Efficacy and safety of preoperative immunotherapy in patients with mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high gastrointestinal malignancies

BACKGROUND Programmed death protein(PD)-1 blockade immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in patients with metastatic mismatch repair-deficient(dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high(MSI-H)gastrointestinal malignancies such gastric and colorectal cancer.However,the data on preoperative immunotherapy are limited.AIM To evaluate the short-term efficacy and toxicity of preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.METHODS In this retrospective study,we enrolled 36 patients with dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies.All the patients received PD-1 blockade with or without chemotherapy of CapOx regime preoperatively.PD1 blockade 200 mg was given intravenously over 30 min on day 1 of each 21-d cycle.RESULTS Three patients with locally advanced gastric cancer achieved pathological complete response(pCR).Three patients with locally advanced duodenal carcinoma achieved clinical complete response(cCR),followed by watch and wait.Eight of 16 patients with locally advanced colon cancer achieved pCR.All four patients with liver metastasis from colon cancer reached CR,including three with pCR and one with cCR.pCR was achieved in two of five patients with nonliver metastatic colorectal cancer.CR was achieved in four of five patients with low rectal cancer,including three with cCR and one with pCR.cCR was achieved in seven of 36 cases,among which,six were selected for watch and wait strategy.No cCR was observed in gastric or colon cancer.CONCLUSION Preoperative PD-1 blockade immunotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H gastrointestinal malignancies can achieve a high CR,especially in patients with duodenal or low rectal cancer,and can achieve high organ function protection.

Dbx2 exhibits a tumor-promoting function in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines via regulating Shh-Gli1 signaling

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the fifth most common cancer worldwide.HCC patients suffer from a high mortality-to-incidence ratio and low cure rate since we still have no specific and effective treatment.Although tremendous advances have been made in the investigation of HCC,the specific mechanisms of the progression of this disease are still only partially established.Hence,more research is needed to elucidate the underlying potential mechanisms to develop effective strategies for HCC.AIM To determine the role of developing brain homeobox 2(Dbx2)gene in promoting the development of HCC.METHODS Dbx2 expression in clinical specimens and HCC cell lines was detected by Western blot(WB)and immunohistochemistry.Gain and loss of Dbx2 function assays were performed in vitro and in vivo.Cell viability assays were used to investigate cell growth,flow cytometry was employed to assess cell cycle and apoptosis,and trans-well assays were conducted to evaluate cell migration,invasion,and metastasis.The expression of key molecules in the sonic hedgehog(Shh)signaling was determined by WB.RESULTS Compared to matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues,Dbx2 was overexpressed in 5 HCC cell lines and 76 surgically resected HCC tissues.Dbx2 overexpression was correlated with large tumor size.Both gain and loss of function assays indicated that Dbx2 promoted HCC cell proliferation by facilitating the transition from G1 to S phase,attenuating apoptosis and promoted HCC proliferation,migration,and invasion in vitro and in vivo.Mechanistically,Dbx2 modulated Shh signaling by enhancing FTCH1 and GLi1 expression in HCC cells that overexpressed Dbx2,which was reversed in HCC cells with Dbx2 knockdown.CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Dbx2 is significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and plays significant roles in proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by activating the Shh pathway.

Hepatic histopathology and postoperative outcome after preoperative chemotherapy for Chinese patients with colorectal liver metastases

AIM: To assess the effects of preoperative treatment on the hepatic histology of non-tumoral liver and the postoperative outcome. METHODS: One hundred and six patients underwent hepatic resection for colorectal metastases between 1999 and 2009. The surgical specimens were reviewed with established criteria for diagnosis and grading of pathological hepatic injury. The impact of preoperative therapy on liver injury and postoperative outcome was analyzed.alone, whereas 42 patients (39.6%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 11 (10.4%) patients received preoperative hepatic artery infusion (HAI). Chemotherapy included oxaliplatin-based regimens (31.1%) and irinotecan-based regimens (8.5%). On histopathological analysis, 16 patients (15.1%) had steatosis, 31 (29.2%) had sinusoidal dilation and 20 patients (18.9%) had steatohepatitis. Preoperative oxaliplatin was associated with sinusoidal dilation compared with surgery alone (42.4% vs 20.8%, P = 0.03); however, the perioperative complication rate was not significantly different between the oxaliplatin group and surgery group (27.3% vs 13.2%, P = 0.1). HAI was associated with more steatosis, sinusoidal dilation and steatohepatitis than the surgery group, with higher perioperative morbidity (36.4% vs 13.2%, P = 0.06) and mortality (9.1% vs 0% P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Preoperative oxaliplatin was associated with sinusoidal dilation compared with surgery alone. However, the preoperative oxaliplatin had no significant impact on perioperative outcomes. HAI can cause pathological changes and tends to increase perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Pericryptal Fibroblast Sheath in Intestinal Metaplasia,Dysplasia and Carcinoma of the Stomach

Objective： To investigate the existence of pericryptal fibroblasts sheath （PCFS） in normal gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia （IM）, indefinite for dysplasia （I-Dys）, low grade dysplasia （L-Dys）, high grade dysplasia （H-Dys） and gastric cancer （GC）, and its association with gastric carcinogenesis. Methods： In this study, we examined the existence of PCFS in normal gastric mucosa （N=10）, IM （N=26）, I-Dys （N=16）, L-Dys （N=13）, H-Dys （N=21） and GC （N=145） using immunohistochemical staining for two smooth muscle markers, alpha smooth muscle actin（α-SMA） and high molecular weight caldesmon （h-CD）. The significance of PCFS was discussed, especially in association with gastric carcinogenesis. Results： The PCFS was recognized in 65.4%（17/26） of IM, 62.5%（10/16） of I-Dys and 23.1% （3/13） of L-Dys respectively. No PCFS was detected in H-Dys and GC. The PCFS was gradually reduced in IM, Dys and GC in sequence （P〈0.0001）. Conclusion： The PCFS is associated with the differentiation of epithelium and involved in gastric carcinogenesis via epithelial-mesenchymal interaction.

Long-term Follow-up Study on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Subtype and Its Relation to Expression of P53,Bcl-2 and PCNA

Objective： To investigate the correlation of typies of gastric intestinal metaplasia（IM）, expression of p53, bcl-2 and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen（PCNA）, with the lesion＇s evolution. Methods： A total of 80 patients with IM（53 male and 27 female, 35-64 years old） from an area with high-risk of gastric cancer（GC） in China were enrolled into this prospective study, including 28 cases of type Ⅰ （complete）, 25 cases of type Ⅱ （incomplete） , and 27 cases of type Ⅲ （incomplete）. Of the 80 cases, 62 cases including 19 cases of type Ⅰ, 22 type Ⅱ and 21 type Ⅲ, were followed up for 5-14 years（49 cases for 14 years, 6 for 10 years, and 7 for 5 years）. All of the 80 cases were studied immunohistochemically for the expression of p53, bcl-2 and PCNA. Results： The rate of p53-expressing cases was higher in type Ⅲ（25.9%） than in type Ⅰ（10.7%） and type Ⅱ （12.0%）, but without statistical significance（P=0.3070）. The positive rate of bcl-2 was obviously lower in type Ⅰ （21.4%） and type Ⅱ （24.0%） than in type Ⅲ（37.0%）, but not statistically significant（P=0.4223）. We observed difference in PCNA labelling index （LI） between type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ（P=0.0037）, and the difference was particularly significant in type Ⅰ as compared with type Ⅲ（P〈0.0001）. There was no statistical significance between type I and type II （P=0.0616）. Evolution into GC was detected in 0%, 4.5%, and 14.3% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Progression to dysplasia was detected in 31.6%, 18.2%, and 14.3% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Persistence of IM was documented in 31.6%, 45.5%, and 42.9% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type Ⅲ IM cases, respectively. Regression of IM was documented in 36.8%, 31.8%, and 28.6% of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ, and type ⅢIM cases, respectively. In progressive, persistent and regressive groups, the positive rates of p53 were 17.6%, 16.0% and 15.0%, bcl-2 were 29.4%, 36.0% and 25.0%, and PCNA LIs were 24.953±14.477, 23.752±12.934 and 25.105±10.055, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion： The present follow-up study indicated that type Ⅲ had a higher risk for development of cancer than type Ⅰ or Ⅱ. PCNA LI was significantly higher in type Ⅲthan in type Ⅰ and Ⅱ, suggesting that cell proliferation in type Ⅲwas more active. Our data also indicated that the expression of p53 and bcl-2 had no apparent association with the particular type and the expression of p53, bcl-2 and PCNA had no apparent correlation with evolution of IM. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to verify present observation.

Fat clearance and conventional fixation identified ypN0 rectal cancers following intermediate neoadjuvant radiotherapy have similar long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND As a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer,lymph node(LN)status,particularly the number of LN harvested,has been demonstrated to be essential in the evaluation of quality control in terms of surgical specimen.Neoadjuvant chemoradiation,however,decreases the LN harvest.Therefore,certain approaches(such as fat clearance or methylene blue)has drawn significant attention in order to raise LN yield.AIM To compare the long-term oncologic outcome of ypN0 rectal cancer identified using fat clearance(FC)or conventional fixation(CF)following 30 Gy in 10 fractions(30 Gy/10f)of neoadjuvant radiotherapy(nRT).METHODS Three hundred and eighty-two patients with resectable and locally advanced rectal cancer were treated by 30 Gy/10f intermediate nRT(biologically equivalent dose of 36 Gy)plus total mesorectal excision.Two specimen fixation methods(FC or CF)were non-randomly used.The ypN0 status was identified in 124 and 101 patients in the FL and CF groups,respectively.Primary endpoints were local recurrence-free survival(LRFS)and cancer-specific survival(CSS).RESULTS The median follow-up of patients was 5.1 years.The median numbers of retrieved LNs in the FC and CF groups were 19.5(range,4-47)and 12(range,0-44),respectively,with a significant difference(P=0.000).The percentages of patients with 12 or more retrieved nodes were 82.3%and 50.5%(101/159)in the FC and CF groups,respectively,with a significant difference(P=0.000).The LRFS at 5 years were 95.7%and 94.6%in the FC and CF groups,respectively,without statistical difference(P=0.819).The CSS at 5 years were 92.0%and 87.2%in the FC and CF groups,respectively,without statistical difference(P=0.482).CONCLUSION For patients with ypN0 rectal cancer who underwent 30 Gy/10f preoperative radiotherapy,the increased retrieval of LNs using fat clearance is not associated with survival benefit.This time-consuming fixation method has a low efficacy as a routine practice.

Abdominoperineal excision following preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: Unfavorable prognosis even with negative circumferential resection margin

AIM: To evaluate whether an abdominoperineal excision(APE) is associated with increased local recurrence(LR) and shortened disease-free survival(DFS) in mid-low rectal cancer with a negative circumferential resection margin(CRM).METHODS: 283 consecutive cases of mid-low rectal cancer underwent preoperative 30 Gy/10 F radiotherapy and surgery in Peking University Cancer Hospital between August 2003 and August 2009. Patients with positive CRM and intraoperative distant metastasis were precluded according to exclusion criteria. Survival analyses were performed in patients with APE or non-APE procedures.RESULTS: 256 of the 283(90.5%) cases were enrolled in the analysis, including 78(30.5%) and 178(69.5%) cases who received APE and non-APE procedures. Fewer female patients(P = 0.016), lower level of tumor(P = 0.000) and higher body mass index(P = 0.006) were found in the APE group. On univariate analysis, the APE group had a higher LR rate(5.1% vs 1.1%, P = 0.036) and decreased DFS(73.1% vs 83.4%, P = 0.021). On multivariate analysis, APE procedure was also an independent risk factor for LR(HR = 5.960, 1.085-32.728, P = 0.040) and decreased DFS(HR = 2.304, 1.298-4.092, P = 0.004). In stratified analysis for lower rectal cancer, APE procedure was still an independent risk factor for higher LR rate(5.6% vs 0%, P = 0.024) and shortened DFS(91.5% vs 73.6%, P = 0.002).CONCLUSION: Following preoperative 30 Gy/10 F radiotherapy, APE procedure was still a predictor for LR and decreased DFS even with negative CRM. More intensive preoperative treatment should be planned for the candidates who are scheduled to receive APE with optimal imaging assessment.

Total neoadjuvant treatment for MRI-stratified high-risk rectal cancer:a single-center,single-arm,prospective Phase II trial(PKUCH-R02)

Background:Induction chemotherapy combined with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has been recommended for patients with high-risk,locally advanced rectal cancer.However,the benefit of more intensive total neoadjuvant treatment(TNT)is unknown.This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of induction chemotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy for magnetic resonance imaging-stratified high-risk rectal cancer.Methods:This was a single-center,single-arm,prospective Phase II trial in Peking University Cancer Hospital(Beijing,China).Patients received three cycles of induction oxaliplatin and capecitabine(CapeOX)followed by chemoradiotherapy and two cycles of consolidation CapeOX.The primary end point was adverse event rate and the second primary end points were 3-year disease-free survival rate,completion of TNT,and pathological downstaging rate.Results:Between August 2017 and August 2018,68 rectal cancer patients with at least one high risk factor(cT3c/3d/T4a/T4b,cN2,mesorectal fascia involvement,or extramural venous invasion involvement)were enrolled.The overall compliance of receiving the entire treatment was 88.2%(60/68).All 68 patients received induction chemotherapy,65 received chemoradiotherapy,and 61 received consolidation chemotherapy.The Grade 3–4 adverse event rate was 30.8%(21/68).Nine patients achieved clinical complete response and then watch and wait.Five patients(7.4%)developed distant metastasis during TNT and received palliative chemotherapy.Fifty patients underwent surgical resection.The complete response rate was 27.9%.After a median follow-up of 49.2 months,the overall 3-year disease-free survival rate was 69.7%.Conclusions:For patients with high-risk rectal cancer,this TNT regimen can achieve favorable survival and complete response rates but with high toxicity.However,it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of distant metastasis during the long treatment period.

Automated quantification of Ki-67 index associates with pathologic grade of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors

Background: Classification of the pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) categories is a step-wise process identified by presence of necrosis and number of mitoses per 2 mm^2. In neuroendocrine tumor pathology, Ki-67 was first described as a prognostic factor in the pancreas and incorporated into the grading system of digestive tract neuroendocrine neoplasms in the 2010 WHO classification. However, the significance of Ki-67 in pNETs was still a controversial issue. This study was to investigate the potentially diagnostic value of Ki-67 in pNETs. Methods: We retrieved 159 surgical specimens of pNETs, including 35 typical carcinoids (TCs), 2 atypical carcinoid (ACs), 28 largecell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs), 94 small-cell lung cancers (SCLCs). Manual conventional method (MCM) and computer-assisted image analysis method (CIAM) were used to calculate the Ki-67 proliferative index. In CIAM, 6 equivalent fields lly annotated for digital image analysis. Results: The Ki-67 index among the 4 groups with ranges of 0.38% to 12.66% for TC, 4.34% to 29.48% for AC, 30.67% to 93.74% for LCNEC, and 40.71% to 96.87% for SCLC. The cutoff value of Ki-67 index to distinguish low grade with high grade was 30.07%. For the univariate survival analyses in pNETs, both the overall survival and progression-free survival correlated with Ki-67 index. In addition, the Ki-67 index performed by CIAM was proved to be of great positive correlation with MCM.(500 ×500 μm) at 10× magnification were manua Conclusions: Ki-67 index counted by CIAM is a reliable method and can be a useful adjunct to classify the low- and high-grade NETs.

Microstructure and properties of coarse-grained WC-10Co cemented carbides with different carbon contents during heat treatments

The effects of cryogenic treatment(CT)and tempering-cryogenic treatment(TCT)on the microstructure and properties of coarse-grained WC-10Co cemented carbides with different carbon contents were researched.The binder phase,WC mean grain sizes,W solubility in the binder,relative magnetic s aturation,densities,hardness,wear resistance and second phase precipitation of cemented carbides with different heat treatments were discussed.The results show that there are significant changes of microstructure and properties in the samples with CT and TCT,especially due to the precipitation of metastable nanoparticles W_(x)Co_(y)C_(z) in the binder during the heat treatments of CT and TCT.With the simultaneous combination of microstructure and nanoparticle-reinforced binder,a dramatically improved combination of hardness and wear resistance of the samples after TCT has been achieved.