Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with CTLA-4 inhibitor versus chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis was performed to compare efficacy and tolerability between antiprogrammed cell death (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) + anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) treatment and chemotherapy in advanced lung cancer. METHODS: Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for potential articles. The fixed-effect model or random-effect model was adopted for pooled analysis based on the I2 and P-value. RESULTS: Six articles with 1338 patients were identified and subjected to meta-analysis. Compared with chemotherapy, anti-PD-1/PD-L1 + anti-CTLA-4 treatment could significantly improve the overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.84, P = .21) and progression-free survival (HR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.71-0.83, P = .30) of advanced lung cancer patients. Moreover, there was no obvious difference in the incidence of 3 to 4 adverse events (AEs) serious adverse reactions (HR = 1.35, 95%CI: 0.66-2.74, P < .00001) between the 2 treatment groups, but the incidence rates of AEs leading to discontinuation (HR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.53-4.30, P < .00001) and AEs leading to death (HR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.21-3.63, P = .20) were higher. Furthermore, no remarkable differences in objective response rate (HR = 1.31, 95%CI: 0.97-1.77, P = .02) were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis revealed that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors plus CTLA-4 inhibitor could markedly improve the endpoint outcomes of patients compared with chemotherapy alone, and did not significantly increase the serious adverse reactions. Thus, it can serve as a new treatment strategy for advanced lung cancer.

[Inhibitory effect of Ningmitai Capsules on the proliferation and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus sp. and Escherichia coli].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of Ningmitai Capsules (NMTC) on the proliferation and in vitro biofilm formation of Staphylococcus sp. and Escherichia coli (E. coli). METHODS: Using the gradient dilution method, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of NMTC against Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermids) 1457, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) NCTC8325-4/ Newman/ MU50 and E. coli ATCC25922/ CF073, and observed the effects of different concentrations of NMTC on their biofilm formation in vitro under the electron microscope. RESULTS: NMTC significantly suppressed the proliferation of S. epidermidis 1457, S. aureus NCTC8325-4/ Newman/ MU50 and E. coli ATCC25922/CF073 at an MIC of 20 mg/ml as well as their biofilm formation in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Ningmitai Capsules can inhibit the proliferation and in vitro biofilm formation of S. epidermids and E. coli, and has a comprehensive antibacterial effect.

Runt-related transcription factor 2 influences cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance and cell proliferation in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Several lines of evidence show that RUNX2 as a transcription factor is closely involved in carcinogenesis in a variety of human cancers. Cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) is an important part of the mechanism underlying drug resistance in hematological tumors. In this study, we investigated the biological function of RUNX2 in B-cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM). We assessed the expression of RUNX2 in suspension and adhesion model by western blot in B-NHL and MM. Adhesion assay, flow cytometry and CCK-8 were utilized to examine the role and mechanism of RUNX2 in CAM-DR and proliferation in B-NHL and MM. RUNX2 was highly expressed in adherent B-NHL and MM cells compared to suspension cells, and knockdown the expression of RUNX2 could reverse CAM-DR. Besides, RUNX2 could promote the proliferation of B-NHL and MM cells. Furthermore, RUNX2 participated the process of CAM-DR and proliferation by regulating the AKT/GSK-3ß pathway. Developing RUNX2 inhibitor may be a possible strategy for drug resistance.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes and bladder cancer risk: A meta-analysis in a single ethnic group.

AIM OF STUDY: To further evaluate the influence of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotypes on bladder cancer risk, we conducted a meta-analysis in the Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Chinese databases were electronically searched through April 2016. RESULTS: Nine studies were included for our meta-analysis, involving 1646 bladder cancer cases and 1938 controls. In general, our findings indicated that a significant association existed between GSTM1-null genotype and the risk of bladder cancer in the studied Chinese population (odds ratio = 1.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.36-1.79). However, no significant association between GSTT1 polymorphism and bladder cancer was found. After stratification of the subgroup analyses by source of controls and geographical areas, a substantially elevated risk was revealed between GSTM1-null genotype and bladder cancer in the population-based studies and those conducted in South China and North China. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1-null genotype is associated with an increased bladder cancer risk in the Chinese individuals.

Long noncoding RNA GHET1 promotes the development of bladder cancer.

In spite of the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, the prognosis of bladder cancer remains relatively poor. As a result, it is vital to identify novel diagnostic and prognostic marker of bladder cancer. A growing volume of literature has implicated the vital role of long noncoding RNA in the development of cancer. GHET1, a recently identified lncRNA, was initially characterized in gastric cancer. However, its role in bladder cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that GHET1 was upregulated in bladder cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and its over-expression correlates with tumor size, advanced tumor and lymph node status, and poor survival. GHET1 knockdown suppressed the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells in vitro. In the meantime, inhibition of GHET1 reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition in bladder cancer cell line. Taken together, our study suggests that the potential use of GHET1 as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target of bladder cancer.