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Docetaxel has been used as first-line chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but further extensive and effective application is prevented by drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been identified as important posttranscriptional regulators, which are involved in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify microRNA expression profiles involved in the development of docetaxel resistance in NSCLC. Here, microarray chip technology was employed to identify miRNA expression profiles in docetaxel-resistant human NSCLC cell line (SPC-A1/docetaxel). Then, the changes of miRNAs expression (>2-fold compared with control SPC-A1 cell line) were testified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Furthermore, the potential target genes regulated by selected miRNAs were analysed by various target prediction tools. The expression of a total of 52 miRNAs showed significant difference between SPC-A1/docetaxel cells and control SPC-A1 cells ( P < 0.01). Six miRNAs (miR-192, 200b, 194, 424, 98 and 212) exhibited more than 2-fold changes in their expression levels, which were validated by qRT-PCR. The expression of three miRNAs (miR-200b, 194 and 212) was significantly down-regulated in SPC-A1/docetaxel cells, while the expression of other three miRNAs (miR-192, 424 and 98) was significantly up-regulated in SPC-A1/docetaxel cells ( P < 0.01). Potential target genes controlled by six selected miRNAs were divided into four groups according to various functions: apoptosis and proliferation (71 genes), cell cycle (68 genes), DNA damage (26 genes) and DNA repair (59 genes). The expression of a few target genes in SPC-A1/docetaxel and SPC-A1 cells were further confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Taken together, the identification of microRNA expression profiles in docetaxel-resistant NSCLC cells could provide a better understanding of mechanisms involved in drug sensitivity or resistance, which would be helpful to develop novel strategies for targeted therapies in chemorefractive NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore predictors of bone metastasis (BM) of esophageal carcinoma (EC) and factors affecting the prognosis of EC with BM (ECBM)., Methods: We retrospectively studied the data of EC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2016. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of BM. Cox regression and Fine and Gray's competing risk regression were performed to identify prognostic factors associated with all-cause and cancer-specific death, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess survival., Results: After exclusion, 8,916 patients were eligible, of whom 462 (5.2%) had ECBM. Independent risk factors of BM were age <65 years, male sex, stage T1, advanced N stage, and non-bone organ metastases. For EC, the median survival time (MST) was 17 months, and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 31.6% and 23.3%, respectively; meanwhile, for BM, the MST was 5 months, and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 2% and 1%, respectively. Adenocarcinoma, stage T2, the absence of non-bone organ metastases, and combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy were associated with a reduced risk of all-cause death in ECBM patients. Stage T2, the absence of non-bone organ metastases, and combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy were associated with a decreased risk of cancer-specific death in ECBM patients., Conclusions: Although rare, BM severely impairs the prognosis of EC. BM predictors and factors influencing the prognosis of ECBM may help distinguish high-risk patients with BM and assess survival in ECBM patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tcr-21-2104/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To investigate whether cisplatin (DDP) enhances the anti-tumor activity of cytokine- induced killer (CIK) cells in a murine colon adenocarcinoma model., Methods: Tumor size and weight served as indicators of therapeutic response. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe intratumoral lymphocyte infiltration and tumor microvessel density. Changes in the percentage of regulatory T (Treg) cells within the spleens of tumor-bearing mice preconditioned with DDP were monitored using flow cytometry., Results: A marked T cell-dependent, synergistic anti-tumor effect of the combined therapy was observed (1968 ± 491 mm³ vs 3872 ± 216 mm³; P = 0.003). Preconditioning chemotherapy with DDP augmented the infiltration of CD3+ T lymphocytes into the tumor mass and reduced the percentage of both intratumoral and splenic Treg cells., Conclusion: Preconditioning with DDP markedly enhances the efficacy of adoptively transferred CIK cells, providing a potential clinical modality for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common type of cancer among men after middle age. Androgen withdrawal can delay its progression in the initial stage, but it finally becomes independent of androgens in almost all the cases. The combination of docetaxel with prednisone is currently a standard first-line treatment for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), but hitherto there is no established second-line therapy. In view of the molecular pathogenesis of HRPC, this article presents an overview on several promising drugs that target specific pathways, involving angiogenesis, cell signaling, apoptosis and proliferation, and immune modulation, either as single agents or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate the value of (18)F-DG PET/CT in detecting recurrence and/or metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: Combined visual analysis with semiquantitative analysis, the (18)F-DG PET/CT whole-body imaging results and the corresponding clinical data of 68 postoperative CRC patients including 48 male and 20 female with average age of 58.1 were analyzed retrospectively., Results: Recurrence and/or metastasis were confirmed in 56 patients in the clinical follow-up after the PET/CT imaging. The sensitivity of PET/CT diagnosis of CRC recurrence and/or metastasis was 94.6%, and the specificity was 83.3%. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 96.4% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 76.9%. PET/CT imaging detected one or more occult malignant lesions in 8 cases where abdominal/pelvic CT and/or ultrasonography showed negative findings, and also detected more lesions than CT or ultrasonography did in 30.4% (17/56) cases. Recurrence and/or metastasis was detected in 91.7% (22/24) cases with elevated serum CEA levels by (18)F-DG PET/CT imaging., Conclusion: (18)F-DG PET/CT could detect the recurrence and/or metastasis of CRC with high sensitivity and specificity.

In China, the incidence of prostate cancer has been increasing in recent years. Hormonal therapy has been the mainstay of the therapeutic options for metastatic diseases for many years. But many metastatic tumors progress at a median of two to five years and become hormonal refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). This article summarizes in the advances of diagnostic criteria, molecular biological features, prediction markers, new therapeutic agents and further researches to be undertaken concerning HRPC.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the survival time and the high-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer patients, and assess the feasibility of using the two markers either alone or in combination for predicting the prognosis of the patients., Methods: Breast cancer samples were obtained from 185 patients and measured for the expressions of EGFR and HER-2 by way of immunohistochemistry, and 120 patients (64.9%) were followed up and their survival time recorded. Sixty-five patients (35.1%) failed to be followed for various reasons., Results: Of the 120 patients followed up, death occurred in 28 (15%). Positive HER2 expression was detected in 57.8% and EGFR expression in 40.5% of the all the samples examined. The over-expression of either HER2 or EGFR was in inverse correlation with the survival time (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), and the over-expression of both related to the survival time in similar manner (P<0.05 and P<0.01)., Conclusion: The high expression of HER2 or/and EGFR suggests a short survival time and an unfavorable prognosis.