2024 Vol. 51 No. 4
T cell dysfunction is a common feature in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The up-regulation of immune checkpoint (IC) proteins resulting in T cell exhaustion is a key reason for T cell dysfunction. Immunotherapy with IC inhibitors exerts a remarkable effect on AML. However, due to the heterogeneity of T cell exhaustion and other factors that impair T cell function in patients with AML, the optimization of targeted T cell immunotherapy strategy for AML might be based on the multidimensional investigation of immune deficiency with different T cell subtypes.
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China. It is characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and proportion of patients in advanced stages. In the past years, chemotherapy was used as the main treatment for GC. Subsequently, targeted therapy with trastuzumab was approved to treat HER2-positive GC. However, the progress of drug development and clinical studies has been limited by the high heterogeneity of GC. In recent years, research on immunotherapy and new targets for therapeutic exploration in GC has made great strides. Herein, we provide a brief review of the progress of the research on targeted therapy and immunotherapy for GC.
To investigate the effects of chronic starvation stress on the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms.
By using prolonged serum starvation to simulate chronic starvation stress in tumor cells, we established enduring serum-deprived models of SW480 and DLD-1 cells and observed cellular morphological change. Effects of prolonged serum starvation on SW480 and DLD-1 proliferative and migratory capabilities were assessed using CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Differential gene-expression analysis on SW480 cultured with 1% FBS or 10% FBS medium was followed by GO and KEGG pathway assessments. Migration-related protein interactions were explored using String database and Metascape software, leading to 16 genes being selected for RT-qPCR validation. Protein levels of ITGB1 and key molecules in the relevant pathways were measured. Mobility changes in SW480 were observed through Transwell assay after ITGB1 knockdown or STAT3 inhibition.
Prolonged serum starvation significantly inhibited the proliferation of SW480 and DLD-1 cells, and DLD-1 mobility, while enhanced SW480 migration. Transcriptome analysis revealed that prolonged serum deprivation caused the upregulation of 3016 genes, among which 283 were involved in cell migration. Metascape analysis identified the correlations among potential core genes ITGB1, CD44, TNS1, STAT3, etc. Prolonged serum deprivation increased the mRNA levels of VTN, TNS1, VEGFA, STAT3, and ITGB1 while also increasing the protein levels of ITGB1 and MMP2 and the phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3. Mobility reduction in prolonged serum-starved SW480 cells was achieved through ITGB1 knockdown or a STAT3 inhibitor.
Colorectal cancer cells can endure chronic starvation stress which enhances migration capability by upregulating ITGB1 expression.
To explore the role and molecular mechanism of Lnc-BM in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC).
GC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues of 36 GC patients were collected, and the expression of Lnc-BM was detected by RT-qPCR. Colony formation and CCK-8 assays were used to investigate the proliferation of GC cells. The migration and invasion properties of GC cells were investigated via Transwell assay. RNA pull-down assay was applied to confirm the interaction between FASTK and Lnc-BM. Western blot assay was used to detect FASTK protein level in Lnc-BM overexpressing or knockdown cells. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity and the related proteins expression levels were detected by Seahorse and Western blot assays, respectively. Lnc-BM stably overexpressing GC cells were constructed and then injected subcutaneously into nude mice. The tumor growth was observed.
Lnc-BM was highly expressed in GC tissues compared with their paired adjacent normal tissues. Lnc-BM overexpression significantly promoted GC cells proliferation migration and invasion, while Lnc-BM knockdown inhibited GC cells proliferation, migration and invasion (P < 0.05). RNA pull-down experiment demonstrated that Lnc-BM can directly bind to FASTK. Western blot results indicated that overexpression of Lnc-BM increased the protein levels of FASTK, while knockdown of Lnc-BM inhibited the expression of FASTK (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, overexpression of Lnc-BM increased the levels of mitochondria associated proteins, such as MT-ND6 and TOM20 (P < 0.05). Seahorse results indicated that overexpression of Lnc-BM enhanced mitochondrial respiratory capacity (P < 0.05). Knocking down FASTK in Lnc-BM stably overexpressing cells can reverse the increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity caused by Lnc-BM overexpression (P < 0.05). In vivo, the results of subcutaneously implanted tumor model in nude mouse showed that Lnc-BM overexpression promoted the tumor growth (P < 0.05).
Lnc-BM promotes GC progression by regulating mitochondrial respiratory function through the FASTK/MT-ND6 axis.
To explore the therapeutic effect of "jian pi yi qi yang xue zhi tong" for treating bone metastasis of breast cancer and the clinical effect of improving pain symptoms.
A total of 80 patients with bone metastases from breast cancer were admitted. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to the random-number-table method. The control group was treated with zoledronic acid, whereas the observation group was treated with jian pi yi qi yang xue zhi tong prescriptions based on the control group. We compared the differences in the effects of different treatment plans on patients' pain symptoms, physical condition, and quality of life, as well as TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP levels.
No significant difference was found in pain scores, physical condition scores, sleep quality scores, and quality of life scores, as well as CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels between the two groups of patients before treatment (all P > 0.05). At one, two, and four months after treatment, the pain scores of both groups of patients decreased, with the observation group having lower scores than the control group (P < 0.05). The total pain-relief rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the sleep quality scores and the levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α decreased, with the observation group having lower values than the control group (P < 0.05). The physical condition scores and the quality of life scores of both groups improved, with the observation group having higher values than the control group (P < 0.05).
In patients with bone metastases from breast cancer, oral treatment with jian pi yi qi yang xue zhi tong prescription has a significant effect. It substantially improves the pain symptoms, enhances the quality of sleep and life of patients, and reduces the levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α.
To investigate the importance of a nomogram model based on biomarkers and CT signs in the prediction of the invasive risk of ground glass nodules.
A total of 322 patients with ground glass nodule, including 240 and 82 patients in the model and verification groups, respectively, were retrospectively analyzed. Independent risk factors for the invasive risk of ground glass nodules were screened out after using single and multiple Logistic analysis. R software was used to construct the nomogram model, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA), receiver operating curve (ROC), and calibration curve were used for internal and external verification of the model.
In this study, the independent risk factors for the invasive risk of ground glass nodules included systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), CYFRA21-1, edge, vascular cluster sign, and nodular consolidation tumor ratio (CTR). The area under the ROC curve of the constructed nomogram model had a value of 0.946, and that of the external validation group reached 0.932, which suggests the good capability of the model in predicting the invasive risk of ground glass nodules. The model was internally verified through drawing of calibration curves of Bootstrap 1000 automatic sampling. The results showed that the consistency index between the model and actual curves reached 0.955, with a small absolute error and good fit. The DCA curve revealed a good clinical practicability. In addition, nodule margin, vascular cluster sign, and CTR were correlated with the grade of pathological subtype of invasive adenocarcinoma.
A nomogram model based on biomarkers and CT signs has good value and clinical practicability in the prediction of the invasive risk of ground glass nodules.
To analyze trends in the disease burden of esophageal cancer attributable to high body mass index (BMI) in the Chinese and United States populations from 1990 to 2019 and predict deaths over the next 10 years.
This study used Global Burden of Disease 2019 data to obtain mortality and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) data by year, gender, and age for the disease burden of esophageal cancer attributable to high BMI in China and the United States from 1990 to 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis was conducted to analyze long-term trends. Bayesian age–period–cohort analysis was used to predict age-standardized mortality attributable to esophageal cancer in 2020–2030.
From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized mortality rate for esophageal cancer attributable to high BMI in China increased from 1.44/105 to 1.80/105 and the age-standardized DALY rate increased from 34.17/105 to 40.79/105. From the perspective of gender, the number of deaths, DALYs, and the corresponding age-standardized rate of males in China and the United States increased from 1990 to 2019. The age-standardized mortality and DALY rates of Chinese women showed a downward trend, decreasing by 21.36/105 and 29.71/105, respectively. Joinpoint analysis results revealed that the average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) in mortality attributable to esophageal cancer in the total population and men in China from 1990 to 2019 increased by 0.78% (95%CI: 0.71-0.84) and 1.52% (95%CI: 1.44-1.60), respectively, and that in females decreased by 0.88% (95%CI: −0.96-−0.80). AAPC in women in the United States rose at a slow rate of 0.07% (95%CI: 0.02-0.09). The burden of esophageal cancer deaths attributable to high BMI is predicted to continue to rise in China and the United States in 2020–2030.
The disease burden of esophageal cancer attributable to high BMI significantly increased in China from 1990 to 2019. The disease burden of esophageal cancer caused by high BMI in China is expected to increase from 2020 to 2030.
Lung cancer is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates and invasiveness, and its occurrence and development are influenced by various factors. Mitochondria, as ubiquitous organelles in the human body, regulate cellular processes, such as metabolism, signal transduction, oxidative stress, and genomic instability, thereby affecting the initiation and progression of lung cancer. This article summarizes the recent research progress on mitochondrial-targeted drugs, mitochondrial transfer, and mitochondrial gene therapy for lung cancer treatment. This work also discusses the principles and prospects of mitochondrial therapy to provide new insights for lung cancer treatment.
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are non-coding RNAs in the nucleolus and are mainly responsible for the 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridine modification of rRNA. snoRNAs regulate various biological processes, such as tRNA modification, spliceosome snRNA modification, maintenance of the telomere structure, and alternative splicing of mRNA. Aberrant expression of snoRNA is related to cancer progression, and it may become a new target for cancer treatment. snoRNAs are stable and easy to detect in body fluids, so they can be used as a biomarker for clinical diagnosis and prognostic. This article reviews the biogenesis, classification, structure, and function of snoRNAs and introduces their potential role in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The vast majority of thyroid cancers show a good prognosis. However, the treatment of locally advanced thyroid cancer presents a huge problem. The wide application of targeted and immunotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced thyroid cancer has become a new therapeutic direction. This article summarizes the research on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy and immunotherapy related to various pathological types of thyroid cancer, with a focus on the recent advancements and thoughts on the application of targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs in neoadjuvant therapy. The results provide additional options for the clinical treatment of locally advanced thyroid cancer.
Optical tweezers are a means to manipulate objects with light. Optical tweezers can obtain a nanometer space, piconewton force, and a millisecond resolution; thus, they are excellently suited for studying biological processes from the single-cell to the single-molecule level. Optical tweezers can screen and manipulate tumor cells, study single molecule, and monitor cancer treatments. Thus, optical tweezers will promote the progress of cancer research and treatments.
