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BACKGROUND: A malignancy of the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most common and second-leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A reliable prognosis model for guidance in choosing HCC therapies has yet to be established. METHODS: A consensus clustering approach was used to determine the number of immune clusters in the Cancer Genome Atlas and Liver Cancer-RIKEN, JP (LIRI_JP) datasets. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among these groups were identified based on RNA sequencing data. Then, to identify hub genes among signature genes, a co-expression network was constructed. The prognostic value and clinical characteristics of the immune clusters were also explored. Finally, the potential key genes for the immune clusters were determined. RESULTS: After conducting survival and correlation analyses of the DEGs, three immune clusters (C1, C2, and C3) were identified. Patients in C2 showed the longest survival time with the greatest abundance of tumor microenvironment (TME) cell populations. MGene mutations in Ffibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) and catenin (cadherin-associated protein),ß1(CTNNB1) were mostly observed in C2 and C3, respectively. The signature genes of C1, C2, and C3 were primarily enriched in 5, 23, and 26 pathways, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study sought to construct an immune-stratification model for the prognosis of HCC by dividing the expression profiles of patients from public datasets into three clusters and discovering the unique molecular characteristics of each. This stratification model provides insights into the immune and clinical characteristics of HCC subtypes, which is beneficial for the prognosis of HCC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Humans , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Prognosis , Tumor Microenvironment/geneticsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To develop nomogram models to predict individualized estimates of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 751 patients with ACC were identified within the Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1973 and 2015. The predictors comprised marital status, sex, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, laterality, histologic grade, ethnicity, historic stage, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery of primary site. Based on the results of the multivariate logistic regression analyses, the nomogram models were used for predicting OS and CSS in patients with ACC. The nomograms were tested using concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves. RESULTS: In univariate and multivariate analyses of OS, OS was significantly associated with age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, histologic grade, historic stage, and chemotherapy. In univariate and multivariate analyses of CSS, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, historic stage, and chemotherapy were the independent risk factors with CSS. These characteristics were included in the nomograms predicting OS and CSS. The nomograms demonstrated good accuracy in predicting OS and CSS, with the C-index of 0.677 and 0.672. CONCLUSION: These clinically useful tools predicted OS and CSS in patients with ACC using readily available clinicopathologic factors and could aid individualized clinical decision making.
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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the level of serum microRNA-199a/b-3p (miR-199a/b-3p) can serve as a predictor of treatment response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Serum miR-199a/b-3p expression level was measured in 132 patients with HCC before TACE (t1) and 3-5 days after TACE (t2). Additionally, 126 patients of these 132 patients had levels measured 4 weeks after TACE (t3) and 3-5 days after second TACE (t4). Serum miR-199a/b-3p expression levels were compared with those of 50 healthy controls. Correlations between miR-199a/b-3p expression levels and clinicopathologic factors and tumor responsiveness were analyzed. The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors assessment was conducted at t3. RESULTS: A lower mean baseline miR-199a/b-3p expression level was observed in patients with HCC compared with healthy controls (0.68±0.81 vs 2.50±2.16, P<0.001). A negative correlation between baseline miR-199a/b-3p expression levels and tumor size (P<0.001) was observed. The nonresponder group had significantly lower miR-199a/b-3p expression levels than the responder group at t1 (0.77±1.09 vs 1.96±1.32, P<0.001). In addition, the decrease in miR-199a/b-3p at t2 was greater in the responder group than in the nonresponder group (P=0.011). A higher proportion of the responder group achieved a >25% decrease in serum miR-199a/b-3p expression levels compared with the nonresponder group (64% vs 39%). CONCLUSION: Serum miR-199a/b-3p may represent a novel biomarker for predicting efficacy of TACE in patients with HCC.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) has been commonly used for uterine myoma with satisfactory effects, but the pain during and following the procedure with an occurrence rate in 100%. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of intermittent injection with super-low pressure on pain control during the UAE for uterine myoma. METHODS: 67 subjects were divided into 2 groups with 47 in-group A and 20 in group B. A underwent UAE with the intermittent injection at super-low pressure, while B underwent routine UAE. Pain was assessed according to WHO analgesic ladder. Meanwhile, all were scored with the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The numbers of first, second and third step analgesic user in Group A were 21, 18 and 6, respectively, with 2 non-analgesic users, while in Group B were 4, 6 and 10, respectively without non-analgesic user (chi-square = 7.043, P = 0.008). VAS showed good pain control in 23 cases, satisfactory in 18 and poor in 6 in Group A, while in Group B, were 4, 8 and 8, respectively (chi-square = 7.329, P = 0.007). Mean follow-up was 16.5 months (range, 6-32 months). The abnormal menstruation was improved and the ultrasound examination 6 months later demonstrated a significant decrease in the diameter of myoma (from 6.65 ± 2.40 cm to 5.22 ± 1.86 cm, t = 3.186, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The application of intermittent injection with super-low pressure during UAE can decrease and possibly eliminate post-operative pain. But the procedure time was increased.
