Long-term prevention of bladder cancer progression by alpha1-oleate alone or in combination with chemotherapy

Bladder cancer is common and one of the most costly cancer forms, due to a lack of curative therapies. Recently, clinical safety and efficacy of the alpha1-oleate complex was demonstrated in a placebo-controlled study of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. Our study investigated if long-term therapeutic efficacy is improved by repeated treatment cycles and by combining alpha1-oleate with low-dose chemotherapy. Rapidly growing bladder tumors were treated by intravesical instillation of alpha1-oleate, Epirubicin or Mitomycin C alone or in combination. One treatment cycle arrested tumor growth, with a protective effect lasting at least 4 weeks in mice receiving 8.5 mM of alpha1-oleate alone or 1.7 mM of alpha-oleate combined with Epirubicin or Mitomycin C. Repeated treatment cycles extended protection, defined by a lack of bladder pathology and a virtual absence of bladder cancer-specific gene expression. Synergy with Epirubicin was detected at the lower alpha1-oleate concentration and in vitro, alpha1-oleate was shown to enhance the uptake and nuclear translocation of Epirubicin, by tumor cells. Effects at the chromatin level affecting cell proliferation were further suggested by reduced BrdU incorporation. In addition, alpha1-oleate triggered DNA fragmentation, defined by the TUNEL assay. The results suggest that bladder cancer development may be prevented long-term in the murine model, by alpha1-oleate alone or in combination with low-dose Epirubicin. In addition, the combination of alpha1-oleate and Epirubicin reduced the size of established tumors. Exploring these potent preventive and therapeutic effects will be of immediate interest in patients with bladder cancer.     

Dual-target inhibitors of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) in cancer therapy: Current situation and future directions

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is emerging as a therapeutic target that acts synergistically with other targets of small-molecule drugs in cancer. Therefore, the discovery of potential new dual-target inhibitors of BRD4 may be a promising strategy for cancer therapy. In this review, we highlight a series of strategies to design therapeutic dual-target inhibitors of BRD4 that focus on the synergistic functions of this protein. Drug combinations that exploit synthetic lethality, protein–protein interactions, functional complementarity, and blocking of resistance mechanisms could ultimately overcome the barriers inherent to the development of BRD4 inhibitors as future cancer drugs.     

TGF-β、PD-L1及PI3K蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义北大核心

目的:检测胃癌组织中TGF-β、PD-L1及PI3K的表达情况,并探讨TGF-β、PD-L1及PI3K表达的临床意义。方法:收集2017年01月至2018年01月我院74例接受过胃癌根治术且组织学证实为胃腺癌患者的病例蜡块标本。采用免疫组织化学法检测其中TGF-β、PD-L1以及PI3K的表达情况,分析其与临床病理参数之间的关系及三者在胃癌组织中表达的相关性,并分析其与胃癌患者预后生存之间的关系。结果:胃癌组织中TGF-β、PD-L1、PI3K阳性率高于癌旁组织,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);胃癌组织中TGF-β的表达与淋巴结转移、临床TNM分期有关(P<0.05),与年龄、性别、分化程度、浸润程度、肿瘤直径无显著相关性(P>0.05);胃癌组织中PD-L1和PI3K的表达与肿瘤浸润程度、淋巴结转移、临床TNM分期有关(P<0.05),与年龄、性别、分化程度、肿瘤直径无显著相关性(P>0.05);在胃癌组织中,TGF-β与PD-L1的表达呈正相关(P<0.05),TGF-β与PI3K的表达呈正相关(P<0.05),PI3K与PD-L1的表达呈正相关(P<0.05)。Kaplan-Meier生存分析提示,与TGF-β、PD-L1、PI3K阴性相比,TGF-β、PD-L1、PI3K阳性表达的患者总生存期明显缩短(P<0.05)。结论:胃癌组织中存在TGF-β、PD-L1以及PI3K的高表达,并且TGF-β、PD-L1、PI3K的表达与淋巴结转移、临床TNM分期密切相关,三者可能参与胃癌的发生、发展和转移,且高表达患者的预后情况较差。     

Evaluation of the effects of temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis with hyaluronic acid injection on mandibular condyles using fractal dimension analysis: A retrospective study

This study aimed to investigate the effects of arthrocentesis with intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injection on mandibular condyles using fractal dimension (FD) analysis.Patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement (ID) were divided into three groups according to how many times the arthrocentesis with HA injection was performed. FD analysis is a quantitative concept that provides information about trabecular bone microstructures. Regions of interest were selected from bone areas close to the articular surfaces of the right and left condyles on panoramic radiographs, which were taken before the procedure (T0) and at the sixth month (T1) after the procedure. Then, the FD values were calculated. All images were reviewed by the same researcher. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine whether there was a significant interaction between groups, treatment sides, and time on the FD values.A total of 140 patients, including 118 patients who received bilateral arthrocentesis with HA injection and 22 control patients, were included in the study. The images of 20 randomly selected patients were re-evaluated after 2 weeks. As a result of the correlation analysis, there was no significant difference between the two measurements (P > 0.05). The main effect of time on the FD value was significant [F (1, 136) = 157.879, P < 0.001]. This effect was qualified by a significant time × group interaction effect [F (3, 136) = 18.533, P < 0.001]. The increases in the mean FD values on the right and left sides in all treatment groups between T0 and T1 times were significant (P < 0.001 for all), whereas changes in FD values on the right and left sides between T0 and T1 times were not significant in the control group (P = 0.164 and P = 0.557, respectively). After arthrocentesis with HA injections, the mean FD values increased in the mandibular condyles, depending on time in all treatment groups.Patients with TMJ ID are likely to have radiologically detectable degenerative changes and abnormalities in the condyles. The FD analysis method, which provides quantitative data, is recommended as an adjunct and guide for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in radiological examinations that should be performed together with clinical examination for the follow-up of microstructural changes in the condyle after arthrocentesis with HA injection.     

Knockdown of DEAD-box 51 inhibits tumor growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most prevalent malignancies that seriously threaten people’s health worldwide.DEAD-box helicase 51(DDX51)is a member of the DEAD-box(DDX)RNA helicase family,and drives or inhibits tumor progression in multiple cancer types.AIM To determine whether DDX51 affects the biological behavior of ESCC.METHODS The expression of DDX51 in ESCC tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected by Immunohistochemistry(IHC)analyses and quantitative PCR(qPCR).We knocked down DDX51 in ESCC cell lines by using a small interfering RNA(siRNA)transfection.The proliferation,apoptosis,and mobility of DDX51 siRNAtransfected cells were detected.The effect of DDX51 on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway was investigated by western blot analysis.A mouse xenograft model was established to investigate the effects of DDX51 knockdown on ESCC tumor growth.RESULTS DDX51 exhibited high expression in ESCC tissues compared with normal tissues and represented a poor prognosis in patients with ESCC.Knockdown of DDX51 induced inhibition of ESCC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis.Moreover,DDX51 siRNA-expressing cells also exhibited lower migration and invasion rates.Investigations into the underlying mechanisms suggested that DDX51 knock down induced inactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway,including decreased phosphorylation levels of phosphate and tensin homolog,PI3K,AKT,and mammalian target of rapamycin.Rescue experiments demonstrated that the AKT activator insulin-like growth factor 1 could reverse the inhibitory effects of DDX51 on ESCC malignant development.Finally,we injected DDX51 siRNA-transfected TE-1 cells into an animal model,which resulted in slower tumor growth.CONCLUSION Our study suggests for the first time that DDX51 promotes cancer cell proliferation by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway;thus,DDX51 might be a therapeutic target for ESCC.     

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity after booster dose with AZD1222 via intradermal route among adult who had received CoronaVac

BackgroundCurrently, booster dose is needed after 2 doses of non-live COVID-19 vaccine. With limited resources and shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, intradermal(ID) administration might be a potential dose-sparing strategy.ObjectiveTo determine immunologic response and reactogenicity of ID ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222,Oxford/AstraZeneca) as a booster dose after completion of 2-dose CoronaVac(SV) in healthy adult.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of adult aged 18–59 years who received 2-dose SV at 14–35 days apart for more than 2 months. Participants received ID AZD1222 at fractional low dose(1×10¹⁰ viral particles,0.1 ml). Antibody responses were evaluated by surrogate virus neutralization test(sVNT) against delta variant and wild type, and anti-spike-receptor-binding-domain immunoglobulin G(anti-S-RBD IgG) at prior, day14, 28, 90, and 180 post booster. Solicited reactogenicity was collected for 7 days post-booster. Primary endpoint was the differences of sVNT against delta strain ≥ 80% inhibition at day14 and 90 compared with the parallel cohort study of 0.5-ml intramuscular(IM) route.ResultsFrom August2021, 100 adults with median age of 46 years(IQR 41–52) participated. Prior to booster, geometric mean(GM) of sVNT against delta strain was 22.4% inhibition(95 %CI 18.7–26.9) and of anti-S-RBD IgG was 109.3 BAU/ml(95.4–125.1). Post ID booster, GMs of sVNT against delta strain were 95.5% inhibition (95%CI 94.2–96.8) at day14, 73.1% inhibition (66.7–80.2) at day90, and 22.7% inhibition (14.9–34.6) at day180. The differences of proportion of participants achieving sVNT against delta strain ≥ 80% inhibition in ID recipients versus IM were + 4.2% (95 %CI -2.0to10.5) at day14, and ?37.3%(-54.2to-20.3) at day90. Anti-S-RBD IgG GMs were 2037.1 BAU/ml (95%CI 1770.9–2343.2) at day14 and 744.6 BAU/ml(650.1–852.9) at day90, respectively. Geometric mean ratios(GMRs) of anti-S-RBD IgG were 0.99(0.83–1.20) at day14, and 0.82(0.66–1.02) at day90. Only 18% reported feverish, compared with 37% of IM (p = 0.003). Common reactogenicity was erythema at injection site(53%) while 7% reported blister.ConclusionLow-dose ID AZD1222 booster enhanced lower neutralizing antibodies at 3 months compared with IM route. Less systemic reactogenicity occurred, but higher local reactogenicity.