The stemness of lung cancer cells contributes to drug resistance, tumor occurrence, progression, and recurrence; however, the underlying mechanisms are still fragmentary. In the present study, it was found that exosomes from cisplatin-resistant cells and spheres derived from lung cancer cells enhanced the stemness of the parental lung cancer cells. Then we screened the upregulated miRNAs in spheres derived from lung cancer cells and cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells/exosomes compared to that in the parental lung cancer cells. It was found that miR-1246 was remarkably enriched in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer cells/exosomes and spheres. Additionally, inhibition of miR-1246 attenuated the stemness of lung cancer cells induced by exosomes from cisplatin-resistant cells and spheres. Furthermore, TRIM17 was identified to the direct target of miR-1246 in lung cancer cells. Our findings suggest that exosomal miR-1246 could be as a potential target for lung cancer treatment.

Background To describe a technique of non-intubated uniportal subxiphoid thoracoscopic extended thymectomy. Methods Data were collected retrospectively. A single 3-cm transverse incision was made below the xiphoid process. This method for extended thymectomy entails adoption of uniportal subxiphoid VATS combined with using of non-intubated anesthesia for thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis. Results Ten consecutive patients underwent this procedure successfully. Mean operative time was 102.5 min. Conversion to intubated ventilation or thoracotomy was not required. Mean chest tube duration was 3.5 days. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.7 days. Histologic examination showed early-stage thymomas. Side effects were rare. Quantitative MG scores decreased during follow-up. Conclusions Patients were uneventfully discharged with fast recovery. This technique may merge the potential benefits of a subxiphoid incision and the non-intubated anesthesia protocol.