Family with sequence similarity 111 member B contributes to tumor growth and metastasis by mediating cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT via transforming acidic coiled-coil protein 3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

As a complex systemic disease, primary liver cancer ranks third in death rate for solid tumors worldwide. Family with sequence similarity 111 member B (FAM111B), which was found to be aberrantly mutated in multiple cancers, is a candidate oncogene. We aimed to determine the function and mechanism of FAM111B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of FAM111B was evaluated in HCC tissues, adjacent tissues, HCC cell lines. The impact of FAM111B on proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and EMT of HCC cells were detected by CCK-8, Transwell, flow cytometry and Western blot assays. The relationship between FAM111B and transforming acidic coiled-coil protein 3 (TACC3) was assessed by CoIP and Immunofluorescence (IF) staining assays. The effect of FAM111B on tumor growth was detected by using xenograft model of nude mice. The expression of FAM111B was upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and the prognosis of HCC patients was worse in the high FAM111B expression group, and its expression level was associated with the TNM stage of HCC. FAM111B silencing inhibited HCC cell proliferation and invasion, EMT and induced apoptosis. Besides, TACC3 served as an interactor for FAM111B, which could enhance TACC3 expression, thus activing PI3K/AKT pathway. Rescue experiments revealed that elevated of TACC3 restored the inhibitory effect of FAM111B overexpression on the cell functions via PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo, FAM111B inhibition hampered tumor growth and metastasis of HCC. This study highlighted a key player of FAM111B in modulating the malignant biological progression of HCC via TACC3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, displaying a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in the treatment of middle and low malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: For cases of middle and low biliary obstruction with left and right hepatic duct dilatation, the type of approach and whether different approaches affect the difficulty of puncture operation and intraoperative and postoperative complications have not been discussed in detail. AIM: To compare the efficacy of different percutaneous transhepatic biliary stent placements and catheter drainage in treating middle and low biliary obstruction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 424 patients with middle and low biliary obstruction who underwent percutaneous liver puncture biliary stent placement and catheter drainage at the Department of Interventional Radiology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital between March 2016 and March 2022. Based on the puncture path, patients were categorized into two groups: Subxiphoid left hepatic lobe approach group (Group A, 224 cases) and right intercostal, right hepatic lobe approach group (Group B, 200 cases). Liver function improvement, postoperative biliary bleeding incidence, postoperative pain duration, and abdominal effusion leakage around the drainage tube were compared between the two groups at 3 d and 1 wk after the surgery. Patient survival time was recorded during follow-up. RESULTS: All 424 surgeries were successful without adverse events. Group A comprised 224 cases, and Group B had 200 cases. There was no statistically significant difference in basic data between Group A and Group B (P > 0.05). No significant difference in postoperative biliary bleeding incidence was observed between the groups (P > 0.05). The decreased rates for total bilirubin (Group A: 69.23 ± 4.50, Group B: 63.79 ± 5.65), direct bilirubin (Group A: 79.30 ± 11.19, Group B: 63.62 ± 5.64), and alkaline phosphatase (Group A: 60.51 ± 12.23, Group B: 42.68 ± 23.56) in the 1st wk after surgery were significantly faster in Group A than in Group B. The decreased rate of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also significantly faster in Group A at both 3 d (Group A: 40.56 ± 10.32, Group B: 32.22 ± 5.12) and 1 wk (Group A: 73.19 ± 7.05, Group B: 58.81 ± 18.98) after surgery (P < 0.05). Group A experienced significantly less peritoneal effusion leakage around the drainage tube than Group B (P < 0.05). The patient survival rate was higher in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In treating jaundice patients with middle and low biliary obstruction, a percutaneous left liver puncture demonstrated better clinical efficacy than a percutaneous right liver puncture.

Clinical advantage of drug-coated balloon in treatment of restenosis in superficial femoral artery stents.

BACKGROUND: This investigation probed the clinical effectiveness of drug-coated balloon (DCB) and common balloon (CB) for treating restenosis in superficial femoral artery stents. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 295 patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans with superficial femoral artery stenting restenosis admitted to Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from March 2017 to March 2020. Cases were segregated within two cohorts adopting different treatment methods (cohort 1, DCB and cohort 2, CB). The restenosis and clinical outcomes were evaluated by Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, or digital subtraction angiography at 1 week, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Following six months, the restenosis rate on angiography was 4.2% within cohort 1, and 26% within cohort 2 (P<0.05); at 12 months the rates on duplex ultrasonography were 18% and 84%, respectively (P<0.001). ABI and MDL of cohort 1 (P<0.05) were higher than those of cohort 2, 6 and 12 months post-operation; late lumen loss (LLL) and peak systolic velocity ratio (PSVR) of cohort 1 (P<0.05) were lower than those of Cohort 2. Cohort 1 cases demonstrated increased mobility upon treadmill at 12 months compared to within cohort 2. CONCLUSIONS: Medium-/long-term clinical effectiveness for drug-coated balloon treating restenosis in a superficial femoral artery stent is significantly higher than that of an ordinary balloon.

Construction and Validation of Prediction Model of Severe Abdominal Pain Post-Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with HBV-Associated Primary Liver Cancer.

Objective: This study is aimed at constructing and evaluating a prediction model of severe abdominal pain post-transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with HBV-related primary liver cancer. Methods: Patients with HBV-associated primary liver cancer who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) from March 2019 to March 2022 in the Interventional Therapy Department of our hospital were selected as the subjects, and the included 160 patients were randomly divided into modeling group (n = 120) and validation group (n = 40) in a ratio of 3 : 1. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain severity. 120 patients in the modeling group were divided into no/mild abdominal pain group and severe abdominal pain group. The clinical data of the patients, including gender, age, TACE treatment history, vascular invasion, maximum diameter of tumor, infarction degree, preoperative Eastern Oncology Collaboration Group (ECOG) score, and Lipiodol dosage, were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the prediction model for severe abdominal pain post-TACE. Results: A total of 116 patients (72.50%) had severe abdominal pain after TACE. Univariate analysis showed that severe abdominal pain after TACE in the modeling group was associated with TACE treatment history, maximum tumor diameter, infarction degree, and preoperative ECOG score (all P < 0.05), but not related to gender, age, vascular invasion, and Lipiodol dosage (all P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that TACE treatment history, maximum tumor diameter, infarction degree, and preoperative ECOG score were all independent influencing factors for acute abdominal pain post-TACE in HBV-HCC patients (all P < 0.05). The prediction model equation was Y = -3.673 + 1.722 × TACE treatment history + 1.175 × tumor maximum diameter + 2.064 × infarction degree + 1.555 × preoperative ECOG score. Goodness-of-fit test results showed no significant difference between the established prediction model and the observed value (χ 2 = 1.645, P = 0.560) and R 2 = 0.821, suggesting that the prediction ability of the model was relatively accurate. ROC analysis results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of severe abdominal pain after TACE was 0.916 (0.862~0.970) and 0.902 (95% CI: 0.841~0.963) in the modeling group and the verification group, respectively. Conclusion: TACE treatment history, tumor maximum diameter, infarction degree, and preoperative ECOG score are independent influencing factors for severe abdominal pain post-TACE in patients with HBV-HCC, and the prediction model established on this basis has good application value.

Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastasis. A total of 120 patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis were divided into the TACE group (receiving TACE treatment, n = 60) and the DEB-TACE group (receiving DEB-TACE treatment, n = 60). At 1 month after treatment, the objective response rate (ORR) in the TACE group and DEB-TACE group were 65.0% (39/60) and 78.3% (47/60), respectively, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 78.3% (47/60) and 85.0% (51/60), respectively. Three months later, the ORRs in TACE and DEB-TACE groups were 63.3% (38/60) and 75.0% (45/60), and the DCRs were 76.7% (46/60) and 81.7% (49/60). We showed that the 1-year overall survival (OS) in TACE and DEB-TACE groups were 100% (60/60) and 88.3% (53/60), respectively, and the 2-year OS were 78.3% (47/60) and 61.7% (37/60). Further analysis indicated that the OS in the DEB-TACE group was significantly longer than that in the TACE group (P = 0.045). DEB-TACE is effective, safe, and feasible in the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastasis, which can effectively improve the survival of patients.

Capecitabine metronomic chemotherapy combined with autologous CIK cell immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of maintenance therapy of capecitabine metronomic chemotherapy combined with autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy in patients with recurrent metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). METHODS: The clinical data of 110 patients with recurrent mTNBC were retrospectively analyzed. Among, 55 were treated with maintenance therapy of capecitabine metronomic chemotherapy combined with autologous CIK cell immunotherapy (DC-CIK group), while the rest 55 were treated with simple metronomic chemotherapy (control group). RESULTS: The ORR of patients in DC-CIK group and control group was 29.1% and 16.4%, and the DCR was 74.5% and 63.6%, respectively. After treatment, the proportions of CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes and NK cells as well as the CD4/CD8 cell ratio were notably higher in DC-CIK group than those in control group, while the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes was notably lower in DC-CIK group than that in control group. Compared with those before treatment, the scores of quality of life evaluated using the FACT-B-V4.0 scale were remarkably improved in both groups after treatment. The score of emotional status and total score were distinctly higher in DC-CIK group than those in control group. Moreover, the follow-up results together with log-rank test revealed that the PFS in DC-CIK group was notably superior to that in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The maintenance therapy of capecitabine metronomic chemotherapy combined with DC-CIK cell immunotherapy is effective in the treatment of recurrent mTNBC, with tolerable adverse reactions. It can improve the patients' immune function, improve their quality of life, and prolong their PFS. Key words: capecitabine, metronomic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, breast cancer, recurrent and metastatic.

Distribution and Dynamic Changes in Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and Collagen in an In Stent Restenosis Process.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the spatial distribution and dynamic changes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and collagen in in stent restenosis (ISR) and to explore their influence on ISR. METHODS: Sixty Z type stents were implanted into the common iliac arteries of minipigs, which were divided into 10 groups (six in each group) according to euthanasia time (6 hours, and 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, 168, and 336 days). After the samples were harvested, haematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting, and Picrosirius red staining were performed for all groups. RESULTS: ISR occurred in all six minipigs in the 56 day group (percentage diameter stenosis range 71.6%-79.2%, mean ± standard deviation 75.6% ± 2.5%). The percentage diameter stenosis decreased to 38.3% ± 2.7% at 336 days (p < .001). Immunohistochemical staining showed that MMP-2 and MMP-9 were strongly stained near the internal elastic lamina or in the damaged parts of the intima, around the struts and neointimal lumen surface in the ISR process. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at 56 days was significantly lower compared with their peaks (seven days and one day [p < .001; p = .002], respectively). At 56 days, the collagen content reached its maximum (mean integrated optical density range 0.73-0.92, mean ± standard deviation 0.82 ± 0.09). From the 14 day group to the 336 day group, mature collagen in neointima was correlated negatively with MMP-2 (γ(36) = -0.816; p < .001) and MMP-9 expression (γ(36) = -0.853; p < .001). During the neointimal regression period, new collagen in neointima was positively correlated with MMP-2 (γ(24) = 0.683; p < .001) and MMP-9 (γ(24) = 0.873; p < .001). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated the spatial distribution of and dynamic changes in MMP-2, MMP-9, and collagen in ISR by simulating the process of neointima from generation to regression after stent implantation. When ISR occurred, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression decreased and collagen content reached its maximum, which might contribute to ISR.

The relationship between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and in-stent restenosis in superficial femoral artery.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between an increase in the pre- and post-operative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and superficial femoral artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate. We recruited 199 patients that underwent superficial femoral artery stenting for lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans at our hospital from March 2015 to July 2018. Patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of ISR within 1 year (group 1, ISR and group 2, Non-ISR). The after NLR (NLRafter) and NLR change ratio (NLRratio) (P<0.001) were significantly higher in group 1. A NLRafter > 4.3 was associated with an odds ratio of 1.946 (95% CI [1.51-2.50]; P<0.001) for the presence of ISR. A NLRratio > 37.5% was associated with an odds ratio of 3.6 (95% CI [2.03-6.36]; P<0.001) for occurrence of ISR. A NLRafter level > 4.3 had 75% sensitivity and 76% specificity for the prediction of ISR, as identified by the ROC curve. A NLRratio level > 37.5% predicted ISR with 77% sensitivity and 60% specificity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NLRratio was the strongest independent predictor of ISR (P<0.001). In conclusions, NLRratio could be used as a prognostic marker in superficial femoral artery stents.