Despite the great progress in recent years, many aspects of the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer remain unclear. A better understanding on the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis and recurrence is crucial to improve the treatment of this lethal disease. MCF-7 cells were xenografted into mice until visible tumors developed, and the cells from tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue were cultured with 3 passages as mass tumor (MT) cells and invasive tumor (IT) cells, respectively. Microarray analysis was performed to detect several viable microRNAs in these 2 types of cells. Further, miR-30 knockdown was used to investigate its role in tumor aggression. Relative levels of miR-30 were significantly higher in IT cells than MT cells. Knockdown of miR-30 in both MT and IT cells lowered cell proliferation and cell invasion abilities, and thus increased the survival time of mice xenografted with tumor cells. This study suggested that the knockdown of miR-30 decreased proliferation and invasion of carcinoma cells, giving rise to the potential of miR-30 as a tumor target or marker candidate for breast cancer therapy.
Color etching was performed to characterize microstructure evolution and phase transformation on as-cast and homogenized Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Mn alloys. Initial intermetallic phases in microstructure of as-cast Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Mn alloy are mainly composed of primary Mg2Si, α-Al(FeMn)Si and quaternary Q phase. Post-etching microstructure of as-cast alloy presents a typical dendritic morphology with distinctive intermetallic distributions. Micro-segregation of solute elements are visualized as color difference within grains. Q phase is mainly located between the dendrite arms, while Mg2Si and α-Al(FeMn)Si are arranged along the grain boundaries. Heterogeneous nucleation sites provided by Al3Ti during solidification are also observed and identified at the core of grains. The distribution of alloying elements and intermetallic exhibited by color micrograph presents a good agreement with outcomes of EPMA. The color metallography of etched sample reveals the distribution of α-Al(MnCr)Si dispersoids and dispersoids free zone (DFZ), after the alloy is subjected to two-step homogenization. Micro-segregation of solute elements within solid solution is dramatically eliminated, associated with reduction of color difference. The dissolution of primary Mg2Si and Q phase during two-step homogenization are also directly detected. Therefore, color etching is an effective and reliable auxiliary approach to reveal microstructural evolution and phase transformation of as-cast Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Mn alloy during homogenization process.
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