The role of ppGalNAc‑T family in breast cancer development and progression.

Glycosylation of proteins is an essential process in all eukaryotes. Mucin‑type O‑linked glycosylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification as a kind of glycosylation of proteins. The role of O‑glycosylation was well documented in multiple cancers. While in breast cancer, the enzymes that catalyzed the initiation of O‑glycosylation remained elusive. In this review, we briefly introduced the process of the initiation of O‑glycosylation and summarized the roles of enzymes that catalyzed the initiation step of O‑glycosylation in the breast cancer carcinogenesis, development, and progression. Finally, we summarized some attempts exploring the therapy against aberrant O‑glycosylation.

Effect of dendritic cell vaccine therapy on lymphocyte subpopulation in refractory primary brain tumor.

BACKGROUND: Dendritic cell (DC)‑based immunotherapy has the potential to induce an antitumor response within the immunologically privileged brain. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short‑term effect of DC vaccine therapy on lymphocyte subsets in patients with refractory primary brain tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen cases with refractory primary brain tumor who refused any treatment against tumor within 6 months of the therapy, were referred to one medicine center, from January 2011 to October 2012. All patients received 1 × 107 tumor lysate–pulsed DC vaccinations both intradermal injection and intravenous infusion 3 times/week. RESULTS: There were increases of lymphocytes CD8+ (P = 0.002) and CD56+ (P = 4.207E‑10), but no change of lymphocytes CD3+ (P = 0.651). Six patients were positive response of delayed‑type hypersensitivity. There were improving of appetite in 14 cases and increasing of physical strength 17 cases. CONCLUSIONS: DC vaccine has the potential for inducing an immune cytotoxic effect directed toward tumor cells.