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The natural extracellular matrix (ECM) consists of a continuous integrated fibrin network and a negatively charged proteoglycan-based matrix. In this work, we report a novel three-dimensional nanofiber hydrogel composite that mimics the natural ECM structure, exhibiting both degradability and mechanical characteristics comparable to that of tumor tissue. The embedded nanofiber improves the hydrogel mechanical properties, and varying the fiber density can match the elastic modulus of different tumor tissues (1.51–10.77 kPa). The degradability of the scaffold gives sufficient space for tumor cells to secrete and remodel the ECM. The expression levels of cancer stem cell markers confirmed the development of aggressive and metastatic phenotypes of prostate cancer cells in the 3D scaffold. Similar results were obtained in terms of anticancer resistance of prostate cancer cells in 3D scaffolds showing stem cell-like properties, suggesting that the current bionic 3D scaffold tumor model has broad potential in the development of effective targeted agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fiber-hydrogel composite scaffold loaded with platelet-rich plasma was developed to simulate the microenvironment of breast tumor using mechanical and composition cues. The elemental composition and chemical structure were tested to confirm the successful loading of each component in the scaffold. The surface morphology and physicochemical properties of the scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, swelling test, and water contact angle test. The study demonstrates that: the composite scaffold has appropriate pores for mass transfer as well as surface characteristics for cell adhesion. The fibers significantly improve the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, and the composite scaffold has similar mechanical properties to the breast tumor((4.79±0.45)kPa). Tumor cells cultured within this scaffold have higher proliferation capacities than 2D culture by a 33.1% improvement. The cells in the composite scaffold show the ability to assemble into spheres, and less sensitive to chemotherapy when compared with 2D culture and fiber-free. It is anticipated that this composite scaffold will be helpful for in vitro oncology studies and antitumor drug efficacy prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing ureteral reconstruction treatment methods are unable to meet the clinical needs due to complications such as stricture, ureteral fistula and lack of donor. Tissue engineering provides a new feasible method. The main construction strategies, material selection and preparation methods for the study of tissue-engineered ureter at home and abroad are reviewed. The review focused on the current status of the development of tissue-engineered ureter based on textile technology, and concluded that ureteral reconstruction suffered from the contradiction between good reconstructive effect and short-term preparation time, as well as limited local smooth muscle growth. Micro-nano fiber aggregates prepared by textile technology can control the multi-level structure of fibers, yarns and fabrics. Further design of multi-layered structures of different materials combined with textile technology and investigation of their modulating effects on the behavior of various types of cells will provide new directions for the optimal design of tissue-engineered ureteral scaffold structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Jimeng. Hu, Wenjia. Ge, Shanhua. Mao, Qiang. Ding, Mengbo. Hu, Haowen. Jiang Background: Penoscrotal extramammary Paget's disease is a rare, slow-growing neoplasm with high frequency of local recurrence. Aims: [...]

As a promising platform for tumor research, 3D tumor scaffolds are able to reproduce the 3D structure of tumor tissue, provide a bionic microenvironment and reduce the drug sensitivity of tumor cells, which have unique advantages in tumor physiology and tumor drug resistance mechanism. The types of 3D tumor scaffolds and their advantages and disadvantages were reviewed. The research progress of 3D tumor scaffolds mimicking tumor microenvironment was introduced in terms of simulating tumor-mesenchymal cell interactions and tumor internal gradient hypoxic environment, and the application of 3D tumor scaffolds in drug screening was analyzed. This review demonstrates the importance of tumor scaffolds in understanding tumor drug resistance mechanisms, developing novel antitumor drugs, and serving as a preclinical platform for personalized tumor therapy. The construction and application of tumor scaffolds are envisioned and prospected, aiming to provide a reference for the construction of high simulation tumor models and the study of tumor heterogeneity and tumor treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indwelling ureteral stents are commonly used to relieve ureteral obstruction in urology. Stent encrustation is often accompanied on the surface of the ureteral stent, which can cause stent failure and urinary tract infection, and severe stent encrustation makes stent removal difficult and requires complex surgical intervention. The influence mechanisms of risk factors such as indwelling time, the characteristics of the stent, and patient urine variation on stent encrustation are described. The development strategies of anti-crust stents are reviewed in terms of stent body material, surface coating modification and structural design. The future direction of anti-crust stent materials will be imparting anti-crust properties to biodegradable materials. The key to surface coating functionalization is the stability of the stent during retention under dynamic urine flow conditions. Finally, the grading criteria and treatment of crusted stents in clinical practice are briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical significance and immune correlation of CD103+ cells in prostate cancer (PCa) remain explored. Methods: In total, 1080 patients with PCa underwent radical prostatectomy from three cohorts were enrolled for retrospective analysis. Tumour microarrays were constructed and fresh tumour samples were analysed by flow cytometry. Results: High CD103+ cell infiltration correlated with reduced biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival in PCa. Adjuvant hormone therapy (HT) prolonged the BCR-free survival for high-risk node-negative diseases with CD103+ cell abundance. CD103+ cell infiltration correlated with less cytotoxic expression and increased infiltration of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, M1 macrophages and mast cells in PCa. Intratumoral CD8+ T cell was the predominant source of CD103, and the CD103+ subset of CD8+ T cells was featured with high IL-10, PD-1 and CTLA-4 expression. Tumour-infiltrating CD103+ CD8+ T cells exerted anti-tumour function when treated with HT ex vivo. Discussion: CD103+ cell infiltration predicted BCR-free survival and response to adjuvant HT in PCa. CD103+ cell infiltration correlated with an enriched but immune-evasive immune landscape. The study supported a model that CD103 expression conferred negative prognostic impact and immunosuppressive function to tumour-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, while the CD103+ CD8+ T cells exhibited a powerful anti-tumour immunity with response to HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Penoscrotal extramammary Paget's disease is a rare, slow-growing neoplasm with high frequency of local recurrence.Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in clinicopathological characteristics between first-time and recurrent penoscrotal Paget's disease, and to discover the potential risk factors of recurrence.Methods: Between January 2007 and February 2014, a total of 164 Chinese patients with biopsy-proven tramammary Paget's diseaseex in penis and scrotum underwent wide local resection in our institution. Among them, 142 patients with first-time disease and other 22 patients with recurrent disease were enrolled in this retrospective analysis.Results: The median duration of symptoms was much shorter in recurrent disease than in first-timers (3 vs. 24 months, P < 0.001). Patients with recurrent disease tended to have lower lesion exudation rates (27.3% vs. 51.8%, P= 0.032). In addition, patients with distant stage were more likely to obtain recurrent disease compared with first-time disease (P = 0.005). Through immunohistochemical detection of extramammary Paget's specimen, we found that HER2/neu protein expression in the recurrent group was significantly higher than first-timers (P = 0.036).Limitations: In this study, the information on familial history of most patients was insufficient. Moreover, due to the lack of follow-up data of our included cases, we were unable to evaluate the prognosis after diagnosis of extramammary Paget's disease.Conclusion: Patients with penoscrotal Paget's disease, especially those with shorter duration of symptoms, exudation of lesions, distant-stage, Paget cells infiltrating into adnexa, and HER2/neu expression, should be followed up more carefully after surgery, as they were more likely to suffer recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]