[Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia in squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and presented malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 36 patients with biopsy-proven SCC and presented MAH who were treated at the our department from January 2001 to December 2010. The survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox analysis. RESULTS: Among these 36 patients, the median blood calcium level was 2.94 mmol/L (2.77-4.87 mmol/L), and the median survival time was only 45 days (1-839 d). Log-rank test showed that central nervous system symptoms, bone metastasis, and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis were predictors for poor survival(p=0.003, P=0.049, P=0.005). In the COX proportional hazard model analysis, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for survival time (RR=5.721, P=0.000; RR=4.624, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and presented MAH have poor prognosis. Central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 160 days after cancer diagnosis are independent predictors of the prognosis.

FcRγ deficiency improves survival in experimental sepsis by down-regulating TLR4 signaling pathway.

Fc receptor common γ signaling chain (FcRγ), a common subunit shared by Fc receptors (FcγRI, III, IV, FcαRI, and FcεRI), is an important immune regulator both in innate and adaptive immunity. Previous studies have shown that FcRγ was a potential target of inflammatory diseases, whereas the role of FcRγ in sepsis has been poorly understood. In this study, we found that deficiency of FcRγ resulted in increased survival in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine and E. coli-induced sepsis in mice. This protective effect was characterized by decreased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Further experiments in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in vitro also showed that FcRγ deficiency resulted in decreased production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 upon LPS stimulation. The mechanism study showed that FcRγ was physiologically associated with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and tyrosine phosphorylation of FcRγ mediated TLR4 signaling pathway, followed by increased ERK phosphorylation upon LPS stimulation. Our results suggest that FcRγ might be a potential therapeutic target of sepsis.

[Experimental study on the prevention and treatment of radiation lung injury by blood-activating and stasis-dissipating drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the pathological changes and the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in lung tissue of rats with radiation injury for exploring the mechanism of blood-activating and stasis-dissipating drugs in radiation injury prevention and treatment. METHODS: One hundred and thirty SD female rats were randomly allocated into the simple irradiation group (n=60), the TCM herbs treatment group (n=60) and the blank control group (n=10). The right lung of all rats except those in the blank control group were irradiated by linear accelerator, 3 Gy each time, twice weekly, the maximum accumulated dose being 30 Gy. Ten rats in the two groups were randomly sacrificed at each of the 6 time points (1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 26 weeks after repeated irradiation), their lung was harvested out, sliced and dyed with HE stain. The histological changes, levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta expression in the lung tissue were then observed by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The most serious acute radiation pneumonia was seen in the 5th week and pulmonary fibrosis was remarkable in the 26th week in the simple irradiation group, with the expressions of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta at different time phases enhanced significantly (P < 0.01). While in the TCM herbs treatment group, the pneumonia was milder, pulmonary fibrosis in late stage was not so obvious, and the expressions of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta significantly lower than those in the simple irradiation group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Blood-activating and stasis-dissipating drugs can inhibit expression of inflammation-inducing factors and fibrosis-inducing factors to lessen the inflammatory reaction of early radiation pneumonia, prolong the progression of radiation lung fibrosis, showing preventive and treating action on radiation lung injury.

Analysis on survival and prognostic factors for cancer patients with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the incidence, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment strategies, prognosis of patients with malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (MAH). METHODS: The data of 115 patients with MAH who were treated at the Medical Oncology Department of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan., 2001 to Dec., 2010 was retrospectively reviewed. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model with statistic software SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: The patients had blood calcium levels ranging from 2.77 to 4.87 mmol/L. Except for 9 cases who died or were discharged within 5 days after admission, all other patients recovered to normal blood calcium level after treatment with bisphosphonates or intravenous hydration and diuretics; their survival after occurrence of MAH was from 1 day to 4,051 days, and the median survival time was only 50 days. In the log-rank test, the male, renal metastasis, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia occurring over 140 days after cancer diagnosis were predictors of poor survival (P=0.002, P=0.046, P=0.000, P=0.009). In the COX analysis, being male, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia lasting over 140 days after cancer diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for survival time (RR=2.131, P=0.027; RR=3.054, P=0.002; RR=2.403, P=0.001). According to these factors, a score system was established to predict the patient prognosis and adjust the treatment. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients with MAH have an extremely poor median survival. Some independent factors indicate poor prognosis, including male gender, central nervous system symptoms and hypercalcemia lasting over 140 days after cancer diagnosis. The prognostic score can serve as a reference for MAH prognosis and treatment, worthy of further investigation.

Expression and significance of ER, PR, VEGF, CA15-3, CA125 and CEA in judging the prognosis of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and significance of estrogen receptor (ER), progestrone receptor (PR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CA15-3, CA125 and carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) expression in judging the prognosis of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with breast cancer undergoing operations in the general surgery department were considered as the observation group, and 50 healthy outpatients of our hospital as the control group. Cubital venous blood was drawn in the morning from fasting patients in the two groups and chemiluminescence immunoassays were used to detect the levels of CA15-3, CA125 and CEA in serum. The follow-up duration was from 4 months to 2 years, and change in levels of the indicators was detected by dynamically drawing blood. After surgery, cancer tissue samples of patients in observation group remained on file (the non-recurrent patients were biopsied). Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the expression of ER, PR and VEGF in tissue. RESULTS: The effective rate of 12 patients with negative ER and PR expression was 33.3% in the observation group, being associated with prognosis to varying extents. Serum CA15-3, CA125 and CEA in the observation group were all significantly higher than in control group (p<0.01). With increase in pathological staging, levels of serum CA15-3, CA125 and CEA gradually increased (p<0.01). Levels in patients with lymph node metastasis were markedly higher than in those without (p<0.01). In addition, values with distal lymph node metastasis were notably higher than with adjacent lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). The postoperative follow-up results revealed that positive VEGF and levels of serum VEGF, CA15-3, CA125 and CEA in recurrence group were obviously higher than in non-recurrence group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Joint detection of ER and PR expression as well as levels of serum VEGF, CA15-3, CA125 and CEA is meaningful and can guide the diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer.

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review of phase II trials.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer associated with a poor prognosis. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds vascular endothelial growth factor, a mediator of tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab is currently under investigation as treatment for HCC. We performed a systematic review of the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced HCC. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched using the terms "bevacizumab AND hepatocellular carcinoma AND (advanced OR unresectable)". Phase II trials of bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced HCC were included. Outcomes of interest included progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS), tumor response, and toxicities. RESULTS: A total of 26 records were identified. Of these, 18 were excluded. Hence, eight trials involving 300 patients were included. Bevacizumab was given as monotherapy (n = 1 trial) or in combination with erlotinib (n = 4 trials), capecitabine (n = 1 trial), capecitabine+oxaliplatin (n = 1 trial), or gemcitabine+oxaliplatin (n = 1 trial). Most trials (five of eight) reported median PFS and OS between 5.3 months and 9.0 months and 5.9 and 13.7 months, respectively. The disease control rate was consistent in five of eight trials, ranging from 51.1% to 76.9%. The response and partial response rates ranged from 0 to 23.7%, but were around 20% in four trials. Only one patient had a complete response. Frequently reported Grade 3/4 toxicities were increased aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (13%), fatigue (12%), hypertension (10%), diarrhea (8%), and neutropenia (5%). Thirty patients experienced gastrointestinal bleeding (grade 1/2 = 18, grade 3/4 = 12), typically due to esophageal varices. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab shows promise as an effective and tolerable treatment for advanced HCC. The reported efficacy of bevacizumab appears to compare favorably with that of sorafenib, the only currently approved treatment for unresectable HCC. Phase III trials are warranted to comprehensively examine the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab for treatment of advanced HCC.

[Clinical research of 120 cases of primary small intestine malignant tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and pathological features, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of primary small intestine malignant tumor. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data from the 120 cases of primary small intestine malignant tumor. RESULTS: Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, abdominal mass and jaundice were the main clinical features. The pathology was confirmed by abdominal X-ray, gastrointestinal barium, CT, MRI, endoscopy and surgical exploration. Most tumors originated in the duodenum (54.1%), and adenocarcinoma (55.8%) was the main pathological type. The median survival time of the patients was 19.2 months and the 1-year survival rate was 55.4%. Chemotherapy did not seem to significantly improve the 1-year survival rate of the patients (P=0.842). CONCLUSION: Primary small intestine malignant tumors lack specific clinical manifestations and surgical resection should be performed as early as possible.