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The work-up was an integration of product purification and resource recovery, which reduced PMI and WI. The recyclability of both zinc oxide and DESs was proved via the preparation of vorinostat at the gram scale for at least four consecutive runs.

SET protein is a multi-functional oncoprotein that is ubiquitously expressed in most tumor cells. Dysregulation of SET has been associated with many types of cancer. Due to ever-accumulating evidence of its strong correlation with both poor prognosis and drug resistance, the targeting of SET is starting to be explored. SET is currently regarded as a potential target for cancer therapy, and several inhibitors are being developed for clinical trials. In this review, the physiological and pathological functions of SET, as well as its antagonists, will be discussed along with the prospects and challenges involved with translating SET inhibitors into bona fide therapeutic options.

Background The study aimed to investigate the correlation between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). Methods A retrospective analysis of 118 patients with T1D recruited from January 2014 to March 2019 was performed, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the incidence of T1D; the age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) of the patients; the disease duration and the glycosylated haemoglobin and venous blood glucose levels. All patients who suffered low back pain were assessed by MRI using the Pfirrmann grading system. Results A total of 118 patients with an average age of 36.99 ± 17.01 (8–85 years) were reviewed. The mean hospitalization duration, venous glucose fluctuation range, glycated haemoglobin level, highest venous glucose level, venous glucose level, and disease course duration were 13.98 ± 10.16 days, 14.99 ± 5.87 mmol/L, 9.85 ± 2.52 mmol/L, 25.29 ± 7.92 mmol/L, 13.03 ± 5.75 mmol/L and 7.30 ± 8.41 years. The average Pfirrmann scores of the different discs were 2.20 ± 0.62 (L1–2), 2.35 ± 0.67 (L2–3), 2.90 ± 0.45 (L3–4), 4.20 ± 0.52 (L4–5) and 4.10 ± 0.72 (L5–S1). The patients with T1D showed severe disc degeneration. The male sex, glycosylated haemoglobin, venous glucose and venous glucose fluctuations were significantly associated with LDD (P < 0.05). Conclusions Glycosylated haemoglobin, the male, venous glucose and the venous glucose fluctuation range were risk factors for LDD.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a member of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, is involved in innate immunity and mediates inflammatory responses by recognizing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or bacterial endotoxins. Hyperactivation of TLR4 triggers the production of various inflammatory factors, which are associated with the development of a variety of diseases, such as sepsis, endotoxemia, acute lung injury, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. And anti-inflammatory potential of TLR4 inhibitors have been validated. In this review, we discuss TLR4 inhibitors that can bind directly to TLR4 or the TLR4/MD2 complex, and provide a brief introduction to compounds that can downregulate the expression of TLR4. We focused on the possible modes by which the TLR4 inhibitors bind to the TLR4 or TLR4/MD2 complex. Three compounds targeting TLR4 have entered clinical trials, but unfortunately, two of them have been discontinued due to poor efficacy. Therefore, the discovery of effective small molecular compounds is the main research focus for TLR4 inhibitor design. In this review, by summarizing results from molecular dynamics simulation and molecular docking, we found that the Arg241 residue of TLR4 and the Tyr102, Ser120, and Lys122 residues of MD2 are involved in the binding of antagonistic ligands to the TLR4/MD2 complex; this is useful information for structure-based TLR4 inhibitor design.

A retrospective study investigated the results of the lamina with spinous process (LSP) as a bone graft in one-level thoracic or lumbar spinal tuberculosis with the one-stage posterior approach of debridement, fusion and internal instrumentation. Data from 35 patients from January 2013 to December 2015 were analysed. Surgery time, blood loss, hospitalization time, drainage volume, and follow-up (FU) duration were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, segmental angle, and bone fusion were compared between preoperative and final FU. All of the patients were followed up for a mean 43.90 ± 10.39 months. The mean age, surgery time, blood loss, hospitalization time, hospital cost and drainage volume were 33.65 ± 11.06 years, 182.40 ± 23.82 min, 280.80 ± 76.82 mL, 14.05 ± 3.58 days, 74,382.00 ± 11,938.00 yuan, and 340.00 ± 167.20 mL, respectively. VAS and ODI were significantly improved at the final FU. The ESR and CRP recovered to normal. The mean angle of 24.35 ± 5.74°preoperatively showed a significant difference between 1 week, postoperatively and final FU. Although there were the loss of angle at final FU comparing with the 1 week postoperatively, it still maintain the good alignment and the segmental stability. All patients achieved bony fusion with a mean time of 12.90 ± 3.91 months. In conclusion, the LSP as a structural bone graft is reliable, safe and effective for segmental stability reconstruction, which could be one choice for surgical management of thoracic or lumbar spinal TB.

The aim of study was to investigate the complications of cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and to discuss the factors affecting the mobility of the prosthesis and the measures to prevent these complications. Hundred and five patients who underwent CDA between 2009 and 2016 were enrolled. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were used to assess and the complications were recorded as well. All the patients were followed-up with an average of 41.30 ± 16.90 months with an average age of 47.90 ± 9.22 years. The visual analogue scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores improved significantly at the final follow-up (FU) compared with the preoperative values. At the final FU, the overall incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO) was 51.42%. The distribution of different grades of HO was low-level HO (53.7%) and high-level HO (46.3%). No significant differences were found in the NDI, VAS, or JOA scores between patients with HO and those without HO (P > .05). In the high-level HO patients, the range of mobility (ROM) was significantly reduced compared with the low-level HO patients and those without HO (P

Background The study was to investigate the complications rate of and risk factors for unplanned reoperation among elderly patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). Methods A total of 1100 DLS patients who were older than 60 years were reviewed from January 2006 to December 2016. 33 patients underwent unplanned reoperations and were analysed and divided into two groups (group A: posterolateral fusion, 650 patients; group B: intervertebral fusion, 450 patients). Sex, body mass index (BMI), radiographic data and clinical outcome data were analysed to evaluate the complications rate of and the risk factors for unplanned reoperations. Results A total of 33 patients underwent unplanned reoperations (3%). The patients were followed up for an average of 4.20 ± 2.25 years (group A) and 4.32 ± 2.54 years (group B) without a significant difference. Significant differences were found in mean age, levels of involvement, hospital stay, surgery time, and blood loss between the groups. The causes of unplanned operation were wound infection, screw misplacement, neurological deficit, nonunion, and screw fracture, which were significant except for wound infection between the groups. Higher BMI (obesity), diabetes mellitus (DM), more bleeding and sex (female) were risk factors for complications. Cases of screw misplacement, neurological deficit, nonunion and screw fracture in group A were more significant than those in group B. Conclusion Patients with higher BMI, DM, older age, posterolateral fusion, and female sex predicted a higher incidence of unplanned reoperations. Spine surgeons may need to pay more attention to their preoperative training and to improving surgical techniques that could reduce the reoperation rate.

Background: Although various studies have described the methods of anaesthesia in percutaneous vertebroplasty(PV) in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), there is still no consensus on the optimal treatment regimen.The study aims to investigate the efficacy of three application methods of local anesthesia in PV treating OVCFs.Methods：A total of 96 patients of OVCFs were reviewed and divided into three groups(A: lidocaine, B: ropivacaine, C: lidocaine+ropivacaine). The visual analog scale(VAS), blood pressure(BP), heart rate(HR), blood oxygen saturation(BOS), surgery time were recorded at the points of before puncture, puncture, cement injection, and after surgery.Results: The mean age of the patients was 74.13±7.02 years in group A, 70.47±5.50 years in group B, and 73.07±7.51 years respectively without significant difference. No significant differences were found in the sex, age, hospital stay, surgery time, blood loss, and cement volume. During the period of before surgery and 4-hour after surgery, the VAS in group C decreased significantly at the period of puncture, cement injection, immediately after surgery. Overall, the systolic BP, diastolic BP, HR, BOS during the different period among the groups, there were no significant differences except the HR in the period of the puncture in group C was slower than that in other groups and HR in the period of cement injection in the group A was faster than other two groups. A correlation was observed between the VAS and the period of cement injection(r=0.5358), after surgery(r=0.5775) in group C.Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of the lidocaine in combination with ropivacaine could relieve the effective intraoperative pain in PV treating OVCFs patients which is reliable and safe.

Background: A retrospective study investigated and compared the results of a lamina withspinous process (LSP) and an iliac graft (IG) as bone grafts in single-segment lumbar pyogenic discitis (LPD) through one-stage-posterior-only approach with radical debridement and internal instrumentation.Methods: Data from 37 patients were reviewed. A LSP was placed in 17 patients (group A), and an IG was implemented in 20 patients (group B). The surgery time, surgery hemorrhage, hospital stay, drainage, and follow-up (FU) were reviewed. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, segmental angle, intervertebral height and bony fusion time were compared preoperatively and at the final FU.Results: All patients were followed-up for a mean of 27.94±2.35 months in group A and 30.29±1.89 months in group B, without a difference. The mean age was younger in group A than in group B (PAerobacter cloacae, 2 of Staphylococcus aureus, 2 of Escherichia coli, and 1 of Streptococcus viridis in group A and 1 of S. aureus，1 of Staphylococcus warneri and 2 of Klebsiella pneumoniae in group B. Pyogenic infection was observed in the pathological findings of all patients. No significant difference was found in the mean segmental angle or mean intervertebral height preoperation and at the final FU between the groups.Conclusion: The use of LSP as a new bone graft is reliable, safe, and effective for surgical management for the LPD while surgery is proposed as a good management strategy for LPD in carefully selected patients.

BackgroundA retrospective and comparative study of transverse process strut (TPS, Group A) compared with titanium mesh cages (TMCs, Group B) in the reconstruction of thoracic stability through the one-stage posterior approach to treat single-segment tuberculosis.MethodsSixty patients from January 2013 to December 2016 were analyzed and divided into two groups. The following data of clinical and radiographical assessments were observed preoperatively, postoperatively and during follow-up (FU).ResultsThe patients were followed up for an average of 50.20 ± 25.10 months (Group A) and 48.70 ± 27.30 months(Group B) without significant difference. No significant differences were found in the mean of operation time in minutes, blood loss, hospitalization time, drainage and follow-up duration between the groups. The VAS, ODI, ESR and CRP were reduced significantly at the final FU compared with the preoperation values and there was no significance between the groups. Neurological deficits were improved in all patients at the final FU without significant difference between the groups(P > 0.05). The bony fusion times were 5.85 ± 1.82 months and 8.4 ± 5.1 months with significant difference(P P P ConclusionsTPS had a better osseous fusion rate, effective maintenance of fused segment stability which is a good bone graft for surgical management of single-segment thoracic spinal tuberculosis.

Background The application of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide 66(n-HA/PA66) struts has become reliable in anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) as a source of sufficient segmental stability. This was a retrospective and long-term imaging evaluation of the n-HA/PA66 strut in 1-level ACCF. Methods The patients between June 2006 and December 2014, who underwent 1-level ACCF using an n-HA/PA66 strut, were reviewed. The neurological status was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and axial pain was evaluated using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the radiographic parameters were determined by X-ray and 3-D CT examinations when necessary for the evaluation of bone fusion using the Brantigan scale and imaging characteristics. Results A total of 520 patients underwent one-level ACCF, with a mean follow-up (FU) duration of 72.38 ± 24.56 months. The level of surgery was C4 in 58 cases, C5 in 173 cases, C6 in 208 cases, and C7 in 81 cases. According to the Brantigan scale, on X-ray examination, the bony fusion rate was observed to be 40%, 70%, 93%, and 98% at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and the final FU. An interesting radiographic appearance of the bone graft growth pattern was classified into three types. 95% of the patients accounted for types a and b. No significant differences were observed in age, hospitalization duration, surgical haemorrhage volume, or fusion rate among the types except in the percentage and sex of the patients among the types. Type a had better cervical lordosis, and less subsidence than types b and c (P P Conclusions The type a bone graft growth pattern could allow a lower incidence of subsidence and better maintenance of local and global alignment to be achieved and is thus proposed for surgeons.

The aim of this study was to investigate n-HA/PA66 strut subsidence after one-level in Anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion (ACCF) and its effect on treatment outcomes to better understand the underlying mechanism and related risk factors. In total, 56 patients undergoing ACCF using n-HA/PA66 struts were analysed retrospectively. After a 12-month follow-up, the height of the fused segments and fused intervertebral heights were measured, the neurological findings were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and axial pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Subsidence was defined as a decrease in the height of the fused segments or the fused intervertebral body greater than 3 mm compared with that on postoperative day one, and all patients were assigned to the n-HA/PA66 strut subsidence and control groups. In total, 45 patients experienced n-HA/PA66 strut subsidence during the postoperative (3 ± 2.42/3.11 ± 2.01) months. No significant differences were observed in sex, age, hospitalization time, surgical haemorrhage,bone mineral density (BMD), or height in the n-HA/PA66 strut group. The JOA and VAS of neck pain in the control group improved more than those in the subsidence group, suggesting that subsidence might be correlated with poor improvement of neurological function. In conclusion, n-HA/PA66 strut subsidence is a common complication after ACCF, and the reduced height of the postoperative fused segments and the height reduction in the postoperative fused intervertebral bodies are independent risk factors of n-HA/PA66 strut subsidence.

A synthetic route to 3-formylbenzenesulfonyl chloride derivatives from the corresponding benzaldehydes has been developed. The key step in this procedure is the conversion of aldehyde bisulfite adducts to target compounds via a two-stage reaction in the presence of Na2SO4. A series of 3-formylbenzenesulfonyl chloride derivatives were prepared by this method and identified by chemical derivatization method.

This retrospective study investigated the effect of the novel bone graft transverse process strut (TPS) in single segmental thoracic spinal tuberculosis (TB) with the one-stage posterior approach of debridement, fusion, and internal instrumentation. Thirty patients treated in our department from March 2014 to October 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical time, blood loss, hospitalization time, drainage volume, and follow-up (FU) duration were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade, segmental angle, and bone fusion were compared between preoperative and final FU. All the patients were followed for a mean 50.10 ± 25.10 months; the mean age, surgical time in minutes, blood loss, hospitalization time, and drainage volume were 46.23 ± 17.20 years, 195.08 ± 24.0 minutes, 280.77 ± 189.90 mL, 17.31 ± 4.23 days, 436.92 ± 193.81 mL, respectively. VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved at the final FU. The ESR and CRP returned to normal. All patients achieved bony fusion with a mean time of 5.85 ± 1.82 months and a mean segmental angle of 18.77 ± 2.49° preoperatively, which significantly decreased to 9.31 ± 1.54° at the final FU (P

The study aimed to analyze the radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that might predict the risk for adjacent segmental fractures (ASFs) when percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is used for the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (OTFs). A total of 92 OTFs patients who underwent PV between January 2013 and January 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry-Disability Index (ODI) and radiolographic measurements were assessed. The VAS and ODI scores improved significantly at the final follow-up (FU) compared with the preoperation scores. Compared with the preoperative values, the fractured body alignment (FBA) significantly improved at the 3-month FU and the final FU, but the adjacent segment alignment (ASA) and thoracolumbar alignment (TLA) did not improve. According to the correlation analysis, the final FU TLA and the final FU ASA were correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, and TLA on plain radiography and were highly correlated on MRI. However, the final FU FBA was not correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, or TLA on plain radiography or MRI (P > 0.05). The ASFs were correlated with the 3-month FU TLA (r = 0.6044, P = 0.0037) and the final FU TLA (r = 0.5699, P = 0.007) on plain radiography, and the final TLA was more correlated with the preoperative FBA, ASA, and TLA on MRI than on plain radiography. In conclusion, the preoperative ASA and TLA on MRI were risk factors associated with ASFs in OTFs treated with PV.

l -(−)-Quebrachitol, a natural product obtained from waste water of the rubber industry, was utilized as an efficient ligand for the copper-catalyzed hydroxylation and amination of aryl halides to selectively give phenols and aryl amines in water or 95% ethanol. In addition, the hydroxylation of 2-chloro-4-hydroxybenzoic acid was validated on a 100-g scale under air.

The compound of hydroxyapatite-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (HA-PLGA) was prepared by ionic bond between HA and PLGA. HA-PLGA was more stable than the simple physical blend of hydroxyapatite and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (HA/PLGA). The surface of HA-PLGA microsphere fabricated by an emulsion–solvent evaporation method was rougher than that of HA/PLGA microspheres. Moreover, surface HA content of HA-PLGA microspheres was more than that of HA/PLGA microspheres. In vitro mouse OCT-1 osteoblast-like cell culture results showed that the HA-PLGA microspheres clearly promoted osteoblast attachment, proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity. It was considered that surface rich HA component and rough surface of HA-PLGA microsphere enhanced cell growth and differentiation. The good cell affinity of the HA-PLGA microspheres indicated that they could be used as an injectable scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

We investigated the effects of the surface properties of polymer-based restorative materials on early adhesion of Streptococcus mutans (UA159) in vitro.Four direct polymer-based restorative materials, including a nanoparticle restorative (Filtek™ Z350, 3M ESPE, USA), a nano hybrid universal restorative (Filtek™ Z250 XT, 3M ESPE, USA), a low shrink posterior restorative (Filtek™ P90, 3M ESPE, USA) and a polymer-based pre-reacted glass ionomer (Beautifil II, Shofu, Japan), were selected. After polishing under different conditions, surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Surface roughness (SR), water contact angle (CAW) and surface free energy (SFE) were determined by profilometry and the sessile drop method. Early adhesion of S. mutans was investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The area occupied by adherent bacteria (A%) was calculated with COMSTAT2 software. The correlations between A% and SR, CAW, and SFE were analyzed by linear regression using SPSS 20.0 software at a significance level of 0.05.The value of A% was strongly correlated with SR (r=0.893, P0.01) for surface roughness (Ra) of 0.02-0.80μm, whereas a weaker correlation was obtained between A% and SR when Ra≤0.20μm (r=0.643, P0.01). On super smooth surfaces (0.02μm≤Ra≤0.06μm), SR did not influence early bacterial adhesion (r=0.001, P0.05), a medium positive correlation between A% and SFE was obtained (r=0.426, P0.01), and no correlation between A% and CAW was found (r=-0.028, P0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Early adhesion of S. mutans on direct polymer-based restorative materials was mainly affected by SR. SFE influenced early adhesion of S. mutans on super smooth surfaces, while hydrophobicity did not.

Y2O3-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) ceramics with high-performance were prepared for dental application by use of the micro-emulsion and two-step sintering method. The crystal phase, morphology, and microstructure of the reaction products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD results show that the ceramics mainly consist of tetragonal zirconia. Physical and mechanical properties test results show that the bending strength, fracture toughness, and the density of full sintered Y-TZP ceramics are 1150 MPa, 5.53 MPa·m1/2, and 6.08 g/cm3, respectively, which suggest that the material is relatively suitable for dental restoration. The dental base crown machined with this material by CAD/CAM system exhibits a verisimilitude configuration and the material's expansion coefficient well matches that of the glaze. These results further indicate that the product can be used as a promising new ceramic material to fabricate dental base crowns and bridges.

To investigate the standard value of foot tapping test (FTT) in healthy population and FTT for lower extremity motor function in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.Totally 124 patients [68 males, (58.49±14.60) years old; 56 females, (57.55±18.27) years old] diagnosed of cervical myelopathy and 160 healthy volunteers [80 males, (45.43±17.98) years old; 80 females, (45.2±17.47) years old] participated in our study. The patients who underwent surgery were evaluated both before and 1 year after the surgery. We performed FTT and Grip and Release Test and evaluated with the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for cervical myelopathy.The value of FTT was (22.23±2.53) in myelopathic patients, significantly lower than (33.23 ±3.17) in the healthy group (decreasing with age) (P0.05). The value of FTT was positively correlated with the lower extremity motor function of modified JOA score and the value of Grip and Release Test. In the patients who underwent surgery, the value of FTT was (22.23±2.53) preoperatively and was improved to (28.48±1.99) at one year postoperatively (P0.05).The FTT score has been improved by surgery. The FTT is an easy and useful quantitative assessment for lower extremity motor function in patients with cervical myelopathy, especially those who cannot walk.

Objective The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of published studies for evaluating the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on immediate breast reconstruction. Methods We searched medical databases to identify appropriate studies that assessed the impact of NAC on immediate breast reconstruction from the inception of this technique through April 2013. We then performed a meta-analysis of these studies. Results Our searches identified 11 studies among 1,840 citations. In the meta-analysis, NAC did not increase the overall rate of complications after immediate breast reconstruction (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59; 95% confidence interval[CI] = 0.38–0.91). The complication rate was also unaffected by NAC when we considered infections (OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.46–1.45), hematomas (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 0.57–3.21), and seromas (OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.23–2.55). Additionally, expander or implant loss did not significantly increase in patients after NAC (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 0.91–2.79). Only 2 studies (202 procedures) had reported total autologous flap loss, and they were included in our analysis; both studies found no association between NAC and total flap loss. Conclusion Our analysis suggests that NAC does not increase the complication rate after immediate breast reconstruction. For appropriately selected patients, immediate breast reconstruction following NAC is a safe procedure. The best way to study this issue in the future is to conduct a multicenter prospective study with a longer follow-up period and more clearly defined parameters.

An in vitro feasibility study of the use of poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) as a biodegradable coating material for drug-eluting stents is reported, and the performance of PEC is compared with that of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of PEC and PLGA discs after treatment with an alkaline KO2 solution as a superoxide source showed that the PEC maintained its integrity whereas holes and small particles appeared during the treatment of PLGA. Sirolimus and paclitaxel were loaded into PEC and PLGA in order to study drug release performance. Attenuated total reflectance–infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy of sirolimus, PEC and the sirolimus-loaded PEC coating showed that no chemical reaction occurred between sirolimus and PEC. The results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the mean roughness (Ra) values of the bare metal stent (BMS) and the drug-eluting stent (DES) were 2.3 nm and 1.0 nm, respectively. After balloon expansion experiments, no delamination or destruction of the PEC coating was observed. The drug release profile of sirolimus was different from that of paclitaxel when PEC was employed as the drug carrier, and the release curves of sirolimus were different when PEC and PLGA were used as drug carriers. All the experimental results demonstrated that PEC was one of the best potential stent-coating materials.

Background RABEX-5, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for RAB-5, plays an important role in cell mobility and altered expression associated with tumor metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the role of RABEX-5 in proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer in vitro and ex vivo. Methods RABEX-5 expression was examined in breast cancer, benign tumor and normal breast tissues by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Two stable cell lines were established, the MCF-7/NC negative control cell line and the MCF-7/KD cell line, which stably expressed an RNA interference (RNAi) construct that induced downregulation of RABEX-5 expression. These cell lines were utilized to evaluate the role of RABEX-5 in cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. The possible role of RABEX-5 in the regulation of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) was evaluated using western blot and real-time PCR. Results RABEX-5 expression was found to be significantly higher in breast cancer tissues compared with benign tumor and normal breast tissues. High levels of RABEX-5 expression were associated with axillary lymph node metastasis. In addition, RABEX-5 silencing significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and migration ability in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. RABEX −5 knockdown also attenuated the migration of breast cancer cells via modulation of MMP-9 transcriptional activity. Conclusions Our results indicate that RABEX-5 plays an oncogenic role in breast cancer by modulating the proliferation and metastasis potential of breast cancer cells. Thus, RABEX-5 is a promising prognostic indicator for patients with breast cancer.