Comprehensive molecular classification predicted microenvironment profiles and therapy response for HCC.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity leads to a discrepancy in survival prognosis and clinical treatment response for patients with HCC. The clinical applications of documented molecular subtypes are constrained by several issues. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We integrated 3 single-cell data sets to describe the TME landscape and identified 6 prognosis-related cell subclusters. Unsupervised clustering of subcluster-specific markers was performed to generate transcriptomic subtypes. The predictive value of these molecular subtypes for prognosis and treatment response was explored in multiple external HCC cohorts and the Xiangya HCC cohort. TME features were estimated using single-cell immune repertoire sequencing, mass cytometry, and multiplex immunofluorescence. The prognosis-related score was constructed based on a machine-learning algorithm. Comprehensive single-cell analysis described TME heterogeneity in HCC. The 5 transcriptomic subtypes possessed different clinical prognoses, stemness characteristics, immune landscapes, and therapeutic responses. Class 1 exhibited an inflamed phenotype with better clinical outcomes, while classes 2 and 4 were characterized by a lack of T-cell infiltration. Classes 5 and 3 indicated an inhibitory tumor immune microenvironment. Analysis of multiple therapeutic cohorts suggested that classes 5 and 3 were sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade and targeted therapy, whereas classes 1 and 2 were more responsive to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization treatment. Class 4 displayed resistance to all conventional HCC therapies. Four potential therapeutic agents and 4 targets were further identified for high prognosis-related score patients with HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study generated a clinically valid molecular classification to guide precision medicine in patients with HCC.

The functional and clinical roles of liquid biopsy in patient-derived models.

The liquid biopsy includes the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CTC clusters in blood, as well as the detection of, cell-free DNA (cfDNA)/circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the patient's body fluid. Liquid biopsy has important roles in translational research. But its clinical utility is still under investigation. Newly emerged patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and CTC-derived xenograft (CDX) faithfully recapitulate the genetic and morphological features of the donor patients' tumor and patient-derived organoid (PDO) can mostly mimic tumor growth, tumor microenvironment and its response to drugs. In this review, we describe how the development of these patient-derived models has assisted the studies of CTCs and CTC clusters in terms of tumor biological behavior exploration, genomic analysis, and drug testing, with the help of the latest technology. We then summarize the studies of EVs and cfDNA/ctDNA in PDX and PDO models in early cancer diagnosis, tumor burden monitoring, drug test and response monitoring, and molecular profiling. The challenges faced and future perspectives of research related to liquid biopsy using patient-derived models are also discussed.

Potential pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. / ä¸¥é‡æ€¥æ€§å‘¼å¸ç»¼åˆå¾å† çŠ¶ç— æ¯’2çš„æ½œåœ¨è‡´ç— æœºåˆ¶.

The emergence of novel coronavirus pneumonia which was named as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has posed a serious threat to public health. Notably, COVID-19 has rapidly spread around the world and large amount of people have been infected. There is imminent need to investigate the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and develop effective therapeutic strategies to contain the epidemic. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates viral entry into target cells, with S1 subunit binding to a cellular receptor and S2 subunit fusing viral and host membranes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), previously known as a cell receptor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), is putatively responsible for mediating COVID-19. In this review, we detail our current understanding of the interaction between S protein and ACE2 in the process of virus infection and the potential pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, which has critical implications for exploring the potential therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.

Unprecedented action has been taken to contain the epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. / ä¸­å›½é‡‡å–å²æ— å‰ä¾‹ä¸¾æŽªæŽ§åˆ¶2019å† çŠ¶ç— æ¯’ç— æµè¡Œ.

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, has posed significant threats to international health. By Feb. 20, 2020, 74 576 cases have been confirmed and over 2 118 deaths have reported in the Chinese mainland. Chinese administrations have carried out immediate and prompt measures to stop the spread of the virus. Wuhan city has been shut down since Jan. 23, and more than 30 thousand medical workers have been recruited to Hubei province. Two temporary hospitals were constructed to treat severe pneumonia patients, and 15 mobile cabin hospitals were built to treat mild pneumonia cases. Significant improvement regarding the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and diagnosis and therapy for the COVID-19 has been achieved to stop the spread of the epidemics.