Osteopontin and MMP9 are implicated in angiogenesis and cancer progression. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis, and to elucidate the role of osteopontin in this process. We report here that osteopontin/αvβ3 signaling pathway which involves ERK1/2 phosphorylation regulates the expression of VEGF. An inhibitor to MEK or curcumin significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and expression of VEGF. MMP9 knockdown reduces the secretion but not the expression of VEGF. Moreover, MMP9 knockdown increases the release of angiostatin, a key protein that suppresses angiogenesis. Conditioned media from PC3 cells treated with curcumin or MEK inhibitor inhibited tube formation in vitro in human microvascular endothelial cells. Similar inhibitory effect on tube formation was found with conditioned media collected from PC3 cells expressing mutant-osteopontin at integrin-binding site and knockdown of osteopontin or MMP9. We conclude that MMP9 activation is associated with angiogenesis via regulation of secretion of VEGF and angiostatin in PC3 cells. Curcumin is thus a potential drug for cancer treatment because it demonstrated anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive properties.

This pilot study demonstrates that elevated normoxic nitrogen pressure can exacerbate oxidative stress in NSCLC to inhibit growth.

ObjectiveThis article reports a case of a longstanding, slowly enlarging intraoral spindle cell lipoma (SCL) that had become increasingly painful during mastication.BackgroundThe SCL represents an uncommon variant of the conventional lipoma. There is limited information regarding this lesion in the gerodontologic literature.Materials and MethodsA 68‐year‐old patient underwent an excisional biopsy of a 9‐mm slightly yellow papule along the buccal mucosa.ResultsThe surgical specimen was composed of mature adipocytes with abundant spindle cell populations and was diagnosed as a SCL.ConclusionsTimely removal of the SCL may reduce the incidence of clinical and surgical complications, particularly in older adults. The management of a SCL is complete excision, and recurrence is rare. Lesions must be carefully distinguished microscopically from its malignant counterpart, the spindle cell liposarcoma.