Rational design of an oxygen-enriching nanoemulsion for enhanced near-infrared laser activatable photodynamic therapy against hypoxic tumors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as one of the most promising modalities to treat cancers. However, the hypoxic microenvironment in tumors severely limits the efficiency of PDT. IR780 is a near-infrared light activatable photosensitizer for PDT. It has attracted intensive attention owing to its intriguing properties such as mitochondria-targeting ability and fluorescence imaging capability. Nevertheless, its application in tumor treatment is hampered by its low aqueous solubility and poor stability. To address these obstacles, here we designed a novel hierarchical nanoplatform containing a uniquely stable high loading capacity oxygen carrier (perfluoropolyether, in short, PFPE) and IR780. This nanoplatform (IR780-P/W NE, in abbreviation for IR780-PFPE-in-water nanoemulsion) has no detectable dark cytotoxicity. It not only improves the aqueous solubility and stability of IR780, but also transports oxygen to relieve hypoxia and boosts the efficiency of near-infrared light triggered PDT via augmentation of reactive oxygen species generation. Particularly, the innovative nanosized oxygen carrier developed in this research, P/W NE, is a potential universal platform for loading hydrophobic photosensitizers (including but not limited to IR780), sonosensitizers, or radiosensitizers, and simultaneously improving the therapeutic efficacy. Our results highlight the intriguing potential of the developed nanoemulsions for mitigating tumor hypoxia and enhancing the efficiencies of oxygen-dependent therapies including PDT, sonodynamic therapy, radiotherapy, and so on.

RET S409Y Germline Mutation and Associated Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is primarily caused by RET mutations that are commonly localized in exons 5, 8, 10, 11, and 13-16. In this study, we report pedigrees for individuals with MTC that harbor a germline S409Y variant within exon 6 of the RET proto-oncogene. Methods: Targeted sequencing was used to diagnose four apparently sporadic MTC index cases carrying the germline RET S409Y (c.1226 C>A) variant. Subsequently, 27 relatives of these individuals underwent clinical and genetic assessments and/or thyroid surgery. Furthermore, in silico analyses and in vitro assays were performed to predict or verify the potential oncogenic activity of the S409Y variant. Results: Overall, 15 of 31 participants were found to carry the RET S409Y variant. Of these, 6 presented with isolated MTC (mean age 50.2 years; range 41-75 years), of which 3 presented with neck lymph node metastases and 2 presented with distant liver or lung metastases. Among the remaining 9 carriers, 3 (mean age 56 years; range 41-76 years) had elevated serum calcium-stimulated calcitonin (sCtn) or concurrent marginally elevated serum calcitonin (Ctn) levels, whereas the other 6 (mean age 37.5 years; range 14-52 years) exhibited typical Ctn/sCtn levels (p < 0.05). None of the 15 carriers in these 4 families presented clinical evidence of pheochromocytoma, hyperparathyroidism, or Hirschsprung's disease. In silico analyses revealed that S409Y was a "possibly damaging" mutation that could affect the RET protein inter-domain interface. An in vitro assay revealed that the phosphorylation level of RET tyrosine 905 was relatively higher in the RET S409Y mutant than in wild-type (WT) RET. Moreover, transfection of HEK 293 cells with S409Y enhanced the phosphorylation activity of AKT, ERK pathways, and it increased cell proliferation compared with WT RET, but to a lesser degree than that for the RET C618Y and C634Y mutations. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the novel germline RET S409Y variant is likely pathogenic and is associated with lower penetrance of MTC than that for the C618Y and C634Y mutations. Individuals with S409Y should be managed using a personalized approach, and additionally, "at-risk" family members should be evaluated. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the correlation between the S409Y mutation and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2-specific tumors.

Prognostic significance of locally invaded sites and tissue types in patients with nasal extranodal natural-killer/T-cell lymphoma: a single-center retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL), nasal type, is an aggressive entity within the World Health Organization classification of lymphoid tumors. The International Prognostic Index is reported to be prognostically meaningful for ENKTL, but lacks discriminatory power for stage I/II ENKTL with extensive local invasion. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effects of local invasion by site and tissue type in patients with ENKTL. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 86 patients who were diagnosed with ENKTL by the Department of Pathology of Beijing Tongren Hospital from June 2002 to April 2016, and ascertained tumor infiltration of adjacent structures (AS), bone, and soft tissue for each patient, using physical findings and imaging scans. We used univariate and multivariate analysis to assess the association of each involved tissue or site with patients' overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 71 (82.6%) experienced invasion of AS, 22 (25.6%) of soft tissue, and 26 (30.2%) had bone involvement. Overall, patients with AS involvement did not show significantly shorter survival than those without AS involvement (Log rank χ = 1.177, P = 0.278); however, patients who had involved eyeballs or brains showed significantly lower 2-year OS rates than those without eyeball involvement (Log rank χ = 4.105, P = 0.043) or brain involvement (Log rank χ = 7.126, P = 0.008). Patients with involved local soft tissue or bones, respectively, showed lower 2-year OS rates than those without involved local soft tissue (Log rank χ = 10.390, P = 0.001) or bones (Log rank χ = 8.993, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that involvement of the cheek or facial muscles (hazard ratio, HR = 5.471, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.466-20.416, P = 0.011) and the maxilla bone (HR = 6.120, 95% CI: 1.517-24.694, P = 0.011) were significantly independent predictors of lower 2-year OS rates. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging can accurately detect ENKTL invasion of AS, soft tissue, and bone. Involvement of local soft tissue or bone was significantly associated with lower 2-year OS rates. Involvements of the cheek or facial muscle, as well as maxilla bone, are independent predictors of lower 2-year OS rates in ENKTL patients.

The Clinical Spectrum of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A with Cutaneous Lichen Amyloidosis in Ethnic Han Chinese.

This study systematically reviewed previous literatures and analyzed the genotype-phenotype relationship between the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A)-cutaneous lichen amyloidosis (CLA) and RET/OSMR/IL31RA mutations. RET/OSMR/IL31RA screening was performed on 8 RET-carriers from 3 independent Chinese MEN 2A families. Besides, 51 MEN 2A-CLA patients in 116 RET carriers from literatures were clustered and analyzed. Our results indicated that almost all MEN 2A-CLA patients exhibited CLA which was located in the scapular region and carried RET mutation at codon 634. Meanwhile, we firstly described MEN 2A-CLA here in Chinese Han patient with RET p.C634F mutation.

Trans-3,4,5,4'-tetramethoxystilbene, a resveratrol analog, potently inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

AIM: Trans-3,4,5,4'-tetramethoxystilbene (DMU-212) has shown strong antiproliferative activities against a variety of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of DMU-212 in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used in this study. Cell viability was studied with MTT assay, and cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL assay and morphological observation. The expression of the related genes and proteins was analyzed with qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Angiogenesis of HUVECs were studied using cell migration and capillary-like tube formation assays in vitro, and mouse Matrigel plug assay and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay in vivo. The tyrosine kinase activities of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were measured using commercial kits. RESULTS: DMU-212 (5-80 µmol/L) significantly inhibited VEGF-stimulated proliferation of HUVECs (IC50 value was approximately 20 µmol/L), and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, DMU-212 concentration-dependently inhibited VEGF-induced migration of HUVECs and capillary-like structure formation in vitro. DMU-212 also inhibited VEGF-induced generation of new vasculature in Matrigel plugs in vivo with significantly decreased area of infiltrating CD31-positive endothelial cells, and inhibited newly formed microvessels in chick CAMs. Moreover, DMU-212 concentration-dependently suppressed VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2, and inhibited phosphorylation of multiple downstream signaling components in the VEGFR2 pathway, including c-Src, FAK, Erk1/2, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K in HUVECs. DMU-212 had no effect on VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR1. CONCLUSION: DMU-212 is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis that exerts anti-angiogenic activity at least in part through the VEGFR2 signaling pathway.