The biochemical efficacy of primary cryoablation combined with prolonged total androgen suppression compared with radiotherapy on high-risk prostate cancer： a 3-year pilot study

To gain beneficial effects in the management of high-risk prostate cancer, an integrated approach that combines local therapy and androgen deprivation therapy （ADT） was used. We compared biochemical responses between primary cryosurgical ablation of the prostate （CSAP） combined with prolonged ADT and radiation combined with ADT, which is the established modality in high-risk disease. A total of 33 high-risk patients received CSAP combined with ADT for 3 months before and up to 24 months after treatment. This patient group was matched with another 33 patients who had undergone three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy （3D-CRT） with the same protocol for ADT. Biochemical recurrence （BCR） was assessed by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology （ASTRO） definition, the Phoenix definition and a prostate-specific antigen （PSA） cutoff of 0.5 ng mL^-1. Median follow-up was 61.0 ± 11.9 months for the CSAP ＋ ADT group and 86.0±15.8 months for the 3D-CRT ＋ ADT group. In the CSAP group, major complications including rectourethral fistula and incontinence were not noted. In the CSAP ＋ ADT group, 57.0% had BCR using the ASTRO definition, 21.2% using the Phoenix definition and 54.5% using a PSA cutoff of 0.5 ng mL^-1. In the 3D-CRT ＋ ADT group, 54.5%, 21.2% and 54.5% had BCR using the ASTRO, Phoenix and PSA definition, respectively. In the CSAP ＋ ADT group, the BCR-free survival （BRFS） was 54 ± 10 months using the ASTRO definition, 65 ± 5 months using the Phoenix definition and 51 ± 4 months using a PSA cutoff of 0.5 ng mL-1. In the 3D-CRT ＋ ADT group, the BRFS was 68 ± 12, 93 ± 19 and 70 ± 18 months using the ASTRO, Phoenix and PSA definition, respectively. By the log-rank test, the BRFS values for each group were not statistically different. This intermediate-term result indicated that primary CSAP combined with prolonged ADT offers a parallel biochemical response compared with radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer.

Photothermal ablation therapy for cancer based on metal nanostructures

Besides conventional surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, which all tend to have side-effects and damage normal tissues, new medical strategies, such as photothermal sensitization and photo-thermal ablation therapy (PTA) with near-IR laser light, have been explored for treating cancer. Much of the current excitement surrounding nanoscience is directly connected to the promise of new nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis and therapy. The basic principle behind PTA is that heat generated from light can be used to destroy cancer cells. Strong optical absorption and high efficiency of photothermal conversion at the cancer sites are critical to the success of PTA. Because of their unique optical properties, e.g., strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption, noble metal nanomaterials, such as gold and silver, have been found to significantly enhance photothermal conversion for PTA applications. Substantial effort has been made to develop metal nanostructures with optimal structural and photothermal properties. Ideal metal nanostructures should have strong and tunable SPR, be easy to deliver, have low toxicity, and be convenient for bioconjugation for actively targeting specific cancer cells. This review would highlight some gold nanostructures with various shapes and properties, including nanoparticles (NPs), nanorods (NRs), nanoshells, nanocages, and hollow nanospheres, which have been studied for PTA applications. Among these structures, hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs) exhibit arguably the best combined properties because of their small size (30―50 nm), spherical shape, and strong, narrow, and tunable SPR absorption.

Effects of microwave ablation on serum Golgi protein 73 in patients with primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND Microwave ablation(MWA)is an effective treatment option for patients with primary liver cancer.However,it has been reported that the MWA procedure induces a hepatic inflammatory response and injury,which may negatively affect the efficacy of MWA.As such,the discovery of reliable markers to monitor the patient’s response to MWA is needed.Golgi protein 73(GP73)has been shown to be associated with chronic liver disease.To date,the potential value of serum GP73 in the dynamic monitoring during MWA of liver cancer remains unclear.AIM To examine the effects of MWA on the serum levels of GP73 in patients with primary liver cancer.METHODS A total of 150 primary liver cancer patients with a single small lesion(≤3 cm in diameter)were retrospectively enrolled spanning the period between January 2016 and October 2018.All of the patients received MWA for the treatment of primary liver cancer.Serum GP73,alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and widely used liver biochemical indicators[serum albumin,total bilirubin(TBIL),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)]were compared before MWA and at different time points,including 1,2,and 4 wk following the ablation procedure.RESULTS Complete tumor ablation was achieved in 95.33%of the patients at 1 mo after MWA.The 1-,2-,and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 74.67%,59.33%,and 54.00%,respectively.The serum AFP levels were significantly decreased at 1,2,and 4 wk after MWA;they returned to the normal range at 12 wk after MWA;and they remained stable thereafter during follow-up in those cases without recurrence.In contrast,the serum GP73 levels were significantly increased at 1 and 2 wk after MWA.The serum GP73 levels reached the peak at 2 wk after MWA,started to decline after hepatoprotective treatment with glycyrrhizin and reduced glutathione,and returned to the pretreatment levels at 12 and 24 wk after MWA.Notably,the changes of serum GP73 in response to MWA were similar to those of TBIL,ALT,and AST.CONCLUSION Serum GP73 is markedly increased in response to MWA of liver cancer.Thus,serum GP73 holds potential as a marker to monitor MWA-induced inflammatory liver injury in need of amelioration.

Expression of human AR cDNA driven by its own promoter results in mild promotion, but not suppression, of growth in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells

Aim： To examine the physiological role of the androgen receptor （AR） in the PC-3 cell line by transfecting full-length functional AR cDNA driven by its natural human AR promoter. Methods： We generated an AR-expressing PC-3（AR）9 stable clone that expresses AR under the control of the natural human AR promoter and compared its proliferation to that of the PC-3（AR）2 （stable clone that expresses AR under the control of the cytomegalovirus （CMV） promoter, established by Heisler et al.） after androgen treatment. Results： We found that dihydrotestosterone （DHT） from 0.001 nmol/L to 10 nmol/L induces cell cycle arrest or inhibits proliferation of PC-3（AR）2 compared with its vector control, PC-3（plRES）. In contrast, PC-3（AR）9 cell growth slightly increased or did not change when treated with physiological concentrations of 1 nmol/L DHT. Conclusion： These data suggest that intracellular control of AR expression levels through the natural AR promoter might be needed for determining AR function in androgen-independent prostate cancer （AIPC） PC-3 cells. Unlike previous publications that showed DHT mediated suppression of PC-3 growth after transfection of viral promoter-driven AR overexpression, we report here that DHT-mediated PC-3 proliferation is slightly induced or does not change compared with its baseline after reintroducing AR expression driven by its own natural promoter, as shown in PC-3（AR）9 prostate cancer cells.

Endoscopic palliation of malignant biliary obstruction

Malignant biliary obstruction often presents with challenges requiring the endoscopist to assess the location of the lesion,the staging of the disease,the eventual resectability and patient preferences in term of biliary decompression.This review will focus on the different modalities available in order to offer the most appropriate palliation,such as conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography,endoscopic ultrasound guided biliary drainage as well as ablative therapies including photodynamic therapy or radiofrequency ablation.

Efficacy comparison between conservative therapy and septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Objective To compare the effects of septal ablation(SA)versus conservative medication(CM)on the hemodynamic,clinical status and survival in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM).Methods This retrospective study included 350 consecutive patients with HOCM(mean age(51.3±13.5)years old)hospitalized in Anzhen Hospital between

Recent research progress on mixed valence state tungsten based materials

Synthesis and characterization of tungsten based mixed valence state nanoparticles and their novel applications are reviewed.The mixed valence state tungsten based homogeneous nanomaterials such as bronze structure M_(x)WO_(3)(M=Na^(+),K^(+),Rb^(+),Cs^(+),NH_(4)^(+),etc.)and tungsten sub-oxide W_(18)O_(49) possess excellent infrared(IR)light shielding property,implying their great potential applications on heat ray shielding and indoor energy saving effect in summer season.Also,some novel properties such as electric conductivity,bio thermal therapy function and electrochromic properties of mixed valence state tungsten based materials are introduced.The design of components,formation of composites and structure control of thin films are expected to realize the property enhancement and candidates for practice application as window materials.The multifunc-tionality of the mixed valence state based composites also implies great potential on novel applications of various building materials.