Background/Aims: The expression of PRAME and its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the functional role of PRAME in HCC development and exploring the molecular mechanism. Methods: We first detected PRAME expression in 96 human HCC tissue samples and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the patients. We then established stable HCC cell lines with PRAME overexpression and knockdown followed by functional analysis in vitro. Further, we examined the relationship between PRAME and p53 pathway in vitro by using Western blotting. Finally, PRAME expression was detected to evaluate its correlation with p-p53 and p53 pathway related apoptotic proteins in xenograft tumor mouse model using immunohistochemistry. Results: PRAME expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in adjacent non-tumor tissues and their expression was positively correlated with alpha fetoprotein levels and tumor size. In addition, PRAME expression was associated with AJCC stage and is a potential biomarker of poor prognosis regarding 5-year overall survival in HCC. In vitro studies, we found that PRAME expression was higher in HCC cell lines than in normal hepatic cell line. Inhibited cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis was observed in PRAME knockdown HCC cells. Futher, increased cell apoptosis was correlated with the proportion of cells in G0/G1 stage, activated p53 mediated apoptosis, and increased cyclin p21 expression. Xenograft analysis in nude mice also found that PRAME knockdown inhibited tumorigenesis while PRAME overexpression had opposite effect. Conclusions: In HCC, PRAME serves as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis and novel therapeutic target in treating this cancer. PRAME is a potential biomarker of poor prognosis in HCC. PRAME surpresses HCC cell death in vitro and in vivo by regulating p53 apoptotic signaling and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in HCC.

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in treating gastric cancer by network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking.Methods: Taking Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi as the object, the active components and corresponding potential drug targets in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were obtained from the database of TCM Pharmacological System Analysis Platform (TCMSP). GeneCards/OMIM/DrugBank and other databases were used to collect gastric cancer-related genes, and the obtained genes were intersected with drug targets to obtain the target genes of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on gastric cancer. Furthermore, the interaction network of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi-active ingredients-target-gastric cancer-related genes was constructed. Protein–protein interaction analysis and gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on target genes. The PubChem website was used to screen the compounds corresponding to the target genes, and the target protein and 3D structure pdb format files were obtained from the PDB database. Finally, the molecular docking calculation was performed by the AutoDock Vina program. The in vivo cell experiments on the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells were used to determine the therapeutic effect of Scutellaria baicalensis on gastric cancer, and the two genes ESR1 and FOS are the key targets of Scutellaria baicalensis on gastric cancer.Results: A total of 10 gastric cancer-related target genes were screened out, and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi contained 10 active compounds targeting 10 gene sites. There are 30 effective compounds in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi targeted to treat gastric cancer, and there are 91 corresponding targeting gene sites, involving a total of 10 pathways. The results of molecular docking show that ESR1, FOS, and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi have good binding free energy and docking fraction. The docking fraction of FOS is −4.200 and the binding free energy is −27.893 kcal/mol. The docking fraction of ESR1 is −5.833 and the binding free energy is −30.001 kcal/mol. The effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on gastric cancer was verified by in vitro cell experiments and Western blotting.Conclusion:Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi can target and regulate multiple signal pathways by acting on ESR1 and FOS gene loci, thus having a potential therapeutic effect on gastric cancer.

BackgroundPrimary tumor of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumor, which arises from the smooth muscle of vascular walls. Surgery appears the only curative treatment. However, the optimal surgical methods and surgical management are not well-studied. In this article, we reviewed the successful treatment experience of patients in our center who had resection of primary tumor of the inferior vena cava and reviewed the relevant literature.MethodsFour cases of patients who undergoing initial resection of primary tumors of the inferior vena cava from September 2017 to August 2021 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were screened and followed up. They were discussed and cases reported in this field were reviewed.ResultsAmong the four patients, three of them were female. The median age of the disease is 53.75 years (range 45–60 years). After surgical treatment, tumors were removed in all patients, and some patients had reconstruction of inferior vena cava. There were no disease-specific deaths, no serious complications, and no recurrence during follow-up in these cases.ConclusionsCareful preoperative examination, correct surgical treatment methods, and multidisciplinary collaboration can lead to safe and successful operations, which improve the survival rate of patients.