Final overall survival results from a randomised, phase III study of erlotinib versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment of EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (OPTIMAL, CTONG-0802).

Background: The OPTIMAL study was the first study to compare efficacy and tolerability of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erlotinib, versus standard chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Findings from final overall survival (OS) analysis and assessment of post-study treatment impact are presented.

Patients And Methods: Of 165 randomised patients, 82 received erlotinib and 72 gemcitabine plus carboplatin.

SP1-mediated microRNA-520d-5p suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer by targeting CTHRC1.

Recent evidence suggests that miR-520 family has an important role in regulating tumorigenesis and development of various types of solid cancers. However, as one of the most common cancers in the world, there is little known about the underlying regulatory mechanisms of miR-520 in colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we investigated the expression of microRNA-520d-5p (miR-520d-5p) in CRC specimens and then explored its potential role and mechanism in CRC progression.

A systematic review and meta-analysis to reappraise the role of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion for colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Objective: The potential benefit of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion remains unknown for patients with colorectal liver metastases after radical hepatic resection. The principle aim of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion.

Methods: Eligible trials were identified from Embase, PubMed, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane library since their inception to June 1, 2014.

Marsdenia tenacissima extract enhances gefitinib efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer xenografts.

Purpose: The stem of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn. has long been used as a medicine to treat cancer in China.

High-level SAE2 promotes malignant phenotype and predicts outcome in gastric cancer.

Background: The SUMO pathway has been shown to play an important role in tumorigenesis. This report analyzed the involvement of the sole SUMO-Activating Enzyme Subunit 2 (SAE2) in human gastric cancer (GC) progression and prognosis.

Methods: Expression of SAE2 was examined by Quantigene Plex, western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

High expression of KPNA2 defines poor prognosis in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

Background: To analyze the expression of karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2) in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and to investigate whether the KPNA2 expression provides additional prognostic information following radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Methods: A tissue microarray (TMA) containing samples from 176 patients with UTUC who underwent RNU at our institute was analyzed for KPNA2 expression using immunohistochemistry. KPNA2 expression in normal urothelial cell line and urothelial carcinoma cell lines was evaluated by western blot analysis.

Hepatic Resection Improved the Long-Term Survival of Patients with BCLC Stage B Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Asia: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Hepatic resection has been increasingly performed in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the current evidence supporting its efficacy remains controversial. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the long-term survival and safety of hepatic resection compared to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) alone for BCLC stage B HCC.

Methods: Eligible trials that compared hepatic resection with TACE alone for intermediate HCC were identified from the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases.

Ren Shen Yangrong Tang for Fatigue in Cancer Survivors: A Phase I/II Open-Label Study.

Objectives: This open-label, prospective, phase I/II trial was performed to establish the safety and efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal products for treating non-anemia-related fatigue in patients with cancer. Although this practice is widespread in China, it has not been confirmed in a prospective clinical study.

Design: Thirty-three patients who had completed cancer treatment, had stable disease and no anemia, and reported moderate to severe fatigue (rated ≥4 on a 0-10 scale) were enrolled in a TCM outpatient clinic.

Genetic polymorphisms of NAMPT related with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (Nampt) plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. The present study examines whether genetic polymorphisms of NAMPT are related to the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: A total of 810 subjects were enrolled in this study, including 405 ESCC patients and 405 healthy controls.

SCF(JFK) is a bona fide E3 ligase for ING4 and a potent promoter of the angiogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer.

Loss of function/dysregulation of inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) and hyperactivation of NF-κB are frequent events in many types of human malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these remarkable aberrations are not understood. Here, we report that ING4 is physically associated with JFK.

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is activated after imatinib secondary resistance in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activation may be related to imatinib resistance; however, no study has focused on whether signal conduction of this pathway will change after imatinib resistance. A total of 111 GIST samples from 91 patients were used in this study, including 20 pairs of samples before and after imatinib treatment. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue for p-KIT (phospho-KIT), PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten), PI3K, phospho-AKT (p-AKT), phospho-4EBP1 (p-4EBP1) and phospho-S6 (p-S6RP).

[Expression of miR-143 and miR-145 and their functional study in gastric carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of miR-143 and miR-145 in gastric cancer tissues and their biological functions.

Methods: A set of gastric cancer metastasis-related miRNAs was screened by comparing the miRNA profiles between the primary gastric cancer and matched liver metastasis. Among these miRNAs, expressions of miR-143 and miR-145 were further validated.

[Clinical efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: Clinical data of 214 patients with gastric cancer were analyzed retrospectively, who underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical gastrectomy in the Department of Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery at Beijing Cancer Hospital between May 2009 and December 2012. The patients were divided into two groups, consisting of elderly group(age ≥70 years old, n=53) and non-elderly group(age <70 years old, n=161).

High-level SAE2 promotes malignant phenotype and predicts outcome in gastric cancer.

Background: The SUMO pathway has been shown to play an important role in tumorigenesis. This report analyzed the involvement of the sole SUMO-Activating Enzyme Subunit 2 (SAE2) in human gastric cancer (GC) progression and prognosis.

Methods: Expression of SAE2 was examined by Quantigene Plex, western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Clinical significance of a point mutation in DNA polymerase beta (POLB) gene in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of global cancer mortality. Genetic variations in DNA repair genes can modulate DNA repair capability and, consequently, have been associated with risk of developing cancer. We have previously identified a T to C point mutation at nucleotide 889 (T889C) in DNA polymerase beta (POLB) gene, a key enzyme involved in base excision repair in primary GCs.

Evaluation of the 7th edition of the TNM classification in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic factors and tumor stages of the 7(th) edition TNM classification for esophageal cancer.

Methods: In total, 1033 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent surgical resection with or without (neo)adjuvant therapy between January 2003 and June 2012 at the Thoracic Surgery Department II of the Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China were included in this study. The following eligibility criteria were applied: (1) squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction identified by histopathological examination; (2) treatment with esophagectomy plus lymphadenectomy with curative intent; and (3) complete pathologic reports and follow-up data.

A scoring system for prediction of early recurrence after liver resection for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The management of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial due to the early recurrence after curative hepatectomy, and many variables were related to the prognosis. The purpose of this study was to predict the tumor recurrence in early postoperative period of the patients with BCLC stage B HCC.

Methods: From January 2004 to January 2012, 104 patients with BCLC stage B HCC underwent hepatectomy.

Preoperative chemotherapy with a trastuzumab-containing regimen for a patient with gastric cancer and hepatic metastases.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the leading cause of tumor-related death in China. Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous disease and therefore requires different treatments based on the subtype. We describe a patient who had gastric cancer with liver metastases.

DACT2 is frequently methylated in human gastric cancer and methylation of DACT2 activated Wnt signaling.

Dapper, Dishevelled-associated antagonist of β-catenin (DACT), is a key regulator of Wnt signaling pathway. The purpose of this study is to explore the epigenetic changes and the function ofDACT2 in human gastric cancer (GC). Eight human gastric cancer cell lines, 167 cases of primary gastric cancer and 8 cases of normal gastric mucosa were involved in this study.

Two-week Course of Preoperative Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma: 8 Years' Experience in a Single Institute.

Objectives: To evaluate local control and survival in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients who underwent a preoperative 2-week course of radiotherapy (RT) and to identify prognostic factors influencing the survival rate.

Methods: We analyzed 377 consecutively treated patients with locally advanced (T3/T4 or node positive) rectal adenocarcinoma. All patients underwent a preoperative 2-week course of RT (30 Gy in 10 fractions) followed by curative surgery.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in AURKA, BRCA1, CCNE1 and CDK2 with the risk of endometrial carcinoma and clinicopathological parameters among Chinese Han women.

Objective: Centrosome aberrations and cell-cycle deregulations have important implications for the development of endometrial carcinoma. AURKA, BRCA1, CCNE1 and CDK2 genes play pivotal roles in centrosome duplication and cell-cycle regulation. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in these four genes may contribute to endometrial carcinoma susceptibility and progression in Chinese Han women.

[Risk factors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph node ≤ 2].

Objective: To explore retrospectively the risk factors of non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node metastasis ≤ 2 and examine the likelihood of non-sentinel lymph node prediction.

Methods: A sentinel lymph node biopsy database containing 455 breast cancer patients admitted between July 2005 and February 2012 at Beijing Cancer Hospital was analyzed retrospectively. The patients had ≤ 2 positive sentinel lymph node and complete axillary lymph node dissection.

The impact of neural invasion severity in gastrointestinal malignancies: a clinicopathological study.

Objectives: Because neural invasion (NI) is still inconsistently reported and not well characterized within gastrointestinal malignancies (GIMs), our aim was to determine the exact prevalence and severity of NI and to elucidate the true impact of NI on patient's prognosis.

Background: The union internationale contre le cancer (UICC) recently added NI as a novel parameter in the current TNM classification. However, there are only a few existing studies with specific focus on NI, so that the distinct role of NI in GIMs is still uncertain.

Plasma levels of heat shock protein 90 alpha associated with lung cancer development and treatment responses.

Purpose: Altered expression of heat shock protein 90 alpha (Hsp90α) was associated with tumor development, progression, and metastasis. This study explored plasma levels of Hsp90α protein in patients with lung cancer and other controls to assess its diagnostic value and monitor treatment responses for patients with lung cancer.

Experimental Design: A total of 2,247 individuals were recruited and assigned into two cohorts as static and dynamic groups.