[Advances in Association of Estrogen and Human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

Research progress on arsenic, arsenic-containing medicinal materials, and arsenic-containing preparations: clinical application, pharmacological effects, and toxicity

Introduction: The toxicity of arsenic is widely recognized globally, mainly harming human health by polluting water, soil, and food. However, its formulations can also be used for the clinical treatment of diseases such as leukemia and tumors. Arsenic has been used as a drug in China for over 2,400 years, with examples such as the arsenic-containing drug realgar mentioned in Shennong's Herbal Classic. We have reviewed references on arsenic over the past thirty years and found that research has mainly focused on clinical, pharmacological, and toxicological aspects. Results and Discussion: The finding showed that in clinical practice, arsenic trioxide is mainly used in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) at a dose of 10 mg/d for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); realgar can be used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and lymphoma. In terms of pharmacology, arsenic mainly exerts anti-tumor effects. The dosage range of the action is 0.01-80 μmol/L, and the concentration of arsenic in most studies does not exceed 20 μmol/L. The pharmacological effects of realgar include antiviral activity, inhibition of overactivated lactate dehydrogenase, and resistance to malaria parasites. In terms of toxicity, arsenic is toxic to multiple systems in a dose-dependent manner. For example, 5 μmol/L sodium arsenite can induce liver oxidative damage and promote the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and 15 μmol/L sodium arsenite induces myocardial injury; when the concentration is higher, it is more likely to cause toxic damage.

Overexpression of CXCR4 promotes invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer via EGFR and MMP-9

The aim of the present study was to verify whether overexpression of CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4) promotes the invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), and to detect the association between CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9. The effects of overexpression of CXCR4 on lung cancer cell functions were investigated by migration and invasion assays. Western blotting and zymograph assays were used to analyze the protein expression levels of EGFR and the production of MMP-9, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the expression of EGFR, CXCR4 and MMP-9 in NSCLC. Statistical analyses were used to detect the associations among EGFR, CXCR4 and MMP-9 in NSCLC. Finally, survival analyses were performed. CXCR4 overexpression enhanced cell motility and invasion. CXCR4 also promoted expression of EGFR and elevated MMP-9 production. CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9 were highly expressed in NSCLC, and were not identified as associated with age and sex (P>0.05). However, they were associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). CXCR4, EGFR and CXCR4 expression were positively associated with one another in NSCLC (P<0.05). In addition, patients with positive expression of CXCR4, EGFR or MMP-9 in tumors exhibited significantly shorter overall survival compared with those with negative expression (P<0.05). In conclusion, CXCR4 overexpression enhanced cell motility and invasion via EGFR and MMP-9. CXCR4, EGFR and MMP-9 were identified as highly expressed in NSCLC, and there was positive correlation among them.