Prognostic Value of Sox2 Expression in Digestive Tract Cancers: A Meta-analysis

The aim of the present study was to accurately evaluate the association of Sox2 expression with the survival of patients with digestive tract cancers. Relevant literatures were identified by comprehensively searching databases including the Pubmed, Embase, CBMdisc, and Wanfang（up to October 2014）. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the association between Sox2 expression and overall survival or clinicopathological parameters of patients with digestive tract cancers（esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers）. The results showed a significant association between high Sox2 expression and poor overall survival in patients with digestive tract carcinomas（HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.04–2.31）, especially for patients with esophageal cancer（HR=2.04, 95%CI=1.30–3.22）, colorectal cancer（HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.04–1.89）, and digestive tract adenocarcinoma（HR=1.80, 95% CI=1.12–2.89）, for Europeans（HR=1.98, 95% CI=1.44–2.71） or patients who did not receive neoadjuvant treatment（HR=1.73, 95% CI=1.10–2.72）. Furthermore, Sox2 over-expression was highly correlated with vascular invasion（OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.25–2.77） and poor differentiation（OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.14–3.08）, especially in esophageal and colorectal cancers. In conclusion, Sox2 expression may serve as a novel prognostic factor for patients with digestive tract cancers. Over-expression of Sox2 that is correlated with vascular invasion and poor differentiation suggests poor outcomes of patients with digestive tract cancers.

Tumor circulome in the liquid biopsies for digestive tract cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Digestive tract cancer is one of the main diseases that endanger human health.At present,the early diagnosis of digestive tract tumors mainly depends on serology,imaging,endoscopy,and so on.Although tissue specimens are the gold standard for cancer diagnosis,with the rapid development of precision medicine in cancer,the demand for dynamic monitoring of tumor molecular characteristics has increased.Liquid biopsy involves the collection of body fluids via noninvasive approaches,and analyzes biological markers such as circulating tumor cells,circulating tumor DNA,circulating cell-free DNA,microRNAs,and exosomes.In recent years,liquid biopsy has become more and more important in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in clinical practice due to its convenience,non-invasiveness,high specificity and it overcomes temporal-spatial heterogeneity.Therefore,this review summarizes the current evidence on liquid biopsies in digestive tract cancers in relation to diagnosis and prognosis.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRINKING WATER,VEGETABLES AND CANCER DEATH IN THE HIGH INCIDENCE AREA OF DIGESTIVE TRACT CANCER

The Paper analyzed of investigation datas on thedeath causes of digestive tract cancer in high-incidencearea between 70s and 80s. The results showed that thecancer-adjusted mortalities were 224.14/100000 and226.66/100000: it was 7 times as high as low-incidence(31.19/100000 and 29.82/100000). In 70s, the cancer deathof esophagus, stomach and liver (87.41/100000,73.93/100000 and 8.59/100000) were 28 times, 10 timesand 4 times as high as low-incidence area (3.70/100000,10.57/100000 and 1.94/100000), respectively (P<0.001). In80s, the cancer death of esophagus, stomach and liver(68.26/100000, 109.39/100000 and 23.89/100000) were 17times, 10 times and 4 times as high as low-incidence area(4.54/100000, 10.84/100000 and 6.35/100000), respectively(P<0.001). In high-incidence area, the cancer death ofesophagus was lower, of stomach and liver were higherin 80s than 70s, respectively (P<0.01)- The result alsoshowed that the nitrate content of drinking water andvegetables were 21.45mg/1 and 1185.27mg/kg in high-incidence area; it were significant higher than that in low-incidence area (2.14mg/1 and 41.6omg/kg), the nitritecontent (0.01mg/l) of drinking water in high-incidencearea was significant higher than that in low-incidencearea (0.004mg/l), but the nitrite content among vegetableswas no significant difference between the two regions(N0.05). Our results suggest that the nitrate and nitritecontents increase in drinking water and vegetables maybe an important risk factor of upper alimentary cancer inhigh-incidence area.

A study of the clinical characteristics in patients with digestive tract cancer related cognitive impairment

Objective:The aims of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of patients with digestive tract cancer-related cognitive impairment(CRCI),and provide reference for the comprehensive clinical understanding,early prevention and treatment.Methods:164 patients with digestive tract cancer were divided into CRCI group and non-CRCI impairment group based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MOCA)and the Minimal Mental State Scale(MMSE).Baseline features,blood biochemical indexes,anxiety and depression were compared.Statistical analysis were carried out by SPSS software(version 20.0).Results:Among all the patients with CRCI,males were more common.Also,there were statistically differences in marital status,liver metastasis,hypertension,ferritin(FER),high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C),NK cells,anxiety and depression(P<0.05).Conclusion:Part of patients with digestive tract cancer have varied degrees of cognitive dysfunction.Marital status,hypertension,immune function,liver metastasis and serum lipid metabolism were the risk factors for patients with digestive tract CRCI.Early identification of CRCI is of great significance to ensure the integrity of treatment,improve the quality of life and prognosis for patients with digestive tract CRCI.