Cancer Research and Therapeutics

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous microwave ablation: A new weapon to treat ground-glass opacity–lung adenocarcinoma Yancu Hertzanu, Xin Ye Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):265-266

Programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: "A sharp sword" Xin Li, Ping Liang, Xin Ye Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):267-268

Translational epidemiology: The powerful tool for precision cancer medicine Zhenming Fu, Rui Zhang, Ping Li, Mingfang Jia Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):269-271 Although this is an exciting time for translational medicine, systematic approaches and strategies to conduct translational research are sparse. We highlight in this editorial the opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and to forge new interdisciplinary collaborative ventures from the perspective of epidemiology. We specifically outline some feasible research areas, wherein Translational Epidemiology may readily speed up the translation of research for Precision Medicine.

Targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer radioresistance: Updates on the molecular mechanisms Yu Yang, Huandi Zhou, Ge Zhang, Xiaoying Xue Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):272-277 Radiation resistance is an important factor that affects the efficacy of radiotherapy; it could even lead to its failure. In recent years, the relationship between the classical Wnt signaling pathway and radiation resistance has gradually attracted attention from scholars. Although most of the findings are comprehensive, they are fragmented and disorganized. This review explores the relationship between classical Wnt signaling pathways and cancer radiation resistance. Previous literature regarding the classical Wnt signaling pathways and cancer radiation resistance from the past decades had been summarized in this article. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms and functions of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway involved in the formation of radioresistance were systemically analyzed and sorted out. Certain rules and internal relationships among different pathways have been further clarified; this is expected to provide valuable clues for further research. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is closely associated with the formation of cancer radioresistance, which may be a target for improving the effects of radiotherapy.

Role of miRNA in transformation from normal tissue to colorectal adenoma and cancer Guangkuo Liu, Bingqing Li Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):278-285 Although many modalities can be used to prolong the remission of colorectal cancer (CRC), early diagnosis is essential to improve the therapeutic outcomes. The conventional ways of diagnosing and monitoring the progresses from adenoma to CRC are colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test (FOBT). However, colonoscopy is expensive and invasive; while the FOBT is not sensitive. miRNAs may be a new modality to monitor the transition from adenoma to CRC. We reviewed publications of miRNA profile differences from colorectal normal mucosa (NM) to adenoma, and to CRC and tried to find the roles of miRNA in these transitions. This review also highlighted the possibility of serum miRNAs as markers for monitoring these transitions. The miRNA profiles are different from normal colorectal mucosa to adenoma and to CRC. The miRNAs may have pro- or anti-CRC effects through oncogenes such as c-Met and KRAS. Others may interfere with the immune system. More interestingly, some miRNAs are continuously increased from NM to adenoma and to CRC; others, such as miRNA-30b, are consequently decreased. The literature shows that miRNAs are involved in the whole process of the colorectal carcinogenesis. The miRNAs may be the biomarkers in monitoring the transition from adenoma to CRC.

Experimental study in vivo ablation of swine pancreas using high-intensity focused ultrasound Guanghui Huang, Xin Ye, Xia Yang, Aimin Zheng, Wenhong Li, Jiao Wang, Xiaoying Han, Zhigang Wei, Min Meng, Yang Ni, Chengkun Qin, Xingbo Fei, Liulin Xiong Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):286-290 Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for ablation of swine pancreas and to detect the pathological variations in pancreas damage. Materials and Methods: (a) Eight swine were involved and randomly divided into two groups (Group A and B). HIFU was applied on swine in both groups for in vivo ablation of pancreas. The animals were anesthetized, and the artificial acoustic window was built. Then, the irradiation of FEP-BY02 type HIFU on pancreas was applied. (b) Swine in Group A were euthanized immediately after treating with HIFU to examine variations in pancreas. The biochemical evidence of pancreatitis was evaluated by blood samples collected from swine in Group B before and after HIFU. Then, the pancreas of swine in Group B was euthanized on day 5 after treatment to examine the pancreas. All specimens were visually inspected for both ultrasonic focal damage region (UFDR) and pathological routine by a skilled pathologist. Results: (a) The vital signs of all animals were stable during HIFU treatment and recovered well after treatment. (b) UFDR were observed in all HIFU irradiation region of the specimens, without significant size difference between the two groups. The coagulation nucleus pyknosis, cytochylema vacuolation, and nucleus membrane disruption were observed after HIFU in both groups. Membranous structure dissolution and inflammatory cell infiltration were also found after HIFU in swine of Group B. (c) There was no significant difference in the levels of blood amylase in swine of Group B before and after HIFU treatment. Conclusions: It was feasible and safe to use HIFU for ablation of the pancreas in swine.

Precision dose measurement of 125I seed in solid water through SPECT/CT detecting Hongtao Zhang, Yansong Liang, Gang Qiu, Zeyang Wang, Devjoy Dev, Zezhou Liu, Huijuan Li, Huimin Yu, Jingshi Chen, Aixia Sui, Juan Wang, Gaofeng Shi Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):291-297 Purpose: The aim of the study is to study the feasibility of gamma-ray-detection-based precision dose measurement of 125I seed brachytherapy in solid water. Materials and Methods: Seven group 125I seeds with different activities were put into a hole in the center of solid water individually. Each group had ten seeds, and the seed activity ranged from 1.48 × 107 Bq to 3.7 × 107 Bq. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was used to scan the seeds perpendicular to the long axis of the seed, with a slice thickness of 3.75 mm. The radioactive count values (x) of the radioactive concentration around the seeds were collected at a distance of 1–15 mm from the center of the seeds, while the corresponding doses (Y) (Gy) were calculated. SPSS 18.0 was used to analyze the relationship between the count value and the dose. Results: With the same seed activity, the count values became smaller according to the distance from the center of the seeds. The count values at the same point had an increasing trend according to the activity. This is similar to the doses calculated at the same point. There was an exponential relationship between the dose around the 125I seeds, and the radioactive count value detected by SPECT/CT. Correlative curves between the dose and radioactive count value detected by SPECT/CT of different-activity 125I seeds were fitted. The formulas of the dose and radioactive count with different seed activity were in the form of Y = b0 (b1)x. The constant b0 ranged from 1.48 to 3.93, according to the seed activity, while b1 was 1.006 for every seed's activity. Conclusion: The count value around the 125I seed can be detected accurately by SPECT/CT, and then can be quantified. This study provided useful experiment data for the precision measurement of 125I seed implantation. Radiation detection-based dose measurement may become a new noninvasive technology for the dynamic dosimetry verification method after brachytherapy.

Prospective and prognostic factors for hepatic metastasis of gastric carcinoma: A retrospective analysis Jin Cheng Song, Xiao Lei Ding, Yang Zhang, Xian Zhang, Xiu Hua Sun Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):298-304 Aims: The aim of the study was to prospectively explore the prognostic factor for gastric cancer with liver metastasis (GCLM), since no prognostic factor was reported to be consistently significant across studies. Patients and Methods: One hundred and five patients with GCLM treated at our center between January 1, 2010, and March 31, 2016, were included and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate analyses were first applied for identify the potential independent prognostic and predictive factors for liver metastasis. These factors were further evaluated with Cox proportional-hazard regression model testing. Finally, survival curves were estimated. Results: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, number of other distant metastases, levels of cancer antigen (CA), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were independent prognostic factors (adjusted relative risk [RR]: 1.362–2.887; P = 0.000–0.027). The survival of patients who received radical gastrectomy would be associated with the ECOG score, staging (T stage and N stage), CA 19-9, and CEA levels (RR: 2.169–3.787; P = 0.000–0.027). Patients with following indicators 1 month postoperatively were prone to liver metastasis after radical gastrectomy (median, 6.9–12.03 months; P = 0.007–0.042): Venous/lymphatic invasion, pathological Stage IV (especially combined with T4 stage), intestinal Lauren type, and combined elevation of CEA and CA 19-9 levels. Conclusions: The therapy design for patients with GCLM should consider the general conditions and personal clinicopathological characters of patients. After balancing the benefit and risk factors, multidisciplinary treatment and individual treatment should be developed based on evidence-based medicine model for each patient.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization experience for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with right atrial tumor thrombus Linzhong Zhu, Renjie Yang, Xu Zhu Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):305-311 Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus extending to the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA) is rare, which is generally associated with serial syndromes and poor prognosis. The results of earlier observations revealed that the median survival was 1–5 months after diagnosis for untreated patients. The prognosis was poor with surgery, radiotherapy, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 1850 patients received TACE for advanced HCC at our institution from October 2011 to September 2016. Among them, 18 cases presented tumor thrombus extended from hepatic vein to IVC and RA. TACE was performed to deal with the tumor thrombus inside the RA, and angiography was performed for characterizing. The successful rate, survival, safety, and clinical adverse events were retrospectively studied. Results: A total of 56 interventional procedures were conducted for the 18 cases of tumor thrombus extending to IVC and RA. TACE were successfully performed in all patients without significant complications. One case died of pneumonia, and no severe adverse effect was observed in the other 17 cases. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 50% and 16.7%, respectively. The average survival from diagnosis of right atrial tumor thrombus (RATT) was 15.2 months. The blood supply was rich for all RATT. There were seven cases with single-feeding artery and 11 cases with two or three feeding arteries that originated from intra- or extra-hepatic arteries. The extrahepatic artery played a critical role in the blood supply of RATT, including right inferior phrenic artery (8/18), left inferior phrenic artery (1/18), and the left gastric artery (2/18). Conclusion: For HCC with tumor thrombus in the IVC and RA, TACE could safely improve the prognosis of these patients. Searching for multiple feeding arteries are essential for ensuring efficacy. In addition, careful examination and appropriate embolization technique are essential for safety and efficacy. Lipiodol was a safe and ideal agent for the embolization in RATT.

Nimotuzumab plus chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A clinical study Xing Wang, Jianmin Gu, Cuiling Shao, Kun Han, Jian Meng Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2019 15(2):312-316 Background: A clinical study was conducted to determine the efficacy of nimotuzumab combined with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) for patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after surgery and conformal radiotherapy. Methods: Thirty-one HNSCC patients received three courses of chemotherapy every 21 days, at a dose of 75 mg/m2 of docetaxel and cisplatin on day 1 and 750 mg/m2 of 5-fluorouracil on days 1–5 followed by 200 mg/m2/week of nimotuzumab on week 1–2 (day 6–21). Results: After sequential therapy, complete and partial responses were observed in 10 (32.3%) and 17 (54.8%) patients, respectively. The overall response rate was 87.1%. A progression-free survival of 71.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51.6%–93.7%) and an overall survival of 78.3% (95% CI 58.9%–89.5%) were achieved at 2nd year. The most common Grade 3–4 toxicities during the complete treatment were lymphopenia (25.8%), neutropenia (22.6%), anemia (12.9%), and diarrhea (16%). In addition, no rash and treatment-related death occurred during this study. Conclusions: Nimotuzumab in combination with TPF has been well tolerated as a treatment program for locally advanced HNSCC.