Expression profile of lncRNAs and miRNAs in esophageal cancer: Implications in diagnosis,prognosis, and therapeutic response

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Although a number of environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors have been identified for this kind of cancer, the exact molecular mechanisms of tumor evolution have not been clarified yet. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators of gene expression and chromatin configuration have essential roles in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. They have been shown to alter the function of cancer-related signaling pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B and Wnt pathway, thus they might modulate the response of patients to pathway-targeted therapies. Moreover, a number of lncRNAs, such as AFAP1-AS1, UCA1, HOTAIR, LOC285194, and TUSC7, are involved in conferring chemoresistant/radioresistant in esophageal cancer cells. A complex network of interaction exists between lncRNAs and miRNAs in the context of esophageal cancer. Finally, various panels of lncRNAs and miRNAs have been introduced that can predict the survival of esophageal cancer patients. In this review article, we summarize the recent findings regarding the role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer with the special focus on their regulatory roles on signaling pathways, their potential as diagnostic/prognostic markers, and their relevance with therapeutic response.     

Percutaneous comprehensive cryoablation for metastatic esophageal cancer after failure of radical surgery

Esophageal cancer is common in China. There is a lack of treatment strategies for metastatic esophageal cancer (MEC) after radical surgery on the primary tumor. Cryoablation is an attractive option because tumor necrosis can be safely induced in a minimally invasive manner. This study assessed its therapeutic effect in MEC after failure of radical surgery. One hundred and forty patients met the inclusion criteria from May, 2003 to March, 2011. Comprehensive cryotherapy of multiple metastases was performed on 105 patients; 35 received chemotherapy. No severe complications occurred during or after cryoablation. Overall survival (OS) was assessed according to therapeutic protocol, pathologic type, treatment timing and number of procedures. The OS of patients who received comprehensive cryoablation (44 ± 20 months) was significantly longer than that of those who underwent chemotherapy (23 ± 24 months; P = 0.0006). In the cryotherapy group, the OS for squamous cell carcinoma (45 ± 19 months) was longer than that for adenocarcinoma (33 ± 18 months; P = 0.0435); the OS for timely cryoablation (46 ± 19 months) was longer than that for delayed cryoablation (33 ± 20 months; P = 0.0193); the OS for multiple cryoablation (50 ± 17 months) was longer than that for single cryoablation (37 ± 20 months; P = 0.0172); and the OS for cryo-immunotherapy (56 ± 17 months) was longer than that for cryoablation alone (39 ± 19 months; P = 0.0011). Thus, comprehensive cryotherapy may have advantages over chemotherapy in the treatment of MEC and, in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, supplementary immunotherapy and timely and multiple cryoablation may be associated with a better prognosis.     

骨髓间充质干细胞与施万细胞联合移植对大鼠周围神经 损伤端侧吻合的修复效果研究

目的:探究骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)与施万细胞(SCs)联合移植对大鼠周围神经损伤端侧吻合的修复效果。方法:选取SD雌性大鼠60只均制作成坐骨神经损伤端侧吻合模型,并将其随机分为联合移植组、MSCs组和SCs组,分别对吻合端进行骨髓间充质干细胞与SCs联合移植、MSCs移植、SCs移植。观察分析三组大鼠的神经电生理学指标和腓神经功能指数(PFI)和神经传导速度(NCV)。结果:三组大鼠的PFI和NCV均有所改善,且联合移植组的PFI和NCV均优于其他两组,并随着时间推移损伤坐骨神经功能恢复越来越好。结论:MSCs与SCs均具有促进大鼠周围神经身上修复的功能,且两种细胞联合移植效果更加明显。     

C-Phycocyanin elicited antitumor efficacy via cell-cycle arrest,apoptosis induction,and invasion inhibition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives: Mounting evidence has demonstrated that C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) exhibits marked antitumor activity in a wide type of tumors, such as pancreas cancer, breast carcinoma, lung cancer, and colon cancer. The current study aimed to confirm the antitumor efficacy of C-PC in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: The efficacy of C-PC was evaluated against the proliferation of ESCC cell lines EC9706 and EC1 by CCK-8 kit and in a mice model of ESCC EC9706. Cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry, and cell invasion was determined via transwell chamber. Protein expression was examined by Western blots.

Results: We found that C-PC exhibited anti-proliferation ability in a time-dependent manner and a dose-dependent manner in ESCC EC9706 and EC1 cells. Besides, C-PC markedly arrested cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, induced cell apoptosis and suppressed cell invasion ability in both EC9706 and EC1 cells (p?<?.01). Notably, C-PC evoked the elevations of Bax, PARP, and cleaved-caspase-3 protein, but reduced cyclin D1, CDK4, Bcl-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression levels. Further investigation from in vivo experiment revealed that C-PC displayed significant antitumor efficacy in the xenografted EC9706 model.

Conclusions: Our data presented herein suggest C-PC exerts antitumor efficacy in ESCC.     

Optical coherence tomography to detect acute esophageal radiation‐induced damage in mice: A validation study

Radiation therapy for patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer is hampered by acute radiation‐induced toxicity in the esophagus. This study aims to validate that optical coherence tomography (OCT), a minimally invasive imaging technique with high resolution (~10 μm), is able to visualize and monitor acute radiation‐induced esophageal damage (ARIED) in mice. We compare our findings with histopathology as the gold standard. Irradiated mice receive a single dose of 40 Gy at proximal and distal spots of the esophagus of 10.0 mm in diameter. We scan mice using OCT at two, three, and seven days post‐irradiation. In OCT analysis, we define ARIED as a presence of distorted esophageal layering, change in backscattering signal properties, or change in the esophageal wall thickness. The average esophageal wall thickness is 0.53 mm larger on OCT when ARIED is present based on histopathology. The overall sensitivity and specificity of OCT to detect ARIED compared to histopathology are 94% and 47%, respectively. However, the overall sensitivity of OCT to assess ARIED is 100% seven days post‐irradiation. We validate the capability of OCT to detect ARIED induced by high doses in mice. Nevertheless, clinical studies are required to assess the potential role of OCT to visualize ARIED in humans.      

长链非编码RNA LINC00885在人食管癌细胞中的作用研究

探讨长链非编码RNA LINC00885对人食管癌细胞EC109增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。构建LINC00885基因过表达质粒（pcDNA3.1-LINC00885）和shRNA敲低质粒（pLKO.1-LINC00885）。分别采用集落形成实验检测EC109细胞增殖能力;划痕实验检测EC109细胞横向迁移能力;Transwell实验检测EC109细胞纵向迁移能力及侵袭能力;流式实验检测LINC00885对于细胞周期的调控;实时定量PCR方法检测LINC00885 mRNA转录水平;Western blot检测BMP7及上皮间充质转化（epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT）通路相关蛋白（VIMENTIN、β-catenim和ZO-1）表达水平。在过表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,细胞的增殖能力、迁移能力及侵袭能力均显著增强,BMP7蛋白表达升高;而在敲低表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,细胞的增殖能力、迁移能力与侵袭能力均显著降低,BMP7蛋白表达也随之降低。另外,在过表达LINC00885的EC109细胞中,EMT通路蛋白VIMENTIN、β-catenim表达水平显著升高,而ZO-1表达水平显著降低。通过探究LINC00885对食管癌细胞增殖、迁移能力的影响,旨在验证LINC00885在食管癌中的功能,以期为临床治疗食管癌奠定理论基础。     

吻合皮下静脉的带蒂皮瓣修复四肢皮肤软组织缺损的效果分析

摘要 目的：探讨与分析吻合皮下静脉的带蒂皮瓣修复四肢皮肤软组织缺损的效果。方法：选择2018年12月到2021年12月在本院创伤造成的四肢皮肤软组织缺损60例患者作为研究对象,将其随机分为吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组与传统带蒂皮瓣组各30例。吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组给予吻合皮下静脉的带蒂皮瓣修复治疗,传统带蒂皮瓣组给予常规直接覆盖创面修复治疗。结果：所有患者都顺利完成手术,吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组围手术指标时间均较传统带蒂皮瓣组少（P<0.05）。吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组术后3个月的总有效率为96.7 %,高于传统带蒂皮瓣组的76.7 %（P<0.05）。吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组术后3个月的并发症发生率较传统带蒂皮瓣组低（P<0.05）。吻合皮下静脉带蒂皮瓣组术后6个月的感觉功能恢复情况好于传统带蒂皮瓣组（P<0.05）。结论：吻合皮下静脉的带蒂皮瓣能促进患者的创面愈合,提高治疗效果,减少并发症,加快恢复患者的四肢皮肤软组织缺损。     

旋覆代赭汤对食管癌细胞干性的影响*

目的: 探究旋覆代赭汤对食管癌细胞干性的影响。方法: 将BALB/c裸鼠随机分为对照组与实验组,每组5只,分别连续给予生理盐水和旋覆代赭汤(9.89 g/kg)灌胃处理,在给予灌胃第8日时皮下接种5×10⁶细胞数量的人源食管癌ECA-109细胞,每周测量肿瘤大小,4周后处死小鼠。收取肿瘤组织和小鼠血清,采用RT-qPCR、Western blot和免疫组化方法检测肿瘤细胞干性相关转录因子NANOG、OCT4、SOX2的表达。分别用含10%胎牛血清和上述两组小鼠的血清处理48 h食管癌ECA-109细胞,每组设置三个复孔,用RT-qPCR和Western blot方法检测NANOG、OCT4、SOX2的mRNA和蛋白表达水平,以及AKT及其磷酸化(p-AKT)的蛋白表达水平;用流式细胞术检测肿瘤细胞中ALDH酶活性;用成球实验检测肿瘤细胞的成球数量。结果: 与对照组相比,旋覆代赭汤显著抑制食管癌小鼠肿瘤的生长和大小(P＜0.01或P＜0.05);旋覆代赭汤药物血清显著降低食管癌细胞的中NANOG、OCT4和SOX2 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平、ALDH酶活性和成球数量,以及AKT和AKT的磷酸化(p-AKT)水平(P＜0.01或P＜0.05)。结论: 旋覆代赭汤具有抑制食管癌细胞干性的作用,其可能是治疗食管癌的潜在有效药物,为食管癌治疗探寻新的有效药物提供理论依据。     

Identification of esophageal cancer pathway deviation and construction of a diagnosis model using three kernel genes

The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of interleukin 35 (IL35) in esophageal carcinoma by comparing the mRNA level in Barrett's esophageal mucosa and in matched normal squamous mucosa and to understand how the diagnosis model works with two other genes: hepatocyte nuclear factor 1B (HNF1B) and cAMP responsive element binding protein 3-like 1 (CREB3L1). By comparing carcinoma tissue and normal tissue samples, we extracted all the differentially expressed mRNAs. The bioinformatics analysis resulted in the discovery of three prominent genes. Eventually, the three genes were utilized to train a deep-learning model. An additional wet experiment was conducted to validate the effect of IL35. All the differentially expressed genes were enriched into nine groups, each of which has specific biological functions. Given that the three significant genes HNF1B, CREB3L1, and IL35 as diagnostic features, a deep-learning model was constructed, reaching an accuracy of 93% in the training set and 87% in the test set. Our findings suggest that IL35, along with the other two signatures, can distinguish esophageal tumor samples from normal samples precisely.