T-cell receptor-engineered T cells for cancer treatment: current status and future directions

T-cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cells are a novel option for adoptive cell therapy used for the treatment of several advanced forms of cancer. Work using TCR-engineered T cells began more than two decades ago, with numerous preclinical studies showing that such cells could mediate tumor lysis and eradication. The success of these trials provided the foundation for clinical trials, including recent clinical successes using TCR-engineered T cells to target New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NY-ESO-1). These successes demonstrate the potential of this approach to treat cancer. In this review, we provide a perspective on the current and future applications of TCR-engineered T cells for the treatment of cancer. Our summary focuses on TCR activation and both pre-clinical and clinical applications of TCR-engineered T cells. We also discuss how to enhance the function of TCR-engineered T cells and prolong their longevity in the tumor microenvironment.

The relationship between four GWAS-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms and female breast canc-er in Henan population / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To verify the association between common breast cancer susceptibility loci which have been confirmed in European and Asian populations and breast cancer susceptibility in sporadic breast cancer among the Han nationality in Henan province , and to analyze their genotypes in the internal type of breast cancer . Methods In 253 breast cancer patients ( the case group ) and 343 patients who had benign breast lesions ( the control group), rs2046210(6q25.1), rs2981582(EGFR2), rs889312(MAP3K1), and rs3803662(TOX3/TNRC9)were genotyped by SNP im-LDR technique.According to estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)and Ki67, breast cancer are divided into 5 types:Lu-minal A, Luminal B, HER2-enrich, Luminal HER2, and triple negative breast cancer ( TNBC).Results rs2046210(6q25.1), rs2981582(EGFR2), rs889312(MAP3K1)had no statistical differences between the case group and the control group(P=0.421, 0.459, and 0.468), but the genotype of rs3803662(TOX3/TNRC9)in the case group and the control group had statistical difference (P=0.037).The allelic frequencies of rs3803662 between the case group and control group were different in codominant inheritance ( OR=2.19, 95%CI:1.19-4.02)and recessive genetic models (OR =2.06,95% CI:1.15 -3.70).Compared with AA and GA, GG in-creased the risk of breast cancer ( P =0.012, 0.015 ).The genotypes of rs2046210 ( 6q25.1 ), rs2981582 (EGFR2), rs889312(MAP3K1), and rs3803662(TOX3/TNRC9)had no difference in different types of breast cancer.Conclusions Four common breast cancer susceptibility loci from GWAS are not entirely associated with breast cancer risk among the Han nationality in Henan province .Only rs3803662(TOX3/TNRC9)is confirmed to increase the risk of breast cancer .Different genotypes of 4 loci distribute equally in different types of breast cancer .

Comparison of the results between quantitative procalcitonin detection and blood culture / 中华检验医学杂志

ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value of the quantitative procalcitonin (PCT) test in bloodstream infection.Methods Of 1066 patients with blood culture and PCT detection were collected in our hospital,retrospectively,1010 were effective cases.The relationship between blood culture results and serum PCT levels was investigated.PCT levels in gram-negative bacterial infection,gram-positive bacterial infection and candidiasis were compared.The prognosis of 33 blood culture positive patients with repeated PCT detection results were analyzed.Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the PCT value among the three groups,and Fisher' s test was used to compare the death rate among the three groups.ResultsIn the patients with negative blood culture results,the median of PCT was 0.37 (0.11 - 1.67) μg/L.But in the patients with positive blood culture results,the median of PCT were 2.24(0.57 -11.59) μg/L The positive rate of PCT in gram-negative bacteria infection,gram-positive bacterial infection and candidiasis were 86.6％,72.0％ and 75.7％,respectively.In the 33 patients subjected to repeated PCT detections,the mortality of the patients with decreasing PCT was lower than the others.The patients whose PCT levels were greater than 5 μg/L had poor prognosis.ConclusionsQuantitative PCT is proved to be an effective method for rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infection.The changing trends of PCT test results has certain reference value for the patients' prognosis.

The rapid molecular identification of 16 common coagulase negative Staphylococcus / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish the rapid molecular diagnosis of 16 common coagulase negative Staphylococcus(CNS).MethodsDNA sequencing of 16 CNS would be obtained with gap gene.After the alignment gap gene sequences which were available in the GenBank,the bacteria were identified with homological alignment and phylogenetic tree,and compared with the 16S rRNA gene.ResultsThe sequence similarity of the gap sequences ranged from 39% to 98% in 16 CNS.There were the highest similarity (98%) between S.hominis and S.hominis subsp,and the lowest(39% ) between S.saprophyticus and S.xylosus.The sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA sequences ranged from 96 to 98%,at least two species of bacteria similar rate of 99% and the most four species similar rate of 99%.Phylogenetic homology analysis showed that it was a high confidence(99% ) in the detection ofS.xylosus and S.lentus,S.chromogenes and S.intermedius,S.hominis and S.hominis subsp,but for 10 other species of bacteria,gap homology analysis has less unreliable confidence(49%,56% ) and 16S rRNA has more unreliable confidence(43%,43%,50%,56%,63%,65%,76% ).ConclusionAnalysis of gap sequence could identify 16 CNS timely and accurately,with higher confidence than 16S rRNA.