Aims: We investigated the predictive value of a computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics nomogram model for adherent perinephric fat (APF). Materials and Methods: The data of 220 renal carcinoma patients were collected retrospectively. Patients were divided into training (n = 153) and validation cohorts (n = 67). Radiomics features were extracted from plain CT scans, while radscore was generated by a linear combination of selected radiomics features and their weighting coefficients. Univariate logistic regression was used to screen clinical risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression combined with radscore was used to screen final predictors to construct a radiomics nomogram model. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive performance of models. Results: Thirteen radiomics features associated with APF achieved a good predictive effect. The overall area under the curve (AUC) of the radscore model was 0.966, and that of the training and validation cohorts was 0.969 and 0.956, respectively. Gender, age, hypertension, size, perinephric fat thickness, Mayo Adhesive Probability score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic inflammation response index, and systemic immune-inflammation index were risk factors for APF (P < 0.05). The overall AUC of the radiomics nomogram model based on radiomics features and clinical factors, the training, and validation cohorts was 0.981, 0.997, and 0.949, respectively. Both models had high diagnostic efficiency. However, their differential diagnostic accuracy was higher than that of the clinical model. Additionally, the radiomics nomogram model had higher AUC and specificity. Conclusions: The radiomics nomogram model is a prediction tool based on radiomics features and clinical risk factors and has high prediction ability and clinical application value for APF.

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Background and Aims: MicroRNA (miRNA) was found as a class of endogenous, important regulators of gene expression and involved in the regulation of many biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Increasing studies have suggested that miR-146a, miR-196a2, and miR-499 play important roles in the development processes of gastric cancer (GC). The aim of our study is to investigate whether three common miRNA polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility of GC. Materials and Methods: MiR-146a rs2910164 (G > C), miR-196a2 rs11614913 (C > T), and miR-499 rs3746444 (A > G) were genotyped by Taq-man assays in the present case–control study (386 patients, 341 controls). The associations between the selected miRNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of GC were estimated by odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval using logistic regression analysis. Results: Our results showed that none of the three SNPs was associated with the risk of GC in allelic frequencies and multiple genetic models. Further stratified analysis with regard to clinical-pathological parameters of GC patients indicated that miR-146a rs2910164 SNP was strongly associated with age (OR = 0.53, P = 0.001) and gender (OR = 0.61, P = 0.006). Conclusions: The present study showed no association of the investigated miRNA SNPs with the risk of GC in the north Chinese population.

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Since the 1990s, low-dose computed tomography technology has been used in lung cancer screening. With the increase of computed tomography screening, the detection rate of ground-glass nodules (GGN) has increased dramatically. At present, the main treatment strategy for GGN is surgical resection. However, for patients with poor cardiopulmonary functions, a history of lung resection, multiple pulmonary nodules, or the age of >75 years, surgical resection is very difficult and not medically encouraged. This article reviews the applications and outcomes evaluation of nonsurgical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, moleculartargeted drug therapy, immunity therapy, and image-guided thermal ablation in patients with GGN.

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Purpose: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) with those of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) adjacent to major vessels. Methods: From January 2010 to April 2011, 78 patients with a single nodule, no >5 cm, adjacent to major vessels were enrolled in this study. Forty-four patients (forty-one men, three women; age range, 33–72 years) treated by MWA were compared with thirty-four patients (thirty-one men, three women; age range, 33–75 years) treated by RFA. Local tumor progression rate, overall survival rate, and disease-free survival rate were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and differences between groups were estimated by log-rank test. Results: No death related to treatment occurred in the two groups. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year local tumor progression rates were 6.8%, 11.4%, and 15.9%, respectively, in the microwave group versus 17.6%, 20.6%, and 20.6%, respectively in the radiofrequency group (P = 0.544). The rates of major complications associated with microwave and RFA were 2.3% (1/44) versus 0% (0/34; P = 0.376). The microwave group's 1-, 2-, and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 72.7%, 65.9%, and 51.8%, respectively, and those in the radiofrequency were 58.8%, 52.9%, and 47.1%, respectively (P = 0.471). The microwave group's 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 93.2%, 90.9%, and 83.6%, respectively, and those in the radiofrequency group were 91.2%, 88.2%, and 82.4%, respectively (P = 0.808) There was no significant difference in local tumor progression, complications related to treatment, and long-term results between the two modalities. The incidence of peritumoral structure damage on image scan was significantly higher in the microwave group than in the RFA group (P = 0.025). Conclusions: Both RFA and MWA are safe and effective techniques for HCC adjacent to major vessels and have the same clinical value.

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Background: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) using combined computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US)-guided imaging in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-A1-3 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We included 88 consecutive patients with single HCC who were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using our database. The patients were divided into three groups. The combination group received MWA under the guidance of nonenhanced CT and US, CT group received MWA under the guidance of nonenhanced CT alone and US group received MWA under the guidance of US alone. The study endpoints included the treatment time, number of puncture, local recurrence rate, and adverse events. Results: The median treatment time and mean puncture number were 38.6 (30–45) min, 1.2 (1–2) times (combination group); 45.8 (35–56) min, 4.2 (3–7) times (CT group); and 36.7 (30–47) min, 1.1 (1–2) times (US group), respectively. The median puncture number was significantly less than in the CT group. The local recurrence rate in the combination group was significantly inferior to that in the US group. There was a statistically significant difference between the combination group and CT group in Grade C complication rate. Conclusions: Combining CT-and US-guide MWA in patients with BCLC-A1-3 HCC appeared to be much better than the use of guidance of CT or US alone.

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Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the sixth most prevalent malignancy worldwide. The incidence of portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is recorded as high as 10%–60% in HCC patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in advanced HCC patients complicated with PVTT in the main trunk. Patients and Methods: A total of 33 HCC patients were treated with TACE + HAIC or TACE, respectively. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), while the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR) of HCC lesions and PVTT in the trunk. Adverse events and main complications were also investigated. A COX model was used to identify the risk factors associated with OS. Results: There were 16 patients receiving TACE + HAIC and 17 receiving TACE. The median OS was longer in the TACE + HAIC group than the TACE group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the ORR and DCR of HCC lesions and PVTT response between the two groups (P > 0.05). Alpha-fetoprotein was <400 ng/ml. Multivariate analysis showed that cavernous transformation of portal vein was associated with longer OS. In terms of complications, the addition of HAIC showed more myelosuppression than the TACE alone group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with TACE alone, HAIC + TACE may be more safe and provide more benefits for HCC patients complicated with PVTT in the trunk.

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Aim: This study aimed to explore the role of pantoprazole (PPZ) in affecting the sensitivity of cervical cancer (CC) cells to cisplatin. Methods: HeLa and CaSki cells were exposed to cisplatin and/or PPZ treatment. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays were performed to detect cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of CC cells, respectively. Then, expressions of Beclin-1, LC3, and p62 were measured by western blot. Rapamycin (Rapa), acting as an autophagy activator, was applied to confirm the effect of autophagy on the sensitivity of CC cells to cisplatin. Results: Cisplatin treatment suppressed cell viability and proliferation and accelerated apoptosis of CC cells. Combination of cisplatin and PPZ or PPZ alone significantly inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, and increased cell apoptosis of CC cells. Cisplatin enhanced expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3II/I, and reduced p62 expression. Combination of cisplatin and PPZ significantly decreased the expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3II/I, but increased p62 expression. The autophagy activator, Rapa, eliminated the inhibitory effects of the combination of cisplatin and PPZ on autophagy, and enhanced cell viability, but inhibited apoptosis of CC cells. Conclusion: PPZ promotes the sensitivity of CC cells to cisplatin by inhibiting cisplatin-induced cell autophagy.

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This study analyzed the role of vasohibin-1 (VASH1) in human cancer outcomes. Relevant original studies on VASH1 expression in cancers were searched from PubMed, ClinicalKey, and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the role of VASH1 in clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients with tumors. Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan v. 5.3 software. Our meta-analysis results showed that patients with high VASH1 expression experienced a significantly poor prognosis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16– 2.46, P = 0.006) for OS, and an HR of 2.21 (95% CI, 1.32–3.68, P = 0.003) for progression-free survival. Furthermore, the high expression of VASH1 was significantly relevant to advanced tumor node metastasis stages. Thus, VASH1 is a potential biomarker to predict unfavorable clinical outcomes, serving as a potential tumor treatment target.

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Purpose: The purpose is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of computerized tomography (CT)-guided 125I seed implantation in the treatment of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 30 recurrent NSCLC patients in our institute from January 2016 to June 2020. According to the preoperative Treatment planning system plan, CT was used to guide 125I seed implantation into 30 evaluable lesions in the lungs. Clinical response rate, quality of life score, and adverse reactions were observed at postoperative follow-up. Results: The postoperative follow-up duration was 13 (1–24) months, of which the disease control rate at months one, three, and six were 96.67%, 93.1%, 85.18%, respectively and the objective response rate was 53.33%, 48.27%, and 48.14%, respectively. The postoperative 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 76.66% (23/30) and 53.33% (16/30), respectively. Median overall survival was 18 (1–24) months. The postoperative 1-year and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 63.33% (19/30) and 40% (12/30), respectively. The median PFS was 14.5 (1–24) months. Adverse reactions include radiation-related pulmonary reactions in four patients (13.33%); skin reactions in four patients (13.33%); radiation-related esophageal reactions in two patients (6.67%), and leukopenia in three patients (10%). Other radiation-related adverse reactions did not occur. Conclusion: We conclude that ¹²⁵I seed implantation is an effective and safe treatment for recurrent NSCLC.

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Purpose: The present study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) to treat pulmonary nodules under conscious analgosedation with sufentanil. Materials and Methods: February to May 2021, 124 patients with 151 pulmonary nodules were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent 124 sessions of MWA. Sufentanil (0.25 μg/kg) was injected intravenously before MWA. Results: The technical success was 100% and no procedure-related deaths. The dosage of sufentanil was 16.6 ± 3.0 μg. The mean tumor diameter in the enrolled patients was 1.3 ± 0.8 cm. The intraoperative mean numerical rating scale (NRS) was 2.2 ± 1.7. Among the patients with NRS >3, seven patients had nodules adjacent to the pleura, while in ten patients, they were not adjacent. The mean systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate of patients were 139.1 ± 23.5 mmHg, 77.8 ± 12.3, and 76.1 ± 13.4 times/min, respectively, before sufentanil injection. The mean lowest systolic, lowest diastolic blood pressure, and lowest heart rate intraoperative were 132.9 ± 22.0 mmHg, 76.1 ± 12.1, and 74.0 ± 13.5 times/min. Twenty-six patients had mild adverse events including nausea (6.45%, 8/124), dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), vomiting(4.03%, 5/124), nausea and dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), nausea with vomiting and dizziness (2.42%, 3/124), urinary retention (1.61%, 2/124) and respiratory depression (0.81%, 1/124). Conclusion: Sufentanil is a feasible, safe, and effective analgesic for MWA in patients with pulmonary nodules. It can be used for clinical promotion.

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Background: Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) is a distinct variant of lung adenocarcinoma, which typically has a worse survival. However, its pathogenesis is potentially associated with a high degree of molecular heterogeneity, which might determine its different prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 2207 consecutive lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent radical resection at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Shandong Provincial Hospital from 2013 to 2019. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion protein expression was routinely detected by immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of IMA patients were retrieved, and compared between ALK-positive and ALK-negative IMA patients as well as between pure IMA and mixed IMA patients. The last follow-up was on December 31, 2020, and the median follow-up was 42 months. Results: A total of 98 patients (4.4%) were diagnosed with IMA. ALK protein expression was positive in 24.5% of IMAs, which was significantly higher than that of non-IMA lung adenocarcinomas (4.7%, P < 0.001). ALK-positive and ALK-negative IMA, as well as pure IMA and mixed IMA, showed similar distribution in terms of patients' age, gender and smoking history, stage, and primary tumor location, except for a higher rate of lymph node metastasis in mixed IMA (22.0% vs. 46.2%, P = 0.012). Five cases (20.8%) of ALK-positive IMAs and 28 cases (40.6%) of ALK-negative IMAs experienced recurrence. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis demonstrated that ALK expression was a favorable prognostic factor for both disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.354; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.131–0.960; P = 0.041) and overall survival (HR: 0.138; 95% CI: 0.029–0.658; P = 0.013) in resected IMA. No difference in disease-free survival (HR: 0.524; 95% CI: 0.237–1.157; P = 0.110) and OS (HR: 0.553; 95% CI: 0.199–1.537; P = 0.256) was observed between pure IMA and mixed IMA. Conclusion: Invasive mucinous lung adenocarcinoma showed higher ALK protein expression, which was a favorable prognostic factor for survival in early resected patients.

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Objective: To study whether an interactive improved internal feedback system with the model can be established, we compared the plans generated by two automatic planning models. Methods: Seventy cases of pelvic patients were selected. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans (P0) generated by the clinical model (M0) were imported into the Rapid plan model to establish a dose-volume histogram. The predicted model through automatic planning model in clinical, and the new rapid plan model (M1) was generated by training and structure matching settings. The 70 new IMRT plans (P1) were generated by M1, and the new rapid plan model (M2) was trained by P1. In this same method, 70 IMRT plans (P2) were generated by M2. Dosimetric differences between P1 and P2 were then compared and analyzed. Results: For the model parameters, R² and X² in P2 were higher than those in P1, and the CD values of the bladder, right femoral head, and rectum in P1 were higher than those of corresponding organs in P2. The studentized residual (SR) value of the bladder and SR and difference of estimate values of the left femoral head and right femoral head in P1 were lower than P2. In planning, (D₂, D₉₈, and HI) P1 were better than P2 (P < 0.01); the bladder V10 and left femoral head V40 in P2 were lower than in P1 by 0.08% and 0.15%, respectively (P < 0.05); others in P2 were higher than those in P1 (P < 0.05) except the bladder V20, D_mean, rectum V10, V20, V30, right femoral head V10, and V40; and the MUs of P2 was lower than that of P1 for 132.2 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The stability of M2 is stronger than that of M1. Therefore, the interactive improved internal feedback system within the model of “plan-model-plan-model” is feasible and meaningful.

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In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), about 15% of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are rare. Herein, we report a 39-year-old male with stage IV NSCLC with a rare EGFR M277E mutation and high PD-L1 expression. The patient first underwent gamma-knife treatment for brain metastasis; then, he was started on 40 mg afatinib daily in combination with two cycles of chemotherapy. The clinical effect was stable disease (SD), so the patient underwent intensity-modulated radiation therapy guided by cone beam computed tomography on the lesion in the lower lobe of the right lung. A combination therapy with afatinib and chemotherapy was employed as the first-line therapy. A palliative radiotherapy to the primary pulmonary tumor was added, resulting in a significant response based on the next computerized tomography (CT) scan. To date, this is the first presented case of NSCLC with EGFR p.M277E mutation and its corresponding clinical outcome to combination therapies.

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Context: The growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2)-Sos1 interaction, mediated by modular domains, plays an essential role in the oncogenic MAPK signaling pathway in osteosarcoma (OS). Recently, a dual-targeting peptide that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor and Grb2-Src homology 3 domain in OS cells was designed and synthesized. Aims: We investigated the synergistic effects of the peptide and salinomycin (Sal), a chemotherapeutic drug with effective anti-OS properties in clinical therapy. Subjects and Methods: Flow cytometry was used to measure the targeting efficacy of the peptide. Migration and CCK-8 assays were used to explore whether Sal and the peptide could synergistically inhibit OS cell behavior. Western blotting was used to detect apoptosis. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using the GraphPad Prism 5.01. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test for the direct comparisons and one-way analysis of variance for the comparisons among the multiple groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The peptide was shown to target OS cells. When applied together, Sal and the peptide synergistically inhibited OS cell migration, invasion, and proliferation through the inhibition of Grb2-Sos1. This synergistic treatment also promoted the apoptosis of OS cells and inhibited tumor volume in vivo. Conclusions: These data provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of OS and may be beneficial in clinical therapy.

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Objective: This meta-analysis comprehensively summarizes the current clinical research on compound glycyrrhizin (CG) treatment for liver cancer and protecting liver function to guide clinical treatment. Methods: Eighteen English-language articles were retrieved from PubMed, SinoMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and three Chinese databases: The Wan Fang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the VIP database. Results: CG treatment improved the patient's alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (in the metastatic liver cancer group: mean deviation (MD) = −13.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [−17.29, 10.27]; in the primary liver cancer group: MD = −32.15, 95% CI = [−35.48, 28.81]); aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (in the primary liver cancer group: MD = −21.63, 95% CI = [−24.29, 18.96]; in the metastatic liver cancer group: MD = −15.64, 95% CI = [−19.08, −12.20]); serum total bilirubin (TBIL) level (MD = −1.61, 95% CI = [−2.71, −0.51]); and serum albumin (ALB) level (MD = 2.80, 95% CI = [1.85, 3.74]). CG treatment was efficient than the control (relative risk [RR] = 1.66, 95% CI = [1.35, 2.04]). Although adverse reactions, including fever, were higher than in the control group (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = [0.89, 1.43]), they were controllable. Conclusion: CG affects liver preservation in treating liver cancer, which can reduce ALT, AST, and TBIL levels in patients; increase the ALB level; and protect liver cells. The CG-treated group showed improvement compared with the control group; although adverse reactions occurred in the treated group, the duration was shortened.

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Purpose: To reveal the survival and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) combined with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in treating small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Materials and Methods: Clinical data of 48 SCLC patients who underwent MWA were retrospectively collected; survival and incidence of major complications were analyzed. Results: Totally, 48 SCLC patients underwent 51 MWA procedures. The median overall survival (OS) for all SCLC was 27.0 months (95% confidence interval 22.4–31.6 months). The OS of limited-stage (LS-SCLC) was longer than the extensive-stage (ES-SCLC) (median 48.0 months vs. 25.0 months, P = 0.022). The OS of SCLC with tumor diameter ≤3.0 cm was longer than that of tumor diameter >3.0 cm (median 48.0 months vs. 27.0 months, P = 0.041). For LS-SCLC, the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 91.67%, 72.22%, 66.67%, and 61.11%, respectively. For ES-SCLC, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 83.33%, 50.0%, and 8.33%. Major complications included pneumothorax needing tube placement (29.4%), rarely arrhythmia (2.0%), empyema (2.0%), pulmonary fungal infection (2.0%), and shingles (2.0%). Conclusion: For SCLC patients, who received MWA combined with CRT, OS of LS-SCLC and tumor diameter ≤3.0 cm was better than that of the ES-SCLC and tumor diameter >3.0 cm. For inoperable SCLC, MWA was safe.

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Background: Golgi phosphoprotein-3 (GOLPH 3) is involved in the development of several human cancers. However, the clinical significance and biological role of GOLPH 3 in ovarian cancer (OC) remains unknown. Methods: The expression of GOLPH 3 in OC cell lines was quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot assays. The role of GOLPH 3 in tumorigenicity, migration, and invasion of OC cell lines by small interference RNA, scratch wound-healing assays, and transwell assays was detected. In addition, western blotting was used to determine whether GOLPH 3 is associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, RT-qPCR verified whether GOLPH 3 is associated with drug resistance. Results: GOLPH 3-positive expression rate was higher in OC. Downregulation of GOLPH 3 markedly inhibited the migration and invasion and may be related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. Moreover, the result of the experiment proved that GOLPH 3 enhances the sensitivity of OC to cisplatin by regulating ATP7A/B. GOLPH 3 promoted the invasion and migration of OC, and the mechanism may be related to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. In addition, inhibition of GOLPH 3 increased the sensitivity of OC cells to cisplatin, which may be associated with ATP7A/B. Conclusion: This study found that GOLPH3 may promote the migration and invasion of OC cells through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. At the same time, low expression of GOLPH3 increased the sensitivity of OC cells to cisplatin.

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Aims: Hepatoblastoma (HB) was reported as the frequently diagnosed primary hepatic malignant tumor among children. No reports have shown the function of SOX7 and its relationship with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HB. Materials and Methods: SOX7 and factors related to Wnt/β-catenin pathway were detected using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium and flow cytometry were used to detect HB cell proliferation and apoptosis. The transwell assay uses cell invasion. Results: In this study, RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry results indicated that the expression of SOX7 was significantly reduced in HB tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues, while the β-catenin was significantly increased in HB tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues. There were significant differences in the PRETEXT stage and tumor metastasis between patients with low expression and high expression of SOX7. Moreover, it was found that the overexpression of SOX7 and inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway significantly reduced the cell proliferation and invasion, while the cell apoptosis was significantly increased compared with the control group. Conclusions: This study shows that SOX7 was downexpressed in HB tumor tissues. Moreover, ex vivo experiments indicated that SOX7 was related to β-catenin and regulated the progression of HB cells.

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Objective: This study evaluated the survival outcomes of young (<50 years) and elderly patients (>80 years) with high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) postradical local treatments. Materials and Methods: We identified <50 and >80-year-old patients with high-risk PCa between 2004 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The patients aged 65 and 66 years were also identified as the control group. The propensity-score matching method was adopted to compare the young and elderly patients with the control group. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression were conducted to evaluate the PCa-specific survival (PCSS) and overall survival. Results: A total of 17726 patients were identified, and 3355 were under 50 years old, whereas 4798 of them were >80 years old. The young patient group (<50 years) had similar PCSS with the control group (65–66 years) in both the overall cohort (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.73–1.06], P = 0.132) and matched cohort (HR: 0.96, 95% CI [0.74–1.24], P = 0.527). Young patients with both high-risk and very high-risk PCa after radical prostatectomy (RP) treatment had apparent longer mean cancer-specific survival time than those after external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and/or brachytherapy (BT) treatment (high-risk group: 153.38 ± 0.82 months vs. 149.72 ± 3.03 months; very high-risk group: 148.3 ± 1.84 months vs. 139.33 ± 3.25 months). For the elderly patients (>80 years), the PCSS outcomes were significantly worse than the control group (65–66 years) in both overall cohort (HR: 2.69, 95% CI [2.31–3.13], P < 0.001) and matched cohort (HR: 1.61, 95% CI [1.34–1.94], P < 0.001). Patients receiving RP treatment had similar PCSS outcomes with those receiving EBRT and/or BT in the high-risk PCa group (139.45 ± 9.98 months vs. 139.41 ± 1.84 months), and better PCSS in very high-risk PCa group (132.73 ± 13.56 months vs. 128.82 ± 3.43 months). Conclusion: The PCSS outcomes of young PCa patients (<0 years) were identical to those of the control group (65–66 years). RP had similar or better PCSS benefits than EBRT and/or BT in both young (<50 years) and elderly patients (>80 years).

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Context: Extensive studies have shown that β-catenin and C-myc have been linked to a number of human cancers. However, the role of β-catenin and C-myc in relapse glioma remains unclear. Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the role of β-catenin and C-myc in relapsed glioma patients and to explore the possible impact of malignancy, relapse, and prognosis. Materials and Methods: We collected surgical samples of 100 patients with primary and relapsed glioma treated at our institution. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used to evaluate the expressions of β-catenin and C-myc. The impact of the differences on disease-free interval (DFI), initial overall survival (iOS), and overall survival from the time of glioma relapse (rOS) of the patients was analyzed. Kaplan–Meier survival functions were used to plot survival time, and a log-rank test was used for analyzing statistical significance. Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to determine independent prognostic parameters. Results: Compared to primary tumors, relapsed gliomas had higher expressions of β-catenin and C-myc (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expressions of β-catenin and C-myc were significantly correlated with glioma grade (P < 0.05). These changes in expression at the time of relapse were independent of radiotherapy use. In multivariate Cox analysis, we found that β-catenin and C-myc were independent prognostic factors for rOS (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Elevated β-catenin and C-myc promote malignancy, relapse, and indicate poor prognosis in patients with relapsed glioma. The elevated levels of β-catenin and c-myc in relapsed glioma were not affected by radiation therapy. The results of this study may provide a new therapeutic target for patients with relapsed glioma.

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Background: This study aims to compare the clinical efficacy and safety between ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) assisted with a three-dimensional (3D) visualization preoperative planning system and surgical resection (SR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients diagnosed with caudate lobe HCC, who underwent US-guided percutaneous MWA (29 patients) or SR (20 patients), were enrolled between November 2005 and December 2018. Follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after ablation or resection. The follow-up endpoint was recurrence or patient death. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the primary outcomes, whereas local tumor progression (LTP), intrahepatic recurrence, and extrahepatic metastasis were the secondary ones. Results: The mean age of the two groups was 61.4 ± 9.1 (MWA) and 53.1 ± 6.8 (SR), respectively, with a significant difference (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in OS (69.0% in the MWA group and 75.0% in the SR group) and PFS (62.1% in the MWA group and 35.3% in the SR group). LTP, intrahepatic recurrence, and extrahepatic recurrence were 6.9% (2/29), 31.0% (9/29), and 20.7% (6/29) in the MWA group and 5.0% (1/20), 60.0% (12/20), and 5.0% (1/20) in the SR group. The MWA group was more cost-effective and required less hospitalization time. No major complications were observed. Conclusions: US-guided percutaneous MWA for HCC in the caudate lobe assisted with a 3D visualization preoperative planning system is an optional treatment with less expenses and shorter hospitalization than SR.

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Objectives: The real-world intracranial efficacy data of ceritinib at a dose of 450 mg quaque die (QD) are currently unavailable. Therefore, we evaluated the intracranial efficacy of ceritinib (450 mg QD) in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearrangement NSCLC patients in China. Materials and Methods: In total, 57 ALK-rearrangement NSCLC patients with brain metastases (BM) were enrolled retrospectively in this real-world study. Of these, 53 patients experienced progression at baseline during or after prior crizotinib administration, and 24 patients received prior brain radiotherapy. Patients received ceritinib (450 mg QD) treatment. Intracranial efficacy [objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR)] was evaluated according to the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) standard; progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse events (AEs) data were obtained through follow-ups. Results: The intracranial ORR and DCR of ceritinib were 73.7% and 93.0%, respectively. The median intracranial PFS in patients reaching the endpoint was 8.75 months, whereas the median intracranial PFS in all patients was not reached and predicted to be not evaluable (NE) (95% CI: 12.9–NE). The estimated 12-month event-free probability (EFP) of intracranial lesions was 68.1%. A subgroup analysis revealed that the estimated 12-month EFP of intracranial lesions was relatively higher in patients with prior brain radiotherapy (93.8% vs. 47.1%, P = 0.0006). Conclusion: Ceritinib administered at 450 mg QD to ALK-rearrangement NSCLC patients with BM in China exhibited superior ORR and DCR, as well as PFS and event free probability. The estimated 12-month EFP for intracranial lesions improved in patients with prior brain radiotherapy.

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Purpose: Variability in volume delineation is a possible error source in brachytherapy. This study assessed the interobserver variations in clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in postoperative adjuvant ¹²⁵I seed implant brachytherapy after parotid gland cancer surgical resection and evaluated the image fusion technique for target volume delineation. Material and Methods: Five radiation oncologists delineated gross tumor volume (GTV) and CTV in 20 patients using conventional delineation and image fusion methods. The consistency in target volume delineation was determined on the basis of differences between the oncologists. Variability was determined using Kendall's W-test, the mean conformity index (CI), the mean distance to conformity (MDC), and the center of gravity distance (CGD). Results: There were significant variations in the delineated target volumes among radiation oncologists, but the CTV consistency was significantly enhanced using the image fusion technique, based on Kendall's W, mean CI, average MDC, and average CGD, which were 0.752, 0.41, 2.75, and 4.997, respectively, using the conventional method, and 0.987, 0.86, 0.55, and 1.27, respectively, using the image fusion method. Conclusions: The interobserver variation in the delineation of the postoperative parotid target volume is large, but it can be considerably decreased using image fusion technology, which resulted in a noticeable improvement in the delineation precision of the target volume for parotid gland cancer. Thus, this technology can enhance the efficacy of ¹²⁵I seed implant brachytherapy and decrease any adverse effects induced by errors in target delineation.

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Aims: This study evaluates the safety and preliminary antitumor efficacy of camrelizumab with albumin-binding paclitaxel and cisplatin as first-line therapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical carcinoma. Methods and Material: In this phase 2, open-label, prospective study, 35 patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical carcinoma with no previous systemic chemotherapy were included. The patients were treated with a maximum of six cycles of camrelizumab on day 1, albumin-binding paclitaxel, and carboplatin on day 2, every 3 weeks, followed by camrelizumab once every 3 weeks. The primary outcomes were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Secondary outcomes were duration of response (DoR) and safety. Furthermore, 27 patients were included in the per-protocol set for efficacy analysis, whereas for the safety analysis, all patients were included. Results: The median follow-up was 4.53 months, and the complete response, partial response, and stable disease were also achieved in 4 (14.81%), 6 (22.22%), and 13 (48.15%) patients. The ORR and DCR were 40.00% (95% confidence interval: 21.13–61.33%) and 92.00% (73.97–99.01%), respectively. The median DoR was 6.70 months. In addition, the most common adverse events (AEs) were reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP) (23, 65.71%), gastrointestinal reaction (8, 22.86%), and fever (8, 22.86%). Grade 3 AEs included 5 (14.29%) myelosuppression, and grade 4 AEs included 1 (2.86%) RCCEP and 1 (2.86%) bladder inflammation. Conclusions: Combination therapy of camrelizumab and albumin-bound paclitaxel and carboplatin shows promising efficacy and manageable toxicities in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

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Aims: The study highlights diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic enhancement features of DFSP and characterizes unenhanced and enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Settings and Design: Image findings and clinical histories of 23 patients with DFSP were reviewed. Nine patients underwent CT before and after intravenous administration of contrast material. MRI was performed for 17 patients. CT and MRI findings were analyzed using location, size, edge, shape, infiltration sign, density and signal enhancement mode, and degree. Results: Patients showed 26 superficial and one deep lesion. Ten superficial lesions bulged onto the skin surface. Fourteen lesions were well-defined and 13 ill-defined. All lesions were nodular, with nine being multilobular. Thirteen showed infiltration to adjacent skin, fat, and fascia. Seven lesions on CT were iso- or hypo-dense to muscle without calcification. Contrast-enhanced CT showed inhomogeneous moderate and progressive enhancement in the arterial phase. Small tortuous vessels were seen in the arterial phase in one case. Sixteen tumors displayed signals that were similar to muscle by T1WI. Ten lesions were either hyper-intense to muscle or iso-intense to fat; the deep DFSP was hypo-intense by T2WI. All lesions were hyper-intense homogeneously or heterogeneously under fat-suppressed T2WI. Twelve superficial lesions showed high-intermediate signal, and one deep lesion showed low-intermediate signal with DWI. Seven cases showed low signal diffusion coefficient (ADC) images. Dynamic enhancement and signal intensity-time (SI-T) curves of four tumors showed rapid SI increases followed by steady or slightly rising SI. All lesions showed inhomogeneous, progressive enhancement in the arterial phase. Conclusions: This report is the first on dynamic curves and highlights DWI and T2WI features of DFSP. DFSP can be correctly diagnosed by combining a patient's clinical manifestations with imaging characteristics.

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Background: The role of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy as the second-line therapy in nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unverified. The retrospective study investigated efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of nonsquamous NSCLC as the second-line therapy. Subjects and Methods: Patients of nonsquamous NSCLC who were already discharged or died of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between August 2019 and September 2020. According to the treatment method, the patients who received chemotherapy were denoted as the C group and those who received camrelizumab plus chemotherapy were denoted as the C&C group. Statistical Analysis Used: Patients responses were statistically analyzed. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used in the assessment of the prognostic value of factors. Furthermore, adverse event evaluation was estimated. Results: Of the 60 patients with nonsquamous NSCLC included in the research, 29 patients received chemotherapy, and 31 patients received camrelizumab plus chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 13.79% and 32.26% for chemotherapy and camrelizumab plus chemotherapy groups, and the disease control rate was 72.41% and 80.65%. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) in camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group was obviously higher than that in the chemotherapy group (9.67 vs. 6.87 months, P = 0.01). The median overall survival of the camrelizumab plus chemotherapy was longer than the chemotherapy (10.89 vs. 7.95 months, P < 0.01). In the current treatment, radiotherapy and smoking were independent risk factors for the mPFS of patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. The occurrence of adverse events was similar between chemotherapy and camrelizumab plus chemotherapy groups. Conclusions: Camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy was an effective regimen with manageable toxicity in treating nonsquamous NSCLC as the second-line therapy.

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Objective and Aims: The number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the presence of circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) were determined in the peripheral blood of patients with liver cancer (LC). The relationship between CTCs, CTM, clinicopathologic features, and prognosis of LC was analyzed. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of CTCs/CTM in LC. Subjects and Methods: Patients with LC were enrolled between May 2013 and August 2017, and 67 patients were included in the study. Overall survival curves were built using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test to identify risk factors. The results were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model and expressed as hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: CTCs and either CTCs or CTM were detected in 27 patients (40.3%) and 29 patients (43.3%). CTM were found in four patients. One-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 42%, 20%, and 15%, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), number of CTCs, presence of CTM, and positive CTC/CTM were associated with survival time. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that alpha fetoprotein (AFP), number of CTCs, and presence of CTM were independent risk factors for survival in patients with LC. Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between the number of CTCs, the presence of CTM, and clinicopathologic factors. AFP, number of CTCs, and presence of CTM were independent risk factors for survival in patients with LC.

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Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of open superconducting magnetic resonance (MR)-guided microwave ablation of liver tumors and explore feasibility of real-time imaging sequence-guided needle insertion technique. Materials and Methods: Medical records of December 2019–May 2021 of microwave ablations of liver tumors under MR guidance in XX University Cancer Center were reviewed. Real-time imaging-guided puncture technique refers to real-time insertion and adjusting the position of a microwave applicator under a fast imaging sequence. The safety and efficacy of the procedure among the enrolled patients were assessed. Results: Twenty-six patients underwent 27 procedures, with 30 lesions ablated (long diameter: 1.51 ± 0.81 cm, short diameter: 1.30 ± 0.61 cm). There were 20 cases of primary liver cancer and 10 of liver metastases. All lesions were identified by MR imaging (MRI), and all procedures were successfully performed using the finger positioning method for puncture sites. Five patients underwent real-time guided needle insertion techniques. Further, the microwave applicators reached the target position at once, and the entire insertion process was completed within 3 min. The completion rate of the real-time guided needle insertion technology was 100%, and 25 (92.6%) patients had minor complications. No severe complications were observed, and the technical success rate of 30 MRI-guided lesions was 100%. Finally, the complete ablation rate of the MRI-guided ablation after the first procedure was 93.1%. Conclusion: Open MR-guided microwave ablation is safe and effective in treating liver tumors. Furthermore, real-time imaging sequence-guided puncture technique under MRI is feasible and efficient.

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Aims: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have a lower survival rate during the first year following resection surgery. We analyzed the factors influencing this early mortality. Methods and Material: The clinicopathological data of patients aged 70 years or older who underwent radical surgery for CRC between January 2012 and December 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. A total of 242 patients (141 males and 101 females), including 93 with colon cancer and 139 with rectal cancer, were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they survived beyond the first year after surgery. The clinicopathological data of both groups were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. The risk factors for mortality within 1-year after surgery were analyzed using the Cox regression model. Results: Forty-three patients experienced at least one complication, including 34 cases with Clavien–Dindo grade I–II complications and 12 with Clavien–Dindo grade III–IV complications. Eleven patients died in the year following surgery. Patients with postoperative complications had higher mortality rates within the first year. Univariate analysis revealed that carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades, and differentiation degree influenced the 1-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis confirmed that CA19-9 levels and ASA grades were independent factors affecting OS and DFS during the first year after surgery. Conclusion: Postoperative complications were associated with the early death of elderly CRC patients. CA19-9 levels and ASA grades are independent factors influencing OS and DFS.

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Background: Combined therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and microwave ablation (MWA) is known to improve outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the mechanism underlying the synergistic effect of these two treatments is unknown. Tumor immune microenvironment is known to affect the efficacy of ICI. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated changes in the levels of peripheral cytokines at 48 h and 1-month post-ablation in patients with NSCLC. Materials and Methods: A total of 44 patients with primary NSCLC were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent MWA of the primary tumors. Plasma samples were collected pre- and post-ablation to examine the levels of various cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Results: Although the levels of the majority of cytokines remained within normal range, levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ were significantly decreased at 48 h post-ablation and increased at 1-month post-ablation. In the subgroup analyses, changes in IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were commonly identified. Moreover, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status, sex, pathology type, tumor site, and tumor size were associated with cytokines' levels pre-ablation or post-ablation. Conclusion: MWA of NSCLC tumors influenced the plasma levels of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ.

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Context: Although programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors are a standard second-line treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), their efficacy when used in combination with chemotherapy or anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy is unclear. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy with that of combination therapy. Setting and Design: A retrospective study was conducted at the Shandong Cancer Hospital. Materials and Methods: Based on records, patients with advanced ESCC, treated with second-line or above PD-1 inhibitor-containing regimens from August 15, 2019 to April 12, 2021 were divided into combination (PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy or anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy) and monotherapy groups. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical Analysis Used: The baseline differences between subgroups were assessed using the χ²-test, Fisher's exact test, or Student's t-test. Follow-up period, PFS, OS, median survival, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Kaplan‒Meier analysis. The log-rank test was used to compare subgroups. Results: In the 169 patients included, clinical features were well balanced between both groups. The median PFS of the combination group was better than that of the monotherapy group (8.5 months [95%CI 6.3–10.7] vs. 3.2 months [95%CI 0.0–6.5]; hazard ratio (HR) = 0.34 [95%CI 0.13–0.92]; P < 0.001). The median OS showed the same trend (18.9 months [95%CI 14.4–23.3] vs. 9.8 months [95%CI 6.3–13.2]; HR = 0.47 [95%CI 0.21–1.04]; P = 0.010). Conclusion: Using PD-1 inhibitors in a combination treatment may improve PFS and OS, with acceptable toxicities.

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Aims: Peroxiredoxins (PRDX6) regulates the occurrence and progression of cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of PRDX6 knockdown on the biological behavior of human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 cells. Settings and Design: Research article. Subjects and Methods: The differential expression of PRDX6 in gastric cancer and normal gastric tissues was tested by immunohistochemistry. Ribonucleic acid plasmid of PRDX6 gene was packaged using a lentivirus, and BGC-823 cells were transfected with the lentivirus to obtain a BGC-823 cell line in which the expression of PRDX6 was stably silenced. Statistical Analysis Used: The proliferation activity of BGC-823 cells was detected using the cell counting kit-8 method. The effect of PRDX6 on the migration and invasion of BGC-823 cells was evaluated using the scratch test and Transwell assay, and the expression of related proteins was detected by western blot. Results: The expression of PRDX6 in gastric cancer was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with those in the untransfected and negative control groups. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells were significantly inhibited, and the apoptotic rates were significantly increased in the lentivirus-transfected (short hairpin-PRDX6) group. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of Bax protein increased, whereas that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Bcl-2, PI3K, phospho (p-Akt), and phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) decreased significantly compared with that in WT and vector groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The knockdown of PRDX6 gene expression in BGC-823 cells can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells and promote apoptosis, thereby affecting gastric cancer cells.

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Purpose: To explore the impact of PD-1 maintenance therapy on the relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with DLBCL admitted to our center between January 2018 and July 2019 who achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. Forty-five patients who received PD-1 inhibitor maintenance therapy were considered the treatment group. Forty-five patients who did not undergo maintenance treatment during the same period were selected as the control group. The base levels of the two groups of patients were similar. The 2-year RFS rate of the two groups was compared. The correlation between the adverse prognosis factors of the patients and the RFS rate was performed subgroup analysis. Results: The 2-year RFS rates of the treatment and control groups were 86.7% VS 75.6% (P = 0.178), respectively, until July 2021. A single factor analysis showed that patients with International Prognostic Index (IPI) score ≥ 3, non-GCB DLBCL receiving PD-1 inhibitor maintenance treatment, can improve their 2-year RFS (72.2% VS 30.8%, P = 0.022; 88.5% VS 62.5%, P = 0.032). For non-GCB patients, the 2-year RFS of the treatment group can reach 88.5%, while the 2-year RFS of the control group is 62.5%, which is statistically significant (P = 0.032). In all patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors, the adverse reactions were all grade I–II, and there were no grade III–IV adverse reactions. There were no clear adverse events in the follow-up patients in the control group. Conclusion: Maintenance treatment with PD-1 inhibitors can improve the 2-year RFS rate of patients with IPI score of ≥3 and non-GCB DLBCL. This prompts the potential advantage of PD-1 inhibitors in DLBCL maintenance treatment. However, longer follow-ups remain needed to obtain more definite data.

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Background: Radiotherapy is a practical locoregional treatment approach for women with breast cancer who show ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (ISLNM) on diagnosis. However, there is controversy around the role of supraclavicular lymph node dissection. Therefore, we aimed to study the significance of supraclavicular surgery based on radiotherapy. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 142 patients with breast cancer who presented with isolated ISLNM and received radiotherapy between the years 2000 and 2016. We also defined the effect of surgery on locoregional treatment of these patients by analyzing the prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: We observed that, of the 142 patients, 104 who received radiotherapy underwent supraclavicular lymph node dissection. Also, among the study group, the progesterone receptor (PR) status (P = 0.044) and the number of axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) involved (P = 0.002) were significant independent predictors of RFS. Also, tumor size (P = 0.007), PR (P < 0.001), and number of ALNs (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of DMFS and were statistically significant. Also, PR was an independent prognostic factor of OS (P = 0.033), whereas the supraclavicular surgery was not an independent prognostic factor for RFS, DMFS, and OS. Furthermore, our study focused on 92 patients with negative estrogen receptors (ERs). The result showed that supraclavicular surgery was statistically significant for RFS (P = 0.023); no significant differences in DMFS and OS were found between patients who received supraclavicular surgery and those who did not. Conclusion: Radiotherapy may be the primary locoregional treatment approach for patients with breast cancer who present with newly diagnosed ISLNM. Additionally, supraclavicular surgery may be more appropriate for patients with negative ER who received radiotherapy.

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Aim: To investigate whether systemic inflammation-based predictors can predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Materials and Methods: Totally, 205 LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant CRT and curative surgery between 2008 and 2017 were analyzed. After propensity score matching, 132 patients were included in the study. Hematological parameters were collected, and their relationship with tumor response was investigated. Results: After propensity score matching, patients in good response group before CRT displayed significantly lower neutrophil-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte-ratio (PLR) than those in poor response group, while there were no significant differences in all hematological characteristics between the two groups after CRT. The cutoff values of pre-CRT NLR and pre-CRT PLR after receiver operating characteristic analysis were 3.10 and 198.7, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that while there was no association between pre-CRT PLR and tumor response, pre-CRT NLR ≥3.1 was identified as the predictor of poor tumor response (P = 0.007). Conclusion: An increased NLR before CRT can serve as a hematological factor for predicting a poor tumor response in LARC.

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Objectives: To ascertain the clinical outcomes of patients aged ≥65 years with clinical staging T1 (cT1) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) under ultrasound control compared with those aged <65. Materials and methods: From September 2009 to December 2016, clinical data of two groups, Group O (≥ 65 years) consisting of 75 patients (76 RCCs) and Group Y (< 65 years) consisting of 91 patients (99 RCCs), who underwent MWA treatment for RCC with comparable mean diameters at baseline, were retrospectively evaluated. The methodological effectiveness, cumulative overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), local tumor progression (LTP), major and minor complications, and renal performance, including serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) between the two categories, were statistically assessed by SPSS. Results: After excision, there were no significant differences between the two groups concerning technical efficacy, LTP, and major and minor complications. The cumulative OS and DFS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years in Group O versus Group Y were 100%, 92.6%, and 92.6% versus 98.6%, 96.9%, and 90.9% (P = 0.701), and 100%, 92.5%, and 92.5% versus 98.6%, 96.9%, and 90.4% (P = 0.697), respectively. There was no significant variance between serum Cr and BUN between the two groups before MWA and at the last follow-up. Conclusion: Due to the corresponding clinical outcomes for the treatment of cT1 RCCs in patients aged <65 years and ≥65 years, the US-guided MWA is a safe and effective method and may be suggested as one of the first-line nonsurgical options for identified older patients.

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Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for tumor response (complete and partial response, CR + PR). Methods: This research conducted a retrospective study of the hospital charts of patients treated with TACE successfully renewed from October 2014 to December 2015 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China). Univariate analysis (Chi-square test and repeated-measures ANOVA) selected nine influential tumor response factors from 22 core factors. The nine variables were included in a forward multiple logistic regression model predicting patients treated with TACE to achieve tumor response. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Data of 277 of 282 patients were included in the analysis. Nine variables were analyzed by univariate analysis and independently associated with tumor response (tumor capsule integrity, nausea and vomiting, microwave ablation, liver dysfunction, the absolute value of lymphocyte (LYM), alpha-fetoprotein, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). By multivariate analysis, GGT (odds ratio [OR] =0.996), liver dysfunction (OR = 0.395), combined with microwave ablation (OR = 0.503), and tumor capsule integrity (OR = 1.894) were the significant predictors of the tumor response group compared with the standard deviation group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that TACE combined with ablation on patients with complete tumor capsules may have a better prognosis in tumor response and OS; additionally, liver dysfunction and nausea and vomiting were the independent predictors of tumor response.

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