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Abstract: Ultrasound sonication with microbubbles (MBs) has the potential to enhance the delivery of nanoparticles into the sonicated tumors. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of focused ultrasound (FUS) sonication with MBs to improve nanodrug delivery and tumor treatment. Tumor-bearing mice were first injected with MBs (SonoVue) intravenously, were then sonicated at the tumors with FUS sonication, and were finally injected with the PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (DOX). The accumulation of DOX in tumors with time, the tumor growth responses for initial treated tumor size and DOX dosage, and the response for an additional sonication after DOX injection were studied. The results demonstrate that FUS sonication with MBs can significantly enhance DOX accumulation in the sonicated tumor at 24 hours after treatment. A significant hindrance to tumor growth is achieved for a small tumor with a low dose, whereas large tumors require a higher dose. From the Clinical Editor: In this novel research study, focused ultrasound created microbubbles were utilized to enhance the delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in a murine tumor model, demonstrating superior drug delivery compared to other methods. Focused ultrasound-based techniques are increasingly studied in cancer research, and this new observation will likely lead to additional investigations of different tumor lines, penetration depths and delivery vehicles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aspirin therapy has been associated with reduced risk of colon cancer, but there is only limited evidence for its effects on risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the association of daily aspirin therapy with HCV-related HCC risk. In this cohort study, based on Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we screened 237,963 patients with chronic HCV infection for the period of 1997 through 2011. We excluded patients with confounding conditions and 2478 patients who continuously received daily aspirin therapy for 90 days or more (treated group) were randomly matched 1:2 with 4956 patients who had never received antiplatelet therapy (untreated group) by means of propensity scores. Cumulative incidence of, and hazard ratio (HR) for, HCC development were analyzed after we adjusted for patient mortality as a competing risk event. The cumulative incidence of HCC in the treated group was significantly lower than that in the untreated group over 5 years (4.67%; 95% CI, 3.74%–5.59% vs 7.32%; 95% CI, 6.33%–8.30%; P <.001). In the multivariable regression analysis, aspirin therapy was independently associated with a reduced HCC risk (HR, 0.78, 95% CI, 0.64–0.95; P =.011), after adjustment for age per year, male sex, cirrhosis, liver decompensation, hyperlipidemia, statin use, and interferon therapy. Sensitivity subgroup analyses also verified this association (all HRs<1.0). In addition, older age (HR, 1.03 per year; 95% CI, 1.02–1.04), male sex (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21–1.77), and cirrhosis (HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 2.55–3.84) were independently associated with an increased HCC risk. In a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan, we found aspirin therapy to be significantly associated with a reduced risk of HCV-related HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]