Morphological imaging and CT histogram analysis to differentiate pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor grade 3 from neuroendocrine carcinoma

PurposeTo compare morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters between grade 3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (G3-NET) and neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC).Materials and methodsPatients with pathologically proven G3-NET and NEC, according to the 2017 World Health Organization classification who had CT and MRI examinations between 2006-2017 were retrospectively included. CT and MRI examinations were reviewed by two radiologists in consensus and analyzed with respect to tumor size, enhancement patterns, hemorrhagic content, liver metastases and lymphadenopathies. Texture histogram analysis of tumors was performed on arterial and portal phase CT images. images. Morphological imaging features and CT texture histogram parameters of G3-NETs and NECs were compared.ResultsThirty-seven patients (21 men, 16 women; mean age, 56 ± 13 [SD] years [range: 28-82 years]) with 37 tumors (mean diameter, 60 ± 46 [SD] mm) were included (CT available for all, MRI for 16/37, 43%). Twenty-three patients (23/37; 62%) had NEC and 14 patients (14/37; 38%) had G3-NET. NECs were larger than G3-NETs (mean, 70 ± 51 [SD] mm [range: 18 - 196 mm] vs. 42 ± 24 [SD] mm [range: 8 - 94 mm], respectively; P = 0.039), with more tumor necrosis (75% vs. 33%, respectively; P = 0.030) and lower attenuation on precontrast (30 ± 4 [SD] HU [range: 25-39 HU] vs. 37 ± 6 [SD] [range: 25-45 HU], respectively; P = 0.002) and on portal venous phase CT images (75 ± 18 [SD] HU [range: 43 - 108 HU] vs. 92 ± 19 [SD] HU [range: 46 - 117 HU], respectively; P = 0.014). Hemorrhagic content on MRI was only observed in NEC (P = 0.007). The mean ADC value was lower in NEC ([1.1 ± 0.1 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (0.91 - 1.3) × 10⁻³ mm²/s] vs. [1.4 ± 0.2 (SD)] × 10⁻³ mm²/s [range: (1.1 - 1.6) × 10⁻³ mm²/s]; P = 0.005). CT histogram analysis showed that NEC were more heterogeneous on portal venous phase images (Entropy-0: 4.7 ± 0.2 [SD] [range: 4.2-5.1] vs. 4.5 ± 0.4 [SD] [range: 3.7-4.9]; P = 0.023).ConclusionPancreatic NECs are larger, more frequently hypoattenuating and more heterogeneous with hemorrhagic content than G3-NET on CT and MRI.     

Insulin-like growth factor-1 as predictive factor of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with GH-producing pituitary adenoma: A pilot study

BackgroundGrowth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors account for 10 to 15% of pituitary tumors. The hypersecretion of GH may induce changes in the airway anatomy through the activation of Insulin-like Growth factor 1(IGF-1) pathway. We sought investigate the role IGF-1 as a potential predictive factor of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with GH-producing pituitary adenoma.MethodsThis study was a single center retrospective study. We included 33 patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of GH-producing pituitary. We recorded demographic data, el-Ganzouri risk index (EGRI) and modified Look-Evaluate-Mallampati-Obstruction-Neck mobility (mLEMON) score, and pituitary hormone plasma levels. We performed ordinal logistic regression to analyze the relationship between IGF-1 and EGRI, mLEMON, and Cormack-Lehane Grade score and a multiple logistic regression to test the capability of EGRI, mLEMON and IGF-1 levels to predict Cormack-Lehane score. Receiver operating curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC), and cut-off value of IGF-1 were calculated.ResultsOnly 14 (42.8%) and 12 (36.36%) patients showed predictive factors of difficult intubation according to EGRI and mLEMON score, respectively. IGF-1 significantly correlated with Cormack-Lehane (p = 0.005879) but not with mLEMON and EGRI (p = 0.3080 and 0.4146, respectively). In multiple regression model IGF-1 correlated only with Cormack-Lehane grade (p = 0.0089). Area under ROC was 0.8571 and cut-off value of IGF-1 was 186.15 ng/ml.ConclusionHigher IGF-1 levels correlate with the probability of having a higher Cormack-Lehane score; classical bedside scores, such as mLEMON and EGRI, were not able to predict difficult laryngoscopy in our population.     

CD44基因多态性与宫颈癌及非小细胞肺癌的相关性

背景与目的：CD44分子是众多肿瘤细胞的标志分子，其表达水平与肿瘤细胞的恶性程度有关。该研究探讨CD44基因中的单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism，SNP）位点与云南汉族人群宫颈癌和非小细胞肺癌（nonsmall cell lung cancer，NSCLC）易感性的相关性。方法：选取了CD44基因中的两个SNP位点rs13347和rs8193，采用TagMan基因分型的方法，分析这两个多态性位点在497例宫颈癌患者和500例健康对照个体以及483例NSCLC患者和471例健康对照个体中的分布特征，并分析CD44基因中的多态性位点与云南汉族人群宫颈癌和NSCLC的相关性。结果：rs13347和rs8193位点等位基因和基因型在宫颈癌组和对照组中的分布频率的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。而在NSCLC组和对照组的比较中：rs13347和rs8193位点等位基因在NSCLC组和对照组中的分布频率的差异有统计学意义（P=0.020和P=0.004）；这两个位点基因型在NSCLC组和对照组中分布频率的差异有统计学意义（P=0.027和P=0.020）；其中rs13347位点等位基因C在NSCLC组中的分布频率显著高于对照组，可能是NSCLC发生的风险因素（OR=1.250，95% CI：1.035～1.509），rs8193位点等位基因C在对照组中的分布频率显著高于NSCLC组，可能是NSCLC发生的保护性因素（OR=0.768，95%CI：0.641～0.921）。单倍型分析结果显示，rs13347C-rs8193T和rs13347T-rs8193C在NSCLC组和对照组中的分布频率差异有统计学意义（P=0.003和0.022）；该结果说明单倍型rs13347C-rs8193T可能是云南汉族人群NSCLC发生的风险性因素（OR=1.316，95%CI：1.096～1.579）。结论：CD44基因中的两个SNP位点rs13347和rs8193可能与云南汉族人群宫颈癌发病风险无关，而可能与云南汉族人群NSCLC具有相关性。     

Safety of Combined Yttrium-90 Radioembolization and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PurposeTo investigate the safety of yttrium-90 radioembolization in combination with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and MethodsThis single-center retrospective study included 26 consecutive patients with HCC who received checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy within 90 days of radioembolization from April 2015 to May 2018. Patients had preserved liver function (Child-Pugh scores A–B7) and either advanced HCC due to macrovascular invasion or limited extrahepatic disease (21 patients) or aggressive intermediate stage HCC that resulted in earlier incorporation of systemic immunotherapy (5 patients). Clinical documentation, laboratory results, and imaging results at 1- and 3-month follow-up intervals were reviewed to assess treatment-related adverse events and treatment responses.ResultsThe median follow-up period after radioembolization was 7.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6–11.8). There were no early (30-day) mortality or grades 3/4 hepatobiliary or immunotherapy-related toxicities. Delayed grades 3/4 hepatobiliary toxicities (1–3 months) occurred in 2 patients in the setting of HCC disease progression. One patient developed pneumonitis. The median overall survival from first immunotherapy was 17.2 months (95% CI, 10.9–23.4). The median overall survival from first radioembolization was 16.5 months (95% CI, 6.6–26.4). From first radioembolization, time to tumor progression was 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.2–7.2), and progression-free survival was 5.7 months (95% CI, 4.3–7.1).ConclusionsRadioembolization combined with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in cases of HCC appears to be safe and causes limited treatment-related toxicity. Future prospective studies are needed to identify the optimal combination treatment protocols and evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy.     

肠道菌群与恶性肿瘤的研究进展

人类微生物群是由寄生在人体上皮屏障的细菌和其他微生物组成的，其中大部分位于肠道内，与宿主之间形成共生的关系。机体肠道微生物的组成虽然受到年龄、饮食、生活方式等因素的影响，但在正常生理情况下是相对稳定的。近年来，肠道菌群与恶性肿瘤的关系越来越受到重视。肠道菌群不但能够维持局部稳态，还能调节机体代谢、炎症和免疫等生理过程。有研究表明，微生物群，特别是肠道菌群能够显著调节机体对癌症治疗的反应性以及机体对毒副反应的敏感性。检查肠道菌群中各菌种之间的比例可作为筛查恶性肿瘤的新方法。本文将综述微生物群具有影响肿瘤的发生发展、抗肿瘤治疗疗效以及药物不良反应的证据，以及其中所涉及的微生物种类，从而为恶性肿瘤精准治疗提供证据。     

中医药调控IL-1治疗肿瘤机制的研究进展

炎症已成为影响肿瘤细胞增殖转移的第七大因素,而白细胞介素-1(IL-1)是炎性微环境的重要因子之一。中医药在治疗肿瘤时具有多途径、多靶点的优势,同时炎性微环境致病特点与现代中医学"癌毒"的理论相吻合。查阅近年中医药调控IL-1家族分子治疗肿瘤机制的文献,对其进行梳理,并做出概括及评价,从中医药主要调控IL-1α、IL-1β和IL-18因子治疗肿瘤展开综述,为中医药更系统化治疗肿瘤提供参考。     

TACE 术前天冬氨酸氨基转移酶与淋巴细胞比值对原发性肝癌并门脉癌栓患者预后预测的价值

目的 探讨肝动脉化疗栓塞（transcatheter arterial chemoembolization，TACE）术前天冬氨酸氨基转移酶与淋巴细胞比值（aspartate aminotransferase to lymphocyte ratio index，ALRI）在原发性肝癌并门脉癌栓（primary liver cancer-portal vein tumor thrombosis，PLC-PVTT）患者预后预测中的价值。方法 选取2013年11月21日至2018年8月22日于广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院接受TACE治疗的175例PLC-PVTT患者为研究对象。采用时间依赖性ROC曲线确定ALRI的最佳临界值。采用Cox 回归模型分析总生存期（overall survival，OS）的独立预测因素，Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率。结果 ROC曲线显示，ALRI的最佳临界值为49.37，对应曲线下面积为0.71。Kaplan-Meier分析显示，ALRI>49.37的患者OS较ALRI≤49.37的患者短（P=0.003）。Cox 回归分析结果显示，ALRI>49.37、行1次以上TACE治疗、Child-Pugh分级B级、凝血酶原时间≥13 s是患者TACE术后OS的独立危险因素（均P＜0.05）。结论 TACE术前ALRI>49.37是PLC-PVTT患者OS的独立危险因素。