Ubiquitin-ribosomal protein S27a(UBRPS27a) is a fusion protein of Ubiquitin and ribosomal protein. The N-terminal is ubiquitin and C-termina is ribosomal protein S27a with a high conservative zinc finger domain of the C2-C2 type. When it was expressed in eukaryotes,The intact fusion protein were rapidly processed to free ubiquitin monomer and ribosomal protein S27a (RPS27a). Ubiquitin degradated proteins particularly and selectively in cell and RPS27a is indispensable for translation. This multifunctional ribosomal protein is expressed at high levels in a wide variety of actively proliferating cells and tumor tissues and is a representative characteristic of various tumor cells. In our preliminary study of this protein in the silkworm,RPS27a also be found express highly in actively proliferating cells. The precise functional role of each ribosomal protein is largely unknown and many ribosomal proteins have extraribosomal functions apart from the particle. In this article, we review the recent research on the connection between tumor and this fusion protein, Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway and ribosomal protein. These research may indicate the origin and development of tumor, provide the basis for clinical diagnosis of cancer and the novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of malignant tumors.
Animals ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Cloning, Molecular ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Ubiquitin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Telomerase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; ras Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

To comparatively investigate ultrastructural characteristics and expressions of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) and Tn (Thomsen-Friedenreich-related antigen) protein in AFP negative (AFP-) and AFP positive (AFP+) primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Fourty-three cases of AFP- and AFP+ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and five cases of normal liver tissues were divided into three groups: control group (normal liver tissue, n=5); AFP+ HCC group (the serum AFP level was higher than 10 ng/ml, n = 22); AFP- HCC group (the serum AFP level was lower than 10 ng/ml, n=21). The ultrastructural morphology was studied by transmission electron microscopy, the expressions of AFP and Tn protein were detected by immunohistochemistry and cell image analysis. 1. The immunohistochemical study showed that (1) the expression intensity and positive rate of Tn protein in AFP- HCC group were markedly higher than that in AFP+ HCC group (P<0.01); (2) The expression intensity of AFP in AFP- HCC group was lower than that in AFP+ HCC group (P<0.01). 2. The transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that some AFP- HCC cells linked closely with each other, others dispersed loosely just as cultured cells, the remarkable morphologic features in AFP- HCC cells were simple organelles, but they were abundant in the free polyribosomes. In AFP+ HCC group, all the HCC cells linked closely together and were rich organelles in their cytoplasm, especially the rough endoplasmic reticula. In addition, mitochondria and Golgi complex were obviously observed. (1) The AFP and Tn protein had discrepancy distribution in AFP- and AFP+ HCC tissues, Tn protein may be one of the early diagnostic indicators in AFP- HCC; (2) The synthetic locations of the AFP and Tn protein were different in hepatocarcinoma cells by ultrastructural observation.
Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Novel Oncogene with Kinase-domain (NOK) is a novel tumor-related gene, coding receptor like protein with a kinase domain. Overexpression of NOK leads to tumorigenesis and metastasis. To further study NOK function in physiological condition, it is necessary to prepare the anti-NOK antibody. In this report, GST fusion protein was adopted to prepare polyclonal antibodies against hNOK. The result showed that the antibodies we generated is with a very high titriation, and can be used for examination of NOK protein by Westernblot. Furthermore, the antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry in lung cancer tissues, and the results demonstrated high expression of hNOK in the tumor tissues. The antibody of hNOK we generated can serve as a diagnostic method for the lung cancer.
Animals ; Antibodies ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo explore the significance of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) in the development of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSPTEN protein expression in cancerous liver tissues and paired para-carcinoma liver tissues from 60 HCC patients was detected by immunohistochemistry and PTEN mRNA expression was analyzed by northern blot. The significance of PTEN in the development of HCC was analyzed by investigating the relationship between the expression levels of PTEN protein and mRNA, and the clinicopathological parameters of HCC patients.

RESULTSPTEN protein was immunohistochemically stained in the cytoplasmic region of para-carcinoma liver tissues in all the 60 patients, while only 48.3% (29/60) of the patients were positive for PTEN protein in cancerous liver tissues. The positive rate of PTEN protein in HCC tissues were relative to the histological gading and the presence of tumor thrombus. In grade I - II, III, and IV, the positive rates were 84.0%, 23.8%, and 21.4% respectively, and in the group with tumor thrombus was 26.7%, while in the group without tumor thrombus was 55.6%. Northern blot showed that there existed four PTEN mRNA transcripts with the length of 5.5kb, 4.4kb, 2.4kb, and 1.8kb respectively. The level of PTEN mRNA expression in HCC tissues was much lower than that in the paired para-carcinoma liver tissues. The low expression level of the 5.5kb and 4.4kb transcripts was significantly associated with serum AFP value, presence of tumor thrombus, state of satellite lesion and histological grading. The low expression level of the 2.4kb transcript in HCC was significantly associated with the presence of tumor thrombus and satellite lesions in HCC patients. However, no evident relationship between the lowered expression level of the 1.8kb transcript and the clinicopathological parameters of HCC was observed in these 60 patients.

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulation of PTEN expression may play an important role in the development of HCC and the expression level of PTEN may be a potential adjuvant parameter in forecasting the progress and prognosis of HCC.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of NGX6 gene and to investigate its association with the clinico-pathological characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS: Samples from 45 patients were divided into the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue group and the matched paracancerous tissue group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of NGX6 gene in the hepatocellular carcinoma and the surrounding normal tissue specimens. RESULTS: The positive rates of NGX6 in the hepatocellular carcinoma and the matched paracancerous tissues were 35.5%(16/45)and 77.8%(35/45), and the ratios of NGX6/G3PDH mRNA were 0.245+/-0.060 and 0.352+/-0.113.There was significant difference in the 2 groups (P<0.05). The expression of NGX6 gene was related to TNM staging (chi2=6.106,P=0.042)and lymph node metastasis(chi2=5.237,P=0.022)in hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION There is positive expression of NGX6 in the hepatocellular carcinoma and the matched paracancerous tissues. The low-expression or non-expression of NGX6 gene plays an important role in the gene transcription level in hepatocellular carcinoma.The expression of NGX6 gene is related with TNM staging and lymph node metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of NGX6 might be used as an early indicator of the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

To study the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein in prostate cancer (Pca) and its biological significance, the expression of HIF-1alpha was assayed by means of immunohistochemical technique in 42 prostate cancer, 12 prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN) and 9 normal prostate tissue (NP) specimens. Western blot was used to examine the expression of HIF-1alpha in prostate cancer cell line (PC-3M) induced by different oxygen tension. HIF-1alpha expression was positive in 33 Pca and 9 PIN specimens, and the positive rate of HIF-1alpha was higher in distant metastasis patients than in patients without metastasis of prostate cancer (P<0.05), while there was no expression of HIF-1alpha in NP. The level of HIF-1alpha in PC-3M significantly increased with the decrease of oxygen tension (P<0.01). Overexpression of HIF-1alpha is the preliminary event of the formation of Pca, which may induce carcinoma into malignant phenotype. Thus it may serve as an early diagnosis marker and the novel target for Pca treatment.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the c-kit protein in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

METHODSParaffin embedded materials from 53 benign GISTs, 13 potentially malignant and 55 malignant cases were analysed for c-kit expression by immunohistochemical method, while using leiomyomas and schwannomas as controls. Positive signals were shown in cytoplasma and cell membrane.

RESULTSOf 122 GISTs, 118 (97%) were positive for c-kit. Localization of positive signals was accurate. The rate of c-kit protein in benign, potentially malignant and malignant cases was 98% (53/54), 93% (12/13), 96% (53/55) respectively. Compared with benign GIST, the positivity of c-kit in metastasis or recurrent cases decreased, but c-kit protein expression rate was not significantly different between the three patterns of GIST (chi(2) = 1.167, P > 0.05). Leiomyomas and schwannomas were typically c-kit negative.

CONCLUSIONAs a sensitive and specific marker of GIST, c-kit seems to be a useful antibody in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GIST, but it may not be used as a prognostic index.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The abnormal expression of MUC15, a novel cell membrane-associated mucin, has been reported to predict poor survival in several cancers. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of MUC15 in glioma and its correlation with clinicopathological features, including the survival of patients with glioma. The mRNA expression level of MUC15 was determined by RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting in seven normal brain tissues and seven glioma tissues, respectively. The protein expression level of MUC15 was immunohistochemically detected in paraffin-embedded samples of 317 glioma tissues and 115 noncancerous brain tissues. The association of MUC15 expression levels with the clinicopathologic features and the prognosis was analyzed. The results showed that both mRNA and protein levels of MUC15 were significantly increased in glioma as compared with those in noncancerous brain tissue. Moreover, MUC15 overexpression was positively correlated with the advanced clinical stages of glioam patients (P<0.01). Furthermore, MUC15 expression levels were significantly correlated with the progression of glioma (P<0.001). Survival analysis indicated that glioma patients with higher MUC15 expression had a significantly shorter overall and 5-year survival time than those with low MUC15 expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that MUC15 overexpression was an independent factor for prognosis (hazard risk: 3.216; P=0.009). It was concluded that MUC15 is overexpressed in glioma tissues. Its overexpression correlates with tumor progression and it is a potentially unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with glioma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Brain Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis