ObjectiveTo study the effect of tumor associated neutrophil (TAN) releasing a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells in microenvironment.Methods① The expressions of APRIL in neutrophils (differentiated by HL-60 cell) and TAN cells were detected by use ELISA. ② The expressions of APRIL receptors B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and trans-membrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) in pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 were confirmed by use Western blotting. ③ Pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells were co-cultured with TAN, and divided into a PANC-1 control group (referred to as the control group), a PANC-1+TAN treatment group (referred to as the PANC-1+TAN group), PANC-1+TAN+APRIL antibody treatment group (referred to as PANC-1+TAN+APRIL group), and PANC-1+rtificial recombinant APRIL protein (rAPRIL) treatment group (referred to as PANC-1+rAPRIL group). The CCK8 method was used to determine TAN release of APRIL on PANC-1 effect of cell proliferation activity.Results① The APRIL content in the culture medium of TAN cell group was higher than that of neutrophil group [(556.20±84.38) pg/mL vs. (377.17±57.07) pg/mL, P=0.038]. ② PANC-1 cells express the receptors BCMA and TACI of APRIL. ③ PANC-1 cell activity of PANC-1+TAN group and PANC-1+rAPRIL group [(126.80±1.42)%, (168.95±12.54)%] were significantly higher than the control group [(100 ± 0.00)%, P<0.05, P<0.001], the activity of PANC-1 cells in the PANC-1+TAN group was significantly higher than that in the PANC-1+TAN+APRIL group [(86.29 ± 12.20)%, P=0.003] and significantly lower than that of PANC-1+rAPRIL group (P=0.002), the activity of PANC-1 cells in PANC-1+rAPRIL group was significantly higher than that in PANC-1+TAN+APRIL antibody group (P<0.001).ConclusionIn the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, the release of APRIL from TAN increases, which promotes the proliferative activity of PANC-1 in pancreatic cancer cells, which provides a new idea for the mechanism research and treatment of pancreatic cancer progression.
ObjectiveTo summarize the biological function and molecular regulation mechanism of serine threonine tyrosine kinase 1 (STYK1) in tumor occurrence and development. MethodThe relevant literature about STYK1 and tumor progression in recent years was searched and reviewed. ResultsThe expression of STYK1 was up-regulated in a variety of tumors and was related to the prognosis. STYK1 might regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, metastasis, aerobic glycolysis, drug resistance and other biological functions of tumor cells through MEK/ ERK, PI3K/AKT, JAK/STAT and their targeting proteins, and promote the malignant progress of tumors. Conclusion STYK1is expected to become a new target for the treatment of malignant tumors, but the molecular mechanism of its regulation of tumor progression and its upstream regulators need to be further explored.
Objective To explore the relationship between immune state and disease progression or severity of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods A total of 332 patients infected with HBV diagnosed and treated from January 2012 to December 2013 were divided into acute hepatitis B (AHB) group (n=25), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group (n=237) and cirrhosis group (n=70) according to disease progression. Moreover, CHB group was divided into mild (n=24), moderate (n=103), serious (n=72) and severe group (liver failure group,n=38) according to disease severity, while cirrhosis group was divided into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group (n=13) and non-HCC group (n=57). The immune indexes including immunoglobulin (Ig), complement (C) and T-lymphocyte subsets were tested and compared. Results The immune indexes were not significantly different between AHB group and CHB group (P>0.05). Compared with AHB group and CHB group, cirrhosis group had higher levels of IgG and IgA, and lower levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells count (P<0.05). Compared with non-HCC group, HCC group had more male patients without antiviral therapy, who had higher levels of C3 and C4 (P<0.05). As disease progressed, the levels of alanine fcell couaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, Fibroscan index, IgG, and IgA of CHB patients all gradually increased, while the levels of C3 and C4 and the counts of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells gradually declined. Conclusions The immune state of patients infected with HBV has a certain relationship with disease progression or severity, and immunoglobulin, complement and T cells count can partly reflect the severity of the disease. Cirrhosis patients accompanied with high levels of C3 and C4 should pay high attention to antiviral therapy and be vigilant on HCC.
Objective To summarize the research progress of alternative splicing in pancreatic cancer, and to provide reference for further research. MethodThe experimental and clinical studies of alternative splicing in pancreatic cancer were reviewed.Results Alternative splicing dysregulation resulted in changed gene expression or novel isoform formation, thereby influencing the carcinogenesis, progression or chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer. The differentially expressed alternative splicing isoforms may serve as diagnostic markers, indicators of aggressiveness or prognostic markers of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms of alternative splicing in carcinogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer is a new way to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
There are so many biomechanical risk factors related with glaucoma and their relationship is much complex. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art research works on glaucoma related mechanical effects. With regards to the development perspectives of studies on glaucoma biomechanics, a completely novel biomechanical evaluation factor -- Fractional Flow Reserve (FPR) for glaucoma was proposed, and developing clinical application oriented glaucoma risk assessment algorithm and application system by using the new techniques such as artificial intelligence and machine learning were suggested.
Advanced driver gene-negative non-small cell lung cancer is generally considered incurable, and treatment aims to prolong patient survival. Recently, however, a new definition “oligometastasis” has been proposed, which refers to the appearance of no more than 5 metastatic lesions in up to 3 different organs. The emergence of this concept has changed the traditional treatment model. Many studies have shown that standard systemic therapy combined with local therapy (radiotherapy, surgery, thermal ablation, etc.) can effectively prolong the survival time of these patients. This article reviews the clinical studies on the efficacy, toxicity, and beneficiary population of local radiotherapy combined with systemic therapy in driver gene-negative oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer, and provides further reference for clinical decision-making.
Objective To summarize the role of exosomal proteins in the occurrence, development, and diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, providing a reference for the exploration of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in this field. MethodA systematic review of recent domestic and international literature on the mechanisms of exosomes and their proteins in pancreatic cancer was conducted. ResultsProteins carried by tumor-derived exosomes, such as galectin-3 binding protein, V-set andimmunoglobulin domain containing 2, Zrt- and Irt-like protein 4, aspartate aminotransferase 1, could effectively regulate the tumor microenvironment and influence the cell behavior, playing an important role in the occurrence, progression, and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Additionally, exosomal proteins could serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. For example, exosomal membrane proteins DNAJ heat shock protein family (HSP40) member B11, and glypican 1 were highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues, indicating their potential. ConclusionExosomal proteins are expected to become novel biomarkers and intervention targets for the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of pancreatic cancer, providing new ideas for improving the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Objective To investigate the prognostic value of ERBB2 Exon20ins (Exon20ins) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from ERBB2-mutant stage IV NSCLC patients who received first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between 2020 and 2024. ERBB2 wild-type patients were matched using propensity score matching. Clinical pathological characteristics, distant metastatic sites, and treatment outcomes were compared among patients with different mutation statuses. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves. Cox regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. Results This study included 41 ERBB2-mutant stage IV NSCLC patients, of whom 22 had Exon20ins mutations, and 19 had other ERBB2 mutations. Forty-one ERBB2 wild-type patients were matched for comparison. The mean age of all patients was 60.0±9.3 years, with 61 males (74.4%). A total of 67 patients (81.7%) received chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, and 15 patients (18.3%) received chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and anti-angiogenesis therapy. The Exon20ins group showed a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the ERBB2 other mutation group and the wild-type group (36.4% vs. 15.8% vs. 9.8%, P=0.045). The median PFS in the Exon20ins group was significantly shorter than in the other mutation group (5.8 months vs. 10.3 months, P=0.025) and the wild-type group (5.8 months vs. 8.3 months, P=0.023). Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was an adverse prognostic factor (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=2.9, 95%CI 1.18 - 7.1, P=0.014; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.6, 95%CI 1.25 - 5.6, P=0.014). The combination with anti-angiogenesis therapy did not significantly affect the prognosis of PFS (HR=0.66, 95%CI 0.28 - 1.6, P=0.363). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was an independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=3.3, 95%CI 1.27 - 8.3, P=0.015; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.7, 95%CI 1.2 - 5.88, P=0.014). For the 67 patients receiving chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, Cox regression analysis showed that the ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation was still associated with poor prognosis in advanced NSCLC (Exon20ins vs. other ERBB2 mutations, HR=3.2, 95%CI 1.12 - 9.1, P=0.030; Exon20ins vs. wild-type, HR=2.5, 95%CI 1 - 5.88, P=0.040). Conclusions Advanced NSCLC patients with ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation have a worse prognosis compared with those with other ERBB2 mutation subtypes or ERBB2 wild-type when treated with first-line chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. This suggests that ERBB2 Exon20ins mutation, as a particularly refractory mutation, requires the exploration of new combination strategies based on molecular subtyping to improve survival outcomes.
Cancer is a disease that incidence rate, disability rate and mortality rate are high all over the world. It brings great physical and mental pain to patients. Cancer patients are in a life-threatening state of disease for a long time, which will produce fear of progression (FoP). FoP is a psychological state in which fear of disease may recur or progress. As early as the 1980s, foreign countries began the psychological research on the FoP of cancer patients. They found that this fear really exists in cancer patients and is affected by many factors. This paper reviews the concept of FoP and the related factors affecting FoP in cancer patients. The purpose is to provide reference for clinical early evaluation and reducing the FoP of cancer patients and formulating corresponding nursing measures.
ObjectiveCD44 and CD54 are two specific biomarkers of gastric cancer stem cells and were used as targets in this study. The number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cell subsets in peripheral blood of gastric cancer patients was detected by flow cytometry. Further, we combined these results with the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients to analyze the significance of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cell subsets.MethodsFrom December 2016 to September 2017, 38 patients with gastric cancer in gastrointestinal surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were included as the study object. The content of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cell subsets in their peripheral blood was detected by flow cytometry and its clinical significance was analyzed.ResultsThe median number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells were 541.9/mL (71.7–8 057.0/mL) in 38 patients and 555.9/mL (71.7–8 057.0/mL) in the group of patients with R0 resection. Patients without lymph node metastasis were found to have more CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells than patients with lymph node metastasis [941.4/mL (183.5–8 057.0)/mL vs 379.3/mL (71.7–2 269.7/mL, P=0.002], and more CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells in patients with TNM stage Ⅰ–Ⅱ than in TNM stage Ⅲ–Ⅳ [858.6/mL (183.5–8 057.0/mL) vs 364.6/mL (71.7–2 269.7/mL, P=0.015]. The patients with T3–4 stages (P= 0.025), N+ stage (P=0.009) and TNM Ⅲ–Ⅳ stage (P=0.012) had low ratios of the subgroup with high number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells, respectively. We made a more accurate judgment of N stage and TNM stage when we combined tumor size and the number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells together. However, there was no significant correlation between the number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cells and other clinicopathological features and prognosis.ConclusionsThe number of CD45–CD44+CD54+ cell subsets is correlated with tumor progression, which might be used to predict TNM stage and N stage. However, the number of patients included in this study is too small, and the clinical significance of CD45–CD44+CD54+ subsets in gastric cancer patients needs to be further demonstrated by expanding the sample size.