Low Proliferative Activity Research Articles

Liver Transplantation for Diffuse Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is an extremely rare vascular tumor. His treatment is not clearly defined. In diffuse HEHE, liver transplantation (LT) is the only possible surgery. Male, 60 years old, medical history: allergic to acetylsalicylic acid and hiatal hernia, presents anorexia, asthenia, weight loss and abdominal distension. Ultrasound, abdominal CT, MRI and PET-CT showed multiple bilobar nodules that diffusely affect liver parenchyma, ascites without portal thrombosis and no extrahepatic disease. FNAC: HEHE. The patient presents clinical and liver function worsening due to thrombosis of the central and right portal branch. He was evaluated in the Transplant Committee and listed with MELD 27. In July 2021, he underwent LT with vena cava preservation. Cold ischemia time (275 minutes), warm ischemia (32 minutes) and total surgery (288 minutes). A portal thrombectomy and hilar lymphadenectomy was also performed. Immunosuppression is started with corticosteroids, mycophenolate, and basiliximab (single dose). On the third day started with Advagraf®. He was discharged on the 11th day post-LT without Clavien-Dindo≥ IIIa complications. Pathology: diffuse HEHE with intrahepatic venous invasion and gallbladder wall; portal tumor thrombus and metastases in 5 /23 lymph nodes excised. Positivity for CD31, CD34 and negative for CKAE1/AE3. Low proliferative activity with Ki67:3%. Diffuse HEHE is an extraordinary rare tumor. The survival of HEHE after LT, according to the ELTR, is 88.6% and 79.5% at 1-year and 5-years respectively. 25% of LT patients have recurrence (median:18 months). The results obtained with LT are excellent, although the risk of recurrence is not negligible.

Clinical outcomes of follicular tumor of uncertain malignant potential of the thyroid: real-world data.

Thyroid tumors arising from follicular cells can generally be divided into malignant and benign tumors. However, some cases are difficult to clearly diagnose whether they are benign or malignant. Therefore, in the most recent version of World Health Organization (WHO) classification, some borderline lesions such as follicular tumor of uncertain malignant potential (FT-UMP), well-differentiated tumor of uncertain malignant potential (WDT-UMP), and noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) were proposed. In this study, we investigated the clinical aspects, including the prognosis, of FT-UMP patients. We investigated the clinical features of 339 patients with FT-UMP. On ultrasound, 68% of the tumors were diagnosed as intermediate, and only 5% of those tumors were diagnosed as malignant. On cytology, 40% of the tumors were diagnosed as follicular neoplasm, and only 1% of these were suspected to be or diagnosed as malignancy. The diagnosis was based on questionable capsular invasion for 332 patients, questionable vascular invasion for 2 patients, and both for 5 patients. Eighty-six percent of the tumors showed low cell proliferation activity. To date, five patients (1%) have shown distant recurrence during postoperative follow-up and underwent various treatments such as radioactive iodine therapy, orthopedic surgery, and denosumab injection. None of these patients have died due to thyroid carcinoma. Our findings suggest that FT-UMP is generally an indolent disease, but some patients show distant recurrence. Physicians should carefully follow patients, although it remains unknown how long they should be observed after surgery.

Long-term epilepsy-associated tumors

The goal of this review is to summarize data concerning radiological and histological diagnosis of epileptogenic tumors, as well as to discuss their surgical treatment. PubMed literature database was searched for relevant articles, we also used our own clinical experience. Benign glioneuronal tumors are the second most common cause of drug resistant epilepsy in adults after hippocampal sclerosis. Exceptionally slow growth (more than 2 years), localization in the brain cortex, presence of differentiated neuronal tissue in tumoral body and long history of epilepsy are the key features of these tumors called LEAT (long-term epilepsy-associated tumors). Management of LEAT requires epileptological as well as neurooncological approach. The epileptogenic zone commonly spreads beyond the tumor borders and simple lesionectomy alone may not be sufficient for achieving seizure freedom. LEAT typically exhibit low proliferative activity, however they should be thoroughly differentiated from more aggressive glial tumors; while this task is sometimes quite challenging, it's achievable by means of histological and immunohistochemical examination.

Associations Between Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinically Relevant Histopathological Features in Breast Cancer: A Multicenter Analysis.

To provide data regarding relationships between quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) and prognostic factors in breast cancer (BC). Data from 4 Centers (200 female patients, mean age, 51.2±11.5 years) were acquired. The following data were collected: histopathological diagnosis, tumor grade, stage, hormone receptor status, KI 67, and DCE MRI values including Ktrans (volume transfer constant), Ve (volume of the extravascular extracellular leakage space (EES) and Kep (diffusion of contrast medium from the EES back to the plasma). DCE MRI values between different groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test and by the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The association between DCE MRI and Ki 67 values was calculated by the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. DCE MRI values of different tumor subtypes overlapped significantly. There were no statistically significant differences of DCE MRI values between different tumor grades. All DCE MRI parameters correlated with KI-67: Ktrans, r=0.44, p=0.0001; Ve, r=0.34, p=0.0001; Kep, r=0.28, p=0.002. ROC analysis identified a Ktrans threshold of 0.3 min-1 for discrimination of tumors with low KI-67 expression (<25%) and high KI-67 expression (≥25%): sensitivity, 75.5%, specificity, 73.0%, accuracy, 74.0%, AUC, 0.78. DCE MRI values overlapped between tumors with different T and N stages. Ktrans, Kep, and Ve cannot be used as reliable a surrogate marker for hormone receptor status, tumor stage and grade in BC. Ktrans may discriminate lesions with high and lower proliferation activity.

The role of polypeptide PDTLN1 in suppression of PI3K/AKT signaling causes cardiogenetic disorders in vitro and in vivo

AimsA new polypeptide, PDTLN1, derived from the human Talin-1 protein, which is highly expressed in both myocardial tissue and maternal peripheral blood of aborted fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, its role in cardiac developmental disorders has not been disclosed till now. In the present study, we aim to assess the functions of PDTLN1 in heart development of zebrafish and cellular viability, proliferation, and apoptosis of P19 cells. Main methodsCellular viability was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8, the EdU Kit was used to evaluate cellular proliferation, and apoptosic rate of P19 was examined using FITC Annexin-V staining followed by flow cytometry. The zebrafish embryos were divided into three groups: PEP group and NC group were microinjected with polypeptides, WT group without any intervention. The protein expression of PI3K/AKT were evaluated by western blotting. Key findingsPDTLN1 could suppress the proliferation, and facilitate apoptosis. PDTLN1 caused abnormal heart development of zebrafish embryos and the PDTLN1 (50 μM)-injected group showed an aberrant expression pattern of vmhc, amhc and cmlc2. Compared to the CTL group and SC79 group of P19 cells, the PDTLN1 group had a lower phosphorylated PI3K/AKT proteins level, decreased cellular viability and lower proliferation activity. SignificancePDTLN1 caused cardiac developmental defects in zebrafish, inhibited cellular viability, proliferation, and promoted apoptosis of P19 cells via suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our findings provide a fresh perspective on the functional mechanism of human-derived peptides and may promote novel diagnostic biomarkers detection and therapeutic targets in CHD.

MiR-29c-3p May Promote the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease through BACE1.

The aim of this study was to explore the specific role of miR-29c-3p in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Animal models of AD were established by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) into mice through the lateral ventricle, while cell models of AD were induced by 10 μM β-amyloid (Aβ). We detected miR-29c-3p and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) contents and measured AD cell proliferation and apoptosis. A low miR-29c-3p level and a high BACE1 level were detected in the brain tissue of AD animal models and AD cell models. Aβ-processed cells had markedly lower proliferation activity, higher apoptosis, increased phosphorylation of tau protein was over phosphorylated, but the overexpression of miR-29c-3p or the silencing of BACE1 significantly enhanced the cell proliferation activity and reduced cell apoptosis by regulating the contents of related proteins. Inhibition of miR-29c-3p or overexpression of BACE1 aggravated Aβ-induced side effects. We used Targetscan7.2 to predict the downstream target genes of miR-29c-3p. Then, we detected that there were target binding sites between miR-29c-3p and BACE1. The rescue experiment identified BACE1 as a functional target for miR-29c-3p. AD leads to decreased miR-29c-3p level and increased BACE1 level. MiR-29c-3p has specific binding sites with the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of BACE1 and thus negatively regulates the BACE1 level, thereby affecting the progression of AD.

Bizarre Chorionic-type Trophoblast in Second-trimester and Third-trimester Placentas: Clinicopathologic Characterization of a Placental Pseudoneoplastic Lesion.

Bizarre (atypical/symplastic) cells have been described in various gynecologic normal tissues and benign neoplasms. This type of bizarre cytologic change is usually an incidental finding and is regarded as a benign process. We describe 17 cases of bizarre chorionic-type trophoblast in second-trimester and third-trimester placentas that created concern for an underlying/undersampled or incipient intraplacental trophoblastic neoplasm, predominantly found in intervillous trophoblastic islands (11/17), placental septae (6/17), chorionic plate (1/17), and/or the chorion layer of fetal membranes (2/17). The bizarre trophoblastic cells exhibited sheet-like or nested architecture, had a multifocal/patchy distribution, and/or were present as individual cells within hyaline stroma; they were characterized by large nuclei with smudgy chromatin and occasional intranuclear pseudoinclusions. The degree of atypia was classified as mild (0/17), moderate (3/17), or severe (14/17). Mitotic figures and necrosis were not identified. A dual immunohistochemical stain for trophoblast (hydroxyl-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase) and a proliferation marker (Ki-67), performed in 15 cases, demonstrated 0% to very low proliferative activity within the bizarre trophoblast (0% to 2% [10/15], 3% to 8% [5/15]). Immunohistochemical stains for fumarate hydratase showed intact/retained expression in the bizarre cells in 7 of 7 cases. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1 to 45 months, and all patients were alive and well without subsequent evidence of a gestational trophoblastic or other neoplasms. We conclude that bizarre chorionic-type trophoblast in second-trimester or third-trimester placentas have the potential to mimic an intraplacental trophoblastic neoplasm but are likely a benign degenerative change. This study expands the spectrum of bizarre cells that occur in the gynecologic tract.

PAX5 P80R mutated acute leukemia followed by genetically-related histiocytic proliferation with clonal IGH gene rearrangements

Abstract Introduction/Objective PAX5 is a transcription factor critical for B-cell development and its genetic alterations are common in B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL). We report a case of PAX5 P80R mutated acute leukemia with predominantly monocytic immunophenotype followed by a genetically-related histiocytic proliferation. Methods/Case Report A 27-year-old male presented with pancytopenia, epistaxis, and blurry vision. Bone marrow exam showed 95% blasts with nuclear indentations, occasional prominent nucleoli and basophilic cytoplasm. Blasts were positive for bright CD33, HLA-DR, CD14, bright CD64, partial CD123 and partial CD19. In addition, a minute population of B lymphoblasts positive for CD19, CD20, and dim TdT was seen. The AML FISH panel showed markedly aneuploid population with all probes demonstrating 3 to 5 signals. PAX5 P80R and KRAS G13D mutations were detected by NGS. Post induction bone marrow showed no evidence of acute leukemia with normal cytogenetics and FISH results. Subsequent two bone marrow exams performed due to progressive cytopenias demonstrated a prominent histiocytic proliferation with sheets of mature appearing histiocytes with abundant cytoplasm, oval to folded nuclei and occasional hemophagocytosis. This population was positive for CD163, CD14, CD68R, CD68, cyclin D1 with variable OCT2 expression and low proliferative activity. PAX5 P80R and KRAS G13D were detected. AML FISH panel showed aneuploidy in histiocytic appearing cells and IgH gene rearrangement studies by PCR showed prominent clonal population. The patient remained pancytopenic and died of disseminated fungal infection. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion PAX5 P80R mutation has been primarily reported in B-ALL and is exceedingly rare in acute myeloid leukemias. This alteration has been linked to downregulation of B-cell lineage genes affecting B-cell maturation, and not surprisingly a proportion of PAX5 P80R mutated B-ALL cases show a switch to a monocytic lineage. The reported case demonstrates diagnostic caveats including unusual features of acute leukemia at the time of initial diagnosis and subsequent genetically-related histiocytic proliferation.

Human three-dimensional dental pulp organoid model for toxicity screening of dental materials on dental pulp cells and tissue.

To establish a 3D model for screening the biocompatibility of dental materials/drugs on dental pulp cells and tissue. Human dental pulp cells (hDPC) and endothelial cells (EC) were mixed with or without human dental pulp derived extracellular matrix (hDP-ECM) according to several protocols and cultured in 3D plates to fabricate 3D organoids. Cell viability and proliferation in organoids were evaluated using Live/Dead cell viability assay and ATPase assay. Organoids were fixed, cut and stained with a H&E staining kit. The expressions of DSPP, DMP-1, CD31, vWF and COL1A in 3D organoids were evaluated using immunofluorescence. To assess the feasibility of 3D organoids on drug/material toxicity screening, the organoids were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or iRoot BP. Then, cell viability and apoptosis were assessed. The expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β were compared in LPS-treated and non-treated organoids. Alizarin Red S staining was used to evaluate calcium deposit formation in organoids. Data were analysed using one-way anova followed by Tukey's post hoc comparison. The 3D spheres/organoids were formed at day 1 or day 2. Cells in 3D organoids maintained a high viability rate and low proliferation activity. The level of CD31 increased significantly (p<.05) when EC were added to coculture with hDPC. The expressions of odontogenesis-associated proteins (DSPP, COL1A) upregulated (p<.05) with the addition of hDP-ECM. Level of IL-6 expression and rates of dead and apoptotic cells in 3D organoids were increased significantly (p<.05) in response to LPS. Calcium deposit formation was observed in iRoot BP-treated organoids. Coculture of hDPC and EC in the presence of hDP-ECM formed functional dental pulp organoids. The experimental model provides an alternative tool for toxicity screening of dental pulp capping agents and dental pulp regeneration research.

TIGIT Induces (CD3+) T Cell Dysfunction in Colorectal Cancer by Inhibiting Glucose Metabolism.

T-cell immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) is an immunosuppressive receptor expressed on the surface of immune cells, suppressing immune responses by activating the intracellular negative regulatory signals. TIGIT plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various tumors, but its immune escape in colorectal cancer remains unclear. We found that the proportion of CD3+TIGIT+ T cells was increased in peripheral blood and cancer tissue in colorectal cancer patients when compared with the healthy donors. These cells exhibited functional defects, low proliferative activity, impaired cytokine production and reduced glucose metabolism. A strong association was also observed between the elevated TIGIT expression and poor prognosis in this cohort. In the in vitro co-culture assays of T cells and tumor cells, the suppressed glucose metabolic activity of T cells was reversed by TIGIT blockade. In addition, this blockade induced the apoptosis and reduced G2/M transit in tumor cells. The antitumor efficacy of TIGIT Ab therapy was further demonstrated in a human colorectal xenograft mice model while co-blockers of TIGIT and PD-1 exhibited synergistic suppressing effects on tumor growth. These results suggest that while TIGIT induces CD3+ T cell dysfunction in colorectal cancer, co-targeting TIGIT and PD-1 can lead to an effective antitumor response and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for colorectal patients.

Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Novel Candidate Genes and Signalling Programs in Breast Cancer Quiescence and Dormancy.

Simple SummaryBreast cancer can return many years after treatment of the primary tumour. This is caused by cells that have spread to other parts of the body and entered a non-dividing state called quiescence or dormancy that can last for decades. Dormant cancer cells are not sensitive to conventional chemo- and radiotherapies, which primarily target fast growing cells, and so can eventually resume growth to cause formation of tumours at secondary sites. The exact processes by which cancer cells become dormant are currently poorly understood. This study describes the use of model systems specifically developed to compare the genes used by dormant and dividing breast cancer cells, allowing the identification of a number of genes and cellular mechanisms that might underpin breast cancer cell dormancy and therefore represent promising novel candidates to inform development of new treatments to prevent breast cancer recurrence.Metastatic recurrence, the major cause of breast cancer mortality, is driven by reactivation of dormant disseminated tumour cells that are defined by mitotic quiescence and chemoresistance. The molecular mechanisms underpinning mitotic quiescence in cancer are poorly understood, severely limiting the development of novel therapies for removal of residual, metastasis-initiating tumour cells. Here, we present a molecular portrait of the quiescent breast cancer cell transcriptome across the four main breast cancer sub-types (luminal, HER2-enriched, basal-like and claudin-low) and identify a novel quiescence-associated 22-gene signature using an established lipophilic-dye (Vybrant® DiD) retention model and whole-transcriptomic profiling (mRNA-Seq). Using functional association network analysis, we elucidate the molecular interactors of these signature genes. We then go on to demonstrate that our novel 22-gene signature strongly correlates with low tumoural proliferative activity, and with dormant disease and late metastatic recurrence (≥5 years after primary tumour diagnosis) in metastatic breast cancer in multiple clinical cohorts. These genes may govern the formation and persistence of disseminated tumour cell populations responsible for breast cancer recurrence, and therefore represent prospective novel candidates to inform future development of therapeutic strategies to target disseminated tumour cells in breast cancer, eliminate minimal residual disease and prevent metastatic recurrence.

Geniposide downregulates the VEGF/SphK1/S1P pathway and alleviates angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis in vivo and in vitro.

The VEGF/SphK1/S1P pathway is closely related to angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the precise underlying mechanisms are unclear at present. Here, we explored the involvement of the VEGF/SphK1/S1P cascade in RA models and determined the effects of GE intervention. Our results showed abnormal expression of proteins related to this pathway in RA synovial tissue. Treatment with GE effectively regulated the signal axis, inhibited angiogenesis, and alleviated RA symptoms. In vitro, TNF-ɑ enhanced the VEGF/SphK1/S1P pathway in a co-culture model of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and vascular endothelial cells (VEC). GE induced downregulation of VEGF in FLS, restored the dynamic balance of pro-/antiangiogenic factors, and suppressed SphK1/S1P signaling in VEC, resulting in lower proliferation activity, migration ability, tube formation ability, and S1P secretion ability of VEC cells. Additionally, SphK1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) blocked the VEGF/SphK1/S1P cascade, which can effectively alleviate the stimulatory effect of FLS on VEC and further enhanced the therapeutic effect of GE. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GE suppresses the VEGF/SphK1/S1P pathway and alleviates the stimulation of VEC by FLS, thereby preventing angiogenesis and promoting therapeutic effects against RA.

CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF LUMINAL A SUBTYPE OF INVASIVE DUCTAL BREAST CANCER

The aim of this article was to study clinical and morphological features of luminal A subtype of breast cancer to assess its relationship with disease progression. Methods: This study included 79 patients with luminal A subtype of breast cancer who treatment in 2017 at the Lviv State Oncological Regional Treatment and Diagnostic Center. The Luminal A subtype was identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) as ER+, PR+/-, HER2- and Ki-67 less than 20 percent on surgically resected breast cancer tissue. Results: The mean age of patients was 60,41±12,25 (range, 32–85 years), 26 (32,9%) were under 55 years. Nottingham Histologic Grade distribution was as follows: G1 – 10 (12,66%), G2 – 56 (70,88%), and G3 – 13 (16,46%) cases. Clinical stage II – 35 (44,3%) and III – 31 (39,24%) was observed. Menopausal status was in 67,1% of cases. Morphological analysis of the tumor tissue showed that except alveolar structures, there were trabecular, solid, tubular structures and separately located groups of tumor cells. The stromal component of the tumor was weak or moderate, most tumors showed minimal or marked inflammatory infiltration and low proliferative activity. Conclusions: To predict the probability of lymphogenic metastasis should be considered: menstrual function, histologic grade, the presence of alveolar structures in the infiltrative component, the different types of structures in the infiltrative component, hyalinosis in the stroma of the tumor node and inflammatory infiltration of tumor.

EVALUATION OF THE TUMOR PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY INDEX PCNA IN A VARIETY OF ROUTES OF DELIVERY OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALLY ADVANCED BREAST CANCER

Introduction. Breast cancer is one of the most live issue of the modern oncology, as it holds the leading position among the causes of female mortality and disability. A special place in the structure of this pathology is occupied by locally advanced forms of malignant tumor in which the effectiveness of the treatments used is unfortunately very low, therefore the prognosis is rather unfavorable. This determines there levance of them search for new methods of diagnosis and treatment in such patients. In the context of this research, we identified the role of neoadjuvant selective intra-arterial polychemotherapy in adverse primary inoperable forms of breast cancer. To determine and predict the effectiveness of this treatment, we used tumor proliferative activity. The research examined the expression of a PCNA nuclear proliferation marker for prognostic and diagnostic evaluation in the light of unsatisfactory literature on the subject in the context of determining similar parameters by other criteria. PCNA level was taken as the main dichotomous point of prognostic assessment of neoadjuvant therapy based on the results of retrospective analysis of the efficacy of preoperative treatment and determination of statistically significant difference between the results in the subgroups with lower and higher marker levels, which in our study were divided according to the median value of the immunohistochemical parameter level in the total sample of 25 %. Objective. Evaluation of the effectiveness of neoadjuvant treatment using systemic and selective intraarterial routes of chemotherapy administration in patients with locally advanced breast cancer using the tumor proliferative index based on the PCNA marker. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of a comprehensive treatment of patients with initially inoperable locally advanced breast cancer based on selective and systemic routes of administration of chemotherapy was performed. The study included 63 patients. The sample was divided into 2groups depending on the selected type of neoadjuvant polychemotherapy: 1st group – control group were formed (based on systemic therapy) and 2nd group – study group (the selective intraarterial delivery route was used). The control group consisted of 22 patients, the study – 41 patients. All patients revealed stage IIIb of the disease. In accordance with the clinical manifestations, the patients were distributed as follows: control group include 12 patients with сT4bN1M0, 6 patients with сT4aN1M0 and 4 patients with сT4cN1M0; study group include 23 patients with сT4bN1M0, 7 patients with сT4aN1M0 and 11 patients with сT4cN1M0. All patients included in the study had luminal type B. In parallel with routine methods, the dynamics of proliferative activity of the tumor by the PCNA nuclear antigen was additionally studied in all patients. This study demonstrates the level of the PCNA marker at the start of treatment and after the completion of polychemotherapy (PCT). After PCT, all patients underwent surgical intervention. Taking into account the pathological examination, the patients were reassigned as follows: in the control group, 4 patients has pT4aN0M0, 2 patients – pT4aN1M0, 4 patients – pT4bN0M0, 8 patients – pT4bN1M0, 1 patient – pT4cN0M0 and 3 patients – pT4cN1M0; in the study group, 3 patients has PT4aN1M0, 4 patients – PT4aN0M0, 15 patients – PT4bN1M0, 8 patients – PT4bN0M0, 6 patients – PT4cN1M0 and 5 patients – PT4cN0M0. Since the patients belonged to the group with Luminal type of tumor, each of them received hormone therapy in an adjuvant regimen. Patients of reproductive age were treated with the group of estrogen antagonists, while postmenopausal patients received aromatase inhibitors. Targeted therapy was not used in the study. A statistical analysis was performed between the comparison groups; the median marker level in 25 % was taken as the critical value. Results. According to the degree of PCNA regression, it was determined that selective intra-arterial chemotherapy for breast cancer with a low proliferative activity index has a statistical advantage in overall survival and average life expectancy (p &lt; 0.05) compared with control group. Conclusions. Using the PCNA indicator, one can reliably evaluate the proliferative activity of the tumor, thus predicting the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and choosing the optimal tactics of complex treatment. Keywords: locally advanced breast cancer, proliferative activity index, marker of nuclear antigen of proliferating cells, systemic polychemotherapy, selective intra-arterial polychemotherapy.

Xanthohumol-Induced Rat Glioma C6 Cells Death by Triggering Mitochondrial Stress.

AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of xanthohumol (XN) on the proliferation inhibition and death of C6 glioma cells. METHODS: To determine the effects of XN on C6 cells, cell proliferation and mortality after XN treatment were assessed by SRB assay and trypan blue assay respectively. Apoptotic rates were evaluated by flowcytometry after Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The influence of XN on the activity of caspase-3 was determined by Western blot (WB); and nuclear transposition of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was tested by immunocytochemistry and WB. By MitoSOXTM staining, the mitochondrial ROS were detected. Mitochondrial function was also tested by MTT assay (content of succinic dehydrogenase), flow cytometry (mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)—JC-1 staining; mitochondrial abundance—mito-Tracker green), immunofluorescence (MMP—JC-1 staining; mitochondrial morphology—mito-Tracker green), WB (mitochondrial fusion-fission protein—OPA1, mfn2, and DRP1; mitophagy-related proteins—Pink1, Parkin, LC3B, and P62), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (energy charge). Finally, mitochondrial protein homeostasis of C6 cells after XN treatment with and without LONP1 inhibitor bortezomib was investigated by trypan blue assay (proliferative activity and mortality) and WB (mitochondrial protease LONP1). All cell morphology images were taken by a Leica Microsystems microscope. RESULTS: XN could lead to proliferation inhibition and death of C6 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner and induce apoptosis of C6 cells through the AIF pathway. After long incubation of XN, mitochondria of C6 cells were seriously impaired, and mitochondria had a diffuse morphology and mitochondrial ROS were increased. The content of succinic dehydrogenase per cell was significantly decreased after XN insults of 24, 48, and 72 h. The energy charge was weakened after XN insult of 24 h. Furthermore, the MMP and mitochondrial abundance were significantly decreased; the protein expression levels of OPA1, mfn2, and DRP1 were down-regulated; and the protein expression levels of Pink1, Parkin, LC3B-II/LC3B-I, and p62 were up-regulated in long XN incubation times (24, 48, and 72 h). XN incubation with bortezomib for 48 h resulted in lower proliferative activity and higher mortality of C6 cells and caused the cell to have visible vacuoles. Moreover, the protein expression levels of LONP1 was up-regulated gradually as XN treatment time increased. CONCLUSION: These data supported that XN could induce AIF pathway apoptosis of the rat glioma C6 cells by affecting the mitochondria.

Low-Dose Exposure to Endocrine Disruptor Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) Affects Transcriptional Regulation of Adrenal Zona Reticularis in Male Rats

The study examined transcriptional regulation of adrenal zona reticularis development in male Wistar rats exposed to low doses of endocrine disruptor dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) prenatally and postnatally. At pubertal age, zona reticularis demonstrated a retarded growth with a low proliferative activity of its cells. At this age, zona reticularis was characterized with overexpression of β-catenin by steroid-producing cells; a high percentage of cells with membrane and cytoplasmic localization of β-catenin, and reduced number of cells with nuclear β-catenin attesting to insufficient activation of Wnt signaling. Expression of transcriptional factor Oct4 by reticularis cells was down-regulated indicating their diminished proliferative potency. No significant alterations in Sonic Hedgehog expression were observed. Thus, DDT-provoked disorders of transcriptional regulation result in abnormal development of zona reticularis thereby disturbing sexual maturation in males.

Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Abdominal Paragangliomas.

ContextPheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are believed to harbor malignant potential; about 10% to 15% of pheochromocytomas and up to 50% of abdominal paragangliomas will exhibit metastatic behavior.Evidence AcquisitionExtensive searches in the PubMed database with various combinations of the key words pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, metastatic, malignant, diagnosis, pathology, genetic, and treatment were the basis for the present review.Data SynthesisTo pinpoint metastatic potential in PPGLs is difficult, but nevertheless crucial for the individual patient to receive tailor-made follow-up and adjuvant treatment following primary surgery. A combination of histological workup and molecular predictive markers can possibly aid the clinicians in this aspect. Most patients with PPGLs have localized disease and may be cured by surgery. Plasma metanephrines are the main biochemical tests. Genetic testing is important, both for counseling and prognostic estimation. Apart from computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, molecular imaging using 68Ga-DOTATOC/DOTATATE should be performed. 123I-MIBG scintigraphy may be performed to determine whether 131I-MIBG therapy is a possible option. As first-line treatment in patients with metastatic disease, 177Lu-DOTATATE or 131I-MIBG is recommended, depending on which shows best expression. In patients with very low proliferative activity, watch-and-wait or primary treatment with long-acting somatostatin analogues may be considered. As second-line treatment, or first-line in patients with high proliferative rate, chemotherapy with temozolomide or cyclophosphamide + vincristine + dacarbazine is the therapy of choice. Other therapies, including sunitinib, cabozantinib, everolimus, and PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors, have shown modest effect.ConclusionsMetastatic PPGLs need individualized management and should always be discussed in specialized and interdisciplinary tumor boards. Further studies and newer treatment modalities are urgently needed.

Differences in the Manifestation of Cell Pluripotence In Vivo and In Vitro in the Mutant Arabidopsis thaliana with the Phenotype of Cell Memory Disorder

Plant cells cultivated in vitro are a convenient model for studying the genetic and physiological mechanisms necessary for the cells to acquire a state of pluripotency. Earlier studies on a model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. have identified the key role of genes that determine the pluripotency of cells in the shoot apical meristem in de novo shoot regeneration in tissue culture. In accordance with this, cells of mutant plants with a higher level of expression of pluripotency genes were characterized by an increased potential for de novo shoot regeneration. The tae mutant was the exception to this rule. The mutant resumed the expression of pluripotency genes and cell proliferation at the late stages of leaf development, which indicates a violation of the mechanisms for maintaining epigenetic cellular memory. At the same time, leaf cells cultured in vitro showed a lower proliferative activity compared to the wild type and were not capable of de novo regeneration of shoots. A decrease in the regenerative potential of cultured cells of the tae mutant indicates an important role of epigenetic memory in the response of cells to exogenous hormones. Impaired epigenetic memory of leaf cells of the tae mutant and differences in their proliferative and regenerative capacities in planta and in vitro make this mutant a unique model for studying the role of epigenetic modifications in the regulation of cell pluripotency.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЭКСПРЕССИИ НЕКОТОРЫХ ИММУНОГИСТОХИМИЧЕСКИХ МАРКЕРОВ У БОЛЬНЫХ РАКОМ ЯИЧНИКОВ IIIC-IV СТАДИИ КАК КРИТЕРИЙ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ХИМИОИММУНОТЕРАПИИ

Aim. To analyze the expression of the p53 and Ki67 markers in patients with stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer by immunohistochemical (IHC) method as a criterion for the treatment effectiveness. Materials and Methods. The study included 93 patients with ovarian cancer stage IIIC-IV aged 34-77 years. The patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1 – with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intramuscular injections of recombinant interferon-gamma; group 2 – with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and intraperitoneal injections of recombinant interferon-gamma; group 3 (controls) – standard chemotherapy without interferon-gamma; group 4 (comparison group) – with surgery as the first stage of treatment. All tumor samples were studied by IHC method for the expression of p53 protein and Кi-67 marker of proliferative activity. Results. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not affect the levels of p53, compared to the group without chemotherapy. Inclusion of interferon-gamma to neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulted in statistically significant decrease in p53 expression, mainly with intraperitoneal administration. Study of proliferative potential of tumors in patients with intraperitoneal injections of interferon-gamma showed 1.3 times higher predomination of tumors with low proliferative activity com-pared to patients with intramuscular administration, 3.5 times higher compared to the group re-ceiving chemotherapy without interferon-gamma, and 7 times higher than in patients with sur-gery. High proliferative activity was noted only in tumor cells of patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions. The IHC study demonstrated that inclusion of interferon-gamma to chemotherapy decreases proliferative potential of tumors and expression of р53 by tumor cells in ovarian cancer patients, especially with intraperitoneal introduction in the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Effects of Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharides on Proliferation, Invasion, Migration, and Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cells.

Objectives To observe the effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) on the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. Methods IOP was extracted from Inonotus obliquus, human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and U2OS cells were cultured in vitro, and the effects of IOP on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of MG-63 cells and U2OS cells were determined by CCK-8 assays, cell scratch assays, transwell assays, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins in the Akt/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathways. Results Compared with the control group, MG-63 cells and U2OS cells treated with IOP of 80 μg/ml, 160 μg/ml, and 320 μ g/ml in the experimental group had significantly lower proliferation activity, decreased migration and invasion ability, and increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IOP could significantly inhibit the activation of the Akt/mTOR and NF-κB signaling pathway (P < 0.05). Conclusion IOP can regulate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting the activation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. It has antitumor activity on osteosarcoma and has the potential of clinical application in osteosarcoma treatment.