Clinical effect and safety of dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although promising results have recently been reported using dendritic cells (DCs) and cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) to treat pancreatic cancer (PC), its clinical effect and safety are associated with some controversy, and lack sufficient evidence. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials to better evaluate the efficacy of DC-CIK immunotherapy in clinical practice to treat PC.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (WANFANG Data) were searched to identify clinical trials that used DC-CIK immunotherapy for PC.

Identification of two novel mutations in the ATP7B gene that cause Wilson's disease.

Background: Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by liver disease and/or neurologic deficits due to copper accumulation and is caused by pathogenic mutations in the ATP7B gene.

Data Sources: Two unrelated Chinese patients born to nonconsanguineous parents who were diagnosed with earlyonset Wilson's disease. DNA sequencing and bioinformation analysis were conducted.

Activation of pancreatic stellate cells involves an EMT-like process.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are characterized by a desmoplastic reaction involving activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). However, the mechanisms of PSC activation remain poorly understood. We examined whether the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process might play a role in PSC activation.