Several studies were carried out to explore the prognostic role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in pancreatic cancer, however, with contradictory results. The objectives of this study were to ...summarize the prognostic value of NLR in pancreatic cancer. Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library were comprehensively retrieved. All the cohort studies focusing on the prognostic value of NLR in pancreatic cancer were eligible. 37 papers containing 43 cohort studies with pancreatic cancer were finally included into this study. The results presented that patients with low NLR might have longer OS when compared to the patients with high NLR (HR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.59–2.05, P < 0.00001; I2 = 82%). Similar results were detected in the subgroup analyses of OS, which was based on the analysis model, ethnicity, treatment, sample size and cut-off value. In additions, low NLR was significantly associated with longer DFS when compared to high NLR in pancreatic cancer (HR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.17–2.35, P = 0.005; I2 = 67%). Moreover, patients with low NLR had significantly smaller tumor size (P = 0.0007), better differentiation (P = 0.003), earlier stage (P = 0.02) and low CA-199 level (P = 0.007). In conclusion, it was revealed that low NLR was a favorable predictor of OS and DFS in patients with pancreatic cancer, and NLR is a promising prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer.
•Low NLR was obviously associated with longer OS and DFS compared to high NLR in pancreatic cancer.•The association between NLR and clinical parameters was explored.•The relatively large sample size strengthened the convincing of the results.•NLR might be a promising prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
A critical role of the Toll-like receptor(TLR) and its downstream molecules, including IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1(IRAK1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor- associated factor 6(TRAF6), in the ...pathogenesis of liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has been documented. Recently a microRNA, miR-146a, was identified as a potent negative regulator of the TLR signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-146a to attenuate TLR signaling and liver I/R injury in vivo and in vitro. miR-146a was decreased in mice Kupffer cells following hepatic I/R, whereas IRAK1 and TRAF6 increased. Overexpression of miR-146a directly decreased IRAK1 and TRAF6 expression and attenuated the release of proinflammatory cytokines through the inactivation of NF-κB P65 in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced macrophages, RAW264.7 cells. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that IRAK1 and TRAF6 are two potential targets for reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, co-culture assays indicated that miR-146a decreases the apoptosis of hepatocytes after H/R. In vivo administration of Ago-miR-146a, a stable version of miR-146a in vivo, protected against liver injury in mice after I/R via inactivation of the TLR signaling pathway. We conclude that miR-146a ameliorates liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro by directly suppressing IRAK1 and TRAF6.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives
Feline sarcoma-related protein (FER) is known to play a critical regulatory role in several carcinomas. However, the exact biological function of FER in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ...still needs to be investigated. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the unknown function and molecular mechanisms of FER in HCC.
Materials and Methods
The expression level of FER in HCC tissue samples and cells was examined by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Cellular and animal experiments were used to explore the effect of FER on the proliferative and metastatic capacities of HCC cells. The crosstalk between FER and NF-κB signaling was explored by western blot. The upstream factors that regulate FER were evaluated through dual-luciferase experiments and western blot assays.
Results
FER was overexpressed in HCC specimens and HCC cell lines. FER expression levels were positively associated with unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. The higher the expression of FER was, the worse the overall survival of HCC patients was. The results of loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments indicated that knockdown of FER decreased, while overexpression of FER increased, the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Mechanistically, we found that FER activated the NF-κB signaling pathway and stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also found that FER was directly regulated by miR-206, and the downregulation of miR-206 was associated with proliferation and metastatic progression in HCC.
Conclusions
The present research was the first to reveal that a decrease in miR-206 levels results in an increase in FER expression in HCC, leading to enhanced cell growth and metastatic abilities
via
activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Objective
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently been increasingly used in cancer treatment, whereas their clinical application in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients is uncommon. This ...study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ICIs plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) in the treatment of BTC patients.
Methods
This retrospective study reviewed 26 unresectable or advanced BTC patients who received ICIs plus CAPOX. The treatment continued until disease progression, uncontrollable adverse event (AE) occurrence, intolerable toxicity occurrence, or voluntary withdrawal.
Results
The median treatment cycles were 5.5 interquartile range (IQR): 3.8–8.0. Complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease rates were 0.0%, 46.2%, 23.1%, and 30.8%, respectively. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 46.2% and 69.2%, correspondingly. Regarding survival, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.1 (95% CI: 4.4–7.7) months and 16.5 (95% CI: 5.0–28.0) months; moreover, the 1-year PFS and OS rates were 21.5% and 54.3%, respectively. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 1–3 (vs. 0) was associated with declined DCR, PFS, and OS (all
p
< 0.050). The most common AEs of ICIs plus CAPOX were thrombocytopenia (61.5%), neutropenia (26.9%), and reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP) (23.1%). Moreover, 13 (50.0%) patients suffered from grade 3–4 AEs, including thrombocytopenia (50.0%), neutropenia (7.7%), liver dysfunction (7.7%), and RCCEP (3.8%). Notably, the majority of AEs were controllable.
Conclusion
ICIs plus CAPOX chemotherapy exhibit a good efficacy and a manageable safety profile in the treatment of patients with unresectable or advanced BTC.
Background and Aims
The development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is dependent on its local microenvironment. Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are deemed a key factor for the ...tumor microenvironment and attribute to contribute to tumor aggressiveness. However, the detailed mechanism underlying the pro‐metastatic effect of TAMs on HCC remains undefined.
Approach and Results
The present study proved that TAMs were enriched in HCC. TAMs were characterized by an M2‐polarized phenotype and accelerated the migratory potential of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that M2‐derived exosomes induced TAM‐mediated pro‐migratory activity. With the use of mass spectrometry, we identified that integrin, αMβ2 (CD11b/CD18), was notably specific and efficient in M2 macrophage–derived exosomes (M2 exos). Blocking either CD11b and/or CD18 elicited a significant decrease in M2 exos–mediated HCC cell metastasis. Mechanistically, M2 exos mediated an intercellular transfer of the CD11b/CD18, activating the matrix metalloproteinase‐9 signaling pathway in recipient HCC cells to support tumor migration.
Conclusions
Collectively, the exosome‐mediated transfer of functional CD11b/CD18 protein from TAMs to tumor cells may have the potency to boost the migratory potential of HCC cells, thus providing insights into the mechanism of tumor metastasis.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
By investigating the migration and invasion ability in pancreatic cancer, this study probed into the lncRNA MALAT1 molecular mechanism on Hippo‐YAP signaling. The expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in PC ...tissues and cells was detected by qRT‐PCR and Western blot. The effect of si‐MALAT1 on proliferation was determined by CCK‐8 assay. Cell apoptosis, migration, and invasion were respectively detected by flow cytometry assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were successively used for detecting LATS1 and YAP1 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues. The microarray analysis determined that lncRNA MALAT1 in pancreatic cancer was highly expressed. LncRNA MALAT1 presented an extremely high expression level in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells. After transfected with si‐MALAT1, the proliferation of AsPC‐1 cells decreased, induce apoptosis of AsPC‐1 cells, and migration and invasion ability were reduced. The tendency of LATS1 expression level was down‐regulated and YAP1 show the opposite trend in the Hippo‐YAP signaling. The in vivo assay was found that the tumor to be small in size and volume, and the expression of Ki‐67 was decreased. High expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in PC disorder the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion ability via influence Hippo‐YAP signaling pathway.
By investigating the migration and invasion ability in pancreatic cancer, this study probed into the lncRNA MALAT1 molecular mechanism on Hippo‐YAP signaling. High expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in PC disorder the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion ability via influence Hippo‐YAP signaling pathway.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
e16144
Background: Patients with advanced or unresectable BTC have limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The combination of ICIs with chemotherapy has demonstrated promising antitumor ...activity with manageable safety in the first- or second-line in treatment of patients with advanced or unresectable BTC, but only a subset of patients with BTC derive benefit. The standard systemic treatment for BTC has been gemcitabine (800-1250 mg/m
2
, i.v., d1 and d8, q3w) in combination with oxaliplatin/cisplatin. The regimen is associated with high frequency of intravenous injection or more hospital days. All above highlights the need for new combinations. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective trial to evaluate ICIs combined with CAPOX (more convenient dosing regimen) in patients with advanced or recurrent BTC who were treatment-naive or failed to previous treatment. Methods: In this study, eligible patients were diagnosed as unresectable advanced or recurrent BTC, therapy-naive or failed to previous treatment with chemotherapy, inhibitors of VEGFR or PD-1/PD-L1. In therapy phase, 28 patients were given with ICIs (dosage and mode of administration according to instructions, d1), oxaliplatin (130 mg/m
2
, i.v., d1), and capecitabine (1000mg/m
2
, po, bid, d1-14) every 3 weeks, until disease progression, intolerable toxicities, or physician/patient withdrawal. The safety and efficacy were assessed by investigators per CTCAE v5.0 and RECIST v1.1, respectively. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), the secondly endpoints were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR) and adverse events (AEs). Results: From Dec 24, 2019 to Aug 6, 2021, 28 patients had been enrolled to receive therapy. The patients were characterized with a median age of 58 years (range 53-79), 75% intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and 25% gallbladder cancer (GBC), 25% lymph node metastasis, 25% liver metastases, 54% with history of surgery, and 57% with therapy-native. As of Jan 23, 2022, with a median follow-up of 9.0 months (range, 2.1-23.4), safety and efficacy were assessed in 26 evaluable patients, with response of 12 PR and 6 SD. Confirmed ORR and disease control rate (DCR) were 46.2% (95% CI, 27.1%-66.2%) and 69.2% (95% CI, 48.1%-84.9%), respectively. The median PFS, median OS and median DOR were 6.1 months (95% CI, 4.9-7.3), 16.5 months (95% CI, 5.0-28.0) and 5.0 months (95% CI, 2.0-8.0), respectively. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 32.1% of patients, with thrombocytopenia and bone marrow depression ranking the most frequent. No new safety signal was identified. Conclusions: In this study, ICIs combined with CAPOX not only showed high level of safety and efficacy, but also provided convenience in the treatment of unresectable advanced or recurrent BTC.
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