• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5391-5397
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• 2012

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB), like most human cancers, is characterized by genomic instability, manifested at the chromosomal level as allelic gain, loss or rearrangement. Genetics methods, as well as conventional and molecular cytogenetics may provide valuable clues for the identification of target loci and successful search for major genes in neuroblastoma. We aimed to investigate AURKA and MYCN gene rearrangements and the chromosomal aberrations (CAs) to determine the prognosis of neuroblastoma. Methods: We performed cytogenetic analysis by G-banding in 25 cases [11 girls (44%) and 14 boys (66%)] and in 25 controls. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with AURKA and MYCN gene probes was also used on interphase nuclei to screen for alterations. Results: Some 18.4% of patient cells exhibited CAs., with a significant difference between patient and control groups in the frequencies (P<0.0001). Some 72% of the cells had structural aberrations, and only 28% had numerical chnages in patients. Structural aberrations consisted of deletions, translocations, breaks and fragility in various chromosomes, 84% and 52% of the patients having deletions and translocations, respectively. Among these expressed CAs, there was a higher frequency at 1q21, 1q32, 2q21, 2q31, 2p24, 4q31, 9q11, 9q22, 13q14, 14q11.2, 14q24, and 15q22 in patients. 32% of the patients had chromosome breaks, most frequently in chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 19 and X. The number of cells with breaks and the genomic damage frequencies were higher in patients (p<0.001). Aneuploidies in chromosomes X, 22, 3, 17 and 18 were most frequently observed. Numerical chromosome abnormalities were distinctive in 10.7% of sex chromosomes. Fragile sites were observed in 16% of our patients. Conclusion: Our data confirmed that there is a close correlation between amplification of the two genes, amplification of MYCN possibly contributing significantly to the oncogenic properties of AURKA. The high frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and amplifications of AURKA and MYCN genes indicate prognostic value in children with neuroblastomas and may point to contributing factors in their development.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2018

Purpose: Although the prognosis is generally good in patients with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma, no consensus has been reached on the ideal treatment regimen. This study analyzed treatment outcomes and toxicities in patients younger than 18 months with stage 4 MYCN nonamplified neuroblastoma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 20 patients younger than 18 months newly diagnosed with stage 4 MYCN nonamplified neuroblastoma between January 2009 and December 2015. Patients received 9 cycles of chemotherapy and surgery, with or without local radiotherapy, followed by 12 cycles of differentiation therapy with 13-cis-retinoic acid. Chemotherapy consisted of alternating cycles of cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (CEDC) and ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) regimens. Results: The most common primary tumor site was the abdomen (85%), and the most common metastatic sites were the lymph nodes (65%), followed by the bones (60%), liver (55%), skin (45%), and bone marrow (25%). At the end of induction therapy, 14 patients (70%) achieved complete response, with 1 achieving very good partial response, 4 achieving partial response, and 1 showing mixed response. Nine patients (45%) received local radiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 47 months (range, 17-91 months), none of these patients experienced relapse, progression, or secondary malignancy, or died. Three years after chemotherapy completion, none of the patients had experienced grade ${\geq}3$ late adverse effects. Conclusion: Patients younger than 18 months with stage 4 MYCN nonamplified neuroblastoma showed excellent outcomes, without significant late adverse effects, when treated with alternating cycles of CEDC and ICE, followed by surgery and differentiation therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.449-456
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• 2009

Murine Neuro-2a (N2a) cells have been widely used for the investigation of neuronal differentiation, trophic interaction and neurotoxic effects of various compounds and their associated mechanisms. N2a cells have many genomic variations such as gains or losses in DNA copy number, similar to other neuroblastoma cells, and no systematic or high-resolution studies of their genome-wide chromosomal aberrations have been reported. Presently, we conducted a systematic genome-wide determination of chromosomal aberrations in N2a cells using a high-throughput, oligonucleotide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (oaCGH) technique. A hidden Markov Model was employed to assign each genomic oligonucleotide to a DNA copy number state: double loss, single loss, normal, gain, double gain and amplification. Unlike most neuroblastoma cells, Mycn amplification was not observed in N2a cells. In addition, these cells showed gain only in the neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NF), while other neurotrophic factors such as glial line-derived NF and brain-derived NF presented normal copy numbers. Chromosomes 4, 8, 10, 11 and 15 displayed more than 1000 aberrational oligonucleotides, while chromosomes 3, 17, 18 and 19 displayed less than 20. The largest region of gain was located on chromosome 8 and its size was no less than 26.7 Mb (Chr8:8427841-35162415), while chromosome 4 had the longest region of single deletion, with a size of 15.1 Mb (Chr4:73265785-88374165).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4607-4611
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• 2012

Objective: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy. Identification of potential biomarkers of EC would be helpful for the detection and monitoring of malignancy, improving clinical outcomes. Methods: The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis method was used to identify prognostic markers for EC in this study. Moreover, underlying molecular mechanisms were characterized by KEGG pathway enrichment and transcriptional regulation analyses. Results: Seven gene co-expression modules were obtained, but only the turquoise module was positively related with EC stage. Among the genes in the turquoise module, COL5A2 (collagen, type V, alpha 2) could be regulated by PBX (pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox 1)1/2 and HOXB1(homeobox B1) transcription factors to be involved in the focal adhesion pathway; CENP-E (centromere protein E, 312kDa) by E2F4 (E2F transcription factor 4, p107/p130-binding); MYCN (v-myc myelocytomatosis viral related oncogene, neuroblastoma derived [avian]) by PAX5 (paired box 5); and BCL-2 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2) and IGFBP-6 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6) by GLI1. They were predicted to be associated with EC progression via Hedgehog signaling and other cancer related-pathways. Conclusions: These data on transcriptional regulation may provide a better understanding of molecular mechanisms and clues to potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of EC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.343-355
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• 2006

Stem cells are unique cell populations with the ability to undergo both self-renewal and differentiation, although a wide variety of adult stem cells as well as embryonic stem cells have been identified and stem cell plasticity has recently been reported. To identify genes implicated in the control of the stem cell state as well as the characteristics of each stem cell line, we analyzed the expression profiles of genes in human embryonic, hematopoietic ($CD34^+$ and $CD133^+$), and mesenchymal stem cells using cDNA microarrays, and identified genes that were differentially expressed in specific stem cell populations. In particular we were able to identify potential hESC signature-like genes that encode transcription factors (TFAP2C and MYCN), an RNA binding protein (IMP-3), and a functionally uncharacterized protein (MAGEA4). The overlapping sets of 22 up-regulated and 141 down-regulated genes identified in this study of three human stem cell types may also provide insight into the developmental mechanisms common to all human stem cells. Furthermore, our comprehensive analyses of gene expression profiles in various adult stem cells may help to identify the genetic pathways involved in self-renewal as well as in multi-lineage specific differentiation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7645-7652
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• 2014

Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial solid tumor, accounts for 10% of childhood cancer. To date, scientists have gained quite a lot of knowledge about microRNAs (miRNAs) and their genes in NB. Discovering inner regulation networks, however, still presents problems. Our study was focused on determining differentially-expressed miRNAs, their target genes and transcription factors (TFs) which exert profound influence on the pathogenesis of NB. Here we constructed three regulatory networks: differentially-expressed, related and global. We compared and analyzed the differences between the three networks to distinguish key pathways and significant nodes. Certain pathways demonstrated specific features. The differentially-expressed network consists of already identified differentially-expressed genes, miRNAs and their host genes. With this network, we can clearly see how pathways of differentially expressed genes, differentially expressed miRNAs and TFs affect on the progression of NB. MYCN, for example, which is a mutated gene of NB, is targeted by hsa-miR-29a and hsa-miR-34a, and regulates another eight differentially-expressed miRNAs that target genes VEGFA, BCL2, REL2 and so on. Further related genes and miRNAs were obtained to construct the related network and it was observed that a miRNA and its target gene exhibit special features. Hsa-miR-34a, for example, targets gene MYC, which regulates hsa-miR-34a in turn. This forms a self-adaption association. TFs like MYC and PTEN having six types of adjacent nodes and other classes of TFs investigated really can help to demonstrate that TFs affect pathways through expressions of significant miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of NB. The present study providing comprehensive data partially reveals the mechanism of NB and should facilitate future studies to gain more significant and related data results for NB.