Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a core regulator in multiple tumorigenic pathways. Its activation is mediated by IκB kinase β (IKKβ). Protein phosphatase PPM1B is reported to dephosphorylate IKKβ, thereby terminating IKKβ-mediated NF-κB activation. However, the role of PPM1B in bladder cancer is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the expression patterns and molecular mechanisms of PPM1B in bladder cancer. Comparative analyses were conducted in six bladder cancer cell lines, a normal urinary epithelial cell line, and adjacent non-tumorous bladder epithelia. Searches were conducted through publicly available algorithms and The Cancer Genome Atlas. HT-1376 and RT4 cells were transduced to stably overexpress PPM1B and its predicted regulator miR-186. Subsequent in vitro studies included 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, anchorage-independent growth ability, luciferase reporter assays, and flow cytometric cell cycle analyses. A xenograft model was established in nude mice to evaluate the effect of PPM1B in bladder tumors in vivo. The results revealed that PPM1B was frequently downregulated in bladder cancer cells at both protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, whereas miR-186 was upregulated. Further analyses showed that miR-186 promoted G1-S transition by targeting PPM1B at its 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). Conversely, ectopic expression of PPM1B significantly suppressed proliferation and tumorigenicity in bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby neutralizing the oncogenic effect of miR-186. This study has identified PPM1B and miR-186 as potential diagnostic markers in bladder cancer. Promotion of PPM1B and suppression of miR-186 may offer effective therapeutic strategies in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is overexpressed in various cancers. We investigated LDHA expression and function in bladder cancer. We demonstrate that LDHA is up-regulated in bladder cancer cells and promotes proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis. Additionally, we found that microRNA (miR)-200c directly targets LDHA in bladder cancer cells. Ectopic expression of miR-200c inhibited LDHA-induced glycolysis, cell proliferation, and invasion. Thus, targeting LDHA through miR-200c is a potential therapeutic strategy in bladder cancer.

Abnormal expression of Holliday junction recognition protein (HJURP) in several types of tumor cells plays a vital role in the formation and progression of tumors. Few studies have investigated the role of HJURP in prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to analyze the expression levels of HJURP in PCa and to establish the association with clinicopathological data. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis were used to detect the expression levels of HJURP in benign and PCa prostate tissues. The Taylor dataset was statistically analyzed to determine if HJURP expression levels were associated with PCa clinicopathological data. HJURP was overexpressed in PCa tissues compared with benign prostate tissues. Statistical analysis of the Taylor dataset indicated that upregulation of HJURP was significantly associated with positive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (P=0.004), high Gleason score (P=0.005), advanced pathological stage (P=0.007), metastasis (P<0.001) and PSA failure (P<0.001). Higher HJURP mRNA expression levels were significantly associated with shorter biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival (P<0.001). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of HJURP upregulation in PCa tissues. Upregulation of HJURP may predict BCR-free survival and HJURP may be an oncogene that impacts the prognosis of patients with PCa.

Objectives Thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF) plays an important role in several different processes in normal human cells; however, its function in malignant cells has not been fully elucidated. Materials and methods The mRNA levels of TEF in 408 bladder cancer (BC) samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analysed in depth. Next, the expression of TEF in 7 BC cell lines was compared to that in normal bladder epithelial cells. The cell count, colony formation and anchorage‐independent growth assays as well as a nude mouse xenograft model were utilized to examine the effects of TEF on proliferation and tumorigenesis. Immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry analysis and treatment with an AKT inhibitor were performed to explore the molecular regulation mechanisms of TEF in BC. Results Analysis of TCGA data indicated that TEF mRNA was decreased in BC samples compared to that in normal bladder epithelial cells and correlated with the poor survival of BC patients. Additional experiments verified that the mRNA and protein expression of TEF were significantly decreased in BC cells compared to that in normal bladder epithelial cells. Upregulation of TEF expression significantly retarded BC cell growth by inhibiting the G1/S transition via regulating AKT/FOXOs signalling. Conclusion Our results suggest that TEF might play an important role in suppressing BC cells proliferation and tumorigenesis.

Objective : To analyze the current treatment for low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) in China. Methods : A national questionnaire survey titled “A survey of current treatment of LRPC” was designed and released nationally through the network from July 16 to August 3, 2017. Results : A total of 1,116 valid questionnaires were recovered. The percentages of preferred treatment by active surveillance (AS) or radical prostatectomy (RP) were 29.21% and 45.61%, respectively. A correspondence analysis showed that the physician in charge was more inclined to choose AS than RP. Respondents from different institution types, hospitals with different annual numbers of newly admitted patients with prostate cancer, and with different familiarity with the LRPC definition presented a significant difference in the preferred treatments (p < 0.05). Urologists chose AS or not for the following reasons: tumor progression (52.51%), potential medical disputes (42.56%) (i.e., medical disputes from patients or their relatives when urologists choose AS to treat patients with LRPC and the patient has a poor outcome), fear of cancer (41.94%), and surgical risk (39.07%). These reasons were ubiquitous, and there was no significant difference among urologists for these concerns (p > 0.05). Personal skills, surgical risk, and tumor progression were the most common factors that influenced whether AS or RP was preferred (p < 0.05). Concern about the medical disputes brought about by AS was a key factor for not choosing AS (p < 0.05). Conclusions : LRPC is still dominated by RP in China, followed by AS. Personal skills, surgical risk, and concern about tumor progression were the common factors influencing whether AS or RP was preferred. In addition, medical disputes brought by AS are another key factor for not choosing AS. There will be more Chinese data in the future to guide treatment of LRPC.