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Oncol Lett 15: 7144-7152, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8219 Subsequently to the publication of the above paper, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that a number of apparent anomalies existed with certain of the data presented in one of figures. Following an internal enquiry, the Editor of I Oncology Letters i shares the same concerns regarding the authenticity of these images that were raised by the interested reader; therefore, in view of the potential anomalies that have been identified and owing to a lack of overall confidence in the presented data, the Editor has decided to retract the above paper from the publication. [Extracted from the article]

Background: There is an emerging concept that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis and could be used as biomarkers. However, the clinical significance of human translational regulatory lncRNA (treRNA) in CRC is largely unknown. The purpose of the study was to examine the value of treRNA as a biomarker in colorectal cancer patients., Methods: treRNA expression was studied in 78 tumors and adjacent tissues in colorectal cancer patients using quantitative real-time PCR., Results: treRNA was found to be highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissue in contrast to adjacent tissue (P<0.05). Moreover, positive correlation was found between high treRNA expression and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Patients with high treRNA expression were found with compromised overall survival (OS) compared with the low treRNA expression group, according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. Moreover, Cox regression model analysis suggested high expression of treRNA as an independent poor prognostic factor for CRC patients., Conclusions: Overexpression of treRNA could be associated with lymphatic metastasis and compromised survival of CRC. treRNA has potential to be used as a new biomarker for CRC lymphatic metastasis and survival., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2019.)

Aquaporin 5 (AQP-5) is highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissue and associated with colorectal cancer development and prognosis. Here, we explored the effects of AQP-5 on colorectal cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis and the underlying mechanism by inhibiting endogenous AQP-5 expression in the human colorectal cancer cell lines COLO 205 and SW480. These cells were transfected with an AQP-5-siRNA, and transfection efficiency and its effects on AQP-5 expression were assessed by immunofluorescence and PCR, respectively. Then, cell proliferation was assessed via the MTT assay, apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-FITC/PI and TUNEL assays, and expression changes in Bax and Bcl-2 were assessed by RT-PCR and western blotting. Transfection with AQP-5-siRNA reduced AQP-5 expression by up to 62%. The MTT assay showed that cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by AQP-5-siRNA transfection compared to that in NS-siRNA-transfected cells ( P < 0.05). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the percentage of apoptotic AQP-5-siRNA-transfected cells was significantly higher than that of NS-siRNA-transfected cells ( P < 0.05). Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting showed that AQP-5-siRNA significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA and protein ratios compared with those following NS-siRNA transfection. Thus, AQP5-siRNA promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, which may be associated with Bax/Bcl expression., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

Tumor metastasis are accompanied by the EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition)-MET (mesenchymal-epithelial transition) two-step process. In this study, we investigated the importance of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) in the process. First, the primary cultures of isolated pancreatic CAF, fibroblasts of normal pancreatic tissues (NF), and normal hepatic stellate cells (HSF) were identified and verified via the expression of α-SMA and vimentin. Using an indirect three-dimensional co-culture model, the morphological changes were observed by light microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The invasive and migration capacity of pancreatic cancer cells was determined by Transwell chamber migration assay or scratch assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin, vimentin, and Gli1 were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting. Primary cultures of isolated CAF, NF, HSF showed satisfactory growth with active proliferation. Indirect co-culture with CAF, BxPc-3 and Panc-1 cells showed significant partial EMT, reduced E-cadherin expression, and enhanced vimentin expression as compared with the single culture and NF/HSF co-culture groups, with corresponding increases in migratory and invasive capacities. PCR and western blotting results showed that mRNA and protein expression levels of Gli1 in CAF and Snail in cancer cells were increased. This process could be reversed by inhibition of hedgehog (HH) signaling in CAF. In the tumor microenvironment, activation of CAF is the key event in mediating partial EMT, and its mechanism may be associated with paracrine action after activation of HH signaling in CAF.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features of patients with gallbladder cancer from 17 hospitals in 5 Northwestern provinces (autonomous region) of China from 2009 to 2013., Methods: A total of 2 379 cases with gallbladder cancer in 17 tertiary hospitals from 5 Northwestern provinces of China from January 2009 to December 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical data was collected by standardized "Questionnaire for Clinical Survey of Gallbladder Cancer in Northwestern Area of China". χ² test was used to analyze the data., Results: (1) Gallbladder cancer from 17 hospitals accounted for 1.6%-6.8% of all bile tract diseases from 2009 to 2013 in Northwestern China, average was 2.7%. Gallbladder cancer accounted for 0.4%-0.9% of abdominal surgery, average was 0.7%. (2) The incidence of gallbladder cancer was higher in the aged females, the ration of female to male was 1.0 to 2.1. The average age of gallbladder cancer was (64 ± 11) years. The occupation of patients was mainly farmers (χ² = 147.10, P < 0.01). (3) 57.2% of the gallbladder cancers were associated with gallstones. (4) The main pathological patterns of gallbladder cancer were moderate and poor differentiated adenocarcinoma, showing an aggressive malignancy. TNM stage IV accounted for 55.1% of all cases, which was associated with the poor prognosis. (5) The curative resection rate was 30.4%., Conclusions: Gallbladder cancer is common in the aged females and mainly at advanced stage. The screening and follow-up of high-risk groups with ultrasound and other methods regularly could increase the early diagnosis rate of gallbladder cancer, aggressive surgical resection combined with other comprehensive treatment could improve the prognosis of patients.

Statins, cholesterol‑lowering drugs, are one of the most commonly prescribed types of medications. Previous studies have suggested that simvastatin may inhibit the cell function and tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying simvastatin‑induced apoptosis in HCC cells remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of simvastatin in the regulation of cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 HCC cells, and to elucidate the specific regulatory mechanisms by which simvastatin proceeds. MTT, trypan blue and flow cytometric analyses were performed in order to detect viability, proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that simvastatin significantly decreased cell viability and proliferation as well as increased apoptosis in HepG2 and Huh7 cells compared to that in untreated cells. In addition, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis revealed that simvastatin‑treated cells exhibited increased expression levles of Notch1, p53, and Bax, as well as decreased expression levels of B cell lymphoma 2; furthermore, Notch1 upregulation resulted in the inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that simvastatin significantly promoted apoptosis in HCC cells, the mechanism of which may have proceeded via the upregualtion of the Notch1 gene in the Akt‑dependent signaling pathway.

Objective: To establish a novel bioartificial liver (BAL) consisting of spheroids of porcine hepatocytes in a hollow-fiber bioreactor, and to perform an in vitro study on its metabolic effects on the serum from severe hepatitis B patients., Methods: Hepatocytes were isolated from pup pigs and cultured as aggregate spheroids through rotation and vibration. Phase-contrast microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used for morphological detection of hepatocyte spheroids. The hepatocyte spheroids were then transferred into the shell of a polysulfone hollow-fiber bioreactor, creating a novel BAL. Diluted serum samples of severe hepatitis B patients were circulated for 3 hours each into the bioreactor, by using an extracorporeal circulatory system. Every half hour, including both before and after perfusion, serum samples were collected to assay total bilirubin (TBIL), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and globulin (GLB) concentrations in order to judge the metabolic effects of this novel BAL., Results: Most hepatocytes had formed spheroids with high viability after 24 hours in culture. After 3 hours of perfusion, when compared with the control group, the serum concentration of TBIL in the treatment group decreased significantly (P < 0.01), but the serum concentrations of TP and ALB increased significantly (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Hepatocytes can be conveniently cultured as aggregate spheroids through a rotation and vibration method. The novel BAL is efficient in removing bilirubin from the serum of severe hepatitis B patients, and in supplying the serum with ALB. Thus, the BAL might provide effective therapy for patients with severe hepatitis B.