Search

Purpose: This phase II randomised trial was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and feasibility of radio frequency regional hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Eighty patients with pathologically proven advanced NSCLC, were enrolled and divided into two groups. Group A patients were treated by radio frequency regional hyperthermia in combination with the regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP). Group B patients were treated with the GP regimen alone. Results: In group A, one patient achieved a complete response (CR), 18 achieved a partial response (PR), 18 achieved a stable disease and three experienced a progression of the disease. Thirty-three patients had a positive Clinical Benefit Response (CBR). In group B, no patient achieved CR, 17 achieved PR, 19 achieved a stable disease and four experienced a progression of the disease. Nineteen patients had a positive CBR. Significant differences between the two groups were observed for the CBR ( P < 0.05), but not for RR. Major toxicities included bone marrow depression, nausea, vomiting, without significant differences between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: Radio-frequency regional hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy (GP) is a safe, well tolerated, and effective therapeutic modality for patients with advanced NSCLC. The addition of hyperthermia improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to explore the effect of long noncoding RNA HCG18 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials & methods: Relative gene and protein expression were screened. Colony formation and flow cytometry assays were performed to determine proliferation and apoptosis. Dual luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to validate the interaction between indicated molecules. Xenograft in nude mice was applied to verify the conclusion in vivo . Results: HCG18 and PD-L1 were upregulated while miR-20b-5p was downregulated in CRC tissue. Functional analysis revealed that lncRNA HCG18 promoted proliferation, migration and resistance to cetuximab of CRC cells via the miR-20b-5p/PD-L1 axis. Conclusion: HCG18 facilitated progress of the tumor, conferred to cetuximab resistance and suppressed CD8 + T cells via the miR-20b-5p/PD-L1 axis.

The prognostic value of an interim fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been assessed by different groups. However, studies have suggested that the use of rituximab could limit the predictive value of interim (18)F-FDG PET for DLBCL. To clarify the prognostic value of interim (18)F-FDG PET in DLBCL patients treated with rituximab based immunochemotherapy, we searched for relevant studies in PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE. A random versus fixed effects model was applied according to the heterogeneity. According to the literature search strategies, 11 studies were identified. The pooled HR comparing PFS between patients with positive and negative results was 2.96 (95% CI=2.25-3.89). The patients in interim (18)F-FDG PET negative group had a higher CR rates than that in interim (18)F-FDG PET positive group (RR=5.53, 95% CI=2.59-11.80). Consistent evidence favoring interim (18)F-FDG PET-based treatment assessment should be considered in the management of patients with DLBCL.

Aim: To determine the relationship between CD11c expression level and prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC)., Methods: This retrospective survival study was performed from July 31, 2008 to June 30, 2014. Our study inclusion criteria included all the patients with GC who underwent surgical resection between January 1998 and December 2009 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. CD11c expression levels in 140 patients with GC at different UICC stages were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, and GC tissues from 16 cases were further verified by qRT-PCR. The χ (2) test was used to compare the patient- and disease-related factors between the low CD11c expression group and the high expression group. Univariate probabilities of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log rank test was used to compare survival curves. Different multivariate COX models were used to estimate the association between CD11c expression and both death and recurrence risk in GC patients., Results: The average CD11c expression level was 5.1 ± 1.8/high power field (HPF) in 10 gastritis samples, 4.5 ± 2.3/HPF in 10 gastric polyp samples and 9.7 ± 6.3/HPF in 140 gastric cancer samples, respectively. The CD11c expression level was significantly decreased from UICC stage I to stage IV (stage I: 16.0 ± 7.4, stage II: 10.4 ± 5.5, stage III: 9.4 ± 6.1, stage IV: 5.3 ± 3.2, P < 0.001). Patients in the high CD11c expression group had a greater 3- and 5-year OS probability and longer median survival time compared with the low CD11c expression group, (67.7% vs 39.2%; 51.4% vs 29.0%; 67.0 mo vs 28.0 mo; χ(2) = 6.80, P = 0.009), and had a greater 3- and 5-year DFS probability and longer median DFS time (63.7% vs 24.0%; 49.1% vs 11.9%; 64.0 mo vs 18.0 mo; χ (2) = 15.39, P < 0.001). Patients with high CD11c high expression had a reduced risk of death (HR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.33-0.98, P < 0.05) and relapse (HR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.23-0.67, P < 0.01) compared with patients with low CD11c expression after adjustment of potential confounders, with the exception of tumor size. However, the protective effect related to death (HR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.49-1.67, P = 0.749) and relapse (HR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.36-1.19, P = 0.160) disappeared when tumor size was incorporated into the model., Conclusion: High expression of CD11c decreased the risk of death and relapse, and may be regarded as an alternative indicator of favorable prognosis in patients with GC.

Rituximab was widely used in clinical practice. Some chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients were primary or secondary resistance to rituximab, but the mechanism has not been yet clear. CD20 gene coding region was amplified by PCR in 92 cases of newly diagnosed CLL patients and 200 healthy donors. The expression of CD20 was conducted in peripheral blood specimens of CLL patients. Proportions of CD20 expression and fluorescence intensity were detected by flow cytometry. Exon-3 c.246C>T (rs17155019) and Exon-4 c.632C>T (rs2070770) were present in 4.35% (4/92) and 9.78% (9/92) of newly diagnosed CLL patients. The mutations were not found in remaining exons. The frequency of C/C genotype and C allele of rs2070770 were significantly higher than the normal control population (90.22% vs 81.00%, P=0.04; 95.11% vs 90%, P=0.04). There was no significant relationship between genotypes with CLL development (P>0.05), however, C allele of rs2070770 may be associated with CLL (P=0.04, OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.22-0.98). The expression CD20 mRNA, proportion and intensity of CD20 were no significant different between genotypes of two polymorphic loci (P>0.05). Low expression of CD20 for CLL was not associated with mutation of CD20 gene coding region. Other mechanisms, such as promoter methylation, may result in low expression of CD20.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding single-stranded RNAs that can modulate target gene expression at post-transcriptional level and participate in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. T cells have important functions in acquired immune response; miRNAs regulate this immune response by targeting the mRNAs of genes involved in T cell development, proliferation, differentiation, and function. For instance, miR-181 family members function in progression by targeting Bcl2 and CD69, among others. MiR-17 to miR-92 clusters function by binding to CREB1, PTEN, and Bim. Considering that the suppression of T cell-mediated immune responses against tumor cells is involved in cancer progression, we should investigate the mechanism by which miRNA regulates T cells to develop new approaches for cancer treatment.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of paclitaxel combined with fluorouracil plus cisplatin (PCF), and oxaliplatin combined with fluorouracil plus leucovorin (FOLFOX-4) regimens for advanced gastric cancer (AGC)., Methods: Ninety-four patients with AGC were randomly assigned to receive paclitaxel (50 mg/m(2) iv) on days 1, 8 and 15, cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) iv) and fluorouracil (750 mg/m(2) iv) on days 1-5, or oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2) iv) and leucovorin (200 mg/m(2) iv) on day 1, followed by bolus fluorouracil (400 mg/m(2) iv) and fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2) iv) on days 1 and 2. The primary end point was the 1-year survival time., Results: The overall response rate (ORR) of the patients was 48.0% and 45.5% to PCF and FOLFOX-4, respectively. The disease control rate (DCR) of PCF and FOLFOX-4 was 82.0% and 81.8%, respectively. The median survival times (MSTs) of the patients were 10.8 and 9.9 mo, respectively, after treatment with PCF and FOLFOX-4. The 1-year survival rate of the patients was 36.0% and 34.1%, respectively, after treatment with PCF and FOLFOX-4. No significant difference was observed in ORR, DCR, MST or 1-year survival rate between the two groups. The most common adverse events were anemia, nausea and vomiting, and grade 3/4 alopecia in PCF treatment group, and anemia, grade 1/2 neurotoxic effect and grade 3/4 neutropenia in FOLFOX-4 treatment group., Conclusion: Patients with AGC have a similar response rate to PCF and FOLFOX-4 regimens with a similar survival rate. The PCF and FOLFOX-4 regimens are efficacious and tolerable as a promising therapy for AGC.

Aim: to analyze the correlation between cytokine-induced killer (cik) cells adoptive immunotherapy and cancer-related death in gastric cancer patients. methods: One hundred and fifty-six gastric cancer patients after operation at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were enrolled in this study. Their clinical data including demographic characteristics, operation time, tumor size, pathological type and staging, tumor metastasis, outcome of chemotherapy or CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy, survival time or time of death were collected with a standard structured questionnaire. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the median survival time, and the 2- and 5- year survival rates. Hazard risk (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy for gastric cancer were calculated using the two-stage time-dependent covariates Cox model., Results: the survival time of gastric cancer patients was longer after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (χ(2) = 10.907, P = 0.001). The median survival time of gastric cancer patients was also longer after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (49 mo vs 27 mo, P < 0.05). The 2- and 5-year survival rates of gastric cancer patients were significantly higher after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (73.5% vs 52.6%, 40.4% vs 23.9%, P < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the survival curve for patients who received CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy (0, 1-10, 11-25, and over 25 frequencies) (χ(2) = 14.534, P = 0.002). The frequencies of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy were significantly related with the decreasing risk of death in gastric cancer patients after adjustment for sex and age of the patients, tumor stage and relapse (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80) when the first stage Cox model was used to define the subjects who remained alive beyond 36 mo as survivors. However, no correlation was observed between the frequencies of death in CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy and the risk of gastric cancer patients (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.63-0.89) when the second stage Cox model was used to define the subjects who survived for more than 36 mo as survivors., Conclusion: the survival time of the gastric cancer patients treated with chemotherapy combined with CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy is significantly longer than that of the patients treated with chemotherapy alone and increasing the frequency of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy seems to benefit patients more.

Aim: To explore if vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can predict overall survival in advanced gastric cancer., Methods: VEGFR-3 level was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CEA was assessed by chemiluminescence immunoassay in the sera of 81 advanced gastric cancer patients before treatment with oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid., Results: Median survival time in patients with a low serum VEGFR-3 level was significantly longer than in those with a higher VEGFR-3 level (15.4 mo vs 7.7 mo, P < 0.001). Patients with a low CEA level had a longer survival than those with a higher CEA level (15.8 mo vs 8.6 mo, P < 0.001). Thirty-nine patients with low VEGFR-3 and low CEA levels had a median survival of 19.7 mo (P = 0.0006). The hazard ratio for patients with a high VEGFR-3 level was 2.443 (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: High serum VEGFR-3 level is correlated significantly with poor survival. In patients with a high serum level of VEGFR-3, alternative chemotherapy regimens should be considered.