So-Jin Shin

Salinomycin reduces stemness and induces apoptosis on human ovarian cancer stem cell

Objective Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation of undifferentiated tumorigenic cells thought to be responsible for tumor initiation, maintenance, drug resistance, and metastasis. The role of CSCs in drug resistance and relapse of cancers could significantly affect outcomes of ovarian cancer patient. Therefore, therapies that target CSCs could be a promising approach for ovarian cancer treatment. The antibiotic salinomycin has recently been shown to deplete CSCs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of salinomycin on ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs), both alone and in combination with paclitaxel (PTX). Methods The CD44+CD117+CSCs were obtained from the ascitic fluid of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer by using an immune magnetic-activated cell sorting system. OCSCs were treated with PTX and salinomycin either singly or in combination. Cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed and spheroid-forming ability was measured. The expression of sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) and octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4) mRNA was determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was observed using western blot analysis. Results Treatment with salinomycin alone reduced the stemness marker expression and spheroid-forming ability of OCSCs. Treatment with PTX alone did not decrease the viability of OCSCs. Treatment with a combination of salinomycin decreased the viability of OCSCs and promoted cell apoptosis. The enhancement of combination treatment was achieved through the apoptosis as determined by annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation assay. Conclusion Based on our findings, combining salinomycin with other anti-cancer therapeutic agents holds promise as an ovarian cancer treatment approach that can target OCSCs.

Prenatal diagnosis of a 7q21.13q22.1 deletion detected using high-resolution microarray

We report a case of de novo 7q interstitial deletion detected by conventional karyotyping and by microarray of amniotic fluid sampled during the prenatal period. A 32-year-old pregnant woman was evaluated at our hospital following detection of increased nuchal translucency at 12 weeks and 5 days of gestation. Conventional karyotyping revealed 46,XX,del(7)(q21q22) in 20 interphase mitotic cells, and high-resolution microarray revealed 12.8 Mb (90,625,014-103,430,901) deletion in the region 7q21.13q22.1. Both parents had normal karyotypes. After birth, the neonate displayed several anomalies, including palatine cleft, upslanted and wide palpebral fissure, low-set ears, micrognathia, microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, subglottic tracheal stenosis, hearing loss, and hand/foot deformities, including brachydactyly, polydactyly, and cutaneous syndactyly. This case study helps explain the phenotype-genotype relationship in patients with 7q21.13q22.1 deletion.

A retrospective comparison of outcome in IB2 and IIA cervical cancer patients treated with primary concurrent chemoradiation versus radical hysterectomy with or without tailored adjuvant therapy

Objective The aim of our study is to compare the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related morbidities between primary concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) vs. radical hysterectomy (RH) with or without tailored adjuvant therapy in patients with stages IB2 and IIA cervical cancer. Methods This was a retrospective study of 113 patients with IB2 or IIA cervical cancer treated with either primary CCRT (n=49) or RH (n=64) with or without tailored adjuvant therapy between 2002 and 2011 at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. Patients in RH group was divided into those undergoing surgery alone (n=26) and those undergoing surgery with adjuvant therapy (n=38). Results The median follow up period was 66 months. The 5-year OS by treatment modality was 88.7% for the 64 patients in the RH group and 72.8% for 49 patients in the CCRT group (P=0.044). The 5-year PFS was 82.3% and 65.6% after RH group and CCRT group (P=0.048), respectively. Grade 3–4 complication was less frequent after RH alone (7.7%) than RH with adjuvant therapy (34.2%) or CCRT group (28.6%) (P=0.047). Conclusion The RH group seems to be superior to the CCRT group in oncologic outcomes. However, considering the selection bias including tumor size, lymph node meta, and parametrial invasion in pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging, both treatment modalities are reasonable and feasible in cervical cancer IB2 and IIA. It is important to choose the appropriate treatment modality considering the age and general condition of the patient. Randomized controlled study is needed to confirm the result of our study and determine the optimal treatment.