NK Cell Exosomes Alleviate PD-L1 Expression and Facilitate Tumor Immunity by Repressing PI3K-AKT-mTOR Signaling.

Background: Liver cancer (LC) is a deadly malignancy with limited therapeutic options in recent years. Natural killer cell-derived exosomes (NK-exo), as an important bridge of information transmission between cells, also have a certain killing effect on tumor cells. On this basis, this study investigated the specific regulatory mechanism of NK-exo on LC cells.

FGL1 facilitates rather than suppresses anticancer immunity against microsatellite instable gastric cancer.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a phenotype characterized by changes in the sequence length of microsatellites in tumor cells and is closely linked to tumorigenesis and prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown good therapeutic effects in gastric cancer (GC) with MSI-high (MSI-H). However, the role of the novel immune checkpoint fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) in GC treatment has not been fully investigated.

Efficacy and Safety of Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Lenvatinib Plus Programmed Death-1 Inhibitor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with the Hepatic Vein and/or Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus lenvatinib with a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor compared with TACE plus lenvatinib and TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the hepatic vein and/or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (HVTT and IVCTT).

Methods: Data on HCC accompanied by HVTT and IVCTT from June 2015 to August 2022 were analyzed in this single-center retrospective study. Drug-eluting bead TACE (DEB-TACE) or conventional TACE (cTACE) was used.

Three-dimensional treatment-planning-based prediction of seed migration to chest after I seed brachytherapy for hepatic malignancy.

Purpose: To develop and validate risk models incorporating clinical and/or imaging parameters based on three-dimensional treatment-planning systems (3D-TPS) to predict the occurrence of I seed migration and the number of migrated seeds <2/≥2 to the chest after brachytherapy for patients with malignant hepatic tumors.

Methods And Materials: A total of 480 patients diagnosed with malignant liver tumors receiving I seed brachytherapy from July 2010 to May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Variables included 3D-TPS-based CT parameters, that is, the distance from the seed to the inferior vena cava (DSI), the distance from the seed to the second hepatic portal (DSP) and the angle from the seed to the second hepatic portal (ASP), and patients' clinical characteristics, that is, the number of seed implantation procedures (NSP), the maximum number of implanted seeds one time (MAX) and laboratory parameters within 1 week before treatment.

A prognostic risk model based on lactate metabolism and transport-related lncRNAs for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Increased lactate levels and metastasis in tumours are strongly associated with dismal outcomes. But prognostic value of lactate metabolism and transport-related lncRNAs in gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) patients remains unaddressed.

Methods: Gene expression data of GA were provided by The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Safety and efficacy of biliary stenting combined with iodine-125 seed strand followed by hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy plus lenvatinib with PD-1 inhibitor for the treatment of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with malignant obstructive jaundice.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of biliary stenting implantation with iodine-125 seed strand (SI) followed by hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) plus lenvatinib (Len) with programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor for patients diagnosed with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) and malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, the data of ECC patients with MOJ from March 2015 to January 2023 was assessed. Using probability score matching (PSM), the selection bias of patients was reduced.

WYC-209 inhibited GC malignant progression by down-regulating WNT4 through RARα.

Gastric cancer (GC) has been a major health burden all over the world but there are fewer promising chemotherapeutic drugs due to its multidrug resistance. It has been reported that WYC-209 suppresses the growth and metastasis of tumor-repopulating cells but the effect on GC was not explored. MTT, colony formation, and transwell assays were performed to examine the effects of WYC-209 on the proliferation, colony growth, and mobility of GC cells.

Transthyretin promotes the invasion of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma by tumor-associated macrophages.

Background: Patients with combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) have limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and promote tumor stemness, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Evidence suggested that transthyretin (TTR) influenced the prolifetation and invasion functions of different tumors and play an essential role in the tumor microenvironment.

Efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization combined with lenvatinib, programmed death-1 inhibitor, and iodine-125 seed brachytherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Background: Therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is still controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy comprising transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), lenvatinib (L), programmed death-1 inhibitor (P), and iodine-125 seed (I) brachytherapy relative to TACE in combination with lenvatinib plus programmed death-1 inhibitor therapy and TACE plus lenvatinib therapy.

Methods: The data of HCC patients with PVTT from July 2017 to August 2022 were assessed in this single-center retrospective study.

Increased Expression of CD74 in Atherosclerosis Associated with Inflammatory Responses of Endothelial Cells and Macrophages.

To clarify the relationship between CD74 and atherosclerosis (AS) and the mechanisms in oxidized LDL (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell and macrophage injury. Datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database are integrated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using R software.

Efficacy and safety of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors plus programmed death-1 inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma refractory to transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: The subsequent therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with refractory to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is still controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy comprising hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), lenvatinib, and programmed death-1 inhibitors relative to HAIC combined with lenvatinib.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed data from HCC patients with refractory to TACE from June 2017 to July 2022.

The Role and Therapeutic Potential of Macropinocytosis in Cancer.

Macropinocytosis, a unique endocytosis pathway characterized by nonspecific internalization, has a vital role in the uptake of extracellular substances and antigen presentation. It is known to have dual effects on cancer cells, depending on cancer type and certain microenvironmental conditions. It helps cancer cells survive in nutrient-deficient environments, enhances resistance to anticancer drugs, and promotes invasion and metastasis.

The crosstalk effect between ferrous and other ions metabolism in ferroptosis for therapy of cancer.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death process characterized by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. The elucidation of ferroptosis pathways may lead to novel cancer therapies. Current evidence suggests that the mechanism of ferroptosis can be summarized as oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms.

Identification of Genes Related to 5-Fluorouracil Based Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and its incidence and mortality are increasing yearly. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has long been used as a standard first-line treatment for CRC patients. Although 5-FU-based chemotherapy is effective for advanced CRC, the consequent resistance remains a key problem and causes the poor prognosis of CRC patients.

A meta-analysis comparing hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed in an advanced stage. Although sorafenib is recommended as the standard treatment for advanced HCC, its efficacy is limited. In some studies, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy has demonstrated a significant therapeutic benefit for advanced HCC compared with sorafenib.

Constitutive TDO2 expression promotes liver cancer progression by an autocrine IL-6 signaling pathway.

Background: Increased tryptophan (Trp) metabolism by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)/tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) represents one of the most studied pathways for immunosuppression in tumor tissues. However, the pro-tumor effects induced by Trp metabolism remain controversial.

Methods: The paraffin sections of tumor tissues were obtained from patients with liver cancer and examined by immunohistochemical staining to investigate the role of Trp metabolic enzymes.

Endovascular Repair of Spontaneous Iliac Vein Rupture.

Spontaneous iliac vein rupture is a relatively rare but fatal disease. Herein, 2 cases are reported. The two middle-aged and elderly females complaining of abdominal pain were admitted without any history of trauma.

Personalized neoantigen-based immunotherapy for advanced collecting duct carcinoma: case report.

Background: Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney is a rare and highly aggressive malignant tumor with the worst prognosis among all renal cancers. Nevertheless, the first-line treatments, including chemotherapy and target therapy, usually show poor response to CDC. Recent studies have suggested that immunotherapy targeting personal tumor-specific neoantigens could be a promising strategy for several solid cancers.

Photothermal augment stromal disrupting effects for enhanced Abraxane synergy chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer PDX mode.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are crucial for forming the desmoplastic stroma that is associated with chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In the clinic, depleting dense stroma in PDAC tumor tissue is a promising chemotherapeutic strategy. In this study, we report that the local hyperthermia can reduce the number of CAFs in the PDAC PDX mouse mode, which further augments chemotherapeutic efficiency in the PDAC therapy.

High expression levels of CLEC4M indicate poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The identification of novel and accurate biomarkers is important to improve the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). C-Type lectin domain family 4 member M (CLEC4M) is involved in the progression of numerous cancer types. However, the clinical significance of CLEC4M in HCC is yet to be elucidated.

Moesin facilitates metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by improving invadopodia formation and activating β-catenin/MMP9 axis.

Moesin has been proved to be implicated in invasiveness and metastasis in many other cancers, but unclear in HCC. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of moesin and its biological functions in HCC. The results showed that moesin was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and was an independent prognostic factor for predicting the recurrence of HCC patients, postoperatively.