Construction of a T-cell exhaustion-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous malignancy with a rising prevalence worldwide. Immunotherapy has been shown to improve treatment outcomes for HCC. We aimed to construct a T-cell exhaustion-related gene prognostic model (TEXPM) for HCC and to elucidate the immunologic characteristics and advantages of immunotherapy in T-cell exhaustion-Related Gene-defined HCC groups.

The Use of Antibiotics During Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Is Associated with Lower Survival in Advanced Esophagogastric Cancer.

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are effective in only a minority of patients with esophagogastric cancer (EGC). Here, we aimed to explore the impact of antibiotic use on outcomes in ICI-treated EGC patients.

Methods: Patients with advanced EGC treated with ICIs at our center were identified between 2017 and 2021.

Blood biomarkers predict outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint Inhibitors: A pooled analysis of 44 retrospective sudies.

Objective: We conducted the first meta-analysis to identify the predictive significance of baseline blood biomarkers (such as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), early alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI), AFP, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), protein induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II), and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR)) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: Eligible articles were retrieved using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar by November 24, 2022. Clinical outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and hyperprogressive disease (HPD).

Characterization of the intestinal fungal microbiome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Gut mycobiota plays a crucial role in benign liver diseases; however, its correlation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate fungal differences in patients with HCC-associated cirrhosis compared to cirrhotic patients without HCC and healthy controls.

Methods: The 72 fecal samples from 34 HCC patients, 20 cirrhotic patients, and 18 healthy controls were collected and analyzed using ITS2 rDNA sequencing.

The prognostic value of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy.

Background: Systemic inflammation is crucial for the development and progression of cancers. The advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) is considered to be a better indicator of systemic inflammation than current biomarkers. However, the prognostic value of the ALI in gastrointestinal neoplasms remains unclear.

Alterations of gut mycobiota profiles in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a silent liver malignancy with an increasing incidence. Gut mycobiota plays a crucial role in benign liver diseases; however, its correlation with ICC remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate fungal differences in patients with ICC compared to healthy controls.

The Prognostic Significance and Potential Mechanism of Prolyl 3-Hydroxylase 1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3H1) is essential for human collagen synthesis. Here, we investigated its relevance to multiple cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).

Methods: We estimated the relationship of P3H1 with 33 cancers using publicly available databases.

Effects of PPIs use on clinical outcomes of urothelial cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently demonstrated promising performance in improving the prognosis of urological cancer patients. The goal of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of PPI use on the clinical outcomes of urological cancer patients receiving ICI therapy. Before 6 May 2022, the eligible literature was searched using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.

The correlation between probiotic use and outcomes of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently demonstrated promising results in improving the prognosis of cancer patients. The goal of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of probiotic use on the survival of cancer patients treated with ICIs. Before 3 March 2022, the eligible literature was searched using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Clinical trials.

The association between antibiotic use and outcomes of HCC patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Objective: Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment has shown encouraging performance in improving the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The gut microbiome plays a vital role in altering the efficacy of ICIs, which may be impacted by antibiotics. The aim of the meta-analysis is to estimate the influence of antibiotic use on the survival of HCC patients treated with ICIs.

Mycobiota and C-Type Lectin Receptors in Cancers: Know thy Neighbors.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of gut bacteria in the development of malignancy, while relatively little research has been done on gut mycobiota. As a part of the gut microbiome, the percentage of gut mycobiota is negligible compared to gut bacteria. However, the effect of gut fungi on human health and disease is significant.

Systematic analysis of the role of SLC52A2 in multiple human cancers.

Background: In humans, riboflavin must be obtained through intestinal absorption because it cannot be synthesized by the body. SLC52A2 encodes a membrane protein belonging to the riboflavin transporter protein family and is associated with a variety of diseases. Here, we systematically explore its relevance to multiple human tumors.

STK25 enhances hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the STRN/AMPK/ACC1 pathway.

Background: Serine/threonine protein kinase 25 (STK25) plays an important role in regulating glucose and insulin homeostasis and in ectopic lipid accumulation. It directly affects the progression and prognosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the effects of STK25 on lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unexplored.

Prognostic Value and Immunological Role of MORF4-Related Gene-Binding Protein in Human Cancers.

MORF4-related gene-binding protein (MRGBP) is the subunit of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex which is involved in transcriptional activation of select genes principally by acetylation of nucleosomal histones H4 and H2A. Much of the research indicated an oncogenic role of MRGBP in the development of cancers. However, it is still unknown the role MRGBP plays in human cancers, which deserves further exploration.

Inhibition of Notch activity promotes pancreatic cytokeratin 5-positive cell differentiation to beta cells and improves glucose homeostasis following acute pancreatitis.

Some individuals develop prediabetes and/or diabetes following acute pancreatitis (AP). AP-induced beta-cell injury and the limited regenerative capacity of beta cells might account for pancreatic endocrine insufficiency. Previously, we found that only a few pancreatic cytokeratin 5 positive (Krt5) cells differentiated into beta cells in the murine AP model, which was insufficient to maintain glucose homeostasis.

Receptor-interacting protein in malignant digestive neoplasms.

A deep and comprehensive understanding of factors that contribute to cancer initiation, progression, and evolution is of essential importance. Among them, the serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase-like kinases, also known as receptor interacting proteins (RIPs) or receptor interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), is emerging as important tumor-related proteins due to its complex regulation of cell survival, apoptosis, and necrosis. In this review, we mainly review the relevance of RIP to various malignant digestive neoplasms, including esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancer.

The association of leptin and adiponectin with hepatocellular carcinoma risk and prognosis: a combination of traditional, survival, and dose-response meta-analysis.

Background: An increasing number of studies have focused on the association between leptin, adiponectin levels and the risk as well as the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the reported results are conflicting.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to assess the correlation between leptin, adiponectin levels and risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (CRD42020195882).