转录因子Hey1在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及临床意义

目的检测Hey1与Notch1在非小细胞肺癌组织中的表达,探讨Hey1在非小细胞肺癌中的表达与Notch1的表达、各临床病理特征之间的关系。方法制作组织芯片,采用免疫组织化学染色检测Notch1和Hey1在246例非小细胞肺癌组织及相应117例癌旁正常肺组织中的表达,应用SPSS 21.0进行统计分析。结果 Notch1在肺鳞癌、肺腺癌和癌旁正常肺组织的阳性率分别为78.8%,28.9%和30.8%,Hey1在肺鳞癌、肺腺癌和癌旁正常肺组织中的阳性率分别为79.7%,23.4%和33.3%;肺鳞癌患者Notch1阳性表达与TNM分期和淋巴结转移情况呈正相关;肺鳞癌患者Hey1阳性表达与TNM分期呈正相关,与肿瘤分化程度呈负相关;Spearman相关分析显示,肺鳞癌和肺腺癌组织中Notch1表达与Hey1表达具有显著的正相关关系。结论 Hey1和Notch1与肺鳞癌的恶性程度密切相关,可能是肺鳞癌发生、发展的重要参与因子。     

Molecular functions of the iron-regulated metastasis suppressor,NDRG1, and its potential as a molecular target for cancer therapy

N-myc down-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is a known metastasis suppressor in multiple cancers, being also involved in embryogenesis and development, cell growth and differentiation, lipid biosynthesis and myelination, stress responses and immunity. In addition to its primary role as a metastasis suppressor, NDRG1 can also influence other stages of carcinogenesis, namely angiogenesis and primary tumour growth. NDRG1 is regulated by multiple effectors in normal and neoplastic cells, including N-myc, histone acetylation, hypoxia, cellular iron levels and intracellular calcium. Further, studies have found that NDRG1 is up-regulated in neoplastic cells after treatment with novel iron chelators, which are a promising therapy for effective cancer management. Although the pathways by which NDRG1 exerts its functions in cancers have been documented, the relationship between the molecular structure of this protein and its functions remains unclear. In fact, recent studies suggest that, in certain cancers, NDRG1 is post-translationally modified, possibly by the activity of endogenous trypsins, leading to a subsequent alteration in its metastasis suppressor activity. This review describes the role of this important metastasis suppressor and discusses interesting unresolved issues regarding this protein.