China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities

Pak-China relations have been exemplary in the contemporary international politics. Both States have been maintaining strong ties in terms of diplomatic and military cooperation. However, the close economic cooperation has added a new dimension in the Pak-China all weather partnership. Over the years, China and Pakistan strategic cooperation has evolved at unprecedented level. In the year 2013, the Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of One Belt One Road (OBOR) that aims to connect China with West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East. It is a bitter fact that, since 9/11 Pakistan has suffered in socio-political and especially in economic dimension. The regional security environment and rise of extremism and terrorism has resulted into the hampering economic development. Therefore, the CPEC project will prove to be game changer and when completed it will have deep impact on economic development of Pakistan in future. The CPEC provides an opportunity for Pakistan to stabilize its society and reshape its positive image at international level from fragile State to emerging economy in the South Asian region. The rise of China in economic sphere has been jealously seen by other developed countries while for Pakistan it has been a blessing factor. Thus, Pak- China strategic partnership entered into the new phase of economic cooperation that will certainly change the dynamics of the regional politics. This paper aims to discuss the multiple dimensions of CPEC its importance for Pakistan and China along with its internal and external challenges. Moreover, economic and security perspectives will be focused in detail. To fully understand the role of CPEC as driving force of economic prosperity, this paper discusses its potential as a game changer for both China and Pakistan. ___________

Molecular Genetic Characterization of Breast Cancer in Pakistani Population

Breast cancer has been identified as the most common malignancy among Pakistani women, accounting for 34.6% of all female cancers. Around 80-90% cases are sporadic in nature. Multiple factors, including genetic as well as epigenetic factors are responsible for the initiation of breast cancer. In the present study, we carried out genetic characterization of breast cancer in our local population. Diagnosed breast cancer patients having a mean age of 53yrs were included in this study. These patients were analyzed for mutations in BRCA1 and two metastasis suppressor genes (KAI1 and Kiss1). Germline mutations of three genes BRCA1, Kiss1 and KAI1 were investigated in already diagnosed sporadic breast cancer females. BRCA1, a tumour suppressor gene is found responsible for majority of breast cancer cases of familial history. However its involvement in sporadic breast cancer cases (especially of Pakistani population) is still an area that requires further research. BRCA1 proteins binding domain encoding regions were screened in this regard. Five silent mutations along with one novel splice site mutation were observed on BRCA1. However, most of the BRCA1 portions analyzed remained conserved at genomic levels. This study thus indirectly highlights the involvement of other signaling cascade molecules as well as transcriptional and translational regulatory mechanism responsible for breast cancer. Metastasis is among one of most lethal attribute of cancer. In this study, two metastasis suppressor genes (Kiss1 and KAI1) were screened for any germline mutations/polymorphism in these patients. So far no previous findings with respect to these genes have been reported. In our study no exon or introns deletions had been observed on these genes. Altered expression (down- regulation) of these genes has extensively been reported in the literature in relation to different types of cancers. However, expressional correlation of KAI1 with disease progression is established for the first time by this study. Significant decrease in KAI1 expression has been observed in localized and invasive cancer cells when compared to normal cells. Significant correlation of KAI1 with TNM staging (Tumour, node and metastasis) has also been established (p=0.045).Patients showing higher expression of KAI1 showed better survival rate (after median follow up of 120 months) when compared to those showing less or almost negative expression (p=0.0136). Thus potential involvement of KAI1 molecule as a marker of prognostic significance is established. Interaction of KAI1, tetraspanin family member, with FAK, Shh, EGFR and integrins was done as preliminary screening to find its potential involvement in the metastatic cascade. A chain of in vitro assays were conducted to explore KAI1 cellular response. Two transgenes based effective knock outs (MDA-MB- 231 KAI1KO1 , MDA-MB-231 KAI1KO2 ) and one forced expression (MCF-7 KAI1Exp1 ) were successfully generated through the aid of molecular tools. Expression levels of KAI1 in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were confirmed through RTPCR and western blot. No significant association of KAI1 on cancer cells growth had been observed. This shows that KAI1 does not influence cell proliferation. However, a direct relationship of KAI1 with intracellular attachment to basement membrane has been established in both knock out as well forcedly expressing breast cancer cell lines. Increased expression of KAI1 resulted in strong cells adhesion to basement membrane in MCF-7 KAI1Exp1 when compared to both wild type and controls (MCF-7 Wt , MCF-7 Ct ) with p value of 0.021. Similarly weak adhesion of cancer cells has been observed in MDA-MB-231 KAI1KO1 and MDA-MB-231 KAI1Ko2 when compared with MDAMB-231 Wt and MDA-MB-231 Ct ) with p values of 0.002 and 0.0004 respectively. A significant increase in cancer cell invasion was observed in both ribozymes based KAI1 knock outs (MDA-MB-231 KAI1KO1 and MDA-MB-231 KAI1Ko2 in relation to control (MDA-MB-231 Ct ) with p values of 0.0063 and 0.007 respectively. Furthermore, MCF-7 KAI1Exp1 cells showed reduced cell invasiveness in relation to MCF-7 wt and MCF-7 Ct (p=0.022). Cell motility was also analyzed in both absence and forcedly expressing KAI1 cell lines. MDA-MB-231 KAI1KO1 and MDA-MB-231 KAI1KO2 showed restricted cell migration (p=0.003 vs control) towards the wound. Increased cellular migrations in time lapse based video (up to 90min) recording of MCF-7 KAI1Exp1 was observed (p-0.024 vs control). This study has shown that both genetic and epigenetic factors are mainly responsible for systematic progression. Although the contributory role of gene mutations is low but expressional regulation of these genes is an area which can help in identifying the missing links. Establishing a marker of prognosticsignificance as well as its potential role in metastatic cascade suppression can help in designing most promising gene therapy for breast tumour affected patients.