Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms in ribonuclease L and prostate cancer risk:a meta-analysis

Objective：The association between ribonuclease L（RNASEL）gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk has been widely reported,but the results of these studies remained controversial and underpowered.We performed a meta-analysis of 28 studies to evaluate the association between Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms in the RNASEL gene and prostate cancer risk.Methods：Odds ratios（ORs）with 95%confidence intervals（CIs） were estimated to assess the association between RNASEL polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk.Results：A significantly increased prostate cancer risk was found for the Arg462Gln polymorphism in Africans（Gln/Gln vs Arg/Arg：OR=2.50,95%CI=1.28-4.87;Gln/Gln vs Gln/Arg＋Arg/Arg：OR=2.54,95%CI=1.30-4.95）,but not in Europeans and Asians.Additionally,the Asp541Glu polymorphism was associated with increased total prostate cancer risk（Glu-allele vs Asp-allele：OR=1.04,95%CI=1.01-1.07;Glu/Glu vs Asp/Asp：OR=1.22,95%CI= 1.03-1.46;Glu/Glu vs Glu/Asp＋Asp/Asp：OR=1.09,95%CI=1.02-1.16）.In the stratified analysis for the Asp541Glu polymorphism,there was a significantly increased prostate cancer risk in Africans and Europeans,and in hospital-based prostate cancer cases.Conclusion：The meta-analysis results showed evidence that RNASEL Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms are associated with prostate cancer risk and could be low-penetrance prostate cancer susceptibility biomarkers.

Association between p53 Pro72Arg polymorphism and prostate cancer risk:a meta-analysis

The tumor suppressor gene p53 appears to be important in the development of many human cancers, such as prostate cancer. The association of p53 codon72 polymorphism with prostate cancer has been widely reported; however, the results are inconsistent. To derive a more precise estimation of this relationship, we performed an updated meta-analysis from 10 case-control studies. We conducted a search in the PubMed database without a language limitation, covering all papers published until July 2010. Risk ratios （RR） with 95% confidence intervals （CIs） were used to assess the strength of the association. Ten studies including 1,196 cases and 1,704 controls were selected. Overall, no significant differences of total prostate cancer risk and p53 codon polymorphism was found （Pro/Pro vs Arg/Arg, RR = 1.12, 95%CI=0.74-1.70, P heterogeneity = 0.016, I 2 = 55.8%; Pro/Pro＋Pro/Arg vs Arg/ Arg, RR = 1.05, 95%CI=1.00-1.11, P heterogeneity = 0.077, I 2 = 51.1%）. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, the same results were found. However, in the control subgroup, there was a modest decreased association between prostate cancer risk and population-based control subjects under the recessive genetic model （RR = 0.31, 95%CI=0.10- 0.91, P heterogeneity = 0.110, I 2 =60.8%）. This meta-analysis suggested that p53 codon Pro72Arg polymorphism could be weakly associated with prostate cancer risk.

Construction and identification of recombinant lentiviral vector containing HIV-1 Tat gene and its expression in 293T cells

Objective： To construct a lentiviral vector expressing HIV-1 Tat and identify its expression in 293T cells. Methods： The gene fragment of HIV-1 Tatlol was subcloned to lentiviral transfer vector pHAGE-CMV-MCS- IZsGreen, which was named pHAGE-Tat. Then the constructed pHAGE-Tat was used to co-transfect the packing 293T cells, together with the packaging plasmids pMD2.G and psPAX2. The packaged viral particles designated LV-Tat were used to infect the 293T cells and the viral titer was calculated. The expression of HIV-1 Tat in 293T cells was confirmed using RT-PCR and western blot. Results： The recombinant lentiviral vector was successfully constructed and could express HIV-1 Tat in 293T cells. The virus titer was 5.73×10^6 ifu/ml. Conclusion： The successfully constructed recombinant lentiviral vector makes a strong foundation for further exploring the possible role of HIV-1 Tat in the development of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer: molecular and cellular mechanisms and their implications in therapy resistance and disease progression

Prostate cancer is among the most common malignancies in Western countries, and its incidence is rapidly rising in Asia where it was traditionally considered an uncommon tumor. Our understanding of the disease and management strategies continue to evolve. The first revolution of its treatment was in the 1940s when hormonal therapy was used to treat patients.