Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have contributed to a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer, leading to improved clinical outcomes in many individuals with advanced disease. Both preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that ICIs are associated with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular events; however, the exact mechanism underlying this relationship has not been clarified. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with stages III or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Wuhan Union Hospital from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022, were included in this retrospective study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and score were assessed in a subset of patients during non-ECG-gated chest CT scans at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in a 1:1 ratio to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall, 1458 patients (487 with ICI therapy and 971 without ICI therapy) were enrolled in this cardiovascular cohort study. After PSM, 446 patients were included in each group. During the entire period of follow-up (median follow-up 23.1 months), 24 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events (4.9%) occurred in the ICI group, and 14 ASCVD events (1.4%) in the non-ICI group, before PSM; 24 ASCVD events (5.4%) occurred in the ICI group and 5 ASCVD events (1.1%) in the non-ICI group after PSM. The CAC imaging study group comprised 113 patients with ICI therapy and 133 patients without ICI therapy. After PSM, each group consisted of 75 patients. In the ICI group, the CAC volume/score increased from 93.4 mm3/96.9 (baseline) to 125.1 mm3/132.8 (at 12 months). In the non-ICI group, the CAC volume/score was increased from 70.1 mm3/68.8 (baseline) to 84.4 mm3/87.9 (at 12 months). After PSM, the CAC volume/score was increased from 85.1 mm3/76.4 (baseline) to 111.8 mm3/121.1 (12 months) in the ICI group and was increased from 74.9 mm3/76.8 (baseline) to 109.3 mm3/98.7 (12 months) in the non-ICI group. Both cardiovascular events and CAC progression were increased after the initiation of ICIs. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with ICIs was associated with a higher rate of ASCVD events and a noticeable increase in CAC progression.

Re-analysis of single cell and spatial transcriptomics data reveals B cell landscape in gastric cancer microenvironment and its potential crosstalk with tumor cells for clinical prognosis.

BACKGROUND: At present, immunotherapy has become a powerful treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), but not all patients can benefit from it. According to the latest research, the impact of B cell subpopulations on the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer (GC) is unknown. Exploring whether the interaction between B cells and tumor cells in GC affects the effectiveness of immunotherapy has attracted our interest. METHODS: This study involved the re-analysis of single-cell RNA (scRNA) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) data from publicly available datasets. The focus was on investigating the subpopulations and differentiation trajectories of B cells in the gastric cancer (GC) tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Spatial transcriptomics (ST) and multiple immunofluorescence (mIF) revealed a clear co-localization pattern between B cells and tumor cells. Multiple immunotherapy datasets were collected to identify unique immunotherapy biomarkers. The unique immunotherapeutic potential of targeting CCL28 was validated through a mouse gastric cancer model. In addition, flow cytometry revealed changes in the tumor immune microenvironment targeting CCL28. RESULTS: The re-analysis of ST data from multiple cancer types revealed a co-localization pattern between B cells and tumor cells. A significant number of IgA plasma cells were identified in the GC TIME. Five different tumor-infiltrating B cell subpopulations and two unique B cell differentiation trajectories were characterized, along with seven GC-related states. By analyzing the communication between GC cells and B cells, it was further discovered that tumor cells can influence and recruit plasma cells through CCL28-CCR10 signaling. Additionally, there was a crosstalk between GC cells and B cells. Finally, we identified the LAMA/CD44 signaling axis as a potential prognostic marker for immunotherapy through a large amount of immunotherapy data. We also validated through various animal tumor models that targeting CCL28 can significantly promote CD8+T cell infiltration and function in the TME by regulating B cell and plasma cell functions, and has the ability to synergize immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: The co-localization and crosstalk between GC cells and B cells significantly affect the efficacy of immunotherapy, and inhibiting the CCL28-CCR10 signal axis is a potential immunotherapy target for GC. Meanwhile, LAMA/CD44 pair may be a potential adverse indicator for immunotherapy and tumor prognosis.

Prognosis stratification of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors through lung immune prognostic index: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Although numerous studies have reported the prognostic value of the lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the prognostic value of the LIPI in a pancancer setting remains unclear. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted until July 2023 across the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies evaluating the prognostic value of the LIPI in cancer patients treated with ICIs. The outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR). We described and compared the pooled outcomes by stratifying the patients based on different groupings of LIPI (good vs. intermediate [0 vs. 1], good vs. poor [0 vs. 2], and good vs. intermediate / poor [0 vs. 1 + 2]). RESULTS: A total of 9959 patients in 35 studies were included. A higher score of LIPI was associated with impaired OS. The pooled HRs were 1.69 (95% CI: 1.55-1.85, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1), 3.03 (95% CI: 2.53-3.63, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 2), and 2.38 (95% CI: 1.97-2.88, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1 + 2). A higher LIPI score was associated with shorter PFS. The pooled HRs were 1.41 (95% CI: 1.31-1.52, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1), 2.23 (95% CI: 1.87-2.66, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 2), and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.46-1.86, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1 + 2). Similarly, a higher LIPI score was associated with a lower ORR. The pooled ORs were 0.63 (95% CI: 0.54-0.75, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.29-0.50, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 2). A higher LIPI score was associated with a lower DCR. The pooled ORs were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.35-0.61, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 1) and 0.19 (95% CI: 0.12-0.30, p < 0.001; 0 vs. 2). CONCLUSION: In patients with NSCLC or other solid tumours, the lung immune prognostic index could robustly stratify the clinical outcomes into three groups among the patients who receive ICIs. LIPI is a low-cost, simple, accessible, and accurate prognostic tool in a pancancer setting and it may contribute to the evaluation of risk stratification in patients treated with ICIs.

Non-small cell lung cancer and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: does non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have an effect?

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy based on the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is one of the standard treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-alcoholic fatty liver Disease (NAFLD) has demonstrated predictive value for response to immunotherapy in non-lung cancer types. Our study investigated the effect of NAFLD on the efficacy of real-life use of ICIs for patients with stage III / IV NSCLC. METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of patients with stage III / IV NSCLC who were first admitted to Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from March 2020 to July 2022 were retrospectively collected to ensure that they underwent at least one CT scan before treatment. A total of 479 patients were divided into the NAFLD group (Liver/Spleen density ratio ≤ 1) and the non-NAFLD group (Liver/Spleen density ratio > 1) by measuring the baseline liver and spleen CT value. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of the patients were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients with NAFLD and 361 patients without NAFLD were included in the study. Patients with NAFLD tended to have higher BMI and higher total bilirubin compared to patients without NAFLD. The median duration of follow-up in the study was 22 m (IQR, 17-29 m). Both of 2 groups had a higher DCR (94% vs. 92%, p = 0.199) and ORR (38.1% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.452) respectively. There was no difference in efficacy between the two groups. In univariate analysis, NAFLD had no significant effect on PFS (p = 0.785) and OS (p = 0.851). Surprisingly, the presence of hypertension was observed to be associated with a higher OS (HR 1.471 95%CI 1.018-2.127, p = 0.040). Besides, based on multivariate analysis, lactic dehydrogenase was associated with PFS (HR 1.001 95%CI 1.000,1.002, p = 0.037) and OS (HR 1.002, 95%CI 1.001-1.003, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with NSCLC, NAFLD did not result in changes in survival or disease progression after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Infection of porcine small intestinal enteroids with human and pig rotavirus A strains reveals contrasting roles for histo-blood group antigens and terminal sialic acids.

Rotaviruses (RVs) are a leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in young children and livestock worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that host cellular glycans, such as histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and sialic acids (SA), are recognized by the RV surface protein VP4. However, a mechanistic understanding of these interactions and their effects on RV infection and pathogenesis is lacking. Here, we established a porcine crypt-derived 3D intestinal enteroids (PIEs) culture system which contains all intestinal epithelial cells identified in vivo and represents a unique physiologically functional model to study RV-glycan interactions in vitro. PIEs expressing different HBGAs (A+, H+, and A+/H+) were established and isolation, propagation, differentiation and RV infection conditions were optimized. Differentiated PIEs were infected with human RV (HRV) G1P[8] Wa, porcine RV (PRV) G9P[13], PRV Gottfried G4P[6] or PRV OSU G5P[7] virulent and attenuated strains and virus replication was measured by qRT-PCR. Our results indicated that virulent HRV G1P[8] Wa replicated to the highest titers in A+ PIEs, while a distinct trend was observed for PRV G9P[13] or G5P[7] with highest titers in H+ PIEs. Attenuated Wa and Gottfried strains replicated poorly in PIEs while the replication of attenuated G9P[13] and OSU strains in PIEs was relatively efficient. However, the replication of all 4 attenuate strains was less affected by the PIE HBGA phenotypes. HBGA synthesis inhibitor 2-F-Peracetyl-Fucose (2F) treatment demonstrated that HBGAs are essential for G1P[8] Wa replication; however, they may only serve as a cofactor for PRVs G9P[13] and OSU G5P[7]. Interestingly, contrasting outcomes were observed following sialidase treatment which significantly enhanced G9P[13] replication, but inhibited the growth of G5P[7]. These observations suggest that some additional receptors recognized by G9P[13] become unmasked after removal of terminal SA. Overall, our results confirm that differential HBGAs-RV and SA-RV interactions determine replication efficacy of virulent group A RVs in PIEs. Consequently, targeting individual glycans for development of therapeutics may not yield uniform results for various RV strains.

Early Fluid Balance Is Associated with 90-Day Mortality in Patients Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is widely used to control fluid balance, but the optimal fluid balance to improve the prognosis of patients remains debated. Appropriate fluid management may depend on hemodynamic status. We investigated the association between 90-day mortality and fluid balance/mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients receiving CRRT. This single-center retrospective study was conducted between May 2018 and March 2021. Based on the cumulative fluid balance at 72 h after initiation of CRRT, the cases were divided into negative (< 0 mL) and positive (> 0 mL) fluid balance groups. Ninety-day mortality was higher in the positive fluid balance group (p=0.009). At 4 h before and after CRRT initiation, the mean MAP was lower in the positive fluid balance group (p<0.05). After multivariate cox adjustment, 72-h positive fluid balance was independently associated with 90-day mortality (p=0.004). In addition, the cumulative fluid balance was associated with 90-day mortality (p<0.05) in cases without shock, high APACHE II score, sepsis, dialysis dependence, or vasopressor use. A 72-h positive fluid balance was associated with 90-day mortality in patients receiving CRRT.

Gain-of-Function p53N236S Mutation Drives the Bypassing of HRasV12-Induced Cellular Senescence via PGC-1α.

One of the key steps in tumorigenic transformation is immortalization in which cells bypass cancer-initiating barriers such as senescence. Senescence can be triggered by either telomere erosion or oncogenic stress (oncogene-induced senescence, OIS) and undergo p53- or Rb-dependent cell cycle arrest. The tumor suppressor p53 is mutated in 50% of human cancers. In this study, we generated p53N236S (p53S) mutant knock-in mice and observed that p53S heterozygous mouse embryonic fibroblasts (p53S/+) escaped HRasV12-induced senescence after subculture in vitro and formed tumors after subcutaneous injection into severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice. We found that p53S increased the level and nuclear translocation of PGC-1α in late-stage p53S/++Ras cells (LS cells, which bypassed the OIS). The increase in PGC-1α promoted the biosynthesis and function of mitochondria in LS cells by inhibiting senescence-associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS-induced autophagy. In addition, p53S regulated the interaction between PGC-1α and PPARγ and promoted lipid synthesis, which may indicate an auxiliary pathway for facilitating cell escape from aging. Our results illuminate the mechanisms underlying p53S mutant-regulated senescence bypass and demonstrate the role played by PGC-1α in this process.

Transarterial chemoembolization combined with camrelizumab for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with camrelizumab (hereafter, TACE-camrelizumab) in the treatment of patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (R-HCC) after curative resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: R-HCC patients who underwent TACE plus camrelizumab or TACE-alone from January 2016 to August 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were assessed for tumor response, progression-free survival, survival rates and adverse events. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included in this study, including 20 patients in the TACE- camrelizumab group and 51 patients in the TACE-alone group. The objective response rate was 56.9% in the TACE-alone group and 40% in the TACE-camrelizumab group at 3 months (P = 0.201). The disease control rates were 84.3% in TACE-alone group and 80% in TACE-camrelizumab group at 3 months (P = 0.663). The progression-free survival (PFS) of the TACE-alone group was slightly longer than those of the TACE- camrelizumab group (9 months vs. 6 months). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the median PFS (P = 0.586). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the half-year and one-year survival rates (P = 0.304, P = 0.430). Multivariate analysis revealed that Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was associated with PFS significantly. 75% patients developed at least one type of AEs related to camrelizumab in TACE-camrelizumab group, and no patients developed severe AEs. CONCLUSION: Comparing with TACE-Alone, the efficacy of TACE-camrelizumab for patients with R-HCC was similar. Meanwhile, the results of this study also indicated that TACE is still a better choice for patients with R-HCC.

Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Beads Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Camrelizumab Compared With Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization Plus Camrelizumab for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization plus camrelizumab (D-TACE-C) with conventional transarterial chemoembolization plus camrelizumab (C-TACE-C) in the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study that evaluated the consecutive medical records of patients with unresectable HCC who had undergone D-TACE-C or C-TACE-C from April 2020 to August 2021. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated using tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS) and survival rates. The adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were included in this study, including 27 patients who had received D-TACE-C treatment, and 27 patients who had received C-TACE-C treatment. The median PFS and DCR in the D-TACE-C group were significantly longer than those for the C-TACE-C group (PFS: 10 vs. 3 months, P=.017; DCR: 70.4% vs. 40.7%, P = .028). Cox regression analysis showed that D-TACE-C was the only protective factor for PFS. The 6-month and 12-month survival rates in D-TACE-C group and C-TACE-C group were 85.2% versus 79.4% (P = .646) and 65.2% versus 65.1% (P = .903), respectively. Reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation was the most common adverse event associated with the treatment. There was no significant difference in the adverse events related to TACE and camrelizumab between the two groups. No treatment-related deaths occurred in this study. CONCLUSIONS: D-TACE-C is a safe and well-tolerated treatment, and may produce better PFS and tumor response in patients with unresectable HCC than C-TACE-C.

KIF15 upregulation promotes leiomyosarcoma cell growth via promoting USP15-mediated DEK deubiquitylation.

Kinesin Family Member 15 (KIF15) is a plus end-directed microtubule motor, which exerts complex regulations in cancer biology. This study aimed to explore the functional role of KIF15 in leiomyosarcoma (LMS). Bioinformatic analysis was carried out using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-Sarcoma (SARC). LMS cell lines SK-UT-1 and SK-LMS-1 were used as in vitro cell models. Results showed that LMS patients with high KIF15 expression had significantly worse survival than the low KIF15 expression counterparts. KIF15 knockdown slowed, while KIF15 overexpression increased the proliferation of SK-UT-1 and SK-LMS-1 cells. Co-IP assay confirmed mutual interaction between endogenous KIF15 and DEK (encoded by DEK proto-oncogene). KIF15 knockdown facilitated DEK degradation, while KIF15 overexpression slowed DEK degradation. In ubiquitination assay, a significant increase in DEK polyubiquitylation was observed when KIF15 expression was suppressed. USP15 physically interacted with both DEK and KIF15 in the cells. USP15 knockdown decreased DEK protein stability and canceled KIF15-mediated DEK stabilization. USP15 overexpression enhanced DEK stability, the effect of which was impaired by KIF15 knockdown. USP15 overexpression reduced DEK polyubiquitination. USP15 knockdown increased DEK polyubiquitination and canceled the effect of KIF15 overexpression on reducing DEK polyubiquitination. DEK overexpression enhanced the proliferation of SK-UT-1 and SK-LMS-1 cells. DEK knockdown decreased cell proliferation and canceled the effect of KIF15 overexpression on cell proliferation. In conclusion, this study revealed a novel mechanism that KIF15 enhances LMS cell proliferation via preventing DEK protein from degradation by increasing USP15 mediated deubiquitylation.

Directed Printing and Reconfiguration of Thermoresponsive Silica-pNIPAM Nanocomposites.

Printing of polymeric composites into desired patterns and shapes has revolutionized small-scale manufacturing processes. However, high-resolution printing of adaptive materials that change shape in response to external stimuli remains a significant technical challenge. The article presents a new approach of printing thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) into macroscopic structures that dynamically reconfigure in response to heating and cooling cycles. The printing process is performed using an external laser source, which enables thermal cross-linking of the polymer ink consisting of monomer, cross-linker, initiator, and inorganic nanoparticles. It is shown that the addition of silica nanoparticles enhances the mechanical properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) while maintaining its thermoresponsiveness at micrometer-scale resolution, which otherwise is not feasible by extrusion-based three-dimensional printing techniques. It is demonstrated that spatial reconfiguration of the printed monolayers upon increasing temperature is governed by the local geometry, which enables mimicking the reconfiguration of plant leaves in a natural environment. The study lays a foundation for developing a new fabrication platform to print thermoresponsive structures that may find applications in biomedical implants, sensors, and other multi-responsive materials.

Modified duct-to-mucosa versus conventional pancreaticoenterostomy for pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) remains the most common neopathy after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). An ideal pancreaticoenterostomy (PE) which can effectively reduce the incidence of CR-POPF and its potential neopathy is needed. We aimed to assess the efficacy of our modified duct-to-mucosa PE in the PD. METHOD: From January 2011 to December 2017, 233 consecutive patients with PD were retrospectively included from Shenzhen People's Hospital. After propensity score matching (PSM), there were 82 patients in both the modified duct-to-mucosa PE group (group A) and the conventional end-to-side inserting PE group (group B), respectively. The clinical course and the incidence of postoperative neopathy were compared between groups. Logistic regression method was utilized to analyze the association between PE approach and CR-POPF. RESULTS: The PE time was shorter in group A (9.3 ± 1.8 min vs. 21.5 ± 2.8 min, P < 0.001). The group A had significantly lower incidence of severe neopathy (Clavien-Dindo grade > II) [7.3% (5/82) vs. 17.1% (14/82), P = 0.028] and incidence of CR-POPF [1.2% (1/82) vs. 19.5% (12/82), P < 0.001] than the group B. Our modified duct-to-mucosa PE technique was associated with a reduced risk for CR-POPF (OR, 0.11 [95% CI, 0.02-0.57]; P = 0.009) as compared with the conventional end-to-side inserting PE. CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional end-to-side inserting PE, our modified duct-to-mucosa PE technique can effectively reduce the incidences of postoperative neopathy and CR-POPF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Researchregistry3877 . Registered 24 March 2018. Retrospectively registered.

Identification of key lncRNAs in colorectal cancer progression based on associated protein-protein interaction analysis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) was one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies. The molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of CRC remain unclear. Accumulating evidences showed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) played key roles in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis. Therefore, we aimed to explore the roles of lncRNAs in the progression of CRC. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in CRC by analyzing a cohort of previously published datasets: GSE64857. GO and KEGG pathway analyses were applied to give us insight in the functions of those lncRNAs and mRNAs in CRC. RESULTS: Totally, 46 lncRNAs were identified as differentially expressed between stage II and stage III CRC for the first time screening by microarray. GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that differentially expressed lncRNAs were involved in regulating signal transduction, cell adhesion, cell differentiation, focal adhesion, and cell adhesion molecules. CONCLUSIONS: We found three lncRNAs (LOC100129973, PGM5-AS1, and TTTY10) widely co-expressed with differentially expressed mRNAs. We also constructed lncRNA-associated PPI in CRC and found that these lncRNAs may be associated with CRC progression. Moreover, we found that high PGM5-AS1 expression levels were associated with worse overall survival in CRC cancer. We believe that this study would provide novel potential therapeutic and prognostic targets for CRC.

Exploring whether ChatGPT-4 with image analysis capabilities can diagnose osteosarcoma from X-ray images.

The generation of radiological results from image data represents a pivotal aspect of medical image analysis. The latest iteration of ChatGPT-4, a large multimodal model that integrates both text and image inputs, including dermatoscopy images, histology images, and X-ray images, has attracted considerable attention in the field of radiology. To further investigate the performance of ChatGPT-4 in medical image recognition, we examined the ability of ChatGPT-4 to recognize credible osteosarcoma X-ray images. The results demonstrated that ChatGPT-4 can more accurately diagnose bone with or without significant space-occupying lesions but has a limited ability to differentiate between malignant lesions in bone compared to adjacent normal tissue. Thus far, the current capabilities of ChatGPT-4 are insufficient to make a reliable imaging diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Therefore, users should be aware of the limitations of this technology.

Long Non-coding RNA PCED1B Antisense RNA 1 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating the MicroRNA-34a/CD44 Axis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the role of long non-coding RNA PCED1B antisense RNA 1 (PCED1B-AS1) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 62 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained from 62 HCC patients. The interactions of PCED1B-AS1 and microRNA-34a (miR-34a) were detected by dual luciferase activity assay and RNA pull-down assay. The RNA expression levels of PCED1B-AS1, miR-34a and CD44 were detected by RT-qPCR, and the protein expression level of CD44 was determined by Western blotting. The cell proliferation was detected by cell proliferation assay, and the cell invasion and migration by transwell invasion assay. The HCC tumor growth after PCED1B-AS1 was downregulated was determined by in vivo animal study. RESULTS: PCED1B-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, which was associated with poor survival of HCC patients. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 interacted with miR-34a in HCC cells, but they did not regulate the expression of each other. Additionally, PCED1B-AS1 increased the expression level of CD44, which was targeted by miR-34a. The cell proliferation and invasion assay revealed that miR-34a inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC in vitro, while CD44 exhibited the opposite effects. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 suppressed the role of miR-34a. Moreover, the knockdown of PCED1B-AS1 repressed the HCC tumor growth in nude mice in vivo. CONCLUSION: PCED1B-AS1 may play an oncogenic role by regulating the miR-34a/CD44 axis in HCC.

Association between tertiary lymphoid structures and clinical outcomes in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: Although numerous studies have reported the association between tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and clinical outcomes in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), there remains a lack of a newer and more comprehensive meta-analysis. The main objective of this study is to explore prognostic biomarkers in immunotherapy-related patients, through analyzing the associations between tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and clinical outcomes in cancer patients treated with ICIs, so as to investigate their prognostic value in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted until February 2024 across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies evaluating the association between tertiary lymphoid structures and clinical outcomes in cancer patients treated with ICIs. The clinical outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). Results: Thirteen studies were incorporated in this meta-analysis, among which nine evaluated the prognostic value of TLSs. The results showed the high levels of TLSs predicted a significantly prolonged OS (pooled HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.24-0.53, p < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31-0.72, p < 0.001), while lower ORR (pooled OR = 3.78, 95% CI: 2.26-6.33, p < 0.001) in cancer patients treated with ICIs. Conclusion: Our results indicated that high levels of TLSs could predict a favorable prognosis for cancer patients treated with ICIs and have the potential to become a prognostic biomarker of immunotherapy-related patients.

Melatonin enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 by improving hypoxia in residual tumors after insufficient radiofrequency ablation.

The hypoxic microenvironment and inflammatory state of residual tumors caused by insufficient radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) are major reasons for rapid tumor progression and pose challenges for immunotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with RFA and observed that iRFA was associated with poor survival outcomes and progression-free survival. Using an orthotopic HCC mouse model and a colorectal liver metastasis model, we observed that treatment with melatonin after iRFA reduced tumor growth and metastasis and achieved the best outcomes when combined with anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) therapy. In mechanism, melatonin inhibited the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and PD-L1 in tumor cells after iRFA. Flow cytometry revealed that melatonin reduced the proportion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an upregulation of immune-activated function-related genes in residual tumors. These findings demonstrated that melatonin can reverse hypoxia and iRFA-induced inflammation, thereby overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

MRI-measured periprostatic to subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness ratio as an independent risk factor in prostate cancer patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the periprostatic adipose tissue thickness (PPATT) is an independent prognostic factor for prostate cancer patients after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). This retrospective cohort study included consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent LRP treatment at Wuhan Union Hospital from June 2, 2016, to September 7, 2023. PPATT was defined as the thickness of periprostatic fat and was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the prostate on the midsagittal T2-weighted MR images. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT) was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the skin at the same slice with PPATT. The primary outcome of the study was biochemical recurrence (BCR), and the secondary outcome was overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors for prostate cancer survival and prognosis. Based on the optimal cutoff value, 162 patients were divided into a low PPATT/SATT group (n = 82) and a high PPATT/SATT group (n = 80). During the entire follow-up period (median 23.5 months), 26 patients in the high PPATT/SATT group experienced BCR (32.5%), compared to 18 in the low PPATT/SATT group (22.0%). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis indicated that the interval to BCR was significantly shorter in the high PPATT/SATT group (P = 0.037). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that an increase in the PPATT/SATT ratio was associated with BCR (hazard ratio: 1.90, 95% CI, 1.03-3.51; P = 0.040). The PPATT/SATT ratio is a significant independent risk factor for BCR after LRP for prostate cancer patients.