Structure and histochemical characteristics of the mucosa of the Vater's ampulla in man (according to materials of aimed biopsies)]

Examination of 52 aimed duodenal biopsies has revealed that there are several variants of the structure of the Vater's papilla mucous membrane. In a number of cases it is identicalto the mucous membrane of the duodenum. In 20 cases the Vater's papilla was covered with mucoid epithelium which was histochemically similar to the epithelium lining the stomach, bile ducts and the gallbladder. The "intermedial" forms found in these cases appearedto be capable to change into mucoid or edging epithelium. The mucous cells occasionally found in the Vater's papilla epithelium might be a variation of goblet cells. It seems that they are secreting by holocrine type.     

Current comprehensive diagnosis of pancreatobiliary cancer complicated by jaundice syndrome

The study was undertaken to enhance the efficiency of diagnosis of pancreatobiliary cancer complicated by jaundice by using the potentialities of currently available instrumental studies at most. The data of examination of 256 patients with this disease are presented. Based on diagnostic findings, the authors have constructed a diagnostic model of precision recognition of cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts, pancreatic head, Vater's papilla.     

Radiotherapy: Brightness and darkness in the era of immunotherapy

The introduction of immunotherapy into cancer treatment has radically changed clinical management of tumors. However, only a minority of patients (approximately 10 to 30%) exhibit long-term response to monotherapy with immunotherapy. Moreover, there are still many cancer types, including pancreatic cancer and glioma, which are resistant to immunotherapy. Due to the immunomodulatory effects of radiotherapy, the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy has achieved better therapeutic effects in a number of clinical trials. However, radiotherapy is a double-edged sword in the sense that it also attenuates the immune system under certain doses and fractionation schedules, not all clinical trials show improved survival in the combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Therefore, elucidation of the interactions between radiotherapy and the immune system is warranted to optimize the synergistic effects of radiotherapy and immunotherapy. In this review, we highlight the dark side as well as bright side of radiotherapy on tumor immune microenvironment and immune system. We also elucidate current status of radioimmunotherapy, both in preclinical and clinical studies, and highlight that combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy attenuates combinatorial effects in some circumstances. Moreover, we provide insights for better combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.     

替吉奥联合三维适形放疗对胰腺癌细胞生物学的影响

目的：探究替吉奥复方制剂联合三维适形放射疗法对胰腺癌细胞生物学的影响及安全性评价。方法：培养PANC-1人胰腺癌细胞,构建PANC。1胰腺癌裸鼠异位肿瘤模型并随机进行分组。观察替吉奥联合三维适形放疗对胰腺癌肿瘤细胞生长的抑制作用,记录荷瘤裸鼠的肿瘤体积以及生存期。同时观察联合治疗所产生的副作用。结果：相比于单独用药组和单独放疗组,联合组能够显著抑制肿瘤体积生长,延长荷瘤裸鼠的中位生存期。结论：替吉奥单独给药和单独三维适形放疗均能抑制肿瘤的生长,二者联合使用能够发挥协同作用,是一种潜在的高效的胰腺癌治疗手段。     

Radiopotentiation of enzalutamide over human prostate cancer cells as assessed by real-time cell monitoring

AimTo evaluate the radiopotentiation of enzalutamide in human prostate cancer cells.BackgroundWhile radiotherapy is the first line of treatment for prostate cancer, androgen blockade therapies are demonstrating significant survival benefit as monotherapies. As androgen blockade can cause cell death by apoptosis, it is likely that androgen blockade will potentiate the cytotoxic activities of radiotherapy.Materials and methodsHere, we tested the potential synergistic effects of these two treatments over two human metastatic prostate cancer cells by real-time cell analysis (RTCA), androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells (Lymph Node Carcinoma of the Prostate) and androgen-independent PC-3. Both cell lines were highly resistant to high doses of radiotherapy.ResultsA pre-treatment of LNCaP cells with IC50 concentrations of enzalutamide significantly sensitized them to radiotherapy through enhanced apoptosis. In contrast, enzalutamide resistant PC-3 cells were not sensitized to radiotherapy by androgen blockade.ConclusionsThese results provide evidence that the enzalutamide/radiotherapy combination could maximize therapeutic responses in patients with enzalutamide-sensitive prostate cancer.     

Use of 5-fluorouracil, bleomycetin and platidiam in combined treatment of localized cancer of the larynx]

Preliminary results of chemoradiotherapy in 30 patients with the larynx cancer T3T4N0M0 are presented. Two treatment schemes were applied. According to scheme I, the treatment was started with chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in doses of 1000 mg on days 1, 2 and 3, bleomycetin in doses of 15 mg on days 1, 2 and 3 and platidiam in doses of 120 mg/m2 on day 4 followed by radiotherapy to the total dose of 66 to 70 Gy. Scheme II included two analogous courses of the chemotherapy, one prior to the radiotherapy and the other after irradiation in a dose of 38 to 40 Gy, after a two-week interval the radiotherapy was continued to doses of 66 to 70 Gy. 15 patients were treated in accordance with each scheme. Complete resorption of the tumor was observed in 66.6 and 83.3 per cent of the patients treated according to schemes I and II, respectively. The results showed that the use of 5-fluorouracil, bleomycetin and platidiam in combination with radiotherapy was promising in treatment of patients with local cancer of the larynx.     

Hormonal therapy combined with radiotherapy in locally advanced prostate cancer

At present radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy are considered to be the treatment of choice for clinical T1-T2 prostate cancer. In a more advanced stage of the disease (T3) 10-year overall survival is observed in approximately 40% of patients treated with conventional radiotherapy. So far only a few methods for improving the efficacy of radiotherapy have been introduced. One of them is a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with 3 dimensional treatment planning. These novel methods make it possible to escalate the dose to the target and protect healthy tissue at the same time. The optimal volume of irradiation, total dose, fraction dose, techniques of radiotherapy, and the end points used during the follow-up are open to debate. In recent years a few clinical trials involving hormonal therapy and radiotherapy have been carried out. The most important of these are: RTOG 8307, RTOG 8610, RTOG 9202, and EORTC 22863.In the RTOG 8307 trial the comparison of outcomes of a combined treatment with a matched-control group of patients treated by radiotherapy alone has shown that adding hormonal therapy to radiotherapy resulted in a better outcome. Another trials RTOG 8531 and RTOG 8610 produced benefit due to the implementation of hormonal therapy in radiotherapy. The EORTC trial No. 22863 showed improvement in the 5-year overall survival when hormonal therapy after the completion of radiotherapy was continued for 3 years in the investigational arm. The RTOG 9202 study indicated benefit obtained from 2 years of adjuvant hormonal therapy.The results of these trials have had a substantial impact on the management of locally advanced prostate cancer, but there are still questions that have to be answered. There is no doubt that hormonal therapy is an important component of the management of locally advanced prostate cancer. Still the optimal combination of drugs and the timing of such treatment remains controversial. Considering the potential side effects of a combined treatment on the quality of life of patients and care costs, additional properly designed randomised trials are needed to identify the subgroup of patients who will obtain the greatest benefit. Currently, it can be concluded that in the group of patients with a high risk of relapse by adding hormonal therapy to radiotherapy the outcome of treatment in patients with prostate cancer has improved.     

Results of combined radiotherapy and hormonal treatment of prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml

AimTo evaluate the outcome of prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml.BackgroundThe outcome of prostate cancer patients with very high initial PSA value is not known and patients are frequently treated with palliative intent. We analyzed the outcome of radical combined hormonal treatment and radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml.MethodsBetween January 2003 and December 2007 we treated, with curative intent, 56 patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer and initial PSA value >40 ng/ml. The treatment consisted of two months of neoadjuvant hormonal treatment (LHRH analog), radical radiotherapy (68–78 Gy, conformal technique) and an optional two-year adjuvant hormonal treatment.ResultsThe median time of follow up was 61 months. 5-Year overall survival was 90%. 5-Year biochemical disease free survival was 62%. T stage, Gleason score, PSA value, and radiotherapy dose did not significantly influence the outcome. Late genitourinal and gastrointestinal toxicity was acceptable.ConclusionRadical treatment in combination with hormonal treatment and radiotherapy can be recommended for this subgroup of prostate cancer patients with good performance status and life expectancy.     

宫颈癌的治疗进展

宫颈癌是全世界妇女中第二常见的恶性肿瘤,在非洲、亚洲以及南美洲,是妇女最常见的恶性肿瘤。其发病率和死亡率仅次于乳腺癌。宫颈癌的传统治疗是根治性手术（包括广泛全子宫切除＋盆腔淋巴结清扫术）和放疗,化疗主要用于晚期或复发转移的患者。近些年,随着科学技术的发展,其手术方式及放化疗方式都有了新的进展,同时,还出现了靶向治疗、基因治疗及疫苗预防等综合防治体系。     

PF方案同步放化疗治疗中晚期宫颈癌的疗效及毒性反应研究

目的：探究PF 方案同步放化疗治疗中晚期宫颈癌患者的疗效和毒性反应。方法：回顾性分析我院在2014 年6 月～2015 年6 月期间收治的ⅡB～Ⅲ期宫颈癌患者,共152 例,根据治疗方法将其分为单纯放疗组和同步放化疗组,比较两组患者治疗的疗效 和毒性反应。结果：单纯放疗组和同步放化疗组近期疗效总有效率无显著差异,差异不具有统计学意义(P>0.05),但分别对ⅡB 和 Ⅲ期患者进行分析,Ⅲ期患者同步放疗组总有效率显著高于单纯放疗组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);同步放化疗组患者治疗 后骨髓抑制白细胞下降和消化道反应发生率显著高于单纯放疗组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),两组患者皮肤反应的发生情况 比较无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论：PF方案同步放化疗治疗Ⅲ期宫颈癌的临床疗效显著优于单纯放疗治疗,可有效提高近期总有效 率,毒性反应虽较单纯放疗组有所增加,但经临床支持治疗患者均可耐受。     

中药外用治疗直肠癌术后放化疗后局部复发的探索

直肠癌术后、放化疗后局部复发患者主要采用放射治疗、化疗以及中医中药等多学科、多层次、多方位的综合治疗。患者大多经过多程治疗后复发,体质较差,甚至有明显的恶病质,对这类患者进行大剂量放、化疗或对产生耐药的患者再次进行放疗或者化疗,只能使虚弱的生命更加垂危,加速患者死亡,中医药治疗在此阶段优势凸显出来。中医药外用治疗以扶正祛邪为法则,攻补兼施,达到改善生活质量的作用,所以在直肠癌术后放化疗后局部复发的治疗方法中,中医药外用治疗值得进一步研究探索。     

Ferroptosis,radiotherapy,and combination therapeutic strategies

Ferroptosis,an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by peroxidative damages of polyunsatu-rated-fatty-acid-containing phospholipids in cellular membranes,has recently been revealed to play an important role in radiotherapy-induced cell death and tumor suppression,and to mediate the synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy.In this review,we summarize known as well as putative mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between radiotherapy and fer-roptosis,discuss the interactions between ferroptosis and other forms of regulated cell death induced by radiotherapy,and explore combination therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis in radiotherapy and immunotherapy.This review will provide important frameworks for future investigations of ferroptosis in cancer therapy.     

功能与分子影像在头颈部肿瘤放射治疗计划和疗效评价中的应用

目前临床普遍采用功能与分子影像检测手段能来评价头颈部肿瘤的放射治疗计划和疗效,可指导个体化治疗从而提高疗效。文章概述了功能与分子影像技术CT,MRI,PET-CT,超声检测技术在头颈部肿瘤放射治疗计划制定和疗效评价中的应用进展。结果显示,不同分子影像检测方法如在检查时机的选择、诊断和鉴别诊断的价值、观察放射治疗后肿瘤的残存和复发、预测放射治疗效果、指导后续治疗等方面均可起到重要作用。采用图像融合技术进行联合应用,如PET-CT和MRI-CT等,可提高检测的准确率。临床医生需在常规影像学手段的基础上,根据头颈部肿瘤患者病情和治疗方法的不同选用正确的功能和分子影像检测手段,更好地指导制定放射治疗计划及综合评价放射治疗后的疗效。     

巨块型肝癌的放射治疗临床效果探讨（附190例报告）

目的：探讨和分析三维适形放疗和逆向调强放疗在巨块型肝癌的治疗上的临床价值。方法：回顾性分析了本院自2004年1月至2010年12月间收治的190例巨块型肝癌放射治疗患者的临床资料,根据治疗方式的不同分为三维适形放射治疗（Three—di-mensionalconformalradiationtherapy,3D．CRT）组95例以及逆向调强放疗组（Intensity-modulatedradiotherapy,IMRT）95例。并对放疗后患者肿瘤的直径以及1、3年内的生存率进行对比分析。结果：两种治疗方式对巨块型肝癌具有一定的治疗效果,其中常规三维适形放射治疗能够让肿瘤缩小5-10％,1年和3年后的存活率为78．9％（75／95）、12．6％（12／95）;而逆向调强放疗能够让肿瘤缩小15％以上,1年和3年后的存活率为85．3％（81／95）、16．8％（16／95）。结论：三维适形放射和逆向调强放疗技术均可有效的缩小肿瘤,提高患者的1、3年生存率,而逆向调强放疗更具临床优势。     

Radiation-induced circulating miRNA expression in blood of head and neck cancer patients

In recent years, scientists have found evidence confirming the aberrant expression of miRNAs in cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. The growing interest in the identification of non-invasive and specific diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers has identified microRNAs as potential candidates in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response. In the present study, we have analyzed the expression profile of circulating miR-21, -191 and -421 in peripheral blood of head and neck cancer patients (HNC) to investigate a possible modulation of mRNA levels by radiation and to identify the role of mRNA as biomarkers of cancer prognosis. Results showed a modulation of the microRNA expression at different time points after radiotherapy, suggesting that treatment may influence the release of circulating miRNAs depending also on the time interval elapsed since radiotherapy. The expression levels of miR-21, -191 and -421 were higher in blood of patients treated with radiotherapy alone after 6 months from the end of therapy and high levels of them seemed to correlate with the remission of the disease. The trends shown in this study confirmed that miRNAs could be useful prognosis markers and could provide preliminary data for further evaluation in predicting patients’ response to radiotherapy by developing miRNA-based treatments to improve the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiotherapy.     

Molecular mechanism of therapeutic approaches for human gastric cancer stem cells

Gastric cancer(GC)is a primary cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,and even after therapeutic gastrectomy,survival rates remain poor.The presence of gastric cancer stem cells(GCSCs)is thought to be the major reason for resistance to anticancer treatment(chemotherapy or radiotherapy),and for the development of tumor recurrence,epithelial–mesenchymal transition,and metastases.Additionally,GCSCs have the capacity for self-renewal,differentiation,and tumor initiation.They also synthesize antiapoptotic factors,demonstrate higher performance of drug efflux pumps,and display cell plasticity abilities.Moreover,the tumor microenvironment(TME;tumor niche)that surrounds GCSCs contains secreted growth factors and supports angiogenesis and is thus responsible for the maintenance of the growing tumor.However,the genesis of GCSCs is unclear and exploration of the source of GCSCs is essential.In this review,we provide up-todate information about GCSC-surface/intracellular markers and GCSC-mediated pathways and their role in tumor development.This information will support improved diagnosis,novel therapeutic approaches,and better prognosis using GCSC-targeting agents as a potentially effective treatment choice following surgical resection or in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.To date,most anti-GCSC blockers when used alone have been reported as unsatisfactory anticancer agents.However,when used in combination with adjuvant therapy,treatment can improve.By providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of GCSCs associated with tumors in GC,the aim is to optimize anti-GCSCs molecular approaches for GC therapy in combination with chemotherapy,radiotherapy,or other adjuvant treatment.     

Impact of Pelvic Radiotherapy on Gut Microbiota of Gynecological Cancer Patients Revealed by Massive Pyrosequencing

Although pelvic irradiation is effective for the treatment of various cancer types, many patients who receive radiotherapy experience serious complications. Gut microbial dysbiosis was hypothesized to be related to the occurrence of radiation-induced complications in cancer patients. Given the lack of clinical or experimental data on the impact of radiation on gut microbiota, a prospective observational study of gut microbiota was performed in gynecological cancer patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy. In the current study, the overall composition and alteration of gut microbiota in cancer patients receiving radiation were investigated by 454 pyrosequencing. Gut microbial composition showed significant differences (P < 0.001) between cancer patients and healthy individuals. The numbers of species-level taxa were severely reduced after radiotherapy (P < 0.045), and the abundance of each community largely changed. In particular, the phyla Firmicutes and Fusobacterium were significantly decreased by 10% and increased by 3% after radiation therapy, respectively. In addition, overall gut microbial composition was gradually remolded after the full treatment course of pelvic radiotherapy. In this set of cancer patients, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota was linked to health status, and the gut microbiota was influenced by pelvic radiotherapy. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between dysbiosis and complications induced by pelvic radiotherapy, the current study may offer insights into the treatment of cancer patients suffering from complications after radiation therapy.     

Pancreatic solitary and synchronous metastasis from breast cancer: a case report and systematic review of controversies in diagnosis and treatment

Background

Metastases from breast cancer cause the frequent involvement of lung, bone, liver, and brain, while the occurrence of metastases to the gastrointestinal tract is rare, and more frequently discovered after a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Solitary pancreatic metastases from breast cancer, without widespread disease, are actually unusual, and only 19 cases have been previously described; truly exceptional is a solitary pancreatic metastasis becoming evident together with the primary breast cancer.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old woman reported general fatigue, lethargy, and jaundice. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an ampulloma of Vater’s papilla; moreover, a neoplastic nodule in the left breast was diagnosed. She underwent surgery for both breast cancer and ampulloma of Vater’s papilla. Pathological examination of pancreatic specimen, however, did not confirm primary carcinoma of the duodenal papilla, but showed a metastatic involvement of pancreas from lobular breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry has been essential to confirm the origin of the malignancy: hormone receptors and mammaglobin were expressed in both the primary breast tumor and the pancreatic metastasis.

Conclusions

This is one of the few reported cases in literature of an isolated and synchronous pancreatic metastasis from breast cancer, where the definitive diagnosis was obtained only after surgery. We discuss the controversies in this diagnosis and the choice of correct treatment. The surgical resection of solitary metastases can be performed in the absence of disseminated disease.     

Anti-cancer activities of tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate in breast cancer patients under radiotherapy

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that administration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol present in abundance in widely consumed tea, inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis in breast cancer patients. EGCG in 400 mg capsules was orally administered three times daily to breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with radiotherapy. Parameters related to cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis were analyzed while blood samples were collected at different time points to determine efficacy of the EGCG treatment. Compared to patients who received radiotherapy alone, those given radiotherapy plus EGCG for an extended time period (two to eight weeks) showed significantly lower serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and reduced activation of metalloproteinase-9 and metalloproteinase-2 (MMP9/MMP2). Addition of sera obtained from patients treated with combination of radiotherapy and EGCG feeding for 2-8 weeks to in vitro cultures of highly-metastatic human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells resulted in the following significant changes: (1) suppression of cell proliferation and invasion; (2) arrest of cell cycles at the G0/G1 phase; (3) reduction of activation of MMP9/MMP2, expressions of Bcl-2/Bax, c-Met receptor, NF-κB, and the phosphorylation of Akt. MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to 5-10 μM EGCG also showed significant augmentation of the apoptosis inducing effects of γ-radiation, concomitant with reduced NF-κB protein level and AKT phosphorylation. These results provide hitherto unreported evidence that EGCG potentiated efficacy of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients, and raise the possibility that this tea polyphenol has potential to be a therapeutic adjuvant against human metastatic breast cancer.