Transformation to small cell lung cancer is irrespective of EGFR and accelerated by SMAD4-mediated ASCL1 transcription independently of RB1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Histological transformation to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been identified as a mechanism of TKIs resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aim to explore the prevalence of transformation in EGFR-wildtype NSCLC and the mechanism of SCLC transformation, which are rarely understood.

Methods: We reviewed 1474 NSCLC patients to investigate the NSCLC-to-SCLC transformed cases and the basic clinical characteristics, driver gene status and disease course of them.

Knockdown of RAD51AP1 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor of digestive tract with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) being the main histological subtype. This study aimed to identify potential hub gene associated with the pathophysiology of ESCC through bioinformatics analysis and experiment validation.

Methods: Three microarray datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Impact of Abdominal Shape on Short-Term Surgical Outcome of Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

Background: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) has been widely accepted for the treatment for gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of abdominal shape parameters on gastric antrum cancer patients' short-term surgical outcomes of LADG with D2 lymph node dissection in both genders, including the number of lymph nodes retrieved and surgical safety index.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 177 gastric antrum cancer patients, who underwent LADG between April 2009 and January 2016.

PPM1D exerts its oncogenic properties in human pancreatic cancer through multiple mechanisms.

Protein phosphatase, Mg(2+)/Mn(2+) dependent, 1D (PPM1D) is emerging as an oncogene by virtue of its negative control on several tumor suppressor pathways. However, the clinical significance of PPM1D in pancreatic cancer (PC) has not been defined. In this study, we determined PPM1D expression in human PC tissues and cell lines and their irrespective noncancerous controls.

Decreasing pancreatic leak after distal pancreatectomy: bovine pericardium wrapping stump in a porcine model.

Background: Despite marked improvements in pancreatic surgery, the high incidence and morbidity of pancreatic leak after resection has remained unchanged. The current study investigated the safety and efficacy of bovine pericardium wrapping stump after distal pancreatectomy in a porcine model.

Methods: Thirty-two swine were randomly assigned to control and experiment groups to undergo conventional scalpel transection with single hand-sewn closure of the pancreatic remnant (control) or bovine pericardium wrapping stump combined with hand-sewn closure (experiment).

Different expression of S100A8 in malignant and benign gallbladder diseases.

Background: Proteomic analysis is a powerful tool for complete establishment of protein expression. Comparative proteomic analysis of human bile from malignant and benign gallbladder diseases may be helpful in research into gallbladder cancer.

Aims: Our objective was to establish biliary protein content for gallbladder cancer, gallbladder adenoma, and chronic calculous cholecystitis for comparative proteomic analysis.

The role of Med19 in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Aim: To explore the role of Med19, a component of the Mediator complex that coactivates DNA-binding transcription factors, in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Methods: The human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and Hep3B were infected with lentiviral vectors encoding interfering RNA (RNAi) targeting the Med19 gene. To further confirm the inhibitory effects of RNAi vectors on Med19 gene expression, quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting assays were used.

Herbal compound "Songyou Yin" reinforced the ability of interferon-alfa to inhibit the enhanced metastatic potential induced by palliative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice.

Background: Liver resection is a widely accepted treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous clinical study showed that the rate of palliative resection was 34.0% (1958-2008, 2754 of 8107).

Gemcitabine combined with gum mastic causes potent growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells.

Aim: To investigate the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of gemcitabine combined with gum mastic and the underlying mechanisms in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Methods: Cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and propidium iodine staining, respectively. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, NF-kappaB p65 subunit, and IkappaBalpha protein was measured using Western blotting.

Expression and prognostic significance of focal adhesion kinase in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To examine the expressions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We determined the expression levels of FAK on both steady-state mRNA and protein levels in 50 HCC samples by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlations between FAK expression and various clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.

Prokinetic effects of a ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-6 in diabetic mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of a ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-6 on delayed gastrointestinal transit in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: A diabetic mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with alloxan. Mice were randomized into two main groups: normal mice and diabetic mice treated with GHRP-6 at doses of 0, 20, 50, 100 and 200 microg/kg ip.

Ghrelin improves delayed gastrointestinal transit in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ghrelin on delayed gastrointestinal transit in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Methods: A diabetic mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection with alloxan. Mice were randomized into two main groups: normal mice group and diabetic mice group treated with ghrelin at doses of 0, 20, 50, 100 and 200 mug/kg ip.

Prognostic significance of S100A4 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and calcium-binding protein S100A4 in pancreatic cancer and their relationship to the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Expression status of VEGF and S100A4 was examined in 62 surgical specimens of primary pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry. Correlation between the expression of VEGF and S100A4 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

[Treatment of late-staged pancreatic carcinoma with implantation of 125I seeds in combination with regional arterial infusion chemotherapy].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined use of implantation of (125)I seeds with regional arterial infusion chemotherapy on late-staged pancreatic carcinoma.

Methods: During operation, (125)I seeds were implanted into tumor parenchyma or operative beds for 7 patients with pathological diagnosis of late-staged pancreatic carcinoma, then chemotherapy pump was implanted into common hepatic artery or celiac artery through left gastric artery or right epigastric artery. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) plus fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)) was used for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy once a week for 7 consecutive weeks.