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Shi M, Dou H, Lou X, Jiang W, Wang H, Su Y. Identification of diagnostic biomarkers and immune cell infiltration in tongue squamous cell carcinoma using bioinformatic approaches. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:428. [PMID: 39169439 PMCID: PMC11337857 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01998-y] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, we employed a bioinformatics approach to identify diagnostic biomarkers for tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and investigate the infiltration of immune cells in TSCC, as well as the relationship between biomarkers and immune cells. METHODS We obtained the TSCC expression dataset from a database and conducted differential gene expression analysis between TSCC and adjacent normal tissues using R software. Enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed using the DAVID website. Protein interaction networks for the DEGs were constructed, and hub genes were identified using tools such as STRING and Cytoscape. Survival analysis was conducted to identify diagnostic biomarkers and the infiltration of immune cells in TSCC was analyzed using the inverse convolution algorithm with Cibersort software. Finally, the expression of the discovered molecules was verified through clinical pathological sections. RESULTS We identified 24 DEGs in TSCC, primarily associated with signal transduction, substance metabolism, innate immune response, and other related signaling pathways. Among the 24 hub genes screened through the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, seven (MMP13, POSTN, MMP9, MMP10, MMP3, SPP1, MMP1) exhibited prognostic value. Survival analysis indicated that SPP1 demonstrated diagnostic potential. The expression level of the SPP1 gene showed a correlation with TSCC as well as several immune cell types, including macrophage M0, M1, M2, CD8+ T cell, activated NK cell, and monocyte (p < 0.05). Histological results confirmed higher expression of SPP1 in TSCC tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues, particularly in CD68-expressing macrophages. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that SPP1 serves as a diagnostic biomarker for TSCC and is involved in immune cell infiltration within TSCC tissues. The correlation between SPP1 and macrophages may offer new insights for targeted therapeutic research on TSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Shi
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Huixin Dou
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinzhe Lou
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenting Jiang
- Department of Periodontology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yingying Su
- Department of Stomatology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, People's Republic of China.
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Li L, Chen X, Yu J, Yuan S. Preliminary Clinical Application of RGD-Containing Peptides as PET Radiotracers for Imaging Tumors. Front Oncol 2022; 12:837952. [PMID: 35311120 PMCID: PMC8924613 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.837952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a common feature of many physiological processes and pathological conditions. RGD-containing peptides can strongly bind to integrin αvβ3 expressed on endothelial cells in neovessels and several tumor cells with high specificity, making them promising molecular agents for imaging angiogenesis. Although studies of RGD-containing peptides combined with radionuclides, namely, 18F, 64Cu, and 68Ga for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging have shown high spatial resolution and accurate quantification of tracer uptake, only a few of these radiotracers have been successfully translated into clinical use. This review summarizes the RGD-based tracers in terms of accumulation in tumors and adjacent tissues, and comparison with traditional 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging. The value of RGD-based tracers for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, tumor subvolume delineation, and therapeutic response prediction is mainly discussed. Very low RGD accumulation, in contrast to high FDG metabolism, was found in normal brain tissue, indicating that RGD-based imaging provides an excellent tumor-to-background ratio for improved brain tumor imaging. However, the intensity of the RGD-based tracers is much higher than FDG in normal liver tissue, which could lead to underestimation of primary or metastatic lesions in liver. In multiple studies, RGD-based imaging successfully realized the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of solid tumors and also the prediction of chemoradiotherapy response, providing complementary rather than similar information relative to FDG imaging. Of most interest, baseline RGD uptake values can not only be used to predict the tumor efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy, but also to monitor the occurrence of adverse events in normal organs. This unique dual predictive value in antiangiogenic therapy may be better than that of FDG-based imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuanghu Yuan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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3
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Zhang Y, Gao J, Bao Y, Liu Y, Tong Y, Jin S, Zhao Q. Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic significance of osteopontin in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: a Meta-analysis. Biomarkers 2021; 27:13-21. [PMID: 34787036 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2021.2008009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE At present, there is no definite suggestion about effective tumour biomarkers for the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic significance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis (LC). The aim of our research was to determine the value of the tumour biomarker osteopontin (OPN), which is encoded by the Spp1 gene, in the diagnosis, prognosis and development of HCC and LC through meta-analysis. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure electronic databases up to March 2021. Studies evaluating the diagnostic and/or prognostic value of OPN in HCC and/or LC were included. RESULTS From the systematic search, 35 studies including 9150 participants were eligible, 25 of which provided data on the diagnostic value of OPN overexpression, while 15 studies provided data on the prognostic value. OPN had high diagnostic accuracy in both HCC and LC patients compared with healthy controls, and the diagnostic efficiency was increased by the biomarker combination OPN + AFP. CONCLUSIONS OPN may be adopted as a promising predictive tumour biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC and LC and may be a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Northern Theater General Hospital, Shenyang, China.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiayue Gao
- National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Bao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yimeng Tong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuqing Jin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qingchun Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Northern Theater General Hospital, Shenyang, China.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
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4
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Godugu K, Sudha T, Davis PJ, Mousa SA. Nano Diaminopropane tetrac and integrin αvβ3 expression in different cancer types: Anti-cancer efficacy and Safety. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2021; 28:100395. [PMID: 34034044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Integrins are a family of heterodimeric plasma membrane glycoproteins, which regulate tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and metastasis. Integrin αvβ3 has been recognized as a putative target for the treatment of several cancers. Thus, the characterization of αvβ3 distribution in different human tumors is of substantial interest in tumor targeting and its suppression. In this study we evaluated the expression of integrin αvβ3 in different cancer types to define the expression pattern in cancer model. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of novel αvβ3 antagonist Diaminopropane Tetraiodothyroacetic acid conjugated to poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer and its nanoformulated form (NDAT), on different cancer cell lines both in vitro and in xenografts. In vitro, NDAT downregulated αv and β3 monomer expression. In vivo in tumor xenografts, similarly, NDAT downregulated αv and β3. Distinct reduction in tumor weight and viability was observed in glioblastoma xenografts treated with NDAT. Furthermore, NDAT was safe and tolerable in mice treated with high doses. In conclusion, NDAT is an effective and safe inhibitor of integrin αvβ3 expression in various cancer types, which indicates its impact on the targetability and suppression of αvβ3-associated tumor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Godugu
- The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, , 1 Discovery Drive, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Thangirala Sudha
- The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, , 1 Discovery Drive, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Paul J Davis
- The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, , 1 Discovery Drive, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Shaker A Mousa
- The Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, , 1 Discovery Drive, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
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5
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LYTACs that engage the asialoglycoprotein receptor for targeted protein degradation. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:937-946. [PMID: 33767387 PMCID: PMC8387313 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00770-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Selective protein degradation platforms have afforded new development opportunities for therapeutics and tools for biological inquiry. The first lysosome targeting chimeras (LYTACs) targeted extracellular and membrane proteins for degradation by bridging a target protein to the cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-M6PR). Here, we developed LYTACs that engage the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), a liver-specific lysosomal targeting receptor, to degrade extracellular proteins in a cell type-specific manner. We conjugated binders to a tri-GalNAc motif that engages ASGPR to drive downregulation of proteins. Degradation of EGFR by GalNAc-LYTAC attenuated EGFR signaling compared to inhibition with an antibody. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a LYTAC comprising a 3.4 kDa peptide binder linked to a tri-GalNAc ligand degrades integrins and reduces cancer cell proliferation. Degradation with a single tri-GalNAc ligand prompted site-specific conjugation on antibody scaffolds, which improved the pharmacokinetic profile of GalNAc-LYTACs in vivo. GalNAc-LYTACs thus represent an avenue for cell-type restricted protein degradation.
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6
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An Y, Wang Q, Zhang G, Sun F, Zhang L, Li H, Li Y, Peng Y, Zhu W, Ji S, Guo X. OSlihc: An Online Prognostic Biomarker Analysis Tool for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:875. [PMID: 32587519 PMCID: PMC7298068 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world with an increasing number of fatalities. Identification of novel prognosis biomarker for LIHC may improve treatment and therefore patient outcomes. The availability of public gene expression profiling data offers the opportunity to discover prognosis biomarkers for LIHC. We developed an online consensus survival analysis tool named OSlihc using gene expression profiling and long-term follow-up data to identify new prognosis biomarkers. OSlihc consists of 637 cases from four independent cohorts. As a risk assessment tool, OSlihc generates the Kaplan-Meier survival plot with hazard ratio (HR) and p value to evaluate the prognostic value of a gene of interest. To test the reliability of OSlihc, we analyzed 65 previous reported prognostic biomarkers in OSlihc and showed that all of which have significant prognostic values. Furthermore, we identified four novel potential prognostic biomarkers (ATG9A, WIPI1, CXCL1, and CSNK2A2) for LIHC, the elevated expression of which predict the unfavorable survival outcomes. These genes (ATG9A, WIPI1, CXCL1, and CSNK2A2) may be potentially new biomarkers to identify at-risk LIHC patients when further validated. By OSlihc, users can evaluate the prognostic abilities of genes of their interest, which provides a platform for researchers to identify prognostic biomarkers to further develop targeted therapy strategies for LIHC patients. OSlihc is public and free to the users at http://bioinfo.henu.edu.cn/LIHC/LIHCList.jsp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang An
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Guosen Zhang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Fengjie Sun
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Haojie Li
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yingkun Li
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yanyu Peng
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Wan Zhu
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Shaoping Ji
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Xiangqian Guo
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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7
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Luo Q, Yang G, Gao H, Wang Y, Luo C, Ma X, Gao Y, Li X, Zhao H, Jia B, Shi J, Wang F. An Integrin Alpha 6-Targeted Radiotracer with Improved Receptor Binding Affinity and Tumor Uptake. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:1510-1521. [PMID: 32347718 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we reported a 99mTc-labeled integrin α6-targeted peptide as the molecular imaging probe for tumor imaging by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). We found that replacing Cys-Cys cyclized RWY peptide (sequence: cCRWYDENAC) with lactam-bridged cyclic cKiE peptide (sequence: cKRWYDENAisoE) did not sacrifice the integrin α6-binding affinity and specificity of cKiE radiotracer. To further improve the radiotracer's tumor targeting capability, the dimerized cKiE peptide (termed cKiE2) was designed, and the corresponding radiotracer 99mTc-cKiE2 was evaluated for tumor uptake and in vivo pharmacokinetics properties in tumor models. We found that cKiE2 showed higher binding affinity to integrin α6 than did monomeric RWY or cKiE peptide. The biodistribution results showed that the tumor uptake of 99mTc-cKiE2 was twice higher than that of 99mTc-RWY (3.20 ± 0.12 vs 1.26 ± 0.06 %ID/g, P < 0.001) at 0.5 h postinjection. The tumor to nontargeting tissue ratios were also enhanced in most normal organs. Specificity of 99mTc-cKiE2 for integrin α6 was demonstrated by competitive blocking of tumor uptake with excess cold peptide (3.20 ± 0.24 to 1.38 ± 0.23 %ID/g, P < 0.001). The integrin α6-positive tumors were clearly visualized by 99mTc-cKiE2/SPECT with low background except with a relatively high kidney uptake. The tumor uptake of 99mTc-cKiE2 correlates well with the tumor integrin α6 expression levels in a linear fashion (R2 = 0.9623). We also compared 99mTc-cKiE2 with an integrin αvβ3-targeted radiotracer 99mTc-3PRGD2 in the orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma tumor models. We found that the orthotopic tumor was clearly visualized with 99mTc-cKiE2. 99mTc-3PRGD2 imaging did not show tumor contours in situ as clearly as 99mTc-cKiE2. The tumor-to-liver ratios of 99mTc-cKiE2 and 99mTc-3PRGD2 were 2.20 ± 0.17 and 0.85 ± 0.20. In conclusion, 99mTc-cKiE2 is an improved SPECT radiotracer for imaging integrin α6-positive tumors and has great potential for further clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangjie Yang
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Hannan Gao
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanpu Wang
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuangwei Luo
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaotu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoda Li
- Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiyun Zhao
- Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Jia
- Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiyun Shi
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,Medical Isotopes Research Center and Department of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
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8
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Li J, Zhou P, Xu H, Tian S, Liu W, Zhao Y, Hu Z. Antitumor activity of integrin α Vβ 3 antibody conjugated-cationic microbubbles in liver cancer. Transl Cancer Res 2019; 8:899-908. [PMID: 35116829 PMCID: PMC8799305 DOI: 10.21037/tcr.2019.05.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background The overexpression of integrin αVβ3 in hepatocarcinoma (HCC) promotes tumor progression, metastasis, and clinical staging. Thus, the inhibition of integrin αVβ3 might be potentially effective as an anti-cancer agent in HCC. Methods In this study, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of integrin αVβ3 antibody conjugated cationic microbubbles (CMBs) in HCC model. By conjugating with integrin αVβ3 antibody with non-targeting CMBs, CMBsαvβ3 was constructed. The antitumor effect of CMBsαvβ3 was evaluated in HepG2 cells in vitro and in HepG2 xenograft mice models. Bcl-2, p53 and CD31 mRNA level, and caspase-3 activity were examined in xenograft tumors. Cell proliferation assay and scratch test were performed to evaluate the anti-migrant effect of CMBsαvβ3in vitro. Results CMBsαvβ3 could specifically target to HCC HepG2 cells and improve pEGFP-KDRP-CD/TK plasmid transfection efficiency. In HepG2 xenograft mice models, CMBsαvβ3 treatment significantly suppressed tumor weights and volumes. CMBsαvβ3 treatment suppressed Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA level in tumors. In HepG2 cells, CMBsαvβ3 significantly impaired wound healing and inhibited cell proliferation. Moreover, when combined with CD/TK double suicide gene transfection and 5-FC/GCV treatment, caspase-3 was activated and the cell proliferation was tremendously inhibited. Conclusions CMBsαvβ3 not only suppresses cell migration and proliferation, but also facilitates 5-FC/GCV plus CD/TK double suicide gene-induced apoptotic cell death. CMBsαvβ3 is a promising gene delivery agent with potential anti-tumor activity itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Li
- Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Hongbo Xu
- Department of General Surgery, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Shuangming Tian
- Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Wengang Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Yongfeng Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound, the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Zheyu Hu
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology and Central Laboratory, the Affiliated Caner Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
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9
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Sun T, Li P, Sun D, Bu Q, Li G. Prognostic value of osteopontin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e12954. [PMID: 30412113 PMCID: PMC6221565 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000012954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The prognostic value of tissue and serum osteopontin (OPN) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. The aim of present meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognostic value of OPN in patients with HCC. METHODS Eligible studies were systematically searched by PubMed, EMBASE, and Google scholar. A meta-analysis of 12 studies included 2117 cases was performed to estimate the association between OPN level and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) in HCC patients. Subgroup analyses were also performed in the meta-analysis. RESULTS The pooled data of studies showed that high OPN level was significantly associated with poor OS (hazard ratios [HR] 1.84; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.54-2.20; P = .000) and DFS (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.40-1.98; P = .000) in HCC. Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, high tissue based OPN by immunohistochemistry detection and serum-based OPN by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection were both significantly associated with OS (tissue: HR 1.88; 95% CI 1.53-2.31; P < .0001; serum: HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.58-3.59; P < .0001). Simultaneously, we also found that OPN expression was positively associated with stage (odds ratios [OR] 5.68; 95% CI 3.443-7.758), tumor size (Size≤5 cm vs >5 cm; OR 2.001; 95% CI1.036-3.867). CONCLUSION The current evidence indicates that OPN could serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China
| | - Diwen Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China
| | - Qingao Bu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong, China
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10
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CCN3 is a therapeutic target relating enhanced stemness and coagulation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13846. [PMID: 29061995 PMCID: PMC5653869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14087-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The general prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains extremely dismal, due to the high frequency of metastasis. Since 2003, our research group has explored the gene expression profiles of metastasized HCC tissue samples and identified a significant upregulation of CCN3. However, the role and precise pathological function of CCN3 remains elusive. We showed that CCN3 is associated with the poor prognosis of patients with HCC, the malignant phenotype of HCC, and vascular thrombosis. We further evaluated the negative roles of CCN3 in vitro and in vivo, and identified osteopontin (OPN), and coagulation factors tissue factor (TF) and thrombin as the leading genes downstream of CCN3, that are positively associated with HCC cell stemness. We demonstrated that overexpressed CCN3 in HCC cells leads to enhanced survival and increased number of pulmonary metastases in vivo. The elevated levels of OPN and TF were associated with signal activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK). Our findings suggest CCN3 is a potential therapeutic target that would affect the upregulation of OPN and coagulation factors, which would lead to an enhanced stemness and blood coagulation microenvironment in HCC tissue.
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Evaluation of 99mTc-3PRGD 2 integrin receptor imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma tumour-bearing mice: comparison with 18F-FDG metabolic imaging. Ann Nucl Med 2017; 31:486-494. [PMID: 28474165 PMCID: PMC5486497 DOI: 10.1007/s12149-017-1173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Objective Our study was designed to explore the utility of 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-E[PEG4-c(RGDfK)]2 (99mTc-3PRGD2) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and specifically to compare the diagnostic performance of 99mTc-3PRGD2 integrin receptor imaging and 2-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) metabolic imaging in a nude mouse model. Methods 99mTc-3PRGD2 was synthesized using a HYNIC-3PRGD2 lyophilized kit with 99mTcO4 labelling. The nude mouse animal model was established by subcutaneously injecting 5 × 107/ml HepG2 cells into the shoulder flank of each mouse. Biodistribution studies were performed at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h after intravenous administration of 0.37 MBq of 99mTc-3PRGD2. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression level of integrin αvβ3 in the HCC tissues. Dynamic imaging was performed using list-mode after the administration of 55.5 MBq of 99mTc-3PRGD2, to reconstruct the multiphase images and acquire the best initial scan time. At 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 days after inoculation with HepG2 cells, 55.5 MBq of 99mTc-3PRGD2 and 37 MBq of 18F-FDG were injected successively into the nude mouse model, subsequently, simultaneous SPECT/PET imaging was performed to calculate the tumour volume and tumour uptake of 99mTc-3PRGD2 and 18F-FDG. Results The biodistribution study first validated that the tumour uptake of 99mTc-3PRGD2 at the different time points was higher than that of all the other organs tested in the experiment, except for the kidney. Integrin αvβ3 expressed highly in early stage HCC and declined for further necrosis of the tumour tissue. Subcutaneous tumours were visualized clearly with excellent contrast under 99mTc-3PRGD2 SPECT/CT imaging, and the multiphase imaging comparison showed the tumours were prominent at 0.5 h, suggesting that the best initial scan time is 0.5 h post-injection. The comparison of the imaging results of the two methods showed that 99mTc-3PRGD2 integrin receptor imaging was more sensitive than 18F-FDG metabolic imaging for the detection of early stage HCC, meanwhile the tumour uptake of 99mTc-3PRGD2 was consistently higher than that of 18F-FDG. However, as tumour necrosis further increased in HCC tissues, the uptake of 18F-FDG was higher than that of 99mTc-3PRGD2. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that 99mTc-3PRGD2 is a valuable tumour molecular probe for the detection of early stage HCC compared with 18F-FDG, meriting further investigation of 99mTc-3PRGD2 as a novel SPECT tracer for tumour imaging.
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Jian J, Zhang W, Yang H, Zhao X, Xuan R, Li D, Hu C. Phase-contrast CT: Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Capillarized Sinusoids and Trabecular Structure in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues. Acad Radiol 2017; 24:67-75. [PMID: 27818006 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2016.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Capillarization of sinusoids and change of trabecular thickness are the main histologic features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of particular interest are the three-dimensional (3D) visualization and quantitative evaluation of such alterations in the HCC progression. X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT) is an emerging imaging method that provides excellent image contrast for soft tissues. This study aimed to explore the potential of in-line PCCT in microstructure imaging of capillarized sinusoids and trabecular structure in human HCC tissues and to quantitatively evaluate the alterations of those fine structures during the development of HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS This project was designed as an ex vivo experimental study. The study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from the patients. Eight human resected HCC tissue samples were imaged using in-line PCCT. After histologic processing, PCCT images and histopathologic data were matched. Fine structures in HCC tissues were revealed. Quantitative analyses of capillarized sinusoids (ie, percentage of sinusoidal area [PSA], sinusoidal volume) and trabecular structure (ie, trabecular thickness, surface-area-to-volume ratio [SA/V]) in low-grade (well or moderately differentiated) and high-grade (poorly differentiated) HCC groups were performed. RESULTS Using PCCT, the alterations of capillarized sinusoids and trabecular structure were clearly observed in 3D geometry, which was confirmed by the corresponding histologic sections. The 3D qualitative analyses of sinusoids in the high-grade HCC group were significantly different (P < 0.05) in PSA (7.8 ± 2.5%) and sinusoidal volume (2.9 ± 0.6 × 107 µm3) from those in the low-grade HCC group (PSA, 12.9 ± 2.2%; sinusoidal volume, 2.4 ± 0.3 × 107 µm3). Moreover, the 3D quantitative evaluation of the trabecular structure in the high-grade HCC group showed a significant change (P < 0.05) in the trabecular thickness (87.8 ± 15.6 µm) and SA/V (2.2 ± 1.3 × 103 µm-1) compared to the low-grade HCC group (trabecular thickness, 75.9 ± 7.1 µm; SA/V, 7.5 ± 1.3 × 103 µm-1). CONCLUSIONS This study provides insights into the 3D alterations of microstructures such as capillarized sinusoids and the trabecular structure at a micrometer level, which might allow for an improved understanding of the development of HCC.
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Haubner R, Finkenstedt A, Stegmayr A, Rangger C, Decristoforo C, Zoller H, Virgolini IJ. [(68)Ga]NODAGA-RGD - Metabolic stability, biodistribution, and dosimetry data from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2016; 43:2005-13. [PMID: 27164900 PMCID: PMC5007270 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-016-3396-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study was designed to determine safety, tolerability, and radiation burden of a [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD-PET for imaging integrin αvβ3 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis. Moreover, metabolic stability and biokinetic data were compiled. Methods After injection of 154–184 MBq [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD three consecutive PET/CT scans were acquired starting 8.3 ± 2.1, 36.9 ± 2.8, and 75.1 ± 3.4 min after tracer injection. For metabolite analysis, blood and urine samples were analyzed by HPLC. For dosimetry studies, residence time VOIs were placed in the corresponding organs. The OLINDA/EXM program was used to estimate the absorbed radiation dose. Results The radiopharmaceutical was well tolerated and no drug-related adverse effects were observed. No metabolites could be detected in blood (30 and 60 min p.i.) and urine (60 min p.i.). [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD showed rapid and predominantly renal elimination. Background radioactivity in blood, intestine, lung, and muscle tissue was low (%ID/l 60 min p.i. was 0.56 ± 0.43, 0.54 ± 0.39, 0.22 ± 0.05, and 0.16 ± 0.8, respectively). The calculated effective dose was 21.5 ± 5.4 μSv/MBq, and the highest absorbed radiation dose was found for the urinary bladder wall (0.26 ± 0.09 mSv/MBq). No increased uptake of the tracer was found in HCC compared with the background liver tissue. Conclusions [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD uptake in the HCCs lesions was not sufficient to use this tracer for imaging these tumors. [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD was well tolerated and metabolically stable. Due to rapid renal excretion, background radioactivity was low in most of the body, resulting in low radiation burden and indicating the potential of [68Ga]NODAGA-RGD PET for non-invasive determination of integrin αvβ3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Haubner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Armin Finkenstedt
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Armin Stegmayr
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
- FH Gesundheit/University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christine Rangger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Clemens Decristoforo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heinz Zoller
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Irene J Virgolini
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Niu ZS, Niu XJ, Wang M. Management of hepatocellular carcinoma: Predictive value of immunohistochemical markers for postoperative survival. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:7-27. [PMID: 25624992 PMCID: PMC4295195 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i1.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for over 90% of all primary liver cancers. With an ever increasing incidence trend year by year, it has become the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Hepatic resection is generally considered to be one of the most effective therapies for HCC patients, however, there is a high risk of recurrence in postoperative HCC. In clinical practice, there exists an urgent need for valid prognostic markers to identify patients with prognosis, hence the importance of studies on prognostic markers in improving the prediction of HCC prognosis. This review focuses on the most promising immunohistochemical prognostic markers in predicting the postoperative survival of HCC patients.
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Peng B, Wang YH, Huang Z, Feng SJ, Wang YS. Prognostic significance of osteopontin in patients with lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Int J Clin Exp Med 2014; 7:4616-4626. [PMID: 25663958 PMCID: PMC4307405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Both plasma/serum/pleural effusion osteopontin concentration (PSPO) and tumor tissue osteopontin expression (TTO) have recently been reported to be involved in the prognosis of lung cancer. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to demonstrate the association between PSPO/TTO and survival in patients with lung cancer. We searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science and Chinese Biomedical database (CBM) for relevant literatures. Stata 12.0 was applied to pool the eligible studies and synthesize hazard ratios (HRs) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). For PSPO, a total of 8 studies with 1000 patients were included in final analysis. Combined HR suggested high PSPO predicted an unfavorable overall survival (OS) (HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.13-2.05) and progress-free survival (PFS) (HR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.35-2.21). For TTO, 5 studies with a total of 747 patients were employed in final analysis. Pooled HR indicated that elevated TTO was associated with poor OS (HR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.65-2.83) and disease/relapse-free survival (D/RFS) (HR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.79-3.12). Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the causes of heterogeneity. Publication bias by begg's test was not statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled results were robust. This study revealed that both high TTO and PSPO are associated with poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Peng
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi-Han Wang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhuo Huang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shi-Jian Feng
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yong-Sheng Wang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Maotai ameliorates diethylnitrosamine-initiated hepatocellular carcinoma formation in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93599. [PMID: 24690765 PMCID: PMC3972115 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumption of alcohol is closely related to liver disease, such as hepatic fibrosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, epidemiological and experimental studies indicated that consumption of Maotai, one of the famous liquors in China, exhibits no significant correlation with hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis as other beverage sources do. This study detected the relationship of Maotai consumption and HCC development in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated HCC animal model. DEN was given to mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg, ip, and 50 mg/kg, ip in the following week. Mice were simultaneously given Maotai or an equal amount of ethanol (53%, 5 ml/kg/day, 5days/week for up to 35weeks). At 3-week and 35- week of the experiment, serum and livers were collected for biochemical and histopathological examination of liver injury and incidence of HCC. Real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to examine the expression of metallothionein-1/2 (MT-1/2), NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and modified subunit (GCLM). We identified tissue damage and dysfunction of liver in ethanol + DEN-treated mice, whereas the extent of injury was reduced in Maotai+ DEN –treated mice. Significant Glypican-3(GPC3) expression and precancerous injury or HCC were seen in approximately 50% of mice with ethanol+ DEN, but barely be seen in Maotai + DEN-treated mice. A higher expression of MT-1/2, Nrf2 and GCLC could be seen in Maotai + DEN-treated mice. Thus, Maotai liquor ameliorates the formation of DEN-induced HCC in mice, and the protection mechanism is possibly related with the activation of anti-oxidation factors, such as MTs, Nrf2 and GCLC.
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