PurposeLong noncoding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been deemed an oncogene in many human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of NEAT1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression remains largely unclear.Materials and MethodsQuantitative real-time PCR assay was performed to assess the expression of NEAT1 and miR-34a-5p in NPC tissues and cells. Western blot analysis was used to observe cell epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in 5-8F cells. MiRNA directly interacting with NEAT1 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Cell proliferation ability was determined by CCK-8 assay, and cell migration and invasion capacities were assessed by transwell assays. An animal model was used to investigate the regulatory effect of NEAT1 on tumor growth in vivo.ResultsOur data revealed that NEAT1 is upregulated, while miR-34a-5p is downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. NEAT1 knockdown repressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we discovered that NEAT1 directly binds to miR-34a-5p and suppresses miR-34a-5p expression. Moreover, NEAT1 knockdown exerted suppression effects on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by miR-34a-5p. NEAT1 knockdown blocked Wnt/β-catenin signaling via miR-34a-5p.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that NEAT1 targets miR-34a-5p at least partly to drive NPC progression by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for NPC.

Mounting evidence has reported that microRNA‐143 (miR‐143) is involved in the development of multiple cancers. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of miR‐143 regulating proliferation and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, we evaluated the levels of miR‐143 and formin‐like protein 1 (FMNL1) in NPC tissues. The results of qRT‐PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the expression of miR‐143 was decreased, while FMNL1 was increased in NPC tissues. The expression of miR‐143 was significantly elevated in NPC cells compared with that of human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. The results of MiRcode prediction, dual‐luciferase reporter, and Western blot analysis assays indicated that miR‐143 negatively regulated the expression of FMNL1 (r2 = 0.4365P = 0.0001). Overexperssion of miR‐143 or FMNL1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in NPC cells (P < 0.05). Ectopic expression of FMNL1 undermined the inhibition effect of miR‐143 on proliferation, migration, and invasion in NPC cells. The findings of this study revealed that miR‐143 functioned as a tumor suppressor and inhibited the NPC progression by targeting FMNL1.

Aim: It is unclear that the prognostic value of sarcopenia and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) under transarterial chemoembolization（TACE）.The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of sarcopenia and ALBI grade on the survival time of patients after TACE for HCC. Method: 110 HCC patients receiving TACE were enrolled in this retrospective study from 2015 to 2019. Psoas muscle index (PMI) was calculated as the left-right area of the psoas muscle at the third lumbar vertebra, divided by height squared.Patients were classified into two groups (non-sarcopenia and sarcopenia) depending on an index < 6.36 and < 3.92 cm2 /m2 for men and women, respectively. According to the formula ALBI =（log10 bilirubin*0.66）+（albumin*-0.085），the patients were classified into 3 grade.We assessed whether PMI and ALBI grade have effect on overall survival (OS) . Results: Of the patients enrolled in the study,80(72.7%) were sarcopenia,30(27.3%) were non-sarcopenia,and 32(29.09%),74(67.3%),4(3.6%) patients were be classified into ALBI 1,2,3 respectively. There were no significant differences in the number of deaths between non-sarcopenia and sarcopenia(non-sarcopenia 63.8%, sarcopenia 56.7%,p=0.496),but according to ALBI grouping, the number of deaths was significant(ALBI grade 1 46.9%,ALBI grade 2 and 3,67.9%,p=0.039).In univariate analyses,ALBI grade[ALBI 2, hazard ratio(HR)=2.323;95%CI,1.291-4.182,P=0.005; ALBI 3,HR=21.915;95%CI,6.441-74.569,P=0.000],Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system (BCLC stage)(BCLC B,HR=2.706;95%CI,1.147-6.388,P=0.023; BCLC C,HR=5.007;95%CI,2.024-12.386,P=0.000),number of tumours (>3) (HR=1.71;95%CI,1.061-2.757,P=0.028),maximum tumour diameter (>3 cm) (HR=3.042;95%CI,1.627-5.687,P=0.000) and metastasis(HR=2.056;95%CI, 1.062-3.981,P=0.033) were associated with poor OS,but sarcopenia had no effect on OS(HR=1.15;95%CI,0.664-1.993,P=0.618).Multivariate analysis showed that ALBI grade(ALBI 2, HR=1.941;95%CI,1.016-3.705,P=0.044;ALBI3,HR=10.688; 95%CI,2.51-45.502,P=0.001), metastasis(HR=2.925;95%CI, 1.257-6.808,P=0.013), maximum tumour diamete(>3 cm)(HR=2.335;95%CI, 1.341-4.068,P=0.003) could significantly stratify the patients with different OS. Conclusion: ALBI grade is an important predictor of poor prognosis in HCC patients under TACE,but PMI doesn't contribute to prognostic stratification. These results suggest ALBI grade as another liver function grading system are independent predictors of OS,it is regrettable that PMI that reflects the nutritional status of the body could not provide clinical prognosis value.