PI3K pathway inhibitors have shown great promise in the treatment of ovarian cancer. However, further researches on selection patients that respond to PI3K inhibitors and exploration of effective combinatorial therapies are required to improve the management of ovarian cancer.

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Abstract. The present study aimed to identify the stem cell characteristics of side population (SP) cells sorted from the widely-used HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell line. The SP cells were sorted from the HeLa cell line using fluorescence-activating cell sorting (FACS). Stem cell characteristics of the SP cells, including proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation and the ability to form xenografts, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The SP cells demonstrated strong tumorigenesis following in vivo transplantation into five to six-week-old female Balb/c mice. The SP cells were observed to be more resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy compared with non-side population (NSP) cells. A higher expression of CD133 was observed in the SP cells compared with the NSP cells following FACS. The results demonstrated that the SP cells from the HeLa human cervical carcinoma cell line exhibit stem cell characteristics in vitro and also have a strong ability to form tumors in vivo. The cell surface marker CD133 may serve as a potential molecular marker for the identification of cervical cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Epidemiological evidence suggests that elevated androgen levels and genetic variation related to the androgen receptor (AR) increase the risk of endometrial cancer (EC). However, the role of AR in EC is poorly understood. We report that two members of the histone demethylase KDM4 family act as major regulators of AR transcriptional activityin EC. In the MFE-296 cell line, KDM4B and AR upregulate c-myc expression, while in AN3CA cells KDM4A and AR downregulate p27kip1. Additionally, KDM4B expression is positively correlated with AR expression in EC cell lines with high baseline AR expression, while KDM4A and AR expression are positively correlated in low-AR cell lines. In clinical specimens, both KDM4B and KDM4A expression are significantly higher in EC tissues than that in normal endometrium. Finally, patients with alterations in AR, KDM4B, KDM4A, and c-myc have poor overall and disease-free survival rates. Together, these findings demonstrate that KDM4B and KDM4A promote EC progression by regulating AR activity.

Key Points TKI resistance can be caused by the action of TKIs on MSCs. Inhibition of the IL-7R/Janus kinase pathway diminishes TKI resistance in MSC milieu.

PurposeTo investigate tumor heterogeneity in the recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer demonstrated by polycomb group (PcG) proteins.MethodsTissue microarrays containing matched primary and recurrent ovarian tumors from the same patients were constructed for detection of PcG protein expression. Survival analyses of clinicopathological parameters and expression of PcG proteins were performed on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients. Genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity was explored in aspects of gene copy number and microRNA (miRNA) profiling.ResultsPcG proteins were heterogeneously expressed in primary versus recurrent tumors (P<0.05). In univariate survival analysis of the ovarian carcinoma cohorts, a significant association of intensive expression of BMI1 and EZH2 in first-onset lymph node metastases with shortened PFS was demonstrated (P=0.010, P=0.019); and a significant association of intensive expression of BMI1 and EZH2 in recurrent tumors with shortened OS was demonstrated (P=0.042, P=0.047). Importantly, BMI1 and EZH2 expression provided significant independent prognostic parameters in multivariate analyses (P<0.05). Gene amplification did not always coincide with PcG protein expression. Eight miRNAs were found to be downregulated in recurrent tumors, among which miR-298 might indirectly regulate the expression of EZH2 through transcription factor ILF3.ConclusionTumor heterogeneity exists in the recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer, manifested by PcG protein expression and underlying genetic and epigenetic alterations. Intensive expression of BMI1 and EZH2 are predictors of earlier relapse and shorter OS, independent of grade and chemotherapy sensitivity. EZH2 and miR-298 have great potential to be new targets for treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Our study indicated that there exist extratumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity in ovarian epithelial cancers related to CSCs. And this is worth further studying.

This study provided a facile method to prepare nano-TiO 2 /polystyrene hybride microspheres in ethanol solution. The formation of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles and hybrid microspheres were verified by FTIR, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. Monodispersed colloid TiO 2 nanoparticles with small particle sizes were obtained, and the average particle size could be effectively controlled from about 10 nm. The antibacterial activity of the organic microspheres and hybride microspheres was also investigated against Escherichia coli. They were able to efficiently inhibit the growth and the multiplication of E. coli under the UV.