title: Effect of everolimus on the expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3 in patients with neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: Tumors, especially neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), can cause adverse effects on human health. The expression and significance of Ki-67 and caspase-3 in NET remain to be further explored. Everolimus is an important drug used for the treatment of NETs. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether everolimus exerts anti-tumor effects by suppressing the expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3 in NET. Tumor (different developmental stages) and adjacent tissues were collected from patients with NET. The expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3 were detected in 244 paraffin sections of NET using immunohistochemistry. RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3 at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The patients (N = 244) were randomly divided into everolimus-intervention and control groups. RT-PCR and western blot were used to measure the expression changes of Ki-67 and caspase-3 before and after everolimus treatment. The rates of Ki-67 expression in NET grades 1-6 were 14.2, 22.1, 37.5, 59.9, 69.9, and 77.8%, respectively. The difference between the groups was significant. The rates of caspase-3 expression in NET grades 1-6 were 28.6, 33.3, 31.3, 60.0, 80.0, and 88.9%, respectively, and the difference between groups was significant. Moreover, the expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3 showed a significant negative correlation. The expression of Ki-67 decreased while that of caspase-3 increased after everolimus treatment. In conclusion, the decrease in Ki-67 expression and increase in caspase-3 expression after everolimus treatment indicated that everolimus exerted its anti-cancer effect by regulating the expression of Ki-67 and caspase-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.|Department of Geriatrics, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China xingbocheng332@sina.com.
authors.forename: X B
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First People#sup#,#/sup#s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000068338:Everolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000068338:Everolimus; D053148:Caspase 3