Fibulin-1 is a widely distributed,versatile secretory calcium-binding glycoprotein which plays an important role on the formation of the structure of the extracellular matrix,the regulation of intercellular signaling and the inhibition of cell motility.Recent studies suggested a tumor-suppressive role for Fibulin-1.Here,this review focuses on the expression,function and mechanism of Fibulin-1 genes in tumor.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and dexamethasone on mRNA expressions of surfactant protein B (SP-B) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell (AECⅡ). MethodsAECⅡ were isolated and purified from fetal rat lung tissues,then cultured with different dose of VEGF (25,50 and 100 ng/ml) and dexamethasone (25,50,100 and 200 nmol/ml).The mRNA levels of SP-B and TGF-β1 were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expression of TGF-β1 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry.ANOVAor q-test wasappliedtocompare the difference among groups.ResultsCompared with control group,SP-B mRNA levels in 25 ng/ml VEGF group and 25,50,100 and 200 nmol/ml dexamethasone groups were higher (13.500±3.172,3.547±0.690,5.219±0.782,3.493±0.335,and 3.981 ± 1.133 vs 1.001 ± 0.059,q=-5.286,-4.943,- 7.228,- 9.906 and - 3.525 respectively,P＜0.05) ; TGF-β1 mRNA expression of 25 ng/ml VEGF group,50,100 and 200 nmol/ml dexamethasone group was lower (0.451 ± 0.078,0.579±0.019,0.422 ± 0.020 and 0.769 ± 0.025 vs 1.019±0.226,q=4.110,3.356,4.551 and 1.901 respectively,P＜0.05) ; other groups had no significant differences compared with control group (P＞0.05).Immunocytochemistry showed that the positive rate of TGF-β1 expression in 25 ng/ml VEGF,50,100 and 200 nmol/ml dexamethasone group was 23％,26％,22％ and 29％,respectively,while in the control group,the expression of TGF-β1 was positive in most of the AECⅡ (80％).ConclusionsBoth VEGF and dexamethasone could increase the expression of SP-B at mRNA level at appropriate concentrations.At the same time,the expression of TGF-β1 is inhibited.It is suggested that both VEGF and dexamethasone might increase the mRNA expression of SP-B by inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of RAS association domain family 1A gene (RASSF1A) methylation in patients after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) hepatectomy.Methods A total of 260 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled.HCC tissues and tumor adjacent tissues which were 2 cm away from the tumor edge of the patients were obtained.The clinicopathological data of patients were collected.The methylation of RASSF1A in HCC tissues and corresponding tumor adjacent tissues was determined by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The correlation between the expression rate of RASSF1A methylation and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed by chi-square test.Log-rank test was performed to analyze the relation between RASSF1A methylation and overall survival rate.Univariate and multivariate Cox statistical techniques were used to identify the influence factors in the prognosis of HCC.Results Among 260 HCC tissues and corresponding tumor adjacent tissues,RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation was detected in 214 HCC tissues (82.3 ％) and 101 corresponding tumor adjacent tissues (38.8％),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =102.824,P ＜ 0.01).There was no correlation between RASSF1A methylation and age,gender,liver cirrhosis,α-fetoprotein level,maximum diameter of tumor,Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage,hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection,smoking and alcohol drinking (all P＞0.05).The 5-year overall survival rate of patients with negative RASSF1A methylation was 93％,while that of patients with positive RASSF1A methylation was 51 ％,and the difference in overall survival rate between the two groups was statistically significant (x2 =26.556,P ＜ 0.01).Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that liver cirrhosis,BCLC stage and RASSF1A methylation were the main influence factors in the death of patients with HCC after surgery (Wald=16.767,8.791,16.286; all P＜0.01).Conclusion RASSF1A methylation is not only one of the predictive factors of survival rate in patients with HCC after hepatectomy,but also an independent prognostic factor of HCC.