OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of using MDM2 amplification probe and DDIT3 dual-color, break-apart rearrangement probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in the diagnosis of liposarcoma. METHODS: In the study, 62 cases of liposarcoma diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were analysed for clinicopathological information. Of these 62 cases of liposarcoma, all were analysed for MDM2 amplification and 48 cases were analysed for DDIT3 rearrangement using a FISH technique. Our study aimed to evaluate the status of MDM2 and DDIT3 by FISH in liposarcoma and correlate it with diagnosis of different subtypes of liposarcoma. The subtypes of liposarcoma were classified according to the FISH results, combined with the relevant clinicopathological features. RESULTS: The patients aged 31-89 years (mean: 59 years) with a 1.75:1 male to female ratio. Histologically, there were 20 cases of atypical lipomatous tumour/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDLPS), 26 cases of dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), 13 myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) and 3 pleomorphic liposarcoma (PLPS). Tumors with DDLPS (23/26) and WDLPS (8/20) were localized retroperitoneally, while both tumours of MLPS and PLPS were localized extra-retroperitoneally, and the difference of sites among the four subtypes of liposarcoma was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Histologically, varied mucoid matrix could be observed in the four subtypes of liposarcoma, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). MDM2 gene amplification was demonstrated in all cases of ALT/WDLPS and DDLPS (100%, 20/20 and 26/26 respectively); DDIT3 gene rearrangement was noted only in MLPS (100%, 13/13); most cases of DDLPS (96.2%, 25/26) and ALT/WDLPS (83.3%, 5/6, 6 cases selected for detection) demonstrated the picture of amplification of the DDIT3 telomeric tag. According to the instructions of DDIT3 break-apart rearrangement probe, the 5' telomere probe and 3' centromere probe spanned but did not cover the DDIT3 gene itself, on the contrary, the 5' telomere probe covered the CDK4 gene, while the DDIT3 and CDK4 gene were located adjacent to each other on chromosome, therefore, when the amplification signal appeared on the telomeric tag of the DDIT3 rearrangement probe, it indeed indicated the CDK4 gene amplification rather than the DDIT3 gene rearrangement. Then the 10 cases with DDIT3 telomeric tag amplification were selected for CDK4 and DDIT3 gene amplification probe FISH tests, and all the cases showed CDK4 gene amplification (100%, 10/10) and two of the 10 cases demonstrated co-amplification of CDK4 and DDIT3 (20%, 2/10); DDIT3 polysomy detected by DDIT3 gene rearrangement probe was found in 1 case of DDLPS and 2 cases of PLPS (66.7%, 2/3) with morphology of high-grade malignant tumour and poor prognosis. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that a diagnosis of different subtype liposarcoma could be confirmed based on the application of MDM2 and DDIT3 FISH, combined with clinicopathological findings. It is also noteworthy that atypical signals should be correctly interpreted to guide correct treatment of liposarcomas.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/metabolism* ; Liposarcoma/pathology* ; Lipoma/pathology* ; Gene Amplification ; Transcription Factor CHOP/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2/metabolism*

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic characteristics of myxoid pleomorphic liposarcoma (MPLPS). Methods: Six cases of MPLPS diagnosed and consulted in Fujian Provincial Hospital from 2015 to 2021 were collected for histomorphological observation, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection of DDIT3 (CHOP) gene translocation and MDM2/CDK4 gene amplification. Results: There were four males and two females, aged 26-74 years (mean 53.8 years). The tumor size was 3.8-16.0 cm (mean 11.8 cm). All six cases had similar histopathologic features, showing overlapping histologic morphology of myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma. Four cases (4/6) were positive for S-100 protein, and the Ki-67 index was 50%-95%. All cases (6/6) were negative for DDIT3 (CHOP) translocation and MDM2/CDK4 amplification by FISH. TP53 (p.R248w) germline mutation was found in one case. Conclusions: MPLPS is a rare subtype of liposarcoma, characterized by overlapping morphology of myxoid liposarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma. Genetically, a few of them have TP53 gene germline mutations, but they lack of DDIT3 (CHOP) translocation or MDM2/CDK4 amplification.
Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liposarcoma/pathology* ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid/diagnosis* ; Male ; Molecular Biology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2/genetics* ; Translocation, Genetic

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and differential diagnoses of paratesticular liposarcoma. Methods: The cases were collected from 2012-2020, from the archives of the Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, with diagnosis confirmed by histology, immunostaining and FISH tests. Results: Totally 19 patients were enrolled (including 11 in-hospital patients and 8 consultant cases). The patients aged 37-84 years (mean 57 years). The preoperative clinical diagnoses were spermatic cord/inguinal masses (nine patients), scrotal masses (seven patients), and inguinal hernia (three patients). Six lesions recurred after local resection, including one case extending from pelvic liposarcoma. Histologically, there were 10 cases of well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS) and nine cases of dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS). WDLPSs mostly showed the combined features of lipoma-like, inflammatory and sclerosing subtypes (six patients); the other four WDLPSs had pure lipoma-like subtype features. DDLPSs were low-grade (three patients) or high-grade (six patients), with the morphology resembling myxofibrosarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastoma, spindle cell sarcoma, pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma and pleomorphic liposarcoma. Intense inflammatory cells infiltration was commonly observed in five WDLPSs and two DDLPSs. Ossification was observed in three tumors. Immunohistochemically, the tumors were positive for MDM2 (8/10) and CDK4 (10/10), which were expressed in lipo-differentiating cells, spindle cells in WDLPS, and in dediffferentiated components. S-100 was only expressed by lipocytes (10/10). CD34 expression was positive and diffuse in the stromal cells of WDLPSs and focal or diffuse in dedifferentiated areas (10/10). FISH tests with an MDM2 gene probe were positive (12/12). Conclusions: Paratesticular liposarcoma may be overlooked by both clinicians and pathologists. WDLPS and DDLPS predominate, showing various histologic divergences. The presence of amplification of the 12q14-q15 region (containing the MDM2 and CDK4 genes) is helpful for making the correct diagnosis.
Adult ; Genital Neoplasms, Male/surgery* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liposarcoma/surgery* ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2/genetics* ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Objective: To investigate the value of MDM2 RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) in diagnosing atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDL) and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL). Methods: A total of 26 ALT/WDL/DDLs diagnosed from March 2017 to May 2019 in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China and 18 control cases were included. MDM2 RNA-ISH was performed on all samples and compared with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) regarding their performance in detecting MDM2. Results: All samples were detected successfully using the three methods. Among 26 ALT/WDL/DDLs, all cases showed MDM2 amplification and positivity for MDM2 RNA-ISH (26/26, 100%). Twenty-four (24/26, 92.3%) of the 26 tested cases were positive for MDM2 IHC while two of them were negative. Eighteen control cases were all negative for MDM2 FISH and RNA-ISH, and 15 (15/18) cases were negative for MDM2 IHC. The sensitivity and specificity of RNA-ISH were both 100%, and those of MDM2 IHC were 92.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Diffuse staining was identified in all MDM2 RNA-ISH positive ALT/WDL/DDLs, but identified in only 8/24 (33.3%) of the MDM2 IHC positive cases. Among the 11 ALT/WDL/DDL samples evaluated on tissue microarray, the positive rate of MDM2 RNA-ISH was 100% with diffuse staining in all cases. The positive rate of MDM2 IHC was 9/11 while only 1 of the 9 cases showed diffuse staining. The result of MDM2 RNA-ISH was identical to that of MDM2 FISH and was overall consistent with that of MDM2 IHC (Kappa=0.763, P<0.001). Conclusions: In ALT/WDL/DDLs, results of MDM2 RNA-ISH are highly consistent with those of FISH. MDM2 RNA-ISH is more sensitive and more specific and has more diffuse positive signals than the IHC. The findings indicate that MDM2 RNA-ISH is highly valuable for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ALT/WDL/DDLs.
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liposarcoma/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2/genetics* ; RNA

Inflammation is recently recognized as one of the hallmarks of human cancer. Chronic inflammatory response plays a critical role in cancer development, progression, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Conversely, the oncogenic aberrations also generate an inflammatory microenvironment, enabling the development and progression of cancer. The molecular mechanisms of action that are responsible for inflammatory cancer and cancer-associated inflammation are not fully understood due to the complex crosstalk between oncogenic and pro-inflammatory genes. However, molecular mediators that regulate both inflammation and cancer, such as NF-κB and STAT have been considered as promising targets for preventing and treating these diseases. Recent works have further demonstrated an important role of oncogenes (e.g., NFAT1, MDM2) and tumor suppressor genes (e.g., p53) in cancer-related inflammation. Natural products that target these molecular mediators have shown anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Sesquiterpenoids (STs), a class of novel plant-derived secondary metabolites have attracted great interest in recent years because of their diversity in chemical structures and pharmacological activities. At present, we and other investigators have found that dimeric sesquiterpenoids (DSTs) may exert enhanced activity and binding affinity to molecular targets due to the increased number of alkylating centers and improved conformational flexibility and lipophilicity. Here, we focus our discussion on the activities and mechanisms of action of STs and DSTs in treating inflammation and cancer as well as their structure-activity relationships.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; etiology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and regulatory mechanism of clock gene Per1 on the proliferation,apoptosis,migration,and invasion of human oral squamous carcinoma SCC15 cells.

METHODSRNA interference was used to knock down Per1 gene in human oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC15 cell line. Changes of cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Transwell assay was carried out to assess cell migration and invasion. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expressions of Ki-67, murine double minute 2 (MDM2), c-Myc, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

RESULTSshRNA-mediated knockdown of Per1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion capacity, and inhibited cell apoptosis capacity of SCC15 cells (all P<0.05). Additionally, Per1 knockdown also increased the mRNA expressions of Ki-67, MDM2, Bcl-2, MMP2, and MMP9 and decreased the mRNA expressions of c-Myc, p53, and Bax (all P<0.05); however, the VEGF mRNA expression did not differ significantly after Per1 knockdown (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSClock gene Perl can regulate important tumor-related genes downstream such as Ki-67, MDM2, c-Myc, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, MMP2, and MMP9, and the aberrant expression of Per1 can affect tumor cell proliferation,apoptosis,migration and invasion. An in-depth study of Per1 may further clarify the mechanism of tumorigenesis and tumor development and thus provides new effective molecular targets for cancer treatment.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Period Circadian Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the role and possible mechanism of glioma-associated oncogene-1 (Gli1) in regulating the cell invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODSQuantitative real-time (qRT) -PCR was used to detect the effect of siRNA interference on Gli1, murine double minute 2 (MDM2) and p53 genes. Cell invasion and migration assays were used to observe the effect of Gli1, MDM2 and p53 silence on cell invasion and migration in p53 wild-type Capan-2 pancreatic cancer cells, respectively. Meanwhile, immunoblotting (IB) was used to detect the protein level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -9, phospho-excelluar signal-regulated kinase (pERK) and phosphorylation protein kinase B (pAKT) in Gli1-silencing Capan-2 cells. The data were analyzed by paired t-test.

RESULTSqRT-PCR showed that the expression of Gli1, MDM2 and p53 is down-regulated 70.5% and 74.5%, 61.8% and 65.3%, and 73.8% and 78.2% after siRNA interference, compared with the mock and siRNA control groups, respectively. Cell invasion (94 ± 8) and migration (143 ± 8) in p53 wild-type Capan-2 cells transfected with Gli1siRNA were significantly decreased, compared with the siRNA control group (150 ± 7, 190 ± 10) (t = 6.584, P = 0.022; t = 8.266, P = 0.014) , while MDM2 silence inhibited cell invasion (experiment group:85 ± 12, control group: 138 ± 6) and migration (experiment group: 127 ± 9, control group:180 ± 10) in the same cells, respectively (t = 5.097, P = 0.036;t = 4.860, P = 0.040). However, cell invasion (experiment group: 153 ± 11, control group: 106 ± 7) and migration (experiment group: 209 ± 13, control group: 164 ± 8) in p53-silencing Capan-2 cells were significantly enhanced (t = 4.669, P = 0.043; t = 4.990, P = 0.038). IB showed that Gli1 silence down-regulated MMP-9 but not pERK and pAKT protein expression.

CONCLUSIONGli1 might contribute to the cell invasion and migration in pancreatic cancer via the regulation of MDM2, p53 and MMP-9 expression.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship and clinicopathological significance of Numb,MDM2 and p53 expression in human pancreatic cancer.

METHODSThe expression of Numb,MDM2 and p53 proteins in 65 cases of paired paraffin embedded pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) specimens and adjacent non-cancerous pancreas was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The relationship among their expression and clinicopathological characters was analyzed.Westem blot was used to examine their expression in 16 paired fresh PDAC specimens and adjacent non-cancerous pancreatic tissues. Meanwhile,Numb expression in Capan-2, PANC-1 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells with different differentiation were detected by immunofluorescence (IF) , Westem blot and quantitative real-time (qRT) -PCR, respectively. Paired sample t-test, χ(2) test, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used to analyze the results of our experiments, respectively.

RESULTSIHC showed that there was no differential expression of Numb in PDAC and adjacent pancreas (t = 1.746, P = 0.086) , while the expression of MDM2 and p53 was significantly increased in PDAC, compared to that in paired normal pancreas (t = 3.294, P = 0.002; t = 3.152, P = 0.002, respectively) .Numb expression was negatively associated with tumor size (χ² = 5.206, P = 0.023), differentiation (χ² = 7.802, P = 0.005) and UICC stage (χ² = 4.770, P = 0.029), while expression of MDM2 and p53 was positively associated with tumor T and TNM stage, respectively (χ² = 5.182, P = 0.023; χ² = 6.448, P = 0.011) . Correlation analysis showed a negative association between Numb and MDM2 (r = -0.283, P = 0.023) , but there was no relationship of them with p53 (P > 0.05) .Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that Numb was a protective prognostic indicator for patients with PDAC (χ² = 5.408, P = 0.020). Moreover, patients with Numb positive and MDM2 negative expression had a significantly better overall survival (χ² = 5.868, P = 0.015). Western blot showed that Numb expression was much higher in well differentiated PDAC than that in paired normal pancreas (t = 1.092, P = 0.020) , while the expression of MDM2 and p53 was significantly increased in 16 cases of PDAC (t = 3.263, P = 0.005; t = 3.607, P = 0.003, respectively). Numb expression was gradually increased in pancreatic cancer cells with the increasing degree of cell differentiation detected by IF, Westem blot and qRT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONSNumb acts as a tumor suppressor gene in the development of PDAC. Numb, MDM2 and p53 might coordinately participate in the development of PDAC.

Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of quercetin on apoptosis and feedback regulation of MDM2-p53 in multiform glioblastoma U87 cells in vitro.

METHODSU87 cells exposed to different concentrations of quercetin (50, 100, and 150 µmol/L) were examined with flow cytometry, RT-PCR and Western blotting for detecting the cell apoptosis, MDM2 mRNA expression, and p53 and caspase-3 expressions.

RESULTSQuercetin induced obvious apoptosis in U87 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with apoptosis rates of (12.40∓0.70)% at Q0, (22.53∓0.72)% at Q50, (29.06∓0.81)% at Q100, and (31.5∓0.45)% at Q150. Quercetin significantly increased the expressions of MDM2 mRNA and active caspase-3 protein but decreased the expression of p53 in the cells.

CONCLUSIONQuercetin promotes the apoptosis of multiform glioblastoma U87 cells mediated by caspase-3 and influences the feedback balance of MDM2-p53.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

To investigate the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) localization and expression pattern in brain, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining and immunoblotting methods were used to analyze it in brains of Kunming mice during postnatal development, in brains of adult SD rats and in primarily cultured neurons. The distribution of MDM2 and markers of axon initial segment (AIS) was analyzed by double immunolabeling. In addition, Nutlin-3, a MDM2 antagonist, was injected into hippocampus to analyze the effect on the distribution of MDM2 and AIS protein Nav1.6 in AIS. The results showed that the dynamic expression patterns of MDM2 protein in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of Kunming mice after birth were different. However, it was similar that MDM2 was gradually enriched to AIS during postnatal development, especially after postnatal day 7. The MDM2 in AIS was also observed in different brain regions of adult SD rat brain and in primarily cultured neurons, where MDM2 was colocalized with AIS markers such as AnkG and Nav1.6. In addition, hippocampal injection of Nutlin-3 could induce the loss of the characteristic distribution of MDM2 in AIS. Moreover, Nutlin-3 not only caused a decrease of Nav1.6 distributing in AIS, but also disrupted the polarized distribution of MAP2 in neurons. These results indicate that MDM2 can be enriched at the AIS of adult rodent brain, which might play a role in regulation of the maintenance of AIS function and neuronal polarity.
Animals ; Axons ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Mice ; NAV1.6 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley