小窝蛋白-1与脑胶质瘤

小窝蛋白-1（caveolin-1,Cav-1）是胞膜窖（caveolae）的标志性蛋白质。Cav-1在多种细胞的生命活动中起重要作用。大量证据表明,Cav-1参与乳腺癌、肝细胞癌、胰腺癌、前列腺癌、肾透明细胞癌等多种肿瘤的发生发展过程。胶质瘤是中枢神经系统恶性肿瘤之一,由于脑血屏障的存在,很多药物很难到达病灶,因而死亡率极高。近年来发现,Cav-1是胶质瘤细胞增殖的负调控因子,能够降低胶质瘤的迁移和侵袭能力。此外,Cav-1能够增加胶质瘤血瘤屏障的通透性。本文简要综述了近年来Cav-1在脑胶质瘤发生发展及其对血瘤屏障的调节作用的新进展,旨在为胶质瘤的临床治疗提供新的思路。     

EGFR和Ki-67在胶质瘤中表达的研究进展

胶质瘤是颅内常见的原发恶性肿瘤,而某些癌基因的激活、过表达或扩增、重排导致脑胶质瘤的形成。主要讨论脑胶质瘤的生物学特点,指出当前研究某些与肿瘤增殖活性及侵袭能力相关的基因改变、蛋白表达,推测其增殖和侵袭活动的具体过程,这是攻克脑胶质瘤的基础和关键。在众多与肿瘤相关的蛋白和基因中,选择了主要反映脑胶质瘤增殖活性和侵袭能力的相关基因——EGFR、Ki-67进行综述。从分子生物学水平评估脑胶质瘤细胞增殖和侵袭状态,在分析和判断胶质瘤的生长、分化程度,指导治疗方案的选择及预后的判断等方面有着重要的实用价值;但对于患者的预后,还需结合年龄、肿瘤位置、病理分级以及其他标记物等进行综合评价。     

雌激素膜受体ER-α36及其在人脑胶质瘤中的作用

脑胶质瘤是最为常见的颅内恶性肿瘤,表现为浸润性生长,对放化疗的敏感性低,复发率高,发病具有男女差异,但是雌激素受体的表达并没有明显的性别差异等特点,目前尚缺乏有效的应对策略。2005年首次发现并克隆的新型雌激素受体ER-α36,在多种男女高发恶性肿瘤细胞中高表达,并通过激活MAPK、PI3K/AKT非基因组雌激素信号通路刺激细胞恶性增殖,并能同时介导雌激素和抗雌激素的促生长作用。本文综述ER-α36与脑胶质瘤患者发生发展的相关性,也为临床以ER-α36为靶点治疗恶性胶质瘤提供新思路和科学依据。     

射频热疗技术在脑胶质瘤治疗中的应用进展

近几年,射频(radio frequency,RF)热疗技术以其靶向、微创、效果好,副作用少等特点,在临床治疗中,尤其是恶性肿瘤的治疗方面,取得了巨大的发展。随着研究的逐步深入,射频热疗技术越来越受到人们的重视,其应用范围也逐渐宽泛。脑胶质瘤呈广泛侵袭性生长,尤其是Ⅲ～Ⅳ级胶质瘤,具有高度间变的生长特点,术后复发快,手术加放化疗的平均生存期仅为8～11个月,严重威胁人类健康,是神经外科治疗领域中最难治疗的肿瘤。因而有关恶性脑胶质细胞瘤发生、发展及治疗的研究一直是神经外科领域的热点之一。本文就射频热疗技术的基本原理、脑胶质瘤治疗现状、射频热疗技术在脑胶质瘤治疗方面的应用,最新研究方向及进展做一综述。     

C6胶质瘤侵袭机制的研究进展

恶性肿瘤的侵袭转移机制是当今肿瘤学研究的热点之一,多形性胶质母细胞瘤(glioblastoma multiforme,GBM)死亡率居高不下的主要原因在于其在脑内发生广泛的浸润,GBM的侵袭是一个受多因素调控、多种基因参与的多步骤、多阶段、连续复杂的主动过程,很多机制还不十分清楚.但是,近年来许多学者通过C6胶质瘤模型对GBM的研究表明.一些黏附分子、蛋白酶及细胞因子等参与C6胶质瘤的侵袭.本文就目前C6胶质瘤侵袭机制的研究进展进行综述.     

苹果酸酶3(ME3)对人脑胶质瘤细胞的增殖、迁移、侵袭及间质转换的影响

该研究探讨了苹果酸酶3(malic enzyme 3,ME3)对人脑胶质瘤细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭和间质转换能力的影响。首先,用Real-time PCR和Western blot检测胶质瘤细胞中ME3的m RNA及其蛋白质的水平。使用质粒(sh-ME3)转染高表达ME3的脑胶质瘤细胞U87MG和U251MG,CCK-8和克隆形成实验分别检测细胞增殖以及克隆形成能力。Transwell实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力,并且采用细胞划痕实验进一步检测细胞的迁移能力。用Western blot检测干扰ME3后细胞间质表型标志物。结果表明,ME3下调后,U87MG和U251MG细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力减弱,并且胶质瘤间质表型标志物的表达明显降低,间质转换能力被抑制。以上结果说明,ME3在脑胶质瘤细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭中发挥了重要作用,同时,ME3因其在胶质瘤发展中发挥的重要作用可能成为肿瘤治疗的新靶点。     

shRNA干扰eIF4A1基因对胶质瘤细胞体内外生物学特征的影响

胶质瘤是颅内常见的肿瘤,其中恶性脑胶质瘤成弥漫性生长,尽管给予手术、放疗或化疗等综合治疗,仍极易复发,迫切需要探索新的治疗方法.但是胶质瘤的治疗靶点匮乏,因此探索有效的靶点对其治疗具有重要的意义.本研究中首先利用中国脑胶质瘤基因组图谱计划数据库(Chinese glioma genome altas, CGGA)分析了真核生物翻译起始因子中eIF4A1与脑胶质瘤的关系.生物信息学分析显示, eIF4A与胶质瘤病理分级相关并且在胶质瘤细胞中高表达. eIF4A1的抑制剂Silvestrol明显抑制胶质瘤细胞的增殖能力.利用慢病毒感染胶质瘤细胞建立shRNA干扰eIF4A1基因的胶质瘤细胞株,进行了一系列体内外生物学特征的实验,研究结果发现, shRNA干扰eIF4A1基因后能够有效抑制胶质瘤细胞的增殖、克隆形成、细胞侵袭和迁移.因此,本实验研究证实eIF4A1是胶质瘤治疗的有效靶点,为胶质瘤的临床治疗提供可靠的理论基础.     

氯毒素用于神经胶质瘤治疗的研究进展

氯毒素是一种从以色列沙漠蝎的毒液中分离出来的多肽,它具有稳定和紧凑的三级结构,可以抑制胶质瘤细胞的增殖、转移和侵袭,并且可作为靶向剂结合显影剂和药物等用于胶质瘤细胞的治疗.本文就对氯毒素在脑胶质瘤治疗中的研究和应用进展方面作一综述.     

AR在膀胱癌发生发展中作用的研究进展

雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)是依赖配体活化的转录因子,同时也是类固醇激素受体超家族中的一员,参与靶细胞的增殖和分化。膀胱癌是存在较大性别差异的肿瘤之一。一些数据表明,AR在膀胱癌的进程中发挥重要作用,并部分解释了膀胱癌在不同性别存在差异的原因,但具体机制远不如其在前列腺癌中的机制明确。主要综述几个与AR有重要联系并参与膀胱癌发生发展的分子,阐述AR介导基因转录及AR辅调节因子在膀胱癌中的作用及机制,为膀胱癌的诊断和治疗提供新的思路和靶点。     

雄激素受体在肝细胞肝癌中作用的研究进展

雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)是核受体超家族中的成员,主要以雄激素依赖的方式诱导下游靶基因转录。在此过程中,AR招募辅调节因子参与调控下游靶基因转录,从而发挥其生物学功能。近年研究证实,AR在肝细胞肝癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)发生发展中发挥重要作用。一方面,AR介导的下游靶基因(TGF-β1、VEGF、CCRK等)的异常表达影响HCC细胞的生长、增殖、血管形成等进程。乙肝病毒HBV X蛋白通过激活c-Src激酶等途径上调AR的转录活性,从而促进HCC的发展。另一方面,还有研究证实,AR可抑制HCC细胞的转移。现主要综述AR介导的基因转录调控在HCC中作用的分子机制,这将为HCC的早期发现及治疗提供理论依据和新的思路。     

Reduced Androgen Receptor Expression Accelerates the Onset of ERBB2 Induced Breast Tumors in Female Mice

Androgen receptor (AR) is commonly expressed in both the epithelium of normal mammary glands and in breast cancers. AR expression in breast cancers is independent of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) status and is frequently associated with overexpression of the ERBB2 oncogene. AR signaling effects on breast cancer progression may depend on ERα and ERBB2 status. Up to 30% of human breast cancers are driven by overactive ERBB2 signaling and it is not clear whether AR expression affects any steps of tumor progression in this cohort of patients. To test this, we generated mammary specific Ar depleted mice (MARKO) by combining the floxed allele of Ar with the MMTV-cre transgene on an MMTV-NeuNT background and compared them to littermate MMTV-NeuNT, Ar^fl/+ control females. Heterozygous MARKO females displayed reduced levels of AR in mammary glands with mosaic AR expression in ductal epithelium. The loss of AR dramatically accelerated the onset of MMTV-NeuNT tumors in female MARKO mice. In this report we show that accelerated MMTV-NeuNT-dependent tumorigenesis is due specifically to the loss of AR, as hormonal levels, estrogen and progesterone receptors expression, and MMTV-NeuNT expression were similar between MARKO and control groups. MMTV-NeuNT induced tumors in both cohorts displayed distinct loss of AR in addition to ERα, PR, and the pioneer factor FOXA1. Erbb3 mRNA levels were significantly elevated in tumors in comparison to normal mammary glands. Thus the loss of AR in mouse mammary epithelium accelerates malignant transformation rather than the rate of tumorigenesis.     

The NF-κB RelB Protein Is an Oncogenic Driver of Mesenchymal Glioma

High-grade gliomas, such as glioblastomas (GBMs), are very aggressive, invasive brain tumors with low patient survival rates. The recent identification of distinct glioma tumor subtypes offers the potential for understanding disease pathogenesis, responses to treatment and identification of molecular targets for personalized cancer therapies. However, the key alterations that drive tumorigenesis within each subtype are still poorly understood. Although aberrant NF-κB activity has been implicated in glioma, the roles of specific members of this protein family in tumorigenesis and pathogenesis have not been elucidated. In this study, we show that the NF-κB protein RelB is expressed in a particularly aggressive mesenchymal subtype of glioma, and loss of RelB significantly attenuated glioma cell survival, motility and invasion. We find that RelB promotes the expression of mesenchymal genes including YKL-40, a marker of the MES glioma subtype. Additionally, RelB regulates expression of Olig2, a regulator of cancer stem cell proliferation and a candidate marker for the cell of origin in glioma. Furthermore, loss of RelB in glioma cells significantly diminished tumor growth in orthotopic mouse xenografts. The relevance of our studies for human disease was confirmed by analysis of a human GBM genome database, which revealed that high RelB expression strongly correlates with rapid tumor progression and poor patient survival rates. Thus, our findings demonstrate that RelB is an oncogenic driver of mesenchymal glioma tumor growth and invasion, highlighting the therapeutic potential of inhibiting the noncanonical NF-κB (RelB-mediated) pathway to treat these deadly tumors.     

p21-activated Kinase 6 (PAK6) Inhibits Prostate Cancer Growth via Phosphorylation of Androgen Receptor and Tumorigenic E3 Ligase Murine Double Minute-2 (Mdm2)

The androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and growth of prostate malignancies. Regulation of AR homeostasis in prostate tumorigenesis has not yet been fully characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that p21-activated kinase 6 (PAK6) inhibits prostate tumorigenesis by regulating AR homeostasis. First, we demonstrated that in normal prostate epithelium, AR co-localizes with PAK6 in the cytoplasm and translocates into the nucleus in malignant prostate. Furthermore, AR phosphorylation at Ser-578 by PAK6 promotes AR-E3 ligase murine double minute-2 (Mdm2) association, causing AR degradation upon androgen stimuli. We also showed that PAK6 phosphorylates Mdm2 on Thr-158 and Ser-186, which is critical for AR ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Moreover, we found that Thr-158 collaborates with Ser-186 for AR-Mdm2 association and AR ubiquitin-mediated degradation as it facilitates PAK6-mediated AR homeostasis. PAK6 knockdown promotes prostate tumor growth in vivo. Interestingly, we found a strong inverse correlation between PAK6 and AR expression in the cytoplasm of prostate cancer cells. These observations indicate that PAK6 may be important for the maintenance of androgen-induced AR signaling homeostasis and in prostate malignancy, as well as being a possible new therapeutic target for AR-positive and hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.     

Downregulation of RKIP is associated with poor outcome and malignant progression in gliomas

Malignant gliomas are highly infiltrative and invasive tumors, which precludes the few treatment options available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying gliomas aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis. The Raf Kinase Inhibitory protein (RKIP), besides regulating important intracellular signaling cascades, was described to be associated with progression, metastasis and prognosis in several human neoplasms. Its role in the prognosis and tumourigenesis of gliomas remains unclear. In the present study, we found that RKIP protein is absent in a low frequency (10%, 20/193) of glioma tumors. Nevertheless, the absence of RKIP expression was an independent prognostic marker in glioma. Additionally, by in vitro downregulation of RKIP, we found that RKIP inhibition induces a higher viability and migration of the cells, having no effect on cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, as assessed by in vivo CAM assay. In conclusion, this is the largest series studied so far evaluating the expression levels of this important cancer suppressor protein in glioma tumors. Our results suggest that in a subset of tumors, the absence of RKIP associates with highly malignant behavior and poor survival of patients, which may be a useful biomarker for tailored treatment of glioma patients.     

Expression of estrogen receptors,androgen receptor and steroid receptor coactivator-3 is negatively correlated to the differentiation of astrocytic tumors

Astrocytic tumors are the most common primary brain tumors. It has been reported that androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) and their coactivator SRC-1 and SRC-3 are involved in the regulation of the growth and development of many tumors, but their expression profiles and significances in the astrocytic tumors remain largely unknown. In this study, the expression of AR, ERs, and SRCs, and the possible roles of them in astrocytic neoplasm were evaluated and compared to normal brain tissues by nickel-intensified immunohistochemistry with tissue microarrays. The results showed that there were no age- or gender-differences regarding to the levels of these receptors or coactivators in astrocytic or normal brain tissues. In the high-grade astrocytic tissue, the levels of AR, ERs and SRC-3 were significantly decreased when compared to the low-grade astrocytic tissues, but the levels of SRC-1 remain unchanged. Correlation analysis revealed that the levels of AR, ERs and SRC-3 were negatively correlated to tumor differentiation, and the levels of SRC-3 were positively correlated to that of ERα. Furthermore, the decreased levels of SRC-3 were associated with an increase of ERβ in astrocytic tumors when compared to that of normal brain tissues. These above results indicate a combination of decreased expression of ERs, AR and SRC-3 but not SRC-1 may be involved in the tumorigenesis of gliomas, ERα/SRC-3 axis may play central role in the regulation these tumors.