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The natriuretic peptide family (NPs) is a group of natural endocrine hormones, containing a 17-amino acid ring structure connected by disulfide bonds of two cysteines. In this review, the members of the natriuretic peptide family and their corresponding receptors as well as the anti-cancer effects are introduced. Four cardiac hormones of NPs (ANP, VD, KP and LANP) can effectively inhibit the growth of human small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and other tumors and significantly reduce tumor volume in vivo. The in vitro experiments also show that cardiac hormones, CNP and urodilatin can effectively inhibit the growth of most tumor cells. We then further summarized the anti-cancer mechanism of natriuretic peptides. Finally, we will introduce several methods that modify natriuretic peptides, leading to enhance their stability and prolong the biological effects of these peptides, which might be helpful for the clinical application in the future. Peptide therapy is a very promising field for cancer treatments since they can induce the death of cancer cells without dramatically affecting normal cells. The synthesis of a useful and stable natriuretic peptide can enhance the effect of cancer treatments and significantly reduce drug resistance and toxicity.

Background & Aims Hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) both exhibit notable cancer stem cell (CSC) features. Moreover, the development of both diseases is closely associated with the presence of CSCs. We investigated the role of brain-expressed X-linked protein 1 (BEX1) in regulating the CSC properties of HB and a subtype of HCC with high CSC features (CSC-HCC). Methods Stemness scores were analyzed in 5 murine HCC models. A subpopulation of BEX1-positive cells and BEX1-negative cells were sorted from HCC cell lines, and subjected to transcriptome analysis. The expression and function of BEX1 was examined via western blotting, sphere formation assays, and xenograft tumor models. Results We identified BEX1 as a novel CSC marker that was required for the self-renewal of liver CSCs. Furthermore, zebularine, a potent DNMT1 inhibitor, can induce the reactivation of BEX1 by removing epigenetic inhibition. Notably, BEX1 was highly expressed in patients with HB and CSC-HCC, but not in patients with non-CSC HCC. Moreover, DNMT1-mediated methylation of the BEX1 promoter resulted in differential BEX1 expression patterns in patients with HB, CSC-HCC, and non-CSC-HCC. Mechanistically, BEX1 interacted with RUNX3 to block its inhibition of β-catenin transcription, which led to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and stemness maintenance in both HB and CSC-HCC. In contrast, downregulated BEX1 expression released RUNX3 and inhibited the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in non-CSC-HCC. Conclusion BEX1, under the regulation of DNMT1, is necessary for the self-renewal and maintenance of liver CSCs through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, rendering BEX1 a potentially valuable therapeutic target in both HB and CSC-HCC. Lay summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to a high rate of cancer recurrence, as well as resistance to conventional therapies. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying their self-renewal remains elusive. Herein, we have reported that BEX1 plays a key role in regulating CSC properties in different types of liver cancer. Targeting BEX1-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling may help to address the high rate of recurrence, and heterogeneity of liver cancer.

Summary Background The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has significantly increased in adults Objectives The primary objective was to evaluate the age-standardized incidence (ASI) of young-onset CRC from 1988 to 2013. The secondary objective was to assess factors associated with cancer-specific death (CSD). Methods We accessed data of 64,854 CRC patients (20–49 years old) from the United States Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database. Results A gradual increase in the ASI of CRC in the study population was found: from 3.59/100,000 males in 1988 to 5.21/100,000 males in 2013, and from 3.15/100,000 females in 1988 to 4.45/100,000 females in 2013. ASI adjusted by race revealed a relatively pronounced increase in the white population compared to African American and other races, with an increase from 3.07/100,000 persons in 1988 to 4.79/100,000 persons in 2013. Males had a 19% higher likelihood of CRC-related death compared to females [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.23], and African American had a 1.34-fold higher likelihood of CRC-related death compared to whites (95% CI: 1.28–1.39). CRC-related death was significantly higher in patients with signet ring-cell histology (HR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.45–1.68), compared to patients with adenocarcinoma. Male gender, and advanced stage predicted a higher likelihood of CRC-related death in African Americans compared to the whole population. Signet ring-cell histology, advanced stage, and advanced grade were significantly associated with CRC-related death in African-American patients. Conclusion This study corroborates emerging data that the (ASI) of young-onset CRC is increasing. It also identified factors associated with cancer-specific death in this population that may aid in targeting screening strategies for adults

Background This study was designed to compare the long-term surgical outcomes of patients with mid and low rectal cancer after open or hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS). Methods A case-matched controlled prospective analysis of 116 patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) for stage I to III mid and low rectal cancer from 2005 to 2010 was performed. Contemporary patients who underwent open rectal surgery were matched to the HALS group at the ratio of 1:1. The perioperative clinical outcomes, postoperative pathology, and survival outcomes were compared between the groups. Results The patient characteristics between the two groups were comparable. Ninety patients in the open group and 85 in the HALS group received sphincter-preserving surgery. HALS resulted in less blood loss and wound infection, faster return to oral diet, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and longer operating time. The two groups had similar complication rates. Lymph node retrieval and involvement of circumferential and distal margins were similar for both procedures. Cumulative incidences of locoregional recurrence, disease-free, or overall survival rates were statistically similar. Conclusions This study suggests that HALS for mid and low rectal cancer is acceptable in terms of short-term clinical outcomes and long-term survival results.

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Numerous studies have identified the roles of survivin −31 G/C and angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphisms in CRC risk; however, the results remain inconclusive. This study was to investigate associations between these two polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted to collect relevant case–control studies published between 2000 and 2014. The extracted data were statistically analyzed, and the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to estimate the strength of association. Results A total of 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For survivin G/C polymorphism, six articles reported 1,840 cases and 1,804 controls. Overall, we found the frequency of C allele is higher in CRC cases than that in the healthy controls (57.2% vs. 48.0%), and C allele significantly increased the risk of CRC compared to G allele in allele model (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.33–1.60, P

Most surgeons suggest the use of fecal diversion in patients undergoing low anterior resections of rectal tumors at high risk for anastomotic leakage. We describe an exploratory study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new diversion method called a spontaneously closing cannula ileostomy, which was designed to protect rectal anastomoses in patients at high risk for anastomotic leakage. The outcomes of patients treated with cannula ileostomy were compared to those of patients treated with loop ileostomy.Outcomes included the rates of anastomotic leakage, reoperation and other complications, as well as length of hospital stay and cost.From January 2011 to December 2012, 294 patients undergoing low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis were treated with ileum diversion using cannula ileostomy or traditional loop ileostomy. Demographics, clinical features, and operational data were recorded.The anastomotic leakage rates were 8.1% (12/149) in the cannula ileostomy group and 8.3% (12/145) in the loop ileostomy group (p = 1.0). The reoperation rate was 3% (4/149) in patients treated with a cannula ileostomy and 3.4% (5/145) in those who underwent a loop ileostomy (p = 0.75). The median length of the hospital stay was 8.6 days in the cannula ileostomy group and 17.1 days (p0.01) in the loop ileostomy group, including time for the initial and reversal operations. In the cannula ileostomy group, the median time to defecation from the anus was 16.5 days after the operation. During the follow-up period, 13 patients in the loop ileostomy group retained their stoma, as compared to 2 in the cannula ileostomy group (p0.01).This study was a nonrandomized design and lacked contrast enema data to identify anastomotic leaks.Cannula ileostomy is a safe and effective diverting technique that protects low colorectal and coloanal anastomoses. Patients receiving a cannula ileostomy had shorter hospital stays and lower rates of permanent stoma than those receiving a loop ileostomy.