Yun Lin Ye

Expression of Bmi-1 is a prognostic marker in bladder cancer.

BackgroundThe molecular mechanisms of the development and progression of bladder cancer are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of Bmi-1 protein and its clinical significance in human bladder cancer.MethodsWe examined the expression of Bmi-1 mRNA and Bmi-1 protein by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively in 14 paired bladder cancers and the adjacent normal tissues. The expression of Bmi-1 protein in 137 specimens of bladder cancer and 30 specimens of adjacent normal bladder tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were applied to test the relationship between expression of Bmi-1, and clinicopathologic features and prognosis.ResultsExpression of Bmi-1 mRNA and protein was higher in bladder cancers than in the adjacent normal tissues in 14 paired samples (P < 0.01). By immunohistochemical examination, five of 30 adjacent normal bladder specimens (16.7%) versus 75 of 137 bladder cancers (54.3%) showed Bmi-1 protein expression (P < 0.05). Bmi-1 protein expression was intense in 20.6%, 54.3%, and 78.8% of tumors of histopathological stages G1, G2, and G3, respectively (P < 0.05). Expression of Bmi-1 protein was greater in invasive bladder cancers than in superficial bladder cancers (81.5% versus 32.5%, P < 0.05). In invasive bladder cancers, the expression of Bmi-1 protein in progression-free cancers was similar to that of cancers that have progressed (80.0% versus 82.4%, P > 0.5). In superficial bladder cancers, the expression of Bmi-1 protein in recurrent cases was higher than in recurrence-free cases (62.5% versus 13.7%, P < 0.05). Bmi-1 expression was positively correlated with tumor classification and TNM stage (P < 0.05), but not with tumor number (P > 0.05). Five-year survival in the group with higher Bmi-1 expression was 50.8%, while it was 78.5% in the group with lower Bmi-1 expression (P < 0.05). Patients with higher Bmi-1 expression had shorter survival time, whereas patients with lower Bmi-1 expression had longer survival time (P < 0.05).ConclusionExpression of Bmi-1 was greater in bladder cancers than in the adjacent normal tissues. The examination of Bmi-1 protein expression is potentially valuable in prognostic evaluation of bladder cancer.

CXCL2/MIF-CXCR2 signaling promotes the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and is correlated with prognosis in bladder cancer.

The accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) has been observed in solid tumors and is correlated with tumor progression; however, the underlying mechanism is still poorly understood. In this study, we identified a mechanism by which tumor cells induce MDSC accumulation and expansion in the bladder cancer (BC) microenvironment via CXCL2/MIF-CXCR2 signaling. Elevated expression of CXCL2 and MIF and an increased number of CD33+ MDSCs were detected in BC tissues, and these increases were significantly associated with advanced disease stage and poor patient prognosis (P<0.01). A positive association was observed between CXCL2 or MIF expression and the number of tumor-infiltrating CD33+ MDSCs (P<0.01). Subsequently, we demonstrated that CD45+CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR− MDSCs from fresh BC tissues displayed high levels of suppressive molecules, including Arg1, iNOS, ROS, PDL-1 and P-STAT3, and stronger suppression of T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, these CD45+CD33+CD11b+HLA-DR− MDSCs exhibited increased CXCR2 expression compared with that in peripheral blood from BC patients or healthy controls (P<0.05). Chemotaxis assay revealed that bladder cancer cell line J82 induced MDSC migration via CXCL2/MIF-CXCR2 signaling in vitro. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that J82-induced MDSC trafficking and CXCR2 expression were associated with increased phosphorylation of p38, ERK and p65. Conversely, inhibition of the phosphorylation of p38, ERK or p65 decreased J82-induced MDSC trafficking and CXCR2 expression. CXCL2/MIF-stimulated activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor kappa B pathways in MDSCs was MyD88 dependent. Overall, our results identify the CXCL2/MIF-CXCR2 axis as an important mediator in MDSC recruitment and as predictors and potential therapeutic targets in BC patients.

Non-muscle myosin II is an independent predictor of overall survival for cystectomy candidates with early-stage bladder cancer

Non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC IIA) plays a significant role in tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the expression levels of NMHC IIA and the characteristics, prognosis of patients who were cystectomy candidates with early-stage bladder cancer. Real-time PCR was used to examine the expression of NMHC IIA mRNA in 16 paired bladder cancer and the adjacent normal tissues. The expression of NMHC IIA protein in 167 specimens of bladder cancer was determined by immunohistochemistry assay. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the expression of NMHC IIA, and clinicopathological features and prognosis. Compared with adjacent normal bladder tissues, upregulated expression of NMHC IIA mRNA was observed in 81.3% of bladder cancer tissues (P=0.011). Moreover, the higher levels of NMHC IIA expression were positively correlated with the histopathological classification (P=0.021), lymph node metastasis (P=0.047) and cancer-related mortality (P=0.030). The 5-year survival rate of patients with higher NMHC IIA expression was significantly lower than that of patients with lower NMHC IIA expression (P=0.004). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis by Cox regression model, high NMHC IIA expression was confirmed to be an independent molecular marker (P=0.047), while grade (P=0.020) and clinical T stage (P=0.049) were also significant prognostic factors. Expression of NMHC IIA mRNA was higher in bladder cancer compared to the adjacent normal tissues. The detection of NMHC IIA protein expression is potentially useful in prognostic evaluation of cystectomy candidates with early-stage bladder cancer.

Expression of beclin 1 in bladder cancer and its clinical significance.

Background The aim of this study is to explore the expression of beclin 1, an autophagy gene, in bladder cancer and to evaluate its clinical and prognostic significance in patients with bladder cancer. Methods Beclin 1 expression was examined at mRNA and protein levels by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in bladder cancer tissues and adjacent normal bladder tissues. The relationship between the expression of beclin 1 and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was statistically analyzed. Results mRNA level, protein expression and immunoreactivity of beclin 1 were decreased in bladder cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Downregulation of beclin 1 was more frequent in tumors with higher histological grades (the expression of beclin 1 was reduced by 49.0% in G1 and G2, and by 71.8% in G3, p=0.010), and was also reduced by 69.5% in the muscle invasive type and by 51.1% in the non-muscle invasive type (p=0.04). Reduced beclin 1 expression was positively associated with higher histological grade and more advanced clinical stage (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients exhibiting lower beclin 1 expression experienced a shorter survival than those with higher expression (p=0.006). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that beclin 1 protein is an independent predictor of survival (p=0.005). Conclusion Beclin 1 has an influence on the progression of bladder cancer and might serve as a potential prognostic factor for patients with bladder cancer.

Influence of body mass index on oncological outcomes in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

To investigate the association between body mass index and oncological outcomes in Chinese patients who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

Intraarterial chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin in locally advanced or recurrent penile squamous cell carcinoma.

The prognosis of locally advanced or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis after conventional treatment is dismal. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of intraarterial chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin on locally advanced or recurrent SCC of the penis. Between April 1999 and May 2011, we treated 5 patients with locally advanced penile SCC and 7 patients with recurrent disease with intraarterial chemotherapy. The response rate and toxicity data were analyzed, and survival rates were calculated. After 2 to 6 cycles of intraarterial chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, 1 patients with locoregionally advanced disease achieved a complete response, and 4 achieved partial response. Of the 7 patients with recurrent disease, 2 achieved complete response, 3 achieved partial response, 3 had stable disease, and 1 developed progressive disease. An objective tumor response was therefore achieved in 10 of the 12 patients. The median overall survival for the patients was 24 months (range, 10-50 months). Three out of 10 patients who responded were long-term survivors after intraarterial chemotherapy. Intraarterial chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin may be effective and potentially curative in locoregionally advanced or recurrent penile SCC. The contribution of this therapy in the primary management of advanced or recurrent penile SCC should be prospectively investigated.

Overexpression of PTK6 predicts poor prognosis in bladder cancer patients

Protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and works as an oncogene in various cancers. Recently, PTK6 has been used as a therapeutic target for breast cancer patients in a clinical study. However, the prognostic value of PTK6 in bladder cancer (BC) remains vague. Therefore, we retrieved 3 independent investigations of Oncomine database and found that PTK6 is highly expressed in BC tissues compared with corresponding normal controls. Similar results were also observed in clinical specimens at both mRNA and protein levels. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that PTK6 overexpression was highly related to the T classification, N classification, grade, recurrence, and poor prognosis of BC patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that when PTK6 expression was knocked down by siRNAs, cell proliferation and migration were considerably inhibited in BC cell lines T24 and EJ. By these approaches, we are intended to elucidate PTK6 may be a reliable therapeutic target in BC and might benefit from PTK6 inhibitors in the future.

Trends of testis-sparing surgery for pediatric testicular tumors in South China

BackgroundTestis-sparing surgery is not popular in South China. This study aimed to investigate this procedure for pediatric testicular tumors.MethodsChildren with testicular benign tumors were retrospectively analyzed from January 2001 to June 2015 in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and the First Affiliated Hospital (SYSU-1st). Follow-up was performed until June 2016, and the proportions of TSS in the two hospitals during the different periods were compared.ResultsForty-seven children with testicular benign tumors were enrolled, and 16 cases underwent testis-sparing surgery. All patients were cured and discharged, which included mature teratoma (n = 37), testicular adrenal rest tumors (n = 4), epidermal cysts (n = 3), granulomatous inflammation (n = 2) and adenomatoid tumors (n = 1). Inguinal testis-sparing surgery was performed in 16 children, and no recurrence was detected during follow-up. It was performed more frequently in SYSUCC than in SYSU-1st (P = 0.031), and the tumor size of these patients was smaller than those of patients who underwent radical orchiectomy (P = 0.044). Moreover, testis-sparing surgery has become more common in the past 5 years, although differences over time have not reached significance (P = 0.051).ConclusionsTestis-sparing surgery is reliable, and tumor size and special hospitals affect its success. Additionally, its use has become more popular in recent years. However, advocacy is still needed for the use of this technique in pediatric testicular benign tumors that are small sized.

Development of a new outcome prediction model for Chinese patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma based on preoperative serum C-reactive protein, body mass index, and standard pathological risk factors: the TNCB score group system

Purpose To determine the predictive value and feasibility of the new outcome prediction model for Chinese patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma. Results The 3-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 92.3% in patients with < 8.70 mg/L CRP and 54.9% in those with elevated CRP (P < 0.001). The 3-year DSS was 86.5% in patients with a BMI < 22.6 Kg/m2 and 69.9% in those with a higher BMI (P = 0.025). In a multivariate analysis, pathological T stage (P < 0.001), pathological N stage (P = 0.002), BMI (P = 0.002), and CRP (P = 0.004) were independent predictors of DSS. A new scoring model was developed, consisting of BMI, CRP, and tumor T and N classification. In our study, we found that the addition of the above-mentioned parameters significantly increased the predictive accuracy of the system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) anatomic stage group. The accuracy of the new prediction category was verified. Methods A total of 172 Chinese patients with penile squamous cell cancer were analyzed retrospectively between November 2005 and November 2014. Statistical data analysis was conducted using the nonparametric method. Survival analysis was performed with the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model. Based on regression estimates of significant parameters in multivariate analysis, a new BMI-, CRP- and pathologic factors-based scoring model was developed to predict disease-specific outcomes. The predictive accuracy of the model was evaluated using the internal and external validation. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that the TNCB score group system maybe a precise and easy to use tool for predicting outcomes in Chinese penile squamous cell carcinoma patients.