Background/Aim: Metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been previously found to be up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens and cells, favoring epithelialmesenchymal transition. However, the contribution of MMP-7 genotypes to HCC has not been revealed to date. The study aimed to evaluate the contribution of MMP-7 promoter A-181G (rs11568818) and C-153T (rs11568819) genotypes on the risk of HCC in Taiwan, where HCC incidence is extremely high compared to worldwide data. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, MMP-7 genotypes and their association with cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking habits were determined in 298 HCC patients and 889 healthy subjects by a typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. Results: Ever smokers

No abstract

Background/Aim: Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is a critical protein in DNA repair, genomic stability, and carcinogenesis. Functional polymorphisms in FEN1 promoter -69G>A (rs174538) and 3'UTR 4150G>T (rs4246215), have been associated with the susceptibility to several cancers, including lung, breast, esophageal, gastric, liver, colorectal, and gallbladder cancer, as well as glioma, endometriosis, and leukemia. However, the contribution of FEN1 variant genotypes to oral cancer has never been examined. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of FEN1 rs174538 and rs4246215 genotypes to oral cancer risk in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: The contribution of FEN1 genotypes to oral cancer risk was examined in 958 oral cancer patients and 958 age-and sex-matched healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The percentages of GG, AG, and AA genotypes at FEN1 rs174538 were 34.8%, 46.0%, and 19.2% among oral cancer patients and 37.8%, 45.2%, and 17.0% among healthy controls (p for trend=0.2788). The genotypic percentages of FEN1 rs4246215 were 35.9%, 45.9%, and 18.2% among oral cancer patients and 37.6%, 45.1%, and 17.3% among healthy controls (p for trend=0.7315). Overall, FEN1 rs174538 and rs4246215 were not differently distributed between the oral cancer patient and healthy control groups. The allele frequency analysis confirmed that FEN1 rs174538 and rs4246215 were non-differentially distributed among case and control groups (OR=1.11 and 1.05, 95%CI=0.98-1.27 and 0.93-1.20, p=0.1074 and 0.4491, respectively). Conclusion: FEN1 may contribute to oral cancer risk determination via protein expression and/or post-transcription modification, but may not be a practical genetic marker.Oral cancer is the fourth most prevalent and the fourth deathcausing cancer among males in Taiwan, where the incidence density of oral cancer is higher worldwide (1-3). In literature, several factors are revealed to contribute to the etiology of oral cancer in Taiwan, such as betel quid chewing, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, bad tooth brushing habits, and virus infection (4, 5). Interestingly, in recent years, specific inherited genotypes have been reported to contribute to personal oral cancer susceptibility (6-13). A better understanding of genomic, environmental and behavioral factors can contribute to precise and personalized oral cancer prediction and therapy.

Background: The role of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of retinal degenerative diseases, such as macular degeneration is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate whether treatments with gamma-mangostin can rescue the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced cytotoxicity in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. Materials and Methods: ARPE-19 cells were treated with H 2 O 2 alone or with gamma-mangostin plus H 2 O 2 to investigate changes relating to cell viability, appearance of sub-G1 cells, antioxidant enzymes, and apoptotic-related proteins. Results: The data showed that under H 2 O 2 treatment of 400 μM, there was a significant decrease in cell viability and enhanced apoptosis, together with an increased expression of Bax, Bad, at the protein level. On the contrary, the protein expression levels of could effectively prevent all alterations. Conclusion: Gamma-mangostin may conduct its eye-protective effects against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative damage via antiapoptotic and antioxidant mechanisms in ARPE-19 cells.