Optimization of b-values in diffusion-weighted imaging for esophageal cancer: Measuring the longitudinal length of gross tumor volume and evaluating chemoradiotherapeutic efficacy.

Purpose: To study the optimization of b-values of magnetic resonance-diffusion-weighted (MR-DWI) in evaluating the chemoradiotherapeutic efficacy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and measuring the longitudinal length of gross tumor volume (GTV) of ESCC.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients with biopsy-proven ESCC were undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with DWI using b-values of 600 s/mm2, 800 s/mm2, and 1000 s/mm2 was performed before CCRT and after the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 10th weeks.

Effects of transforming growth factor β-1 infected human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on high- and low-metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: This study investigates the effects of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) on migration and proliferation ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with high- and low-metastatic potential.

Methods: The hMSC and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ-1) gene infected hMSC were co-cultured with hepatoma cells. The ability of cells migration was assessed by Transwell assay.

Effect of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on high-potential hepatocellular carcinoma in mouse models: an intervention study.

Background: There are two completely contradictory views regarding the impact of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hMSC engraftment on HCC tissues in nude mouse models, and assess the effect on metastatic potential of HCC.

Methods: hMSCs were engrafted into the nude mouse models of high metastatic HCC via the tail vein.