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Background & objectives: KAI1 is a tumor suppressor gene and inhibitor of metastasis in a wide range of malignancies. While it is ubiquitously expressed in normal tissues, KAI1 expression subjects to the down regulation in tumors. The present research aims semi-quantitative evaluation of KAI1 mRNA expression in Iranian patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and correlation between expression levels of KAI1 and stage oftumorigenesis, especially metastasis and invasion of CRC as well as pathologic factors of patients.

Methods: RT-PCR was done by specific primers for KAI1 and β-actin genes on the 80 tumor tissues and 14 normal tissues as fresh samples which obtained from 80 unrelated patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital.  

Results: According the results, 51.2% and 48.8% of the sample were on and off for KAI1 gene expression, respectively. As a detail, 97.3% of samples in the stage 3 and 4 and 94.5% of metastatic phases samples showed no expression of this gene. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant difference of the KAI1 expression between four groups of samples; normal, stage 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05). Also a significant difference was observed between semi-quantitative KAI1 expression and degree of spread to regional lymph nodes (p=0.02) as well as semi-quantitative KAI1 expression and metastasis (p=0.000001).

Conclusion: A significant difference between semi-quantitative expression of KAI1 and degree of spread to regional lymph nodes (p=0.02) and metastasis (p=0.000001) was observed.

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Background & objectives: Prostate cancer is one the most common cancer in men whose incidence is increasing in many countries. According to the studies, decreased expression of miR-143 has been reported in prostate cancer. In this study, we replaced miRNA-143 in prostate cancer cells by vector based miRNA-143 and evaluated its inhibitory effects on migration of prostate cancer cells (PC3).
Methods: MTT assay was performed to reach an inhibitory concentration of Genticin antibiotic (G418 (in PC3 cells. Then, miRNA-143 vector was transfected into PC3 cells via JetPEI transfection reagent. The transfected cells were selected by G418 antibiotic according to a 2-week treatment with IC50 concentration. Then, the expression level of miRNA-143 was measured by qRT-PCR method. To evaluate the effect of miRNA-143 in inhibition of migration, scratch wound healing assay was performed.
Results: Results of MTT assay showed the IC50 level of G418 on PC3 cells was obtained to be 141.9 μg / ml. The results of qRT-PCR indicated increased expression of miRNA-143 in PC3 cells transfected with miRNA-143 compared to control cells. Finally, the results of wound healing assay showed migration reduction in transfected cells compared with control cells (empty vector).
Conclusion: The results showed that miRNA-143 play an important role in cell migration during prostate cancer metastasis, and it can be a good candidate for molecular treatments.

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Background & objectives: 10 year survival rates for thyroid cancer is about 90%, but papillary thyroid cancer often spread to regional lymph nodes resulting in survival rate falls below 90%. In patients with thyroid cancer, cervical lymph node metastasis risk is about 20 to 50 percent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ultrasound results and the involvement of lymph nodes before thyroidectomy and compare it with the pathologic response after thyroidectomy in patients with non-medullary thyroid cancer.
Methods: 60 patients with thyroid cancer were randomly selected and entered into the study. Ultrasonographic examination of cervical lymph nodes was performed by two radiologists using an ultrasound machine in all patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Patients underwent total thyroidectomy and neck lymph node dissection by surgeon.
Results: In papillary thyroid cancer, there was a significant relationship between ultrasonographic results and pathologic outcomes in determining the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis before thyroidectomy. And also, there was a significant relationship between the results of ultrasonography and pathologic findings in determining the location of affected lymph nodes.
Conclusion: Compared to histological examination, ultrasonography can be a useful tool in determining the location of affected cervical lymph node in thyroid cancers before surgery.