Hox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that serves a key role in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, the diagnostic and prognostic values of HOTAIR in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, as well as its involvement in cancer cell energy metabolism, remain unclear. In the present study, tumor tissues and adjacent healthy tissues were collected from patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and blood samples were collected from patients and healthy controls. Expression levels of HOTAIR and hexokinase-2 (HK2) were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. All patients were followed up for 5 years, and the diagnostic and prognostic values of serum HOTAIR levels were investigated by receiver operating characteristic curve and survival analyses, respectively. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines overexpressing HOTAIR and HK2 were established, and the effects on cell proliferation, lactate production, glucose uptake and ATP production were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, lactate, glucose uptake and ATP assays, respectively. The protein expression was detected by western blot analysis. The results revealed that HOTAIR and HK2 expression levels were increased in tumor tissues compared with adjacent healthy tissues. The serum levels of HOTAIR and HK2 were higher in patients with pancreatic cancer compared with healthy controls. The serum levels of these two factors may be used to accurately predict pancreatic adenocarcinoma and its prognosis. HOTAIR and HK2 overexpression led to the promotion of tumor cell proliferation. HOTAIR overexpression increased lactate production, glucose uptake and ATP production. Furthermore, it promoted HK2 expression, however HK2 overexpression displayed no significant effects on HOTAIR expression levels. Therefore, it was concluded that the lncRNA HOTAIR may promote cancer cell energy metabolism in pancreatic adenocarcinoma by upregulating HK2.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the relationship between dietary fiber intake and subsite-specific colon cancer.The PubMed database was searched to identify relevant cohort studies published from inception to August 2016 in order to examine individually the association between dietary fiber intake and the risk of proximal colon cancer (PCC), and that between dietary fiber intake and the risk of distal colon cancer (DCC). We searched the reference lists of the studies included in our analysis as well as those listed in the published meta-analyses. A random-effects model was used to compute summary risk estimates. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 and Q statistics. Publication bias was assessed with the Egger's and Begg's tests, with a P value of P < .10 indicating publication bias. All statistical tests were 2-sided.We identified and included 11 prospective cohort studies in the final meta-analysis. The risks of PCC and DCC among individuals in the highest dietary fiber intake quartile/quintile were 14% (relative risk [RR] = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.78–0.95) and 21% (RR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.71–0.87) lower, respectively, than those among individuals with the lowest dietary fiber intake. In a subgroup analysis, the inverse association observed in the sex-based subgroup was apparent only for men with PCC. Dietary fiber intake was inversely associated with DCC for both men and women. In addition, dietary fiber intake appeared to be inversely associated with PCC only in European countries, whereas this association was observed for DCC in both European countries and the United States.Our findings reveal that dietary fiber intake is associated inversely with the risk of both PCC and DCCs.
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive tumor characterized by enhanced aerobic glycolysis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is identified as a well-known regulator of glycolysis, plays an essential role in tumorigenesis. In the present study, we aim to explore the function of AMPK in pancreatic cancer cells and attempt to clarify the possible underlying mechanism. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed that elevated AMPK expression highly correlated with lower median survival time. In an in vitro study, inhibition of AMPK blocked the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of four cell lines under normoxia and hypoxia. Additionally, AMPK suppression led to cell cycle arrest and remarkably induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the lactic acid content, ATP content, and the glucose consumption rate were significantly reduced in all four cell lines under different conditions, accompanied by down-regulation of glycolytic biomarkers including phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR)/total mTOR (t-mTOR), Pyruvate kinase M2 (Pkm2), and Hexokinase 2 (Hk2). Collectively, our data showed that AMPK activation is highly involved in pancreatic cancer progression and exerts its pro-tumorigenic functions partly by sustaining glycolytic activity. Hence, AMPK is expected to be a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent and commonly diagnosed subtype of NHL, which is characterized by high heterogeneity and malignancy, and most DLBCL patients are at advanced stages. The serine/threonine kinase NEK2 (NIMA-related kinase 2), a member of NIMA-related kinase (NEK) family that regulates cell cycle, is upregulated in a variety of malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of NEK2 in DLBCL have seldom been discussed. In this study, we identified that NEK2 is upregulated in DLBCL compared to normal lymphoid tissues, and overexpression of NEK2 predicted a worse prognosis of DLBCL patients. Gene set enrichment analysis indicates that NEK2 might participate in regulating glycolysis. Knockdown of NEK2 inhibited growth and glycolysis of DLBCL cells. The interaction between NEK2 and PKM2 was discovered by tandem affinity purification and then was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining, coimmunoprecipitation, and immunoprecipitation. NEK2 bounds to PKM2 and regulates PKM2 abundance via phosphorylation, which increases PKM2 stability. The xenograft tumor model checks the influence of NEK2 on tumor growth in vivo. Thus, NEK2 could be the novel biomarker and target of DLBCL, which remarkably ameliorates the diagnosis and treatment of DLBCL.
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