Nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 versus nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a multicenter, randomized, phase II study.

Background: Encouraging antitumor activity of nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 (AS) has been shown in several small-scale studies. This study compared the efficacy and safety of AS versus standard-of-care nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) as a first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, phase II trial, eligible patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic PC were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive AS (nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; S-1 twice daily on days 1 through 14) or AG (nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8; gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) for 6 cycles.

Overexpression of zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 is associated with poor prognosis and cancer cell growth and metastasis in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

The zinc finger DHHC-type containing 1 (ZDHHC1) gene is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of various malignant tumors, but its precise involvement in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) remains unknown. Thus, this study investigated ZDHHC1 expression in UCEC using publicly available TCGA and Xena databases and elucidated the functions and mechanisms of the ZDHHC1 gene in UCEC progression using bioinformatics and experiments. The correlation between ZDHHC1 expression and prognosis, clinical features, immune cells, and RNA modifications of UCEC was evaluated using nomograms, correlation, ROC, and survival analyses.

Individualized model for predicting COVID-19 deterioration in patients with cancer: A multicenter retrospective study.

The 2019 novel coronavirus has spread rapidly around the world. Cancer patients seem to be more susceptible to infection and disease deterioration, but the factors affecting the deterioration remain unclear. We aimed to develop an individualized model for prediction of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) deterioration in cancer patients.

Heterochronic triple primary malignancies with Epstein-Barr virus infection and tumor protein 53 gene mutation: A case report and review of literature.

Background: The diagnosis and etiology of multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMNs) are difficult to establish. Here, we report a case of heterochronic triple primary malignancies with gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal squamous cell cancer, and then rectal cancer.

Case Summary: The patient was first diagnosed with gastric cancer at the age of 33 in 2014 and underwent distal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy and six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Curcumin potentiates laryngeal squamous carcinoma radiosensitivity via NF-ΚB inhibition by suppressing IKKγ expression.

Curcumin has shown efficacy in promoting radiosensitivity combined with radiotherapy. However, the role and mechanism of curcumin on radiosensitivity in laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is largely unknown. The aim of our study is to explore the role of IKKγ-NF-κB signaling in curcumin enhancing LSCC cell radiosensitivity .

Loss of LINC01939 expression predicts progression and poor survival in gastric cancer.

As highly tissue-specific genes, it is increasingly recognized that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered as promising prognostic biomarkers for multiple human cancers. However, lack of tissue-specific lncRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) still exist. In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA LINC01939 which showed the largest fold change in GC than other human cancers from lnCAR database by bioinformatic analysis.

Prognostic and predictive value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor sensitive mutations and receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background: Despite the widespread use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), no biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations have yet been identified. The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of baseline serum tumor markers in stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients treated with EGFR-TKIs.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-seven patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC who harbored EGFR-sensitive mutations and were treated with EGFR-TKIs were retrospectively reviewed.

Significance of glucocorticoid receptor expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

Background: Pemetrexed is the preferred chemotherapy agent in the management of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-sq-NSCLC), but lacks biomarkers predicting its efficacy. Dexamethasone, one of the premedications of pemetrexed, may downregulate p53 through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of GR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and its role in predicting pemetrexed efficacy.

Significant association between Let-7-KRAS rs712 G > T polymorphism and cancer risk in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

Association between let-7-KRAS rs712 polymorphism and cancer risk was inconsistent. We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to clarify the association between let-7-KRAS rs712 polymorphism and cancer risk with STATA 14.0 software.

CCND1 G870A polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk: An updated meta-analysis.

Molecular epidemiological studies have revealed a closer association between cyclin D1 (CCND1) polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer; however, the results were inconsistent. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to investigate the association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk. Online electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) were searched.

Reversal effect of GnT-V on the radioresistance of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by alteration β1, 6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans.

Radiotherapy is the primary treatment for human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), yet radioresistance remains a major obstacle to successful treatment in many cases. N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V), which synthesizes β1, 6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans, is closely related to the radiosensitivity of NPC cells. However, a better understanding of the functional role of GnT-V in NPC radioresistance and the related mechanisms is urgently needed.

Radiosensitisation of human glioma cells by inhibition of β1,6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans.

Gliomas are the most prevalent type of primary brain tumors and are resistant to radiation therapy. β1,6-GlcNAc branched N-glycans, which are encoded by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V), play important roles in glioma progression. However, the relationship between β1,6-GlcNAc branched expression and radiosensitivity in glioma cells is still unknown.

Advanced breast angiosarcoma completely responding to gemcitabine-containing chemotherapy.

Background: For patients with anthracycline-resistant metastatic angiosarcoma, there is currently no available standard for second-line therapy, and a need exists for novel effective regimens to improve response rates.

Case Report: We report here on a case of a primary angiosarcoma of both breasts in a 34-year-old woman presenting with lung metastases. Upon completion of 3 cycles of the MAID regimen (mesna, adriamycin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine), computed tomography showed disease progression.

MMP1 rs1799750 single nucleotide polymorphism and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the association of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) rs1799750 single nucleotide polymorphism with lung cancer susceptibility, but the findings are inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate any possible association.

Methods: We searched publications from MEDLINE, EMBASE and CNKI databases which assessed links between the MMP1 rs1799750 polymorphism and lung cancer risk.

Lack of association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene A1298C polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility.

Published data on the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched.

cDNA expression analysis of a human radiosensitive-radioresistant cell line model identifies telomere function as a hallmark of radioresistance.

To achieve a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor radioresistance, we established a radioresistant cell line from the human larynx squamous cell carcinoma cell line Hep-2 after long-term radiation induction. The biological features of the resulting cell lines were characterized. cDNA microarray technology was used to measure the alterations of gene expression in the radioresistant cells.

Interstitial pneumonitis during rituximab-containing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Rituximab is widely used for CD20+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The use of rituximab has been uncommonly associated with pulmonary toxicity. We report here a single institution experience on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease.

Telomere length inversely correlates with radiosensitivity in human carcinoma cells with the same tissue background.

A relationship between telomeres and radiosensitivity has been established by several studies based on non-mammalian model systems, mouse models, and few human genetic diseases. However, the relationship has not been proven in human carcinoma cells, which have more clinical significance than these other models. The present study aims to determine whether telomere length is related to radiosensitivity in human carcinoma cells, and to examine the influence of tissue or genetic background.

[Effective inhibition of hTERT expression by RNA interference on the radiosensitivity of human laryngeal cancer Hep-2 cell line].

Objective: To construct an eukaryotic expression vector of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene specific shRNA, and investigate the effect of pshRNA-hTERT combined with gamma-irradiation on cell survival and telomerase activity.

Methods: According to the coding sequence of hTERT mRNA, the target of RNAi was designed, and recombinant expression plasmid pshRNA-hTERT was constructed. The vector was transfected into Hep-2 cells.

Radiosensitization effect of zidovudine on human malignant glioma cells.

Telomeres are shortened with each cell division and play an important role in maintaining chromosomal integrity and function. Telomerase, responsible for telomere synthesis, is activated in 90% of human tumor cells but seldom in normal somatic cells. Zidovudine (AZT) is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Apoptosis induced by short hairpin RNA-mediated STAT6 gene silencing in human colon cancer cells.

Background: The relationship between signal transduction and tumors has become one of the foci in cancer research. Signal transducer and activator of the transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling pathway is found to be activated in some cancer cells. But the function of the pathway in cancer cells is unknown.

Chinese medicine Angelica sinensis suppresses radiation-induced expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 in mice.

Radiotherapy of thoracic cancer often causes pulmonary inflammation leading to pneumonitis and fibrosis. We favor the hypothesis that cytokine-mediated multicellular interactions may result in the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1, which promotes progressive radiation-induced lung injury. The root of Angelica sinensis, known as 'Danggui' in Chinese medicine, is widely used to treat radiation-induced pneumonitis in humans and shows clinical efficacy and low/no toxicity with an unclear mechanism.