Fluorescence imaging-guided surgery: current status and future directions.

Surgery is one of the most important paradigms for tumor therapy, while fluorescence imaging (FI) offers real-time intraoperative guidance, greatly boosting treatment prognosis. The imaging fidelity heavily relies on not only imaging facilities but also probes for imaging-guided surgery (IGS). So far, a great number of IGS probes with emission in visible (400-700 nm) and near-infrared (NIR 700-1700 nm) windows have been developed for pinpointing disease margins intraoperatively. Herein, the state-of-the-art fluorescent probes for IGS are timely updated, with a special focus on the fluorescent probes under clinical examination. For a better demonstration of the superiority of NIR FI over visible FI, both imaging modalities are critically compared regarding signal-to-background ratio, penetration depth, resolution, tissue autofluorescence, photostability, and biocompatibility. Various types of fluorescence IGS have been summarized to demonstrate its importance in the medical field. Furthermore, the most recent progress of fluorescent probes in NIR-I and NIR-II windows is summarized. Finally, an outlook on multimodal imaging, FI beyond NIR-II, efficient tumor targeting, automated IGS, the use of AI and machine learning for designing fluorescent probes, and the fluorescence-guided da Vinci surgical system is given. We hope this review will stimulate interest among researchers in different areas and expedite the translation of fluorescent probes from bench to bedside.

The state-of-art polyurethane nanoparticles for drug delivery applications.

Nowadays, polyurethanes (PUs) stand out as a promising option for drug delivery owing to their versatile properties. PUs have garnered significant attention in the biomedical sector and are extensively employed in diverse forms, including bulk devices, coatings, particles, and micelles. PUs are crucial in delivering various therapeutic agents such as antibiotics, anti-cancer medications, dermal treatments, and intravaginal rings. Effective drug release management is essential to ensure the intended therapeutic impact of PUs. Commercially available PU-based drug delivery products exemplify the adaptability of PUs in drug delivery, enabling researchers to tailor the polymer properties for specific drug release patterns. This review primarily focuses on the preparation of PU nanoparticles and their physiochemical properties for drug delivery applications, emphasizing how the formation of PUs affects the efficiency of drug delivery systems. Additionally, cutting-edge applications in drug delivery using PU nanoparticle systems, micelles, targeted, activatable, and fluorescence imaging-guided drug delivery applications are explored. Finally, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in drug design and delivery is discussed. The review concludes by addressing the challenges and providing perspectives on the future of PUs in drug delivery, aiming to inspire the design of more innovative solutions in this field.

Comparative efficacy of acupuncture-related interventions for tubal obstructive infertility: A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Tubal obstructive infertility (TOI) is a challenging condition affecting many women worldwide. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have emerged as potential therapeutic options for enhancing fertility outcomes in these patients. However, the evidence regarding their efficacy remains inconclusive, necessitating a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: Computer searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Information, Wanfang Database, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases to retrieve relevant literature on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and related therapies for the treatment of tubal obstructive infertility. The search period extended from the inception of the databases to December 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature based on strict inclusion criteria, extracted relevant data, and utilized Cochrane Collaboration tools and the Jadad scale to comprehensively assess the quality of the included studies. Subsequently, pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed using statistical software such as StataSE and Rstudio, and graphical representations were generated to present the results. RESULT: The network meta-analysis included 1580 articles, with 23 meeting the criteria. These studies involved 2355 patients and explored 13 intervention measures. Acupuncture-related therapies outperformed control interventions in improving pregnancy rates, tubal patency rates, and overall effectiveness while demonstrating a lower incidence of adverse events. EA+CHM was identified as the most effective for pregnancy rates, MOX for tubal patency rates, and MOX+AP for overall effectiveness. The safety profile of acupuncture-related interventions was acceptable. These findings support acupuncture-related therapies as effective and safe options for tubal obstructive infertility management. Further high-quality research is needed to validate and expand upon these results. CONCLUSION: These findings offer novel treatment strategies for acupuncture-related interventions, providing practitioners with evidence-based guidance. Addressing limitations through future research is crucial, including diverse literature, emphasizing higher-quality RCTs, and exploring a broader range of interventions with long-term follow-up data. Systematic assessment of adverse events, standardized techniques, and robust ranking methods should be considered.

Immunity and reproduction protective effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharides in Cyclophosphamide/Busulfan-induced premature ovarian failure model mice.

Introduction: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a major cause of infertility among women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment available currently. Researchers have shown that immune disorders play a significant role in the development of POF. Moreover, growing evidence suggest that Chitosan Oligosaccharides (COS), which act as critical immunomodulators, may have a key role in preventing and treating a range of immune related reproductive diseases. Methods: KM mice (6-8 weeks) received a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CY, 120mg/kg) and busulfan (BUS, 30mg/kg) to establish POF model. After completing the COS pre-treatment or post-treatment procedures, peritoneal resident macrophages (PRMs) were collected for neutral erythrophagocytosis assay to detect phagocytic activity. The thymus, spleen and ovary tissues were collected and weighed to calculate the organ indexes. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the histopathologic structure of those organs. The serum levels of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of immune factors including interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), as well as germ cell markers Mouse Vasa Homologue (MVH) and Fragilis in ovarian tissue, were analyzed by Western blotting and qRT-PCR. In addition, ovarian cell senescence via p53/p21/p16 signaling was also detected. Results: The phagocytic function of PRMs and the structural integrity of thymus and spleen were preserved by COS treatment. The levels of certain immune factors in the ovaries of CY/BUS- induced POF mice were found to be altered, manifested as IL-2 and TNF-α experiencing a significant decline, and IL-4 presenting a notable increase. Both pre-treatment and post-treatment with COS were shown to be protective effects against the damage to ovarian structure caused by CY/BUS. Senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-Gal) staining results showed that COS prevents CY/BUS-induced ovarian cell senescence. Additionally, COS regulated estrogen and progesterone levels, enhanced follicular development, and blocked ovarian cellular p53/p21/p16 signaling which participating in cell senescence. Conclusion: COS is a potent preventative and therapeutic medicine for premature ovarian failure by enhancing both the ovarian local and systemic immune response as well as inhibiting germ cell senescence.

PCMT1 Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Is Correlated with Immune Infiltrates in Breast Cancer.

Background: Protein-L-isoaspartate (D-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PCMT1) is involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of malignant tumors. However, the prognostic value of PCMT1 in breast cancer remains unclear. Methods: Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas database, we assessed the correlation between the expression of PCMT1 and prognosis, immune invasion, and tumor mutation burden in a variety of cancers. The expression level, mutation, immune correlation, and coexpression of PCMT1 in breast cancer were studied using the following databases: UALCAN database, Human Protein Atlas database, cBioPortal database, TIMER database, and LinkedOmics database. Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used for survival analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and nomograms were drawn using the R software package. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Pancancer analysis showed that PCMT1 is highly expressed in a variety of cancers and is significantly related to the prognosis of a variety of cancers. PCMT1 is significantly related to the tumor mutation burden of a variety of cancers. PCMT1 is significantly high in breast cancer, and it is significantly related to the abundance of immune infiltration. Survival analysis revealed that high PCMT1 expression is significantly associated with shorter overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and postprogression survival (PPS) in breast cancer patients. ROC curves and nomograms verify the effectiveness of PCMT1 as a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer. Conclusions: PCMT1 can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker of breast cancer, and it is significantly related to the abundance of breast cancer immune infiltration.

BAG family proteins contributes to autophagy-mediated multidrug resistance of tumor.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a significant cause of tumor treatment failure. Accumulating evidence suggests that autophagy plays a significant role in the development of MDR. Autophagy is a conserved mechanism that maintains tumor homeostasis by removing damaged mitochondria. However, the specific regulatory mechanism is unclear. Here, we summarize recent studies on the role of autophagy in the development of MDR and the initiation of mitophagy by Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) family proteins. Additionally, this mini-review emphasizes the regulatory role of BAG family proteins, which maintain mitochondrial homeostasis by regulating the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy may foster the development of clinical therapeutic strategies for MDR tumors.

Cytokinin signaling localized in phloem noncell-autonomously regulates cambial activity during secondary growth of Populus stems.

The regulation of cytokinin on secondary vascular development has been uncovered by modulating cytokinin content. However, it remains unclear how cytokinin enriched in developing secondary phloem regulates cambium activity in poplar. Here, we visualized the gradient distribution of cytokinin with a peak in the secondary phloem of poplar stem via immunohistochemical imaging, and determined the role of phloem-located cytokinin signaling during wood formation. We generated transgenic poplar harboring cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX)2, a gene encoding a cytokinin degrading enzyme, driven by the phloem-specific CLE41b promoter, indicating that the disruption of the cytokinin gradient pattern restricts the cambial activity. The RNA interference-based knockdown of the histidine kinase (HK) genes encoding cytokinin receptors specifically in secondary phloem significantly compromised the division activity of cambial cells, whereas the phloem-specific expression of a type-B response regulator (RR) transcription factor stimulated cambial proliferation, providing evidence for the noncell-autonomous regulation of local cytokinin signaling on the cambial activity. Moreover, the cambium-specific knockdown of HKs also led to restricted cambial activity, and the defects were aggravated by the reduced cytokinin accumulation. Our results showed that local cytokinin signaling in secondary phloem regulates cambial activity noncell-autonomously, and coordinately with its local signaling in cambium.

Genistein attenuates isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and improves impaired spatial learning and memory by regulating cAMP/CREB and BDNF-TrkB-PI3K/Akt signaling.

Anesthetics are used extensively in surgeries and related procedures to prevent pain. However, there is some concern regarding neuronal degeneration and cognitive deficits arising from regular anesthetic exposure. Recent studies have indicated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) are involved in learning and memory processes. Genistein, a plant-derived isoflavone, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects. The present study was performed to examine the protective effect of genistein against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neonatal rats were exposed to isoflurane (0.75%, 6 hours) on postnatal day 7 (P7). Separate groups of rat pups were orally administered genistein at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight from P3 to P15 and then exposed to isoflurane anesthesia on P7. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and FluoroJade B staining following isoflurane exposure. Genistein significantly reduced apoptosis in the hippocampus, reduced the expression of proapoptotic factors (Bad, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3), and increased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. RT-PCR analysis revealed enhanced BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels. Genistein effectively upregulated cAMP levels and phosphorylation of CREB and TrkB, leading to activation of cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB signaling. PI3K/Akt signaling was also significantly activated. Genistein administration improved general behavior and enhanced learning and memory in the rats. These observations suggest that genistein exerts neuroprotective effects by suppressing isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and by activating cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB-PI3/Akt signaling.

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy combined with intracavitary brachytherapy in early-stage cervical cancer patients with intermediate risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of postoperative adjuvant therapy on survival of patients with intermediate risk early-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 133 consecutive patients with intermediate risk early-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated at Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute from February 2010 to March 2014 were enrolled in our study. All patients received adjuvant therapy and were subdivided into three groups: pelvic radiotherapy (RT; N=42), adjuvant chemotherapy + intracavitary radiotherapy (CT+ICRT; N=47), or concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT; N=44). Disease-free survival (DFS) and therapeutic complications were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in DFS for patients treated with RT, CT+ICRT, and CCRT (P>0.05) with 3-year rates of 94.0%, 93.4%, and 97.6%, respectively. Frequencies of grade III-IV acute toxicities were higher in patients treated with CCRT (34.1%) than those treated with RT (9.5%) or CT+ICRT (16.7%; P<0.05), with no significant differences observed between RT and CT+ICRT groups (P>0.05). Grade I-II late toxicities were higher in CCRT (25%), followed by RT (19.0%), and finally, the CT+ICRT group (4.3%; P<0.05); with no significant differences observed between CCRT and RT groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with CT+ICRT or RT resulted in the equivalent of 3-year DFS compared to CCRT, but fewer therapeutic complications were observed with CT for patients with intermediate risk early-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Effects of sequential paclitaxel-carboplatin followed by gemcitabine-based chemotherapy compared with paclitaxel-carboplatin therapy administered to patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: A retrospective, STROBE-compliant study.

We aimed to compare the efficacy of paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel-carboplatin for treating advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in this retrospective, STROBE-compliant study. Patients' tolerance to treatment was also assessed.We retrospectively analyzed the records of 178 women who underwent initial optimal debulking surgery between January 2003 and December 2011 to treat FIGO stage IIIc epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients in arm 1 (n = 88) received 4 cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by 2 to 4 cycles of gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy. Patients in arm 2 (n = 90) received 6 to 8 cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin. The granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was administered prophylactically to all patients.The median follow-up for both arms was 62 months. Medianprogression-free survival (PFS) between arms 1 and 2 (28 and 19 months [P = 0.003]) as well as 5-year OS (34.1% and 18.9% [P = 0.021]) differed significantly. The neurotoxicity rate was significantly higher in arm 2 than in arm 1 (45.2% vs 27.1%, P = 0.026). There was no significant difference between study arms in hematological toxicity.The sequential regimen significantly improved PFS and 5-year OS with tolerable toxicity compared with the single regimen, and offers an alternative for treating patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Anterior corpectomy versus posterior laminoplasty for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness between anterior corpectomy (CORP) and posterior laminoplasty (LAMP) for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, OVID, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for all relevant articles that compared the two operations for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy. Exclusion criteria were non-controlled studies, combined anterior and posterior surgery, follow-up <1 year and patients with tumors, trauma, soft disc herniation or previous surgery. The following outcome measures were extracted: Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) score, neurological recovery rate, surgical complications, reoperation rate, operation time and blood loss. RESULTS: 7 high quality studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in preoperative JOA score [P > 0.05, WMD 0.31 (-0.16, 0.79)] and complication rate [P > 0.05, OR 1.26 (0.82,1.94)] between the two groups. Significant less reoperation rate [P < 0.05, OR 8.16 (3.10, 21.51)], operation time [P < 0.05, WMD 67.94 (50.69, 85.20)] and blood loss [P < 0.05, WMD 170.06 (80.05, 260.08)] were found in posterior LAMP group. Whereas, patients in anterior CORP group obtained a better postoperative JOA score [P < 0.05, WMD 2.02 (1.61, 2.43)] and neurological recovery rate [P < 0.05, WMD 7.22 (0.36,14.08)] than that in posterior LAMP group. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior CORP has a higher postoperative JOA score and neurological recovery rate compared with posterior LAMP. However, significant higher reoperation rate, operation time and blood loss should be taken into consideration when anterior CORP is used. High-quality RCTs with long-term follow-up and large sample size are needed.

Evaluation of prognostic factors for secondary cytoreductive surgery in Chinese patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) is reported to be beneficial for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). The current study is to evaluate risk factors that would affect the surgical optimal resection rate and prognosis of recurrent EOC after SCS in Chinese patients. METHODS: In our study, 44 patients with recurrent EOC treated with SCS at Shandong Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics were collected and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors that affect the optimal surgical resection rate. The overall survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to analyze risk factors that affect the overall survival of these patients. RESULTS: 90.9% (40/44) patients achieved optimal cytoreductive surgery. Logistic regression did not find any factor that affects the optimal surgical resection rate. Among 24 cases that received chemotherapy before SCS, 18 cases achieved good response and thus had a better survival rate after SCS. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicated that differentiation, the extent of surgical resection during the initial surgery, and course and efficacy of chemotherapy prior to SCS, and efficacy of chemotherapy after the first recurrence significantly correlated with survival of patients with recurrent cancer (P < 0.05; OR < 1). CONCLUSION: Selection of patients that are suitable to perform SCS will enhance the optimal surgical resection rate. The prognosis of Chinese patients with recurrent EOC after SCS is affected by histologic grade, the extent of residual disease and the effect of chemotherapy after first relapse.

The Treatment of Pelvic Locoregional Recurrence of Cervical Cancer After Radical Surgery With Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Compared With Conventional Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic response and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or conventional radiotherapy (c-RT) as adjuvant therapy in patients with pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included 161 patients with unresectable pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery between March 2003 and May 2012. All patients were initially diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IIA cervical cancer and received radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. A total of 82 patients were treated with c-RT, whereas the remaining 79 patients underwent IMRT. Intracavitary brachytherapy and concurrent chemotherapy were performed during external irradiation. RESULTS: The mean dose delivered to the planning target volume was significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (61.8 vs 50.3 Gy, P = 0.029). Intensity-modulated radiation therapy plans yielded better dose sparing of small bowel, bladder, and rectum than did c-RT (P < 0.05). Moreover, the IMRT patients experienced less acute and chronic toxicities (P < 0.05) and better short-term effects (complete response + partial response) than did those treated with c-RT (89.9% vs 63.4%, P = 0.03). Three- and 5-year overall survival rates were significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (3-year: 58.4% vs 39.1%, P = 0.012; 5-year: 35.4% vs 21.4%, P = 0.007). Furthermore, 5-year progression-free survival rates were significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (26.1% vs 15.1%, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy achieved outcomes superior to c-RT in patients with pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery. The acute and chronic toxicities were acceptable, and the adjacent organs at risk were well protected.

Prognostic significance of reduced immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin in endometrial cancer-results of a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies which investigated the relationship between reduced E-cadherin and prognosis of endometrial cancer were ambiguous and conflicting. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between reduced expression of E-cadherin and endometrial cancer by meta-analysis approach. METHOD: AfterPubmed and Embasewere deliberately searched via the internet, 8 pieces of literaturewere totally included in final meta-analysis. After the data had been abstracted, the pulled odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) were calculated by STATA with random or fixed effect model depending on their heterogeneity. The publication bias of included literature were tested by Begg's funnel plot and Egger's test. RESULTS: The pulled data showed that the reduced expression of E-cadherin was significantly associated with overall survival (OS), HR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.50-3.89. The clinical parameters such as lymph node metastasis (LNM), myometrial invasion (MI), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological type and pathological type were also significantly associated with reduced expression of E-cadherin. The results of publication biasshowed there were no significant publication bias. CONCLUSION: Endometrial cancer patients with reduced expression of E-cadherin may have a poorer prognosis than those with normal or higher expression of E-cadherin.

[Effects of different soil types on the foliar δ13C values of common local plant species in karst rocky desertification area in central Guizhou Province].

By measuring the foliar δ13C values of common local plant species grown in different soil types in Wangjiazhai catchments, a typical karst desertification area in Qingzhen City, Central Guizhou, we studied the impact of soil type and rocky desertification grade on the foliar δ13C values. The results showed that the foliar δ13C values were more negative in yellow soil area than those in black calcareous area and there was no obvious difference in foliar δ13C values between these two soil types. The distribution interval of foliar δ13C values in yellow soil area was narrower than those in black calcareous area and the variation coefficient of foliar δ13C values in yellow soil area were smaller than those in black calcareous area. With increasing degree of karst rocky desertification, the foliar δ13C values of plant community in black calcareous area increased, whereas those in yellow soil area first increased and then decreased. The result of multiple comparison showed that the difference in foliar δ13C values of plant community among rocky desertification grade was not obvious in yellow soil area, but it was obvious in black calcareous area. Correlation analysis between the foliar δ13C values of plant species and the main environmental factors indicated that slope and soil thickness were the main factors which affected the foliar δ13C values of plants in yellow soil area and soil water contant was the main factor in black calcareous area. The impact of soil on the foliar δ13C values was realized by adjusting the soil moisture in study area.

Preparation of ZnO:Eu3+ nanospheres via a micro-emulsion method and analysis of the photoluminescence properties.

ZnO:Eu3+ nanospheres were prepared via a micro-emulsion method with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as the primary surfactant, butanol as the cosurfactant and octane as the oil phase. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern suggests that the Eu3+ ions have entered into the ZnO lattices. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that large scale-shaped nanospheres about 200-500 nm in size were formed. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra suggest that the Eu3+ ions doped into ZnO have located at the non-inversion center positions because only the 612 nm peak (5D0 --> 7F2) occurred in the emission spectra. A schematic drawing for the possible mechanisms of electron transitions in the PL excitation and emission spectra is also proposed.

Genetic alterations following ionizing radiation in human ovarian cancer-derived endothelial cells.

Recent studies have focused on the role of endothelial cells during tumor radiotherapy, and the majority of studies have found that the rate of endothelial cell apoptosis determines the response of the tumor to ionizing radiation treatment. However, gene expression changes in human ovarian cancer-derived endothelial cells in response to X-ray radiation remains poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the radiation-induced gene alterations in human ovarian cancer-derived endothelial cells and to provide novel potential targets for combined anti-angiogenesis and radiation therapy for the treatment of human ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer-derived endothelial cells, which were harvested from six human ovarian epithelial carcinomas prior to and 4 h after 400 cGy X-ray irradiation, were analyzed using cDNA microarray technology. Significant genes were selected to corroborate the microarray experiments using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A total of 28 genes common to all the cDNA microarray results were identified, of which 22 genes were found to be consistently upregulated or downregulated. Thirteen genes were upregulated persistently and nine genes downregulated persistently following irradiation with 400 cGy X-ray in comparison with the matched group. The majority of the significantly altered genes (≥2-fold change in expression) were found to have a role in vasculogenesis, cell cycle regulation, inflammation and the immune response, cell growth and apoptosis, nicotinamide metabolism, cell signaling, chemokines and cell adhesion. Eight randomly selected genes were corroborated using qPCR technology. Radiation-induced gene alterations in ovarian cancer-derived endothelial cells and gene-related pathways were associated with vasculogenesis and the radiosensitivity of human ovarian cancer, and may provide promising biomarkers for radiation and anti-angiogenesis treatments against ovarian carcinoma.