The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and prognostic impact of changes in the estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status between primary and recurrent/metastatic lesions (RML). We investigated 133 breast cancer patients for ER, PR and HER2 status of primary and RML and their follow-up records. Among 133 patients with RML, discordance rate for ER, PR, and HER2 was 18.8, 33.8, and 6.8%, respectively. ER, PR and HER2 discordance were observed in 20.0, 38.1 and 6.7% of the patients with distant metastasis, and in 14.3, 17.9 and 7.1% of the patients with locoregional recurrence. The mean time between the primary diagnosis and last contact or death was 57 (range 22-78) months and between the recurrence biopsy and last contact or death was 17 (range 1-33) months. Among 133 patients with RML, the ER-discordant cases and ER-loss cases experienced a worse overall survival (OS) (p=0.001 and p=0.016, respectively) and post-recurrence survival (PRS) (p=0.001 and p=0.018, respectively), compared with the respective concordant cases. The HER2-discordant patients and HER2-loss patients had a poorer OS (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively) and PRS (p=0.004 and p=0.000, respectively) than the respective concordant cases. Among 105 patients with distant metastasis, ER discordance, ER loss, HER2 discordance and HER2 loss, compared with the respective concordant cases, resulted in a worse OS and PRS (p<0.05 for all). Our findings show an evident change in ER, PR and HER2 between breast primary tumors and relapsing tumors. The unstable status for ER or HER2 in breast cancer seems to be clinically significant and to correlate with a worse prognosis.

No abstract

Background: Increased long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression is characteristic to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and several other neoplasms. The present study aimed to identify the mechanism underlying modulation of HCC development by the lncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine MALAT1 and microRNA (miR)-146a expression in HCC tissues and cell lines. Western blotting was performed to measure PI3K, Akt, and mTOR levels. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the direct targeting and negative regulatory interaction between miR-146a and MALAT1. Cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were analyzed using an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry, respectively; autophagy was detected based on LC3B expression. Results: MALAT1 expression was higher in HCC tissues than in normal tissues. MALAT1 upregulation promoted HCC cell proliferation, whereas MALAT1 downregulation promoted HCC apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, effects of MALAT1 downregulation on HCC cells were abolished by miR-146a inhibition. miR-146a directly targeted the 3′-untranslated region of PI3K, and PI3K protein level was clearly decreased upon miR-146a mimic transfection. Conclusions: MALAT1 may modulate HCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy via sponging miR-146a, which regulates HCC progression.

No abstract

BackgroundOfficial guidelines recommend palliative treatments for patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. However, many case series reported that hepatectomy for such cases is safe and effective. This systematic review compares the overall survival between hepatectomy and palliative therapy in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer.MethodsTwo independent reviewers performed a systematic search of literature in EMBASE and PubMed, updated until 26 October 2016. The Newcastle-Ottawa score for cohort studies was used for quality assessment of included studies.ResultsA total of eight cohort studies involving 196 patients in the hepatectomy arm and 481 in the palliative arm were included. Median overall survival of patients in the two arms was 23.7 (range, 13.0 to 48.0) and 7.6 (range, 5.5 to 15.2), respectively. Median rates of overall survival of the two arms were 69, 40, 33 and 27, 8, 4% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Comparing with palliative therapy, hepatectomy was associated with significantly lower mortality at 1 year (odds ratio 0.17, P < 0.001) and 2 years (odds ratio 0.15, P < 0.001). Among the patients who underwent hepatectomy, Asian cohorts showed higher median rates of overall survival than Western cohorts at 1 year (76 vs. 60%), 2 years (47 vs. 30%) and 3 years (39 vs. 23%).ConclusionsHepatectomy in the management of liver metastases from gastric cancer can be considered effective. In the elective setting, hepatectomy provides a potential alternative to palliative therapy.