Metformin and Malignant Tumors: Not Over the Hill.

Malignant tumors are a major cause of death, and their incidence is increasing worldwide. Although the survival rate for some cancers has improved, treatments for other malignant tumors are limited, and their mortality rate continues to increase. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of malignant tumors and a higher mortality rate than those without diabetes.

Sorafenib plus partial splenic embolism for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma Barcelona stage C combined with hypersplenism: a case series.

Background: Sorafenib is mainly used to treat patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage C, many of whom also have severe cirrhosis. However, hypersplenism and digestive tract hemorrhage are common complications of cirrhosis, which increase the risk and difficulty of treatment.

Methods: Nineteen patients with HCC BCLC stage C with hypersplenism were treated with sorafenib plus partial splenic embolism at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China, between January 2015 and June 2018.

Transcriptional perturbation of protein arginine methyltransferase-5 exhibits MTAP-selective oncosuppression.

We hypothesized that small molecule transcriptional perturbation could be harnessed to target a cellular dependency involving protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) in the context of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deletion, seen frequently in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Here we show, that MTAP deletion is negatively prognostic in MPM. In vitro, the off-patent antibiotic Quinacrine efficiently suppressed PRMT5 transcription, causing chromatin remodelling with reduced global histone H4 symmetrical demethylation.

Oleanolic acid inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation and invasion by suppressing the SOX9/Wnt1 signaling pathway.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Inhibition of SOX9/Wnt1-mediated signaling might suppress osteosarcoma metastasis, and oleanolic acid (OA) might decrease the activity of the SOX9/Wnt1 signaling pathway. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of OA in osteosarcoma cell proliferation and invasion.

miR-325-3p, a novel regulator of osteoclastogenesis in osteolysis of colorectal cancer through targeting S100A4.

Background: To investigate effect of microRNA-325-3p (miR-325-3p) on bone metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and the precise role on osteoclastogenesis.

Methods: CT-26 cells were injected into tibias to establish bone metastatic model of CRC in vivo. AgomiR-325-3p or antagomir-325-3p were injected in tail-veins of Balb/c mice to interfere the osteoclastogenesis and bone metastasis of CRC.

NFIB promotes the progression of gastric cancer by upregulating circMAP7D1 to stabilize HER2 mRNA.

The present study evaluated the expression levels of nuclear factor I B (NFIB) in gastric cancer (GC) specimens and cells, and its regulatory roles were further elucidated. The expression levels of NFIB were examined in GC and paired normal specimens, and in human GC and normal gastric epithelial cells by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. A circular RNA (circRNA) microarray was performed to identify the novel downstream circRNA of NFIB.

An Open-label, Multicenter, Single-arm, Phase II Study of Fluzoparib in Patients with Germline Mutation and Platinum-sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose: Fluzoparib (PARP inhibitor) showed promising antitumor activity for advanced ovarian cancer in a phase I study. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fluzoparib in patients with germline -mutated recurrent ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: This open-label, multicenter, single-arm, phase II study enrolled patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer and germline mutation who had previously received two to four lines of platinum-based chemotherapy.

Aberrant methylation of GADD45A is associated with decreased radiosensitivity in cervical cancer through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Epigenetic inactivation of GADD45A is a common occurrence in different types of cancer. However, little is known regarding its association with radiosensitivity in cervical cancer (CC). Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the association between aberrant GADD45A methylation and radiosensitivity in CC.

The Characteristics and Mortality of Osteoporosis, Osteomyelitis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Diabetes Population: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus are prone to develop osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, the presence of these complications in those with diabetes may lead to higher mortality. The aim of our study was to assess characteristics and mortality of osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, or rheumatoid arthritis in individuals with diabetes.

miR-520b Inhibits IGF-1R to Increase Doxorubicin Sensitivity and Promote Cell Apoptosis in Breast Cancer.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is currently one of the most widely used and effective drugs for the treatment of breast cancer, but drug resistance in breast cancer often leads to poor efficacy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the development and progression of various tumors and increasing number of studies have confirmed that abnormal miR-520b expression is closely associated breast cancer. We analyzed the clinical features, including miR-520b, of 30 patients with breast cancer.

Open-label, Multicenter, Phase II Study of RC48-ADC, a HER2-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RC48-ADC, a novel humanized anti-HER2 antibody conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E, in patients with HER2 locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) refractory to standard therapies.

Patients And Methods: This was a phase II, open-label, multicenter, single-arm study of patients with HER2 (IHC status 3+ or 2+) locally advanced or mUC who previously failed at least one line of systemic chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) assessed by a blinded independent review committee (BIRC).

Circular RNA MYLK Promotes Glycolysis and Proliferation of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by Sponging miR-195-5p and Increasing Glucose Transporter Member 3 Expression.

Introduction: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are deregulated in many types of human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we aimed to explore the functional role of circMYLK in NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: The expression levels of circMYLK and miR-195-5p in NSCLC tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR analysis.

Predicting Progression-Free Survival Using MRI-Based Radiomics for Patients With Nonmetastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

This study aimed to explore the predictive value of MRI-based radiomic model for progression-free survival (PFS) in nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 327 nonmetastatic NPC patients [training cohort ( = 230) and validation cohort ( = 97)] were enrolled. The clinical and MRI data were collected.

Linked Color Imaging Can Improve Detection Rate of Early Gastric Cancer in a High-Risk Population: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Early diagnosis of gastric cancer is difficult in China due to the lack of a valid method for endoscopic screening. Early gastric cancer, especially flat gastric cancer, lacks specific endoscopic features. Many cases appear to be similar to ordinary gastritis cases under normal white light endoscopy, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Rhein-PEG-nHA conjugate as a bone targeted drug delivery vehicle for enhanced cancer chemoradiotherapy.

Bone-targeted therapies have been the choice of treatments for cancer metastases in bone to minimize skeletal morbidity and preserve patients' quality of life. Rhein is of particular interest due to its high bone affinity. Here we reported a novel Rhein- polyethylene glycol (PEG)-nano hydroxyapatite (nHA) conjugate to deliver doxorubicin (DOX) and Phosphorus-32 (P) simultaneously for enhanced cancer chemo-radiotherapy.

Autophagic dysfunction of β cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, a double-edged sword.

Diabetes is an age-related disease, most of which is type 2 diabetes, and islet β cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are the main mechanisms of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have revealed that autophagy plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of islet beta cells and inhibiting insulin resistance and apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. In this review, we discussed the positive and negative effects of autophagy and its dysfunction on type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is the so-called double-edged sword, analysed its possible mechanism, and identified possible research hot spots.

CircMUC16 promotes autophagy of epithelial ovarian cancer via interaction with ATG13 and miR-199a.

Background: Circular RNA (circRNA) has been proven to play a significant role in multiple types of cancer. However, the expression and role of circRNAs in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains elusive.

Methods: CircRNA and mRNA expression profiles of EOC were screened with sequencing analysis.

Identification of a novel microRNA profile including miR-106b, miR-17, miR-20b, miR-18a and miR-93 in the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Metastasis often leads to poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Evidence has indicated the important roles of microRNA (miRNA) in cancer metastasis. The aim of this study was to identify and verify the key miRNAs that might be involved in the development of NPC metastasis.

Long non-coding RNA HAL suppresses the migration and invasion of serous ovarian cancer by inhibiting EMT signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate the specific function of long non-coding RNA HAL in serous ovarian cancer (SOC) and to further clarify the regulation of HAL on EMT pathway.

Materials And Methods: The expression of HAL and TWIST1 was detected by qRT-PCR. CCK8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the HAL function on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in SOC cells.

miR-520b Promotes Breast Cancer Stemness Through Hippo/YAP Signaling Pathway.

Introduction: The breast cancer stem cells contribute to the initiation, progression, recurrence, metastasis as well as resistance of breast cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of breast cancer stemness have not been fully understood.

Materials And Methods: TCGA and GEO data were used for measuring miR-520b expression in breast cancer tissues.

Rolling Circular Amplification (RCA)-Assisted CRISPR/Cas9 Cleavage (RACE) for Highly Specific Detection of Multiple Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNAs.

Multiplexed detection of extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a critical role in facilitating disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. Herein, we developed a highly specific nucleic acid detection platform for simultaneous quantification of several EV-derived miRNAs in constant temperature by integrating the advantages of a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated nucleases (CRISPR/Cas) system and rolling circular amplification (RCA) techniques. Particularly, the proposed approach demonstrated single-base resolution attributed to the dual-specific recognition from both padlock probe-mediated ligation and protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-triggered cleavage.

Neck management in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma.

Objective: Optimal neck management in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), a rare malignancy, remains uncertain. This study aimed to analyse patterns of cervical lymph node metastases and corresponding clinical outcomes and to investigate the value of elective neck irradiation (ENI) in this population.

Methods And Materials: This study retrospectively reviewed clinical records, imaging findings, nodal metastasis features and treatment data of 217 patients with ONB treated at our hospital during 1991-2019.

Lower limb arterial intervention or autologous platelet-rich gel treatment of diabetic lower extremity arterial disease patients with foot ulcers.

Background: To investigate whether lower limb vascular intervention or autologous platelet-rich gel (APG) treatment would benefit diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) patients with foot ulcers.

Methods: A total of 82 diabetic LEAD patients with foot ulcers were recruited and divided into three groups: group A (30 patients received basal treatment), group B (21 patients received basal and APG treatment), and group C (31 patients received basal and lower limb vascular intervention treatment). All patients underwent routine follow-up visits for 6 months.