Irradiation Induces Gasdermin E-Triggered Tumor Immunity to Inhibit Esophageal Carcinoma Cell Survival.

Gasdermin E (GSDME), an executor of pyroptosis, can be activated by caspase-3 and has been recognized as a tumor suppressor in various human cancers. In addition, caspase-3/GSDME signal-induced pyroptosis is a form of immunogenic cell death (ICD). In this study, we aimed to understand the association between radiotherapy and caspase-3/GSDME signal-related ICD in esophageal carcinoma (EC) cells.

Surgery versus radiotherapy for limited-stage small cell esophageal carcinoma: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study in China (ChiSCEC).

Background: There is no standard management for small cell esophageal carcinoma (SCEC). The purpose of this multicenter, retrospective study (ChiSCER) was to investigate the treatment, outcomes, and risk factors impacting survival endpoints in patients with limited-stage SCEC (LS-SCEC).

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients with LS-SCEC from 14 institutions between 2000 and 2020 in China were enrolled.

Real-world outcomes of PD-L1 inhibitors combined with thoracic radiotherapy in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

Background: The CREST study showed that the addition of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) could improve the survival rate in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), but whether TRT can bring survival benefit in the era of immunotherapy remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of adding TRT to the combination of PD-L1 inhibitors and chemotherapy.

Methods: The patients who received durvalumab or atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of ES-SCLC from January 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) versus active surveillance in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer: a retrospective, multicentre study.

Background: The recommendation of PCI for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) is primarily based on evidence from the pre-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) era. However, as MRI accuracy improves and stereotactic radiosurgery advances, the role of PCI for LS-SCLC has become uncertain. This study aims to compare the contemporary survival outcomes of patients with LS-SCLC treated with PCI versus active surveillance.

Dynamic Change of Amide Proton Transfer Imaging in Irradiated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Related Histopathological Mechanism.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic change of amide proton transfer (APT) imaging before and after irradiation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the underlying histopathological mechanism.

Materials And Methods: Tumor-bearing BALB/C nude mouse models were established and randomly divided into three groups: high-dose group (20 Gy/2 fractions), low-dose group (10 Gy/2 fractions), and control group (0 Gy). MRI scanning was performed before irradiation and 3rd, 6th, and 9th day post-irradiation.

Prognostic value of immune-related genes in the tumor microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which consists mainly of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), are the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the tumor microenvironmental and genetic factors to identify prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC. We evaluated the immune and stromal scores of patients with LUAD and LUSC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database with the ESTIMATE algorithm.

A multicentre survey of pain management in cancer patients and physicians attending radiotherapy clinics in Shandong Province, China.

Objective: To obtain a better understanding of the prevalence and management of pain in patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer in Shandong Province, China.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire during face-to-face interviews to collect data from physicians and patients regarding the recognition, prevalence and treatment of pain during the waiting period before commencement of radiotherapy and during the radiotherapy period. Physicians and patients were recruited from 10 tertiary Class A hospitals across Shandong Province, China.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) predicts poor prognosis and regulates progression of esophageal squamous cell cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The impact of yes-associated protein (YAP) on the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and its mechanism of action has seldom been reported. In the present study, the role of YAP on the prognosis of patients with ESCC and the mechanism of action of YAP in promoting the progression of ESCC was investigated. Tumor tissue samples from patients with ESCC were collected and the level of YAP expression was detected using immunohistochemical staining.

Prognostic significance of preoperative IKBKE expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: IκB kinase epsilon (IKBKE; IKKε), a member of the nuclear factor-κB kinase inhibitor family, is upregulated in several human cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common and most aggressively malignant cancers with dismal prognosis. However, the state of IKBKE expression in ESCC is still unknown and its potential value remains unexplored.

Prognostic value of PAX9 in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its prediction value to radiation sensitivity.

Abnormal paired box 9 (PAX9) expression is associated with tumorigenesis, cancer development, invasion and metastasis. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of PAX9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its role in predicting radiation sensitivity. A total of 52.

Preoperative serum lipids as prognostic predictors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with esophagectomy.

This study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum lipids in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent esophagectomy. Preoperative serum lipids were collected from 214 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. All of the patients received esophagectomy in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2007 to December 2008.

Prognostic and diagnostic potential of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We aimed to investigate the pattern of expression and clinical significance of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The IDH1 expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis using 38 pairs of frozen tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure 67 pairs of serum samples from patients and their controls to evaluate its diagnostic value.

Notch2 as a promising prognostic biomarker for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We aimed to examine Notch2 expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and to evaluate its prognostic potential. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were utilized to investigate the Notch2 expression status and prognostic value. Furtherly, CCK8 and clonogenic assays were conducted to determine if Notch2 inhibition by shRNA could lead to a decrease in the proliferation and survival of ESCC cells.

Serum miR-1297: a promising diagnostic biomarker in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We aimed to value the diagnostic potential of serum miR-1297 in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Its expression level was detected in 156 pairs of patients with ESCC and healthy volunteers using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method. It was statistically decreased in ESCC patients compared with healthy controls.

Comparison of Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: This retrospective study was designed to estimate the efficacy and toxicity of definitive radiotherapy with concurrent or sequential docetaxel/S-1 for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Of the 62 eligible patients enrolled in this study during January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014 from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Shandong Province, 39 patients received 3 cycles of docetaxel/S-1 during and after radiotherapy (concurrent chemoradiotherapy, CCRT), and 23 patients had radiotherapy followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel and S-1 (sequential chemoradiotherapy, SCRT).

Results: The CR of CCRT and SCRT groups were 48.

Prognostic influence of smoking on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Smoking is well-known as a risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, little is known about the effect of this factor on survival.

Methods: Esophageal cancer patients who underwent esophagectomy without any preoperative therapy were retrospectively reviewed.

Crosstalk between transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway and long non-coding RNAs in cancer.

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays an important role in tumorigenesis by exerting either a tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting effect. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a newly discovered class of non-coding RNAs, have been widely studied in recent years and identified as crucial regulators of various biological processes, including cell cycle progression, chromatin remodeling, gene transcription, and posttranscriptional processing. Recent evidence, addressing the crosstalk between the TGF-β signaling pathway and lncRNAs in cancer, found that several members of the TGF-β pathway are targeted by lncRNAs, and the production of hundreds of lncRNAs is induced by TGF-β treatment.

MiR-613: a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

MicroRNA-613 (miR-613) plays important roles in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. We aimed to evaluate its expression level and potential for diagnosis and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). We examined miR-613 expression in 60 pairs of ESCC cancerous and matched paracancerous tissues, serum samples from 75 ESCC patients and 75 healthy volunteers, and 105 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

The effect of socioeconomic status on health-care delay and treatment of esophageal cancer.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) has been focused on as a key determinant of the incidence of cancer, cancer stage at diagnosis as well as treatment choices in western countries. However, to the authors' knowledge, little work has been done concerning the relationship of SES and esophageal cancer in China.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary esophageal cancer from January to December 2007 in Qilu hospital were included.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts are associated with poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after surgery.

Objective: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs; α-SMA positivity), as a representative of the tumor microenvironment, play an important role in influencing the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. The objective is to investigate the prognostic value of CAFs density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after surgery.

Method: A total of 95 patients who underwent esophagectomy for ESCC in 2007 were included in this study.

The clinical significance of preoperative plasma fibrinogen level and platelet count in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Patients with malignant disease frequently present with activated coagulation pathways, which are potentially associated with tumor progression and prognosis. The aims of the study were to investigate the clinical significance of preoperative plasma fibrinogen level and platelet count in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated by curative surgery.

Methods: A total of 119 patients with ESCC treated by curative surgery in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University were included in the study.

Prognostic role of hepatoma-derived growth factor in solid tumors of Eastern Asia: a systematic review and meta- analysis.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a novel jack-of-all-trades in cancer. Here we quantify the prognostic impact of this biomarker and assess how consistent is its expression in solid tumors. A comprehensive search strategy was used to search relevant literature updated on October 3, 2014 in PubMed, EMBASE and WEB of Science.

RACK1 predicts poor prognosis and regulates progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through its epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Background: RACK1 is known to be involved in tumor progression, and its prognostic value on many kinds of tumors has been identified. However, there are limited studies about the functional role of RACK1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Patients And Methods: RACK1 expression was examined in 100 ESCC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry staining.

Targeted lung cancer therapy: preparation and optimization of transferrin-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers as novel nanomedicine for co-delivery of anticancer drugs and DNA.

Purpose: Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) represent an improved generation of lipid nanoparticles. They have specific nanostructures to accommodate drugs/genes, and thus achieve higher loading capacity. The aim of this study was to develop transferrin (Tf)-decorated NLC as multifunctional nanomedicine for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and enhanced green fluorescence protein plasmid.