Dose escalation in radical radio(chemo)therapy for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer with 3DCRT/IMRT (ChC&UES): a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer (ESCA) presents treatment challenges due to limited clinical evidence. This multi-center study (ChC&UES) explores radical radio(chemo)therapy efficacy and safety, especially focusing on radiation dose.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,422 cases across 8 medical centers.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with or without radio(chemo)therapy for locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and prognostic factors for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with or without radio(chemo)therapy and to evaluate their toxicity in patients with locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA/RM ESCC).

Methods: In this study, 198 patients with locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic (LA/RM) ESCC who received ICIs combined with or without radiotherapy/chemotherapy in the Department of Radiotherapy of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS).

Relationship between postoperative nodal skip metastasis of mid-thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and patient prognosis and its value in guiding postoperative adjuvant treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive role of nodal skip metastasis (NSM) in the prognosis of lymph node-positive mid-thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and to evaluate the significance of postoperative adjuvant treatment in patients with different sites of metastatic nodes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 321 lymph node-positive mid-thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent surgery in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Based on the site and condition of lymph node metastasis by postoperative pathology, the patients were divided into two groups: NSM group and non-NSM (NNSM) group.

Construction of a predictive model of abdominal lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and preliminary analysis of its effect on target for postoperative radiotherapy.

Purpose: To investigate the influencing factors of abdominal lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC), and to construct its predictive model, in order to analyze the targets for postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: From January 2008 to December 2014, the clinicopathological data of 479 patients who underwent radical resection for esophageal cancer in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The influencing factors of postoperative abdominal lymph node metastasis were analyzed, and a predictive model was constructed based on their independent influencing factors.

YTHDF3 mediates HNF1α regulation of cervical cancer radio-resistance by promoting RAD51D translation in an m6A-dependent manner.

Radiotherapy, as an important primary treatment, has effectively improved the survival of patients with cervical cancer (CC). Some patients, however, do not benefit optimally from radiotherapy because of radio-resistance. Therefore, identifying radio-resistance biomarkers and unravelling the underlying mechanisms is of critical importance for these patients.

Preliminary analysis of the benefits of different irradiation types on patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence of esophageal cell squamous carcinoma.

Background: To explore the benefits of different types of irradiation on patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence (LRR) of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 344 patients with recurrent esophageal cancer (EC) at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. All patients met an inclusion criteria that included having postoperative LRR (without distant metastasis), and having received either chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy after LRR.

Effect of SIB-IMRT-based selective dose escalation of local tumor on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: To investigate the effect of SIB-IMRT-based selective dose escalation to local tumor on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: A total of 302 EC patients were enrolled. The prognostic factors of the entire group were initially analyzed, and the composition ratios of the two groups and the different doses of each fraction for PTV were compared.

Knockdown of FAM83D Enhances Radiosensitivity in Coordination with Irradiation by Inhibiting EMT via the Akt/GSK-3β/Snail Signaling Pathway in Human Esophageal Cancer Cells.

Purpose: To explore the effects of FAM83D on the proliferation, invasion and radiosensitivity of human esophageal cancer cells and to elucidate the mechanism involved in the regulation of the growth and metastasis of esophageal cancer cells.

Methods And Materials: This study included sixty-nine patients with esophageal cancer. The expression levels of FAM83D in the esophageal cancer tissues and paracarcinoma tissues of the sixty-nine patients were measured.

Dosimetric Predictors of Radiation Gastritis Due to Postoperative Intensity Modulated Irradiation Therapy in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Radical Esophagectomy.

To explore the association between the incidence of acute radiation gastritis attributed to postoperative intensity modulated irradiation therapy (IMRT) and the dose volume of intrathoracic stomach of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after radical esophagectomy. The authors retrospectively collected the data of 49 ESCC patients who participated in postoperative IMRT treatment after radical esophagectomy, and analyzed the incidence of acute radiation gastritis during the treatment. Among all the 49 patients, acute grade ≥2 radiation gastritis was observed in 19 patients (39%).

Comparison of the effect of postoperative radiotherapy with surgery alone for esophagus squamous cell carcinoma patients: A meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy for patients having esophagus squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery.

Methods: A comprehensive research was performed in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library electronic databases from inception until December 10, 2017. We collected all published full articles about comparison of surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy with surgery alone.

BMI-1 suppression increases the radiosensitivity of oesophageal carcinoma via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

B-cell‑specific Moloney murine leukaemia virus integration site-1 (BMI-1) contributes to the growth of tumour cells post-irradiation (IR). The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of BMI-1 on cell viability, radiosensitivity and its mechanisms of action in oesophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were employed to evaluate the protein expression of BMI-1 in ESCC cells and specimens, respectively.

Analysis of the causes of failure after radical surgery in patients with TNM thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and consideration of postoperative radiotherapy.

Background: Five-year overall survival rate of TESCC after surgery is low (approximately 30% to 60%), so it is meaningful to discuss the significance of PORT.

Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of 227 patients with TNM esophageal cancer (EC). The failure pattern after surgery was analyzed.

Radiosensitization of esophageal carcinoma cells by the silencing of BMI-1.

Radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used to treat cancer patients, particularly esophageal cancer patients. B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site-1 (BMI-1) plays an important role in promoting the growth of cancer cells after exposure to irradiation. The present study aimed to characterize the effects of BMI-1 on the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells, as well as the mechanism involved in the regulation of the growth of esophageal cancer ECA109 and TE13 cells.

Analysis of failure patterns in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: This study investigates the failure pattern after chemoradiotherapy of patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 92 patients with T1-2, N0-1, and M0 ESCC. These patients were inoperable because of poor performance, comorbidities, poor tumor region, or refusal of operation.

Radiosensitization of esophageal carcinoma cells by knockdown of RNF2 expression.

Radiotherapy has been widely used for the treatment of cancer patients, especially for esophageal cancer patients. Ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) plays an important role in promoting the growth of cancer cells after exposure to irradiation. The present study aims to characterize the proliferative effects of RNF2 on cancer cells, and its mechanisms on the growth of esophageal cancer cells.

TKTL1 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1), which is a rate-limiting enzyme in the non-oxidative part of the pentose-phosphate pathway, has been demonstrated to promote carcinogenesis through enhanced aerobic glycolysis. Dysregulation of TKTL1 expression also leads to poor prognosis in patients with urothelial and colorectal cancer. However, the expression pattern and underlying cellular functions in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain largely unexplored.

Pathological characteristics of esophageal cancer.

The pathological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which include regularly occurring multiple carcinogenic lesions (MLs), severe dysplasia (SD) and direct intramural infiltration (DI), were investigated using large pathological sections. A total of 52 esophageal cancer patients underwent surgical resection and were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Large sections of the surgical resection specimens were then made for pathological examination.

Radiosensitization of esophageal cancer cells ECA109 by knockdown of H2AX.

Background: Genetic studies on mice have demonstrated that the key regulator of DNA damage in mammalian cells is the histone H2A variant, H2AX. We hypothesize that knockdown of H2AX will cause DNA damage pathway defects and may be able to increase the sensitivity to radiotherapy.

Methods: The formation of foci and the interaction of several important proteins in esophageal cancer ECA109, triggered by irradiation, were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay before and after H2AX silencing.

[Low dose volume histogram analysis of the lungs in prediction of acute radiation pneumonitis in patients with esophageal cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy].

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of low dose volume of the lung on acute radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with esophageal cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) only, and to analyze the relation of comprehensive parameters of the dose-volume V5, V20 and mean lung dose (MLD) with acute RP.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-two patients with esophageal cancer treated by 3D-CRT have been followed up. The V5-V30 and MLD were calculated from the dose-volume histogram system.

[Relationship of gross tumor volume with lymph node metastasis and prognosis of esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore whether there is a relationship between gross tumor volume (GTV) and pathologic lymph node metastasis or prognosis of esophageal carcinoma, and to provide a new prognosis reference for esophageal carcinoma (EC).

Methods: Six hundred and seven patients received radical resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma from May 2002 to June 2006 in our hospital, and their pre-operative CT images were transmitted to the three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning system by the network in digital format. Esophageal GTV targets were outlined and their GTV volumes were calculated.

[Prognostic analysis of clinicopathological factors in patients after radical resection of esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore factors affecting the survival in patients after radical resection of esophageal carcinoma, and to provide a valuable reference for selecting treatment protocol after surgery.

Methods: Clinicopathological data of 618 esophageal cancer patients who underwent radical resection at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 2002 to June 2006 were collected and reviewed in this study. All patients had no cancer history, did not receive preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and had Karnofsky performance scores ≥ 70.

Dosimetric and clinical predictors of radiation-induced lung toxicity in esophageal carcinoma.

Aims And Background: Radiation-induced lung toxicity occurs frequently in patients with esophageal carcinoma. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and three-dimensional dosimetric parameters associated with lung toxicity after radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Methods And Study Design: The records of 56 patients treated for esophageal carcinoma were reviewed.

[Exploration of the classification of gross tumor volume and pathological staging of esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: Using the volume calculating function of treatment planning system of 3DCRT to work out the value of GTV standard classifications and to provide the reference for clinical staging of esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: Six hundred and seven patients underwent radical resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma in our hospital, and their pre-operative CT images were transmitted in digital format to the three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning system by the network. Esophageal lesion GTV targets were outlined, and their volumes were automatically computed by the planning system.

[Short hairpin RNA-mediated MDC1 gene silencing enhances the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line ECA109].

Objective: To explore the effect of MDC1 gene silencing by RNA interference on the radiosensitivity of human esophageal carcinoma cell line ECA109.

Methods: The vectors containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting MDC1 gene (pMDC1-shRNA) were cotransfected with pPACKH1-lentivector packaging system into 293T cells to package the lentivirus particles. Forty-eight hours after the transfection with specific or control lentiviral vectors, the stable integrants were selected using copGFP reporter gene; real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of MDC1 mRNA and protein in the transfected ECA109 cells, respectively.

[Characteristics of the lymph node metastases and influencing factors and their value in target region delineation in postoperative radiotherapy for thoracic esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the distribution of lymph node metastases, to analyze the cliniopathologic factors of thoracic esophageal carcinoma after curative resection, and to provide the criteria of irradiated region delineation in radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: The clinicopathological data of 763 patients who underwent esophagecotomy from Jun 2002 to Jun 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The regularity of lymph node metastases of thoracic esophageal cancer and clinicopathological factors were stratified and analyzed with SPSS13.