Mutation status of the KMT2 family associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy and implicating diverse tumor microenvironments

Mounting evidence suggests a strong association between tumor immunity and epigenetic regulation. The histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2 (KMT2) family plays a crucial role in the methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4. By influencing chromatin structure and DNA accessibility, this modification serves as a key regulator of tumor progression and immune tolerance across various tumors. These findings highlight the potential significance of the KMT2 family in determining response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, which warrants further exploration. In this study, we integrated four ICI-treated cohorts (n = 2069) across 10 cancer types and The Cancer Genome Atlas pan-cancer cohort and conducted a comprehensive clinical and bioinformatic analysis. Our study indicated that patients with KMT2 family gene mutations benefited more from ICI therapy in terms of overall survival (P < 0.001, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.733 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.632-0.850]), progression-free survival (P = 0.002, HR = 0.669 [95% CI: 0.518-0.864]), durable clinical benefit (P < 0.001, 54.1% vs. 32.6%), and objective response rate (P < 0.001, 40.6% vs. 22.0%). Through a comprehensive analysis of the tumor microenvironment across different KMT2 mutation statuses, we observed that tumors harboring the KMT2 mutation exhibited enhanced immunogenicity, increased infiltration of immune cells, and higher levels of immune cell cytotoxicity, suggesting a propensity towards a "hot tumor" phenotype. Therefore, our study indicates a potential association between KMT2 mutations and a more favorable response to ICI therapy and implicates different tumor microenvironments associated with ICI therapy response.

Comprehensive molecular analysis identifies RET alterations association with response of ICIs in multi-immunotherapy cohorts

BACKGROUND

The RET gene, which is frequently mutated across many types of cancer, has been proven to be critically involved in tumorigenesis and tumour development; however, its prediction of the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy remains to be elucidated. The present research aims to investigate the association between RET mutations and the efficiency of ICI therapy.

METHOD

We analysed the role of RET mutations in predicting the prognosis of patients receiving ICIs therapy in the discovery cohort and validated it in the validation cohort. Then, multi-omics data from TCGA pan-cancer cohort was employed to propose the association between RET mutations and tumour inflamed anti-tumour immune response and tumour antigenicity.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that among 606 cases and across five types of cancer, RET mutation was associated with better clinical outcomes for ICIs therapy, including elevated response rate, longer progression-free survival PFS, and longer overall survival OS. Multivariate analysis showed that RET mutation could independently predict the prognosis of patients treated with ICIs, after adjusting cancer types. The predictive value of RET status for the OS of patients treated with ICIs immunotherapy was further validated in the validation cohort (n = 1,409). Subgroup analysis suggested that only the monotherapy group showed significant differences in OS(P < 0.05) and PFS(P < 0.05) between RET-wildtype tumours and RET-mutant tumours. Multi-omics data analysis revealed potential anti-tumour immunity mechanisms of RET mutations, suggesting that RET-mutant tumours have enhanced immunogenicity, higher expression of immune checkpoints and chemokines, and higher immune cell infiltration than those observed in RET-wildtype tumours; thus, potentially indicating a more favourable response to immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

RET mutation may be a predictive biomarker of enhanced response to ICIs therapy. Extensive investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms and prospective studies are needed in the future.

Clinical outcomes of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization with or without programmed death receptor-1 inhibitors in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been approved as second-line treatment regimen in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it is still worth studying whether patients can benefit from PD-1 inhibitors as first-line drugs combined with targeted drugs and locoregional therapy.

AIM

To estimate the clinical outcome of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for patients with unresectable HCC (uHCC).

METHODS

We carried out retrospective research of 65 patients with uHCC who were treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2017 to February 2022. 45 patients received the PD-1 inhibitors, lenvatinib, TACE (PD-1-Lenv-T) therapy, and 20 received the lenvatinib, TACE (Lenv-T) therapy. In terms of the dose of lenvatinib, 8 mg was given orally for patients weighing less than 60 kg and 12 mg for those weighing more than 60 kg. Of the patients in the PD-1 inhibitor combination group, 15 received Toripalimab, 14 received Toripalimab, 14 received Camrelizumab, 4 received Pembrolizumab, 9 received Sintilimab, and 2 received Nivolumab, 1 with Tislelizumab. According to the investigators’ assessment, TACE was performed every 4-6 wk when the patient had good hepatic function (Child-Pugh class A or B) until disease progression occurred. We evaluated the efficacy by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST criteria). We accessd the safety by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v 5.0. The key adverse events (AEs) after the initiation of combination therapy were observed.

RESULTS

Patients with uHCC who received PD-1-Lenv-T therapy (n = 45) had a clearly longer overall survival than those who underwent Lenv-T therapy (n = 20, 26.8 vs 14.0 mo; P = 0.027). The median progression-free survival time between the two treatment regimens was also measured {11.7 mo [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.7-15.7] in the PD-1-Lenv-T group vs 8.5 mo (95%CI: 3.0-13.9) in the Lenv-T group (P = 0.028)}. The objective response rates of the PD-1-Lenv-T group and Lenv-T group were 44.4% and 20% (P = 0.059) according to the mRECIST criteria, meanwhile the disease control rates were 93.3% and 64.0% (P = 0.003), respectively. The type and frequency of AEs showed little distinction between patients received the two treatment regimens.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the early combination of PD-1 inhibitors has manageable toxicity and hopeful efficacy in patients with uHCC.

Clinical outcomes of lenvatinib plus transarterial chemoembolization with or without programmed death receptor-1 inhibitors in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been approved as second-line treatment regimen in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it is still worth studying whether patients can benefit from PD-1 inhibitors as first-line drugs combined with targeted drugs and locoregional therapy.

AIM

To estimate the clinical outcome of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors for patients with unresectable HCC (uHCC).

METHODS

We carried out retrospective research of 65 patients with uHCC who were treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2017 to February 2022. 45 patients received the PD-1 inhibitors, lenvatinib, TACE (PD-1-Lenv-T) therapy, and 20 received the lenvatinib, TACE (Lenv-T) therapy. In terms of the dose of lenvatinib, 8 mg was given orally for patients weighing less than 60 kg and 12 mg for those weighing more than 60 kg. Of the patients in the PD-1 inhibitor combination group, 15 received Toripalimab, 14 received Toripalimab, 14 received Camrelizumab, 4 received Pembrolizumab, 9 received Sintilimab, and 2 received Nivolumab, 1 with Tislelizumab. According to the investigators’ assessment, TACE was performed every 4-6 wk when the patient had good hepatic function (Child-Pugh class A or B) until disease progression occurred. We evaluated the efficacy by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST criteria). We accessd the safety by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v 5.0. The key adverse events (AEs) after the initiation of combination therapy were observed.

RESULTS

Patients with uHCC who received PD-1-Lenv-T therapy (n = 45) had a clearly longer overall survival than those who underwent Lenv-T therapy (n = 20, 26.8 vs 14.0 mo; P = 0.027). The median progression-free survival time between the two treatment regimens was also measured {11.7 mo [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.7-15.7] in the PD-1-Lenv-T group vs 8.5 mo (95%CI: 3.0-13.9) in the Lenv-T group (P = 0.028)}. The objective response rates of the PD-1-Lenv-T group and Lenv-T group were 44.4% and 20% (P = 0.059) according to the mRECIST criteria, meanwhile the disease control rates were 93.3% and 64.0% (P = 0.003), respectively. The type and frequency of AEs showed little distinction between patients received the two treatment regimens.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the early combination of PD-1 inhibitors has manageable toxicity and hopeful efficacy in patients with uHCC.

Age, gender, geographic and clinical differences for gallstones in China: a nationwide study

Background

The etiology of gallstones at different anatomical locations may be varied. However, it has not been well studied about the prevalence of gallstones by anatomical locations and their associated factors in China.

Methods

We used the data set from preventive health screening centers covering all provinces in mainland China except for Tibet, and a total of 10,937,993 adults were included, who received abdominal ultrasonography in 2017. We analyzed the prevalence of gallstones classified by anatomical locations, including gallbladder (GB) stones, intrahepatic bile duct (IHD) stones, and extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) stones. Further, their associated factors were investigated using a logistic regression model with body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, total triglyceride, and previous cholecystectomy, with covariates of age and sex.

Results

The age- and gender-standardized prevalence (AGS-prevalence) of gallstone diseases was 5.13% (95% CI: 5.11–5.14%). GB, IHD, and EHD stones accounted for 76.3%, 24.3%, and 0.2% of all gallstone cases (concomitant cases were present). GB, IHD, and EHD gallstones presented different patterns by the age, gender, geographic and metabolic factors. Overall, the age-standardized prevalence was higher in women than that in men (5.41% vs. 4.85%, P<0.001). The gender standardized prevalence of all gallstone subtypes apparently increased with age (P<0.001), especially for GB stones from 1.05% (age 18–30) to 11.6% (age ≥70) (P<0.001). There was a marked geographic variation with AGS-prevalence ranging from 3.00% to 8.86% among different provinces. Noticeably, higher BMI, fasting glucose level, or total triglyceride level was associated with a higher prevalence of overall gallstones and GB stones (OR >1), but associated with a lower prevalence of IHD and EHD stones.

Conclusions

The prevalence of gallstones in China largely varied in its anatomical location, demographic factors, geographic location, and metabolic factors, suggesting that the etiology of each subtype may be different. Further investigation should be conducted.

Signature based on molecular subtypes of deoxyribonucleic acid methylation predicts overall survival in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Epigenetic alterations contribute to tumor heterogeneity in early stages.

AIM

To identify the specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation sites that influence the prognosis of GC patients and explore the prognostic value of a model based on subtypes of DNA methylation.

METHODS

Patients were randomly classified into training and test sets. Prognostic DNA methylation sites were identified by integrating DNA methylation profiles and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas GC cohort. In the training set, unsupervised consensus clustering was performed to identify distinct subgroups based on methylation status. A risk score model was built based on Kaplan-Meier, least absolute shrinkage and selector operation, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A test set was used to validate this model.

RESULTS

Three subgroups based on DNA methylation profiles in the training set were identified using 1061 methylation sites that were significantly associated with survival. These methylation subtypes reflected differences in T, N, and M category, age, stage, and prognosis. Forty-one methylation sites were screened as specific hyper- or hypomethylation sites for each specific subgroup. Enrichment analysis revealed that they were mainly involved in pathways related to carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and progression. Finally, two methylation sites were chosen to generate a prognostic model. The high-risk group showed a markedly poor prognosis compared to the low-risk group in both the training [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28-3.92, P < 0.001] and test (HR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.19-3.78, P = 0.002) datasets.

CONCLUSION

DNA methylation-based classification reflects the epigenetic heterogeneity of GC and may contribute to predicting prognosis and offer novel insights for individualized treatment of patients with GC.

Efficacy and safety of lenvatinib for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective, real-world study conducted in China

BACKGROUND

Lenvatinib has become an indispensable part of treatment regimens for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). Several recent real-world studies appear to have confirmed this; however, there are etiological differences. This necessitates further real-world studies of lenvatinib across diverse populations, such as in China.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib in a Chinese HCC patient population under real-world conditions.

METHODS

This is a retrospective and multiregional study involving patients with aHCC receiving lenvatinib monotherapy. Efficacy was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Baseline characteristics and adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the entire study.

RESULTS

In total, 54 HCC patients treated with lenvatinib monotherapy were included for final analysis. The objective response rate was 22% (n = 12) with a progression-free survival (PFS) of 168 d; however, AEs occurred in 92.8% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage [hazard ratio (HR) 0.465; 95%CI: 0.23-0.93; P = 0.031], portal vein tumor thrombus (HR 0.38; 95%CI: 0.15-0.94; P = 0.037) and Child-Pugh classifications (HR 0.468; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97; P = 0.042) were significant factors affecting PFS. The sensitivity (56.7%) and specificity (83.3%) of decreasing serum biomarkers including alpha-fetoprotein were calculated in order to predict tumor size reduction. Gene sequencing also provided insights into potential gene mutation signatures related to the effect of lenvatinib.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm previous evidence from the phase III REFLECT study. The majority of patients in this Chinese sample were suffering from concomitant hepatitis B virus-related HCC. However, further analysis suggested that baseline characteristics, changes in serum biomarkers and gene sequencing may hold the key for predicting lenvatinib responses. Further large-scale prospective studies that incorporate more basic medical science measures should be conducted.

Efficacy and safety of lenvatinib for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective, real-world study conducted in China

BACKGROUND

Lenvatinib has become an indispensable part of treatment regimens for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). Several recent real-world studies appear to have confirmed this; however, there are etiological differences. This necessitates further real-world studies of lenvatinib across diverse populations, such as in China.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib in a Chinese HCC patient population under real-world conditions.

METHODS

This is a retrospective and multiregional study involving patients with aHCC receiving lenvatinib monotherapy. Efficacy was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Baseline characteristics and adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the entire study.

RESULTS

In total, 54 HCC patients treated with lenvatinib monotherapy were included for final analysis. The objective response rate was 22% (n = 12) with a progression-free survival (PFS) of 168 d; however, AEs occurred in 92.8% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage [hazard ratio (HR) 0.465; 95%CI: 0.23-0.93; P = 0.031], portal vein tumor thrombus (HR 0.38; 95%CI: 0.15-0.94; P = 0.037) and Child-Pugh classifications (HR 0.468; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97; P = 0.042) were significant factors affecting PFS. The sensitivity (56.7%) and specificity (83.3%) of decreasing serum biomarkers including alpha-fetoprotein were calculated in order to predict tumor size reduction. Gene sequencing also provided insights into potential gene mutation signatures related to the effect of lenvatinib.

CONCLUSION

Our findings confirm previous evidence from the phase III REFLECT study. The majority of patients in this Chinese sample were suffering from concomitant hepatitis B virus-related HCC. However, further analysis suggested that baseline characteristics, changes in serum biomarkers and gene sequencing may hold the key for predicting lenvatinib responses. Further large-scale prospective studies that incorporate more basic medical science measures should be conducted.

[Advances in application of functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders]

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), characterized by pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, are the most common chronic orofacial pain. However, the etiologies and pathologies of TMD related chronic pain are poorly understood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow without invasiveness, and has been widely used in chronic pain research. We reviewed recent fMRI studies exploring the brain changes of patients with painful TMD to investigate the role of central nervous system in abnormal pain perception and impaired pain modulation, and to summarize the effects of splint therapy, in the hope of facilitating the clinical diagnosis and treatment of TMD.

Albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio: A novel prognostic index of overall survival in cholangiocarcinoma patients after surgery

AIM

To clarify the prognostic significance of preoperative albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) subjects receiving surgery.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we included 303 CCA patients receiving surgery without preoperative therapy between 2002 and 2014. Clinicopathological characteristics (including AAPR) were analyzed to determine predictors of post-operative overall survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS). In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were conducted, followed by application of time-dependent receiver operating curves to identify the optimal cut-off.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed both decreased overall survival [hazard ratio (HR): 2.88, 95%CI: 1.19-5.78] and recurrence-free survival (HR: 2.31, 95%CI: 1.40–3.29) in patients with AAPR < 0.41 compared to those with AAPR ≥ 0.41. The optimal cut-off of AAPR was 0.41. Of the 303 subjects, 253 (83.5%) had an AAPR over 0.41. The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 70.2%, 38.0% and 16.5%, respectively in the low (< 0.41) AAPR group, which were significantly lower than those in the high (≥ 0.41) AAPR group (81.7%, 53.9%, and 33.4%, respectively) (P < 0.0001). Large tumor size, multiple tumors, and advanced clinical stage were also identified as significant predictors of poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Our outcomes showed that AAPR was a potential valuable prognostic indicator in CCA patients undergoing surgery, which should be further confirmed by prospective studies. Moreover, it is necessary to investigate the mechanisms concerning the correlation of low AAPR with poor post-operative survival in CCA patients.

Nomogram to predict overall survival after gallbladder cancer resection in China

AIM

To integrate clinically significant variables related to prognosis after curative resection for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) into a predictive nomogram.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-two GBC patients who underwent curative intent surgical resection at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were included. This retrospective case study was conducted at PUMCH of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC) in China from January 1, 2003 to January 1, 2018. The continuous variable carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) was converted into a categorical variable (cCA19-9) based on the normal reference range. Stages 0 to IIIA were merged into one category, while the remaining stages were grouped into another category. Pathological grade X (GX) was treated as a missing value. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to select variables to construct a nomogram. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were performed via the concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots. The performance of the nomogram was estimated using the calibration curve. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed to evaluate the predictive accuracy and net benefit of the nomogram, respectively.

RESULTS

Of these 142 GBC patients, 55 (38.7%) were male, and the median and mean age were 64 and 63.9 years, respectively. Forty-eight (33.8%) patients in this cohort were censored in the survival analysis. The median survival time was 20 months. A series of methods, including the likelihood ratio test and Akaike information criterion (AIC) as well as stepwise, forward, and backward analyses, were used to select the model, and all yielded identical results. Jaundice [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60-5.27], cCA19-9 (HR = 3.2; 95%CI: 1.91-5.39), stage (HR = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.16-3.09), and resection (R) (HR = 2.82; 95%CI: 1.54-5.16) were selected as significant predictors and combined into a survival time predictive nomogram (C-index = 0.803; 95%CI: 0.766-0.839). High prediction accuracy (adjusted C-index = 0.797) was further verified via bootstrap validation. The calibration plot demonstrated good performance of the nomogram. ROC curve analysis revealed a high sensitivity and specificity. A high net benefit was proven by DCA.

CONCLUSION

A nomogram has been constructed to predict the overall survival of GBC patients who underwent radical surgery from a clinical database of GBC at PUMCH.

Prognostic significance of the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio in gallbladder cancer patients

AIM

To investigate the prognostic role of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) on patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) in this study.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-four GBC patients were retrospectively analyzed, who received potentially curative cholecystectomy in our institute from March 2005 to December 2017. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to determine the optimal cut-offs for these biomarkers. In addition, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis as well as multivariate analysis were applied for prognostic analyses.

RESULTS

ROC curve revealed that the optimal cut-off value for FAR was 0.08. FAR was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.045), jaundice (P < 0.001), differentiation (P = 0.002), resection margin status (P < 0.001), T stage (P < 0.001), TNM stage (P < 0.001), and CA199 (P < 0.001) as well as albumin levels (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that the resection margin status [hazard ratio (HR): 2.343, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.532-3.581, P < 0.001], TNM stage (P = 0.035), albumin level (HR = 0.595, 95%CI: 0.385-0.921, P = 0.020) and FAR (HR: 2.813, 95%CI: 1.765-4.484, P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors in GBC patients.

CONCLUSION

An elevated preoperative FAR was significantly correlated with unfavorable overall survival in GBC patients, while an elevated preoperative albumin level was a protective prognostic factor for patients with GBC. The preoperative FAR could be used to predict the prognosis of GBC patients, which was easily accessible, cost-effective and noninvasive.

Prognostic impact of the red cell distribution width in esophageal cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To clarify the previous discrepant conclusions, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of red cell distribution width (RDW) in esophageal cancer (EC).

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases to identify clinical studies, followed by using STATA version 12.0 for statistical analysis. Studies that met the following criteria were considered eligible: (1) Studies including EC patients who underwent radical esophagectomy; (2) studies including patients with localized disease without distant metastasis; (3) studies including patients without preoperative neoadjuvant therapy; (4) studies including patients without previous antiinflammatory therapies and with available preoperative laboratory outcomes; (5) studies reporting association between the preoperative RDW and overall survival (OS)/disease-free survival (DFS)/cancer-specific survival (CSS); and (6) studies published in English.

RESULTS

A total of six articles, published between 2015 and 2017, fulfilled the selection criteria in the end. Statistical analysis showed that RDW was not associated with the prognosis of EC patients, irrespective of OS/CSS [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-1.57, P = 0.000] or DFS (HR = 1.42, 95%CI: 0.96-1.88, P = 0.000). Subgroup analysis indicated that elevated RDW was significantly associated with worse OS/CSS of EC patients when RDW > 13% (HR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.13-1.76, P = 0.000), when the patient number ≤ 400 (HR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.13-1.76, P = 0.000) and when the study type was retrospective (HR = 1.42, 95%CI : 1.16-1.69, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

Contrary to our general understanding, this meta-analysis revealed that RDW cannot serve as an indicator of poor prognosis in patients with EC. However, it may still be a useful predictor of unfavorable prognosis using an appropriate cut-off value.

Prognostic significance of combined preoperative fibrinogen and CA199 in gallbladder cancer patients

AIM

To investigate the prognostic value of the combination of preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).

METHODS

The clinicopathological data of 154 GBC patients were retrospectively reviewed after surgery. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to verify the optimum cut-off values for plasma fibrinogen and CA199. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with GBC prognosis. Based on the HRs calculated via multivariate survival analyses, patients with elevated plasma fibrinogen and CA199 levels were allocated a score of 2.1; those with an elevated plasma fibrinogen level only were allocated a score of 1, those with an elevated CA199 level only were allocated a score of 1.1, and those with neither of these abnormalities were allocated a score of 0.

RESULTS

ROC curve analysis showed that the optimum cut-off values for preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 were 3.47 g/L and 25.45 U/mL, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that elevated preoperative plasma fibrinogen and CA199 levels were significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.711, 95%CI: 1.114-2.627, P = 0.014, and HR = 1.842, 95%CI: 1.111-3.056, P = 0.018). When we combined these two parameters, the area under the ROC curve increased from 0.735 (for preoperative plasma fibrinogen only) and 0.729 (for preoperative CA199 only) to 0.765. When this combined variable was added to the multivariate analysis, the combination of plasma fibrinogen and CA199 (P < 0.001), resection margin (P < 0.001) and TNM stage (P = 0.010) were independent prognostic factors for GBC.

CONCLUSION

The combination of plasma fibrinogen and CA199 may serve as a more efficient independent prognostic biomarker for postoperative GBC patients than either parameter alone.

Threonine and tyrosine kinase may serve as a prognostic biomarker for gallbladder cancer

AIM

To detect the expression of threonine and tyrosine kinase (TTK) in gallbladder cancer (GBC) specimens and analyze the associations between TTK expression and clinicopathological parameters and clinical prognosis.

METHODS

A total of 68 patients with GBC who underwent surgical resection were enrolled in this study. The expression of TTK in GBC tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The assessment of TTK expression was conducted using the H-scoring system. H-score was calculated by the multiplication of the overall staining intensity with the percentage of positive cells. The expression of TTK in the cytoplasm and nucleus was scored separately to achieve respective H-score values. The correlations between TTK expression and clinicopathological parameters and clinical prognosis were analyzed using Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.

RESULTS

In both the nucleus and cytoplasm, the expression of TTK in tumor tissues was significantly lower than that in normal tissues (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively). Using the median H-score as the cutoff value, it was discovered that, GBC patients with higher levels of TTK expression in the nucleus, but not the cytoplasm, had favorable overall survival (P < 0.001), and it was still statistically meaningful in Cox regression analysis. Further investigation indicated that there were close negative correlations between TTK expression and tumor differentiation (P = 0.041), CA 19-9 levels (P = 0.016), T stage (P < 0.001), nodal involvement (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P = 0.024) and TNM stage (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The expression of TTK in GBC is lower than that in normal tissues. Higher levels of TTK expression in GBC are concomitant with longer overall survival. TTK is a favorable prognostic biomarker for patients with GBC.

Precision medicine: In need of guidance and surveillance

Precision medicine, currently a hotspot in mainstream medicine, has been strongly promoted in recent years. With rapid technological development, such as next-generation sequencing, and fierce competition in molecular targeted drug exploitation, precision medicine represents an advance in science and technology; it also fulfills needs in public health care. The clinical translation and application of precision medicine - especially in the prevention and treatment of tumors - is far from satisfactory; however, the aims of precision medicine deserve approval. Thus, this medical approach is currently in its infancy; it has promising prospects, but it needs to overcome numbers of problems and deficiencies. It is expected that in addition to conventional symptoms and signs, precision medicine will define disease in terms of the underlying molecular characteristics and other environmental susceptibility factors. Those expectations should be realized by constructing a novel data network, integrating clinical data from individual patients and personal genomic background with existing research on the molecular makeup of diseases. In addition, multi-omics analysis and multi-discipline collaboration will become crucial elements in precision medicine. Precision medicine deserves strong support, and its development demands directed momentum. We propose three kinds of impetus (research, application and collaboration impetus) for such directed momentum toward promoting precision medicine and accelerating its clinical translation and application.

First Report of a Group 16SrI Phytoplasma Associated with Amaranthus hypochondriacus Cladodes in China

Amaranthus spp. are cultivated worldwide as leafy vegetable, cereal, and ornamentals. In China, stems and leaves of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. are used as a vegetable (2). In July 2010, sporadic amaranth plants exhibiting symptoms of cladodes and spica proliferation were observed in a vegetable garden near Foshan, Guangdong, China. Stem samples were collected from two symptomatic and two asymptomatic plants. Total DNA was extracted with a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method (1). Nested PCR with a combination of phytoplasma-specific universal primer pairs (P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2) amplified 16S rDNA sequences with the expected size of 1.2 kb from all samples of symptomatic amaranth plants, but not from the asymptomatic plants (3). Nested PCR products yielded identical AluI, HhaI, HpaII, HaeIII, KpnI, MseI, RsaI, Sau3AI, and TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles with chinaberry witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrI-B subgroup), but different from peanut witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrII group), jujube witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrV group), and paulownia witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrI-D subgroup). Nested PCR products were purified, cloned in pMD18-T Simple Vector (TaKaRa, Dalian, China), and sequenced. The 16S rDNA sequences were identical and deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JF323034). GenBank BLASTn analysis indicated that the amaranth extracts showed as high as 99% sequence identity with the members of 16SrI group phytoplasmas, including those associated with arecanut yellow leaf disease (FJ998269) and aster yellow AY-27 (HM467127). A polygenetic tree was constructed using MEGA 4.0 based on the 16S rDNA sequences of amaranth cladode phytoplasma and other phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrI phytoplasma group. In phylogenetic analysis, the sequences clustered on a single branch with members of 16SrI-B subgroup in the tree. Therefore, the phytoplasma was classified in subgroup 16SrI-B. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a subgroup 16SrI-B phytoplasma associated with diseased A. hypochondriacus in China. References: (1) E. Angelini et al. Vitis 40:79, 2001. (2) M. Costea et al. Econ. Bot. 57:646, 2003. (3) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.

[Refolding of recombinant proteins in vitro]

Refolding of recombinant proteins is an important event in the downstream process of genetic engineering. On the basis of the mechanism of protein folding in vitro, general strategy of recombinant protein refolding is postulated, and major developments in recent years on this field are reviewed, including: molecular chaperone mediated refolding, detergent-assisted refolding, protein refolding in reverse micelle, addition of folding enhancer and methods for the formation of disulfide bond during protein refolding.

Expression of transforming growth factor beta in radiation interstitial pneumonitis

We investigated the changes in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) mRNA and TGF-beta 3 protein expression that occur in radiation interstitial pneumonitis. We used TGF-beta 1-cDNA probe in situ hybridization and TGF-beta 3 polyclonal antibody in immunohistochemical techniques. Our results showed that the distribution of TGF-beta 1 mRNA and TGF-beta 3 protein basically coincided in blood vessels, airways, lung parenchyma, and alveolar macrophages. However, bronchial epithelial cells expressed only TGF-beta 3 proteins and no TGF-beta 1 mRNA. We found an increased expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA and TGF-beta 3 proteins in radiation interstitial pneumonitis.

Further characterization of Chinese Leishmania isolates by isoenzyme electrophoresis

Ten Chinese Leishmania isolates from different endemic areas and hosts are characterized by isoenzyme electrophoresis for 9 enzymes. Seven were isolated from visceral leishmaniasis patients, one from an infected dog, one from a sandfly and one from a naturally infected racoon dog. Eight of the 10 isolates were indistinguishable in isoenzyme profile from the L infantum reference strain. The isoenzyme profiles of the remaining two isolates (from kala azar patients in Xinjiang) could not be characterized in this study and need further research.