Objective Many studies have revealed the crucial roles of miRNA in multiple human cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, we sought to explore new miRNA-mRNA pairs that are associated with LUAD prognosis. Methods A novel miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with prognosis in LUAD was identified and validated using the bioinformatic tools including OncomiR database, StarBase, miRnet, GEPIA2, UALCAN. Results Twenty key miRNAs were compiled after the analysis of the expression and prognostic value in OncomiR and StarBase. Targeted mRNAs of these key miRNAs were predicted in miRnet, and the resulting mRNAs were also analyzed for their prognostic values and expression patterns in GEPIA2 and UALCAN, respectively. Further expression correlation analysis was performed in StarBase. Subsequently, a new miRNA-mRNA network was built, of which each RNA pair showed negative expression correlation, opposite expression pattern, and prognostic value. Protein-protein interaction network was under construction for the mRNAs, and 19 hub genes were determined. Enrichment analysis showed that "Cell Cycle, Mitotic" was the most significantly enriched term. Then, a miRNA-hub gene sub-network was built. We selected and validated the regulatory relationship of some miRNA-hub pairs, including hsa-miR-1976/RFC2, hsa-let-7c-5p/RFC2, hsa-let-7c-5p/ESPL1, hsa-let-7c-5p/CDC25A, and hsa-miR-101-3p/KIF2C. Moreover, over-expression of hsa-miR-1976 and hsa-let-7c-5p resulted in significant cell cycle arrest. Conclusions Our results determined new prognosis-associated miRNA-mRNA pairs and might shed further light on the mechanism via which miRNA-mRNA network influences prognosis in LUAD.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the effects of gene polymorphism of heat shock protein 70-2 (HSP 70-2) 1267A/G on the mRNA level HSP 70-2 mRNA and the protein level HSP 70 in human lung cancer.

METHODSForty six lung cancer patients diagnosed histopathologically between February and August 2008 from a hospital in zhengzhou were enrolled as the subjects in this study. Gene polymorphism of HSP 70-2 1276A/G in 46 patients with lung cancer was detected by PCR-RFLP. The mRNA levels of HSP 70-2 mRNA and the protein levels of HSP 70 in lung tissue and para-cancerous tissues of these subjects were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.

RESULTSThe expression levels of HSP 70-2 mRNA (1.02 ± 0.30) and HSP 70 protein (0.44 ± 0.12) in the lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous tissues (0.19 ± 0.04, 0.12 ± 0.02). The relative levels of HSP 70-2 mRNA in the subjects with AA genotype (1.32 ± 0.22) were significantly higher than the patients with AG genotype or GG genotype (0.95 ± 0.17, 0.70 ± 0.16) at the site of 1267 (A/G) (P < 0.01); however, the relative protein levels of HSP 70 were 0.47 ± 0.13 (AA genotype), 0.42 ± 0.11 (AG genotype), 0.45 ± 0.11 (GG genotype), respectively, which showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of HSP 70-2 1267 (A/G) is highly associated with the transcription level of HSP 70-2 mRNA, but not with the expression level of HSP 70 protein.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Genotype ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

BACKGROUND: m6A RNA methylation modification plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of lung cancer and regulates tumor immunity. Current studies mostly focus on the differential expression of some specific m6A effectors and infiltrating immune cell. m6A methylation modification is the result of mutual adjustment and balance between effectors, and changes in the expression of one or two effectors are far from enough to reflect the panorama of m6A methylation. The role of m6A in the immune microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different m6A modification patterns in immune microenvironment of LUAD. METHODS: LUAD data was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), University of California Santa Cruz Xena (UCSC Xena) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Gene mutation, differential expression and survival analysis were performed for 24 m6A effectors. The m6A modification pattern was constructed by unsupervised clustering method, and the m6A clusters survival analysis, gene set variation analysis, immune score and immune cell infiltration analysis were performed. The association between LRPPRC protein expression levels and infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages in the tumor microenvironment was validated by immunohistochemistry in LUAD tissue microarray with 68 cases. RESULTS: The mutations of m6A effector were found in 150 of 567 LUAD cases with a frequency of 26.46%. 6 readers and 3 writers were significantly up regulated in LUAD tissues compared with normal tissues. IGF2BP1 and HNRNPC are the independent risk factors for prognosis of LUAD. Abundant cross-talks among writers, erasers and readers were demonstrated. Three m6A modification patterns with different immune cell infiltration characteristics and clinical prognosis were established. Among m6A effectors, LRPPRC was found to be inversely associated with the infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages, and was validated in 68 LUAD tissues. CONCLUSIONS m6A modification patterns play non-negligible roles in regulating the immune microenvironment. LRPPRC has potential to be a new biomarker for checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.
Adenocarcinoma/genetics* ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung/pathology* ; Adenosine/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Methylation ; Tumor Microenvironment/genetics*

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Here, we showed that miR-152 was downregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-152 suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation and also limited migration and invasion. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was confirmed as a direct target of miR-152. FGF2 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, whereas FGF2 overexpression partially reversed the suppressive effect of miR-152. Furthermore, the presence of miR-152 was inversely correlated with FGF2 in NSCLC tissues. Overall, this study demonstrated that miR-152 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by downregulating FGF2. These findings provide novel insights with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of NSCLC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/*genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung/metabolism/*pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; MicroRNAs/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics/pathology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEHuman achaete-scute homolog 1 (hASH1) gene plays a critical role in development of the central nervous system, automatic nervous system, adrenal medullary chromaffin cells, thyroid C cells and pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. The aim of this study is to determine hASH1 gene expression in the normal lung tissue and various types of lung tumors, to analyze whether its expression correlated with pulmonary neuroendocrine markers, and to explore the possibility of hASH1 as clinical pathological markers in the neuroendocrine tumors compared with previous neuroendocrine tumor markers.

METHODShASH1, Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin and CD56 expression were examined in lung tumor specimens (lung inflammatory pseudotumor, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinoma, typical carcinoids, atypical carcinoids, large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and small cell lung carcinoma and corresponding normal lung specimens) using immunohistochemistry (S-P method). Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay were applied to detect the expressions of hASH1 protein and mRNA in lung cancer tissues.

RESULTShASH1 expression was positive in 2/16 (12.5%) typical carcinoids, 15/20 (75%) atypical carcinoids, 6/10 (60%) large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and 31/40 (77.5%) small cell lung carcinoma, respectively, but not in any normal lung tissue (0/10), lung inflammatory pseudotumor (0/49), squamous cell carcinoma (0/30), adenocarcinomas (0/30) or large cell carcinoma (0/20). There was a significant difference in hASH1 expression between typical carcinoids and atypical carcinoids (P < 0.01), but not in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas and small cell lung carcinoma (P > 0.05). hASH1 expression highly closely correlated with Chromogranin A, Synaptophysin and CD56 expression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONhASH1 is a new kind of highly specific markers of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours, and may be applied to clinical pathology diagnosis of the pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

A mammalian expression plasmid pcDNA3. 1-hCC10 was constructed and identified, then CC10 protein expression in A549 lung cancer cell line was detected. A 273 bp cDNA fragment was amplified from the total RNA of normal lung tissue by using RT-PCR and cloned into expression plasmid cDNA3. 1, and the recombinant plasmid was identified by employing double digestion restriction enzymes Hind III and BamH I and the cDNA sequence was assayed by the Sanger dideoxy-mediated chain termination method. The segment was then transfected into the A549 lung cancer cell line. The protein expression of CC10 was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Our results showed that the cDNA fragment included the entire coding region (273 bp). The recombinant eukaryotic cell expression vector of pcDNA3. 1-hCC10 was successfully constructed, and the sequence of the insert was identical to the published sequence. A549 cells line transfected with the pcDNA3. 1-hCC10 expressed high level of CC10 protein. The recombinant plasmid cDNA3. 1-hCC10 may serve as an effective tool for the study of tumorogenesis and tumor treatment.
Adenocarcinoma/*metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Lung Neoplasms/*metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Transfection ; Uteroglobin/biosynthesis ; Uteroglobin/*genetics

Systems biology has become an effective approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of lung cancer. In this study, sequences of 100 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related proteins were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases. The Theory of Coevolution was then used to build a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of NSCLC. Adopting the reverse thinking approach, we analyzed the NSCLC proteins one at a time. Fifteen key proteins were identified and categorized into a special protein family F(K), which included Cyclin D1 (CCND1), E-cadherin (CDH1), Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12), epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), TNF receptor superfamily, member 6(FAS), FK506 binding protein 12-rapamycin associated protein 1 (FRAP1), O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), parkinson protein 2, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PARK2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), calcium channel voltage-dependent alpha 2/delta subunit 2 (CACNA2D2), tubulin beta class I (TUBB), SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 2 (SMARCA2), and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 7A (WNT7A). Seven key nodes of the sub-network were identified, which included PARK2, WNT7A, SMARCA2, FRAP1, CDKN2A, CCND1, and EGFR. The PPI predictions of EGFR-EGF, PARK2-FAS, PTEN-FAS, and CACNA2D2-CDH1 were confirmed experimentally by retrieving the Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets (BioGRID) and PubMed databases. We proposed that the 7 proteins could serve as potential diagnostic molecular markers for NSCLC. In accordance with the developmental mode of lung cancer established by Sekine et al., we assumed that the occurrence and development of lung cancer were linked not only to gene loss in the 3p region (WNT7A, 3p25) and genetic mutations in the 9p region but also to similar events in the regions of 1p36.2 (FRAP1), 6q25.2-q27 (PARK2), and 11q13 (CCND1). Lastly, the invasion or metastasis of lung cancer happened.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein Interaction Maps

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of mRNA expression level of three cancer-associated genes-LUNX mRNA, CK19 mRNA and CEA mRNA with metastasis in lymph nodes and histopathological staging in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSFifty-six tumor tissue samples and 103 regional lymph node samples were obtained from 56 patients with NSCLC, and another 35 lymph node samples as control from 15 patients with benign pulmonary diseases. The mRNA expression of LUNX, CK19 and CEA genes was detected in these samples by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), meanwhile, all lymph nodes were also examined by conventional pathological method.

RESULTSmRNA expression of LUNX, CK19 and CEA genes in the regional lymph nodes of NSCLC was significantly higher than that in those of benign lung diseases (P < 0.05). Compared with conventional pathological method, RT-PCT was more sensitive (P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between positive mRNA expression of LUNX mRNA and CK19 mRNA in the lymph nodes and histopathologic type of lung cancer (P > 0.05). But positive expression rate of CEA mRNA in the lymph nodes from adenocarcinoma patients was significantly higher than that in these from squamous cell carcinoma and other types of NSCLC (P < 0.05). The expression level of LUNX mRNA in the lymph nodes was positively correlated with TNM stages.

CONCLUSIONLUNX mRNA and CK19 mRNA may serve as a molecular marker for detection of lymph node micrometastasis in patient with non-small cell lung cancer, but LUNX mRNA is superior to CK19 mRNA in both sensitivity and specificity.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of Line-1 methylation on clinical features of non-small cell lung cancer and its connection with smoking and other living habits.

METHODSPyrosequencing was used to determine the extent of Line-1 methylation in cancer and adjacent tissues derived from 197 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Non-conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to correlate the level of Line-1 methylation with clinical features and living habits of the patients.

RESULTSLine-1 methylation for cancer tissue and adjacent tissue has measured 68.20±11.63 and 78.90±2.09, respectively (P < 0.01), and has been associated with TNM staging, smoking history and histopathological types.

CONCLUSIONLung cancer tissue Line-1 methylation level is closely related with clinical features and smoking. There is also a correlation between histopathological types of lung cancer and relative hypomethylation of Line-1.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and possible molecular mechanisms of adenoid cystic carcinoma with high-grade transformation.

METHODSFour cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma with high-grade transformation were enrolled into the study. Immunohistochemical study for smooth muscle actin, p63, p53 and Ki-67 was carried out. C-myc gene status was analyzed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization.

RESULTSThere were altogether 3 males and 1 female. The mean age of the patients was 55.5 years. Two patients died 17 months and 29 months after operation, respectively. One patient had distant metastasis 23 months after operation and was still alive at 26-month follow up. The remaining patient remained tumor free at 3-month follow up. High-grade transformation in adenoid cystic carcinoma presented either as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma. Histologic examination showed sheets of pleomorphic tumor cells occupying more than one low-power field. The high-grade carcinoma cells showed increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, prominent eosinophilic nucleoli and active mitosis (ranging from 8 to 25 per high-power field). Comedo necrosis was observed in 2 cases and multiple foci of calcifications in 3 cases. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated loss of myoepithelial differentiation, overexpression of p53 and high proliferative index by Ki-67. No c-myc translocation or copy-number changes were observed.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-grade transformation in adenoid cystic carcinoma is rare. The histopathologic features are rather distinctive and the biologic behavior is aggressive. C-myc gene mutation does not seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Eye Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Parotid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism