Publications by authors named "Zhengwang Sun"

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer usually characterized by symptoms of bone loss due to pathologically enhanced osteoclast activity. Activated osteoclasts enhance bone resorption and promote osteosarcoma cell progression by secreting various cytokines. Intercepting the detrimental interplay between osteoclasts and osteosarcoma cells is considered as an option for osteosarcoma treatment.

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Here, we introduce 'TICIT', targeted integration by CRISPR-Cas9 and integrase technologies, which utilizes the site-specific DNA recombinase - phiC31 integrase - to insert large DNA fragments into CRISPR-Cas9 target loci. This technique, which relies on first knocking in a 39-basepair phiC31 landing site via CRISPR-Cas9, enables researchers to repeatedly perform site-specific transgenesis at the exact genomic location with high precision and efficiency. We applied this approach to devise a method for the instantaneous determination of a zebrafish's genotype simply by examining its color.

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Objective: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone sarcoma with a high propensity for local invasion and metastasis. Although the antitumor effect of apatinib has been well confirmed in advanced OS, the synergistic effect of apatinib and immunotherapies has not yet been elucidated.

Methods: In this study, we established tumour-bearing mice and observed tumour size with low and high doses of apatinib treatments.

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While KRAS mutation is the leading cause of low survival rates in lung cancer bone metastasis patients, effective treatments are still lacking. Here, we identified homeobox C10 (HOXC10) as a lynchpin in pan-KRAS-mutant lung cancer bone metastasis. Through RNA-seq approach and patient tissue studies, we demonstrated that HOXC10 expression was dramatically increased.

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  • A study reviewed the outcomes of 27 patients who underwent total or high sacrectomy for giant sacral tumors, comparing those who received a pedicled VRAM flap reconstruction to those with conventional wound closure.
  • The VRAM group showed significant benefits including shorter drainage periods, reduced time in bed, and fewer instances of wound infections compared to the conventional closure group.
  • The findings suggest that using a VRAM flap reconstruction technique is more effective for managing large soft-tissue defects post-surgery, resulting in better clinical outcomes.
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  • Bone metastasis is common in renal cell carcinoma and has a poor prognosis, prompting the need to explore potential therapeutic targets through a detailed analysis of single-cell transcriptomes from both primary and metastatic tumors.* -
  • The study reveals significant immune deficiencies in the bone metastatic environment, highlighting the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts and a dominance of immune inhibitory T cells, which could be targeted for treatment.* -
  • Dynamic changes among various cell types, including the transition of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to macrophages, are observed, pointing to potential avenues for developing new therapies for bone metastatic renal cell carcinoma.*
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Introduction: Soft tissue metastasis (STM) of cancers, encompassing skeletal muscle and subcutaneous tissue metastasis, is less common due to unique homeostatic conditions. With longer life expectancy and the advent of new imaging modalities, clinical physicians will increasingly encounter and manage such cases. This study retrospectively reviewed cases of STM in visceral cancers who underwent surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center over a 7-year period.

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Cancer metastasis is one of the main causes of cancer progression and difficulty in treatment. Genes play a key role in the process of cancer metastasis, as they can influence tumor cell invasiveness, migration ability and fitness. At the same time, there is heterogeneity in the organs of cancer metastasis.

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Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are sentinels of barrier immunity, and their activation by the epithelial alarmins IL-25 and IL-33 is a defining trait. In this study, we identified a role for the chemokine receptor CCR8 in modulating skin ILC2 abundance and activation. CCR8 signaling facilitated IL-25-induced increases in skin and lung ILC2s, ILC2 activation and systemic IL-13 production, and ligand-directed ILC2 entry into skin and lung.

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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease characterized by extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by activated myofibroblasts, which are specialized hyper-contractile cells that promote ECM remodeling and matrix stiffening. New insights on therapeutic strategies aimed at reversing fibrosis by targeting myofibroblast fate are showing promise in promoting fibrosis resolution. Previously, we showed that a novel adipocytokine, omentin-1, attenuated bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis by reducing the number of myofibroblasts.

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Objective: Solitary plasmacytoma of bone of the spine (SPBS) was rarely detected in the past. However, its incidence has gradually increased with improvements in the diagnosis and understanding of the disease. We aimed to conduct a population-based cohort study to characterize the prevalence and factors associated with SPBS and develop a prognostic nomogram for predicting the overall survival of SPBS patients with a real-world analysis based on the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database.

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Introduction: Blood phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (tau-PT217) is a newly established biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and postoperative delirium in patients. However, the mechanisms and consequences of acute changes in blood tau-PT217 remain largely unknown.

Methods: We investigated the effects of anesthesia/surgery on blood tau-PT217 in aged mice, and evaluated the associated changes in B cell populations, neuronal excitability in anterior cingulate cortex, and delirium-like behavior using positron emission tomography imaging, nanoneedle technology, flow cytometry, electrophysiology, and behavioral tests.

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  • - The study evaluates the use of modified iliac screws for lumbopelvic fixation in 27 patients post-sacral tumor surgery, focusing on feasibility and safety.
  • - Outcomes showed a high accuracy rate (96.6%) for screw placement with minimal complications, although 7.4% of patients required reoperation due to wound infection.
  • - The modified iliac screw technique is considered a minimally invasive and effective method for securing the pelvis after surgical removal of sacral tumors.
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Purpose: Patients with lung cancer with bone metastasis (LCBM) often have a very poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to characterize the prevalence and associated factors and to develop a prognostic nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with LCBM using multicenter population-based data.

Methods: Patients with LCBM at the time of diagnosis were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program database of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 2010 to 2015.

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Purpose: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. Most patients develop spinal metastases during the course of cancer and suffer skeletal-related events. Currently, no consensus has been reached on the prognostic factors in patients undergoing surgeries.

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  • Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease with varying involvement in patients, and a study of 1549 diagnosed individuals (2010-2018) aimed to understand factors influencing single vs multi-system involvement.
  • The analysis showed that 30.9% of patients presented with multi-system LCH, with bone marrow and lymph node involvement being significant indicators of this type among both children and adults.
  • The study also highlighted racial disparities in surgical treatment for pediatric patients with skeletal LCH, suggesting a need for improved awareness and action to address these inequalities.
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Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare and aggressive cancer that can come from distinct soft tissue types including muscle and ligaments. However, the transcriptomic landscape of SS is still poorly understood. This study aimed to systematically dissect the changes in SS transcriptome from different perspectives.

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Background Context: The treatment of spinal metastases (SM) has been significantly improved in recent years, which gives health-related quality of life (HRQOL) further significance in management of SM. The Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire version 2.0 (SOSGOQ 2.

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Objective: S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw technique is widely used in spinal surgery, but it is rarely seen in the field of spinal tumors. The aim of the study is to report the preliminary outcomes of the freehand S2AI screw fixation after lumbosaral tumor resection.

Methods: The records of patients with lumbosacral tumor who underwent S2AI screw fixation between November 2016 to November 2020 at our center were reviewed retrospectively.

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  • The study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of 3D printed artificial vertebral bodies in patients who underwent multilevel total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), particularly focusing on reducing implant subsidence.
  • A retrospective analysis of eight patients with spinal tumors showed significant pain relief and neurological improvement post-surgery, with no complications like hardware failure reported during follow-ups.
  • The findings indicate that 3D printed customized vertebral bodies can lead to favorable clinical and imaging results for patients post-multilevel TES.
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  • The study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic and racial disparities on the outcomes of patients with bone sarcoma, which is a type of cancer.
  • Data was reviewed from 4,739 patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2015, focusing on factors like race and insurance status in relation to metastatic disease, treatment outcomes, and overall survival.
  • Results showed that patients with Medicaid or no insurance had a higher risk of metastatic disease, and that Black and Asian/Pacific Islander patients were less likely to receive surgical treatment and chemotherapy compared to White patients, highlighting significant disparities that need further exploration.
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Purpose: Among soft tissue sarcomas, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) has relatively higher potential of recurrence and metastasis. As serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is associated with tumor progression and unfavorable outcomes in multiple malignancies, we designed this study to explore the relationship between preoperative serum LDH and prognosis in UPS patients.

Methods: We extracted the data of UPS patients who underwent primary surgery in Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University.

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  • Advanced lung cancer patients are often unprepared for bone metastasis and its complications, necessitating a shift from reactive to personalized medical approaches.
  • Analysis of two patient cohorts revealed increasing bone metastasis rates, with liver metastasis identified as a major risk factor and poor prognosis indicator.
  • A developed nomogram effectively predicts bone metastasis risk, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention and personalized treatment strategies, especially for younger males and those with aggressive lung cancer.
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