The Role of HMGB1 Signaling Pathway in the Development and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review

The story of high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in cancer is complicated and the function of HMGB1 in different cancers is uncertain. This review aims to retrieve literature regarding HMGB1 from English electronic resources, analyze and summarize the role of the HMGB1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and provide useful information for carcinogenesis and progression of HCC. Results showed that HMGB1 could induce cell proliferation, differentiation, cell death, angiogenesis, metastasis, inflammation, and enhance immunofunction in in vitro and in vivo HCC models. HMGB1 and its downstream receptors RAGE, TLRs and TREM-1 may be potential anticancer targets. In conclusion, HMGB1 plays an important role in oncogenesis and represents a novel therapeutic target, which deserves further study.     

Usefulness of Photodynamic Therapy as a Possible Therapeutic Alternative in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in individuals with fair skin type (I–II) and steadily increasing in incidence (70% of skin malignancy). It is locally invasive but metastasis is usually very rare, with an estimated incidence of 0.0028%–0.55%. Conventional therapy is surgery, especially for the H region of the face and infiltrative lesions; in case of inoperable tumors, radiotherapy is a valid option. Recently, topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become an effective treatment in the management of superficial and small nodular BCC. PDT is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the administration of a photo-sensibilizing agent followed by irradiation at a pre-defined wavelength; this determines the creation of reactive oxygen species that specifically destroy target cells. The only major side effect is pain, reported by some patients during the irradiation. The high cure rate and excellent cosmetic outcome requires considering this possibility for the management of patients with both sporadic and hereditary BCC. In this article, an extensive review of the recent literature was made, in order to clarify the role of PDT as a possible alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of BCC.     

Oncogenic MicroRNAs Characterization in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

A key challenge for the improvement of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) management could derive from a deeper characterization of the biology of these neoplasms that could greatly improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment choice. The aim of this study was to identify specific miRNAs that are deregulated in tumor vs. normal kidney tissues and that could impact on the biology of ccRCC. To this end we selected four miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-185-5p and miR-221-3p) and their expression has been evaluated in a retrospective cohort of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from 20 ccRCC patients who underwent surgical nephrectomy resection. miR-21-5p and miR-210-3p resulted the most significantly up-regulated miRNAs in this patient cohort, highlighting these onco-miRNAs as possible relevant players involved in ccRCC tumorigenesis. Thus, this study reports the identification of specific oncogenic miRNAs that are altered in ccRCC tissues and suggests that they might be useful biomarkers in ccRCC management.     

TNFAIP3基因遗传变异对食管鳞癌患者预后的影响

目的: 探讨重组人肿瘤坏死因子α诱导蛋白3（TNFAIP3）基因的遗传变异对食管鳞癌（ESCC）患者预后的影响。方法: 本研究纳入175例食管鳞癌根治术患者。在手术前收集患者的外周血5 mL用来提取基因组DNA,对rs583522位点进行基因分型,并对基因型和基线临床资料,以及患者的长期预后情况进行关联性分析。结果: 野生型AA型相对于AG/GG型患者者来说具有明显较晚的肿瘤分期（P<0.001）。AA型的患者更容易复发（P=0.022）。生存分析结果表明AA型患者相对于AG/GG型患者具有明显较差的总生存期（OS）,两种基因型患者的中位OS分别为38.2和48.5个月（P=0.017）。结论: TNFAIP3多态性位点rs583522可能通过影响了该基因的功能,进而使得不同基因型的ESCC患者具有不同的恶性程度。因此TNFAIP3基因rs583522位点可以作为评价食管鳞癌患者预后的生物标记物。     

贲门癌根治术中植入5-氟脲嘧啶缓释剂的疗效评价

目的评价5-氟脲嘧啶（5-FU）缓释剂在贲门癌术中的疗效。方法对261例拟手术贲门癌的患者采用配对设计分为2组。缓释剂组135例：于贲门癌根治术中用5-FU缓释剂局部化疗及术后行常规化疗（5-FU＋丝裂霉素＋顺铂）;对照组126例：于贲门癌根治术后行常规化疗。2组患者均随访2年,观察其不良反应、肿瘤复发率及病死率。结果与对照组相比,缓释剂组患者肿瘤复发少,患者病死率低（均P〈0.05）。结论术中植入5-FU缓释剂效果明显,能减少肿瘤复发和转移,患者耐受性良好,可望提高贲门癌根治术后的疗效。     

ER、PR阳性乳腺分泌型癌1例报告并文献复习

目的探讨乳腺分泌型癌（secretory carcinoma of the breast,SCB）的临床病理特征,以提高对SCB的认识和病理诊断水平。方法对1例SCB患者的临床表现、组织病理和组织化学染色进行分析和观察,并结合国内外相关文献复习SCB的特点。结果患者为38岁女性,左乳单发肿物。组织病理学形态主要为实性、小管状及小囊腔状结构。肿瘤细胞分2种类型：一种胞浆内含嗜酸性分泌物,另一种胞质淡染甚至呈空泡状。胞浆内外的分泌物对PAS及AB染色呈阳性反应。免疫组化：ER（＋＋＋）、PR（＋＋＋）、E-cad（＋）、EMA（＋）、S-100（-）。结论 SCB是乳腺癌的一个少见类型,诊断主要依据组织病理学观察,虽然手术治疗及预后较好,但仍需要终生随访。     

Aflatoxin and PAH exposure biomarkers in a U.S. population with a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is significantly elevated in a Hispanic community in Bexar County, Texas. Chronic exposure to dietary aflatoxins (AFs) is a major risk factor for HCC; increased risk has been linked to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) co-exposure and hepatitis virus infection. The aims of this study were to assess AF and PAH exposures, investigate dietary factors that may contribute to increased AF exposure, and determine the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection in Bexar Co. Blood and urine samples were collected from 184 volunteers for biomarker analyses and hepatitis screening. Serum AFB₁-lysine adduct, urinary AFM₁ and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The average AFB₁-lysine adduct level detected in 20.6% of serums was 3.84 ± 3.11 pg/mg albumin (range 1.01-16.57 pg/mg). AFM₁ was detected in 11.7% of urines, averaging 223.85 ± 250.56 pg/mg creatinine (range 1.89-935.49 pg/mg). AFM₁ detection was associated with increased consumption of corn tortillas (p = 0.009), nuts (p = 0.033) and rice (p = 0.037). A significant difference was observed between mean 1-OHP values of non-smokers (0.07 ± 0.13) and smokers (0.80 ± 0.68) μmol/mol creatinine (p < 0.01). A high hepatitis C virus positivity rate (7.1%) was observed. Findings suggest that the incidence and level of AF and PAH exposure were less than those observed in a high-risk population; however, participants consuming higher amounts of foods prone to AF contamination may be more vulnerable to exposure and interactions with other environmental/biological factors (i.e., HCV).     

COX-2和MMP-7在大肠癌组织中的表达及意义

目的研究环氧合酶-2(cyclooxygenase-2;COX-2)蛋白和基质金属蛋白酶-7(matrix metalloproteinase-7;MMP-7)蛋白在人大肠癌组织中的表达及意义。方法应用免疫组化法检测40例大肠癌及其癌旁正常组织中COX-2及MMP-7蛋白表达水平。结果大肠癌组织中COX-2蛋白表达阳性率87.5%(35/40),明显高于癌旁正常组织25%(10/40)(P<0.01);大肠癌组织MMP-7蛋白表达阳性率85%(34/40),明显高于癌旁正常组织35%(14/40)(P<0.01);COX-2阳性表达组中MMP-7阳性率为91.4%(32/35),COX-2阴性表达组中MMP-7阳性率为40%(2/5),二者差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论COX-2蛋白可能通过促进MMP-7的表达从而共同促进了大肠癌的生长及转移。     

罗非昔布对胃癌细胞上清液中培养的树突状细胞分化成熟和功能的影响

目的：从免疫学角度分析罗非昔布（Rofecoxib）抗癌作用的机制。方法：将人外周血分离的单核细胞加入含重组人粒细胞巨噬细胞集落刺激因子和重组人白细胞介素的培养液中,随机分为空白组（PBS培养液）,干预组（胃癌细胞上清液＋罗非昔布,150mg/L）,对照组（胃癌细胞上清液）使其分化为树突状细胞（denstritic cell,DC）。混合培养48h后,动态观察DC成熟过程中的形态学变化,流式细胞术检测DC成熟表型（CD40、CD80）,混合T淋巴细胞增殖反应检测DC功能。结果：与对照组比较,空白组、干预组DC的CD40、CD80表达明显在增加（P〈0.05）,T细胞增殖作用明显增强（P〈0.05）。结论：罗非昔布可通过促进DC成熟,并增加DC的免疫活性而发挥抗癌作用。