Background Increasing researches have reported that circular RNA UBAP2 (circUBAP2) may be a potential prognosis biomarker and participate in the development of several cancers; however, the role of circUBAP2 in cervical cancer (CC) remains largely unclear. Methods We applied qRT-PCR and Western blot to examine expression levels of circUBAP2, miR-361-3p, SOX4, Bax, Bcl-2, Cleaved caspase 3, N-cadherin, Vimentin and E-cadherin. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration were analyzed by MTT assay, Flow cytometry, and Transwell assay, respectively. The interaction between miR-361-3p and circUBAP2 or SOX4 was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and pull-down assay. Murine xenograft model was established by injecting SiHa cells which stably transfected sh-circUBAP2. Results CircUBAP2 was up-regulated in CC tissues and cell lines and high circUBAP2 expression predicated poor outcome. Knockdown of circUBAP2 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, while induced apoptosis in CC in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. MiR-361-3p directly bound to circUBAP2 or SOX4, and circUBAP2 could regulate SOX4 expression by sponging miR-361-3p in CC cells. Furthermore, rescue assay results demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of circUBAP2 knockdown on cell growth and metastasis were partially reversed by miR-361-3p down-regulation or SOX4 up-regulation in CC. Conclusion CircUBAP2 represents a prognostic marker and contributes to tumor growth and metastasis via modulating miR-361-3p/SOX4 axis in CC, which indicates a potential therapeutic target for CC treatment.

Background: Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) was developed as a localized ultrasound-activated cytotoxic therapy for cancer. The ability of SDT to destroy target tissues selectively is especially appealing for atherosclerotic plaque, in which selective accumulation of the sonosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), had been demonstrated. Here we investigate the effects of PpIXmediated SDT on macrophages, which are the main culprit in progression of atherosclerosis. Methods and results: Cultured THP-1 derived macrophages were incubated with PpIX. Fluorescence microscopy showed that the intracellular PpIX concentration increased with the concentration of PpIX in the incubation medium. MTT assay demonstrated that SDT with PpIX significantly decreased cell viability, and this effect increased with duration of ultrasound exposure and PpIX concentration. PpIX-mediated SDT induced both apoptosis and necrosis, and the maximum apoptosis to necrosis ratio was obtained after SDT with 20 µg/mL PpIX and five minutes of sonication. Production of intracellular singlet oxygen and secondary disruption of the cytoskeleton were also observed after SDT with PpIX. Conclusion: PpIX-mediated SDT had apoptotic effects on THP-1 macrophages via generation of intracellular singlet oxygen and disruption of the cytoskeleton. PpIX-mediated SDT may be a potential treatment to attenuate progression of atherosclerotic plaque.

Our results proved that miR-142-3p may serve as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by suppressing the expression of oncogene HMGA1 and FZD7, suggesting that miR-142-3p has the potential to become a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Background Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms (PEComas) are a family of mesenchymal tumors with features of both smooth muscle and melanocytic differentiation. A subset of PEComas demonstrate rearrangements involving the TFE3 (Xp11) locus. Xp11 translocation PEComa is a rare neoplasm with special clinicopathological features and a more aggressive behavior. We recently encountered a case of Xp11 translocation PEComa occurring in the testis, with SFPQ⁃TFE3 rearrangement. Case presentation A 57-year-old male touched a mass in his testis incidentally. MRI revealed a 10 mm diameter mass in the right testis. The patient underwent radical orchiectomy. Gross examination revealed a well-demarcated mass from the surrounding testicular tissue. Microscopically, the tumor mainly displayed nested or sheet-like architecture separated by delicate fibrovascular septa. The tumor cells exhibited marked nuclear atypia and pleomorphism. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor cells were strongly positive for cathepsin-K, HMB45 and TFE3. Molecular analysis revealed SFPQ⁃TFE3 gene fusion. Thus, it was diagnosed as primary Xp11 translocation PEComa of the testis. Conclusions The present case reports primary Xp11 translocation PEComa of the testis for the first time, which to our knowledge has not been described in the literature in this anatomic site, where it could potentially be problematic in diagnosis.