Neutrophil-to-Apolipoprotein A1 Ratio Predicted Overall Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Transarterial Chemoembolization.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive capability of neutrophil-to-apolipoprotein A1 ratio (NAR) for predicting overall survival (OS) among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the clinical features of 554 patients with HCC receiving TACE and assessed NAR's predictive value for OS with 222 patients (the discovery cohort) and 332 patients (the validation cohort). The association of NAR with circulation lectin-type oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1-positive (LOX-1+ ) polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) was illustrated. RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression revealed that lymphocyte count; Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) stage; and NAR were independent prognostic factors in the discovery cohort. The validation cohort confirmed the independent prognostic value of TNM stage and NAR. Patients with low NAR (<2.7) displayed significantly increased OS in the discovery cohort (59.8 months vs. 21 months), the validation group (38.0 months vs. 23.6 months), and the total cohort (44.1 months vs. 22.0 months). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to combine Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score with discretized NAR. C-index illustrated that NAR-integrated CLIP score was the best model compared with NAR and CLIP score. Furthermore, NAR-CLIP presented superior predictive capacity for 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, and 60-month survival compared with CLIP score by survival receiver-operator characteristic analysis in the discovery cohort, validation cohort, and total cohort. NAR was significantly associated with LOX-1+ PMN-MDSCs by linear regression. CONCLUSION: This study identified NAR as an independent predictor for OS among patients with HCC receiving TACE. NAR reflected circulation LOX-1+ PMN-MDSC level. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The present study identified neutrophil-to-apolipoprotein A1 ratio (NAR) as an independent predictor for overall survival among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving transarterial chemoembolization. NAR reflected circulation level of lectin-type oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1-positive polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Survival benefit of chemoembolization plus Iodine125 seed implantation in unresectable hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma with PVTT: a retrospective matched cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the survival benefit of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus Iodine125 seed implantation (TACE-Iodine125) in hepatitis B-related HCC patients with portal vein tumour thrombus (PVTT) and the underlying prognostic factors. METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study was performed on consecutive HCC patients with PVTT from January 2011 to June 2014. Seventy patients (TACE-Iodine125 group) who underwent TACE-Iodine125 were compared with a historical case-matched control group of 140 patients (TACE group) who received TACE alone. The survival of patients and the underlying prognostic factors were analysed. RESULTS: The median survival times of the TACE-Iodine125 and TACE groups were 11.0 and 7.5 months, respectively (p < 0.001). The survival probability at 12, 24, and 36 months was 50 %, 14.5 %, and 14.5 % vs. 25 %, 9 %, and 5 % in the TACE-Iodine125 and TACE groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The PVTT responders had better survival than the PVTT non-responders (p < 0.001). For the PVTT non-responders, there were no differences in the survival curves between the groups (p = 0.353). Multivariate analysis showed that type III PVTT (p < 0.001) and APS (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of poor prognosis. In contrast, the treatment modality of TACE-Iodine125 (p < 0.001) and PVTT response (p = 0.001) were favourable prognostic features. CONCLUSIONS: TACE combined with Iodine125 seed implantation may be a good choice for selected HB-HCC patients with PVTT. KEY POINTS: • TACE-Iodine125 was more effective than TACE for patients with HCC-PVTT. • The TACE-Iodine125 procedure was safe. • TACE-Iodine125 was conditional for patients with HCC-PVTT. • TACE-Iodine125 resulted in a better PVTT response compared to TACE alone. • A good PVTT response is a favourable prognostic factor.

Comparison of anomalous systemic artery to left lower lobe and pulmonary sequestration in left lower lobe by computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of anomalous systemic artery to the left lower lobe (ASALLL) from pulmonary sequestration (PS) is essential, as ASALLL can be corrected by anastomosis, embolization, or ligation of the anomalous artery. PURPOSE: To compare computed tomography (CT) findings of ASALLL and PS in the left lower lobe (LLL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 16 patients with ASALLL and 25 patients with PS in LLL confirmed by operative and pathologic findings. RESULTS: Cough and sputum were more common in PS (84% and 60%, respectively) than in ASALLL (25% and 12.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Hemoptysis was more common in ASALLL (100%) than in PS (24%) (P < 0.05). The frequency of ground glass opacity (GGO), normal bronchial distribution, dilated left inferior pulmonary veins, and absence of the interlobar artery distal to the origin of the superior segmental artery in LLL differed significantly between ASALLL and PS. Mass was less common in ASALLL (0%) than in PS (88%) (P < 0.01). The mean diameter of the anomalous artery (11.88 ± 1.13 mm) in ASALLL was significantly larger than that (5.96 ± 0.98 mm) in PS (P < 0.01). The presence of anomalous artery arising from thoracic aorta was not different between ASALLL (100%) and PS (72%). CONCLUSION: Radiographic indications of ASALLL differ from those of PS in the LLL. Indications that may suggest ASALLL include an enlarged anomalous systemic artery arising from the thoracic aorta, dilated left inferior pulmonary veins, absence of the interlobar artery distal to the origin of the superior segmental artery, normal bronchial distribution, and GGO in the LLL.

Two-dimensional nanomaterials based on rare earth elements for biomedical applications.

As a kind of star materials, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have attracted tremendous attention for their unique structures, excellent performance and wide applications. In recent years, layered rare earth-based or doped nanomaterials have become a new important member of the 2D nanomaterial family and have attracted significant interest, especially layered rare earth hydroxides (LREHs) and layered rare earth-doped perovskites with anion-exchangeability and exfoliative properties. In this review, we systematically summarize the synthesis, exfoliation, fabrication and biomedical applications of 2D rare earth nanomaterials. Upon exfoliation, the LREHs and layered rare earth-doped perovskites can be dimensionally reduced to ultrathin nanosheets which feature high anisotropy and flexibility. Subsequent fabrication, especially superlattice assembly, enables rare earth nanomaterials with diverse compositions and structures, which further optimizes or even creates new properties and thus expands the application fields. The latest progress in biomedical applications of the 2D rare earth-based or doped nanomaterials and composites is also reviewed in detail, especially drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Moreover, at the end of this review, we provide an outlook on the opportunities and challenges of the 2D rare earth-based or doped nanomaterials. We believe this review will promote increasing interest in 2D rare earth materials and provide more insight into the artificial design of other nanomaterials based on rare earth elements for functional applications.

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Combined with Lenvatinib versus TACE Alone in Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Beyond Up-To-Seven Criteria: A Retrospective, Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the treatment efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib versus TACE alone in patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond up-to-seven criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 newly diagnosed HCC patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B HCC beyond up-to-seven criteria were included in this retrospective cohort study. These patients were divided into two groups: TACE-Lenv group and TACE alone group. Propensity score matching was used to account for potential confounding factors. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), downstaging rate, liver function, and adverse events (AEs) were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: Both the median OS and median PFS were significantly longer in the TACE-Lenv group compared to the TACE alone group (median OS: 28.0 vs 12.0 months, P = 0.017; median PFS [mRECIST]: 8.2 vs 3.7 months, P = 0.018; median PFS [RECIST v1.1]: 8.9 vs 3.7 months, P = 0.003). Furthermore, the ORR and DCR were also significantly higher in TACE-Lenv group (ORR: 94% [30/32] vs 47% [15/32], P < 0.001; DCR: 97% [31/32] vs 62% [20/32], P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in terms of liver function and grade 3 or 4 AEs rate between two groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of TACE and lenvatinib provides clinical benefits for patients with intermediate HCC beyond the up-to-seven criteria, has an acceptable safety profile, shows a trend towards improving liver function, and does not increase the occurrence of grade 3-4 AEs. KEY POINTS: The efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients is partially unsatisfactory. Addition of lenvatinib to transarterial chemoembolization improves OS, PFS, ORR, and DCR for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the up-to-seven criteria. This combination therapy is a superior treatment option for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients with high tumor burden.

Double Carbon Networks Reinforce the Thermal Storage and Thermal Transfer Properties of 1-Octadecanol Phase Change Materials.

Using thermal storage materials with excellent thermal properties in the energy utilization system enables efficient use of renewable energy sources. Organic phase change materials (PCMs) have the advantages of high heat storage density, no corrosion, and low cost, but low thermal conductivity and insufficient heat transfer capacity have always been the bottlenecks in their application. In this paper, melamine foam@ reduction graphene oxide (MF@rGO) and carbon foam@ reduction graphene oxide (CF@rGO) composite foams with double carbon networks were prepared by self-assembly method and further employed in 1-octadecinal (OD) PCMs. The microstructure, chemical composition, phase change behavior, thermal conductivity, and photothermal conversion performance of MF@rGO/OD and CF@rGO/OD were studied in detail using SEM, FTIR, Raman DSC, and LFA. The melting and solidification enthalpies of CF@rGO/OD composite PCMs were 208.3 J/g and 191.4 J/g, respectively, its thermal conductivity increased to 1.54 W/m·K, which is 6.42 times that of pure OD. The porous structure and high thermal conductivity of the double carbon network substantially enhance the efficiency of energy storage and release in composite PCMs. CF@rGO/OD composite PCMs have excellent heat storage performance and heat transfer capacity, and a wide range of application prospects in the fields of low-temperature solar heat storage, precision instrument temperature control, and intelligent buildings.

Rare-earth hydroxide/MXene hybrid: a promising agent for near-infrared photothermy and magnetic resonance imaging.

Layered gadolinium hydroxide (LGdH) and Ti3C2 monolayers were assembled into a LGdH/Ti3C2 (GTC) hybrid. The hybrid demonstrated enhanced near-infrared (NIR) light absorption properties and superior photothermal performance. Moreover, the GTC hybrid achieved an excellent T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effect.

Tb3+/Sm3+ co-doped double perovskite: synthesis, exfoliation and luminescence properties.

Tb3+/Sm3+ co-doped double perovskite K[K1.5(Tb1-xSmx)0.5]Ta3O10 (denoted as KKT1-xSxTO) was prepared, which exhibited typical Tb3+ and Sm3+ photoluminescence emissions and tunable colours. After protonation and subsequent exfoliation processes, unilaminar KT1-xSxTO nanosheets with a lateral size of ∼300 nm and thickness of ∼2.7 nm were obtained.

Synthesis of Fluorinated Imidazole[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of Liver Cancer Cell Proliferation by Inducing Apoptosis via DNA Damage.

Phenanthroline derivatives containing fluorinated imidazole ring are effective anti-neoplastic agents. Herein, a series of four fluorinated imidazole[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives were synthesized and investigated as potential inhibitors to fight against the growth of liver cancer cells. The in vitro antitumor activity of targeted compounds have been evaluated by using MTT assay, and results showed that compound 4 (2-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) exhibited excellent inhibitory effect against the growth of various tumor cells, particularly for HepG2 cells, with IC50 value of approximately 0.29 µM. This result has been further confirmed by colony formation assay, showing that compound 4 suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Moreover, cell apoptosis (AO/PI dual staining and flow cytometry) analyses as well as comet assay showed that compound 4 may induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells through triggering DNA damage. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-tumor activity were evaluated on zebrafish bearing HepG2 cells showed that compound 4 can observably block the growth of liver cancer cells. All in together, these compounds, particularly compound 4, may be developed as a potential agent to treat liver cancer in the future.

Reduced glutathione protects human hepatocytes from palmitate-mediated injury by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress response.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of reduced glutathione (GSH) in hepatocytes by suppressing palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. METHODOLOGY: Human L02 hepatocytes were co-cultured with palmitate and reduced GSH. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Annexin V/ PI (propidium iodide) staining with flow cytometry, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by malonaldehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) measurements. Levels of ER stress signaling proteins (phosphorylated PRK-like ER kinase, activating transcription factor 4 and glucose regulating protein 78) as well as Caspase-4 activity were also analyzed. RESULTS: Palmitate caused an increased lipid peroxidation level and cytotoxic effect in hepatocytes in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. However, a significant cell protective effect was observed after GSH treatment. The protein levels of GRP78, pPERK and AFT4 as well as the mRNA level of ATF4 were significantly increased after palmitate treatment, and these levels decreased after GSH addition. Additionally, Caspase-4 activity significantly increased after palmitate addition and strongly decreased after the addition of GSH. CONCLUSIONS: ER stress provoked by lipid peroxidation is a key event that mediates palmitate cytotoxicity in hepatocytes. Reduced GSH has a protective effect by suppressing palmitate-induced ER stress.

Superlattice films of semiconducting oxide and rare-earth hydroxide nanosheets for tunable and efficient photoluminescent energy transfer.

Europium and terbium doped layered gadolinium hydroxides were prepared by microwave assisted hydrothermal precipitation. They were subsequently exfoliated into nanosheets by sonication treatment in formamide. The thickness of the nanosheets (LGdH:Eu and LGdH:Tb) was found to be approximately 1 nm, exemplifying a single-layer feature. Multilayer and superlattice films were prepared through layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of exfoliated hydroxide nanosheets with a polyanionic electrolyte (polystyrene sulfonate, PSS) and heteroassembly with semiconducting oxide nanosheets (Ti0.87O20.52- and TaO3-), respectively. Compared to the multilayers of (LGdH:Eu/PSS)n and (LGdH:Tb/PSS)n, the superlattices of (LGdH:Eu/Ti0.87O20.52-)n and (LGdH:Tb/TaO3-)n exhibited significantly enhanced photoluminescence intensity, ∼14 times and ∼5 times, respectively. The photoenergy absorbed by the semiconducting nanosheets can be transferred to the excited states of rare-earth hydroxide nanosheets for enhanced photoluminescence emission. Further investigation on the stacking sequence of the nanosheets revealed that direct neighboring and energy level matching with semiconducting nanosheets was essential for realizing efficient energy transfer across the nanosheet interface. Annealing at 600 °C could further enhance the emission intensity of the superlattice structured films. The current work demonstrates an important strategy for hetero-assembling nanosheets at the molecular level with a carefully designed interface for tunable and enhanced functionalities.

Aspirin-induced long-term tumor remission in hepatocellular carcinoma with adenomatous polyposis coli stop-gain mutation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Targeted therapy based on pathway analysis of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be a promising remedy. CASE SUMMARY: The present case involved an advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient who did not receive local regional therapy and was intolerant to sorafenib. Total RNA extracted from the patient's tumor tissue was used to obtain the gene mutation profile. The c.3676A>T and c.4402A>T stop-gain mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) were the most prevalent (42.2% and 35.1%, respectively). MutationMapper analysis indicated that the functional domain of APC was lost in the two APC mutant genes. APC is a major suppressor of the Wnt signaling pathway. Thus, the Wnt pathway was exclusively activated due to APC dysfunction, as other elements of this pathway were not found to be mutated. Aspirin has been reported to suppress the Wnt pathway by inducing ß-catenin phosphorylation through the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta via cyclooxygenase-2 pathway inhibition. Therefore, aspirin was administered to the patient, which achieved four years of disease control. CONCLUSION: Exclusive mutations of APC of all the Wnt pathway elements could be a therapeutic target in HCC, with aspirin as an effective treatment option.

General Synthesis of Layered Rare-Earth Hydroxides (RE = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y) and Direct Exfoliation into Monolayer Nanosheets with High Color Purity.

Layered rare-earth hydroxides (LREHs) are promising optical and magnetic materials, while it is hard to obtain monolayer nanosheets through a direct exfoliation. In this study, organic dodecyl sulfate (C12H25SO4-, DS-) was used to prepare LREHs. In-plane lattice parameters of the LREHs decreased from Sm3+ to Er3+, correlating well with the monotonically decreasing ionic radius. Conversely, the interlayer spacing slightly increased with the increase of host layer charge density and corresponding intercalated DS- contents. By a direct sonication of the LREHs in formamide, nanosheets were obtained with a thickness of ∼1 nm and size of ∼500 nm. Compared to the bulk crystals, exfoliation resulted in a slight elongation of in-plane lattice constants and a more asymmetric coordination environment. The suspension of europium hydroxide nanosheets exhibited a remarkably high red-light emission purity (91.4%). This work demonstrated an important strategy toward an efficient synthesis of well-defined LREH nanosheets with high color purity.

2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets and Their Derivatives Toward Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted tremendous research interest in widely spreading applications. Most notably, transition-metal-bearing LDHs are expected to serve as highly active electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their layered structure combined with versatile compositions. Furthermore, reducing the thickness of platelet LDH crystals to nanometer or even molecular scale via cleavage or delamination provides an important clue to enhance the activity. In this review, recent progresses on rational design of LDH nanosheets are reviewed, including direct synthesis via traditional coprecipitation, homogeneous precipitation, and newly developed topochemical oxidation as well as chemical exfoliation of parent LDH crystals. In addition, diverse strategies are introduced to modulate their electrochemical activity by tuning the composition of host metal cations and intercalated counter-anions, and incorporating dopants, cavities, and single atoms. In particular, hybridizing LDHs with conductive components or in situ growing them on conductive substrates to produce freestanding electrodes can further enhance their intrinsic catalytic activity. A brief discussion on future research directions and prospects is also summarized.

Thymic lymphoid hyperplasia with Graves' disease in a 28-year-old female: a case report.

Thymic lymphoid hyperplasia with Graves' disease (GD) is not uncommon in adults. Generally, cases are newly diagnosed with GD when they refer to the department of endocrinology in hospital, and an anterior mediastinal mass is found on a computed tomography scan by accident. Almost half of them receive thymectomy due to the concern about thymoma or thymic carcinoma. In the past literature, an enlarged thymus can gradually shrink after treatment of antithyroid drugs. In this paper, a 28-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a 11-month history of dizziness, left hand convulsion and paralysis, without chest pain, difficulty swallowing, dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed an anterior mediastinal mass without obvious nodules. However, in this case, the mass did not shrink obviously after regularly taking antithyroid drugs. In order to figure out the diagnosis of the mass, we performed a thoracoscopic thymic resection, and the pathologic result was thymic lymphoid hyperplasia. There is no thymus gland tissue left on a repeated CT scan four months later after surgery. In this report, we discuss the optimal therapeutic strategy for this rare case. In conclusion, if an anterior mediastinal mass in GD patients did not shrink obviously upon treatment of antithyroid drugs, minimally invasive surgery should be taken into consideration seriously to exclude the possibility of malignancy.

Exosome-mediated miRNA delivery promotes liver cancer EMT and metastasis.

The deregulation of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we highlight exosomes as mediators involved in modulating miRNA profiles in liver cancer cells after induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Initially, we induced EMT in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) line (Hep3B) by stimulation with transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and confirmed by western blot detection of EMT markers such as vimentin and E-cadherin. Exosomes were then isolated from the cells and identified by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The isolated exosomal particles from unstimulated Hep3B cells (Hep3B exo) or TGF-ß-stimulated EMT Hep3B cells (EMT-Hep3B exo) contained higher levels of exosome marker proteins, CD63 and TSG101. After incubation with EMT-Hep3B exo, Hep3B cell proliferation increased. EMT-Hep3B exo promoted the migration and invasion of Hep3B and 7721 cells. High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs and mRNA within the exosomes showed 119 upregulated and 186 downregulated miRNAs and 156 upregulated and 166 downregulated mRNA sequences in the EMT-Hep3B exo compared with the control Hep3B exo. The most differentially expressed miRNAs and target mRNA sequences were validated by RT-qPCR. Based on the known miRNA targets for specific mRNA sequences, we hypothesized that GADD45A was regulated by miR-374a-5p. Inhibition of miR-374a-5p in Hep3B cells resulted in exosomes that inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results enhance our understanding of metastatic progression of liver cancer and provide a foundation for the future development of potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatic cancer.

Recurrent transmural tracheal schwannoma resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic window resection: A case report.

RATIONALE: Primary schwannoma is extremely rare in the trachea, and its optimal treatment has not yet been established. Previous literature have indicated that traditional resection by thoracotomy is an effective surgical procedure but with huge trauma, and endoscopic excision is a minimally invasive surgical method but with possibility of recurrence. Window resection was usually utilized for selected patients with trachea invasion by thyroid carcinoma, but video-assisted thoracoscopic window resection for trachea schwannoma has not been reported previously. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 23-year-old woman was admitted to hospital due to dyspnea, coughing and wheezing that had persisted for 2 months with aggravation for 1 week. DIAGNOSES: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a well-circumscribed soft-tissue mass located on the right lateral posterior wall of the trachea. Bronchofibroscopy (BFS) showed a whitish, smooth and round mass with a wide base in the trachea. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated cells labeled with Vim (+), S-100 (+), SOX-10 (+), SMA (-), CK (-). Histopathological examinations showed that the mass was a schwannoma. INTERVENTIONS: The tumor was nearly completely excised via BFS, but relapsed 2 times at 12 days and 3 weeks after endoscopic resection. Finally, the patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic window resection of trachea. OUTCOMES: The patient recovered rapidly and no recurrence was observed over 6 months of follow-up. LESSONS: The treatment of tracheal schwannoma depends on the characteristics of tumor and the condition of patient. Surgical resection is a preferred alternative for sessile or transmural tumors and recurrence after endoscopic excision. Tracheal window resection by video-assisted thoracoscopy is beneficial for some appropriate patients with a small and sessile tumor.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00511 promotes cell growth and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer by interacting with Snail.

Purpose: Aberrant long noncoding RNA expression has been frequently reported in cancer research, including in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of LINC00511 in the progression and prognosis of TNBC. Materials and methods: The expression level of LINC00511 was examined by RT-PCR in TNBC tissues and in cell lines. MTT and colony formation assays were used to examine the cell growth ability. A Boyden assay was used to examine the cell invasion ability. RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to examine the proteins that interacted with LINC00511. Results: We demonstrated that the LINC00511 expression level was elevated in TNBC tissues when compared with that in normal breast tissues. The downregulation of LINC00511 decreased TNBC cell growth and invasion compared to those of the controls. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the biological activity of LINC00511, we identified proteins that bound to LINC00511 with RNA pull-down experiments. We showed that LINC00511 binds to the ß-transducin repeat containing (BTRC) E3 ubiquitin protein. Mechanistically, LINC00511 maintained the stability of Snail by impeding its ubiquitination and degradation by the BTRC E3 ubiquitin protein. Conclusion: Our data suggested that LINC00511 might serve as a novel molecular target for the treatment of TNBC.

LncRNA DLEU2 aggravates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through binding to EZH2.

To explore whether lncRNA deleted in lymphocytic leukemia 2 (DLEU2) could accelerate the migratory, invasive and proliferative abilities, thus influencing the progression of HCC. DLEU2 level in HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was firstly determined. Its level in HCC tissues with different tumor sizes (≤ 5 cm or > 5 cm), different tumor stages (stage I-II or III-IV) and either with vascular invasion or not was determined. Potential influences of DLEU2 on proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of SMMC7721 and HCLM3 cells were assessed. The interaction between DLUE2 and enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) was evaluated by RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Finally, the effect of DLEU2/EZH2 regulatory loop on proliferative ability of HCC cells was detected. DLEU2 was upregulated in HCC tissues, especially in those larger than 5 cm in tumor size, accompanied with vascular invasion and in worse tumor stage. Knockdown of DLEU2 attenuated proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of SMMC7721 and HCLM3 cells. RIP assay proved that DLEU2 could interact with EZH2. Knockdown of EZH2 attenuated the inhibited proliferation in HCC cells with DLEU2 knockdown. DLEU2 accelerates the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of HCC cells via binding to EZH2, thus aggravating the progression of HCC.

Safety and efficacy of 125I brachytherapy for bilateral lung recurrences from hepatocellular carcinoma after resection or ablation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 125I brachytherapy to treat bilateral lung recurrences from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection or ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively recruited 95 patients with bilateral lung recurrences from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection or ablation who had received 3-6-month sorafenib with or without stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), from October 2011 to January 2015; patients were then randomly divided into two groups, 44 patients received computed tomography (CT)-guided 125I brachytherapy (group A), and 51 patients were treated with supportive and symptomatic treatments (group B). RESULTS: The median survival time was 19 months (range of 3-36 months). The local response rate (LRR) at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months in group A was 81.8%, 65.9%, 59.1%, 45.0%, 38.6%, 22.7%, 11.4%, respectively, and 64.7%, 47.1%, 33.3%, 25.4%, 15.7%, 11.7%, 7.8%, respectively, in group B (P < 0.05). The mean progression-free survival time (PFST) and overall survival (OS) of group A were significantly longer than those of group B. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and tumor size were independent factors that affected the PFST and OS, normal AFP levels and less than 1-cm tumor diameter had better PFST and OS (P < 0.05). No massive bleeding or serious complications occurred. CONCLUSION: CT-guided 125I brachytherapy is safe and effective for the treatment of bilateral lung recurrences from HCC after resection or ablation.