Basic and Clinical Cancer Research
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Spring 2018

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially adenocarcinoma, is the most common type in which the most important cases are related with KRAS or EGFR mutations or EGFR amplifications. MicroRNAs are the most remarkable controlling agents of gene expression. MiR-27a has two binding sites in 3'-untranslated-region of EGFR and three in KRAS. Moreover, it has a dual role in types of cancer and the expression decreases in some neoplasms, including the NSCLC. Hsa-mir-27a is located in the mir-23a~27a~24-2 cluster and the expression of these miRNAs is performed simultaneously but the down-regulation of miR-27a occurs independently. Polymorphisms in pre-miRNA can affect the miRNA processing and expression. In the current case-control study, we investigated the association between rs11671784 within the loop region of pre-miR-27a and lung cancer susceptibility. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 110 healthy subjects and 70 patients using the salt procedure. After finishing the primer design, the genotype of rs11671784 was determined using the RFLP-PCR technique. A statistical analysis was performed on the Power Marker, SPSS version-23 software and the SISA website.The present study examines the correlation between rs11671784 and lung cancer for the first time, which proved that the presence of the T allele at the polymorphism position can reduce the risk of lung cancer up to 6.7 times (OR=0.15, p=0.039), likely because of influencing the processing of miR-27a. These results suggest that rs11671784 could be used as a resistance marker for the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer among the Isfahan population.

In Iran, cancer is the third leading cause of death. Obtaining basic data about knowledge of general population regarding cancer is necessary to program a proper primary cancer prevention plan. The previously collected data in Iran about cancer knowledge was not based on a comprehensive, standard questionnaire. Therefore, the aim of this study was to prepare an appropriate questionnaire to fill this gap.
The Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) questionnaire was chosen as the ideal tool for data collection. The questionnaire was translated, back translated and modified based on the comments of experts. The clarity and appropriateness of the translated version of ABC was tested by interviewing a select population of 30 Iranian individuals.
We developed a Farsi version of the ABC questionnaire containing 47 main questions corresponding to the original ABC. Slight modification and additions were applied.
The Farsi version of the ABC questionnaire is an appropriate tool for the evaluation of the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of the Iranian population regarding cancer prevention.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and can be caused by a variety of genetic and acquired/environmental factors. Bax-interacting factor-1 (Bif-1) is an apoptosis inducer gene that interacts with the Bcl2 protein family and triggers apoptosis via direct contact or by changing into the Bax protein conformation using the phosphorylation mechanism. Bif-1 also interacts with Beclin-1, a protein that plays a central role in autophagy through mediation of UVRAG (ultraviolet irradiation resistant-associated gene), a positive regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex 3 (PI3KC3), thereby inducing autophagy in mammalian cells. Considering the dual role of Bif-1 in many tumors of different origins, in this study we assessed Bif-1 gene expression to investigate its potential role as a possible prognostic biomarker in Iranian colorectal cancer patients.
Bif-1 gene expression in tumors and normal adjacent tissues in 50 colorectal cancer patients were quantified using Real-time RT-PCR. Also, the association between Bif-1 gene expression levels with the histopathological characteristics of patients was assessed.
The results indicated an overall upregulation of the Bif-1 gene in colorectal tumors compared with normal adjacent tissues (p In conclusion, up-regulation of the Bif-1 gene could be considered as a possible prognostic candidate in colorectal cancers associated with nodal metastasis and greater tumor size. Further validation of these results are recommended in studies with larger sample sizes.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite improved treatment procedures, the disease rarely can be cured completely mainly because of recurrence. It is well evident that cancer recurrence is caused by cancer stem cells (CSCs), rare and immortal cells that can initiate and develop tumors and protect them against anticancer agents. CSCs are generated as a result of failures in intracellular signaling pathways of which Wnt/β-catenin has a key role in CRC. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is thought to be the major signaling in the maintenance of homeostasis of intestinal stem cells. Proliferation, upward migration of the colony crypt daughter cells, and differentiation into all epithelial cell types at least in part is regulated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling, suggesting its essential role during intestinal development and homeostasis. However, continuous activation of this signaling pathway in intestinal stem cells due to somatic mutations is a hallmark of most CRCs. Hence targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in CSCs can be a focus of new treatment strategies. Curcumin, the effective compound of plant Curcuma longa, has been studied as an anticancer agent. Recently, it has been shown that curcumin and its analogues decrease the risk of tumor recurrence by targeting CSCs via various cell signaling, in particular, Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In this review, we describe a relationship between Wnt-regulated CSCs and progression of CRC and the efficacy of curcumin and its analogues in targeting colorectal CSCs and also the Wnt/β-catenin molecular pathway involved.

Epigenetic alteration, with DNA methylation being the major mechanism, can influence gene expression without alteringDNAsequence, which may lead to cancer development. Tumor suppressor genes such as VHL (von Hippel-Lindau) when affected by epigenetic alteration will be silenced. This study investigated DNA methylation of VHL gene in ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) patients with methylation specific PCR (MSP).
DNA of 26 ALL patients and 26 healthy control subject were extracted, treated with bisulfite, and subsequently their VHL gene methylation was analyzed by MSP technique.
None of the patients were methylated for VHL gene.
Due to the lack of methylation in VHL gene promoter in patients and healthy group, the methylation of this gene cannot be used in diagnosis and prognosis of ALL patients.