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Kong F, Wang C, Zhang J, Wang X, Sun B, Xiao X, Zhang H, Song Y, Jia Y. Chinese herbal medicines for prostate cancer therapy: From experimental research to clinical practice. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2023; 15:485-495. [PMID: 38094009 PMCID: PMC10715895 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer remains the second most common malignancy in men worldwide, is a global health issue, and poses a huge health burden. Precision medicine provides more treatment options for prostate cancer patients, but its popularity, drug resistance, and adverse reactions still need to be focused on. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely accepted as an alternative therapy for cancer, with the advantages of multiple targets, multiple pathways, and low toxicity. We searched the experimental research and clinical practice of CHMs for prostate cancer treatment published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in the last five years. We found five CHM formulas and six single CHM extracts as well as 12 CHM-derived compounds, which showed induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest, suppression of angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of prostate cancer cells, reversal of drug resistance, and enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. The mechanisms of action include the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AR, EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are commonly implicated in the development of prostate cancer. We also summarized the advantages of CHMs in patients with hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer and provided ideas for their further experimental design and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanming Kong
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
| | - Chaoran Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
| | - Binxu Sun
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
| | - Xian Xiao
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Haojian Zhang
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Yanqi Song
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yingjie Jia
- Department of Oncology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin 300381, China
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Long H, Wu Z. Immunoregulatory effects of Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr) and relevant clinical applications. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1147098. [PMID: 37449208 PMCID: PMC10337589 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr) is a medicinal fungus of traditional Chinese medicine with more than 1000 years of history of clinical application. Its remarkable anticancer activities has led to its application in treating diverse malignancies. In recent years, the immunomodulatory effects of Huaier have been uncovered and proved to be beneficial in a plethora of immune-related diseases including cancer, nephropathy, asthma, etc. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the active components of Huaier, its regulatory activities on multifaceted aspects of the immune system, its application in various clinical settings as well as toxicologic evidence. Based on currently available literature, Huaier possesses broad-spectrum regulatory activities on various components of the innate and adaptive immune system, including macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T and B lymphocytes, etc. Versatile immunologic reactions are under the regulation of Huaier from expression of damage-associated molecular patterns, immune cell activation and maturation to cell proliferation, differentiation, antibody production, expression of cytokines and chemokines and terminal intracellular signal transduction. Moreover, some modulatory activities of Huaier might be context-dependent, typically promoting the restoration toward normal physiological status. With excellent efficacy and minimal side effects, we foresee more extensive application of Huaier for treating immune-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongrong Long
- Department of cardiac function, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongcai Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Ha S, Luo G, Xiang H. A Comprehensive Overview of Small-Molecule Androgen Receptor Degraders: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16128-16154. [PMID: 36459083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC), the second most prevalent malignancy in men worldwide, has been proven to depend on the aberrant activation of androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Long-term androgen deprivation for the treatment of PC inevitably leads to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in which AR remains a crucial oncogenic driver. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new strategies to address this unmet medical need. Targeting AR for degradation has recently been in a vigorous development stage, and accumulating clinical studies have highlighted the benefits of AR degraders in CRPC patients. Herein, we provide a comprehensive summary of small-molecule AR degraders with diverse mechanisms of action including proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), selective AR degraders (SARDs), hydrophobic tags (HyT), and other AR degraders with distinct mechanisms. Accordingly, their structure-activity relationships, biomedical applications, and therapeutic values are also dissected to provide insights into the future development of promising AR degradation-based therapeutics for CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Ha
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Guoshun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Hua Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
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The Crucial Role of AR-V7 in Enzalutamide-Resistance of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194877. [PMID: 36230800 PMCID: PMC9563243 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Androgen receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) has always been considered a key driver for triggering enzalutamide resistance of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In recent years, both the homeostasis of AR-V7 protein and AR-V7’s relationship with LncRNAs have gained great attention with in-depth studies. Starting from protein stability and LncRNA, the paper discusses and summarizes the mechanisms and drugs that affect the CRPC patients’ sensitivity to enzalutamide by regulating the protein or transcriptional stability of AR-V7, hoping to provide therapeutic ideas for subsequent research to break through the CRPC therapeutic bottleneck. Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) has the second highest incidence of malignancies occurring in men worldwide. The first-line therapy of PCa is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Nonetheless, most patients progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after being treated by ADT. As a second-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, enzalutamide (ENZ) is the current mainstay of new endocrine therapies for CRPC in clinical use. However, almost all patients develop resistance during AR antagonist therapy due to various mechanisms. At present, ENZ resistance (ENZR) has become challenging in the clinical treatment of CRPC. AR splice variant 7 (AR-V7) refers to a ligand-independent and constitutively active variant of the AR and is considered a key driver of ENZR in CRPC. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms and biological behaviors of AR-V7 in ENZR of CRPC to contribute novel insights for CRPC therapy.
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Zhang Z, Shen C, Zhou F. The natural medicinal fungus Huaier promotes the anti-hepatoma efficacy of sorafenib through the mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated autophagic cell death. Med Oncol 2022; 39:221. [PMID: 36175804 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01797-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib (SOR) is currently the first line molecular targeting agent for advanced liver cancer therapy. Unfortunately, the insensitivity of liver cancer patients to SOR relatively limits its effectiveness. Huaier (HUA), a natural medicinal parasitic fungus found on the Sophora japonica Linn., has been widely employed as an adjuvant medication for numerous malignancies due to its potent anti-tumoral properties. This study aims to elucidate the enhancing therapeutic efficacy of HUA on SOR treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and mouse models. The CCK-8, clone formation, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, western blot, bioinformatic analysis, and xenograft tumor assays were performed to evaluate the synergistic anti-hepatoma efficacy and mechanisms of HUA-SOR combination treatment on HCC cells. The results revealed combination treatment further inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis, enhanced autophagy of HCC cells, and suppressed the growth of transplanted tumors in mice, compared with either HUA or SOR treatment alone. For Hep3B and Huh7 cells, the optimal synergistic doses of HUA in combination with SOR were 8 mg/mL + 4 μM and 4 mg/mL + 2 μM, with combination index values of 0.646 and 0.588, respectively. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms might be related to biological processes that are mediated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The combination treatment downregulated the protein expression levels of p-mTOR, p-p70S6K, p62, and upregulated the protein expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3B-II. The mTOR activator MHY1485 attenuated the effect of HUA-SOR combination by inhibiting autophagy, suggesting HUA may potentiate the sensitivity of HCC cells to SOR by partially inducing mTOR-mediated autophagic cell death. These findings might provide a rationale experimental foundation for clinical applications of HUA with SOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengguang Zhang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Cunsi Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pediatric Respiratory Disease, Institute of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fuqiong Zhou
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210022, China.
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Huaier Inhibits Gastric Cancer Growth and Hepatic Metastasis by Reducing Syntenin Expression and STAT3 Phosphorylation. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:6065516. [PMID: 35756080 PMCID: PMC9217535 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6065516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide and poses a serious threat to human health. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr.) has been used in the clinical treatment of GC. However, the mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of Huaier remains poorly understood. In this study, we used in vivo imaging technology to determine the anticancer effect of the Huaier n-butanol extract (HBE) on orthotopic and hepatic metastasis of GC mouse models. We found that HBE suppressed tumor growth and metastasis without causing apparent host toxicity. Proteomic analysis of GC cells before and after HBE intervention revealed syntenin to be one of the most significantly downregulated proteins after HBE intervention. We further demonstrated that HBE suppressed the growth and metastasis of GC by reducing the expression of syntenin and the phosphorylation of STAT3 at Y705 and reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, we confirmed that syntenin was highly expressed in GC tissue and correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that Huaier, a clinically used anticancer drug, may inhibit the growth and liver metastasis of GC by inhibiting the syntenin/STAT3 signaling pathway and reversing EMT.
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Cao H, Wang D, Gao R, Li C, Feng Y, Chen L. Therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of active components of QiLing decoction against castration-resistant prostate cancer based on network pharmacology. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13481. [PMID: 35782093 PMCID: PMC9245566 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
QiLing decoction (QLD) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound. This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of QLD in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and its potential bio-targets. A total of 51 active components and QLD 149 targets were identified using bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, five optimal hub target genes were screened including tumor protein P53 (TP53), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), caspase-3 (CASP-3), and estrogen receptor-1 (ESR-1). The interrelated network between active components of QLD and their potential targets was constructed. The molecular function, biological processes, and signaling pathways of QLD-against CRPC were identified. Moreover, QLD was found to efficiently exert a repressive effect on CRPC tumor growth mainly by suppressing the activation of HIF-α/VEGFA and TNF-α/IL6 signaling pathways, and increasing the P53 expression level. These results successfully indicated the potential anti-CRPC mechanism of the active components of QLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwen Cao
- Urology, LONGHUA Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Urology, LONGHUA Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Gao
- Urology, LONGHUA Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenggong Li
- Andrology of Urology, Linshu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Yigeng Feng
- Urology, LONGHUA Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Urology, LONGHUA Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Chen J, Chen S, Zhou Y, Wang S, Wu W. Efficacy and Safety of Huaier Granule as an Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Integr Cancer Ther 2022; 21:15347354221083910. [PMID: 35245981 PMCID: PMC8902013 DOI: 10.1177/15347354221083910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In China, Huaier granule (HG) is widely applied to tumor adjuvant therapy. However, systematic reviews (SRs) or meta-analyses (MAs) published continuously failed to reach a consensus, without convincing evidence. An overview should be conducted to summarize the evidence-based progress and try to provide some value references for relative research and clinical practice in the future. Methods: From inception to October 2021, 8 databases in English and Chinese were searched. SRs/MAs meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Relevant criteria were used to evaluate SRs/MAs including methodological quality, reporting quality, risk of bias, and evidence quality of effect and safety. Results: The short-term effect, long-term effect, and safety in 6 included SRs/MAs were assessed in this overview according to quantitative synthesis. Results assessed by AMSTAR-2, PRISMA, and ROBIS were generally unsatisfactory with the main problems on registration or protocol, a search of grey literature, a list of excluded studies, bias of each synthetic result, and inadequate report of search strategy and synthesis methods. Additionally, 28 items were assessed as moderate quality while 12 items were low-quality and 6 items were very low-quality in GRADE. Risk of bias was the main downgrading factor. Conclusion: HG may be a promising adjuvant therapy for cancer. However, high-quality SRs/MAs and RCTs should be conducted to provide sufficient evidence so as to draw a definitive conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixin Chen
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China.,Department of Oncology, Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of NSCLC, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Shuqi Chen
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yushu Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of NSCLC, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Sumei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of NSCLC, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wanyin Wu
- Department of Oncology, Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of NSCLC, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
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Gao X, Liu J, Fan D, Li X, Fang Z, Yan K, Fan Y. Berberine enhances gemcitabine‑induced cytotoxicity in bladder cancer by downregulating Rad51 expression through inactivating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Oncol Rep 2021; 47:33. [PMID: 34935059 DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xinghua Gao
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Jikai Liu
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Daming Fan
- Department of Pathology, Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Keqiang Yan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
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