Current concepts of anti-EGFR targeting in metastatic colorectal cancer

Anti-EGFR targeting is one of the key strategies in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). For almost two decades oncologists have struggled to implement EGFR antibodies in the mCRC continuum of care. Both sidedness and RAS mutational status rank high among the predictive factors for the clinical efficacy of EGFR inhibitors. A prospective phase III trial has recently confirmed that anti-EGFR targeting confers an overall survival benefit only in left sided RAS-wildtype tumors when given in first line. It is a matter of discussion if more clinical benefit can be reached by considering putative primary resistance mechanisms (e.g., HER2, BRAF, PIK3CA, etc.) at this early stage of treatment. The value of this procedure in daily routine clinical utility has not yet been clearly delineated. Re-exposure to EGFR antibodies becomes increasingly crucial in the disease journey of mCRC. Yet re- induction or re-challenge strategies have been problematic as they relied on mathematical models that described the timely decay of EGFR antibody resistant clones. The advent of liquid biopsy and the implementation of more accurate next-generation sequencing (NGS) based high throughput methods allows for tracing of EGFR resistant clones in real time. These displays the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of metastatic disease compared to the former standard radiographic assessment and re-biopsy. These techniques may move EGFR inhibition in mCRC into the area of precision medicine in order to apply EGFR antibodies with the increase or decrease of EGFR resistant clones. This review critically discusses established concepts of tackling the EGFR pathway in mCRC and provides insight into the growing field of liquid biopsy guided personalized approaches of EGFR inhibition in mCRC.

Temporal trends in lung cancer mortality and years of life lost in Wuhan, China, 2010-2019

Objective

Lung cancer is responsible for millions of deaths yearly, and its burden is severe worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the burden of lung cancer in the population of Wuhan based on the surveillance data from 2010 to 2019.

Methods

Data of this study was obtained from the Mortality Register System established by the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study systematically analyzed the burden of lung cancer deaths in the population of Wuhan and its 13 administrative regions from 2010 to 2019 via the Joinpoint regression models, Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models, and decomposition analysis.

Results

This study found the upward and downward trends in the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) and age-standardized years of life lost rates (ASYLLRs) of lung cancer from 2010 to 2019. In Joinpoint regression models, the corresponding estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were 1.00% and -1.90%, 0.60%, and -3.00%, respectively. In APC models, lung cancer mortality tended to increase with age for both sexes in Wuhan, peaking at the 85-89 age group; The period effects for different populations have started to gradually decline in recent years. In addition, the cohort effects indicated that the risk of lung cancer death was highest among those born in the 1950s-1955s, at 1.08 (males) and 1.01 (females). Among all administrative districts in Wuhan, the ASMR of lung cancer in the Xinzhou District has remained the highest over the study period. In decomposition analysis, both population aging (P<0.01) and population growth (P<0.01) aggravated (Z>0) lung cancer deaths in the Wuhan population.

Conclusions

The burden of lung cancer death in the Wuhan population has shown a gradual decline in recent years, but the impact of aging and population growth on lung cancer mortality should not be ignored. Therefore, lung cancer surveillance must be strengthened to reduce the burden of lung cancer in Wuhan.

CPT1A promotes anoikis resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via redox homeostasis

Anoikis resistance was a prominent hallmark of cancer metastasis, and lipo-genic characteristics have been identified as another metabolic alteration during tumorigenesis. However, their crosstalk has not been fully elucidated, especially in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we showed, for the first time, that the key enzyme carnitine O-palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1A), which is involved in fatty acid oxidation (FAO), was markedly upregulated in ESCC cells upon detached culture via a metabolism PCR array. Overexpression of CPT1A was associated with poor survival of ESCC patients and could protect ESCC cells from apoptosis via maintaining redox homeostasis through supply of GSH and NADPH. Mechanistically, detached culture conditions enhanced the expression of the transcription factor ETV4 and suppressed the expression of the ubiquitin enzyme RNF2, which were responsible for the elevated expression of CPT1A at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. Moreover, genetic or pharmacologic disruption of CPT1A switched off the NADPH supply and therefore prevented the anchorage-independent growth of ESCC cells in vitro and lung metastases of xenografted tumor models in vivo. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into how ESCC cancer cells exploit metabolic switching to form distant metastases and some evidence for the link between anoikis and FAO.

Biosensing chips for cancer diagnosis and treatment: a new wave towards clinical innovation

Recent technological advances in nanoscience and material designing have led to the development of point-of-care devices for biomolecule sensing and cancer diagnosis. In situ and portable sensing devices for bedside, diagnosis can effectively improve the patient's clinical outcomes and reduce the mortality rate. Detection of exosomal RNAs by immuno-biochip with increased sensitivity and specificity to diagnose cancer has raised the understanding of the tumor microenvironment and many other technology-based biosensing devices hold great promise for clinical innovations to conquer the unbeatable fort of cancer metastasis. Electrochemical biosensors are the most sensitive category of biomolecule detection sensors with significantly low concentrations down to the atomic level. In this sense, this review addresses the recent advances in cancer detection and diagnosis by developing significant biological sensing devices that are believed to have better sensing potential than existing facilities.

RNA N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Methyltransferase-like 3 Facilitates Tumorigenesis and Cisplatin Resistance of Arecoline-Exposed Oral Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Arecoline is known as the main active carcinogen found in areca nut extract that drives the pathological progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Studies have revealed that dysregulation of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase components is intimately linked to cancer initiation and progression, including oral cancer.

METHODS

The arecoline-induced dysregulated methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) gene was identified using RNA-seq transcriptome assay. Using in vitro and in vivo models, the biological roles of METTL3 in arecoline-transformed oral cancer were examined.

RESULTS

We found that METTL3 was markedly elevated in arecoline-exposed OSCC cell lines and OSCC tissues of areca nut chewers. We identified that hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) stimulated METTL3 expression at the transcriptional level and further proved that METTL3-MYC-HIF-1α formed a positive autoregulation loop in arecoline-transformed OSCC cells. Subsequently, we manifested that METTL3 depletion profoundly reduced cell proliferation, cell migration, oncogenicity, and cisplatin resistance of arecoline-exposed OSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Developing novel strategies to target METTL3 may be a potential way to treat OSCC patients, particularly those with areca nut chewing history and receiving cisplatin treatment.

Identification and validation of cuproptosis-related LncRNA signatures as a novel prognostic model for head and neck squamous cell cancer

Background

Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is a common malignant cancer. We aimed to explore prognostic cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) and prognostic risk models for HNSCC.

Methods

The transcriptome profiles and clinical data were obtained from the TCGA database, and 19-cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) were acquired from previous studies. Then, the prognostic model based on seven CRLs was established. We analysed its value to evaluate the prognosis, drug sensitivity, and tumour immune functions of patients with HNSCC. Finally, we used quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) to validate the seven CRLs.

Results

We established a 7-CRL signature. Kaplan‒Meier (K–M) curve analysis demonstrated a significantly preferable prognosis in the low-risk group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk score could serve as an independent prognostic factor. Nomogram, ROC curve, and principal component analysis indicated that the signature presented significant predictive capability. Moreover, most of the high-risk group showed lower levels of IC50 for certain chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, cytarabine, docetaxel, doxorubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, methotrexate, paclitaxel, and dasatinib. Finally, the expression of AP001372.2, MIR9-3HG, AL160314.2, POLH-AS1, and AL109936.2 was upregulated, while AC090587.1 and WDFY3-AS2 were downregulated in HNSCC cell lines compared with normal cell lines by qRT‒PCR.

Conclusions

The 7-CRL signature was presented to be a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis for HNSCC.

Ovarian cancer stem cells: Critical roles in anti-tumor immunity

Ovarian cancer is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Over the past 3 decades, there has been a high incidence of recurrent chemoresistant disease, despite the relative effectiveness of current treatment strategies. This is partly attributed to cancer stem cells (CSC), a subpopulation that has acquired stem cell properties that allow these cells to evade standard chemotherapy and cause disease recurrence. Therefore, there is an urgent need for basic knowledge about CSC to develop innovative therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer. These CSC subpopulations have been identified in ovarian cancer cell lines, tumors or ascites, and findings suggest that ovarian CSCs may be as heterogeneous as the disease itself. CSCs regulate the phenotype and function of immune cells involved in antitumor immunity, so a better understanding of the signaling pathways that interact between CSCs, immune cells and tumor cells will pave the way for the clinical application of CS in cancer immunotherapy. This review will focus on the markers currently used to identify and isolate these cells summarize current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for CSC-dependent regulation of antitumor immune responses. We will discuss the signaling pathways involved in CSC survival, replication, and differentiation as well as potential therapeutic targeting strategies.

Temporal Trends and Projections of Bladder Cancer Burden in China from 1990 to 2030: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study

PURPOSE

Identifying disease burden and risk factors of bladder cancer and projecting its epidemiological trend in China, which can provide reference data to formulate measures for its management and prevention.

METHODS

We analyzed the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) data of bladder cancer in China from 1990 to 2019 and predicted to 2030 based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We also estimated the proportion of risk factors contributing to bladder cancer DALYs. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in both sexes was calculated to quantify the temporal trends.

RESULTS

In China, the age-standardized incidence rate of bladder cancer increased from 3.3/100,000 in 1990 to 5.16/100,000 in 2019 (AAPC of 1.47), while the age-standardized mortality rate and age-standardized DALYs rate declined slightly (AAPC of -0.58 and -0.65, respectively). The burden of bladder cancer increased with age, which reached a peak over 85 years old. The main risk factor for bladder cancer was smoking, and the contribution of high fasting plasma glucose increased from 1990 to 2019, with an AAPC of 0.85 in males and 0.61 in females. We predicted total incident cases, deaths and DALYs will increase to 150,372 and 53,520 and 1043,688 in 2030, respectively. The disease burden of bladder cancer in males will consistently higher than that in females from 2020 to 2030.

CONCLUSION

Although mortality and DALYs rates showed downward trends, the disease burden remained heavy in China at present. More effective and long-term health policies are needed to develop for early prevention and treatment of bladder cancer.

Phytochemicals Targeting Ferroptosis: Therapeutic Opportunities and Prospects for Treating Breast Cancer

Ferroptosis, a recently discovered iron-dependent regulated cell death, has been implicated in the therapeutic responses of various cancers including breast cancer, making it a promising therapeutic target to manage this malignancy. Phytochemicals are conventional sources for medication development. Some phytochemicals have been utilized therapeutically to treat cancers as pharmaceutic agents or dietary supplements. Intriguingly, a considerable number of antitumor drugs derived from phytochemicals have been proven to be targeting ferroptosis, thus producing anticancer effects. In this review, we provide a short overview of the interaction between core ferroptosis modulators and breast cancer, illustrating how ferroptosis affects the destiny of breast cancer cells. We also systematically summarize the regulatory effects of phytochemicals on ferroptosis and emphasize their clinical applications in breast cancer suppression, which may accelerate the development of their therapeutic use in breast cancer.

Role of SERCA3 in the Prognosis and Immune Function in Pan-Cancer

The sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) 3 (SERCA3), a member of the SERCA protein family, is located at the endoplasmic reticulum. Its main function is to pump Ca2+ into the endoplasmic reticulum and is involved in maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis and signal transduction, which are very important factors impacting cancer development and progression. However, the specific role of SERCA3 in cancer remains unclear. Our study, for the first time, comprehensively analyzed the SERCA3 expression profile in multiple cancers and its prognostic value in different cancers using bioinformatics. Furthermore, TCGA database was applied to evaluate the certain correlation of SERCA3 expression with immune modulator genes, immune checkpoints, immune cell infiltration, TMB, and MSI. The results revealed that in many cancers, SERCA3 expression was markedly decreased, which was related to poor prognosis. Additionally, we noticed that SERCA3 expression was correlated with TNM classification and WHO cancer stages in some cancer types. The Pearson correlation analysis showed that SERCA3 expression was closely associated with chemokines, chemokine receptors, MHC, immune activation genes, and immunosuppressive genes. In most cancer types, SERCA3 expression was also associated with immune checkpoints, including PDCD1 and CTLA-4. Further analysis suggested that SERCA3 was significantly correlated with CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells. Additionally, pan-cancer analysis confirmed that SERCA3 expression was related to TMB and MSI. In conclusion, these results offer a new insight into the functions and effects of SERCA3 in pan-cancer, and further provide some basis for considering SERCA3 as a potential cancer treatment target and biomarker.

The impact of public health education on people's demand for commercial health insurance: Empirical evidence from China

Public health education is gaining significance globally, and it is important for managing health risks. This study empirically analyzed the effect of public health education on people's demand for commercial health insurance. And we used the fixed effects and the mediating effect models, and instrumental variables regression in our research based on panel data of 31 provinces (including municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from year 2009 to 2019. The findings show that public health education significantly increases people's demand for commercial health insurance, and this effect remains significant when considering endogeneity and robustness. We further analyzed and found that the increased demand for commercial health insurance is caused by health literacy, health risk perceptions and health risk attitudes. Through heterogeneity analysis, we found that there were significant differences in the effects of public health education in regions with different demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. We found that the effect of health education on promoting people's demand for commercial health insurance is more obvious in regions with high levels of urbanization, proportion of men, education, economic development, medical resources, and social medical insurance coverage. Governments are supposed to take further measures to enhance the effectiveness of public health education, develop high-quality commercial health insurance, and continuously improve health risk coverage.

CXCL10 Chemokine: A Critical Player in RNA and DNA Viral Infections

Chemokines constitute a group of small, secreted proteins that regulate leukocyte migration and contribute to their activation. Chemokines are crucial inflammatory mediators that play a key role in managing viral infections, during which the profile of chemokine expression helps shape the immune response and regulate viral clearance, improving clinical outcome. In particular, the chemokine ligand CXCL10 and its receptor CXCR3 were explored in a plethora of RNA and DNA viral infections. In this review, we highlight the expression profile and role of the CXCL10/CXCR3 axis in the host defense against a variety of RNA and DNA viral infections. We also discuss the interactions among viruses and host cells that trigger CXCL10 expression, as well as the signaling cascades induced in CXCR3 positive cells.

Phenolic Profile, EPR Determination, and Antiproliferative Activity against Human Cancer Cell Lines of Anthyllis vulneraria Extracts

In the current work, the leaf and flower extracts of Anthyllis vulneraria were evaluated for their chemical characterization using HPLC-MS and for their radical scavenging capacity toward methoxy radicals produced by a Fenton-type reaction using an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy assay. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of these extracts against several human-derived cancer cells (breast: MCF-7; cervical: HeLa; hepatocellular: HepG2) was also evaluated. The results showed that the Anthyllis vulneraria leaf extract was characterized by 17 different phenolic compounds, among which phenolic acids were the most abundant, while its flower extract exhibited higher contents of flavonoids. Furthermore, Anthyllis vulneraria extracts demonstrated a potent radical scavenging activity against methoxy radicals. Both extracts also significantly reduced the viability of the different cancer cell lines. The results of the current study suggested that Anthyllis vulneraria extracts are a promising source of antioxidant compounds with health benefits and pointed to their potential use for treating cancer and developing novel therapeutic agents.

Tumor microenvironment and cellular senescence: Understanding therapeutic resistance and harnessing strategies

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major contributor to cancer malignancy including development of therapeutic resistance, a process mediated in part through intercellular crosstalk. Besides diverse soluble factors responsible for pro-survival pathway activation, immune evasion and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling further promote cancer resistance. Importantly, therapy-induced senescence (TIS) of cells in the TME is frequently observed in anticancer regimens, an off-target effect that can generate profound impacts on disease progression. By conferring the resistance and fueling the repopulation of remaining cancerous cells, TIS is responsible for tumor relapse and distant metastasis in posttreatment stage. This pathological trajectory can be substantially driven by the pro-inflammatory feature of senescent cells, termed as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Targeting strategies to selectively and efficiently remove senescent cells before they exert non-autonomous but largely deleterious effects, are emerging as an effective solution to prevent drug resistance acquired from a treatment-remodeled TME. In this review, we summarize the TME composition and key activities that affect tissue homeostasis and support treatment resistance. Promising opportunities that allow TME-manipulation and senescent cell-targeting (senotherapy) are discussed, with translational pipelines to overcome therapeutic barriers in clinical oncology projected.

The difference of human gut microbiome in colorectal cancer with and without metastases

Metastasis of colorectal cancer is deemed to be closely related to the changes in the human gut microbiome. The purpose of our study is to distinguish the differences in gut microbiota between colorectal cancer with and without metastases. Firstly, this study recruited colorectal cancer patients who met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria in the Oncology Department of Zhejiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2019 to June 2019. Fresh stool samples from healthy volunteers, non-metastatic patients, and metastatic patients were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, to analyze the diversity and abundance of intestinal microorganisms in each group. The results showed that the microbial composition of the control group was more aplenty than the experimental group, while the difference also happened in the Tumor and the metastases group. At the phylum level, the abundance of Bacteroidetes significantly declined in the Tumor and the metastases group, compared with the control group. At the class level, Bacilli increased in experimental groups, while its abundance in the Tumor group was significantly higher than that in the metastases group. At the order level, the Tumor group had the highest abundance of Lactobacillales, followed by the metastases group and the control group had the lowest abundance. Overall, our study showed that the composition of the flora changed with the occurrence of metastasis in colorectal cancer. Therefore, the analysis of gut microbiota can serve as a supplement biological basis for the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer which may offer the potential to develop non-invasive diagnostic tests.

[Occupation-related cancer in urology-Current knowledge including environmental medical aspects]

Occupation-related cancers are of considerable importance, which is not yet adequately recognized in the field of urology. The three numerically most significant entities are tumors of the urinary tract caused by carcinogenic aromatic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, renal cell cancer after high exposure to the solvent trichloroethylene, and mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis of the testis after exposure to asbestos; however, these can only be recognized as occupation-related if an occupational history regarding the hazard relevant to the organ bearing the tumor is documented from the beginning of employment, e.g. by a questionnaire. This is because the relevant exposures generally date back several decades. With the exception of high exposure to trichloroethylene, the substances mentioned can also environmentally trigger the same tumors. In the context of environmental risk factors, it is of considerable importance that smoking is now considered to be a trigger for some 50% of all bladder cancers in men and women; however, smoking cessation results in a reduction in smoking-related cancer risk of over 30% after only 3-4 years. Work and commuting accidents, which are considered occupational risks, can lead to urological sequelae. For example, increased tumors of the bladder can occur after spinal cord injury lasting longer than 10 years.

Occupation- and industry-specific cancer mortality among Japanese women from 1980 to 2015

BACKGROUND

The number of women in Japan who continue working after childbirth is on the rise. Over the past few years, Japan's cancer mortality rate has increased. About 50% of all cancer deaths among Japanese women aged 25-64 are caused by lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. This study aims to examine the difference in mortality risk for key cancers among women and explore the effect of the economic crisis in the mid-1990s separately for occupational and industrial categories.

METHODS

Data from 1980 to 2015 were gathered from the Japanese Population Census and National Vital Statistics conducted in the same year. A Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate mortality risk and mortality trends for lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancer among Japanese working women aged 25-64 years.

RESULTS

Across most industrial and occupational groups, the trends in age-standardised cancer mortality rate for women have declined. Workers in management, security and transportation have a higher cancer mortality risk than sales workers. The risk of death from all four cancers is higher for workers in the mining and electricity industries than for wholesale and retail workers.

CONCLUSION

To improve the health and well-being of employed Japanese women, it is crucial to monitor cancer mortality trends. Using these population-level quantitative risk estimates, industry- and occupation-specific prevention programmes can be developed to target women at higher cancer risk and enable the early detection and treatment of cancer.

Synthesis and Biological Activities of Dehydrodiisoeugenol: A Review

Dehydrodiisoeugenol (DHIE) is a neolignan found in more than 17 plant species, including herbs, fruit, and root. DHIE was, for the first time, isolated from Myristica fragrans bark in 1973. Since then, many methodologies have been used for the obtention of DHIE, including classical chemistry synthesis using metal catalysts and biocatalytic synthesis; employing horseradish peroxidase; peroxidase from Cocos nucifera; laccase; culture cells of plants; and microorganisms. Increasing evidence has indicated that DHIE has a wide range of biological activities: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerogenic, and anti-microbial properties. However, evidence in vivo and in human beings is still lacking to support the usefulness potential of DHIE as a therapeutic agent. This study's review was created by searching for relevant DHIE material on websites such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, Scholar, Science Direct, and others. This reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the different synthetical routes and biological applications of DHIE.

A novel oxidative stress- and ferroptosis-related gene prognostic signature for distinguishing cold and hot tumors in colorectal cancer

Oxidative stress and ferroptosis exhibit crosstalk in many types of human diseases, including malignant tumors. We aimed to develop an oxidative stress- and ferroptosis-related gene (OFRG) prognostic signature to predict the prognosis and therapeutic response in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Thirty-four insertion genes between oxidative stress-related genes and ferroptosis-related genes were identified as OFRGs. We then performed bioinformatics analysis of the expression profiles of 34 OFRGs and clinical information of patients obtained from multiple datasets. Patients with CRC were divided into three OFRG clusters, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between clusters were identified. OFRG clusters correlated with patient survival and immune cell infiltration. Prognosis-related DEGs in three clusters were used to calculate the risk score, and a prognostic signature was constructed according to the risk score. In this study, patients in the low-risk group had better prognosis, higher immune cell infiltration levels, and better responses to fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade therapy than high-risk patients; these results were successfully validated with multiple independent datasets. Thus, low-risk CRC could be defined as hot tumors and high-risk CRC could be defined as cold tumors. To further identify potential biomarkers for CRC, the expression levels of five signature genes in CRC and adjacent normal tissues were further verified via an in vitro experiment. In conclusion, we identified 34 OFRGs and constructed an OFRG-related prognostic signature, which showed excellent performance in predicting survival and therapeutic responses for patients with CRC. This could help to distinguish cold and hot tumors in CRC, and the results might be helpful for precise treatment protocols in clinical practice.

Colorectal cancer burden, trends and risk factors in China: A review and comparison with the United States

Objective

China and the United States (the U.S.) have the heaviest colorectal cancer (CRC) burden with considerable variations in temporal trends. This study aims to analyze the temporal patterns of CRC burden and its risk factors in China and the U.S. across the past three decades.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study in 2019, including cases, deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), age-standardized rate (ASR), and summary exposure value (SEV) of CRC in China and the U.S. between 1990 and 2019. Annual average percentage changes (AAPCs) of CRC burden were calculated using the Joinpoint regression model. The mortality in CRC attributable to potential risk factors was characterized by countries, gender, and age groups.

Results

In 2019, there were 607,900 and 227,241 CRC cases, and 261,777 and 84,026 CRC deaths in China and the U.S., respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was 30.55 per 100,000 in China and 41.86 per 100,000 in the U.S., and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 13.86 per 100,000 in China and 14.77 per 100,000 in the U.S. CRC incidence, mortality, and DALY rate in the U.S. showed downward trends in the past three decades (AAPC=-0.47, -1.06, and -0.88, respectively), while upward trends were observed in China (AAPC=3.11, 1.05, and 0.91, respectively). Among the cause of CRC, the leading risk factor contributing to CRC death was low milk in China and smoking in the U.S., respectively.

Conclusions

From 1990 to 2019, the burden of CRC in China increased dramatically, particularly for males and middle-aged and elderly people. The management of the major risk factors associated with the high burden of CRC should be enhanced.

Stratified analysis of multiple management of gastric cancer: A population-based study of incidence, mortality and DALY

The aim was to illuminate the difference in incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of gastric cancer (GC) between the United States of America (US) and China. The multiple management was analyzed with stratification to explore an effective survival improvement strategy. The Global Burden of Disease Study data was analyzed to assess GC morbidity, mortality and DALYs from 1990 to 2019 in the US and China. The age-period-cohort model was established to generate estimation of metrics. Verification was completed and stratified analysis of the multiple management was performed by accessing data of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database in 1992 to 2019. Continuous downtrends in GC incidence, mortality and DALYs from 1990 to 2019 and persistent uptrends in 1-, 3-year survival from 1992 to 2019 were observed in the US population. In the Chinese population, the overall trends of incidence, mortality and DALYs decreased with a fluctuating manner. The lower overall survival rates were observed in elderly, unmarried patients, distant disease and poor grade, as well as patients lacking of medical treatment (P < .05). In stratified analyses, single local therapy decreased and the other modalities increased over time across different stages. Moreover, combined treatment and single systemic therapy decreased, but single local and conservative therapy increased with age. The study quantified the incidence, GC-specific mortality and DALYs in the US and China and estimated stage profiles, 1- and 3-year survival in the US. The heavy burden on later-onset GC (>70) and potential increase on early-onset GC (<40) needed to be addressed. Combined modalities and single chemotherapy were becoming more widely used over time, however, their uses decreased with age because of poor physical fitness. Our findings provide new insights into management tailoring appropriately to specific subgroups contributes to the increasing survival rate.

Modulation of the activity of histone lysine methyltransferases and demethylases by curcumin analog in leukaemia cells

Curcumin is a known epigenetic modifier that demonstrated antitumor effect in different types of cancer. The poor solubility and metabolic stability are major drawbacks that limit its development as an antitumor agent. Dimethoxycurcumin (DMC) is a more soluble and stable curcumin analog. In this study, we compared the effect of both drugs on a variety of histone posttranslational modifications and on the activity of histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMTs) and demethylase (HKDMTs) enzymes that target the H3K4, H3K9 and H3K27 epigenetic marks. Mass spectrometry was used to quantitate the changes in 95 histone posttranslational modifications induced by curcumin or DMC. The effect of both drugs on the enzymatic activity of HKMTs and HKDMs was measured using an antibody‐based assay. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that curcumin and DMC modulated several histone modifications. Histone changes were not limited to lysine methylation and acetylation but included arginine and glutamine methylation. Only few histone modifications were similarly changed by both drugs. On the contrary, the effect of both drugs on the activity of HKMTs and HKDMs was very similar. Curcumin and DMC inhibited the HKMTs enzymes that target the H3K4, H3K9 and H3K27 marks and increased the activity of the HKDMs enzymes LSD1, JARID and JMJD2. In conclusion, we identified novel enzymatic targets for both curcumin and DMC that support their use and development as epigenetic modifiers in cancer treatment. The multiple targets modulated by both drugs could provide a therapeutic advantage by overcoming drug resistance development.

Vitamin D in Cancer Prevention: Gaps in Current Knowledge and Room for Hope

Intensive epigenome and transcriptome analyses have unveiled numerous biological mechanisms, including the regulation of cell differentiation, proliferation, and induced apoptosis in neoplastic cells, as well as the modulation of the antineoplastic action of the immune system, which plausibly explains the observed population-based relationship between low vitamin D status and increased cancer risk. However, large randomized clinical trials involving cholecalciferol supplementation have so far failed to show the potential of such interventions in cancer prevention. In this article, we attempt to reconcile the supposed contradiction of these findings by undertaking a thorough review of the literature, including an assessment of the limitations in the design, conduct, and analysis of the studies conducted thus far. We examine the long-standing dilemma of whether the beneficial effects of vitamin D levels increase significantly above a critical threshold or if the conjecture is valid that an increase in available cholecalciferol translates directly into an increase in calcitriol activity. In addition, we try to shed light on the high interindividual epigenetic and transcriptomic variability in response to cholecalciferol supplementation. Moreover, we critically review the standards of interpretation of the available study results and propose criteria that could allow us to reach sound conclusions in this field. Finally, we advocate for options tailored to individual vitamin D needs, combined with a comprehensive intervention that favors prevention through a healthy environment and responsible health behaviors.

Association of H3K9me3 with breast cancer prognosis by estrogen receptor status

Background

Cellular experiments revealed that a decreased histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) level was associated with the upregulation of oncogenes in breast cancer cells. Moreover, the role of H3K9me3 in breast cancer was closely associated with estrogen receptor (ER) status. Therefore, we aimed to examine the prognostic value of H3K9me3 on breast cancer by ER status. The level of H3K9me3 in tumors were evaluated with tissue microarrays by immunohistochemistry for 917 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using Cox regression models. Interaction between H3K9me3 and ER on the prognosis was assessed on multiplicative scale.

Results

The level of H3K9me3 in tumor tissues was lower than that in adjacent tissues. The high level of H3K9me3 was associated with a better OS (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.86) and PFS (HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.81) among only ER-positive but not ER-negative tumors. Moreover, the interaction between the level of H3K9me3 and ER status (negative and positive) on the prognosis was significant (P_interaction = 0.011 for OS; P_interaction = 0.022 for PFS). Furthermore, the ER-positive tumors were stratified by ER-low and ER-high positive tumors, and the prognostic role of H3K9me3 was significant among only ER-high positive patients (HR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13–0.85 for OS; HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26–0.86 for PFS).

Conclusions

Our study showed that the prognostic value of H3K9me3 on breast cancer was related to ER status and expression level, and the high level of H3K9me3 was associated with a better prognosis among ER-positive tumors, particularly ER-high positive tumors.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01363-y.

Respiratory Tract Cancer Incidences across Industry Groups: A Nationwide Cohort Study with More Than 70 Million Person-Years of Follow-Up

The number of cases and incidence rates of laryngeal and lung cancers have been increasing globally. Therefore, identifying the occupational causes of such cancers is an important concern for policymakers to prevent cancers and deaths. We used national health insurance service claims data in Korea. We included 10,786,000 workers aged between 25 and 64 years. In total, 74,366,928 total person-years of follow-up were included in this study with a mean follow-up of 6.89 years for each person. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) referenced with the total workers were estimated. For laryngeal cancer, increased SIRs were observed in the land transportation industry among male workers (SIR [95% CI]: 1.65 [1.02–2.53]). For lung cancer, elevated SIRs were observed in the industries including animal production (1.72 [1.03–2.68]), fishing (1.70 [1.05–2.60]), mining (1.69 [1.22–2.27]), travel (1.41 [1.00–1.93]), and transportation (1.22 [1.15–1.30]) among male workers. For female works, healthcare (2.08 [1.04–3.72]) and wholesale (1.88 [1.18–2.85]) industries were associated with a high risk of lung cancer. As an increased risk of respiratory tract cancers has been identified in employees associated with certain industries, appropriate policy intervention is needed to prevent occupational cancers.

Efficacy and safety of Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) immunotherapy for advanced ovarian carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

In recent years, many clinical trials have shown the safety and efficacy of Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) in the treatment of advanced OC patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the safety and efficacy of Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) in the first-line maintenance of advanced ovarian carcinoma based on the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) immunotherapy for advanced ovarian carcinoma were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science up to December 31, 2021. The following study characteristics were investigated: baseline study characteristics, overall survival, recurrence free survival, recurrence free survival median time, and complication. A total of 36 articles were obtained, and seven suitable RCTs with a total sample size of 322 patients were eventually included in this meta-analysis. Overall survival (OS): from time of randomization: HR=0.48 (95% CI: 0.32 to 0.72), Z=3.55, P<0.001; from time of tissue procurement: HR=0.51 (95% CI: 0.33 to 0.78), Z=3.07, P=0.002. Recurrence free survival (RFS): from time of randomization: HR=0.43 (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.62), Z=4.61, P<0.001; from time of tissue procurement: HR=0.45 (95% CI: 0.31 to 0.65), Z=4.26, P<0.001. RFS median time: from time of randomization: HR=1.57 (95% CI: 1.16 to 2.11), Z=2.95, P=0.003; from time of tissue procurement: HR=2.16 (95% CI: 1.12 to 4.17), Z=2.29, P=0.022. This study found that Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) immunotherapy provided significant OS and RFS benefits, particularly in advanced OC patients with BRCA wild type. At the same time, treatment with the Gemogenovatucel-T (Vigil) is safer than other treatment modalities and does not have any toxic effects.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier (CRD42022300367).

Triple kill: DDR inhibitors, radiotherapy and immunotherapy leave cancer cells with no escape

Radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of cancers, but radiotherapy resistance (RR) leads to RT failure, tumor recurrence and metastasis. Many studies have been performed on the potential mechanisms behind RR, and a strong link has been found between RR and DNA damage. RT-induced DNA damage triggers a protective mechanism called the DNA damage response (DDR). DDR consists of several aspects, including the detection of DNA damage and induction of cell cycle checkpoint, DNA repair, and eventual induction of cell death. A large number of studies have shown that DDR inhibition leads to significantly enhanced sensitivity of cancer cells to RT. DDR may be an effective target for radio- and chemo-sensitization during cancer treatment. Therefore, many inhibitors of important enzymes involved in the DDR have been developed, such as PARP inhibitors, DNA-PK inhibitors, and ATM/ATR inhibitors. In addition, DNA damage also triggers the cGAS-STING signaling pathway and the ATM/ATR (CHK)/STAT pathway to induce immune infiltration and T-cell activation. This review discusses the effects of DDR pathway dysregulation on the tumor response to RT and the strategies for targeting these pathways to increase tumor susceptibility to RT. Finally, the potential for the combination treatment of radiation, DDR inhibition, and immunotherapy is described.

Oral Health Needs and Barriers among Children in Saudi Arabia

(1) Background: Understanding oral health needs and barriers is important to overcome the oral disease burden, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess oral health needs and barriers among Saudi children after the COVID-19 pandemic wave started. (2) Methods: Parents of healthy children aged 3-11 years from five regions of Saudi Arabia were surveyed using an electronically administered validated questionnaire from Febuary-2021 to July-2021. Oral lesions/manifestations during the last 12 months reported by parents included tooth discoloration, ulcers, abscess, swelling of the gingiva, halitosis, gingival bleeding, dry mouth, pain while eating, difficulty in speaking or eating, burning sensation, and white spots. Barriers were assessed according to the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire. (3) Results: Children experiencing toothaches were reported by 1098 (72.4%) respondents. When reported, oral manifestations and lesions were associated with a higher inability to visit a dentist (p < 0.001). Barriers to dental care were more frequent among parents with lower education (p < 0.001; adjusted-odds ratio (AOR), 1.815) and a greater number of children (p < 0.001; AOR, 1.197). (4) Conclusion: Parents reported a high frequency of unmet oral health needs. Education could play an important role in improving oral health care in children and as a predictor of public health concerns.

Analysis of Acupoints Combination for Cancer-Related Anorexia Based on Association Rule Mining

We investigated the acupoint selection regulations and workable core acupoint combinations in cancer-related anorexia (CA) treatment. The Apriori algorithm, complemented by the FP-growth algorithm, was used to mine association rules based on retrieved randomized control trials (RCTs) and clinical control trials (CCTs). We searched the following databases for acupuncture treatment regimens for CA: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, WanFang Data, VIP, China Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI), and SinoMed (CBM). We extracted acupoints prescriptions from the 27 enrolled RCTs and CCTs for analysis. There have been 38 acupoints refined from 27 prescriptions. The pinnacle three regularly chosen acupoints were Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (RN12), and Sanyinjiao (SP6). We investigated 10 association rules, and the consequences confirmed that {RN4} ≥ {RN12}, {PC6} ≥ {ST36}, {RN12, SP6} ≥ {RN4}, {HT7} ≥ {RN12}, and {DU20} ≥ {RN12} had been the most frequent associated rules in the adoption literature. Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Guanyuan (RN4), Zhongwan (RN12), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), and Baihui (DU20) would be regarded as acupuncture prescriptions in the treatment of CA.

The Power of Gene Technologies: 1001 Ways to Create a Cell Model

Modern society faces many biomedical challenges that require urgent solutions. Two of the most important include the elucidation of mechanisms of socially significant diseases and the development of prospective drug treatments for these diseases. Experimental cell models are a convenient tool for addressing many of these problems. The power of cell models is further enhanced when combined with gene technologies, which allows the examination of even more subtle changes within the structure of the genome and permits testing of proteins in a native environment. The list and possibilities of these recently emerging technologies are truly colossal, which requires a rethink of a number of approaches for obtaining experimental cell models. In this review, we analyze the possibilities and limitations of promising gene technologies for obtaining cell models, and also give recommendations on the development and creation of relevant models. In our opinion, this review will be useful for novice cell biologists, as it provides some reference points in the rapidly growing universe of gene and cell technologies.

Moderating Role of Initiative on the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation, and Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurial Intention

The growing population of new graduates and the increasing scarcity of employment opportunities have made entrepreneurship an unavoidable option for employment and self-sustenance. This study investigates the effect of the initiative in moderating the relationship between intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurship intention through the integrated framework of theory of planned behaviour, self-determination, and humanism. This study contributes insights to how these factors moderated by initiative influence entrepreneurial intention among graduating students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This study adopted a cross-sectional design to examine the moderating role of initiative on the relationship between intrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intention among Nigerian graduates. A total number of 688 graduate students, including 266 (38.6%) males and 422 (61.4%) females with a mean age of 24.30 years (SD = 3.69), participated in the study. Participants responded to a self-report questionnaire containing Initiative, Intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial intention scales. Results showed that all the variables correlated positively with entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, initiative moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention [value and start-ups/operations (OPS)], such that high self-efficacy with high initiative showed higher entrepreneurial intention (value). While to those with low self-efficacy and low initiative, high self-efficacy with high initiative showed higher entrepreneurial intention (OPS) compared to low self-efficacy and low initiative. The study highlighted the role of initiative in transforming young graduates' entrepreneurial intention into full-fledged entrepreneurs.

The global, regional, and national early-onset colorectal cancer burden and trends from 1990 to 2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

PURPOSE

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), which occurs in people under age 50, has been increasing annually. The aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date estimate of the global EO-CRC burden.

METHODS

We used Global Burden of Disease Study data and methodologies to describe changes in the EO-CRC burden from 1990 to 2019, including incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The driving factors for cancer burden variation were further analyzed using decomposition analysis. Frontier analysis was used to visually demonstrate the potential for burden reduction in each country or region based on their development levels.

RESULTS

The global EO-CRC incidence more than doubled, increasing from 95,737 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 90,838-101.042) /100,000 in 1990 to 226,782 (95% UI: 207,495-248,604) /100,000 in 2019. Additionally, related deaths increased from 50,997 (95% UI: 47,692-54,410) /100,000 to 87,014 (95% UI: 80,259-94,339) /100,000, and DALYs increased from 256,1842 (95% UI: 239,4962-2,735,823) /100,000 to 4,297,573 (95% UI: 3,965,485-4,650,790) /100,000. Regarding age-standardized rates, incidence and prevalence increased significantly, while mortality and DALYs rate were basically unchanged. Decomposition analysis showed a significant increase in DALYs in the middle sociodemographic index (SDI) quintile region, in which aging and population growth played a major driving role. Frontier analysis showed that countries or regions with a higher SDI quintile tend to have greater improvement potential.

CONCLUSION

The current EO-CRC burden was found to be the greatest in the high-middle SDI quintile region and East Asia, which may need to adjust screening guidelines accordingly and introduce more effective interventions.

WNK1–OSR1 Signaling Regulates Angiogenesis-Mediated Metastasis towards Developing a Combinatorial Anti-Cancer Strategy

Lysine-deficient protein kinase-1 (WNK1) is critical for both embryonic angiogenesis and tumor-induced angiogenesis. However, the downstream effectors of WNK1 during these processes remain ambiguous. In this study, we identified that oxidative stress responsive 1b (osr1b) is upregulated in endothelial cells in both embryonic and tumor-induced angiogenesis in zebrafish, accompanied by downregulation of protein phosphatase 2A (pp2a) subunit ppp2r1bb. In addition, wnk1a and osr1b are upregulated in two liver cancer transgenic fish models: [tert x p53^−/−] and [HBx,src,p53^−/−,RPIA], while ppp2r1bb is downregulated in [tert x p53^−/−]. Furthermore, using HUVEC endothelial cells co-cultured with HepG2 hepatoma cells, we confirmed that WNK1 plays a critical role in the induction of hepatoma cell migration in both endothelial cells and hepatoma cells. Moreover, overexpression of OSR1 can rescue the reduced cell migration caused by shWNK1 knockdown in HUVEC cells, indicating OSR1 is downstream of WNK1 in endothelial cells promoting hepatoma cell migration. Overexpression of PPP2R1A can rescue the increased cell migration caused by WNK1 overexpression in HepG2, indicating that PPP2R1A is a downstream effector in hepatoma. The combinatorial treatment with WNK1 inhibitor (WNK463) and OSR1 inhibitor (Rafoxanide) plus oligo-fucoidan via oral gavage to feed [HBx,src,p53^−/−,RPIA] transgenic fish exhibits much more significant anticancer efficacy than Regorafenib for advanced HCC. Importantly, oligo-fucoidan can reduce the cell senescence marker-IL-1β expression. Furthermore, oligo-fucoidan reduces the increased cell senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity in tert transgenic fish treated with WNK1-OSR1 inhibitors. Our results reveal the WNK1–OSR1–PPP2R1A axis plays a critical role in both endothelial and hepatoma cells during tumor-induced angiogenesis promoting cancer cell migration. By in vitro and in vivo experiments, we further uncover the molecular mechanisms of WNK1 and its downstream effectors during tumor-induced angiogenesis. Targeting WNK1–OSR1-mediated anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer activity, the undesired inflammation response caused by inhibiting WNK1–OSR1 can be attenuated by the combination therapy with oligo-fucoidan and may improve the efficacy.

Prospective Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Patients after Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer: A 12-Month Cohort Observation

This study constitutes a prospective, three-stage evaluation of quality of life among patients receiving surgical treatment for colorectal cancer depending on the type of surgery performed (open anterior resection, laparoscopic anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, or Hartmann’s procedure). The study included 82 patients treated at the Surgical Oncology Outpatient Department of the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz from June 2019 to August 2021. The study tools consisted of diagnostic surveys and analyses of medical records. The standardized study tools were the surveys EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29. In addition, a proprietary questionnaire was developed to collect demographic data. Quality of life was measured at three time-points: the day before the surgery and 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the domains of role functioning (III, p = 0.030), body image (II, p < 0.001; III, p < 0.001), sexual functioning (II, p = 0.037), buttocks/anal area/rectum pain (III, p = 0.031), and embarrassment (II, p = 0.022; III, p = 0.010). Statistically significant differences in the functional and symptom scale scores were also observed within each group at different stages of cancer treatment. As shown by our study, the quality of life of patients treated for colorectal cancer is determined not only by the operating technique but also by sociodemographic and clinical factors. The use of minimally invasive surgical techniques enables patients to return to their social roles more quickly and improves their self-assessment of body image.

Hydrogen sulfide activatable metal-organic frameworks for Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Therapy of colorectal cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative and palliative therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC). A novel photosensitizer with higher selectivity for CRC and fewer side effects is vital for clinical application. Given that the overexpression of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in CRC, it is expected to provide a selective stimulus for activatable photosensitizers that in respond to the specific microenvironment. Herein, we report a novel development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of meso-Tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphine (TCPP) and ferric ion (Fe³⁺) through a facile one-pot process. Experiments both in vitro and in vivo reveal that the MOF is capable of depredating in response to the high content of H₂S in tumor microenvironment of CRC. Accompanying with the degradation and release of TCPP, the fluorescence and photosensitivity effect is switched from “off” to “on”, enabling the MOF to serve as a H₂S activatable nano-photosensitizer for real-time fluorescence imaging-guided and targeted PDT of CRC.

Light-activated nanomaterials for tumor immunotherapy

Tumor immunotherapy mainly relies on activating the immune system to achieve antitumor treatment. However, the present tumor immunotherapy used in the clinic showed low treatment efficacy with high systematic toxicity. To overcome the shortcomings of traditional drugs for immunotherapy, a series of antitumor immunotherapies based on nanomaterials have been developed to enhance the body’s antitumor immune response and reduce systematic toxicity. Due to the noninvasiveness, remote controllability, and high temporal and spatial resolution of light, photocontrolled nanomaterials irradiated by excitation light have been widely used in drug delivery and photocontrolled switching. This review aims to highlight recent advances in antitumor immunotherapy based on photocontrolled nanomaterials. We emphasized the advantages of nanocomposites for antitumor immunotherapy and highlighted the latest progress of antitumor immunotherapy based on photoactivated nanomaterials. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of light-activated nanomaterials in antitumor immunity are discussed.

IL-6, IL-10, sFas, granulysin and indicators of intestinal permeability as early biomarkers for a fatal outcome in COVID-19

The clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), ranges between mild respiratory symptoms and a severe disease that shares many of the features of sepsis. Sepsis is a deregulated response to infection that causes life-threatening organ failure. During sepsis, the intestinal epithelial cells are affected, causing an increase in intestinal permeability and allowing microbial translocation from the intestine to the circulation, which exacerbates the inflammatory response. Here we studied patients with moderate, severe and critical COVID-19 by measuring a panel of molecules representative of the innate and adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, which also reflect the presence of systemic inflammation and the state of the intestinal barrier. We found that non-surviving COVID-19 patients had higher levels of low-affinity anti-RBD IgA antibodies than surviving patients, which may be a response to increased microbial translocation. We identified sFas and granulysin, in addition to IL-6 and IL-10, as possible early biomarkers with high sensitivity (>73 %) and specificity (>51 %) to discriminate between surviving and non-surviving COVID-19 patients. Finally, we found that the microbial metabolite d-lactate and the tight junction regulator zonulin were increased in the serum of patients with severe COVID-19 and in COVID-19 patients with secondary infections, suggesting that increased intestinal permeability may be a source of secondary infections in these patients. COVID-19 patients with secondary infections had higher disease severity and mortality than patients without these infections, indicating that intestinal permeability markers could provide complementary information to the serum cytokines for the early identification of COVID-19 patients with a high risk of a fatal outcome.

Inhibition of oxidative stress, IL-13, and WNT/β-catenin in ovalbumin-sensitized rats by a novel organogel of Punica granatum seed oil saponifiable fraction

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by inflammation, oxidative stress, and structural remodeling. Here, we prepared two pomegranate fractions from the seed oil, saponifiable (Sap) and unsaponifiable (UnSap). Two organogels (Orgs) were also formulated with the Sap (Org1) or the UnSap (Org2) fraction and beeswax (BW). All preparations were evaluated in vitro for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impacts. The transdermal delivery of the most efficient one was evaluated against ovalbumin (OV)-induced bronchial asthma in rats compared to dexamethasone (DEX). The results showed that the prepared pomegranate fractions and BW had considerable amounts of phenolics (flavonoids and tannins) and triterpenoids. Org1 was shown to be the most effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory fraction with synergistic activities (combination index, 1), as well as having protective and therapeutic influences on OV-sensitized rats. Org1 inhibited the multiple OV-induced signaling pathways, comprising ROS, WNT/β-catenin, and AKT, with an efficiency superior to DEX. Subsequently, the pro-inflammatory (COX-2, NO, and IL-13), and pro-fibrotic (COL1A1) mediators, oxidative stress, and mucin secretion, were all down-regulated. These outcomes were verified by the histopathological results of lung tissue. Collectively, these outcomes suggest that the transdermal delivery of Org1 to OV-sensitized rats shows promise in the protection and treatment of the pathological hallmarks of asthma.

ERN1 dependent impact of glutamine and glucose deprivations on the pyruvate dehydrogenase genes expression in glioma cells

Objective. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase genes such as PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, DLD, and PDHX in U87 glioma cells in response to glutamine and glucose deprivations in control glioma cells and endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (ERN1) knockdown cells, the major endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathway, to find out whether there exists a possible dependence of these important regulatory genes expression on both glutamine and glucose supply as well as ERN1 signaling.

Methods. The expression level of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, DLD, and PDHX genes was studied by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in control U87 glioma cells (transfected by empty vector) and cells with inhibition of ERN1(transfected by dnERN1) after cells exposure to glucose and glutamine deprivations.

Results. The data showed that the expression level of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, and DLD genes was down-regulated (more profound in PDHB gene) in control glioma cells treated with glutamine deprivation. At the same time, ERN1 knockdown modified the impact of glutamine deprivation on the expression level of all these genes in glioma cells: suppressed the sensitivity of PDHB and DLD genes expression and removed the impact of glutamine deprivation on the expression of PDHA1 and DLAT genes. Glucose deprivation did not significantly change the expression level of all studied genes in control glioma cells, but ERN1 knockdown is suppressed the impact of glucose deprivation on PDHX and DLD genes expression and significantly enhanced the expression of PDHA1 and PDHB genes. No significant changes were observed in the sensitivity of PDHX gene expression to glutamine deprivation neither in control nor ERN1 knock-down glioma cells. The knock-down of ERN1 removed the sensitivity of DLAT gene expression to glucose deprivation.

Conclusion. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the exposure of control U87 glioma cells under glutamine deprivation significantly affected the expression of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, and DLD genes in a gene specific manner and that impact of glutamine deprivation was modified by inhibition of the ER stress signaling mediated by ERN1. At the same time, glucose deprivation affected the expression of PDHA1, PDHB, PDHX, and DLD genes in ERN1 knockdown glioma cells only. Thus, the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase genes under glutamine and glucose deprivation conditions appears to be controlled by the ER stress signaling through ERN1.

[Lung cancer mortality trends in Colombia, 1985-2018Tendências na mortalidade por câncer de pulmão na Colômbia de 1985 a 2018]

Objetivo.

Determinar la evolución de la mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón en Colombia en el período 1985-2018 en la población de 35 años y más e identificar cambios en la tendencia.

Métodos.

Análisis de series temporales de mortalidad. Se calcularon las tasas específicas y estandarizadas por sexo y grupos de edad. Mediante la regresión joinpoint se estimó el porcentaje de cambio anual de las tasas y se identificaron puntos de cambio.

Resultados.

En el período 1985-2018 se registraron 105 553 muertes por cáncer de pulmón en la población de 35 años y más. Las tasas estandarizadas muestran una tendencia decreciente en el período 1985-2005, excepto en mayores de 64 años.

Conclusiones.

La tendencia de las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer de pulmón es decreciente en Colombia. Es necesario potenciar medidas de prevención primaria y secundaria sobre el consumo de tabaco y vigilar otros factores de riesgo como el radón residencial o la ocupación.

The Complement System: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth most fatal cancer in the world. Immunotherapy has already achieved modest results in the treatment of liver cancer. Meanwhile, the novel and optimal combinatorial strategies need further research. The complement system, which consists of mediators, receptors, cofactors and regulators, acts as the connection between innate and adaptive immunity. Recent studies demonstrate that complement system can influence tumor progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells, and cancer stem cells in liver cancer. Our review concentrates on the potential role of the complement system in cancer treatment, which is a promising strategy for killing tumor cells by the activation of complement components. Conclusions: Our review demonstrates that complement components and regulators might function as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.