Introduction: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to the progression and metastasis of cancer cells and is associated with a more invasive phenotype of cancer. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the major pathways involved in EMT regulation. Many studies provide evidence that β-catenin, the key regulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, is important in regulating EMT in cancer. However, the roles of Wnt3a, the representative canonical Wnt ligand, in EMT and colon cancer progression have not yet been fully explored. Methods: The expression levels of Wnt3a and EMT-associated proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin, and β-catenin) were assessed by immunohistochemistry in human colon cancer tissues to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of Wnt3a, as well as the correlation between Wnt3a and EMT. We then upregulated Wnt3a expression in HCT116 colon cancer cells, established a nude mouse xenograft model, detected the expression of EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling-associated proteins, and observed invasion and clone-initiating abilities.

Background: For clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with cystic component similar to multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential (MCRN-LMP) and solid low-grade component simultaneously, we propose the designation “ccRCC with cystic component similar to MCRN-LMP” and to study the relationship between MCRN-LMP and it. Methods: Twelve cases of MCRN-LMP and 33 cases of ccRCC with cystic component similar to MCRN-LMP were collected from 3,265 consecutive RCCs to compare them in clinicopathological features, immunohistochemical findings (PAX8, CA-IX, CK7, Vimentin, CD10, P504s, TFE3, 34βE12) and prognosis. Results: There was no significant difference in age, sex ratio, tumor size, treatment, grade and stage between them (P > 0.05). All ccRCCs with cystic component similar to MCRN-LMP coexisted with MCRN-LMP and solid low-grade ccRCCs, and MCRN-LMP component ranged from 20% to 90% (median, 59%). The positive ratio of CK7 and 34βE12 in MCRN-LMPs and ccRCCs’ cystic parts was significantly higher than that in ccRCCs’ solid parts, but the positive ratio of CD10 in MCRN-LMPs and ccRCCs’ cystic parts was significantly lower than that in ccRCCs’ solid parts (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of all immunohistochemistry profiles between MCRN-LMPs and ccRCCs’ cystic parts (P > 0.05). No patient developed recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions: MCRN-LMP and ccRCC with cystic component similar to MCRN-LMP have similarity and homology in clinicopathological features, immunohistochemical findings and prognosis, and form a low-grade spectrum with indolent or low malignant potential behavior. The ccRCC with cystic component similar to MCRN-LMP may be a rare pattern of cyst-dependent progression from MCRN-LMP.

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. The current study was conducted to describe the general condition of patients with primary osteosarcoma in a single cancer center in Tianjin, China and to investigate the associated factors in osteosarcoma patients with lung metastasis. Methods: From February 2009 to October 2020, patients from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China were retrospectively analyzed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival of osteosarcoma patients. Prognostic factors of patients with osteosarcoma were identified by the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Risk factor of lung metastasis in osteosarcoma were investigated by the logistic regression model. Results: A total of 203 patients were involved and 150 patients were successfully followed up for survival status. The 5-year survival rate of osteo-sarcoma patients was 70.0%. Surgery, bone and lung metastasis were the significant prognostic factors in multivariable Cox regression analysis. Twenty-one (10.3%) patients showed lung metastasis at the diagnosis of osteosarcoma and 67 (33%) lung metastases during the later course. T3 stage (OR=11.415, 95%CI 1.362-95.677, P=0.025) and synchronous bone metastasis (OR=6.437, 95%CI 1.69-24.51, P=0.006) were risk factors of synchronous lung metastasis occurrence. Good necrosis (≥90%, OR=0.097, 95%CI 0.028-0.332, P=0.000) and elevated Ki-67 (≥50%, OR=4.529, 95%CI 1.241-16.524, P=0.022) were proved to be significantly associated with metachronous lung metastasis occurrence. Conclusion: The overall survival, prognostic factors and risk factors for lung metastasis in this single center provided insight about osteosarcoma management.

Background：The association of ABO blood groups with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk has been reported. However, the results are inconsistent and little is known about the alterations of histo-blood group antigens expression and ABO gene expression in ovarian tumor tissues. Methods：We used two single nucleotide polymorphisms in ABO gene (rs8176719 and rs8176746) to determine ABO blood group of 1,870 EOC cases and 4,829 controls. Expression of A and B antigen in 70 ovarian tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Gene expression and DNA methylation profiling was detected in ovarian tumor tissues.Results：In this case-control study, blood group A was associated with increased risk for EOC compared with blood group O (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI = 1.03 – 1.36, P = 0.019), this association remained significant after multivariate adjustment (adjusted OR = 1.48, 95% CI= 1.11 – 1.96, P = 0.007). Patients with blood group A had higher rate of aberrant histo-blood group antigen expression compared to patients with blood group O and B (76.5% vs. 21.1%, 5.0%, P<0.001). ABO gene expression was down-regulated in ovarian tumor tissues compared with paired adjacent normal tissues (P = 0.027). NFYB was positively correlated with ABO gene expression (r = 0.38, P<0.001) and DNA methylation level of four CpG sites was significantly inversely correlated with ABO gene expression (cg11879188, r = - 0.3, P = 0.002; cg22535403, r = - 0.30, P = 0.002; cg13506600, r = - 0.22, P = 0.025; cg07241568, r = - 0.21, P = 0.049). Conclusions：We identified blood group A was associated with increased EOC risk in Chinese women and provided the clues of the possible molecular mechanisms of blood group A related to ovarian cancer risk. Functional studies are warrant to clarify the role of A antigen and ABO gene in ovarian cancer carcinogenesis.