No abstract

Metastasis is the chief cause of mortality from cancer, but the mechanisms leading to metastasis are poorly understood. We used a proteomics approach to screen for metastasis-associated proteins and found that collapsin response mediator protein-4 (CRMP4) expression was inversely associated with the lymph node metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa). Subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that overexpression of CRMP4 not only suppressed the invasion ability of PCa cells, but also strongly inhibited tumor metastasis in an animal model. Furthermore, methylation of a CpG island within the promoter region of the CRMP4 gene is responsible for downregulation of CRMP4 expression. Thus, in this study, we show new function of CRMP4 as a metastasissuppressor in PCa. The findings provide new mechanistic insights into metastasis and therapeutic potential for this most common male cancer.

Background Risk and crisis communication plays an essential role in public health emergency responses. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered spontaneous and intensive media attention, which has affected people’s adoption of personal preventive measures and their mental health. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between exposure to COVID-19–specific information and mental health (depression and sleep quality) and self-reported compliance with personal preventive measures (face mask wearing and hand sanitizing). We also tested whether these associations were moderated by thoughtful consideration of the veracity of the information to which people were exposed. Methods A cross-sectional, closed web-based survey was conducted among a sample of 3035 factory workers at the beginning of work resumption following the COVID-19 outbreak in Shenzhen, China. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling design was used for recruitment. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used for the analyses. Results The prevalence of probable moderate-to-severe depression was 170/3035 (5.6%), while that of good or excellent sleep quality was 2110/3035 (69.5%). The prevalence of self-reported consistent face mask wearing in public places was 2903/3035 (95.7%), while that of sanitizing hands every time after returning from public spaces or touching public installations was 2151/3035 (70.9%). Of the 3035 respondents, 1013 to 1638 (33.3% to 54.0%) reported >1 hour of daily exposure to COVID-19–specific information through web-based media and television. After controlling for significant background variables, higher information exposure via television and via newspapers and magazines was associated with better sleep quality and higher compliance with hand sanitizing. Higher exposure via unofficial web-based media was associated with higher compliance with hand sanitizing but was also associated with higher depressive symptoms. In contrast, higher exposure through face-to-face communication was associated with higher depressive symptoms, worse sleep quality, and lower compliance with hand sanitizing. Exposure to information about positive outcomes for patients with COVID-19, development of vaccines and effective treatments, and heroic stories about frontline health care workers were associated with both better mental health and higher compliance with preventive measures. Higher overall information exposure was associated with higher depressive symptoms among participants who were less likely to carefully consider the veracity of the information to which they were exposed; it was also associated with better sleep quality among people who reported more thoughtful consideration of information veracity. Conclusions This study provides empirical evidence of how the amount, sources, and contents of information to which people were exposed influenced their mental health and compliance with personal preventive measures at the initial phase of work resumption in China. Thoughtful consideration of information quality was found to play an important moderating role. Our findings may inform strategic risk communication by government and public health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current predictive tools and imaging modalities are not accurate enough for preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastatic prostate cancer (LNM PCa). Proteomic analysis is introduced to screen potential biomarkers for early detection of LNM PCa. In our initial study, protein samples from localized and LNM PCa as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues were analyzed using two-dimensional fluorescence difference in gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. We identified 58 proteins that were differentially expressed in the LNM PCa group relative to the localized PCa group. Six of these proteins, e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, SLP2, and SM22, are functionally relevant to cancer metastasis. Expression of these proteins was therefore further validated in tissue samples from the original cohort and also from a larger, independent cohort of patients using real time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry staining. In addition, the serum levels of e-FABP5 were also examined by ELISA. Relative to localized PCa tissues, LNM PCa tissues had increased expression of e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, and SLP2 and decreased expression of SM22. Patients with LNM PCa had significantly higher levels of serum e-FABP5. This study presents evidence that increased expression of e-FABP5, MCCC2, PPA2, Ezrin, and SLP2 and decreased expression of SM22 are useful diagnostic markers for the existence of LNM PCa.