Serum miR‐92a‐1 is a novel diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with high mortality. Abnormally expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered novel biomarkers in cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of miR‐92a‐1 in patients with CRC. Serum samples were collected from 148 patients pathologically diagnosed with CRC and 68 gender‐ and age‐matched healthy volunteers. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to measure serum miR‐92a‐1 level. Relationship between miR‐92a‐1 and clinicopathological features of CRC cases was analysed via chi‐square test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to estimate the diagnostic value of miR‐92a‐1 in CRC. Serum miR‐92a‐1 was significantly up‐regulated in CRC patients compared with healthy individuals (P < .001). Moreover, miR‐92a‐1 expression was correlated with TNM stage (P = .02), histological stage (P = .003), lymph node metastasis (P = .003) and distant metastasis (P < .001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.914, suggesting high diagnostic accuracy of miR‐92a‐1 in ROC. The optimal cut‐off value was 1.485, with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 95.6%. MiR‐92a‐1 is increased in CRC patients and correlated with aggressive clinical characteristics. Serum miR‐92a‐1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC.     

结直肠癌肝转移患者血清OPN、YKL-40、HGF和VEGF-A水平及其危险因素分析

目的:检测结直肠癌肝转移患者血清骨桥蛋白(Osteopontin,OPN)、人类软骨糖蛋白-39(Human cartilage gp-39,YKL-40)、肝细胞生长因子(Hepatocyte growth factor,HGF)和血管内皮生长因子A(Vascular endothelial growth factor A,VEGF-A)水平,并分析直肠癌患者发生肝转移的危险因素。方法:收集56例发生肝转移的直结肠癌患者和50例未发生肝转移的直结肠癌患者,采用酶联免疫法检测两组患者血清OPN、YKL-40、HGF和VEGF-A的水平。收集所有患者的临床资料,分析直肠癌患者发生肝转移的危险因素。结果:结直肠癌肝转移患者血清OPN、YKL-40、HGF和VEGF-A水平均显著高于未发生肝转移的直结肠癌患者(P0.05);糖尿病、肿瘤最大直径、病理类型、分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移、盆腹膜种植、肝外转移、吸烟史均与结直肠癌发生肝转移相关(P0.05);而HGF、VEGF-A、糖尿病、肿瘤最大直径≥5 cm、淋巴结转移、盆腹膜种植、肝外转移是直肠癌发生肝转移的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:结直肠癌肝转移患者血清OPN、YKL-40、HGF和VEGF-A明显升高,HGF、VEGF-A、糖尿病、肿瘤最大直径≥5 cm、淋巴结转移、盆腹膜种植、肝外转移是直肠癌发生肝转移的独立危险因素。     

单切口腹腔镜在结直肠手术中的应用效果及对炎症因子与应激反应的影响

目的:探讨单切口腹腔镜在结直肠手术中的应用效果及对炎症因子与应激反应的影响。方法:选择2018年1月至2019年10月我院接诊的98例结直肠癌患者,通过随机数表法分为2组,每组49例。观察组使用单切口腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术,对照组使用传统腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术,常规5孔操作法。比较两组围术期相关情况、手术前后血清炎症因子水平的变化、手术后应激反应及并发症的发生情况。结果:两组淋巴结清扫个数、中转开腹例数、术后排气时间比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组手术时间明显长于对照组,脐切口长度、住院时间、术中出血量均显著短于或低于对照组;两组术后1 d、3 d、5 d时高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)、肾上腺素(E)、皮质醇(Cor)水平均明显高于术前(P0.05);且观察组术后1d、3d、5d时hs-CRP、TNF-α、IL-6、NE、E、Cor较对照组显著降低(P0.05);两组吻合口瘘、吻合口狭窄、吻合口出血、小肠穿孔、肠梗阻、感染的总发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:和传统5孔操作法相比,单切口腹腔镜结直肠癌根治术治疗结直肠癌患者的手术时间更长,但术后炎症因子表达更低,应激反应更小,有利于患者术后恢复。     

PD-1、PD-L1的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性分析

目的:分析程序性死亡因子-1(PD-1)、程序性死亡1-配体(PD-L1)的表达与肺癌临床病理特征及预后的相关性。方法:回顾性分析我院2015年3月～2016年6月收治的73例肺癌患者的临床资料,取距离切除肿瘤边缘3cm内的非癌组织作为癌旁组织。比较两组PD-1、PD-L1的表达,分析其和肺癌患者临床病理特征和预后的关系,采用COX比例回归分析肺癌患者预后的影响因素。结果:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率均显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05)。不同性别、年龄、病理类型、吸烟情况、EGFR表达、肿瘤大小肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1的阳性表达率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);低分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ及Ⅳ期、有淋巴结转移肺癌患者PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达率分别高于中分化程度、临床分期Ⅲ期、无淋巴结转移患者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。PD-1、PD-L1阳性表达及阴性表达组无疾病进展生存期比较均有统计学差异(P0.05)。COX比例风险回归模型显示分化程度、临床分期、淋巴结转移、PD-1、PD-L1的表达是影响肺癌患者预后的危险因素(P0.05)。结论:肺癌组织PD-1、PD-L1呈高表达,可能参与肺癌的发生发展,有助于病情严重程度的评价和预后预测。     

OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性与肺癌癌痛患者镇痛效果的相关性

目的:探讨阿片样物质受体(μ1 opioid receptor,OPRM1)(A118G)基因多态性与肺癌癌痛患者镇痛效果的相关性。方法:选取本院2017年3月至2019年10月收治的360例肺癌患者作为研究对象,判断患者阿片耐受与不良反应发生情况。收集患者血液指标,检测OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性情况并进行相关性分析。结果:在360例患者中,阿片耐受78例(耐受组),耐受率为21.7%;耐受组的性别、年龄、体重指数、肿瘤最大直径等与非耐受组对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05),两组临床分期与淋巴结转移等对比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。OPRM1(A118G)基因共有AA、AG、GG三种基因型,两组人群的OPRM1(A118G)基因型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡定律;两组OPRM1(A118G)基因型分布差异具有统计学意义,耐受组的OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型比例显著高于非耐受组(P0.05),等位基因G频率显著高于非耐受组(P0.05);耐受组的呼吸抑制、恶心呕吐、头晕、皮肤瘙痒等不良反应发生率为35.9%,显著高于非耐受组的2.8%(P0.05)。直线相关性分析显示OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型与阿片耐受、淋巴结转移、临床分期都呈现相关性(P0.05);二分类变量Logistic回归分析显示OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型、临床分期、淋巴结转移为影响阿片耐受的主要因素(P0.05)。结论:肺癌癌痛患者在镇痛中存在阿片耐受情况,与患者的OPRM1(A118G)基因多态性与治疗不良反应显著相关,OPRM1(A118G)基因GG基因型、临床分期、淋巴结转移为影响阿片耐受的主要因素。     

结直肠癌患者血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平与临床病理特征及预后的关系

摘要 目的：探究结直肠癌血清生长分化因子-15（GDF-15）、粒细胞集落刺激因子（G-CSF）水平与患者临床病理参数、预后的关系,并分析其对结直肠癌的诊断价值。方法：采集结直肠癌患者、结直肠腺瘤患者及健康体检志愿者的血清样本,酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）实验检测血清GDF-15、G-CSF;分析结直肠癌患者血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平与患者临床病理参数的关系;Kaplan Meier生存曲线分析血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平与患者预后的关系;受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）分析血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平对结直肠癌的诊断价值。结果：结直肠癌患者血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平高于结直肠腺瘤患者及健康体检志愿者（均P<0.05）;血清GDF-15水平与肿瘤直径、分化程度、远处转移及TNM分期相关（均P<0.05）;血清G-CSF水平与肿瘤分化程度、远处转移及TNM分期相关（均P<0.05）;Kaplan Meier生存曲线结果显示,血清GDF-15低表达、G-CSF低表达患者的术后5年总生存率及中位生存时间均分别高于血清GDF-15高表达、G-CSF高表达患者（均P<0.05）;ROC分析结果表明,血清GDF-15、G-CSF有较好的诊断结直肠癌的价值,血清GDF-15、G-CSF联合应用的敏感度、特异度分别为0.876、0.863。结论：结直肠癌患者血清GDF-15、G-CSF水平升高,且均与患者病情恶性进展、不良预后相关;血清GDF-15、G-CSF是诊断结直肠癌的潜在指标。     

花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢氧化失活PTEN促进结直肠癌生长

摘要 目的：本研究旨在阐明过表达COX-2的结直肠癌中花生四烯酸代谢与PTEN及其下游通路的相互关系。方法：利用过表达COX-2结直肠癌细胞系CT26和Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤模型,联合花生四烯酸、COX-2抑制剂NS-398和COX-2基因敲除的干预,采用流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡、细胞周期及活性氧的产生;Transwell和克隆形成试验观察细胞的迁移和增殖能力;Western blot和免疫组化检测PTEN及其下游相关蛋白的表达。结果：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧并失活PTEN抑癌基因表达,从而激活PI3K-AKT蛋白促进CT26结直肠癌细胞迁移和增殖,抑制细胞凋亡;而COX-2抑制剂NS-398阻止了花生四烯酸在CT26结直肠癌细胞中的恶性生物学行为。同时,在COX-2基因敲除Apc ^Min/+小鼠腺瘤组织中,减弱了氧化应激水平,增加了PTEN表达,抑制了PI3K-AKT磷酸化,进一步抑制腺瘤生长,提高小鼠生存率。结论：花生四烯酸通过COX-2酶代谢产生活性氧下调PTEN活性,并激活PI3K-AKT促进结直肠癌生长;COX-2抑制剂可间接促进PTEN表达,抑制结直肠癌生长,能够作为CRC的潜在治疗靶点。     

Complexities and pitfalls in analyzing and interpreting mitochondrial DNA content in human cancer

Mutations in the human mitochondrial genome have been observed in all types of human cancer, indicating that mutations might contribute to tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence, or drug response. This possibility is appealing because of the known shift from oxidative metabolism to glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, that occurs in malignancy. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations could either be maternally inherited and predispose to cancer (germ line mutations) or occur sporadically in the mtDNA of specific tissues (tissue- or tumor-specific somatic mutations) and contribute to the tumor initiation and progression process. High-throughput sequencing technologies now enable comprehensive detection of mtDNA variation in tissues and bodily fluids, with the potential to be used as an early detection tool that may impact the treatment of cancer. Here, we discuss insights into the roles of mtDNA mutations in carcinogenesis, highlighting the complexities involved in the analysis and interpretation of mitochondrial genomic content, technical challenges in studying their contribution to pathogenesis, and the value of mtDNA mutations in developing early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies for cancer.     

The advent of de novo proteins for cancer immunotherapy

Engineered proteins are revolutionizing immunotherapy, but advances are still needed to harness their full potential. Traditional protein engineering methods use naturally existing proteins as a starting point, and therefore, are intrinsically limited to small alterations of a protein's natural structure and function. Conversely, computational de novo protein design is free of such limitation, and can produce a virtually infinite number of novel protein sequences, folds, and functions. Recently, we used de novo protein engineering to create Neoleukin-2/15 (Neo-2/15), a protein mimetic of the function of both interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-15 (IL-15). To our knowledge, Neo-2/15 is the first de novo protein with immunotherapeutic activity, and in murine cancer models, it has demonstrated enhanced therapeutic potency and reduced toxicity compared to IL-2. De novo protein design is already showcasing its tremendous potential for driving the next wave of protein-based therapeutics that are explicitly engineered to treat disease.     

COVID-19 pandemic and patients with cancer: The protocol of a Clinical Oncology center in Tehran,Iran

AimTo provide recommendations for the management of patients with cancer in the COVID-19 era.BackgroundThe current global pandemic of COVID-19 has severely impacted global healthcare systems. Several groups of people are considered high-risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, including patients with cancer. Therefore, protocols for the better management of these patients during this viral pandemic are necessary. So far, several protocols have been presented regarding the management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, none of them points to a developing country with limited logistics and facilities.MethodsIn this review, we have provided a summary of recommendations on the management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic based on our experience in Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, Iran.ResultsWe recommend that patients with cancer should be managed in an individualized manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsOur recommendation provides a guide for oncology centers of developing countries for better management of cancer.