Gemcitabine Combined with Cisplatin Has a Better Effect in the Treatment of Recurrent/Metastatic Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine (GEM) combined with cisplatin (DDP) in the treatment of recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: A total of 100 patients with recurrent/metastatic NPC treated in the First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China from January 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Based on different chemotherapy schemes, they were assigned to an observation (Obs) group (DDP + GEM, n = 55) and a control (Con) group [DDP + FU (fluorouracil), n = 45]. The two groups were compared regarding the following items: therapeutic efficacy; serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), soluble epithelial cadherin (SE-CAD), and inflammation-related factors before and after treatment; toxic and side effects; 1-year survival rate; and quality of life (QOL) 6 months after treatment. Results: The Obs group outperformed the Con group in therapeutic efficacy (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of PDGF-BB, SE-CAD, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, better improvements in PDGF-BB, SE-CAD and inflammatory factors were observed in the Obs group (P < 0.05). The toxic and side effects were significantly lower and the 1-year survival rate and patients' QOL after 6 months of treatment were significantly higher in the Obs group compared with the Con group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: GEM combined with DDP can provide more clinical benefits for patients with recurrent/metastatic advanced NPC, with less side effects, high tolerance and significant efficacy, which can be further promoted in clinical use.

Analysis of mRNA Expression Patterns in Peripheral Blood Cells of 3 Patients With Cancer After the First Fraction of 2 Gy Irradiation: An Integrated Case Report and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy induces acute and chronic radiological toxicity, in particular hematological toxicity (HT). This study aimed to explore the mechanistic clue and potential predictors at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected from 3 patients with cervical cancer (CC), nasopharynx cancer (NC), and tongue cancer (TC) after the first 2 Gy fraction of radiotherapy (RT). High-throughput sequencing was used to assess mRNA profiles. RESULTS: Eleven genes, such as ALAS2(5-aminolevulinate synthase), SLC4A1(solute carrier family 4 member 1), HBG2(hemoglobin subunit gamma 2), TNFAIP3 (TNF α-induced protein 3), PER1 (period circadian clock 1), CCDC136 (coiled-coil domain containing 136), C9orf84 (chromosome 9 open reading frame 84), IL1B (interleukin 1ß), FOSB (FosB protooncogene), NR4A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4), PARP15 (polymerase family member 15), had overlapping expression changes in all 3 cancers of which 3 (ALAS2, FOSB, and HBG2) are suggested as potential predictors for the early diagnosis of HT after RT. CONCLUSIONS: ALAS2, FOSB, and HBG2 may be useful predictors of HT in patients after RT. Eleven overlapping expression mRNAs among 3 cancers might be potential predictors for early diagnosis of radiation toxicity in patients.