Functions of the endothelium and its role in hematopoietic cell transplantation

The endothelium is a single-layered structure that responds to physical and chemical signals with various factors it synthesizes. In the early days of its discovery, as the inner wall of the vessels, the endothelium was thought to be a simple barrier that lays on the surface. Over time it is discovered that endothelium maintains body homeostasis with the molecules it synthesizes, despite its simple single-layer structure. It has been accepted as an important organ that contributes to the maintenance of vascular tone, cell adhesion, inflammation, vascular permeability and coagulation. Any imbalance in these physiological and pathological events causes endothelial dysfunction. This can cause many diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, or it can occur because of these. Endothelial related disorders may also complicate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which is used to treat various hematologic and neoplastic diseases. These life-threatening complications include graft-versus-host disease, hepatic veno-occlussive disease, transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. They share a similar pathophysiology involving endothelial cells with different clinical presentations. Therefore, current researche on the issue is putting the endothelium under the spotlight for novel markers and treatment options that should be used to monitor or treat at least some of these complications following HSCT.     

Phase 0 Study of Vandetanib-Eluting Radiopaque Embolics as a Preoperative Embolization Treatment in Patients with Resectable Liver Malignancies

PurposeTo assess the safety and tolerability of a vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolic (BTG-002814) for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with resectable liver malignancies.Materials and MethodsThe VEROnA clinical trial was a first-in-human, phase 0, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and had resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Child-Pugh A) or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients received 1 mL of BTG-002814 transarterially (containing 100 mg of vandetanib) 7–21 days prior to surgery. The primary objectives were to establish the safety and tolerability of BTG-002814 and determine the concentrations of vandetanib and the N-desmethyl vandetanib metabolite in the plasma and resected liver after treatment. Biomarker studies included circulating proangiogenic factors, perfusion computed tomography, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsEight patients were enrolled: 2 with HCC and 6 with mCRC. There was 1 grade 3 adverse event (AE) before surgery and 18 after surgery; 6 AEs were deemed to be related to BTG-002814. Surgical resection was not delayed. Vandetanib was present in the plasma of all patients 12 days after treatment, with a mean maximum concentration of 24.3 ng/mL (standard deviation ± 13.94 ng/mL), and in resected liver tissue up to 32 days after treatment (441–404,000 ng/g). The median percentage of tumor necrosis was 92.5% (range, 5%–100%). There were no significant changes in perfusion imaging parameters after TACE.ConclusionsBTG-002814 has an acceptable safety profile in patients before surgery. The presence of vandetanib in the tumor specimens up to 32 days after treatment suggests sustained anticancer activity, while the low vandetanib levels in the plasma suggest minimal release into the systemic circulation. Further evaluation of this TACE combination is warranted in dose-finding and efficacy studies.     

半夏泻心汤对DSS诱导的溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道微生态及Th17/Treg细胞平衡的影响＊

目的 观察半夏泻心汤对饮用葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导建立的溃疡性结肠炎（UC）模型小鼠Th17/Treg细胞平衡及肠道微生态的影响，从免疫失衡及菌群紊乱角度分析半夏泻心汤治疗UC的作用机制。方法 将40只C57BL/6J雄性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、阳性药（美沙拉嗪）组及半夏泻心汤组，除空白组外的各小鼠采用2.5% DSS水溶液自由饮用7天诱导建立UC小鼠模型。自实验第8日起，分别采用灭菌水、美沙拉嗪水溶液、半夏泻心汤水溶液给上述各组别小鼠灌胃。采用HE染色观察结肠组织病理学变化，ELISA方法检测组织炎症因子含量，流式细胞术检测Th17及Treg细胞的相对数量，16S rRNA测序技术进一步检测模型小鼠粪便中菌群的变化。结果 与空白组比较，模型组小鼠结肠损伤严重，血清炎症因子含量显著升高（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，中药干预组小鼠结肠损伤减轻，血清TNF-α、IFN-γ含量显著下降（P<0.05）。较空白组小鼠相比，模型组小鼠Th17细胞百分比显著升高（P<0.01），而Treg细胞百分比显著降低（P<0.01）。经半夏泻心汤干预后，其小鼠Th17细胞数量均显著降低（P<0.05），Treg细胞数量则显著升高（P<0.05）。同时，半夏泻心汤可升高门水平上Firmicutes、属水平上Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、Alistipes；降低门水平上Actinobacteriota，科水平上Bifidobacteriaceae、Atopobiaceae、Clostridiaceae，属水平上Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002、Bifidobacterium的相对丰度。结论 半夏泻心汤可使Treg细胞相对数量升高、Th17细胞相对数量降低，以维持Th17/Treg细胞动态平衡；同时可降低有害菌Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1、Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002的相对丰度，升高产短链脂肪酸类菌Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group、Prevotellaceae_UCG-001、unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae等菌属的相对丰度，调控肠道微生物结构及动态平衡，从而发挥治疗UC的作用。     

TRIM59 通过结合 BCLAF1 调控人皮肤黑色素瘤 SK-MEL-2 细胞的恶 性生物学行为

目的：探究三结构域蛋白59（TRIM59）调控人皮肤黑色素瘤细胞SK-MEL-2增殖、细胞周期、凋亡及迁移侵袭的作用机制，及其与Bcl2相关转录因子1（BCLAF1)之间的关系。方法：qPCR和WB法检测人表皮黑色素细胞HEMn-LP、人皮肤黑色素瘤细胞SK-MEL-2、UACC903、A375及36例邢台市人民医院2019年2月至2021年7月收集的皮肤黑色素瘤组织中TRIM59的mRNA和蛋白表达，使用脂质体将si-con、si-TRIM59转染至SK-MEL-2细胞中，WB法检测干扰TRIM59表达对细胞中周期蛋白D1（CCND1）、细胞周期素依赖性激酶2（CDK2）、肿瘤抑制蛋白基因（TP53）和 BCLAF1 蛋白表达的影响，CCK-8法、流式细胞术、划痕愈合实验、Transwell实验检测对细胞的活性、凋亡、迁移和侵袭的影响，免疫共沉淀（Co-IP）实验检测对细胞中TRIM59蛋白与BCLAF1结合能力的影响。结果：与HEMn-LP细胞相比，SK-MEL-2、UACC903、A375细胞中TRIM59 mRNA和TRIM59、BCLAF1蛋白均呈高表达（均P<0.05），SK-MEL-2细胞中TRIM59表达水平最高。相较于si-con组和Normal组，沉默TRIM59后，SK-MEL-2细胞的活性显著降低，细胞周期阻滞于G2期，CCND1、CDK2的蛋白表达显著降低，TP53蛋白和细胞凋亡率均显著升高，划痕抑制率明显升高，迁移侵袭细胞数明显降低（均P<0.05）。免疫共沉淀实验结果显示，TRIM59与BCLAF1之间存在蛋白结合关系。TRIM59与 BCLAF1 在肿瘤组织中的表达呈显著的正相关（r=0.878，P<0.001）。结论：干扰TRIM59表达能够抑制人皮肤黑色素瘤SK-MEL-2细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭而促进凋亡，抑制SK-MEL-2细胞的恶性生物学行为，其机制可能与TRIM59结合BCLAF1有关。     

Carcinosarcoma arising from high-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary without estrogen receptor,WT-1, and PAX8 immunoreactivity

ObjectiveWe encountered a case of high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) of the ovary which recurred as carcinosarcoma of the sigmoid colon. Tumor cells of both the primary carcinoma and the secondary carcinosarcoma were negative for estrogen receptor (ER), WT-1, and PAX8. It is well known that most ovarian carcinomas arising from the Müllerian duct are immunoreactive for these biologic parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that provides the results of immunohistochemical analysis of WT-1 and PAX8 for a primary carcinoma and recurrent carcinosarcoma.Case reportA 61-year-old woman had an advanced right ovarian HGSC. After a primary debulking surgery (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and omentectomy) and adjuvant chemotherapy, complete remission was achieved. However, four and a half years later, a tumor arising beside the sigmoid colon was detected. A tumorectomy was performed through combined partial resection of the ileum and sigmoid colon. Microscopically, the tumor was diagnosed as carcinosarcoma of the sigmoid colon, which had originated from HGSC of the ovary. Interestingly, the malignant cells of the primary carcinoma and epithelial components of the recurrent carcinosarcoma were negative for ER, WT-1, and PAX8. These immunohistochemical features were unusual. Three cycles of chemotherapy with the previously used regimen and three additional cycles of doxorubicin and ifosfamide combination chemotherapy were administered. Currently, 3 years after the final chemotherapy was administered, the patient remains healthy.ConclusionHGSC of the ovary can recur as carcinosarcoma. Tumor cells of the primary HGSC without ER, WT-1, and PAX8 expression may have dedifferentiated and recurred as carcinosarcoma.     

Functional estrogen receptor signal transduction pathway activity and antihormonal therapy response in low-grade ovarian carcinoma

Background

Advanced low-grade ovarian carcinoma (LGOC) is difficult to treat. In several studies, high estrogen receptor (ER) protein expression was observed in patients with LGOC, which suggests that antihormonal therapy (AHT) is a treatment option. However, only a subgroup of patients respond to AHT, and this response cannot be adequately predicted by currently used immunohistochemistry (IHC). A possible explanation is that IHC only takes the ligand, but not the activity, of the whole signal transduction pathway (STP) into account. Therefore, in this study, the authors assessed whether functional STP activity can be an alternative tool to predict response to AHT in LGOC.

Methods

Tumor tissue samples were obtained from patients with primary or recurrent LGOC who subsequently received AHT. Histoscores of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) were determined. In addition, STP activity of the ER STP and of six other STPs known to play a role in ovarian cancer was assessed and compared with the STP activity of healthy postmenopausal fallopian tube epithelium.

Results

Patients who had normal ER STP activity had a progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.1 months. This was significantly shorter in patients who had low and very high ER STP activity, with a median PFS of 6.0 and 2.1 months, respectively (p < .001). Unlike ER histoscores, PR histoscores were strongly correlated to the ER STP activity and thus to PFS.

Conclusions

Aberrant low and very high functional ER STP activity and low PR histoscores in patients with LGOC indicate decreased response to AHT. ER IHC is not representative of functional ER STP activity and is not related to PFS.     

术前SCC与CYFRA21-1在肺鳞癌患者表达上调及临床意义

目的 分析术前SCC、CYFRA21-1与肺鳞癌临床病理特征、预后之间的关系。方法 收集2017年3月~2018年4月在云南省肿瘤医院确诊的肺鳞癌患者100例为观察组，确诊为肺良性肿瘤患者90名为肺良性肿瘤组、以及正常人群90名为健康人群组。通过电化学发光法对SCC、CYFRA21-1两种指标进行检测。检测SCC、CYFRA21-1含量，分析在肺鳞癌中表达的临床意义。结果 SCC、CYFRA21-1在肺鳞癌中比在肺良性肿瘤、健康人群中含量要高，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.001），并且敏感性均高于其他两组；男性患者的SCC、CYFRA21-1含量高于女性患者，差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；SCC、CYFRA21-1含量在年龄≥60岁的含量高于＜60岁患者，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）；有吸烟史患者的SCC含量高于无吸烟史患者，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。CYFRA21-1在吸烟史患者中高表达，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；SCC、CYFRA21-1在有淋巴结转移、远处转移、肿瘤直径≥5 cm、病理分期为晚期时高表达，差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）；SCC、CYFRA21-1阳性患者OS、PFS比阴性患者短；SCC、CYFRA21-1两者之间呈正相关,相关系数（r）为0.630。结论 SCC、CYFRA21-1在肺鳞癌中表达上调；SCC、CYFRA21-1与性别之间存在某种内在联系；SCC、CYFRA21-1与肺鳞癌的TNM分期呈正相关；SCC、CYFRA21-1阳性患者OS、PFS比阴性患者短；SCC、CYFRA21-1两者之间呈正相关,相关系数（r）为0.630。     

皮肤鳞状细胞癌的中医药治疗进展

皮肤鳞状细胞癌是具有发病率高、发展快、可转移、易误诊等特点的一种恶性肿瘤，对人类的健康造成威胁。随着中医的发展和现代医学实验研究技术的进步，中医药在皮肤鳞状细胞癌的现代研究方面也取得一定成果。目前临床上治疗鳞状细胞癌多采取手术及药物化疗等，因不良反应的存在，患者接受度低。中药具有多靶点、安全性高、不良反应少等优势，在治疗皮肤鳞状细胞癌中中医具有一定优势，本文将围绕中药单体、中药复方，以及针灸在治疗皮肤鳞状细胞癌的研究进展展开论述和思考。