Shau-Hsuan Li

Bio: Shau-Hsuan Li is an academic researcher from Chang Gung University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cyclin D & Cyclin A. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 6 publications receiving 141 citations.

an immunohistochemical study of 62 cases by tissue microarray

Abstract: Despite improvement in surgical techniques, prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma remains poor. It is desirable to identify prognostic biomarkers to aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Two SCFSkp2 ubiquitin ligase-related proteins, Skp2 and cyclin-dependent kinase subunit 1 (Cks1), are involved in post-transcriptional degradation of p27Kip1 tumor suppressor, which inhibits both cdk2/cyclin E and cdk2/cyclin A complexes and thus prevents transition to the S phase. However, the prognostic utility of p27Kip1-interacting cell cycle regulators has not been systematically assessed in gallbladder carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was performed for p27Kip1, Skp2, Cks1, cyclin E, cyclin A, and Ki-67 in tissue microarrays of 62 gallbladder carcinomas with follow-up. The data were correlated with clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS). The cumulative OS rate for all 62 cases was 42.9% at 3 years. Aberrant labeling indices (LIs) of p27Kip1 (<20%), cyclin E (≥5%), cyclin A (≥5%), Cks1 (≥40%), and Skp2 (≥10%) were identified in 29, 58, 66, 21, and 57% of gallbladder carcinomas, respectively. By log-rank tests, downregulation of p27Kip1 (P=0.0319) and high LIs of Skp2 (P=0.0006), Cks1 (P=0.0460), cyclin E (P=0.0070), and Ki-67 (P=0.0037) were predictive of inferior OS. Furthermore, the combined expression status of Skp2 and Ki-67 robustly defined three prognostically different groups (P=0.0001). In multivariate comparison, Skp2 overexpression represented the strongest independent adverse prognosticator (P=0.004, risk ratio (RR): 5.538), followed by Ki-67 LI ≥50% (P=0.016, RR: 3.254) and American Joint Committee on Cancer stages II–IV (P=0.013, RR: 3.163). In conclusion, aberrations of p27Kip1-interacting cell cycle regulators are common in gallbladder carcinomas. Skp2 overexpression is highly representative of biological aggressiveness and independently associated with poor OS, suggesting that it is a promising novel target for therapeutic intervention in aggressive cases. The combined assessment of Skp2 and Ki-67 LIs effectively risk-stratifies gallbladder carcinomas with different prognosis, which is worth being prospectively validated in future study.

Prognostic Implication of Ezrin Overexpression in Myxofibrosarcomas

Abstract: Background The bases of tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis remain obscure in myxofibrosarcoma. As a member of ezrin-radixin-moesin family, ezrin acts as a link between the cell membrane and actin cytoskeleton to integrate cell adhesion–mediated signaling. It is implicated in tumor progression and metastatic dissemination, and it is associated with adverse outcomes in several cancer types, including pediatric sarcomas.

AMACR amplification and overexpression in primary imatinib-naïve gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a driver of cell proliferation indicating adverse prognosis

Abstract: // Chien-Feng Li 1,2,3,4 , Li-Tzong Chen 2,3,5,6 , Jui Lan 7 , Fong-Fu Chou 8 , Ching-Yih Lin 9,10 , Yen-Yang Chen 11 , Tzu-Ju Chen 1 , Shau-Hsuan Li 11 , Shih-Chen Yu 7 , Fu-Ming Fang 12 , Hui-Chun Tai 13 and Hsuan-Ying Huang 7 1 Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan 2 National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan 3 Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 4 Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan 5 Department of Internal Medicine and Cancer Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 6 Institutes of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 7 Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 8 Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 9 Department of Tourism Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan 10 Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan 11 Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 12 Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 13 Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan Correspondence: Hsuan-Ying Huang, email: // Keywords : GIST, 5p, AMACR, amplification, proliferation Received : August 13, 2014 Accepted : October 18, 2014 Published : October 18, 2014 Abstract Non-random gains of chromosome 5p have been observed in clinically aggressive gastrointestinal stromal tumors, whereas the driving oncogenes on 5p remain to be characterized. We used an integrative genomic and functional approach to identify amplified oncogenes on 5p and to evaluate the relevance of AMACR amplification at 5p13.3 and its overexpression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Thirty-seven tumor samples, imatinib-sensitive GIST882 cell line, and imatinib-resistant GIST48 cell line were analyzed for DNA imbalances using array-based genomic profiling. Forty-one fresh tumor samples of various risk categories were enriched for pure tumor cells by laser capture microdissection and quantified for AMACR mRNA expression. AMACR- specific fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were both informative in tissue microarray sections of 350 independent primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors, including 213 cases with confirmed KIT / PDGFRA genotypes. To assess the oncogenic functions of AMACR, GIST882 and GIST48 cell lines were stably silenced against their endogenous AMACR expression. In 59% of cases featuring 5p gains, two major amplicons encompassed discontinuous chromosomal regions that were differentially overrepresented in high-risk cases, including the one harboring the mRNA-upregulated AMACR gene. Gene amplification was detected in 19.7% of cases (69/350) and strongly related to protein overexpression (p<0.001), although 52% of AMACR-overexpressing cases exhibited no amplification. Both gene amplification and protein overexpression were significantly associated with epithelioid histology, larger size, increased mitoses, higher risk levels, and unfavorable genotypes (all p ≦0.03). They were also independently predictive of decreased disease-free survival (overexpression, p <0.001; amplification, p =0.020) in the multivariate analysis. Concomitant with downregulated cyclin D1, cyclin E, and CDK4, AMACR knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and induced G 1 -phase arrest, but did not affect apoptosis in both GIST882 and GIST48 cells. In conclusion, AMACR amplification is a mechanism driving increased mRNA and protein expression and conferring aggressiveness through heightened cell proliferation in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Transcriptomic reappraisal identifies MGLL overexpression as an unfavorable prognosticator in primary gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Abstract: The role of deregulated cellular metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism, in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) remains unclear. Through data mining of published transcriptomes, we examined lipid metabolism-regulating drivers differentially upregulated in high-risk cases and identified monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) as the top-ranking candidate involved in GIST progression. MGLL expression status was examined in three GIST cell lines and two independent sets of primary localized GISTs. MGLL mRNA abundance and immunoexpression was determined in 70 cases through the QuantiGene assay and H-scoring on whole sections, respectively. H-scoring was extended to another cohort for evaluating MGLL immunoexpression on tissue microarrays, yielding 350 informative cases, with KIT/PDGFRA mutation genotypes noted in 213 of them. Both imatinib-sensitive (GIST882) and -resistant (GIST48 and GIST430) cell lines exhibited increased MGLL expression. MGLL mRNA levels significantly increased from adjacent normal tissue to the non-high-risk group (p = 0.030) and from the non-high-risk group to high-risk GISTs (p = 0.012), and were associated with immunoexpression levels (p < 0.001, r = 0.536). MGLL overexpression was associated with the nongastric location (p = 0.022) and increased size (p = 0.017), and was strongly related to mitosis and risk levels defined by NIH and NCCN criteria (all p ≤ 0.001). Univariately, MGLL overexpression was strongly predictive of poorer disease-free and overall survival (both p < 0.001), which remained prognostically independent for both endpoints, along with higher risk levels. Conclusively, MGLL is a lipid metabolic enzyme causatively implicated in GIST progression given its association with unfavorable clincopathological factors and independent negative prognostic effects.

Expression of the macrophage antigen CD163 in rectal cancer cells is associated with early local recurrence and reduced survival time

Abstract: Expression of the macrophage antigen CD163 in breast cancer cells is recently shown to be related to early distant recurrence and shortened survival. In this study, 163 patients with rectal cancer, included in the Swedish rectal cancer trial and followed up for a median of 71 months, were examined for the expression of CD163 in the primary tumors. The cancer cells expressed CD163 in the primary tumors in 23% (n = 32) of the patients. In pretreatment biopsies from 101 patients, 10 had CD163-positive cancers and these patients had earlier local recurrence (p < 0.044) and reduced survival time (p < 0.045) compared with those with CD163-negative tumors. When studying surgical specimens from 61 patients randomized to preoperative irradiation (5 x 5 Gy delivered in 1 week), it was found that 31% were CD163 positive whereas the corresponding figure was only 17% for 78 patients who were nonirradiated (p < 0.044), which tentatively may be consistent with X-rays inducing fusion. In CD163-positive tumors there was a reduced apoptotic activity as measured with the Termina deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Biotin-dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) technique (p = 0.018). There tended also to be an increased proliferation activity measured as an expression of Ki-67 non significant (NS). It is concluded that primary rectal cancers may express CD-163, and this phenotypic macrophage trait is related to early local recurrence, shorter survival time and reduced apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of CD163 is more common after irradiation.

ASS1 as a Novel Tumor Suppressor Gene in Myxofibrosarcomas: Aberrant Loss via Epigenetic DNA Methylation Confers Aggressive Phenotypes, Negative Prognostic Impact, and Therapeutic Relevance

Abstract: Purpose: The principal goals were to identify and validate targetable metabolic drivers relevant to myxofibrosarcoma pathogenesis using a published transcriptome. Experimental Design: As the most significantly downregulated gene regulating amino acid metabolism, argininosuccinate synthetase ( ASS1) was selected for further analysis by methylation-specific PCR, pyrosequencing, and immunohistochemistry of myxofibrosarcoma samples. The roles of ASS1 in tumorigenesis and the therapeutic relevance of the arginine-depriving agent pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) were elucidated in ASS1-deficient myxofibrosarcoma cell lines and xenografts with and without stable ASS1 reexpression. Results: ASS1 promoter hypermethylation was detected in myxofibrosarcoma samples and cell lines and was strongly linked to ASS1 protein deficiency. The latter correlated with increased tumor grade and stage and independently predicted a worse survival. ASS1-deficient cell lines were auxotrophic for arginine and susceptible to ADI-PEG20 treatment, with dose-dependent reductions in cell viability and tumor growth attributable to cell-cycle arrest in the S-phase. ASS1 expression was restored in 2 of 3 ASS1-deficient myxofibrosarcoma cell lines by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, abrogating the inhibitory effect of ADI-PEG20. Conditioned media following ASS1 reexpression attenuated HUVEC tube-forming capability, which was associated with suppression of MMP-9 and an antiangiogenic effect in corresponding myxofibrosarcoma xenografts. In addition to delayed wound closure and fewer invading cells in a Matrigel assay, ASS1 reexpression reduced tumor cell proliferation, induced G 1 -phase arrest, and downregulated cyclin E with corresponding growth inhibition in soft agar and xenograft assays. Conclusions: Our findings highlight ASS1 as a novel tumor suppressor in myxofibrosarcomas, with loss of expression linked to promoter methylation, clinical aggressiveness, and sensitivity to ADI-PEG20. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 2861–72. ©2013 AACR .

Aberrant expression of Cks1 and Cks2 contributes to prostate tumorigenesis by promoting proliferation and inhibiting programmed cell death.

Abstract: The mammalian Cks family consists of 2 well-conserved small proteins, Cks1 and Cks2. Cks1 has been shown to promote cell-cycle progression by triggering degradation of p27kip1. The function of Cks2 in somatic mammalian cells is not well understood although it is required for the first metaphase/anaphase transition during the meiosis. Emerging evidence shows that elevated expression of Cks1 and Cks2 is often found in a variety of tumors, and is correlated with poor survival rate of the patients. Here we demonstrated that expression of Cks1 and Cks2 were elevated in prostate tumors of human and animal models, as well as prostatic cancer cell lines. Forced expression of Cks1 and Cks2 in benign prostate tumor epithelial cells promoted cell population growth. Knockdown of Cks1 expression in malignant prostate tumor cells inhibited proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and migration activities, whereas knockdown of Cks2 expression induced programmed cell death and inhibited the tumorigenicity. Collectively, the data suggest that elevated expression of Cks1 contributes to the tumorigenicity of prostate tumor cells by promoting cell growth and elevated expression of Cks2 protects the cells from apoptosis. Thus, the finding suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for prostatic cancer based on inhibiting Cks1 and Cks2 activity. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Quantification of diverse subcellular immunohistochemical markers with clinicobiological relevancies: validation of a new computer-assisted image analysis procedure.

Abstract: Tissue microarray technology and immunohistochemical techniques have become a routine and indispensable tool for current anatomical pathology diagnosis. However, manual quantification by eye is relatively slow and subjective, and the use of digital image analysis software to extract information of immunostained specimens is an area of ongoing research, especially when the immunohistochemical signals have different localization in the cells (nuclear, membrane, cytoplasm). To minimize critical aspects of manual quantitative data acquisition, we generated semi-automated image-processing steps for the quantification of individual stained cells with immunohistochemical staining of different subcellular location. The precision of these macros was evaluated in 196 digital colour images of different Hodgkin lymphoma biopsies stained for different nuclear (Ki67, p53), cytoplasmic (TIA-1, CD68) and membrane markers (CD4, CD8, CD56, HLA-Dr). Semi-automated counts were compared to those obtained manually by three separate observers. Paired t-tests demonstrated significant differences between intra- and inter-observer measurements, with more substantial variability when the cellular density of the digital images was > 100 positive cells/image. Overall, variability was more pronounced for intra-observer than for inter-observer comparisons, especially for cytoplasmic and membrane staining patterns (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.050). The comparison between the semi-automated and manual microscopic measurement methods indicates significantly lower variability in the results yielded by the former method. Our semi-automated computerized method eliminates the major causes of observer variability and may be considered a valid alternative to manual microscopic quantification for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes.

Gallotannin inhibits NFĸB signaling and growth of human colon cancer xenografts.

Abstract: Gallotannin (GT), the polyphenolic hydrolyzable tannin, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities through mechanisms that are not fully understood. Several effects modulated by GT have been shown to be linked to interference with inflammatory mediators. Considering the central role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ĸB) in inflammation and cancer, we investigated the effect of GT on NF-ĸB signaling in HT-29 and HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. DNA binding assays revealed significant suppression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)-induced NFĸB activation which correlated with the inhibition of IĸBα phosphorylation and degradation. Sequentially, p65 nuclear translocation and DNA binding were inhibited. GT also down-regulated the expression of NFĸB–regulated inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, TNF-α, IL-1α) and caused cell cycle arrest and accumulation of cells in pre-G1 phase. In vivo, GT (25 mg/kg body weight) injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) prior to or after tumor inoculation significantly decreased the v...