The value of the combination of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet in predicting platinum-based chemoradiotherapy response in male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The predictive value of HALP in esophageal cancer is currently unclear. We aimed to evaluate the value of HALP in predicting platinum-based definitive chemoradiotherapy response in male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Data from all newly diagnosed patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were collected from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014 in Qilu Hospital. The treatment protocol was definitive chemoradiotherapy consisting of docetaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin. The response assessment of the definitive chemoradiotherapy was based on computed tomography (CT) and barium meal test results. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were included in the present study. The median value of HALP was 48.34. The chemoradiotherapy response rate of patients in the low HALP value group was 35%, compared with 78.95% of patients in the high HALP group (P=0.010). Additionally, the median progression-free survival in the 2 patient groups was significantly different (10.7 vs. 24.7m, P=0.041). In the multivariate analysis, patients with HALP higher than 48.34 had longer progression-free survival than patients with HALP of 48.34 or less (HR 2.745; 95% CI, 1.176-6.408; P=0.020). However, there was no significant difference for overall survival between the high HALP group and low HALP group. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that pretreatment HALP could predict the platinum-based chemoradiotherapy response of tumors and progression free survival in male patients with ESCC. Therefore, HALP could be used in routine clinical practice to guide the therapeutic strategies for individual treatment in patients with ESCC.

The predictive value of 18F-FDG PET for pathological response of primary tumor in patients with esophageal cancer during or after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: We want to review the value of 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography for response prediction of primary tumor in patients with esophageal cancer during or after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: Studies were searched in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library with specific search strategy. The published articles were included according to the criteria established in advance. The included studies were divided into two groups according to the time of the repeat positron emission tomography: during (Group A) or after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (Group B). The studies that performed the repeat positron emission tomography after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were graded Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies. The pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were obtained for both groups on the basis of no-existing of threshold effect. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included in the present study. The threshold effect did not exist in both groups. The pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were 85%, 59%, 6.82 with 95% confidence interval 76-91%, 48-69%, 2.25-20.72 in Group A. The equivalent values were 67%, 69%, 6.34 with 95% confidence interval 60-73%, 63-74%, 2.08-19.34 in Group B. The pooled sensitivity was 90% in four studies that enrolled patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma merely in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present data, positron emission tomography should not be used routinely to guide treatment strategy in esophageal cancer patients. We speculated that positron emission tomography could be used as a tool to predict treatment response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Effect of Thermozeaxanthins on Liposome Membranes in Acidic and Basic Conditions.

Thermozeaxanthins (TZS), a group of carotenoid-glucoside esters extracted from the lipids fraction of thermophilic bacterium, are amphiphilic compounds. The effects of TZS on membrane permeability were examined on large unilamellar liposomes (LUVs) in different pH buffers. The LUVs were composed of 0.01 molar of TZS and phosphatidylcholine (PC) of various lengths and saturation degrees of hydrocarbon chains. The results showed that the LUVs containing TZS were more stable than that liposomes without TZS in pH 5.0, and no significant effects in pH 8.2 and 9.0 buffer solutions. The liposomes composed of TZS and egg PC or E.coli PE were better than those DPPC or DOPC LUVs containing TZS at same experimental conditions. There was no observed difference in stability between the liposomes with or without TZS in pH 6.5 solution. Conclusions (1) Matching of rigid TZS in the lipid bilayer was important in stabilization effects on liposomes, (2)The TZS showed some stabilization effects on liposome membranes in acidic conditions and no significant effects in basic environment.