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Accumulating evidence suggests that the miR-30 family act as critical players (tumor-suppressor or oncogenic) in a wide range of human cancers. Analysis of microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that that two passenger strand miRNAs, miR-30c-1-3p and miR-30c-2-3p , were downregulated in cancer tissues, and their low expression was closely associated with worse prognosis in patients with BrCa. Functional assays showed that miR-30c-1-3p and miR-30c-2-3p overexpression significantly inhibited cancer cell aggressiveness, suggesting these two miRNAs acted as tumor-suppressors in BrCa cells. Notably, involvement of passenger strands of miRNAs is a new concept of cancer research. Further analyses showed that seven genes ( TRIP13 , CCNB1 , RAD51 , PSPH , CENPN , KPNA2 , and MXRA5 ) were putative targets of miR-30c-1-3p and miR-30c-2-3p in BrCa cells. Expression of seven genes were upregulated in BrCa tissues and predicted a worse prognosis of the patients. Among these genes, we focused on TRIP13 and investigated the functional significance of this gene in BrCa cells. Luciferase reporter assays showed that TRIP13 was directly regulated by these two miRNAs. TRIP13 knockdown using siRNA attenuated BrCa cell aggressiveness. Inactivation of TRIP13 using a specific inhibitor prevented the malignant transformation of BrCa cells. Exploring the molecular networks controlled by miRNAs, including passenger strands, will facilitate the identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic target molecules in BrCa.

Background/aim: Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) remains a challenging technique for rectal dissection. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and oncological outcomes of TaTME, compared to those of the laparoscopic TME (LaTME) in rectal cancer., Patients and Methods: Using propensity score-matched analyses, we analyzed retrospective data from 134 consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent TaTME or LaTME from January 2011 to June 2020 in our hospital. Clinical and oncological outcomes were evaluated. The primary endpoint was the 2-year local recurrence rate., Results: Before data analysis, significant group-dependent differences were observed only in the tumor height (p<0.01). After analysis, preoperative patient demographics were similar between the TaTME and LaTME groups. The operative time was significantly shorter in the TaTME group (p=0.02), and the rates of hand-sewn anastomosis and protective loop ileostomy were significantly higher (p<0.01). The TaTME group showed a null conversion to open surgery compared to the LaTME group (5.9%). The postoperative complications, including anastomotic leak, were comparable between the two groups. However, the rate of Clavien-Dindo grade III tended to be lower in the TaTME group (p=0.07). There were no statistically significant differences in terms of pathological findings, and the 2-year local recurrence rate was similar between the two groups (both 5.9%)., Conclusion: TaTME based on embryology along the fascia is feasible and seems a safe alternative to LaTME in selected patients with rectal cancer when considering the conversion rate and the operative time., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Background: We performed pull-through hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis immediately after sphincter-preserving ultralow anterior resection (ULAR) [pull-through ultra (PTU)] to avoid permanent stoma and reduce postoperative complications of lower rectal tumors. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of PTU versus non-PTU (stapled or hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis with diverting stoma) after sphincter-preserving ULAR for lower rectal tumors., Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed prospectively maintained data from 100 consecutive patients who underwent PTU (n = 29) or non-PTU (n = 71) after sphincter-preserving ULAR for rectal tumors between January 2011 and March 2023. In PTU, hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis was immediately performed using 16 stitches of 4-0 monofilament suture during primary surgery. The clinical outcomes were assessed. The primary outcomes were rates of permanent stomas and overall postoperative complications., Results: The PTU group was significantly less likely to require a permanent stoma than the non-PTU group (P < 0.01). None of the patients in the PTU group required permanent stoma and the rate of overall complications was significantly lower in the PTU group (P = 0.01). The median operative time was comparable between the two groups (P = 0.33) but the median operative time during the second stage was significantly shorter in the PTU group (P < 0.01). The rates of anastomotic leakage and complications of Clavien-Dindo grade III were comparable between the two groups. Diverting ileostomy was performed in two patients with an anastomotic leak in the PTU group. The PTU group was significantly less likely to require a diverting ileostomy than those in the non-PTU group (P < 0.01). The composite length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the PTU group (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: PTU via immediate coloanal anastomosis for lower rectal tumors is a safe alternative to the current sphincter-preserving ULAR with diverting ileostomy for patients who wish to avoid a stoma., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Coronin proteins are actin-related proteins containing WD repeat domains encoded by seven genes ( CORO1A , CORO1B , CORO1C , CORO2A , CORO2B , CORO6 , and CORO7 ) in the human genome. Analysis of large cohort data from The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that expression of CORO1A , CORO1B , CORO1C , CORO2A , and CORO7 was significantly upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues ( p < 0.05). Moreover, high expression of CORO1C and CORO2A significantly predicted the 5 year survival rate of patients with PDAC ( p = 0.0071 and p = 0.0389, respectively). In this study, we focused on CORO1C and investigated its functional significance and epigenetic regulation in PDAC cells. Knockdown assays using siRNAs targeting CORO1C were performed in PDAC cells. Aggressive cancer cell phenotypes, especially cancer cell migration and invasion, were inhibited by CORO1C knockdown. The involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) is a molecular mechanism underlying the aberrant expression of cancer-related genes in cancer cells. Our in silico analysis revealed that five miRNAs ( miR-26a-5p , miR-29c-3p , miR-130b-5p , miR-148a-5p , and miR-217 ) are putative candidate miRNAs regulating CORO1C expression in PDAC cells. Importantly, all five miRNAs exhibited tumor-suppressive functions and four miRNAs except miR-130b-5p negatively regulated CORO1C expression in PDAC cells. CORO1C and its downstream signaling molecules are potential therapeutic targets in PDAC.

We recently determined the RNA sequencing-based microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of colorectal cancer (CRC). Analysis of the signature showed that the expression of both strands of pre- miR-139 ( miR-139-5p , the guide strand, and miR-139-3p , the passenger strand) was significantly reduced in CRC tissues. Transient transfection assays revealed that expression of miR-139-3p blocked cancer cell malignant transformation (e.g., cell proliferation, migration, and invasion). Notably, expression of miR-139-3p markedly blocked RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) phosphorylation in CRC cells. A combination of in silico database and gene expression analyses of miR-139-3p -transfected cells revealed 29 putative targets regulated by miR-139-3p in CRC cells. RNA immunoprecipitation analysis using an Argonaute2 (AGO2) antibody revealed that KRT80 was efficiently incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex. Aberrant expression of Keratin 80 ( KRT80 ) was detected in CRC clinical specimens by immunostaining. A knockdown assay using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting KRT80 showed that reducing KRT80 expression suppressed the malignant transformation (cancer cell migration and invasion) of CRC cells. Importantly, inhibiting KRT80 expression reduced AKT phosphorylation in CRC cells. Moreover, hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression was reduced in cells transfected with the KRT80 siRNAs or miR-139-3p . The involvement of miRNA passenger strands (e.g., miR-139-3p ) in CRC cells is a new concept in miRNA studies. Our tumor-suppressive miRNA-based approach helps elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of CRC.

Background: Locoregional recurrence and metastasis to the liver, peritoneum, and lung are the most common recurrent patterns of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after radical resection. Recurrence in the abdominal wall is extremely rare. Herein, we report our experience with a patient who had recurrent PDAC in the abdominal wall with long-term survival by means of multidisciplinary therapy., Case Presentation: A 76-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with resectable pancreatic tail cancer. She underwent distal pancreatectomy with regional lymphadenectomy after two cycles of gemcitabine plus S-1 as neoadjuvant therapy. She also received eight cycles of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy. Approximately 14 months after the initial surgery, imaging examinations identified a mass suggesting recurrence in the abdominal wall at the middle wound that involved the transverse colon. After two cycles of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, chemoradiotherapy (S-1 plus 45 Gy) and seven cycles of modified FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) were administered. The patient did not develop any new recurrent lesions during chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, the recurrent lesion in the abdominal wall and the involved transverse colon were resected. We confirmed the lack of peritoneal dissemination during surgery. Pathological examination revealed that the resected lesion was metastasis of primary PDAC, and the surgical margin was 1 mm. However, re-recurrence localized in the abdominal wall was detected 9 months later. The re-recurrent lesion was diagnosed as local recurrence of the first recurrent lesion. We performed a second resection of the abdominal wall using a femoral myocutaneous flap to achieve sufficient surgical margin. The pathological findings of the resected specimen were the same as those of the previous specimens, and the resection margin was negative. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Seven years after the initial surgery and 3 years and 7 months after the third surgery, the patient is alive with no signs of recurrence., Conclusions: Long-term survival could be achieved by radical resection with sufficient surgical margins for recurrence of PDAC in the abdominal wall if new other recurrent lesions, including peritoneal dissemination, are prevented through chemotherapy., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

To elucidate novel aspects of the molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), we have created a new microRNA (miRNA) expression signature based on RNA-sequencing. Analysis of the signature showed that 84 miRNAs were upregulated, and 70 were downregulated in CRC tissues. Interestingly, our signature indicated that both guide and passenger strands of some miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in CRC tissues. These findings support our earlier data demonstrating the involvement of miRNA passenger strands in cancer pathogenesis. Our study focused on downregulated miR-490-3p and investigated its tumor-suppressive function in CRC cells. We successfully identified a total of 38 putative oncogenic targets regulated by miR-490-3p in CRC cells. Among these targets, the expression of three genes ( IRAK1 : p = 0.0427, FUT1 : p = 0.0468, and GPRIN2 : p = 0.0080) significantly predicted 5-year overall survival of CRC patients. Moreover, we analyzed the direct regulation of IRAK1 by miR-490-3p , and its resultant oncogenic function in CRC cells. Thus, we have clarified a part of the molecular pathway of CRC based on the action of tumor-suppressive miR-490-3p . This new miRNA expression signature of CRC will be a useful tool for elucidating new molecular pathogenesis in this disease.