Search

Can Zhang,1,* Yong Li,1,* Rui Ji,1 Weiling Zhang,1 Chenfei Zhang,2 Youli Dan,3 Hongyan Qian,4 Aiqin He1 1Department of Gynecology Oncology, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Medical Oncology, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Oncology, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China; 4Cancer Research Centre Nantong, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Aiqin HeDepartment of Gynecology Oncology, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, 30 Tongyang North Road, Nantong 226300, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 139 6293 1600Fax +86 513 8671 2287Email haq0118@163.comHongyan QianCancer Research Centre Nantong, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, 30 Tongyang North Road, Nantong 226300, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86 513 8671 2287Email qhy672041647@163.comBackground: Pretreatment albumin/alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) has been discussed about its prognostic value in several malignancies, whereas its role in cervical cancer remains unclear. In this study, we attempt to explore the prognostic significance of the AAPR in stage IB-IIA cervical cancer patients who underwent a radical hysterectomy.Patients and methods: A total of 230 cervical cancer patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. The threshold value of AAPR was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to identify independent prognostic predictors of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).Results: The optimal cut-off value of the preoperative AAPR was 0.68. Patients with AAPR0.68 according to Kaplan-Meier curves (DFS: P = 0.011; OS: P = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, the preoperative AAPR showed to be an independent predictive factor for disease-free survival (DFS: P = 0.015) and overall survival (OS: P = 0.019). Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed that the lower AAPR was correlated with worse prognosis in patients with histologic grade I-II; but in those with histologic grade III, there was no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: Preoperative AAPR was a potentially valuable prognostic index in stage IB-IIA cervical cancer patients. Further prospective studies are required to validate its prognostic value.Keywords: albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio, uterine cervical neoplasms, prognosis, survival analysis

To clarify clinical characteristics of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) subsets associated with autoimmune diseases (AIDs). Five thousand five hundred twenty patients were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred four ITP patients were included for analysis. Clinical manifestations at first thrombocytopenic episode were recorded. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) accounted for a large part in AIDs associated with secondary ITP. SLE-ITP, pSS-ITP, and primary ITP (pITP) patients were different in several aspects in clinical and immunological characteristics. A subgroup of patients in pITP patients with some obvious autoimmune features (defined as AIF-ITP) such as positive ANA but failing to meet the diagnosis criteria now used for a specific kind of connective tissue diseases were also different with other pITP patients in some immunological features, indicating the difference in the pathogenesis mechanism of those autoimmune featured ITP patients. ITP patients were heterogeneous in clinical characteristics. Further study about the different pathogenesis of ITP subsets especially those AIF-ITP patients who only presented with thrombocytopenia will help us have a better understanding of pathogenesis of ITP and a better management of ITP patients.

The G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER-1), also known as GPR30, is a novel estrogen receptor mediating estrogen receptor signaling in multiple cell types. The progress of estrogen-related cancer is promoted by GPER-1 activation through mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and phospholipase C (PLC) signaling pathways. However, this promoting effect of GPER-1 is nonclassic estrogen receptor (ER) dependent manner. In addition, clinical evidences revealed that GPER-1 is associated with estrogen resistance in estrogen-related cancer patients. These give a hint that GPER-1 may be a novel therapeutic target for the estrogen-related cancers. However, preclinical studies also found that GPER-1 activation of its special agonist G-1 inhibits cancer cell proliferation. This review aims to summarize the characteristics and complex functions of GPER-1 in cancers.

Regulatory B cells (Bregs), a newly described subset of B cells, have been proved to play a suppressive role in immune system. Bregs can inhibit other immune cells through cytokines secretion and antigen presentation, which give them the role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and cancers. There are no clear criteria to identify Bregs; different markers were used in the different experimental conditions. Massive researches had described the functions of immune cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), dendritic cells (DCs), and B cells in the autoimmune disorder diseases and cancers. More and more researches focused on the roles of Bregs and the cytokines such as Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) secreted by Bregs. The aim of this review is to summarize the characteristics of Bregs and the roles of Bregs in cancer.