Optical wireless power transmission systems are attracting attention as a new power transmission technology because they can supply power wirelessly over long distances. In this study, we ...investigated InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells simultaneously irradiated with three laser beams with wavelengths of 635 nm, 850 nm, and 1550 nm to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency. As a result, a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 45.0% was obtained under three laser irradiations with a total incident laser power of 1.77 W/cm2. The results showed the possibility of a high-efficiency optical wireless power transmission system by simultaneously irradiating laser beams with different wavelengths onto multi-junction solar cells, which could be installed in automobiles as a new system that complements solar power generation for daylighting.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Recent evidence has shown that altered patterns of microRNA (miRNA) expression correlate with various human cancers. We investigated the clinical significance of
miR-10b
and its involvement ...in chemotherapeutic resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is a key component of common chemotherapy regimens in colorectal cancer.
Methods
Quantitative RT-PCR was used to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of
miR-10b
expression in 88 colorectal cancer cases. We also investigated the chemotherapeutic sensitivity to 5-FU in
miR-10b
-overexpressing colorectal cancer cells. To explore the mechanism of chemoresistance in
miR-10b
transfected cells, we examined whether
miR-10b
inhibits the pro-apoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family member
BIM
(
BCL2L11
), a key mediator of chemotherapy-induced cell death.
Results
High level
miR-10b
expression was found to be significantly associated with high incidence of lymphatic invasion (
P
= 0.0257) and poor prognosis (
P
= 0.0057). Multivariate analysis indicated that high
miR-10b
expression is an independent prognostic factor for survival. In vitro studies revealed that
miR-10b
directly inhibits pro-apoptotic
BIM
, and the overexpression of
miR-10b
confers chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells to 5-FU.
Conclusions
MiR-10b
is a novel prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. Moreover, the expression of
miR-10b
is a potential indicator of chemosensitivity to the common 5-FU-based chemotherapy regimen.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The functions of many long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in human cancers have not yet been elucidated. The long ncRNA HOTAIR is expressed from the developmental HOXC locus located on chromosome 12q13.13. ...Previous reports have demonstrated that HOTAIR associates with chromatin modifications in cooperation with the Polycomb complex PRC2, and promotes breast and colorectal cancer metastasis. In this study, we examined the clinical significance of HOTAIR expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HOTAIR expression was detected in primary HCCs in 13 out of 64 patients. Patients with HOTAIR expression had significantly poorer prognoses and a larger primary tumor size than those without HOTAIR expression, similar to studies in breast and colorectal cancers. Moreover, introduction of human HOTAIR into liver cancer cells revealed that HOTAIR promoted more rapid proliferation compared to control cells. Thus, although the clinical significance of HOTAIR expression in HCC may not be as pronounced as that in breast and colorectal cancers, the current study demonstrates that HOTAIR expression is associated with HCC progression, warranting further studies.
Cancer stroma plays an important role in the progression of cancer. Although alterations in miRNA expression have been explored in various kinds of cancers, the expression of miRNAs in cancer stroma ...has not been explored in detail.
Using a laser microdissection technique, we collected RNA samples specific for epithelium or stroma from 13 colorectal cancer tissues and four normal tissues, and miRNA microarray and gene expression microarray were carried out. The expression status of miRNAs was confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR. Furthermore, we investigated whether miRNA expression status in stromal tissue could influence the clinicopathologic factors.
Oncogenic miRNAs, including two miRNA clusters, miR-17-92a and miR-106b-25 cluster, were upregulated in cancer stromal tissues compared with normal stroma. Gene expression profiles from cDNA microarray analyses of the same stromal tissue samples revealed that putative targets of these miRNA clusters, predicted by Target Scan, such as TGFBR2, SMAD2, and BMP family genes, were significantly downregulated in cancer stromal tissue. Downregulated putative targets were also found to be involved in cytokine interaction and cellular adhesion. Importantly, expression of miR-25 and miR-92a in stromal tissues was associated with a variety of clinicopathologic factors.
Oncogenic miRNAs were highly expressed in cancer stroma. Although further validation is required, the finding that stromal miRNA expression levels were associated with clinicopathologic factors suggests the possibility that miRNAs in cancer stroma are crucially involved in cancer progression.
Background
Recently, several immune checkpoint inhibitors have been developed and are being used to treat malignant melanoma, lung cancer, and other cancers. Several reports have indicated that ...tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with clinical and histopathologic risk factors in various cancers. However, the role of TILs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been well studied. This study aimed to investigate the perilesional status of TILs in ESCC and to show associations between TILs and clinical variables.
Methods
The study enrolled 277 ESCC patients. Evaluation of TILs was performed according to the criteria of the International TILs Working Group 2014, and associations between TIL and clinicopathologic variables were examined.
Results
Most of the clinicopathologic factors were not statistically associated with TIL status. The number of patients who received adjuvant therapy was significantly larger in the TIL-negative group. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients in the TIL-positive group was significantly better than in the TIL-negative group. Among the patients who received adjuvant therapy, CSS was significantly better in the TIL-positive group than in the TIL-negative group. Uni- and multivariate analyses identified tumor depth and TIL status as independent prognostic factors for CSS. Among the other clinicopathologic variables, TIL status was the strongest CSS indicator.
Conclusion
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte status is a strong predictor of good prognosis for ESCC patients.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Nuclear expression of Y-box-binding protein (YBX1) is closely correlated with clinical poor outcomes and drug resistance in breast cancer. Nuclear translocation of YBX1 is facilitated by YBX1 ...phosphorylation at serine 102 by AKT, p70S6K, and p90RSK, and the phosphorylated YBX1 (pYBX1) promotes expression of genes related to drug resistance and cell growth. A forthcoming problem to be addressed is whether targeting the phosphorylation of YBX1 overcomes antiestrogen resistance by progressive breast cancer. Here, we found that increased expression of pYBX1 was accompanied by acquired resistance to antiestrogens, fulvestrant and tamoxifen. Forced expression of YBX1/S102E, a constitutive phosphorylated form, resulted in acquired resistance to fulvestrant. Inversely, YBX1 silencing specifically overcame antiestrogen resistance. Furthermore, treatment with everolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor, or TAS0612, a novel multikinase inhibitor of AKT, p70S6K, and p90RSK, suppressed YBX1 phosphorylation and overcame antiestrogen resistance
and
IHC analysis revealed that expression of pYBX1 and YBX1 was augmented in patients who experienced recurrence during treatment with adjuvant endocrine therapies. Furthermore, pYBX1 was highly expressed in patients with triple-negative breast cancer compared with other subtypes. TAS0612 also demonstrated antitumor effect against triple-negative breast cancer
Taken together, our findings suggest that pYBX1 represents a potential therapeutic target for treatment of antiestrogen-resistant and progressive breast cancer.
Tumor location and immunity play important roles in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the differences in the immunosurveillance pattern between right‐ and ...left‐sided CRC and analyze their association with clinicopathologic features, including mismatch repair (MMR) status. We included surgically resected stage II/III CRC cases and evaluated the immunohistochemical findings of HLA class I, HLA class II, programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), PD‐1, CTLA‐4, CD3, CD4, CD8, TIA‐1, T‐bet, GATA3, RORγT, Foxp3, and CD163. A total of 117 patients were included in the analyses; of these, 30 and 87 had right‐ and left‐sided cancer, respectively. Tumor immunity varied according to the tumor location in the overall cohort. Analysis of the tumors excluding those with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency also revealed that tumor immunity differed according to the tumor location. In right‐sided colon cancer (CC), high expression of Foxp3 (P = .0055) and TIA‐1 (P = .0396) were associated with significantly better disease‐free survival (DFS). High CD8 (P = .0808) and CD3 (P = .0863) expression tended to have better DFS. Furthermore, in left‐sided CRC, only high PD‐L1 expression in the stroma (P = .0426) was associated with better DFS. In multivariate analysis, high Foxp3 expression in right‐sided CC was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (hazard ratio, 7.6445; 95% confidence interval, 1.2091‐150.35; P = .0284). In conclusion, the immunosurveillance pattern differs between right‐ and left‐sided CRC, even after adjusting for MMR deficiency.
Comparison of Kaplan‐Meier curves of disease‐free survival (DFS) in each tumor location excluding DNA mismatch repair deficiency. In right‐sided colon cancer, high Foxp3 (P = .0055) and TIA‐1 expression (P = .0396) were associated with significantly better DFS. High CD8 (P = .0808) and CD3 (0.0863) expression showed a tendency towards better DFS. In left‐sided colorectal cancer, only high sPD‐L1 expression (P = .0426) was associated with better DFS.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
This study explored postoperative outcomes for patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) or intersphincteric resection (ISR). A total of 49 patients (33 LAR, 16 ...ISR) were followed using anorectal manometry and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires over a year, pre- and post surgery. The primary aim of this study is to clarify differences in anal manometry, sphincter function, fecal incontinence, and QOL between the two surgical arms. The secondary aim was to identify indicators suitable for assessing relationships between anorectal manometry measurements, fecal incontinence, and QOL. Anorectal manometry elements (AMEs), such as atmospheric maximum mean squeeze pressure (aMSP), maximum tolerable volume (MTV), and incremental maximum mean squeeze pressure (iMSP), showed no significant differences during the observation period. However, maximum resting pressure (MRP), high-pressure zone length (HPZ), and threshold volume (TV) were significantly worse in the ISR group. Fecal incontinence, measured by Wexner and Kirwan scores, was significantly better in the LAR group. We observed no differences in SF36 between the two groups. Multi-correlation analysis revealed positive and negative correlations among these factors, with inverse correlations between anorectal manometry measurements and incontinence assessments decreasing post-surgery. We found no correlation between SF36 and anorectal manometry at any time. The findings indicate that surgical technique affects postoperative anal function, fecal incontinence, and SF36. However, combined assessment methods should be used with caution when deriving relationships between anal function and SF36.This study explored postoperative outcomes for patients with lower rectal cancer who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) or intersphincteric resection (ISR). A total of 49 patients (33 LAR, 16 ISR) were followed using anorectal manometry and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires over a year, pre- and post surgery. The primary aim of this study is to clarify differences in anal manometry, sphincter function, fecal incontinence, and QOL between the two surgical arms. The secondary aim was to identify indicators suitable for assessing relationships between anorectal manometry measurements, fecal incontinence, and QOL. Anorectal manometry elements (AMEs), such as atmospheric maximum mean squeeze pressure (aMSP), maximum tolerable volume (MTV), and incremental maximum mean squeeze pressure (iMSP), showed no significant differences during the observation period. However, maximum resting pressure (MRP), high-pressure zone length (HPZ), and threshold volume (TV) were significantly worse in the ISR group. Fecal incontinence, measured by Wexner and Kirwan scores, was significantly better in the LAR group. We observed no differences in SF36 between the two groups. Multi-correlation analysis revealed positive and negative correlations among these factors, with inverse correlations between anorectal manometry measurements and incontinence assessments decreasing post-surgery. We found no correlation between SF36 and anorectal manometry at any time. The findings indicate that surgical technique affects postoperative anal function, fecal incontinence, and SF36. However, combined assessment methods should be used with caution when deriving relationships between anal function and SF36.
Background
The importance of mesenchymal characteristics has not been fully elucidated in esophageal cancer.
Methods
Ten normal and 77 tumor specimens were collected. Microarray analysis was ...performed to analyze the expression patterns of epithelial markers, mesenchymal markers, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and stem cell markers. RT-PCR analysis was conducted to confirm the results of microarray analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to verify the level of protein expression. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between selected genes and clinicopathological factors.
Results
Microarray analysis showed that epithelial markers were significantly down-regulated whereas mesenchymal markers and EMT transcription factors were up-regulated in cancer cells. Two types of gene expression patterns were found in the clustering analysis, type 1 tumors and type 2 tumors. Type 1 tumor clusters did not reveal a fixed gene expression pattern whereas type 2 tumor clusters revealed up-regulation of mesenchymal markers EMT inducers and related genes. Vimentin and fibronectin were selected to distinguish between tumor types 1 and 2. Type 2 tumors showed significantly larger tumor sizes (
p
< 0.0001), wider ranges of lymph node metastasis (
p
= 0.0057), and a more severe clinical stage (
p
< 0.0001) than did type 1 tumors. The prognosis of patients with type 2 tumors was significantly worse than that of patients with type 1 tumors. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that classification of type 2 tumors was an independent prognostic factor.
Conclusions
The analysis of mesenchymal markers in esophageal cancer is useful in distinguishing patients with a poor prognosis.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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