture. We excluded patients who had concomitant prostate cancer, bladder cancer, or a long-term urinary catheter indwelling, as well as those who did not receive α-blocker medication regularly. Those aged 90 years were also excluded. The enrolled patients were categorized into TURP (n = 1218) and medication only (n = 795) groups. After 1:1 propensity score matching, we recorded and compared patients’ characteristics, postoperative clinical outcomes, and geriatric adverse events. Results The TURP cohort had a lower incidence of UTI and UR during the postoperative follow-up period from 2 months to 3 years than did the medication only group (20.7% vs. 28.9% and 12.5% vs. 27.6%, respectively, p

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of thulium vapoenucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The outcomes of this increasingly popular procedure are yet to be confirmed in patients with various prostate sizes and health status. Materials and methods: Three hundred and three patients who underwent ThuVEP were included and stratified in subgroups according to prostate size and age. We analyzed patient demographics, preoperative disease-related parameters, and perioperative and follow-up results. Correlation of prostate size and operation time were also assessed. Results: Baseline mean prostate volume was 61.0 mL (range 19.3–226 mL), mean urinary peak flow rate (Qmax) was 8.6 mL/second (range 1.4–23.25 mL/second), mean postvoid residual volume was 126.2 mL (range 0–649 mL) and mean International Prostate Symptom Score was 25.1 (range 8–35). The mean operation time was 84.0 minutes and 88.6 minutes for total and prostate volume >80 mL, respectively. After laser surgery, there were mean reductions of 5.3 ng/mL, 7.5 ng/mL, 3.7 ng/mL, and 3.5 ng/mL (38.0%, 49.7%, 30.3%, and 36.5% change from baseline) in prostate-specific antigen level among the four groups. As for postvoid residual volume, there was a significant reduction in volume in the total, prostate volume >80 mL and prostate volume

Prostate cancer is one of the most common seen malignancies and the leading cause of cancer-related death among men. Given the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, it is worth to identify a potential novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) is a novel gene involved in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction by acting as an adaptor protein and paracaspase, with an essential role in inflammation and tumorigenesis in many cancers. This study investigated the functions and the potential regulatory mechanisms of MALT1 in the human prostate cancer cells. We found that MALT1 is abundant in prostate cancer tissues. MALT1 facilitated NF-κB subunits (p50 and p65) nuclear translocation to induce gene expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5) in prostate carcinoma cells. MALT1 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. MALT1 enhanced NF-κB activity in prostate carcinoma cells; moreover, NF-κB induced MALT1 expression determined by reporter and immunoblot assays, implying there is a positive feedback loop between MALT1 and NF-κB. In conclusion, MALT1 is a NF-κB-induced oncogene in the human prostate carcinoma cells.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), as well as the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostate hyperplasia. Materials and methods: The records of first-visit male patients with LUTS in the outpatient department of our institution were obtained. A transrectal ultrasound was performed on these patients after a detailed physical examination and medical history taking were performed. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of the patients, the prostate size, the length of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP), and the PUA were evaluated. The patients also underwent uroflowmetry and bladder scan for residual urine. Results: A total of 227 patients were included in this study. The mean PUA was 44.58 ± 12.87°. The mean prostate volume was 39.39 ± 19.79 mL, and the mean IPP was 4.82 ± 6.82 mm. After utilizing multivariate linear regression analysis, PUA was independently associated with IPSS (p

Objective: Evaluate the difference in the subjective pain of using different probes for transrectal ultrasound of prostate. Materials and Methods: From July 2014 to December 2014, patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) of prostate were randomly divided into two groups and using two different probes. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate subjective perception of pain in these patients. Results: A significant difference was found in VAS between the two groups. The patient felt less pain during TRUS examination when using a microconvex transducer. Additionally, patients with external hemorrhoid, longer prostate sagittal length, image artifacts caused by stool, and deeper probe insertion depth were all found to be associated with more pain. The usage of a microconvex transducer can help reduce pain for patients with external hemorrhoids, whereas there was no difference in pain perception when the patient had previous rectal surgery or image artifacts caused by stool. Conclusion: We identified the factors of pain associated with TRUS. The microconvex transducer caused less TRUS-associated pain as compared to using a biplaned linear transducer.

Migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1) is a membrane-anchored protein and exists in various cancerous tissues. However, the roles of MIEN1 in prostate cancer have not yet been clearly addressed. We determined the expression, biological functions, and regulatory mechanisms of MIEN1 in the prostate. The results of immunohistochemical analysis indicated that MIEN1 was expressed specifically in epithelial cells and significantly higher in adenocarcinoma as compared to in normal tissues. MIEN1 enhanced in vitro cell proliferation, invasion, and in vivo tumorigenesis. Meanwhile, MIEN1 attenuated cisplatin-induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Overexpression of NF-ĸB-inducing kinase (NIK) enhanced MIEN1 expression, while overexpression of NF-ĸB inhibitor α (IĸBα) blocked MIEN1 expression in PC-3 cells. In prostate carcinoma cells, MIEN1 provoked Akt phosphorylation; moreover, MIEN1 downregulated N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) but upregulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression. MK2206, an Akt inhibitor, impeded the modulation of MIEN1 on NDRG1 and IL-6 expressions. Our studies suggest that MIEN1 is an NF-ĸB downstream oncogene in the human prostate. Accordingly, the modulation of Akt signaling in the gene expressions of NDRG1 and IL-6 may account for the functions of MIEN1 in cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis in prostate carcinoma cells.

Transgelin (TAGLN/SM22-α) is a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, affecting the survival, migration, and apoptosis of various cancer cells divergently; however, the roles of TAGLN in bladder carcinoma cells remain inconclusive. We compared expressions of TAGLN in human bladder carcinoma cells to the normal human bladder tissues to determine the potential biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of TAGLN in bladder carcinoma cells. Results of RT-qPCR and immunoblot assays indicated that TAGLN expressions were higher in bladder smooth muscle cells, fibroblast cells, and normal epithelial cells than in carcinoma cells (RT-4, HT1376, TSGH-8301, and T24) in vitro. Besides, the results of RT-qPCR revealed that TAGLN expressions were higher in normal tissues than the paired tumor tissues. In vitro, TAGLN knockdown enhanced cell proliferation and invasion, while overexpression of TAGLN had the inverse effects in bladder carcinoma cells. Meanwhile, ectopic overexpression of TAGLN attenuated tumorigenesis in vivo. Immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays showed that TAGLN was predominantly in the cytosol and colocalized with F-actin. Ectopic overexpression of either p53 or PTEN induced TAGLN expression, while p53 knockdown downregulated TAGLN expression in bladder carcinoma cells. Our results indicate that TAGLN is a p53 and PTEN-upregulated gene, expressing higher levels in normal bladder epithelial cells than carcinoma cells. Further, TAGLN inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and blocked tumorigenesis in vivo. Collectively, it can be concluded that TAGLN is an antitumor gene in the human bladder.

The associations between the treatment outcomes of benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic obstruction and lifelong health status, including urologic cancer incidence as well as geriatric adverse events (AEs), are unknown. This retrospective cohort study analyzed claims data collected during the period of 1997–2012 from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Patients who received transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were prioritized, and the remaining patients who were prescribed alpha-blockers were, subsequently, identified. Patients in the TURP and medication-only groups were further divided into two groups, according to the presence or absence of AEs during the first six-month follow-up. Outcomes of primary interest were all-cause mortality, occurrence of prostate cancer, transurethral resection of the bladder tumor, and radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Compared with patients in the AE-free TURP group, those in the TURP with AEs had a higher risk of lifelong bladder cancer (subdistribution hazard ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56–3.39), whereas the risk of prostate cancer was comparable between the two groups (SHR: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.83–1.74). In the medication cohorts, patients undergoing alpha-blocker treatment who had AEs had a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.49–1.78) and a higher risk of lifelong bladder cancer (SHR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.99–3.71) when compared with those without AE. Our study reveals that unfavorable treatment outcomes of benign prostate hyperplasia, whether caused by medication or surgical treatment, are associated with a higher incidence of bladder cancer. Unfavorable outcomes of surgical treatment are associated with higher risk of geriatric AEs, and unfavorable outcomes of medication treatment are associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

Metallothioneins have been viewed as modulators in a number of biological regulations regarding cancerous development; however, the function of metallothionein 3 (MT3) in bladder cancer is unexplored. We determined the regulatory mechanisms and potential function of MT3 in bladder carcinoma cells. Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) assays revealed that TSGH-8301 cells expressed more MT3 levels than RT-4, HT1376, and T24 cells. Immunoblot and RT-qPCR assays showed that arsenic (AS2O3) treatments enhanced the gene expression of MT3. Hypoxia induced HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and MT3 expression; furthermore, HIF-2α-knockdown attenuated hypoxic activation on MT3 expression. Ectopic overexpression of MT3 increased cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis significantly in T24 and HT1376 cells in vitro and in vivo; however, MT3-knockdown in TSGH-8301 cells had the reverse effect. Moreover, knockdown of MT3 enhanced arsenic-induced apoptosis determined by the Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay. MT3-overexpression downregulated the gene expressions of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), and the mammary serine protease inhibitor (MASPIN) in HT1376 and T24 cells, whereas MT3-knockdown in TSGH-8301 cells had the opposite effect. The experiments indicated that MT3 is an arsenic- and hypoxia-upregulated oncogene that promotes cell growth and invasion of bladder carcinoma cells via downregulation of NDRG1, NDRG2, and MASPIN expressions.

This study was carried out to obtain information on the efficacy and safety of the controlled release formulation of the doxazosin Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System (GITS) in Taiwanese subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Studies of doxazosin in Asian populations for this indication have lacked data particularly from Taiwan. This was an 8-week, post-marketing, open-label, non-comparative study. Eighty male subjects (mean age=64 years) with BPH received doxazosin GITS 4 mg once daily. At week 4, subjects who achieved an increase in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) of >3 mL/s and a >30% reduction in the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) continued on doxazosin GITS 4 mg for the remaining 4 weeks; all other subjects were up-titrated to 8mg once daily. Change from baseline at weeks 4 and 8 (primary endpoint) in IPSS and Qmax was evaluated using two-sided paired t tests for the intent-to-treat population. Safety was assessed throughout the study. A total of 53 (66.3%) subjects completed the study. Baseline Qmax and IPSS were 10.7+3.4 mL/s and 20.6+5.4, respectively. At week 8, a significant increase from baseline in Qmax of 3.3+4.6 mL/s (95% confidence interval = 2.2-4.4, p< 0.001) and a significant decrease in total IPSS of −8.9 + 7.0 (95% confidence interval=−10.5 to −7.3, p< 0.001) was observed. The most common treatment-related adverse event was dizziness. Doxazosin GITS 4 mg per day (with an 8-mg titration step) effectively improved symptoms of BPH. The results from this study provide further information for clinicians on the use of doxazosin GITS for the treatment of BPH, particularly in Taiwanese patients.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component extracted from propolis, is widely studied due to its anti-cancer effect. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is distinct from other head and neck carcinomas and has a high risk of distant metastases. N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is demonstrated as a tumor suppressor gene in several cancers. Our result showed that CAPE treatment could repress NPC cell growth, through induction of S phase cell cycle arrest, and invasion. CAPE treatment stimulated NDRG1 expression in NPC cells. NDRG1 knockdown increased NPC cell proliferation and invasion and rendered NPC cells less responsive to CAPE growth-inhibiting effect, indicating CAPE repressed NPC cell growth partly through NDRG1indcution. CAPE treatment increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Pre-treatments by inhibitors of ERK (PD0325901), JNK (SP600125), or p38 (SB201290), respectively, all could partly inhibit the CAPE effect on NDRG1 induction in NPC cells. Further, STAT3 activity was also repressed by CAPE in NPC cells. In summary, CAPE attenuates NPC cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating NDRG1 expression via MAPK pathway and by inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT3. Considering the poor prognosis of NPC patients with metastasis, CAPE could be a promising agent against NPC.

Camptothecin (CPT) and doxorubicin (DOX) have been demonstrated to have potent anti-tumor activity. The B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) is involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression. We evaluated the molecular mechanisms of CPT and DOX on cell proliferation and the expressions of BTG2 and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in prostate carcinoma cells. Our results indicated that CPT or DOX treatments induced Go/G1 cell cycle arrest in LNCaP cells and apoptosis at higher dosage. Immunoblot and transient gene expression assay indicated that CPT or DOX treatments induced p53 and BTG2 gene expression, with the later effect dependent on the p53 response element within BTG2 promoter area since mutation of the p53 response element from GGGAAAGTCC to GGAGTCC or from GGCAGAGCCC to GGCACC by site-directed mutagenesis abolished the stimulation of CPT or DOX on the BTG2 promoter activity, which is also supported by our results that cotreatments of pifithrin-α, an inhibitor of p53 dependent transcriptional activation, blocked the induction of CPT or DOX on BTG2 gene expression. CPT or DOX also downregulated the protein expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and PSA. Transient gene expression assays suggested that CPT or DOX's attenuation of PSA promoter activity is dependent on both the androgen and p53 response elements within of the PSA promoter. Our results indicated that CPT and DOX attenuate cell proliferation via upregulation of BTG2 gene expression through the p53-dependent pathway. The CPT and DOX block the PSA gene expression by upregulation of p53 activity and downregulation of androgen receptor activity.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine, contributes to proliferation or differentiation of prostate carcinoma cells in a highly cell type-specific manner. Celastrol (3-hydroxy-24-nor-2oxo-1(10),3,5,7-friedelatetrane-29-oic acid), also named as tripterine, is extracted from root of Chinese traditional herb Tripterygiumwilfordii Hook f with potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms of celastrol on cell proliferation and IL-6 gene expression in prostate carcinoma cells. 3H-thymidine incorporation and flow cytometric analysis indicated that celastrol treatments arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, thus attenuating cell proliferation in prostate carcinoma PC-3 cells; moreover, celastrol induced cell apoptosis at higher dosage. Knockdown of IL-6 attenuated the anti-proliferative effect of celastrol on PC-3 cells. Results from ELISA and 5'-deletion transient gene expression assays indicated that celastrol treatment decreased IL-6 secretion and gene expression, and this effect is dependent on the NF-κB response element within IL-6 promoter area since mutation of the NF-κB response element from AAATGTCCCATTTTCCC to AAATGTTACATTTTCCC by site-directed mutagenesis abolished the inhibition of celastrol on the IL-6 promoter activity. Celastrol also attenuated the activation of PMA and TNFα on the gene expression and secretion of IL-6 in PC-3 cells. Immunoblot assays revealed that celastrol treatment downregulated the expressions of IKKα, p50 and p65, supporting the 5'-deletion transient gene expression assay result that celastrol blocked IL-6 expression through the NF-κB pathway in PC-3 cells. For the first time, our results concluded that celastrol attenuates PC-3 cell proliferation via downregulation of IL-6 gene expression through the NF-κB-dependent pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with a growing worldwide incidence and prevalence. The N-myc downstream regulated gene (NDRG) family of NDRG1, 2, 3, and mammary serine protease inhibitor (Maspin) gene are well-known modulators in the neoplasia process. Current research has considered iron chelators as new anti-cancer agents; however, the anticancer activities of iron chelators and their target genes in OSCC have not been well investigated. We showed that iron chelators (Dp44mT, desferrioxamine (DFO), and deferasirox) all significantly inhibit SAS cell growth. Flow cytometry further indicated that Dp44mT inhibition of SAS cells growth was partly due to induction of G1 cell cycle arrest. Iron chelators enhanced expressions of NDRG1 and NDRG3 while repressing cyclin D1 expression in OSCC cells. The in vivo antitumor effect on OSCC and safety of Dp44mT were further confirmed through a xenograft animal model. The Dp44mT treatment also increased Maspin protein levels in SAS and OECM-1 cells. NDRG3 knockdown enhanced the growth of OECM-1 cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicated that NDRG3 is a tumor suppressor gene in OSCC cells, and Dp44mT could be a promising therapeutic agent for OSCC treatment.

Background: This study investigated the use of ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to break stones in the genitourinary tract and prevent genitourinary injury. Our goals were to achieve accurate focusing and minimal X-ray exposure for the benefit of the patients. Methods: The LiteMed LM-9200 lithotripter with ultrasonography and fluoroscopy was used for two different procedures: autoaimed and autoperiodical. These procedures enabled dual focusing on stone localization and tracking. Results: Out of 108 patients who underwent autoperiodical procedures, 29 had no gross hematuria. Among the 335 patients who received autoaimed procedures, 194 had no gross hematuria. The average duration of X-ray exposure during autoperiodical and autoaimed procedures was 120 and 50 s, respectively. Conclusion: The ultrasound-guided ESWL with minimal X-ray exposure was found to be useful in treating genitourinary upper-tract urolithiasis in the autoaimed procedure. Patients who underwent the autoaimed procedure experienced less gross hematuria compared to those who underwent the autoperiodical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]