Article
Microbiology
Choon K. Sim, Sara Saheb Kashaf, Apollo Stacy, Diana M. Proctor, Alexandre Almeida, Nicolas Bouladoux, Mark Chen, Robert D. Finn, Yasmine Belkaid, Sean Conlan, Julia A. Segre
Summary: This study developed a mouse model to study occult colonization and outgrowth of pathogens in the gut microbiome. The study found that occult colonization perturbed the microbiome and outgrowth could be induced by antibiotics. The presence of vancomycin was specifically associated with outgrowth in a subset of animals.
Article
Oncology
Kazuharu Chiba, Tatsuo Hata, Masamichi Mizuma, Kunihiro Masuda, Shuichi Aoki, Tatsuyuki Takadate, Kei Kawaguchi, Kei Nakagawa, Takanori Morikawa, Fuyuhiko Motoi, Toru Furukawa, Michiaki Unno
Summary: The clinical significance of tumor-derived DNA testing in peritoneal lavage of pancreatic cancer patients was assessed. Results showed that patients with peritoneal dissemination and positive cytology had higher prevalence and abundance of tumor-derived DNA in the peritoneal lavage samples, which could predict early recurrence.
ANNALS OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Chengxing Wang, Xiaoping Li, Liangliang Ren, Changyi Ma, Meimei Wu, Weijun Liang, Jinglin Zhao, Shangren Li, Qunying Tan, Yuehua Liao, Lixia Sun, Xin Zhang, Yaoming He
Summary: Elevated Gankyrin expression was confirmed in CRC patients, which was positively correlated with disease progression and liver metastasis, leading to worse prognosis. Therefore, Gankyrin may serve as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of CRC with occult liver metastasis.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Elise Anne van Os, Laura Cools, Nathalie Eysackers, Karolina Szafranska, Ayla Smout, Stefaan Verhulst, Hendrik Reynaert, Peter McCourt, Inge Mannaerts, Leo A. van Grunsven
Summary: Chronic liver disease can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, reliable in vitro models for studying liver disease and evaluating drugs are lacking. In this study, functional multicellular liver spheroid (MCLS) cultures were established using different types of liver cells. The MCLS cultures exhibited key characteristics of liver tissue and responded to chronic exposure to different substances. Furthermore, the MCLS cultures were used to evaluate potential anti-NAFLD drugs. The results showed that certain drugs could effectively inhibit steatosis and fibrosis. In conclusion, primary mouse MCLS cultures can be used as a model for acute and chronic liver disease, as well as for drug assessment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Feng-qin Xiong, Wen Zhang, Chao Zheng, Yu Li, Xiang Gong, Yuan Zhang, Hao Wang, Peng-cheng Zhang, Ya-ping Li
Summary: In this study, we developed gemcitabine-loaded synthetic high-density lipoprotein (G-sHDL) to reverse immunosuppression in colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases. The G-sHDL targeted and eliminated immunosuppressive macrophages in the liver, leading to improved densities of tumor-specific CD8(+) T cells in various tissues and enhanced anti-tumor immune responses. Moreover, G-sHDL induced cancer cell death, promoted dendritic cell maturation, and increased infiltration and activity of CD8(+) T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, G-sHDL inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of mice, especially when combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody. This platform has the potential to modulate immune microenvironment in diseased livers.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Tony C. Y. Pang, Zhihong Xu, Alpha Raj Mekapogu, Srinivasa Pothula, Therese Becker, Susan Corley, Marc R. Wilkins, David Goldstein, Romano Pirola, Jeremy Wilson, Minoti Apte
Summary: The study demonstrates the efficacy of adjuvant HGF/c-Met inhibition in reducing the risk and rate of disease progression after pancreatic cancer resection, as well as reducing the counts of circulating pancreatic stellate cells (cPSCs). This study also confirms the existence of cPSCs in pancreatic cancer, providing important insights into potential treatment strategies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jinbing Sun, Zhihua Lu, Wei Fu, Kuangyi Lu, Xiuwen Gu, Feng Xu, Jiamin Dai, Yang Yang, Jianlong Jiang
Summary: Exosomes derived from cancer cells, particularly those containing elevated levels of ADAM17, play a role in promoting the migratory ability of colorectal cancer cells by cleaving E-cadherin junctions. This finding suggests that exosomal ADAM17 may serve as a blood-based biomarker for colorectal cancer metastasis.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Daisuke Hashimoto, Tatsuma Sakaguchi, Sohei Satoi, Tomohisa Yamamoto, So Yamaki, Mitsuaki Ishida, Yuki Matsui, Nobuhiro Shibata, Shogen Boku, Utae Katsushima, Tsukasa Ikeura, Mitsugu Sekimoto
Summary: This study aimed to compare the characteristics and prognoses of patients with occult metastases (OM) and radiologically defined metastases (RM) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and to establish a treatment strategy for PDAC patients with OM. The study found that the median overall survival of OM was significantly better than that of RM, but general and nutritional statuses, primary tumor size and CA19-9, conversion surgery and multiple lines of chemotherapy were independent predictors, while the type of metastasis (OM vs RM) was not an independent predictor.
Article
Hematology
Stella Chausheva, Bassam Redwan, Smriti Sharma, Nara Marella, Klaudia Schossleitner, Andre C. Mueller, Peter Petzelbauer, Timothy Morris, Irene M. Lang
Summary: The study found that B beta (15-42) can attenuate thrombus resolution by blocking monocyte transmigration through an endothelial cell monolayer, resulting in decreased numbers of thrombus macrophages and microvessels, as well as reduced urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression. High concentrations of B beta (15-42) were observed in red clot and plasma of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension cases.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Jiajun Deng, Yifan Zhong, Tingting Wang, Minglei Yang, Minjie Ma, Yongxiang Song, Yunlang She, Chang Chen
Summary: ONM defined by PET/CT is considered a favorable prognostic factor and can provide additional survival benefits for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kaiyuan Liu, Na Jing, Deng Wang, Penghui Xu, Jinming Wang, Xinyu Chen, Chaping Cheng, Zhixiang Xin, Yuman He, Huifang Zhao, ZhongZhong Ji, Pengcheng Zhang, Wei-Qiang Gao, Helen He Zhu, Kai Zhang
Summary: This study established an immune-intact mouse model for prostate cancer liver metastasis, which recapitulates the histological and lineage features of the original tumors and reveals dynamic tumor-immune cell communication in liver metastatic foci. The results suggest that the lack of CD8(+) T cells, enrichment of CD163(+) M2-like macrophages, and PD1(+)CD4(+) T cells contribute to an immunosuppressive microenvironment in prostate cancer liver metastasis.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Wenpeng Cao, Zhirui Zeng, Zhiwei He, Shan Lei
Summary: This study revealed that hypoxia upregulates the expression of miR-4465 and miR-616-3p in PSC-derived exosomes, which promote pancreatic cancer progression and metastasis by suppressing the PTEN/AKT pathway through exosome uptake.
Article
Surgery
Ahmad Hamad, Mariam F. Eskander, Chengli Shen, Oindrila Bhattacharyya, James L. Fisher, Bridget A. Oppong, Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, Allan Tsung
Summary: This study identifies factors associated with delayed adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients and examines the impact of delays on survival in under-resourced populations. The study finds that age, race, comorbidities, median income, and insurance status are barriers to timely adjuvant chemotherapy. Delayed adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with worse survival among under-resourced populations.
Article
Oncology
Shu Dong, Xian Miao, Ke Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhu, Yi Gao, Hao Chen
Summary: This study aimed to explore the correlation of elastic modulus-reflected liver lesion stiffness with clinical characteristics, tumor markers, and survival among pancreatic cancer patients with liver metastasis. The results showed that elastic modulus was correlated with primary pancreatic cancer location, the presence of extra lung metastasis, liver metastasis size, and the absence of extraskeletal metastasis. High elastic modulus was associated with poor progression-free survival, but not overall survival. Multivariable Cox analysis revealed that high elastic modulus and multiple metastases independently predicted decreased progression-free survival, while only abnormal CEA independently forecasted decreased overall survival.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yanmiao Huo, Yaoqi Zhou, Jiahao Zheng, Guangxin Jin, Lingye Tao, Hongfei Yao, Junfeng Zhang, Yongwei Sun, Yingbin Liu, Li-Peng Hu
Summary: This study reveals the significant increase of GJB3 in liver metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and confirms its role in promoting hepatic metastasis through the formation of channels between tumor cells and neutrophils. GJB3 transfer cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from cancer cells to neutrophils, supporting their survival and polarization.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)