Impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets for advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Advanced gastric cancer(AGC)remains a challenging malignancy with poor prognosis.The combination of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab has shown promising results in AGC treatment.This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC and to explore their potential as predictive biomarkers for treatment response.AIM To investigate the impact of oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy on serum markers and T cell subsets in patients with AGC.METHODS This prospective study enrolled 60 patients with AGC.All patients received oxaliplatin(130 mg/m^(2),every 3 weeks)and trastuzumab(8 mg/kg loading dose,followed by 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks)for six cycles.Serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),cancer antigen 19-9(CA19-9),and cancer antigen 72-4(CA72-4)were measured before and after treatment.T-lymphocyte subsets,including CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,and CD4+/CD8+ratios,were also evaluated.The clinical response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.RESULTS After six cycles of treatment,the CEA,CA19-9,and CA72-4 serum levels significantly decreased compared to baseline levels(P<0.001).The percentages of CD3+and CD4+T lymphocytes increased significantly(P<0.05),whereas the percentage of CD8+T lymphocytes decreased(P<0.05).The CD4+/CD8+ratio also significantly increased after treatment(P<0.05).Patients with a higher decrease in serum tumor markers(≥50%reduction)and a higher increase in CD4+/CD8+ratio(≥1.5-fold)showed better clinical response rates(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Oxaliplatin and trastuzumab combination therapy effectively reduced serum tumor marker levels and modulated T lymphocyte subsets in patients with AGC.Combination therapy not only has a direct antitumor effect,but also enhances the immune response in patients with AGC.Serum tumor markers and T lymphocyte subsets may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for treatment response in patients with AGC receiving combination therapy.

Postoperative serum tumor markers-based nomogram predicting early recurrence for patients undergoing radical resections of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Early recurrence(ER)is associated with dismal outcomes in patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC).Approaches for predicting ER will help clinicians in implementing individualized adjuvant therapies.Postoperative serum tumor markers(STMs)are indicators of tumor progression and may improve current systems for predicting ER.AIM To establish an improved nomogram based on postoperative STMs to predict ER in PDAC.METHODS We retrospectively enrolled 282 patients who underwent radical resection for PDAC at our institute between 2019 and 2021.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of variables with or without postoperative STMs,were performed to identify independent risk factors for ER.A nomogram was constructed based on the independent postoperative STMs.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the area under the curve(AUC)of the nomogram.Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival plot and log-rank test.RESULTS Postoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels,preoperative carbohydrate antigen 125 levels,perineural invasion,and pTNM stage III were independent risk factors for ER in PDAC.The postoperative STMs-based nomogram(AUC:0.774,95%CI:0.713-0.835)had superior accuracy in predicting ER compared with the nomogram without postoperative STMs(AUC:0.688,95%CI:0.625-0.750)(P=0.016).Patients with a recurrence nomogram score(RNS)>1.56 were at high risk for ER,and had significantly poorer recurrence-free survival[median:3.08 months,interquartile range(IQR):1.80-8.15]than those with RNS≤1.56(14.00 months,IQR:6.67-24.80),P<0.001).CONCLUSION The postoperative STMs-based nomogram improves the predictive accuracy of ER in PDAC,stratifies the risk of ER,and identifies patients at high risk of ER for tailored adjuvant therapies.

Serum tumor markers:Can they clinically implicate in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

“Serum tumor markers expression(CA19-9,CA242,and CEA)and its clinical implications in type 2 diabetes mellitus”authored by Meng and Shi presents an observational case-control study investigating the correlation between tumor markers and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).The study explores the diagnostic accuracy of tumor markers,particularly cancer antigen 19-9(CA19-9),CA242,and carcinoembryonic antigen,in poorly controlled T2DM patients with hemoglobin A1c levels exceeding 9%,employing receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Though study offers valuable insights into the potential utility of tumor markers in clinical practice,caution is advised regarding routine tumor marker testing due to challenges such as limited availability and cost.Additionally,the study overlooks potential confounding factors like smoking and alcohol consumption.Variations in CA19-9 and CA242 expression underscore the complex interplay between tumor markers and systemic diseases,warranting further investigation into their diagnostic and prognostic implications.While Meng and Shi represent a significant contribution to the field,more extensive research is needed to fully elucidate the role of tumor markers in diabetes management and beyond.

Prognostic value and predictive model of tumor markers in stageⅠtoⅢgastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND Preoperative serum tumor markers have been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer patients.However,few studies have evaluated the prognosis of gastric cancer patients by establishing statistical models with multiple serum tumor indicators.AIM To explore the prognostic value and predictive model of tumor markers in stage I and III gastric cancer patients.METHODS From October 2018 to April 2020,a total of 1236 patients with stage I to III gastric cancer after surgery were included in our study.The relationship between serum tumor markers and clinical and pathological data were analyzed.We established a statistical model to predict the prognosis of gastric cancer based on the results of COX regression analysis.Overall survival(OS)was also compared across different stages of gastric cancer.RESULTS The deadline for follow-up was May 31,2023.A total of 1236 patients were included in our study.Univariate analysis found that age,clinical stage,T and N stage,tumor location,differentiation,Borrmann type,size,and four serum tumor markers were prognostic factors of OS(P<0.05).It was shown that clinical stage,tumor size,alpha foetoprotein,carcinoembryonic antigen,CA125 and CA19-9(P<0.05)were independent prognostic factors for OS.According to the scoring results obtained from the statistical model,we found that patients with high scores had poorer survival time(P<0.05).Furthermore,in stage I patients,the 3-year OS for scores 0-3 ranged from 96.85%,95%,85%,and 80%.In stage II patients,the 3-year OS for scores 0-4 were 88.6%,76.5%,90.5%,65.5%and 60%.For stage III patients,3-year OS for scores 0-6 were 70.9%,68.3%,64.1%,50.9%,38.4%,18.5%and 5.2%.We also analyzed the mean survival of patients with different scores.For stage I patients,the mean OS was 55.980 months.In stage II,the mean OS was 51.550 months.The mean OS for stage III was 39.422 months.CONCLUSION Our statistical model can effectively predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Ferroptosis biomarkers predict tumor mutation burden's impact on prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND Ferroptosis has recently been associated with multiple degenerative diseases.Ferroptosis induction in cancer cells is a feasible method for treating neoplastic diseases.However,the association of iron proliferation-related genes with prognosis in HER2+breast cancer(BC)patients is unclear.AIM To identify and evaluate fresh ferroptosis-related biomarkers for HER2+BC.METHODS First,we obtained the mRNA expression profiles and clinical information of HER2+BC patients from the TCGA and METABRIC public databases.A four gene prediction model comprising PROM2,SLC7A11,FANCD2,and FH was subsequently developed in the TCGA cohort and confirmed in the METABRIC cohort.Patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on their median risk score,an independent predictor of overall survival(OS).Based on these findings,immune infiltration,mutations,and medication sensitivity were analyzed in various risk groupings.Additionally,we assessed patient prognosis by combining the tumor mutation burden(TMB)with risk score.Finally,we evaluated the expression of critical genes by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)data from malignant vs normal epithelial cells.RESULTS We found that the higher the risk score was,the worse the prognosis was(P<0.05).We also found that the immune cell infiltration,mutation,and drug sensitivity were different between the different risk groups.The highrisk subgroup was associated with lower immune scores and high TMB.Moreover,we found that the combination of the TMB and risk score could stratify patients into three groups with distinct prognoses.HRisk-HTMB patients had the worst prognosis,whereas LRisk-LTMB patients had the best prognosis(P<0.0001).Analysis of the scRNAseq data showed that PROM2,SLC7A11,and FANCD2 were significantly differentially expressed,whereas FH was not,suggesting that these genes are expressed mainly in cancer epithelial cells(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Our model helps guide the prognosis of HER2+breast cancer patients,and its combination with the TMB can aid in more accurate assessment of patient prognosis and provide new ideas for further diagnosis and treatment.

Serum tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carbohydrate antigen 72-4, carbohydrate antigen 24-2, ferritin) and gastric cancer prognosis correlation

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a kind of malignant tumor which is prevalent all over the world.Although some progress has been made in the treatment of gastric cancer,its prognosis is still not optimistic,so it is of great significance to find reliable prog-nostic indicators to guide the treatment and management of patients with gastric cancer.AIM To explore the relationship between serum levels of five biomarkers[carcinoem-bryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)19-9,CA72-4,CA24-2,and ferritin]and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS This study included 200 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma,and conducted an in-depth analysis of their baseline characteristics,relationship between tumor markers and staging,and prognosis.The study found that CA19-9 has a signi-ficant correlation with tumor stage,the average levels of CA24-2,CEA,CA72-4 and ferritin were slightly increased disregarding the stage of tumor.Survival analysis showed that increases in CEA,CA19-9,CA24-2,and ferritin were all associated with shortened overall survival of patients.Further multivariate ana-lysis revealed that elevated serum CA72-4 levels were an inde-pendent adverse prognostic factor.RESULTS This study reveals that there is a significant correlation between the expression levels of serum tumor markers CEA,CA19-9,CA72-4,CA24-2 and ferritin in patients with gastric cancer and prognosis,and can be used as important indicators for prognostic evaluation of gastric cancer.In particular,markers that appear abnormally elevated initially may help identify gastric cancer patients with poor prognosis.CONCLUSION Serum CEA and CA19-9 play an important role in the prognosis assessment of gastric cancer,and are effective tools to guide clinical practice and optimize individualized treatment strategies for gastric cancer patients.

Efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with thalidomide and S-1 for esophageal carcinoma and its influence on serum tumor markers

BACKGROUND Although the current conventional treatment strategies for esophageal carcinoma(EC)have been proven effective,they are often accompanied by serious adverse events.Therefore,it is still necessary to continue to explore new therapeutic strategies for EC to improve the clinical outcome of patients.AIM To elucidate the clinical efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)with thalidomide(THAL)and S-1(tegafur,gimeracil,and oteracil potassium capsules)in the treatment of EC as well as its influence on serum tumor markers(STMs).METHODS First,62 patients with EC treated at the Zibo 148 Hospital between November 2019 and November 2022 were selected and grouped according to the received treatment.Among these,30 patients undergoing CCRT with cis-platinum and 5-fluorouracil were assigned to the control group(Con),and 32 patients receiving CCRT with THAL and S-1 were assigned to the research group(Res).Second,inter-group comparisons were carried out with respect to curative efficacy,incidence of drug toxicities,STMs[carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)and macrophage inflammatory protein-3α(MIP-3α)],angiogenesis-related indicators[vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF);VEGF receptor-1(VEGFR-1);basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF);angiogenin-2(Ang-2)],and quality of life(QoL)[QoL core 30(QLQ-C30)]after one month of treatment.RESULTS The analysis showed no statistical difference in the overall response rate and disease control rate between the two patient cohorts;however,the incidences of grade I–II myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reactions were significantly lower in the Res than in the Con.Besides,the post-treatment CA125,MIP-3α,VEGF,VEGFR-1,bFGF,and Ang-2 Levels in the Res were markedly lower compared with the pre-treatment levels and the corresponding post-treatment levels in the Con.Furthermore,more evident improvements in QLQ-C30 scores from the dimensions of physical,role,emotional,and social functions were determined in the Res.CONCLUSION The above results demonstrate the effectiveness of THAL+S-1 CCRT for EC,which contributes to mild side effects and significant reduction of CA125,MIP-3α,VEGF,VEGFR-1,bFGF,and Ang-2 Levels,thus inhibiting tumors from malignant progression and enhancing patients’QoL.

Percutaneous microwave ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for serum tumor markers and prognostics of middle-late primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC)has an insidious onset and is usually diagnosed in the middle and late stages.Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the preferred option for treating middle-and advanced-stage PHC,it has limited efficacy in killing tumor cells and poor long-term efficacy.TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)is more effective than interventional therapy alone and can improve survival time.However,there are few reports on the effects of TACE and PMCT on serum marker levels and the prognosis of patients with advanced PHC.AIM To investigate the effect of PMCT+TACE on serum tumor markers and the prognosis of middle-late PHC.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with middle-late PHC admitted to Zhongshan People’s Hospital between March 2018 and February 2021.Patients were divided into a single group(treated with TACE,n=75)and a combined group(treated with TACE+PMCT,n=75).Before and after treatment,the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels[carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)]of both groups were observed.The 1-year survival rates and prognostic factors of the two groups were analyzed.RESULTS The combined group had 21 and 35 cases of complete remission(CR)and partial remission(PR),respectively.The single group had 13 and 25 cases of CR and PR,decreased,with the decrease in the combined group being more significant(P<0.05).The 1-year survival rate of the combined group(80.00%)was higher than that of the single group(60.00%)(P<0.05).The average survival time within 1 year in the combined group was 299.38±61.13 d,longer than that in the single group(214.41±72.97 d,P<0.05).COX analysis revealed that tumor diameter,tumor number,and the treatment method were prognostic factors for patients with middle-late PHC(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+PMCT is effective in treating patients with mid-late PHC.It reduces the levels of tumor markers,prolongs survival,and improves prognosis.

Value of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging combined with tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors

BACKGROUND Compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasound(US),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and serum tumor markers alone or in combination for detecting ovarian tumors.AIM To investigate the diagnostic value of US,MRI combined with tumor markers in ovarian tumors.METHODS The data of 110 patients with ovarian tumors,confirmed by surgery and pathology,were collected in our hospital from February 2018 to May 2023.The dataset included 60 cases of benign tumors and 50 cases of malignant tumors.Prior to surgery,all patients underwent preoperative US and MRI examinations,as well as serum tumor marker tests[carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125),human epididymis protein 4(HE4)].The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic performance of these three methods individually and in combination for ovarian tumors.RESULTS This study found statistically significant differences in the ultrasonic imaging characteristics between benign and malignant tumors.These differences include echo characteristics,presence or absence of a capsule,blood flow resistance index,clear tumor shape,and blood flow signal display rate(P<0.05).The apparent diffusion coefficient values of the solid and cystic parts in benign tumors were found to be higher compared to malignant tumors(P<0.05).Additionally,the time-intensity curve image features of benign and malignant tumors showed significant statistical differences(P<0.05).The levels of serum CA125 and HE4 in benign tumors were lower than those in malignant tumors(P<0.05).The combined use of US,MRI,and tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors demonstrates higher accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity compared to using each method individually(P<0.05).CONCLUSION US,MRI,and tumor markers each have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to diagnosing ovarian tumors.However,by combining these three methods,we can significantly enhance the accuracy of ovarian tumor diagnosis,enabling early detection and identification of the tumor’s nature,and providing valuable guidance for clinical treatment.

Wilm′s tumor gene1肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用

目的为Wilm′s tumor gene1(WT1)肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S(GPS)用于肿瘤免疫治疗的后续研究提供参考。方法采用计算机检索中国知网、PubMed等数据库自建库起至2022年12月的肿瘤免疫治疗相关文献,总结GPS在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用现状。结果GPS能激发自身免疫系统,对WT1抗原产生强烈免疫反应而发挥抗肿瘤作用,在卵巢癌、恶性胸膜间皮瘤、急性髓系白血病、多发性骨髓瘤的治疗中均显示出较好的疗效。结论以GPS为代表的肿瘤疫苗是未来肿瘤治疗的重要方向,需进一步进行临床研究,以获取更多数据。

Serum Tumor Markers Combined with 18F-FDG PET/CT Volumetric Metabolic Parameters in the Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most fatal gynecological malignancy, and identifying reliable prognostic indicators can help guide therapeutic treatment. Various tumor marker-guided treatment regimens can considerably improve patient prognosis with a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of ovarian cancer recurrence and metastasis. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is a molecular imaging tool that provides anatomical and functional information about the tumor, and its volume-based metabolic parameters allow for quantifiable observation of ovarian cancer recurrence, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy. The combined utilization of serological and radiologic markers has been found to provide increased clinical benefit. This article reviewed the predictive value of serum tumor markers and 18F-FDG PET/CT volumetric metabolic parameters for the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.

Association of tumor budding with clinicopathological features and prognostic value in stage III-IV colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Tumor budding(TB)has emerged as a promising independent prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer(CRC).The prognostic role of TB has been extensively studied and currently affects clinical decision making in patients with stage I and II CRC.However,existing prognostic studies on TB in stage III CRC have been confined to small retrospective cohort studies.Consequently,this study investigated the correlation among TB categories,clinicopathological features,and prognosis in stage III-IV CRC to further enhance the precision and individualization of treatment through refined prognostic risk stratification.AIM To analyze the relationship between TB categories and clinicopathological characteristics and assess their prognostic value in stage III-IV CRC to further refine the prognostic risk stratification of stage III-IV CRC.METHODS The clinical data of 547 CRC patients were collected for this retrospective study.Infiltration at the front edge of the tumor buds was counted according to the 2016 International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference guidelines.RESULTS Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that chemotherapy(P=0.004),clinical stage IV(P<0.001),≥4 regional lymph node metastases(P=0.004),left-sided colonic cancer(P=0.040),and Bd 2-3(P=0.002)were independent prognostic factors in patients with stage III-IV CRC.Moreover,the density of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes was higher in Bd 1 than in Bd 2-3,both in the tumor stroma and its invasive margin.CONCLUSION TB has an independent predictive prognostic value in patients with stage III-IV CRC.It is recommended to complete the TB report of stage III-IV CRC cases in the standardized pathological report to further refine risk stratification.

Prognostic impact and reasons for variability by tumor location in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal tract tumor.Several trials have demonstrated that the location of GC can affect patient prognosis.However,the factors determining tumor location remain unclear.AIM To investigate the tumor location of patients,we went on to study the influencing factors that lead to changes in the location of GC.METHODS A retrospective evaluation was carried out on 3287 patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital.The patients were followed up post-diagnosis and post-gastrectomy.The clinicopathological variables and overall survival of the patients were recorded.By analyzing the location of GC,the tumor location was divided into four categories:“Upper”,“middle”,“lower”,and“total”.Statistical software was utilized to analyze the relationship of each variable with the location of GC.RESULTS A total of 3287 patients were included in this study.The clinicopathological indices of gender,age,serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA19-9)and CA72-4 levels,were significantly associated with tumor location in patients with GC.In addition,there was a strong correlation between GC location and the prognosis of postoperative patients.Specifically,patients with“lower”and“middle”GC demonstrated a better prognosis than those with tumors in other categories.CONCLUSION The five clinicopathological indices of gender,age,CEA,CA19-9 and CA72-4 levels exhibit varying degrees of influence on the tumor location.The tumor location correlates with patient prognosis following surgery.

Evaluating combined bevacizumab and XELOX in advanced colorectal cancer: Serum markers carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 199 analysis

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer ranks third and second among common and fatal cancers.The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)is generally based on XELOX in clinical practice,which includes capecitabine(CAP)and oxaliplatin.Serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)125 and CA199 are prognostic factors for various tumors.AIM To investigate evaluating combined bevacizumab(BEV)and XELOX in advanced colorectal cancer:Serum markers CEA,CA125,CA199 analysis.METHODS In this retrospective study,a total of 94 elderly patients diagnosed with mCRC were recruited and subsequently categorized into two groups based on the distinct treatment modalities they received.The control group was treated with XELOX plus CAP(n=47),while the observation group was treated with XELOX plus CAP and BEV(n=47).Several indexes were assessed in both groups,including disease control rate(DCR),incidence of adverse effects,serum marker levels(CEA,CA125,and CA19)and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS After 9 wk of treatment,the serum levels of CEA,CA199 and CA125 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the PFS of the observation group(9.12±0.90 mo)was significantly longer than that of the control group(6.49±0.64 mo).Meanwhile,there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions and DCR between the two groups during maintenance therapy(P>0.05).CONCLUSION On the basis of XELOX treatment,the combination of BEV and CAP can reduce serum tumor marker levels and prolong PFS in patients with mCRC.

Comprehensive review of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus:State of art and future perspectives

Background:Despite advances in the diagnosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),70%-80%of patients are diagnosed with advanced stage disease.Portal vein tumor thrombus(PVTT)is among the most ominous signs of advanced stage disease and has been associated with poor survival if untreated.Data sources:A systematic search of MEDLINE(PubMed),Embase,Cochrane Library and Database for Systematic Reviews(CDSR),Google Scholar,and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE)databases until December 2022 was conducted using free text and MeSH terms:hepatocellular carcinoma,portal vein tumor thrombus,portal vein thrombosis,vascular invasion,liver and/or hepatic resection,liver transplantation,and systematic review.Results:Centers of surgical excellence have reported promising results related to the individualized surgical management of portal thrombus versus arterial chemoembolization or systemic chemotherapy.Critical elements to the individualized surgical management of HCC and portal thrombus include precise classification of the portal vein tumor thrombus,accurate identification of the subgroups of patients who may benefit from resection,as well as meticulous surgical technique.This review addressed five specific areas:(a)formation of PVTT;(b)classifications of PVTT;(c)controversies related to clinical guidelines;(d)surgical treatments versus non-surgical approaches;and(e)characterization of surgical techniques correlated with classifications of PVTT.Conclusions:Current evidence from Chinese and Japanese high-volume centers demonstrated that patients with HCC and associated PVTT can be managed with surgical resection with acceptable results.

Laparoscopic vs open surgery for gastric cancer: Assessing time, recovery, complications, and markers

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common cancers worldwide.Morbidity and mortality have increased in recent years,making it an urgent issue to address.La-paroscopic radical surgery(LRS)is a crucial method for treating patients with GC;However,its influence on tumor markers is still under investigation.The data of 194 patients treated at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital bet-ween January 2018 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients who underwent traditional open surgery and LRS were assigned to the control(n=90)and observation groups(n=104),respectively.Independent sample t-tests andχ2 tests were used to compare the two groups based on clinical efficacy,changes in tumor marker levels after treatment,clinical data,and the incidence of posto-perative complications.To investigate the association between tumor marker levels and clinical efficacy in patients with GC,three-year recurrence rates in the two groups were compared.RESULTS Patients in the observation group had a shorter duration of operation,less in-traoperative blood loss,an earlier postoperative eating time,and a shorter hospital stay than those in the control group(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the number of lymph node dissections(P>0.05).After treatment,the overall response rate in the control group was significantly lower than that in the observation group(P=0.001).Furthermore,after treatment,the levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9,cancer antigen 72-4,carcinoembryonic antigen,and cancer antigen 125 decreased significantly.The observation group also exhibited a significantly lower incidence rate of postoperative complications compared to the control group(P<0.001).Additionally,the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of three-year survival and recurrence rates(P>0.05).CONCLUSION LRS effectively treats early gastric cancer by reducing intraoperative bleeding,length of hospital stays,and postoperative complications.It also significantly lowers tumor marker levels,thus improving the short-term prognosis of the disease.

New roles of tumor-derived exosomes in tumor microenvironment

Throughout tumorigenesis, the co-evolution of tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment leads to the development of malignant phenotypes. Cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment(TME) plays a critical role in influencing various aspects of tumor progression, including invasion and metastasis. The release of exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle, by most cell types in the body, is an essential mediator of intercellular communication. A growing body of research indicates that tumor-derived exosomes(TDEs) significantly expedite tumor progression through multiple mechanisms, inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and macrophage polarization, enhancing angiogenesis, and aiding in the immune evasion of tumor cells. Herein, we describe the formation and characteristics of the TME, and summarize the contents of TDEs and their diverse functions in modulating tumor development. Furthermore, we explore potential applications of TDEs in tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Calculus bovis inhibits M2 tumor-associated macrophage polarization via Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation to suppress liver cancer

BACKGROUND Calculus bovis(CB),used in traditional Chinese medicine,exhibits anti-tumor effects in various cancer models.It also constitutes an integral component of a compound formulation known as Pien Tze Huang,which is indicated for the treatment of liver cancer.However,its impact on the liver cancer tumor microenvironment,particularly on tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs),is not well understood.AIM To elucidate the anti-liver cancer effect of CB by inhibiting M2-TAM polarization via Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation.METHODS This study identified the active components of CB using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS,evaluated its anti-neoplastic effects in a nude mouse model,and elucidated the underlying mechanisms via network pharmacology,transcriptomics,and molecular docking.In vitro assays were used to investigate the effects of CB-containing serum on HepG2 cells and M2-TAMs,and Wnt pathway modulation was validated by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.RESULTS This study identified 22 active components in CB,11 of which were detected in the bloodstream.Preclinical investigations have demonstrated the ability of CB to effectively inhibit liver tumor growth.An integrated approach employing network pharmacology,transcriptomics,and molecular docking implicated the Wnt signaling pathway as a target of the antineoplastic activity of CB by suppressing M2-TAM polarization.In vitro and in vivo experiments further confirmed that CB significantly hinders M2-TAM polarization and suppresses Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation.The inhibitory effect of CB on M2-TAMs was reversed when treated with the Wnt agonist SKL2001,confirming its pathway specificity.CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that CB mediates inhibition of M2-TAM polarization through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,contributing to the suppression of liver cancer growth.

Lipid metabolism-related long noncoding RNA RP11-817I4.1 promotes fatty acid synthesis and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common types of tumors.The influence of lipid metabolism disruption on the development of HCC has been demonstrated in published studies.AIM To establish an HCC prognostic model for lipid metabolism-related long non-coding RNAs(LMR-lncRNAs)and conduct in-depth research on the specific role of novel LMR-lncRNAs in HCC.METHODS Correlation and differential expression analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to identify differentially expressed LMR-lncRNAs.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to evaluate the expression of LMR-lncRNAs.Nile red staining was employed to observe intracellular lipid levels.The interaction between RP11-817I4.1,miR-3120-3p,and ATP citrate lyase(ACLY)was validated through the performance of dual-luciferase reporter gene and RIP assays.RESULTS Three LMR-lncRNAs(negative regulator of antiviral response,RNA transmembrane and coiled-coil domain family 1 antisense RNA 1,and RP11-817I4.1)were identified as predictive markers for HCC patients and were utilized in the construction of risk models.Additionally,proliferation,migration,and invasion were reduced by RP11-817I4.1 knockdown.An increase in lipid levels in HCC cells was significantly induced by RP11-817I4.1 through the miR-3120-3p/ACLY axis.CONCLUSION LMR-lncRNAs have the capacity to predict the clinical characteristics and prognoses of HCC patients,and the discovery of a novel LMR-lncRNAs,RP11-817I4.1,revealed its role in promoting lipid accumulation,thereby accelerating the onset and progression of HCC.

Identification of cell surface markers for acute myeloid leukemia prognosis based on multi-model analysis

Given the extremely high inter-patient heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukemia(AML),the identification of biomarkers for prognostic assessment and therapeutic guidance is critical.Cell surface markers(CSMs)have been shown to play an important role in AML leukemogenesis and progression.In the current study,we evaluated the prognostic potential of all human CSMs in 130 AML patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)based on differential gene expression analysis and univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.By using multi-model analysis,including Adaptive LASSO regression,LASSO regression,and Elastic Net,we constructed a 9-CSMs prognostic model for risk stratification of the AML patients.The predictive value of the 9-CSMs risk score was further validated at the transcriptome and proteome levels.Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for the AML patients.The AML patients with high 9-CSMs risk scores had a shorter overall and event-free survival time than those with low scores.Notably,single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that patients with high 9-CSMs risk scores exhibited chemotherapy resistance.Furthermore,PI3K inhibitors were identified as potential treatments for these high-risk patients.In conclusion,we constructed a 9-CSMs prognostic model that served as an independent prognostic factor for the survival of AML patients and held the potential for guiding drug therapy.