1.Effects of miR-135a on HOXA10 expression, proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells
Weiwei TANG ; Guiping WAN ; Yicong WAN ; Lin ZHANG ; Wenjun CHENG
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2013;(5):364-369
Objective To investigate the effects of miR-135a on HOXA10 expression,proliferation and apoptosis of SKOV3 cells.Methods (1) Through computer-aided algorithms,the predicted target gene of miR-135a (HOXA10)were determined.(2) miR-135a mimics,miR-135a inhibitor and negative control were transfected into SKOV3 cells,respectively.Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR,western blot analysis were used to examine the expression levels of HOXA10 at different times (24,48 and 72 hours).(3) A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the direct regulation between miR-135a and HOXA10.(4) SKOV3 cells proliferation at different times (24,48 and 72 hours) was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay [quantified by absorbance(A)].Western blot was used to examine the expression of apoptosis-associated protein bcl-2,bax and caspase-3 in SKOV3 cells after 48 hours transfection.Results (1) HOXA10 was predicted to be the target gene of miR-135a by computer-aided algorithms.(2) RT-PCR shown that HOXA10 mRNA levels were decreased over time (24,48 and 72 hours) after miR-135a mimics transfectionin SKOV3 cells (0.94 ±0.04 vs 0.78 ±0.03 vs 0.70 ±0.03,P <0.05).While,the expression of HOXA10 mRNA was increased over time after miR-135a inhibitor transfection (1.14 ± 0.05 vs 1.16 ±0.03 vs 2.60 ±0.08,P <0.05).After transfected with miR-135a mimics or miR-135a inhibitor over 48 and 72 hours,the HOXA10 expression levels in SKOV3 cells were significantly lower or higher than each control group,respectively (all P < 0.01).Western blot analysis of HOXA10 expression in SKOV3 cells confirmed the results of RT-PCR detected.(3) After cotransfection of miR-135a plasmid and pMIR-REPORT luciferase plasmid containing HOXA10,luciferase reporter assays showed that the luciferase activity reduced by 67.8% (P <0.01).(4) MTT showed that SKOV3 cells growth after miR-135a mimics transfection for 48 and 72 hours were significantly lower than those in control group (0.38 ± 0.03 vs 0.52 ± 0.05,0.67 ±0.05 vs 0.75 ± 0.06 ; respectively,all P < 0.05).While,SKOV3 cells transfected with miR-135a inhibitor for 72 hours grew significantly faster than that in control group (0.95 ± 0.05 vs 0.75 ± 0.06,P < 0.01).After miR-135a mimics transfection,the level of bcl-2 protein was significantly lower than that in control group (0.28 ±0.06 vs 0.76 ±0.09,P <0.01).The activity of caspase-3 was significantly higher than that in control group (115.0 ± 2.4 vs 95.4 ± 2.1,P < 0.01).While,there was no statistical difference of bax expression (P =0.142).However,after miR-135a inhibitor transfection,the expression level of bcl-2 protein was significantly higher than that in control group (0.92 ± 0.03 vs 0.76 ± 0.09,P =0.037) and the activity of caspase-3 was significantly lower than that in control group (59.5 ± 4.1 vs 95.4 ± 2.1,P < 0.01).There was also no statistical difference of bax expression (P =0.066).Conclusion miR-135a may play an important role in cell proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by regulating HOXA10 and its downstream pathways.
2.Gynecological malignant tumor related multiple primary malignant neoplasms: clinical analysis of 30 cases
Li SHI ; Shulin ZHOU ; Yi JIANG ; Yicong WAN ; Jingjing MA ; Shilong FU ; Wenjun CHENG
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2014;49(3):199-203
Objective To investigate the clinical features of gynecological malignant tumor related multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN).Methods Apply retrospective and comprehensive analysis to the clinical data of 30 patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN.Results Synchronous MPMN were found in 9 patients.Their average age was 50.2 years old and their median age was 49 years old.The neoplasms were located at ovary,uterus,cervix,breast and intestine.Metachronous MPMN were found in 21 patients.Their average age was 57.7 and their median age was 57 years old.The median interval between the first and the second primary malignant neoplasm was 4.0 years.The neoplasms were located at breast,ovary,uterus,gastrointestinal tract,uterine cervix,lung etc.In 30 cases,26 of them were treated by surgical operation and further adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy was conducted as per the neoplasm staging and its pathological results.The rest 4 patients (first primary malignant neoplasms were excised from 3 of them and another one was not treated by surgical operation) received adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy.Followed ups,which varied from 6 to 60 months,were made to 29 patients and 20 out of the 29 were alive.5-year survival rate of patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN was 47.8%,2-year survival rate was 73.9%,and 1-year survival rate was 88.6%.Conclusion Pay more attention to the patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN,examine the high-risk patients with malignant tumor comprehensively,identify whether it is recurrence,metastasis or new growth of malignant neoplasm,and further ensure early diagnosis and proper treatment,avoiding misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.
3.Establishment and preliminary application of organoids in ovarian cancer
Lin ZHANG ; Huangyang MENG ; Yashuang ZHANG ; Huixian MIAO ; Lin YUAN ; Shulin ZHOU ; Yi JIANG ; Yicong WAN ; Wenjun CHENG
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2023;58(2):112-120
Objective:To explore the establishment and application of ovarian cancer organoids.Methods:Fresh ovarian tumor tissues, obtaining from patients underwent surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between October 2021 and March 2022, were collected, enzymatic degraded, digested, and embedded into matrigel to establish organoids. A total of 32 ovarian cancer samples were collected. Hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunofluorescence (IF) procedure were used to verify the morphological structure of organoids and their expression of molecular markers. 3D cyto-live or dead assay was used to detecte the live or dead cells in organoids. Carboplatin with a concentration ranging from 5 to 80 μmol/L (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 μmol/L) was added to organoids to calculate the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50) in different organoids. Results:(1) Organoids from a total of 32 patients were established, of which 18 cases could be passaged stably in the long term in vitro, while 14 could be passaged in the short time. The average amplification time of long-term passage in vitro was over 3 months, and the longest reached 9 months. (2) In HE staining, significant nuclei atypia and local micropapillary structures were observed in organoids. IF staining revealed that ovarian cancer organoids expressed molecular markers similar to primary tumor tissues, such as Pan cytokeratin (Pan-CK), p53, paired box gene 8 (PAX8), and Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT1). (3) In 3D cyto-live or dead assay, a large number of apoptotic cells were observed inside and around the organoids after added carboplatin. The sensitivity to carboplatin varied in 18 organoids could amplify in the long term, with an average IC 50 of (29.5±15.8) μmol/L. Moreover, IC 50 values of 4 organoids derived from patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were much higher than the 14 organoids which did not received neoadjuvant chemotherapy [(48.7±11.3) μmol/L vs (24.0±12.1) μmol/L; t=3.429, P=0.022]. Conclusions:Organoids recapitulate ovarian cancers in vitro and could be stably passaged. Organoids derived from patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy have higher resistance to carboplatin.