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Panda SS, Sahoo RK, Patra SK, Biswal S, Biswal BK. Molecular insights to therapeutic in cancer: role of exosomes in tumor microenvironment, metastatic progression and drug resistance. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104061. [PMID: 38901672 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Exosomes play a pivotal part in cancer progression and metastasis by transferring various biomolecules. Recent research highlights their involvement in tumor microenvironment remodeling, mediating metastasis, tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. The unique cargo carried by exosomes garners the interest of researchers owing to its potential as a stage-specific biomarker for early cancer detection and its role in monitoring personalized treatment. However, unanswered questions hinder a comprehensive understanding of exosomes and their cargo in this context. This review discusses recent advancements and proposes novel ideas for exploring exosomes in cancer progression, aiming to deepen our understanding and improve treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikshya S Panda
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
| | - Rajeev K Sahoo
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
| | - Sambit K Patra
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
| | - Stuti Biswal
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India
| | - Bijesh K Biswal
- Cancer Drug Resistance Laboratory, Department of Life Science, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769008, India.
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Zhou H, Wang W, Cai Z, Jia ZY, Li YY, He W, Li C, Zhang BL. Injectable hybrid hydrogels enable enhanced combination chemotherapy and roused anti-tumor immunity in the synergistic treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:353. [PMID: 38902759 PMCID: PMC11191229 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy have shown no significant outcome for unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Multi-drug combination therapy has become a consensus in clinical trials to explore how to arouse anti-tumor immunity and meanwhile overcome the poorly tumoricidal effect and the stroma barrier that greatly hinders drug penetration. To address this challenge, a comprehensive strategy is proposed to fully utilize both the ferroptotic vulnerability of PDAC to potently irritate anti-tumor immunity and the desmoplasia-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to wholly improve the immunosuppressive microenvironment via sustained release of drugs in an injectable hydrogel for increasing drug penetration in tumor location and averting systematic toxicity. The injectable hydrogel ED-M@CS/MC is hybridized with micelles loaded with erastin that exclusively induces ferroptosis and a FAK inhibitor defactinib for inhibiting stroma formation, and achieves sustained release of the drugs for up to 12 days. With only a single intratumoral injection, the combination treatment with erastin and defactinib produces further anti-tumor performance both in xenograft and KrasG12D-engineered primary PDAC mice and synergistically promotes the infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and the reduction of type II macrophages. The findings may provide a novel promising strategy for the clinical treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Zedong Cai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Zhou-Yan Jia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yu-Yao Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Wei He
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Chen Li
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Bang-Le Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Zheng H, Liu D, Liu Z, An M, Luo Y, Chen C, Lin T. Roles of cancer-associated fibroblast functional heterogeneity in shaping the lymphatic metastatic landscape: new insights and therapeutic strategies. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0138. [PMID: 38775237 PMCID: PMC11208902 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hanhao Zheng
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Daiyin Liu
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Zhicong Liu
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Mingjie An
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Yuming Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Changhao Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
| | - Tianxin Lin
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510003, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510003, China
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Gou Z, Li J, Liu J, Yang N. The hidden messengers: cancer associated fibroblasts-derived exosomal miRNAs as key regulators of cancer malignancy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1378302. [PMID: 38694824 PMCID: PMC11061421 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1378302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a class of stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), play a key role in controlling cancer cell invasion and metastasis, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemotherapy. CAFs mediate their activities by secreting soluble chemicals, releasing exosomes, and altering the extracellular matrix (ECM). Exosomes contain various biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. microRNA (miRNA), a 22-26 nucleotide non-coding RNA, can regulate the cellular transcription processes. Studies have shown that miRNA-loaded exosomes secreted by CAFs engage in various regulatory communication networks with other TME constituents. This study focused on the roles of CAF-derived exosomal miRNAs in generating cancer malignant characteristics, including immune modulation, tumor growth, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and treatment resistance. This study thoroughly examines miRNA's dual regulatory roles in promoting and suppressing cancer. Thus, changes in the CAF-derived exosomal miRNAs can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients, and their specificity can be used to develop newer therapies. This review also discusses the pressing problems that require immediate attention, aiming to inspire researchers to explore more novel avenues in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Gou
- Bethune First Clinical School of Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiannan Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianming Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Na Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Lv D, Fei Y, Chen H, Wang J, Han W, Cui B, Feng Y, Zhang P, Chen J. Crosstalk between T lymphocyte and extracellular matrix in tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340702. [PMID: 38690275 PMCID: PMC11058664 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex three-dimensional structure composed of proteins, glycans, and proteoglycans, constituting a critical component of the tumor microenvironment. Complex interactions among immune cells, extracellular matrix, and tumor cells promote tumor development and metastasis, consequently influencing therapeutic efficacy. Hence, elucidating these interaction mechanisms is pivotal for precision cancer therapy. T lymphocytes are an important component of the immune system, exerting direct anti-tumor effects by attacking tumor cells or releasing lymphokines to enhance immune effects. The ECM significantly influences T cells function and infiltration within the tumor microenvironment, thereby impacting the behavior and biological characteristics of tumor cells. T cells are involved in regulating the synthesis, degradation, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix through the secretion of cytokines and enzymes. As a result, it affects the proliferation and invasive ability of tumor cells as well as the efficacy of immunotherapy. This review discusses the mechanisms underlying T lymphocyte-ECM interactions in the tumor immune microenvironment and their potential application in immunotherapy. It provides novel insights for the development of innovative tumor therapeutic strategies and drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Ozmen E, Demir TD, Ozcan G. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: protagonists of the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1340124. [PMID: 38562556 PMCID: PMC10982390 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1340124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced knowledge of the interaction of cancer cells with their environment elucidated the critical role of tumor microenvironment in tumor progression and chemoresistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts act as the protagonists of the tumor microenvironment, fostering the metastasis, stemness, and chemoresistance of cancer cells and attenuating the anti-cancer immune responses. Gastric cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers in the clinic, refractory to anti-cancer therapies. Growing evidence indicates that cancer-associated fibroblasts are the most prominent risk factors for a poor tumor immune microenvironment and dismal prognosis in gastric cancer. Therefore, targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts may be central to surpassing resistance to conventional chemotherapeutics, molecular-targeted agents, and immunotherapies, improving survival in gastric cancer. However, the heterogeneity in cancer-associated fibroblasts may complicate the development of cancer-associated fibroblast targeting approaches. Although single-cell sequencing studies started dissecting the heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts, the research community should still answer these questions: "What makes a cancer-associated fibroblast protumorigenic?"; "How do the intracellular signaling and the secretome of different cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations differ from each other?"; and "Which cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes predominate specific cancer types?". Unveiling these questions can pave the way for discovering efficient cancer-associated fibroblast targeting strategies. Here, we review current knowledge and perspectives on these questions, focusing on how CAFs induce aggressiveness and therapy resistance in gastric cancer. We also review potential therapeutic approaches to prevent the development and activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts via inhibition of CAF inducers and CAF markers in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ece Ozmen
- Koç University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Tevriz Dilan Demir
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Gulnihal Ozcan
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
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Hu HH, Wang SQ, Shang HL, Lv HF, Chen BB, Gao SG, Chen XB. Roles and inhibitors of FAK in cancer: current advances and future directions. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1274209. [PMID: 38410129 PMCID: PMC10895298 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1274209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that exhibits high expression in various tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. FAK activation promotes tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis via both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent pathways. Moreover, FAK is crucial for sustaining the tumor microenvironment. The inhibition of FAK impedes tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in cancer. Therefore, developing targeted inhibitors against FAK presents a promising therapeutic strategy. To date, numerous FAK inhibitors, including IN10018, defactinib, GSK2256098, conteltinib, and APG-2449, have been developed, which have demonstrated positive anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies and are undergoing clinical trials for several types of tumors. Moreover, many novel FAK inhibitors are currently in preclinical studies to advance targeted therapy for tumors with aberrantly activated FAK. The benefits of FAK degraders, especially in terms of their scaffold function, are increasingly evident, holding promising potential for future clinical exploration and breakthroughs. This review aims to clarify FAK's role in cancer, offering a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of FAK-targeted therapy and combination approaches. The goal is to provide valuable insights for advancing anti-cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sai-Qi Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hai-Li Shang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui-Fang Lv
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bei-Bei Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - She-Gan Gao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Microbiome and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Henan Key Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Wang Y, Shen N, Yang Y, Xia Y, Zhang W, Lu Y, Wang Z, Yang Z, Wang Z. ZDHHC5-mediated S-palmitoylation of FAK promotes its membrane localization and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in glioma. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:46. [PMID: 38233791 PMCID: PMC10795333 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01366-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal activation of FAK is associated with tumor development and metastasis. Through interactions with other intracellular signalling molecules, FAK influences cytoskeletal remodelling, modulation of adhesion signalling, and activation of transcription factors, promoting migration and invasion of tumor cells. However, the exact mechanism that regulates these processes remains unresolved. Herein, our findings indicate that the S-palmitoylation of FAK is crucial for both its membrane localization and activation. METHODS The palmitoylation of FAK in U251 and T98G cells was assessed by an acyl-PEG exchange (APE) assay and a metabolic incorporation assay. Cellular palmitoylation was inhibited using 2-bromopalmitate, and the palmitoylation status and cellular localization of FAK were determined. A metabolic incorporation assay was used to identify the potential palmitoyl acyltransferase and the palmitoylation site of FAK. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assays, colony formation assays, and Transwell assays were conducted to assess the impact of ZDHHC5 in GBM. Additionally, intracranial GBM xenografts were utilized to investigate the effects of genetically silencing ZDHHC5 on tumor growth. RESULTS Inhibiting FAK palmitoylation leads to its redistribution from the membrane to the cytoplasm and a decrease in its phosphorylation. Moreover, ZDHHC5, a protein-acyl-transferase (PAT), catalyzes this key modification of FAK at C456. Knockdown of ZDHHC5 abrogates the S-palmitoylation and membrane distribution of FAK and impairs cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our research reveals the crucial role of ZDHHC5 as a PAT responsible for FAK S-palmitoylation, membrane localization, and activation. CONCLUSIONS These results imply that targeting the ZDHHC5/FAK axis has the potential to be a promising strategy for therapeutic interventions for glioblastoma (GBM). Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- Center for Clinical Medical Research, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Na Shen
- Center for Clinical Medical Research, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yuan Xia
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233099, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233099, China
| | - Ze Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Zhangjie Wang
- Center for Clinical Medical Research, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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