AIM:To investigate the role and clinicopathological significance of aberrant expression of Notch receptors and Delta-like ligand-4 (DLL4) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma.METHODS:One hundre...AIM:To investigate the role and clinicopathological significance of aberrant expression of Notch receptors and Delta-like ligand-4 (DLL4) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma.METHODS:One hundred and ten patients had surgically resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and gallbladder carcinoma specimens examined by immunohistochemistry of available paraffin blocks.Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-Notch receptors 1-4 and anti-DLL4 antibodies.We scored the immunopositivity of Notch receptors and DLL4 expression by percentage of positive tumor cells with cytoplasmic expression and intensity of immunostaining.Coexistent nuclear localization was evaluated.Clinicopatho-logical parameters and survival data were compared with the expression of Notch receptors 1-4 and DLL4.RESULTS:Notch receptor proteins showed in the cytoplasm with or without nuclear expression in cancer cells,as well as showing weak cytoplasmic expression in non-neoplastic cells.By semiquantitative evaluation,positive immunostaining of Notch receptor 1 was detected in 96 cases (87.3%),Notch receptor 2 in 97 (88.2%),Notch receptor 3 in 97 (88.2%),Notch receptor 4 in 103 (93.6),and DLL4 in 84 (76.4%).In addition,coex- istent nuclear localization was noted [Notch receptor 1;18 cases (18.8%),Notch receptor 2;40 (41.2%),Notch receptor 3;32 (33.0%),Notch receptor 4;99 (96.1%),DLL4;48 (57.1%)].Notch receptor 1 expression was correlated with advanced tumor,node,metastasis (TNM) stage (P=0.043),Notch receptor 3 with advanced T stage (P=0.017),tendency to express in cases with nodal metastasis (P=0.065) and advanced TNM stage (P=0.052).DLL4 expression tended to be related to less histological differentiation (P=0.095).Coexistent nuclear localization of Notch receptor 3 was related to no nodal metastasis (P=0.027) and Notch receptor 4 with less histological differentiation (P=0.036),while DLL4 tended to be related inversely with T stage (P=0.053).Coexistent nuclear localization of DLL4 was related to poor survival (P=0.002).CONCLUSION:Aberrant expression of Notch receptors 1 and 3 play a role during cancer progression,and cytoplasmic nuclear coexistence of DLL4 expression correlates with poor survival in extrahepatic CC and gallbladder carcinoma.展开更多
AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFIRINOX as a second-line treatment for gemcitabine(GEM)-refractory unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC).METHODS This study was a prospective, multicenter, one-arm, ...AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFIRINOX as a second-line treatment for gemcitabine(GEM)-refractory unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC).METHODS This study was a prospective, multicenter, one-arm, open-label, phase Ⅱ trial. Patients with unresectable PC, who showed disease progression during GEMbased chemotherapy were enrolled. All patients were administered FOLFIRINOX with reduced irinotecan and oxaliplatin(RIO; irinotecan 120 mg/m^2 and oxaliplatin 60 mg/m^2), which was set according to the phase Ⅰ study of FOLFIRINOX. The objective response rate(ORR), disease control rate(DCR), progressionfree survival(PFS), overall survival(OS), adverse events were evaluated. Additionally, changes in quality of life(QoL) were assessed using a questionnaire on QoL.RESULTS Between August 2015 and May 2016, a total of 48 patients were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 259 d with a median of 8.5 cycles. The ORR and DCR were 18.8% and 62.5%, respectively, including one patient who showed complete remission. The median PFS was 5.8 mo [95% confidence interval(CI): 3.7-7.9] and median OS was 9.0 mo(95%CI: 6.4-11.6). Neutropenia(64.6%) was the most common grade 3-4 adverse event, followed by febrile neutropenia(16.7%). Although 14.6% of patients experienced grade 3 fatigue, most non-hematologic AEs were under grade 2. In the QoL analysis, the global health status score before treatment was not different from the score at the last visit after treatment(45.43 ± 22.88 vs 48.66 ± 24.14, P = 0.548).CONCLUSION FOLFIRINOX with RIO showed acceptable toxicity and promising efficacy for GEM-refractory unresectable PC. However, this treatment requires careful observation of treatment-related hematologic toxicities.展开更多
文摘AIM:To investigate the role and clinicopathological significance of aberrant expression of Notch receptors and Delta-like ligand-4 (DLL4) in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma.METHODS:One hundred and ten patients had surgically resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and gallbladder carcinoma specimens examined by immunohistochemistry of available paraffin blocks.Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-Notch receptors 1-4 and anti-DLL4 antibodies.We scored the immunopositivity of Notch receptors and DLL4 expression by percentage of positive tumor cells with cytoplasmic expression and intensity of immunostaining.Coexistent nuclear localization was evaluated.Clinicopatho-logical parameters and survival data were compared with the expression of Notch receptors 1-4 and DLL4.RESULTS:Notch receptor proteins showed in the cytoplasm with or without nuclear expression in cancer cells,as well as showing weak cytoplasmic expression in non-neoplastic cells.By semiquantitative evaluation,positive immunostaining of Notch receptor 1 was detected in 96 cases (87.3%),Notch receptor 2 in 97 (88.2%),Notch receptor 3 in 97 (88.2%),Notch receptor 4 in 103 (93.6),and DLL4 in 84 (76.4%).In addition,coex- istent nuclear localization was noted [Notch receptor 1;18 cases (18.8%),Notch receptor 2;40 (41.2%),Notch receptor 3;32 (33.0%),Notch receptor 4;99 (96.1%),DLL4;48 (57.1%)].Notch receptor 1 expression was correlated with advanced tumor,node,metastasis (TNM) stage (P=0.043),Notch receptor 3 with advanced T stage (P=0.017),tendency to express in cases with nodal metastasis (P=0.065) and advanced TNM stage (P=0.052).DLL4 expression tended to be related to less histological differentiation (P=0.095).Coexistent nuclear localization of Notch receptor 3 was related to no nodal metastasis (P=0.027) and Notch receptor 4 with less histological differentiation (P=0.036),while DLL4 tended to be related inversely with T stage (P=0.053).Coexistent nuclear localization of DLL4 was related to poor survival (P=0.002).CONCLUSION:Aberrant expression of Notch receptors 1 and 3 play a role during cancer progression,and cytoplasmic nuclear coexistence of DLL4 expression correlates with poor survival in extrahepatic CC and gallbladder carcinoma.
文摘AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified FOLFIRINOX as a second-line treatment for gemcitabine(GEM)-refractory unresectable pancreatic cancer(PC).METHODS This study was a prospective, multicenter, one-arm, open-label, phase Ⅱ trial. Patients with unresectable PC, who showed disease progression during GEMbased chemotherapy were enrolled. All patients were administered FOLFIRINOX with reduced irinotecan and oxaliplatin(RIO; irinotecan 120 mg/m^2 and oxaliplatin 60 mg/m^2), which was set according to the phase Ⅰ study of FOLFIRINOX. The objective response rate(ORR), disease control rate(DCR), progressionfree survival(PFS), overall survival(OS), adverse events were evaluated. Additionally, changes in quality of life(QoL) were assessed using a questionnaire on QoL.RESULTS Between August 2015 and May 2016, a total of 48 patients were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 259 d with a median of 8.5 cycles. The ORR and DCR were 18.8% and 62.5%, respectively, including one patient who showed complete remission. The median PFS was 5.8 mo [95% confidence interval(CI): 3.7-7.9] and median OS was 9.0 mo(95%CI: 6.4-11.6). Neutropenia(64.6%) was the most common grade 3-4 adverse event, followed by febrile neutropenia(16.7%). Although 14.6% of patients experienced grade 3 fatigue, most non-hematologic AEs were under grade 2. In the QoL analysis, the global health status score before treatment was not different from the score at the last visit after treatment(45.43 ± 22.88 vs 48.66 ± 24.14, P = 0.548).CONCLUSION FOLFIRINOX with RIO showed acceptable toxicity and promising efficacy for GEM-refractory unresectable PC. However, this treatment requires careful observation of treatment-related hematologic toxicities.