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Introduction: In recent years, the development of drug-eluting embolization beads that can be imaged has become a hot research topic in regard to meeting clinical needs. In our previous study, we successfully developed nano-assembled microspheres (NAMs) for multimodal imaging purposes. NAMs can not only be visualized under CT/MR/Raman imaging but can also load clinically required doses of doxorubicin. It is important to systematically compare the pharmacokinetics of NAMs with those of commercially available DC Beads and CalliSpheres to evaluate the clinical application potential of NAMs. Methods: In our study, we compared NAMs with two types of drug-eluting beads (DEBs) in terms of irinotecan, drug-loading capacity, release profiles, microsphere diameter variation, and morphological characteristics. Results: Our results indicate that NAMs had an irinotecan loading capacity similar to those of DC Beads and CalliSpheres but exhibited better sustained release in vitro. Conclusion: NAMs have great potential for application in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DC Beads and CalliSpheres are commonly used microspheres in clinical transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but these microspheres cannot be visualized by themselves. Therefore, in our previous study, we developed multimodal imaging nano-assembled microspheres (NAMs), which are visualized under CT/MR and the location of embolic microspheres can be determined during postoperative review, facilitating the evaluation of embolic areas and guiding subsequent treatment. Moreover, the NAMs can be carried with positively and negatively charged drugs, increasing the choice of drugs. Systematic comparative analysis of the pharmacokinetics of NAMs with commercially available DC Bead and CalliSpheres microspheres is important for evaluating the clinical application of NAMs. In our study, we compared the similarities and differences between NAMs and two drug-eluting beads (DEBs) in respect to drug loading capacity, drug release profiles, diameter variation and morphological characteristics. The results indicate that NAMs had good drug delivery and release characteristics as well as DC Bead and CalliSpheres in vitro experimental stage. Therefore, NAMs have a good application prospect in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To establish a prognosis model using immune-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, which could provide a theoretical foundation for HCC immunotherapy. Methods Immune-related genes were identified by differential expression analysis, and risk prognosis prediction models were established using univariate, multivariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The predictive value of the prognostic model was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), and calibration curve and decision curve. In addition, risk score was used to stratify patients to assess prognostic differences in patients at different risk levels. Results We identified 1403 immune-related genes, mainly involved in biological processes such as immune response, adaptive immune response, and immunoglobulin production, as well as pathways such as cytokine interactions, chemokine signaling pathways and allograft rejection. Univariate Cox analysis found that 53 immune-related genes were associated with prognosis, and eight prognostic immune-related genes cytochrome P450 1A2(CYP1A2), ficolin 3(FCN3), hepatoma derived growth factor-like 1(HDGFL1), lipocalin 2(LCN2), mitochondrially encoded cytochrome C oxidase II pseudogene 12(MTCO2P12), peptidyl arginine deiminase 3(PADI3) and regulator of G protein signaling 16(RGS16) were further screened by LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Subsequently, a prognostic nomogram based on risk score was established. The ROC curve, calibration curve and decision curve confirmed that the model has good discrimination, accuracy and clinical value. Furthermore, stratified analysis showed that patients with higher risk scores had poorer prognosis. Conclusion We establish a prognostic nomogram model using eight immune-related genes, which can reliably predict the prognosis of HCC patients.

Endocrine therapy is a systemic therapy and has become the main treatment strategy for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. However, tamoxifen resistance has become an insurmountable clinical challenge, and the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we explored the roles of CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer and tamoxifen resistance. Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, high expression of CXCR4 was found to be associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.646, p < 0.001) and cancer-specific survival (HR = 4.480, p < 0.001) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer. CXCR4 was also positively correlated with the level of AKT phosphorylation and the resistance to tamoxifen in breast cancer. AMD3100 is a CXCR4 antagonist and was found to decrease phosphorylated (p)-AKT levels of tamoxifen-resistant cells. The reversal effect of AMD3100 on tamoxifen resistance was also confirmed in vitro and in vivo . Taken together, our study demonstrated that CXCR4 could be a potential prognostic biomarker for tamoxifen-treated breast cancer, and the combination of AMD3100 with tamoxifen could be a more efficacious therapeutic strategy for the treatment of tamoxifen resistance., (© 2020 The Authors.)