Objective:Oxaliplatin(OXA)and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)are 2 commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer(CRC).MicroRNAs(miRNAs,miRs)play crucial roles in the development of chemoresistance in various cancer...Objective:Oxaliplatin(OXA)and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)are 2 commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer(CRC).MicroRNAs(miRNAs,miRs)play crucial roles in the development of chemoresistance in various cancers.However,the role and mechanism of miR-224-5p in regulating CRC chemoresistance remain unclear.This study aims to investigate the function of miR-224-5p in chemoresistant CRC cells and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:CRC datasets GSE28702 and GSE69657 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Differentially expressed miRNAs between drug sensitive and resistant groups(OXA or 5-FU)were analyzed,and miR-224-5p was identified as the target miRNA.Chemoresistant cell lines HCT15-OXR,HCT15-5-FU,SW480-OXR,and SW480-5-FU were established.Transient transfections were performed using miR-224-5p mimics,inhibitors,and their respective negative controls(control mimic,control inhibitor)in these cell lines.Cells were treated with different concentrations of OXA or 5-FU post-transfection,and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(50))was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay.Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 and colony formation assays.The expression levels of miR-224-5p,LC3,and P62 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR)and/or Western blotting.Autophagic flux was assessed using a tandem fluorescent-tagged LC3 reporter assay.TargetScan 8.0,miRTarBase,miRPathDB,and HADb were used to predict B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)as a potential miR-244-5p target,which was further validated by dual luciferase reporter assays.Results:Chemoresistant CRC cells exhibited down-regulated miR-224-5p expression,whereas up-regulation of miR-224-5p enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity.Exposure to OXA or 5-FU significantly increased autophagic activity in chemoresistant CRC cells,which was reversed by miR-224-5p overexpression.Dual-luciferase assays verified Bcl-2 as a direct target of miR-224-5p.Conclusion:MiR-224-5p regulates chemoresistance in CRC by modulating autophagy through direct targeting of Bcl-2.展开更多
Background:Immune checkpoint inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of solid tumors,but the currently used immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death-1(PD-1),programmed cell death ligand-...Background:Immune checkpoint inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of solid tumors,but the currently used immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death-1(PD-1),programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-L1),and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4(CTLA-4)show limited clinical efficacy in many breast cancers.B7H3 has been widely reported as an immunosuppressive molecule,but its immunological function in breast cancer patients remains unclear.Methods:We analyzed the expression of B7H3 in breast cancer samples using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program(TCGA)and the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.MicroRNAs were selected using the TarBase,miRTarBase,and miRBase databases.The regulatory role of the microRNA hsa-miR-214-3p on B7H3 was investigated through dual-luciferase reporter assays,which identified the specific action sites of interaction.The expression levels of B7H3 and hsa-miR-214-3p in human breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues were quantified using Western blotting and quantitative PCR(qPCR).In vitro experiments were performed to observe the effects of modulating the expression of B7H3 or hsa-miR-214-3p on breast cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.Additionally,the regulatory impact of hsa-miR-214-3p on B7H3 was examined.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA)and flow cytometry were employed to assess the effects of co-cultured breast cancer cells and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)on immune cells and associated cytokines.Results:In breast cancer tissues,the expression level of B7H3 is inversely correlated with that of hsa-miR-214-3p,as well as with the regulatory effects on breast cancercell behavior.Hsa-miR-214-3p was found to inhibit breast cancer cell growth by downregulating B7H3.Importantly,our research identified,for the first time,two binding sites for hsa-miR-214-3p on the 3’UTR of B7H3,both of which exert similar effects independently.Co-culture experiments revealed that hsamiR-214-3p obstructs the suppressive function of B7H3 on CD8^(+)T cells and natural killer cells.Conclusions:This study confirms the existence of two hsa-miR-214-3p binding sites on the 3’UTR of B7H3,reinforcing the role of hsamiR-214-3p as a regulatory factor for B7H3.In breast cancer,hsa-miR-214-3p reduces tumor cell proliferation and enhances the tumor immune microenvironment by downregulating B7H3.These findings suggest new potential targets for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.展开更多
This editorial provides insights into the pivotal role of checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1)as both a biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer(CRC),based on findings from a recent study by Pang et al.Using single...This editorial provides insights into the pivotal role of checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1)as both a biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer(CRC),based on findings from a recent study by Pang et al.Using single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry,the study demonstrates significant CHEK1 overexpression in CRC tissues and identifies nitidine chloride as a potent CHEK1 inhibitor that disrupts DNA damage repair pathways.These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of CHEK1 inhibition and highlight the need for further research to address gaps in CRC treatment.展开更多
Cancer-related diseases represent the second overall cause of death worldwide.Human papilloma virus(HPV)is an infectious agent which is mainly sexually transmitted and may lead to HPV-associated cancers in both men an...Cancer-related diseases represent the second overall cause of death worldwide.Human papilloma virus(HPV)is an infectious agent which is mainly sexually transmitted and may lead to HPV-associated cancers in both men and women.Almost all cervical cancers are HPV-associated,however,an increasing number of head and neck cancers(HNCs),especially oropharyngeal cancer,can be linked to HPV infection.Moreover,anogenital cancers,including vaginal,vulvar,penial,and anal cancers,represent a subset of HPVrelated cancers.Whereas testing and prevention of cervical cancer have significantly improved over past decades,anogenital cancers remain more difficult to confirm.Current clinical trials including patients with HPV-related cancers focus on finding proper testing for all HPV-associated cancers as well as improve the currently applied treatments.The HPV viral oncoproteins,E6 and E7,lead to degradation of,respectively,p53 and pRb resulting in entering the S phase without G1 arrest.These high-risk HPV viral oncogenes alter numerous cellular processes,including DNA repair,angiogenesis,and/or apoptosis,which eventually result in carcinogenesis.Additionally,a comprehensive analysis of gene expression and alteration among a panel of DNA double strand breaks(DSB)repair genes in HPV-negative and HPV-positive HNC cancers reveals differences pointing to HPV-dependent modifications of DNA repair processes in these cancers.In this review,we discuss the current knowledge regarding HPV-related cancers,current screening,and treatment options as well as DNA damage response-related biological aspects of the HPV infection and clinical trials.展开更多
Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. The treatment of gastric cancer is challenging because of its highly heterogeneous etiology and clinical characteristics. Recent genomic and molecular c...Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. The treatment of gastric cancer is challenging because of its highly heterogeneous etiology and clinical characteristics. Recent genomic and molecular characterization of gastric cancer, especially the findings reported by the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA), have shed light on the heterogeneity and potential targeted therapeutics for four different subtypes of gastric cancer.展开更多
AIM： To evaluate the dosimetry, efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） and concurrent chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. ME...AIM： To evaluate the dosimetry, efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） and concurrent chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. METHODS： A retrospective study was performed on 7 patients who were definitively treated with IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy. Patients who did not receive IMRT radiation and concurrent chemotherapy were not included in this analysis. IMRT plans were evaluated to assess the tumor coverage and normal tissue avoidance. Treatment response was evaluated and toxicities were assessed. RESULTS： Five- to nine-beam IMRT were used to deliver a total dose of 59.4-66 Gy （median： 64.8 Gy） to the primary tumor with 6-MV photons. The minimum dose received by the planning tumor volume （PTV） of the gross tumor volume boost was 91.2%-98.2% of the prescription dose （standard deviation [SD]： 3.7%-5.7%）. The minimum dose received by the PTV Of the clinical tumor volume was 93.8%-104.8% （SD： 4.3%-11.1%） of the prescribed dose. With a median follow-up of 15 rno （range： 3-21 too）, all 6 evaluable patients achieved complete response. Of them, 2 developed local recurrences and 2 had distant metastases, 3 survived with no evidence of disease. After treatment, 2 patients developed esophageal stricture requiring frequent dilation and 1 patient developed tracheal-esophageal fistula. CONCLUSION： Concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy resulted in an excellent early response in patients with locally advanced cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. However, local and distant recurrence and toxicity remain to be a problem. Innovative approaches are needed to improve the outcome.展开更多
Despite substantial efforts at early diagnosis, accurate staging and advanced treatments, esophageal cancer(EC) continues to be an ominous disease worldwide. Risk factors for esophageal carcinomas include obesity, gas...Despite substantial efforts at early diagnosis, accurate staging and advanced treatments, esophageal cancer(EC) continues to be an ominous disease worldwide. Risk factors for esophageal carcinomas include obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hard-alcohol use and tobacco smoking. Five-year survival rates have improved from 5% to 20% since the 1970 s, the result of advances in diagnostic staging and treatment. As the most sensitive test for locoregional staging of EC, endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) influences the development of an optimal oncologic treatment plan for a significant minority of patients with early cancers, which appropriately balances the risks and benefits of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. EUS is costly, and may not be available at all centers. Thus, the yield of EUS needs to be thoughtfully considered for each patient. Localized intramucosal cancers occasionally require endoscopic resection(ER) for histologic staging or treatment; EUS evaluation may detect suspicious lymph nodes prior to exposing the patient to the risks of ER. Although positron emission tomography(PET) has been increasingly utilized in staging EC, it may be unnecessary for clinical staging of early, localized EC and carries the risk of false-positive metastasis(over staging). In EC patients with evidence of advanced disease, EUS or PET may be used to define the radiotherapy field. Multimodality staging with EUS, crosssectional imaging and histopathologic analysis of ER, remains the standard-of-care in the evaluation of early esophageal cancers. Herein, published data regarding use of EUS for intramucosal, local, regional and metastatic esophageal cancers are reviewed. An algorithm to illustrate the current use of EUS at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is presented.展开更多
Gastric cancer represents a serious health problem on a global scale. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Novel therapeutic targets are desperately needed because the meager improvement i...Gastric cancer represents a serious health problem on a global scale. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Novel therapeutic targets are desperately needed because the meager improvement in the cure rate of about 10% realized by adjunctive treatments to surgery is unacceptable as > 50% patients with localized gastric cancer succumb to their disease. Either postoperative chemoradiotherapy (United States), pre-and post-operative chemotherapy (Europe), and adjuvant chemotherapy after a D2 resection (Asia) can all be regarded as standards of care in the localized gastric cancer management. In metastatic disease the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy is standard of care in Her2 positive disease. In the HER2 negative population, the treatments remain limited. In the first line setting, the standard of care is a combination of fluoropyrimidine and platinum containing chemotherapy, with or without epirubicin or docetaxel. The results of targeted therapy trials have by and large been disappointing, but none of these trials looked at an appropriately enriched population. Finally there is a meager overall survival benefit in treating patients with metastatic disease in the second line setting, with either irinotecan, docetaxel or ramucirumab however none of these drugs have been compared head to head in a well-powered randomized controlled trial.展开更多
Esophageal cancer is the 7th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.While squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent histology internationally,adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus accounts for nearly 50% of cas...Esophageal cancer is the 7th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.While squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent histology internationally,adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus accounts for nearly 50% of cases in developed countries due to the differences in the etiologic factors such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) and obesity that predominate.While surgery is the mainstay of treatment of this disease,the utilization of chemoradiation,eitherused postoperatively or neoadjuvantly,has become a standard practice in the United States.What is the optimal management approach is still an area of contention,however,and may be different in different regions around the world.This article reviews some of these controversies,including the role for surgery in patients treated with definitive chemoradiation.At the end,we will also outline recommendations regarding radiotherapy procedures and techniques.展开更多
The local recurrence rate of phyllodes tumors of the breast varies widely among different subtypes, and distant metastasis is associated with poor survival. This study aimed to identify factors that are predictive of ...The local recurrence rate of phyllodes tumors of the breast varies widely among different subtypes, and distant metastasis is associated with poor survival. This study aimed to identify factors that are predictive of local recurrence-free survival(LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS), and overall survival(OS) in patients with phyllodes tumors of the breast. Clinical data of all patients with a phyllodes tumor of the breast(n = 192) treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1997 and December 2012 were reviewed. The Pearson χ2 test was used to investigate the relationship between clinical features of patients and histotypes of tumors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors that are predictive of LRFS, DMFS, and OS. In total, 31(16.1%) patients developed local recurrence, and 12(6.3%) developed distant metastasis. For the patients who developed local recurrence, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 33 years(range, 17-56 years), and the median size of primary tumor was 6.0 cm(range, 0.8-18 cm). For patients who developed distant metastasis, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 46 years(range, 24-68 years), and the median size of primary tumor was 5.0 cm(range, 0.8-18 cm). In univariate analysis, age, size, hemorrhage, and margin status were found to be predictive factors for LRFS(P = 0.009, 0.024, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively), whereas histotype, epithelial hyperplasia, margin status, and local recurrence were predictors of DMFS(P = 0.001, 0.007, 0.007, and < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for LRFS included age [hazard ratio(HR) = 3.045, P = 0.005], tumor size(HR = 2.668, P = 0.013), histotype(HR = 1.715, P = 0.017), and margin status(HR = 4.530, P< 0.001). Histotype(DMFS: HR = 4.409, P = 0.002; OS: HR = 4.194, P = 0.003) and margin status(DMFS: HR = 2.581, P = 0.013; OS: HR = 2.507, P = 0.020) were independent predictors of both DMFS and OS. In this cohort, younger age, a larger tumor size, a higher tumor grade, and positive margins were associated with lower rates of LRFS. Histotype and margin status were found to be independent predictors of DMFS and OS.展开更多
Recommendations for managing clinically localized prostate cancer are structured around clinical risk criteria,with prostate biopsy(PB)Gleason score(GS)being the most important factor.Biopsy to radical prostatectomy(R...Recommendations for managing clinically localized prostate cancer are structured around clinical risk criteria,with prostate biopsy(PB)Gleason score(GS)being the most important factor.Biopsy to radical prostatectomy(RP)specimen upgrading/downgrading is welldescribed,and is often the ratio nale for costly imaging or genomic studies.We prese nt simple,no-cost an a lyses of clinical parametersto predict which GS 6 and GS 8 patients will change to GS 7 at prostatectomy.From May 2006 to December 2012,1590 patientsunderwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP).After exclusions,we identified a GS 6 cohort of 374 patients and a GS 8cohort of 91 patients.During this era,>1000 additional patients were enrolled in an active surveillanee(AS)program.For GS 6,265(70.9%)of 374 patients were upgraded,and the cohort included 183(48.9%)patients eligible for AS by the Prostate Cancer ResearchInternational Active Surveillance Study(PRIAS)standards,of which 57.9%were upgraded.PB features that predicted a>90%chanceof upgrading included≥7 cores positive,maximum foci length≥8 mm in any core,and total tumor involvement≥30%.For GS 8,downgrading occurred in 46(50.5%),which was significantly higher for single core versus multiple cores(80.4%vs 19.6%,P=0.011).Biochemical recurre nee(BCR)occurred in 3.4%of GS 6 upgraded versus 0%non upgraded,and in GS 8,19.6%downgraded versus42.2%nondown graded.In coun seling men with clin ically localized prostate can cer,the odds of GS cha nge should be presented,andcertain men with high-volume GS 6 or low-volume GS 8 can be counseled with GS 7-based recommendations.展开更多
AIM:To determine the effects of curcumin,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),lovastatin,and their combinations on inhibition of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Esophageal cancer TE-8 and SKGT-4 cell lines were subjected t...AIM:To determine the effects of curcumin,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),lovastatin,and their combinations on inhibition of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Esophageal cancer TE-8 and SKGT-4 cell lines were subjected to cell viability methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and tumor cell invasion assays in vitro and tumor formation and growth in nude mouse xenografts with or without curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin treatment.Gene expression was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in tumor cell lines,tumor xenografts and human esophageal cancer tissues,respectively.RESULTS:These drugs individually or in combinations significantly reduced the viability and invasion capacity of esophageal cancer cells in vitro.Molecularly,these three agents reduced the expression of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2),c-Jun and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),but activated caspase 3 in esophageal cancer cells.The nude mouse xenograft assay showed that EGCG and the combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin suppressed esophageal cancer cell growth and reduced the expression of Ki67,phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2.The expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2 in esophageal cancer tissue specimens was also analyzed using immunohistochemistry.The data demonstrated that 77 of 156 (49.4%) tumors expressed phosphorylated Erk1/2 and that 121 of 156 (77.6%) esophageal cancers expressed COX-2 protein.In particular,phosphorylated Erk1/2 was expressed in 23 of 50 (46%) cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in 54 of 106 (50.9%) cases of adenocarcinoma,while COX-2 was expressed in 39 of 50 (78%) esophageal SCC and in 82 of 106 (77.4%) esophageal adenocarcinoma.CONCLUSION:The combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin were able to suppress esophageal cancer cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts,these drugs also inhibited phosphorylated Erk1/2,c-Jun and COX-2 expression.展开更多
Metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality. One of the initiating events of cancer metastasis of epithelial tumors is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT), during which cells dedifferentiate from a relative...Metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality. One of the initiating events of cancer metastasis of epithelial tumors is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT), during which cells dedifferentiate from a relatively rigid cell structure/morphology to a flexible and changeable structure/morphology often associated with mesenchymal cells. The presence of EMT in human epithelial tumors is reflected by the increased expression of genes and levels of proteins that are preferentially present in mesenchymal cells. The combined presence of these genes forms the basis of mesenchymal gene signatures, which are the foundation for classifying a mesenchymal subtype of tumors. Indeed, tumor classification schemes that use clustering analysis of large genomic characterizations, like The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA), have defined mesenchymal subtype in a number of cancer types, such as high-grade serous ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. However, recent analyses have shown that gene expression-based classifications of mesenchymal subtypes often do not associate with poor survival. This "paradox" can be ameliorated using integrated analysis that combines multiple data types. We recently found that integrating m RNA and micro RNA(mi RNA) data revealed an integrated mesenchymal subtype that is consistently associated with poor survival in multiple cohorts of patients with serous ovarian cancer. This network consists of 8 major mi RNAs and 214 m RNAs. Among the 8 mi RNAs, 4 are known to be regulators of EMT. This review provides a summary of these 8 mi RNAs, which were associated with the integrated mesenchymal subtype of serous ovarian cancer.展开更多
Cancer metabolism has emerged as an important area of research in recent years.Elucidation of the metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells and the underlying mechanisms will not only advance our understan...Cancer metabolism has emerged as an important area of research in recent years.Elucidation of the metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells and the underlying mechanisms will not only advance our understanding of fundamental cancer cell biology but also provide an important basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies and novel compounds to selectively eliminate cancer cells by targeting their unique metabolism.This article reviews several important metabolic alterations in cancer cells,with an emphasis on increased aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) and glutamine addiction,and discusses the mechanisms that may contribute to such metabolic changes.In addition,metabolic alterations in cancer stem cells,mitochondrial metabolism and its influence on drug sensitivity,and potential therapeutic strategies and agents that target cancer metabolism are also discussed.展开更多
Esophageal cancer(EC)generally consists of squamous cell carcinoma(which arise from squamous epithelium)and adenocarcinoma(which arise from columnar epithelium).Due to the increased recognition of risk factors associa...Esophageal cancer(EC)generally consists of squamous cell carcinoma(which arise from squamous epithelium)and adenocarcinoma(which arise from columnar epithelium).Due to the increased recognition of risk factors associated with EC and the development of screening programs,there has been an increase in the diagnosis of early EC.Early EC is amenable to curative therapy by endoscopy,which can be performed by either endoscopic resection or endoscopic ablation.Endoscopic resection consists of either endoscopic mucosal resection(preferred in cases of adenocarcinoma)or endoscopic submucosal dissection(preferred in cases of squamous cell carcinoma).Endoscopic ablation can be performed by either radiofrequency ablation,cryotherapy,argon plasma coagulation or photodynamic therapy,amongst others.Endoscopy can also assist in the management of complications post-esophageal surgery,such as anastomotic leaks and perforations.Finally,there is a growing role for endoscopy to manage end-of-life palliative symptoms,especially dysphagia.The growing use of esophageal stents,debulking therapy and dilation can assist in improving a patient’s quality of life.In this review,we examine the multiple roles of endoscopy in the management of patients with EC.展开更多
Cancer cells are well documented to rewire their metabolism and energy production networks to support and enable rapid proliferation, continuous growth, survival in harsh conditions, invasion, metastasis, and resistan...Cancer cells are well documented to rewire their metabolism and energy production networks to support and enable rapid proliferation, continuous growth, survival in harsh conditions, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to cancer treatments. Since Dr. Otto Warhurg＇s discovery about altered cancer cell metabolism in 1930, thousands of studies have shed light on various aspects of cancer metabolism with a common goal to find new ways for effectively eliminating tumor cells by targeting their energy metabolism. This review highlights the importance of the main features of cancer metabolism, summarizes recent remarkable advances in this field, and points out the potentials to translate these scientific findings into life-saving diagnosis and therapies to help cancer patients.展开更多
The molecular characterization of various cancers has shown that cancers with the same origins,histopathologic diagnoses,and clinical stages can be highly heterogeneous in their genetic and epigenetic alterations that...The molecular characterization of various cancers has shown that cancers with the same origins,histopathologic diagnoses,and clinical stages can be highly heterogeneous in their genetic and epigenetic alterations that cause tumorigenesis.A number of cancer driver genes with functional abnormalities that trigger malignant transformation and that are required for the survival of cancer cells have been identified.Therapeutic agents targeting some of these cancer drivers have been successfully developed,resulting in substantial improvements in clinical symptom amelioration and outcomes in a subset of cancer patients.However,because such therapeutic drugs often benefit only a limited number of patients,the successes of clinical development and applications rely on the ability to identify those patients who are sensitive to the targeted therapies.Thus,biomarkers that can predict treatment responses are critical for the success of precision therapy for cancer patients and of anticancer drug development.This review discusses the molecular heterogeneity of lung cancer pathogenesis;predictive biomarkers for precision medicine in lung cancer therapy with drugs targeting epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK),c-ros oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase[ROSl),and immune checkpoints;biomarkers associated with resistance to these therapeutics;and approaches to identify predictive biomarkers in anticancer drug development.The identification of predictive biomarkers during anticancer drug development is expected to greatly facilitate such development because it will increase the chance of success or reduce the attrition rate.Additionally,such identification will accelerate the drug approval process by providing effective patient stratification strategies in clinical trials to reduce the sample size required to demonstrate clinical benefits.展开更多
The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K) pathway regulates a number of cellular processes, including cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Consequently, this pathway is commonly deregulated in cancer....The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K) pathway regulates a number of cellular processes, including cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Consequently, this pathway is commonly deregulated in cancer. In particular, mutations in the gene PIK3CA that encodes the p110α catalytic subunit of the PI3K enzymes result in cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in vitro and induce breast tumors in transgenic mice. These data underscore the role of this pathway during oncogenesis. Thus, an ongoing, large-scale effort is underway to develop clinically active drugs that target elements of the PI3K pathway. However, conflicting data suggest that gain-of-function PIK3CA mutations may be associated with either a favorable or a poor clinical outcome, compared with the wild-type PIK3CA gene. In the current study, we performed a systematic review of breast cancer clinical studies. Upon evaluation of 2587 breast cancer cases from 12 independent studies, we showed that patients with tumors harboring a PIK3CA mutation have a better clinical outcome than those with a wild-type PIK3CA gene. Importantly, this improved prognosis may pertain only to patients with mutations in the kinase domain of p110α and to postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. We propose three potential explanations for this paradoxical observation. First, PIK3CA mutations may interfere with the metastasis process or may induce senescence, which results in a better outcome for patients with mutated tumors. Secondly, we speculate that PIK3CA mutations may increase early tumor diagnosis by modification of the actin cytoskeleton in tumor cells. Lastly, we propose that PIK3CA mutations may be a favorable predictive factor for response to hormonal therapy, giving a therapeutic advantage to these patients. Ultimately, an improved understanding of the clinical impact of PIK3CA mutations is critical for the development of optimally personalized therapeutics against breast cancer and other solid tumors. This effort will be important to prevent or explain therapeutic failures and select patients who are most likely to respond to new therapies that inhibit the PI3K pathway.展开更多
Air pollution in China comes from multiple sources,including coal consumption,construction and industrial dust,and vehicle exhaust.Coal consumption in particular directly determines the emissions of three major air po...Air pollution in China comes from multiple sources,including coal consumption,construction and industrial dust,and vehicle exhaust.Coal consumption in particular directly determines the emissions of three major air pollutants:dust,sulfur dioxide(SO2),and nitrogen oxide(NOx).The rapidly increasing number of civilian vehicles is expected to bring NOx emission to a very high level.Contrary to expectations,however,existing data show that the concentrations of major pollutants[particulate matter-10(PM10),SO2,and nitrogen dioxide(NO2)]in several large Chinese cities have declined during the past decades,though they still exceed the national standards of ambient air quality.Archived data from China does not fully support that the concentrations of pollutants directly depend on local emissions,but this is likely due to inaccurate measurement of pollutants.Analyses on the cancer registry data show that cancer burden related to air pollution is on the rise in China and will likely increase further,but there is a lack of data to accurately predict the cancer burden.Past experience from other countries has sounded alarm of the link between air pollution and cancer.The quantitative association requires dedicated research as well as establishment of needed monitoring infrastructures and cancer registries.The air pollution-cancer link is a serious public health issue that needs urgent investigation.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(82072729)Wuhan Municipal Health Commission Medical Research Project(WX19Q30),China。
文摘Objective:Oxaliplatin(OXA)and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)are 2 commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer(CRC).MicroRNAs(miRNAs,miRs)play crucial roles in the development of chemoresistance in various cancers.However,the role and mechanism of miR-224-5p in regulating CRC chemoresistance remain unclear.This study aims to investigate the function of miR-224-5p in chemoresistant CRC cells and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:CRC datasets GSE28702 and GSE69657 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Differentially expressed miRNAs between drug sensitive and resistant groups(OXA or 5-FU)were analyzed,and miR-224-5p was identified as the target miRNA.Chemoresistant cell lines HCT15-OXR,HCT15-5-FU,SW480-OXR,and SW480-5-FU were established.Transient transfections were performed using miR-224-5p mimics,inhibitors,and their respective negative controls(control mimic,control inhibitor)in these cell lines.Cells were treated with different concentrations of OXA or 5-FU post-transfection,and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(50))was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay.Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 and colony formation assays.The expression levels of miR-224-5p,LC3,and P62 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR)and/or Western blotting.Autophagic flux was assessed using a tandem fluorescent-tagged LC3 reporter assay.TargetScan 8.0,miRTarBase,miRPathDB,and HADb were used to predict B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)as a potential miR-244-5p target,which was further validated by dual luciferase reporter assays.Results:Chemoresistant CRC cells exhibited down-regulated miR-224-5p expression,whereas up-regulation of miR-224-5p enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity.Exposure to OXA or 5-FU significantly increased autophagic activity in chemoresistant CRC cells,which was reversed by miR-224-5p overexpression.Dual-luciferase assays verified Bcl-2 as a direct target of miR-224-5p.Conclusion:MiR-224-5p regulates chemoresistance in CRC by modulating autophagy through direct targeting of Bcl-2.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(grant number 2022A1515012315)Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research Fund Project(grant number A2023185)+2 种基金the Discipline Construction Project of Guangdong Medical University(grant number 4SG22005G)the 2023 Provincial Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund Enterprise Joint Fund Project(grant number 2023A1515220149)Southern Medical University Shunde Hospital 2023 Research Initiation Programme Project(SRSP2023016).
文摘Background:Immune checkpoint inhibitors play an important role in the treatment of solid tumors,but the currently used immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death-1(PD-1),programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-L1),and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4(CTLA-4)show limited clinical efficacy in many breast cancers.B7H3 has been widely reported as an immunosuppressive molecule,but its immunological function in breast cancer patients remains unclear.Methods:We analyzed the expression of B7H3 in breast cancer samples using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program(TCGA)and the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.MicroRNAs were selected using the TarBase,miRTarBase,and miRBase databases.The regulatory role of the microRNA hsa-miR-214-3p on B7H3 was investigated through dual-luciferase reporter assays,which identified the specific action sites of interaction.The expression levels of B7H3 and hsa-miR-214-3p in human breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues were quantified using Western blotting and quantitative PCR(qPCR).In vitro experiments were performed to observe the effects of modulating the expression of B7H3 or hsa-miR-214-3p on breast cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.Additionally,the regulatory impact of hsa-miR-214-3p on B7H3 was examined.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA)and flow cytometry were employed to assess the effects of co-cultured breast cancer cells and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)on immune cells and associated cytokines.Results:In breast cancer tissues,the expression level of B7H3 is inversely correlated with that of hsa-miR-214-3p,as well as with the regulatory effects on breast cancercell behavior.Hsa-miR-214-3p was found to inhibit breast cancer cell growth by downregulating B7H3.Importantly,our research identified,for the first time,two binding sites for hsa-miR-214-3p on the 3’UTR of B7H3,both of which exert similar effects independently.Co-culture experiments revealed that hsamiR-214-3p obstructs the suppressive function of B7H3 on CD8^(+)T cells and natural killer cells.Conclusions:This study confirms the existence of two hsa-miR-214-3p binding sites on the 3’UTR of B7H3,reinforcing the role of hsamiR-214-3p as a regulatory factor for B7H3.In breast cancer,hsa-miR-214-3p reduces tumor cell proliferation and enhances the tumor immune microenvironment by downregulating B7H3.These findings suggest new potential targets for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.
文摘This editorial provides insights into the pivotal role of checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1)as both a biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer(CRC),based on findings from a recent study by Pang et al.Using single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry,the study demonstrates significant CHEK1 overexpression in CRC tissues and identifies nitidine chloride as a potent CHEK1 inhibitor that disrupts DNA damage repair pathways.These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of CHEK1 inhibition and highlight the need for further research to address gaps in CRC treatment.
基金supported by the Pamela and Wayne Garrison Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research to J.C.J.C.also received support from the CPRIT awards(Grant Nos RP160667 and RP180813)NIH grants(Grant Nos P01CA193124,R01CA210929,R01CA216911,and R01CA216437)。
文摘Cancer-related diseases represent the second overall cause of death worldwide.Human papilloma virus(HPV)is an infectious agent which is mainly sexually transmitted and may lead to HPV-associated cancers in both men and women.Almost all cervical cancers are HPV-associated,however,an increasing number of head and neck cancers(HNCs),especially oropharyngeal cancer,can be linked to HPV infection.Moreover,anogenital cancers,including vaginal,vulvar,penial,and anal cancers,represent a subset of HPVrelated cancers.Whereas testing and prevention of cervical cancer have significantly improved over past decades,anogenital cancers remain more difficult to confirm.Current clinical trials including patients with HPV-related cancers focus on finding proper testing for all HPV-associated cancers as well as improve the currently applied treatments.The HPV viral oncoproteins,E6 and E7,lead to degradation of,respectively,p53 and pRb resulting in entering the S phase without G1 arrest.These high-risk HPV viral oncogenes alter numerous cellular processes,including DNA repair,angiogenesis,and/or apoptosis,which eventually result in carcinogenesis.Additionally,a comprehensive analysis of gene expression and alteration among a panel of DNA double strand breaks(DSB)repair genes in HPV-negative and HPV-positive HNC cancers reveals differences pointing to HPV-dependent modifications of DNA repair processes in these cancers.In this review,we discuss the current knowledge regarding HPV-related cancers,current screening,and treatment options as well as DNA damage response-related biological aspects of the HPV infection and clinical trials.
文摘Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. The treatment of gastric cancer is challenging because of its highly heterogeneous etiology and clinical characteristics. Recent genomic and molecular characterization of gastric cancer, especially the findings reported by the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA), have shed light on the heterogeneity and potential targeted therapeutics for four different subtypes of gastric cancer.
基金Supported by Radiology Society of Northern America Researh and Education Program, Grant to "Teach the Teachers" from Emerging Nations
文摘AIM： To evaluate the dosimetry, efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy （IMRT） and concurrent chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. METHODS： A retrospective study was performed on 7 patients who were definitively treated with IMRT and concurrent chemotherapy. Patients who did not receive IMRT radiation and concurrent chemotherapy were not included in this analysis. IMRT plans were evaluated to assess the tumor coverage and normal tissue avoidance. Treatment response was evaluated and toxicities were assessed. RESULTS： Five- to nine-beam IMRT were used to deliver a total dose of 59.4-66 Gy （median： 64.8 Gy） to the primary tumor with 6-MV photons. The minimum dose received by the planning tumor volume （PTV） of the gross tumor volume boost was 91.2%-98.2% of the prescription dose （standard deviation [SD]： 3.7%-5.7%）. The minimum dose received by the PTV Of the clinical tumor volume was 93.8%-104.8% （SD： 4.3%-11.1%） of the prescribed dose. With a median follow-up of 15 rno （range： 3-21 too）, all 6 evaluable patients achieved complete response. Of them, 2 developed local recurrences and 2 had distant metastases, 3 survived with no evidence of disease. After treatment, 2 patients developed esophageal stricture requiring frequent dilation and 1 patient developed tracheal-esophageal fistula. CONCLUSION： Concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy resulted in an excellent early response in patients with locally advanced cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. However, local and distant recurrence and toxicity remain to be a problem. Innovative approaches are needed to improve the outcome.
文摘Despite substantial efforts at early diagnosis, accurate staging and advanced treatments, esophageal cancer(EC) continues to be an ominous disease worldwide. Risk factors for esophageal carcinomas include obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hard-alcohol use and tobacco smoking. Five-year survival rates have improved from 5% to 20% since the 1970 s, the result of advances in diagnostic staging and treatment. As the most sensitive test for locoregional staging of EC, endoscopic ultrasound(EUS) influences the development of an optimal oncologic treatment plan for a significant minority of patients with early cancers, which appropriately balances the risks and benefits of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. EUS is costly, and may not be available at all centers. Thus, the yield of EUS needs to be thoughtfully considered for each patient. Localized intramucosal cancers occasionally require endoscopic resection(ER) for histologic staging or treatment; EUS evaluation may detect suspicious lymph nodes prior to exposing the patient to the risks of ER. Although positron emission tomography(PET) has been increasingly utilized in staging EC, it may be unnecessary for clinical staging of early, localized EC and carries the risk of false-positive metastasis(over staging). In EC patients with evidence of advanced disease, EUS or PET may be used to define the radiotherapy field. Multimodality staging with EUS, crosssectional imaging and histopathologic analysis of ER, remains the standard-of-care in the evaluation of early esophageal cancers. Herein, published data regarding use of EUS for intramucosal, local, regional and metastatic esophageal cancers are reviewed. An algorithm to illustrate the current use of EUS at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is presented.
文摘Gastric cancer represents a serious health problem on a global scale. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Novel therapeutic targets are desperately needed because the meager improvement in the cure rate of about 10% realized by adjunctive treatments to surgery is unacceptable as > 50% patients with localized gastric cancer succumb to their disease. Either postoperative chemoradiotherapy (United States), pre-and post-operative chemotherapy (Europe), and adjuvant chemotherapy after a D2 resection (Asia) can all be regarded as standards of care in the localized gastric cancer management. In metastatic disease the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy is standard of care in Her2 positive disease. In the HER2 negative population, the treatments remain limited. In the first line setting, the standard of care is a combination of fluoropyrimidine and platinum containing chemotherapy, with or without epirubicin or docetaxel. The results of targeted therapy trials have by and large been disappointing, but none of these trials looked at an appropriately enriched population. Finally there is a meager overall survival benefit in treating patients with metastatic disease in the second line setting, with either irinotecan, docetaxel or ramucirumab however none of these drugs have been compared head to head in a well-powered randomized controlled trial.
文摘Esophageal cancer is the 7th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.While squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent histology internationally,adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus accounts for nearly 50% of cases in developed countries due to the differences in the etiologic factors such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) and obesity that predominate.While surgery is the mainstay of treatment of this disease,the utilization of chemoradiation,eitherused postoperatively or neoadjuvantly,has become a standard practice in the United States.What is the optimal management approach is still an area of contention,however,and may be different in different regions around the world.This article reviews some of these controversies,including the role for surgery in patients treated with definitive chemoradiation.At the end,we will also outline recommendations regarding radiotherapy procedures and techniques.
文摘The local recurrence rate of phyllodes tumors of the breast varies widely among different subtypes, and distant metastasis is associated with poor survival. This study aimed to identify factors that are predictive of local recurrence-free survival(LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS), and overall survival(OS) in patients with phyllodes tumors of the breast. Clinical data of all patients with a phyllodes tumor of the breast(n = 192) treated at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between March 1997 and December 2012 were reviewed. The Pearson χ2 test was used to investigate the relationship between clinical features of patients and histotypes of tumors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors that are predictive of LRFS, DMFS, and OS. In total, 31(16.1%) patients developed local recurrence, and 12(6.3%) developed distant metastasis. For the patients who developed local recurrence, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 33 years(range, 17-56 years), and the median size of primary tumor was 6.0 cm(range, 0.8-18 cm). For patients who developed distant metastasis, the median age at the diagnosis of primary tumor was 46 years(range, 24-68 years), and the median size of primary tumor was 5.0 cm(range, 0.8-18 cm). In univariate analysis, age, size, hemorrhage, and margin status were found to be predictive factors for LRFS(P = 0.009, 0.024, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively), whereas histotype, epithelial hyperplasia, margin status, and local recurrence were predictors of DMFS(P = 0.001, 0.007, 0.007, and < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for LRFS included age [hazard ratio(HR) = 3.045, P = 0.005], tumor size(HR = 2.668, P = 0.013), histotype(HR = 1.715, P = 0.017), and margin status(HR = 4.530, P< 0.001). Histotype(DMFS: HR = 4.409, P = 0.002; OS: HR = 4.194, P = 0.003) and margin status(DMFS: HR = 2.581, P = 0.013; OS: HR = 2.507, P = 0.020) were independent predictors of both DMFS and OS. In this cohort, younger age, a larger tumor size, a higher tumor grade, and positive margins were associated with lower rates of LRFS. Histotype and margin status were found to be independent predictors of DMFS and OS.
文摘Recommendations for managing clinically localized prostate cancer are structured around clinical risk criteria,with prostate biopsy(PB)Gleason score(GS)being the most important factor.Biopsy to radical prostatectomy(RP)specimen upgrading/downgrading is welldescribed,and is often the ratio nale for costly imaging or genomic studies.We prese nt simple,no-cost an a lyses of clinical parametersto predict which GS 6 and GS 8 patients will change to GS 7 at prostatectomy.From May 2006 to December 2012,1590 patientsunderwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP).After exclusions,we identified a GS 6 cohort of 374 patients and a GS 8cohort of 91 patients.During this era,>1000 additional patients were enrolled in an active surveillanee(AS)program.For GS 6,265(70.9%)of 374 patients were upgraded,and the cohort included 183(48.9%)patients eligible for AS by the Prostate Cancer ResearchInternational Active Surveillance Study(PRIAS)standards,of which 57.9%were upgraded.PB features that predicted a>90%chanceof upgrading included≥7 cores positive,maximum foci length≥8 mm in any core,and total tumor involvement≥30%.For GS 8,downgrading occurred in 46(50.5%),which was significantly higher for single core versus multiple cores(80.4%vs 19.6%,P=0.011).Biochemical recurre nee(BCR)occurred in 3.4%of GS 6 upgraded versus 0%non upgraded,and in GS 8,19.6%downgraded versus42.2%nondown graded.In coun seling men with clin ically localized prostate can cer,the odds of GS cha nge should be presented,andcertain men with high-volume GS 6 or low-volume GS 8 can be counseled with GS 7-based recommendations.
基金Supported by A United States National Cancer Institute Grant,No.R01CA117895a grant from the Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment,UT MDAnderson Cancer Center
文摘AIM:To determine the effects of curcumin,(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG),lovastatin,and their combinations on inhibition of esophageal cancer.METHODS:Esophageal cancer TE-8 and SKGT-4 cell lines were subjected to cell viability methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and tumor cell invasion assays in vitro and tumor formation and growth in nude mouse xenografts with or without curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin treatment.Gene expression was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in tumor cell lines,tumor xenografts and human esophageal cancer tissues,respectively.RESULTS:These drugs individually or in combinations significantly reduced the viability and invasion capacity of esophageal cancer cells in vitro.Molecularly,these three agents reduced the expression of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2),c-Jun and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),but activated caspase 3 in esophageal cancer cells.The nude mouse xenograft assay showed that EGCG and the combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin suppressed esophageal cancer cell growth and reduced the expression of Ki67,phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2.The expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2 and COX-2 in esophageal cancer tissue specimens was also analyzed using immunohistochemistry.The data demonstrated that 77 of 156 (49.4%) tumors expressed phosphorylated Erk1/2 and that 121 of 156 (77.6%) esophageal cancers expressed COX-2 protein.In particular,phosphorylated Erk1/2 was expressed in 23 of 50 (46%) cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in 54 of 106 (50.9%) cases of adenocarcinoma,while COX-2 was expressed in 39 of 50 (78%) esophageal SCC and in 82 of 106 (77.4%) esophageal adenocarcinoma.CONCLUSION:The combinations of curcumin,EGCG and lovastatin were able to suppress esophageal cancer cell growth in vitro and in nude mouse xenografts,these drugs also inhibited phosphorylated Erk1/2,c-Jun and COX-2 expression.
基金supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health grants (U24 CA143835 to IS and WZ, P50 CA083639 and P50 CA098258 to AKS)MD Anderson support grant (CA016672) to WZ+6 种基金a grant from the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program to WZgrants from the Program for Changjiang Scholars, Innovative Research Team in University (PCSIRT) in Chinathe National Key Scientifi c and Technological Project (2011ZX0 9307-001-04)Tianjin Science and Technology Committee Foundation (09ZCZDSF04700) to KCa grant from National Nature Science Foundation of China (#81201651) to YSa grant from Fondazione CARIPLO (2013-0865) to DMthe A. Lavoy Moore Endowment Fund to YS and DY
文摘Metastasis is the main cause of cancer mortality. One of the initiating events of cancer metastasis of epithelial tumors is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT), during which cells dedifferentiate from a relatively rigid cell structure/morphology to a flexible and changeable structure/morphology often associated with mesenchymal cells. The presence of EMT in human epithelial tumors is reflected by the increased expression of genes and levels of proteins that are preferentially present in mesenchymal cells. The combined presence of these genes forms the basis of mesenchymal gene signatures, which are the foundation for classifying a mesenchymal subtype of tumors. Indeed, tumor classification schemes that use clustering analysis of large genomic characterizations, like The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA), have defined mesenchymal subtype in a number of cancer types, such as high-grade serous ovarian cancer and glioblastoma. However, recent analyses have shown that gene expression-based classifications of mesenchymal subtypes often do not associate with poor survival. This "paradox" can be ameliorated using integrated analysis that combines multiple data types. We recently found that integrating m RNA and micro RNA(mi RNA) data revealed an integrated mesenchymal subtype that is consistently associated with poor survival in multiple cohorts of patients with serous ovarian cancer. This network consists of 8 major mi RNAs and 214 m RNAs. Among the 8 mi RNAs, 4 are known to be regulators of EMT. This review provides a summary of these 8 mi RNAs, which were associated with the integrated mesenchymal subtype of serous ovarian cancer.
文摘Cancer metabolism has emerged as an important area of research in recent years.Elucidation of the metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells and the underlying mechanisms will not only advance our understanding of fundamental cancer cell biology but also provide an important basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies and novel compounds to selectively eliminate cancer cells by targeting their unique metabolism.This article reviews several important metabolic alterations in cancer cells,with an emphasis on increased aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) and glutamine addiction,and discusses the mechanisms that may contribute to such metabolic changes.In addition,metabolic alterations in cancer stem cells,mitochondrial metabolism and its influence on drug sensitivity,and potential therapeutic strategies and agents that target cancer metabolism are also discussed.
文摘Esophageal cancer(EC)generally consists of squamous cell carcinoma(which arise from squamous epithelium)and adenocarcinoma(which arise from columnar epithelium).Due to the increased recognition of risk factors associated with EC and the development of screening programs,there has been an increase in the diagnosis of early EC.Early EC is amenable to curative therapy by endoscopy,which can be performed by either endoscopic resection or endoscopic ablation.Endoscopic resection consists of either endoscopic mucosal resection(preferred in cases of adenocarcinoma)or endoscopic submucosal dissection(preferred in cases of squamous cell carcinoma).Endoscopic ablation can be performed by either radiofrequency ablation,cryotherapy,argon plasma coagulation or photodynamic therapy,amongst others.Endoscopy can also assist in the management of complications post-esophageal surgery,such as anastomotic leaks and perforations.Finally,there is a growing role for endoscopy to manage end-of-life palliative symptoms,especially dysphagia.The growing use of esophageal stents,debulking therapy and dilation can assist in improving a patient’s quality of life.In this review,we examine the multiple roles of endoscopy in the management of patients with EC.
基金supported by the National Institutes of Health through The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Support Grant CA016672National Cancer Institute grant RO1CA 089266 (MHL)+3 种基金Directed Medical Research Programs Department of Defense Synergistic Idea Development Award BC062166 (SCY, MHL)the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation Promise Grant KG081048 (SCY, MHL)Vietnam Education Foundation, Rosalie B.Hite FoundationDepartment of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (Award # W81XWH-10-0171)
文摘Cancer cells are well documented to rewire their metabolism and energy production networks to support and enable rapid proliferation, continuous growth, survival in harsh conditions, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to cancer treatments. Since Dr. Otto Warhurg＇s discovery about altered cancer cell metabolism in 1930, thousands of studies have shed light on various aspects of cancer metabolism with a common goal to find new ways for effectively eliminating tumor cells by targeting their energy metabolism. This review highlights the importance of the main features of cancer metabolism, summarizes recent remarkable advances in this field, and points out the potentials to translate these scientific findings into life-saving diagnosis and therapies to help cancer patients.
基金supported in part by the National Institutes of Health Specialized Program of Research Excellence(SPORE)Grant CA070907 developmental awardThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center support Grant CA-016672+3 种基金endowed funds to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centerthe Moon Shots Programthe Homer Flower Research Fundthe Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
文摘The molecular characterization of various cancers has shown that cancers with the same origins,histopathologic diagnoses,and clinical stages can be highly heterogeneous in their genetic and epigenetic alterations that cause tumorigenesis.A number of cancer driver genes with functional abnormalities that trigger malignant transformation and that are required for the survival of cancer cells have been identified.Therapeutic agents targeting some of these cancer drivers have been successfully developed,resulting in substantial improvements in clinical symptom amelioration and outcomes in a subset of cancer patients.However,because such therapeutic drugs often benefit only a limited number of patients,the successes of clinical development and applications rely on the ability to identify those patients who are sensitive to the targeted therapies.Thus,biomarkers that can predict treatment responses are critical for the success of precision therapy for cancer patients and of anticancer drug development.This review discusses the molecular heterogeneity of lung cancer pathogenesis;predictive biomarkers for precision medicine in lung cancer therapy with drugs targeting epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK),c-ros oncogene 1 receptor tyrosine kinase[ROSl),and immune checkpoints;biomarkers associated with resistance to these therapeutics;and approaches to identify predictive biomarkers in anticancer drug development.The identification of predictive biomarkers during anticancer drug development is expected to greatly facilitate such development because it will increase the chance of success or reduce the attrition rate.Additionally,such identification will accelerate the drug approval process by providing effective patient stratification strategies in clinical trials to reduce the sample size required to demonstrate clinical benefits.
基金supported by the University of Texas-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston(A.G.D)the French Association for Research against Cancer(S.N.D)
文摘The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI3K) pathway regulates a number of cellular processes, including cell survival, cell growth, and cell cycle progression. Consequently, this pathway is commonly deregulated in cancer. In particular, mutations in the gene PIK3CA that encodes the p110α catalytic subunit of the PI3K enzymes result in cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis in vitro and induce breast tumors in transgenic mice. These data underscore the role of this pathway during oncogenesis. Thus, an ongoing, large-scale effort is underway to develop clinically active drugs that target elements of the PI3K pathway. However, conflicting data suggest that gain-of-function PIK3CA mutations may be associated with either a favorable or a poor clinical outcome, compared with the wild-type PIK3CA gene. In the current study, we performed a systematic review of breast cancer clinical studies. Upon evaluation of 2587 breast cancer cases from 12 independent studies, we showed that patients with tumors harboring a PIK3CA mutation have a better clinical outcome than those with a wild-type PIK3CA gene. Importantly, this improved prognosis may pertain only to patients with mutations in the kinase domain of p110α and to postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. We propose three potential explanations for this paradoxical observation. First, PIK3CA mutations may interfere with the metastasis process or may induce senescence, which results in a better outcome for patients with mutated tumors. Secondly, we speculate that PIK3CA mutations may increase early tumor diagnosis by modification of the actin cytoskeleton in tumor cells. Lastly, we propose that PIK3CA mutations may be a favorable predictive factor for response to hormonal therapy, giving a therapeutic advantage to these patients. Ultimately, an improved understanding of the clinical impact of PIK3CA mutations is critical for the development of optimally personalized therapeutics against breast cancer and other solid tumors. This effort will be important to prevent or explain therapeutic failures and select patients who are most likely to respond to new therapies that inhibit the PI3K pathway.
文摘Air pollution in China comes from multiple sources,including coal consumption,construction and industrial dust,and vehicle exhaust.Coal consumption in particular directly determines the emissions of three major air pollutants:dust,sulfur dioxide(SO2),and nitrogen oxide(NOx).The rapidly increasing number of civilian vehicles is expected to bring NOx emission to a very high level.Contrary to expectations,however,existing data show that the concentrations of major pollutants[particulate matter-10(PM10),SO2,and nitrogen dioxide(NO2)]in several large Chinese cities have declined during the past decades,though they still exceed the national standards of ambient air quality.Archived data from China does not fully support that the concentrations of pollutants directly depend on local emissions,but this is likely due to inaccurate measurement of pollutants.Analyses on the cancer registry data show that cancer burden related to air pollution is on the rise in China and will likely increase further,but there is a lack of data to accurately predict the cancer burden.Past experience from other countries has sounded alarm of the link between air pollution and cancer.The quantitative association requires dedicated research as well as establishment of needed monitoring infrastructures and cancer registries.The air pollution-cancer link is a serious public health issue that needs urgent investigation.
