The role of exosomes in metastasis and progression of melanoma

The mechanisms of melanoma metastasis have been the subject of extensive research for decades. Improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are of increasing importance for the treatment of melanoma due to its high burden of mortality in the advanced stages of the disease. Intercellular communication is a critical event for the progression of cancer. Collective evidence suggests that exosomes, small extracellular membrane vesicles released by the cells, are important facilitators of intercellular communication between the cells and the surrounding environment. Although the emerging field of exosomes is rapidly gaining traction in the scientific community, there is limited knowledge regarding the role of exosomes in melanoma. This review discusses the multifaceted role of melanoma-derived exosomes in promoting the process of metastasis by modulating the invasive and angiogenic capacity of malignant cells. The future implications of exosome research and the therapeutic potential of exosomes are also discussed.     

经皮微波消融联合经皮穿刺椎体成形术治疗腰椎转移瘤的疗效

目的 观察微波消融（microwave ablation，MWA）联合经皮穿刺椎体成形术（percutaneous vertebroplasty，PVP）治疗腰椎转移瘤的临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析2016年6月至2019年6月广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院收治的50例腰椎转移瘤患者的临床资料，其中行经皮椎体成形术26例（PVP 组），经皮微波消融联合经皮椎体成形术24例（PVP+MWA组）。观察两组患者疼痛、功能状态以及骨水泥外渗情况和术后肿瘤复发率。结果 随访6～36个月，PVP组VAS评分从术前的（7.58±1.06） 分降至术后1个月的（3.27±1.40） 分和术后6个月的（3.08±1.60） 分；PVP+MWA组从术前的（7.67±1.05） 分降至术后1个月的（3.04±1.20） 分和术后6个月的（2.96±1.46） 分，两组术后 1个月及6个月的VAS评分低于术前（均P<0.05）,但重复测量方差显示，组间效应差异无统计学意义（F=0.223，P=0.801）。术后1个月，PVP组的KPS评分较术前提升（21.50±11.32） 分，PVP+MWA组较术前提升（19.92±13.19） 分，两者差异无统计学意义（t=0.457，P=0.650）。PVP+MWA 组的骨水泥外渗率（12.5% vs 38.5%，P=0.037）和肿瘤复发率（8.3% vs 30.8%，P=0.048）均低于PVP 组。结论 经皮穿刺椎体成形术单独或联合微波消融治疗腰椎转移瘤均可取得较好临床疗效，两者联合在减少骨水泥外渗及局部肿瘤控制中更有优势。      

Diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide in garlic as novel therapeutic agents to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. It is a cancer that originates from the mammary ducts and involves mutations in multiple genes. Recently, the treatment of breast cancer has become increasingly challenging owing to the increase in tumor heterogeneity and aggressiveness, which gives rise to therapeutic resistance. Epidemiological, population-based, and hospital-based case-control studies have demonstrated an association between high intake of certain Allium vegetables and a reduced risk in the development of breast cancer. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) are the main allyl sulfur compounds present in garlic, and are known to exhibit anticancer activity as they interfere with breast cancer cell proliferation, tumor metastasis, and angiogenesis. The present review highlights multidrug resistance mechanisms and their signaling pathways in breast cancer. This review discusses the potential anticancer activities of DADS and DATS, with emphasis on drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Understanding the anticancer activities of DADS and DATS provides insights into their potential in targeting drug resistance mechanisms of TNBC, especially in clinical studies.     

The Effect of Treatment Sequence on Overall Survival for Men With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

IntroductionWe aimed to evaluate the treatment sequence for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in real-world practice and compare overall survival in each sequential therapy.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 146 patients with mCRPC who were initially treated with androgen deprivation therapy as metastatic hormone-naive prostate cancer in 14 hospitals between January 2010 and March 2019. The agents for the sequential therapy included new androgen receptor-targeted agents (ART: abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide), docetaxel, and/or cabazitaxel. We evaluated the treatment sequence for mCRPC and the effect of sequence patterns on overall survival.ResultsThe median age was 71 years. A total of 35 patients received ART-ART, 33 received ART-docetaxel, 68 received docetaxel-ART, and 10 received docetaxel-cabazitaxel sequences. The most prescribed treatment sequence was docetaxel-ART (47%), followed by ART-ART (24%). Overall survival calculated from the initial diagnosis reached 83, 57, 79, and 37 months in the ART-ART, ART-docetaxel, docetaxel-ART, and docetaxel-cabazitaxel, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed no significant difference in overall survival between the first-line ART (n = 68) and first-line docetaxel (n = 78) therapies (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; P = .530), between the ART-ART (n = 35) and docetaxel-mixed (n = 111) sequences (HR, 0.82; P = .650), and between the first-line abiraterone (n = 32) and first-line enzalutamide (n = 36) sequences (HR, 1.58; P = .384).ConclusionThe most prescribed treatment sequence was docetaxel followed by ART. No significant difference was observed in overall survival among the treatment sequences in real-world practice.     

Gene expression profiling of human lymph node metastases and matched primary breast carcinomas: Clinical implications

The genetic program that drives tumor metastasis and the mode and timing of its initiation are of great practical significance to clinical management. Modern technical advances open new opportunities for gaining useful relevant information. Gene expression profiles of histologically‐verified viable tissue from lymph node metastases were compared with those of matched primary breast cancers from 10 different patients, among samples from over 400 cases, using high‐throughput oligonucleotide arrays comprising probes for 22,000 genes. It was observed that metastases have very similar expression signatures to their parent tumors. However, detailed computational analysis revealed that a small number of genes were consistently differentially expressed between 100% of tumors and metastases, suggesting that these are mechanistically important. Lists of such candidate genes, of potential clinical interest, are provided. We interpret these results in the framework of a meta‐analysis of previous investigations by others and ourselves and of existing clinical knowledge on the behavior of human tumors. The collective data show that metastases resemble their primary tumors but the signatures obtained in different studies are not sufficiently reproducible or informative to be prognostically useful, although they do give valuable insights into the pathogenesis and biology of human tumor metastasis. The findings indicate that the genetic program encoding metastasis is implemented progressively over time although, occasionally, this evolution can occur rapidly, early in the life of the neoplasm. The important clinical significance of this deduction is that, in most patients, early detection provides time for appropriate therapeutic intervention to be effective in obstructing metastasis.     

CD44分子与乳腺癌

CD44分子属于黏附分子家族中的一员，其CD44的异常表达与乳腺癌的发生、发展和转移密切相关。近年来研究表明乳腺癌干细胞表面高度表达CD44分子，针对CD44分子与乳腺癌干细胞关系的研究，将为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供新的靶点。     

Spinal Drop Metastasis from a Posterior Fossa Choroid Plexus Papilloma

Choroid plexus papillomas (CPPs) are typically considered as benign tumors, with a favorable long-term prognosis. Drop metastasis of CPP into the spinal subarachnoid space is rare. We report a 42-year-old woman who presented with headache and back pain 6 years after removal of a posterior fossa CPP. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed mass lesions in the lumbosacral subarachnoid space and recurrent intracranial tumor. The lesions were resected and histologically diagnosed was CPP. We consider that CPP can spread via cerebrospinal fluid pathways and cause spinal drop metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the whole spinal axis and to perform periodic follow-up examinations in patients with CPP.