Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy in dogs with thyroid carcinoma

Currently, a histological diagnosis of highly vascularized canine (c) thyroid carcinoma (TC) is primarily obtained following excisional biopsy (EB) through thyroidectomy. Non-EBs are contraindicated in unresectable invasive cTCs due to their highly vascularized nature, which subsequently, lack histological diagnosis. We hypothesised ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (UGCNB) to be a safe biopsy technique to obtain an accurate histological diagnosis in unresectable TCs. Nine client-owned dogs with suspected naturally occurring TC, presented for surgical excision, were included. First, a UGCNB was taken from the cervical tumour, followed by EB. Haemorrhage following UGCNB was evaluated preoperatively and once the tumour was surgically exposed by visual inspection and ultrasonography. Histological analysis, including cell organisation, tumour capsular and vascular invasion, and immunohistochemistry were performed and compared between both biopsy specimens (i.e., UGCNB and EB) of the same dog. Pre- and peroperative visual inspection revealed minor, localised haemorrhage, subsequent to the UGCNB, in 7/9 dogs. Histology of the EBs confirmed TC in 8/9 dogs and was inconclusive in 1/9 dogs. Histology of the UGCNBs revealed neoplastic thyroid tissue in 7/9 UGCNBs and was inconclusive in 1/9 UGCNBs. The remaining UGCNB contained no mass related tissue and was, therefore, excluded. Histological parameters (i.e., cell organisation, tumour capsular and vascular invasion) were not concordant between 6/8 included UGCNBs and their respective EB. Immunolabelling for thyroglobulin and calcitonin was concordant between all eight included UGCNBs and their respective EB. The remaining evaluated immunohistochemical markers (i.e., cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], P-glycoprotein and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) were concordant between the included UGCNBs and the EBs in 6/8 dogs. To conclude, UGCNBs can be safely obtained in suspected cTCs and enable a reliable diagnosis of the thyroid origin, thyroid cell origin and potential therapeutic markers such as COX-2, P-glycoprotein and VEGF. Subsequently, UGCNB enables clinicians to establish an individually tailored treatment plan in dogs with unresectable TC.     

Highly recurrent BRAF p.V595E mutation in canine papillary oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral epithelial malignancy in dogs. It exhibits locally aggressive biological behaviour with the potential to metastasize, and a reported 1-year survival rate of 0% when left untreated. Expression studies suggest that aberrant MAPK signalling plays a key role in canine OSCC tumorigenesis, which is consistent with BRAF and HRAS MAPK-activating mutations reported in some tumours. Several morphological subtypes of canine OSCC have been described, with papillary, conventional, and basaloid as the most common patterns. We hypothesized that mutational differences may underlie these phenotypic variations. In this study, targeted Sanger sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays demonstrate that up to 85.7% of canine papillary OSCC (n = 14) harbour a BRAF p.V595E mutation. Assessment of neoplastic epithelial cell proliferation using Ki67 immunolabelling (n = 10) confirmed a relatively high proliferation activity, consistent with their known aggressive clinical behaviour. These findings underscore a consistent genetic feature of canine papillary OSCC and provide a basis for the development of novel diagnostic and targeted therapeutic approaches that can improve the quality of veterinary care.     

Progress in RNA-binding protein HuR and its roles in development of hepatocellular carcinoma

RNA-binding proteins （RBP） are molecules with a variety of biological functions discovered in recent years. Among them, HuR is an important RBP, widely expressed in various tissues of the body, and is a member of the Hu/embryonic lethal abnormal vision （ELAV） protein family. It mainly affects the expression levels of target genes in the cells by regulating the stability and/or translation efficiency of the mRNA of the genes, thus participating in the regulation of cell life activities. In recent years, more and more studies on HuR have revealed its important role in inflammation and cancer. This review summarizes the functions of HuR and probes into the regulation of HuR functions. In addition, the roles of HuR in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） are also discussed, which provides important information for exploring the pathogenesis, biomarkers and therapeutic targets of HCC.     

茶叶提取物对抗肺癌细胞(A549)体外试验研究

观察表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)、茶黄素-3、3'-双没食子酸酯(TFDG)、茶黄素(TF)、茶黄素复合物(TFs)、葡萄籽提取物(GrapeSeedExtract,GSE)、松树皮提取物(PineBarkExtract,PBE)、咖啡因(Caf)、槲寄生(VCE)和茶氨酸(The)的体外抗癌活性,通过人肺癌细胞(A549)进行体外试验,结果表明除咖啡因、槲寄生、茶氨酸的作用较小以外其他几种均有很强的促进人肺癌细胞(A549)凋亡的作用,并且EGCG的作用最强,顺序为EGCG、TFs>GSE>PBE、TFDG>TF。用作图法求得EGCG、GSE、PBE、TFDG和TF的IC50值分别为1.01μM、21.91μM、31.01μM、32.87μM和279.67μM。     

Spontaneous well-differentiated pancreatic islet cell carcinoma with vascular invasion in a male F344 rat

This case report describes a case of spontaneous pancreatic islet cell carcinoma with vascular invasion in a 110-week-old male F344 rat. Histologically, a pancreatic nodule consisting of tumor cells and many blood-rich vessels, and covered with a fibrous capsule showed local invasion in the capsule and adjacent acinar tissues, encircling a large duct-like structure (DS). The tumor was composed of well-differentiated tumor cells resembling normal pancreatic islet cells, which had small round nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were positive for insulin. Although endothelial cells were not detected, the DS wall showed cells positive for α-smooth muscle actin and elastic fibers, suggesting that the DS is the pancreatic artery. This is a rare case of islet cell carcinoma consisting of well-differentiated tumor cells with invasion of the pancreatic artery in a rat.     

Prediction of vascular invasion using a 7‐point scale computed tomography grading system in adrenal tumors in dogs

BackgroundPrevious studies evaluating the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in detecting caudal vena cava (CVC) invasion by adrenal tumors (AT) used a binary system and did not evaluate for other vessels.ObjectiveTest a 7‐point scale CT grading system for accuracy in predicting vascular invasion and for repeatability among radiologists. Build a decision tree based on CT criteria to predict tumor type.MethodsRetrospective observational cross‐sectional case study. Abdominal CT studies were analyzed by 3 radiologists using a 7‐point CT grading scale for vascular invasion and by 1 radiologist for CT features of AT.AnimalsDogs with AT that underwent adrenalectomy and had pre‐ and postcontrast CT.ResultsNinety‐one dogs; 45 adrenocortical carcinomas (50%), 36 pheochromocytomas (40%), 9 adrenocortical adenomas (10%) and 1 unknown tumor. Carcinoma and pheochromocytoma differed in pre‐ and postcontrast attenuation, contralateral adrenal size, tumor thrombus short‐ and long‐axis, and tumor and thrombus mineralization. A decision tree was built based on these differences. Adenoma and malignant tumors differed in contour irregularity. Probability of vascular invasion was dependent on CT grading scale, and a large equivocal zone existed between 3 and 6 scores, lowering CT accuracy to detect vascular invasion. Radiologists'' agreement for detecting abnormalities (evaluated by chance‐corrected weighted kappa statistics) was excellent for CVC and good to moderate for other vessels. The quality of postcontrast CT study had a negative impact on radiologists'' performance and agreement.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFeatures of CT may help radiologists predict AT type and provide probabilistic information on vascular invasion.     

金槐米槲皮素对人鼻咽癌细胞的干预作用研究

[目的]探讨金槐米槲皮素对人鼻咽癌CNE2细胞的干预作用。[方法]通过微波辅助提取法从桂北金槐米中提取槲皮素并纯化,用浓度20、40、60和80μmol/L的槲皮素作用于人鼻咽癌细胞CNE2;分别在24、48和72 h后,采用MTT法初步检测人鼻咽癌细胞被抑制的情况,用流式细胞术分析其细胞周期和凋亡率、光学显微镜观察细胞形态学变化。[结果]从槐米中提取的槲皮素对鼻咽癌细胞有明显的抑制作用,且呈浓度、时间明显的依赖性,药物干预作用的最适浓度为60μmol/L,药物干预后形态学观察的最适宜时间为48 h。细胞周期分析显示,槲皮素能阻滞鼻咽癌细胞于G1期。[结论]从桂北金槐米中提取的槲皮素对人鼻咽癌细胞有较强的干预作用。     

大肠癌中HSP27、p14^ARF和caspase-3蛋白的表达及意义

目的：探讨HSP27、p14^ARF和caspase-3蛋白在大肠癌中的表达及其与大肠癌I临床病理特征的关系。方法：利用sP法检测大肠癌48例和大肠腺瘤10例以及正常大肠黏膜组织15例中HSP27、p14^ARF和caspase-3蛋白的表达。结果：大肠癌组织中HSP27、p14^ARF和caspase-3蛋白阳性表达率分别为79．2％、58．4％和66．7％,大肠腺瘤组织中分别为40．0％、70．0％和100．0％,正常大肠黏膜组织中分别为33．3％、80．0％和93．3％。p14^ARF和caspase-3蛋白的表达在高、中分化癌组的表达率分别为64．1％、74．4％,明显高于低分化组22．2％、33．3％（Pd0．05）。结论：HSP27、p14^ARF和caspase-3与大肠癌的发生有关,可作为大肠癌临床评价肿瘤生物学行为的指标。     

FAM3C activates Akt to promote viability of oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the expression and roles of family with sequence similarity 3, member C (FAM3C) in oral squamous-cell carcinoma cells. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of FAM3C in dysplastic oral keratinocyte (DOK) and oral squamous-cell carcinoma WSU-HN6 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The WSU-HN6 cells were treated with siFAM3C or FAM3C antibody. After 24, 48 and 72 h, the viability of WSU-HN6 cells was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the activation of protein kinase B (Akt) was detected by Western blot. Adenovirus was used to mediate over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells. The DOK cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay after adenovirus infection for 24, 48 and 72 h, and the activation of Akt was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the DOK cells, the mRNA and protein levels of FAM3C were significantly increased in the WSU-HN6 cells (P<0.05). The viability of WSU-HN6 cells transfected with siFAM3C was significantly inhibited at 48 h and 72 h (P<0.05). siFAM3C treatment inhibited the activation of Akt (P<0.05). FAM3C antibody treatment also suppressed the viability of the WSU-HN6 cells at 48 h and 72 h and the activation of Akt (P<0.05). Over-expression of FAM3C in the DOK cells promoted the cell viability at 48 h and 72 h and activated Akt (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FAM3C might promote oral squamous-cell carcinoma cell growth by activating Akt.