Correlation and clinical significance of VISTA expression and cervical squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the relationship between the expression of the T-cell activation suppressor-immunoglobulin variable region (VISTA) and the development of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), and the impact on the prognosis of CSCC patients. Methods: Cervical tissue samples from 116 CSCC, including 23 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade I, 23 CIN grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ, and 23 chronic cervicitis patients, were collected from the First Hospital of Soochow University between March 2014 and April 2019. The expression of VISTA in each group was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Survival data of CSCC patients were obtained by follow-up. The survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and survival differences between groups were compared by Log rank test. Prognostic impact factors were analyzed using a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The positive rate of VISTA expression in CSCC group was 32.8% (38/116), and which of grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ was 17.4% (4/23). VISTA expression results showed no positive expression patients in the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I and chronic cervicitis groups. The differences between the CSCC group and other groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). In 116 CSCC patients, VISTA expression was associated with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.01). The mean survival time of patients in the VISTA positive expression group was 30.7 months, and the 3-year survival rate was 44.7% (17/38). However, the mean survival time of the patients in the VISTA negative expression group was 49.1 months, and the 3-year survival rate was 87.2% (68/78). The Cox regression model found that VISTA expression positivity (P=0.001) and FIGO stage (P=0.047) were prognostic factors for CSCC, and patients with VISTA-positive CSCC had a 4.130-fold risk of death higher than those with VISTA-negative expression. Conclusions: The VISTA protein is highly expressed in CSCC tissues, and its expression level is closely related to the occurrence and development of CSCC. The expression of VISTA can be used as an independent predictor of CSCC prognosis and can provide a strong basis for the treatment of CSCC with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Marked response to icotinib in lung squamous cell carcinoma with EGFR wild-type

We present a case of a 72-year male with primary lung squamous cell carcinoma without an epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] gene mutation that exhibited a lasting efficacy to icotinib treatment. Originally, the patient was treated with GP regimen for 2 cycles, local lesion radiotherapy [DT46Gy/2Gy*23F], and TP regimen for 2 cycles, with efficacy evaluation as stable disease [SD]. The condition was stable for 10 months until the fifth lumbar metastasis was discovered by emission computed tomography [ECT] in July 2015, and the pulmonary metastasis increased. Icotinib was administered at 125 mg orally three times per day. Chest computed tomography [CT] scan showed the tumor was in partial response [PR] and the PR lasted for 27 months

An Appreciation for the Rabbit Ladderlike Modeling of Radiation-induced Lung Injury with High-energy X-Ray / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To evaluate the utility of rabbit ladderlike model of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) for the future investigation of computed tomography perfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 72 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: 36 rabbits in the test group were administered 25 Gy of single fractionated radiation to the whole lung of unilateral lung; 36 rabbits in the control group were sham-radiated. All rabbits were subsequently sacrificed at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and 1, 2, 4, 8,1 6, 24 weeks after radiation, and then six specimens were extracted from the upper, middle and lower fields of the bilateral lungs. The pathological changes in these specimens were observed with light and electron microscopy; the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) and transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) in local lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Radiation-induced lung injury occurred in all rabbits in the test group. (2) Expression of TNF-a and TGF-β₁ at 1 h and 48 h after radiation, demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the test and control groups (each P < 0.05). (3) Evaluation by light microscopy demonstrated statistically significant differences between the two groups in the following parameters (each P < 0.05): thickness of alveolar wall, density of pulmonary interstitium area (1 h after radiation), number of fibroblasts and fibrocytes in interstitium (24 h after radiation). The test group metrics also correlated well with the time of postradiation. (4) Evaluation by electron microscopy demonstrated statistically significant differences in the relative amounts of collagen fibers at various time points postradiation in the test group (P < 0.005), with no significant differences in the control group (P > 0.05). At greater than 48 h postradiation the relative amount of collagen fibers in the test groups significantly differ from the control groups (each P < 0.05), correlating well with the time postradiation (r = 0.99318).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A consistent and reliable rabbit model of RILI can be generated in gradient using 25 Gy of high-energy X-ray, which can simulate the development and evolution of RILI.</p>

Influence of knock-down of miR-21 expression on the radiosensitivity of glioma SHG-44 cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of knock-down of miR-21 expression on the radiosensitivity of radioresistant glioma SHG-44 cells and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Radioresistant cell line SHG-44(R) cells were established from radiosensitive parental SHG-44 glioma cells. Then the expression levels of miR-21 in SHG-44(R) and SHG-44 were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The effect of miR-21 on the radiosensitivity was assessed in SHG-44(R) with miR-21 inhibitor to decrease the miR-21 expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>miR-21 was up-regulated 1.49-fold in SHG-44(R) cells relative to the SHG-44 cells. But after transfection with As-miR-21, the miR-21 expression in SHG-44(R) cells was knocked down significantly. As-miR-21 combined with radiation could synergistically enhanced mitotic death and apoptosis of SHG-44(R) cells, with SER of D(0) and D(q) being equal to 1.48 and 1.54, respectively. Expression levels of caspase-3 in the radiation group, AS-miR-21 transfection group and combination group were 2.24 ± 0.14, 2.05 ± 0.19 and 5.72 ± 0.45, respectively, and its expression in the combination group was higher than that in the other two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>miR-21 may be involved in the formation of radioresistance of glioma cells and as a potential target for enhancing the response of radioresistant-glioma cells to radiotheapy.</p>