Efficacy and safety of recombinant human lymphotoxin-α derivative with cisplatin and fluorouracil in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled, phase 2b trial.

Background: Recombinant human lymphotoxin-α derivative (rhLTα-Da) is a lymphotoxin-α derivative that is missing 27 N-terminal amino acid residues. Previous studies indicated a benefit from the addition of rhLTα-Da to cisplatin-based treatment in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhLTα-Da plus cisplatin and fluorouracil (PF) in patients with mESCC.

Role of IL-33 expression in oncogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a newly-discovered cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family, serves an important role in inflammation. However, it is not clear whether IL-33 is of clinical significance in hepatocarcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the role of IL-33 during oncogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Xuebijing Protects Rats from Sepsis Challenged with Acinetobacter baumannii by Promoting Annexin A1 Expression and Inhibiting Proinflammatory Cytokines Secretion.

Xuebijing (XBJ) injection is a herbal medicine that has been widely used in the treatment of sepsis in China; however, its role in the development and progression of Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis and the underlying mechanisms remain uninvestigated. In the present study, fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to normal-control group, sepsis-control group, and sepsis + XBJ group, each containing three subgroups of different treatment time periods (6, 12, and 24 hrs following injection, resp.).

Connexin-dependent gap junction enhancement is involved in the synergistic effect of sorafenib and all-trans retinoic acid on HCC growth inhibition.

Increasing gap junction activity in tumor cells provides a target by which to enhance antineoplastic therapies. Previously, several naturally occurring agents, including all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) have been demonstrated to increase gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in a number of types of cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated in vitro whether ATRA modulates the response of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to sorafenib, the only proven oral drug for advanced HCC, and the underlying mechanisms.

Safety analysis of weekly paclitaxel plus S-1 versus paclitaxel plus 5-fluorouracil/calcium folinate as first-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer: a multicenter open random phase II trial.

Purpose: To report the results of a safety analysis from a phase II trial comparing administration of weekly paclitaxel plus S-1 (TS) versus paclitaxel plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/calcium folinate (LV) (TLF) as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: Patients (n = 240) with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer were randomly assigned to receive either TS or TLF in a 28-day cycle for six cycles.

Results: The clinical features of both sets of patients were similar, with the exception of the incidence of prior chemotherapy (P>0·05).

[A phase II prospective randomized controlled trial of weekly paclitaxel combined with S-1 or fluorouracil for advanced gastric carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel combined with S-1 or fluorouracil in the first line treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.

Methods: Two hundred and forty patients with untreated advanced gastric carcinoma were randomized into two arms, patients in the experimental arm were given paclitaxel and S-1, while those in the control arm received paclitaxel and fluorouracil. The regimen of experimental arm was paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion, day 1, 8, 15; S-1 80 - 120 mg/day given by oral administration, day 1 - 14.