Epirubicin as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer

Effects of acute hypoxia on nutrient metabolism and physiological function in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus

Acute hypoxia is a common stress in aquaculture, and causes energy deficiency, oxidative damage and death in fish. Many studies have confirmed that acute hypoxia activated hif1α expression, anaerobic glycolysis and antioxidant system in fish, but the effects of acute hypoxia on lipid and protein metabolism, organelle damage, and the functions of hif2α and hif3α in economic fishes have not been well evaluated. In the present study, turbot was exposed to acute hypoxia (2.0 ± 0.5 mg/L) for 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h, respectively. Then, the contents of hemoglobin (HB), metabolite, gene expressions of hifα isoforms, energy homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis were measured. The results suggested that turbot is intolerant to acute hypoxia and the asphyxiation point is about 1.5 mg/L. Acute hypoxia induced perk-mediated ER stress, and increased lipid peroxidation and liver injury in turbot. The blood HB level and liver vegfab expression were increased under hypoxia, which enhances oxygen transport. At hypoxia stress, hif3α, anaerobic glycolysis-related genes expression, and lactate content were increased in the liver, and glycogen was broken down to ensure ATP supply. Meanwhile, hif2α, lipid synthesis-related genes expression, and TG content were increased in the liver, but the lipid catabolism and protein synthesis were suppressed during hypoxia, which reduced the oxygen consumption and ROS generation. Our results systematically illustrate the metabolic and physiological changes under acute hypoxia in turbot, and provide important guidance to improve hypoxia tolerance in fish.

Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer in brain ischemia and intracerebral hemorrhage

Increasing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies link neuroinflammation to secondary brain injury after stroke, which includes brain ischemia and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), a cell surface transmembrane protein, is a key factor in neuroinflammation. It is widely elevated in several cell types after stroke. The increased EMMPRIN appears to regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and exacerbate the pathology of stroke-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction, microvascular thrombosis and neuroinflammation. In light of the neurological effects of EMMPRIN, we present in this review the complex network of roles that EMMPRIN has in brain ischemia and ICH. We first introduce the structural features and biological roles of EMMPRIN, followed by a description of the increased expression of EMMPRIN in brain ischemia and ICH. Next, we discuss the pathophysiological roles of EMMPRIN in brain ischemia and ICH. In addition, we summarize several important treatments for stroke that target the EMMPRIN signaling pathway. Finally, we suggest that EMMPRIN may have prospects as a biomarker of stroke injury. Overall, this review collates experimental and clinical evidence of the role of EMMPRIN in stroke and provides insights into its pathological mechanisms.

The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its targeting strategy by CAR-T cell immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in cancer incidence and third in mortality. Although great strides have been made in novel therapy for HCC, such as immunotherapy, the prognosis remains less than satisfactory. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) exerts a significant role in the evolution of HCC and has a non-negligible impact on the efficacy of HCC treatment. In the past two decades, the success in hematological malignancies made by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cell therapy leveraging it holds great promise for cancer treatment. However, in the face of a hostile TME in solid tumors like HCC, the efficacy of CAR-T cells will be greatly compromised. Here, we provide an overview of TME features in HCC, discuss recent advances and challenges of CAR-T immunotherapy in HCC.

The Regulation of Lymph Node Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

In many distinct forms of malignancies, there is a close relationship between lymph node (LN) metastases and further dissemination to distant organs, and this is a critical prognostic factor. At the beginning of the process, the original tumor secretes soluble substances or releases extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are carried through lymphatic channels to draining (sentinel) LN. The tumor-derived factors then drive LN remodeling. These significant alterations occur prior to the emergence of the first metastatic cell, bringing about the development of a pre-metastatic niche that allows metastatic cells to survive and thrive. In this review, we discuss current information available about the regulation of lymph node pre-metastatic niche in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and the role of EVs in forming the pre-metastatic niche.

A Correlative Study Between IVIM-DWI Parameters and the Expression Levels of Ang-2 and TKT in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Noninvasive evaluation of the expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and transketolase (TKT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of great significance for the clinical development of individualized treatment plans. However, the correlation between intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and the expression of Ang-2 and TKT has not been reported. We sought to investigate the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and Ang-2 and TKT expression levels in HCCs.

Methods

Conventional non-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and IVIM-DWI and dynamic contrast MRI were performed for 61 patients with HCC before surgical treatment. Various IVIM-DWI parameters, such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), slow apparent diffusion coefficient (D), fast apparent diffusion coefficient (D^*) and fraction of fast apparent diffusion coefficient (f), were calculated using Function-MADC software. Expression levels of Ang-2 and TKT in HCC were detected via immunohistochemical staining and classified into two grades. Independent sample t tests were used to compare differences in parameters between the two groups. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlations between IVIM-DWI parameters and Ang-2 and TKT expression levels in HCCs.

Results

The D^* and f values were significantly higher in the high Ang-2 group than in the low Ang-2 group; there were no obvious between-group differences in ADC and D. Ang-2 expression was positively correlated with D* and f but not with ADC and D. The ADC and D values were significantly lower in the high TKT group than in the low TKT group, whereas the between-group differences for D* and f were not significant. TKT expression was negatively correlated with ADC and D but not with D* and f.

Conclusions

IVIM-DWI can be used to evaluate Ang-2 and TKT expression in HCC.

Prospects for immunotherapy as a novel therapeutic strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignant disease, with a poor clinical prognosis. Many standard therapies are often considered for HCC treatment today; however, these conventional therapies often fail to achieve sufficiently effective clinical results. Today, HCC therapy is set to undergo a major revolution, owing to rapid developments in cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Cancer immunotherapy is a novel and promising treatment strategy that differs significantly from conventional therapies in its approach to achieve antitumor effects. In fact, many cancer immunotherapies have been tested worldwide and shown to be effective against various types of cancer; HCC is no exception to this trend. For example, we identified a specific cancer antigen called glypican-3 (GPC3) and performed clinical trials of GPC3-targeted peptide vaccine immunotherapy in patients with HCC. Here, we present an overview of the immune mechanisms for development and progression of HCC, our GPC3-based immunotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy against HCC. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of cancer immunotherapy against HCC. We believe that this review and discussion of cancer immunotherapy against HCC could stimulate more interest in this promising strategy for cancer therapy and help in its further development.