Stereotactic body radiotherapy combined with transarterial chemoembolization for huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas: A clinical study.

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for huge (≥10 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Between May, 2006 and December, 2012, 72 patients with huge HCCs were treated by SBRT following incomplete TACE. The median total dose of 35.6 Gy was delivered over 12-14 days with a fractional dose of 2.6-3.0 Gy and 6 fractions per week. The patients were classified into those with tumor encapsulation (group A, n=33) and those without tumor encapsulation (group B, n=39). The clinical outcomes of tumor response, overall cumulative survival and toxicities/complications were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 72 patients, CR, PR, SD and PD were achieved in 6 (8.3%), 51 (70.8%), 9 (12.5%) and 6 patients (8.3%), respectively, within a median follow-up of 18 months. The objective response rate was 79.1%. The overall cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates and the median survival time were 38, 12 and 3% and 12.2 months, respectively. In group A, the overall cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 56, 21 and 6%, respectively, with a median survival of 19 months; in group B, the overall cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 23, 4 and 0%, respectively, with a median survival of 10.8 months (P=0.023). The treatment was well tolerated, with no severe radiation-induced liver disease and no reported > grade 3 toxicity. Tumor encapsulation was found to be a significant prognostic factor for survival. In conclusion, the combination of SBRT and TACE was shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with unresectable huge HCC.

[Experimental study of recording and analysing electrophysiological signals from corticospinal tract in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the recording method of the electrophysiological signals in corticospinal tract (CST) of adult rats by plugging microelectrodes and analyze the characteristics of these signals. These could provide some valuable and basic neural electrophysiological information for further research of recovering and refunctioning after spinal cord injury. METHODS: The microelectrodes were plugged into the corticospinal tract at the T8 spinal section of Sprague-Dawley rats and the neuro-electrical signals were identified and recorded from CST by means of the Cerebus System. The characteristics of the recorded signals were described with the help of the Offline sorter and Neuroexplorer softwares, including the wavelength, amplitude, discharging frequency, the synchrony among the multi-discharging units from the same electrode and two different electrodes, analysis of interspike interval (ISI), etc. RESULTS: The continuous and steady spontaneous electrophysiological signals were recorded from CST. Three or four types of discharging signals originated from different discharging units were collected with each electrode. The waveform of the signals appeared bidirectional. The wavelengths were 0.6 - 1.3 ms with wave amplitudes at a grade of hundred microvoltage and high signal-noise ratios. The LFB staining proved that the electrodes were accurately plugged into the corticospinal tract. CONCLUSION: The neuro-electrical signals at a grade of hundred microvoltage could be recorded stably from the corticospinal tract of rats by the Cerebus System with the microelectrodes, which provided valuable and basic neural electrophysiological information for further research on recovering and refunctioning after spinal cord injury (SCI) by analyzing the characteristics of electrophysiological signals.

[Tbx3 upregulation may be one of the malignant biomarkers of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of abnormal Tbx3 expression in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. METHOD: The total RNA of 4 breast cancer cell lines and 5 normal breast samples was extracted by routine Trizol method. After reverse transcription of the total RNA into cDNA, Tbx3 mRNA expression was detected in these samples by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the differences in Tbx3 protein expression between 60 breast cancer samples and 34 normal breast tissue samples. RESULTS: Compared to normal breast tissue samples, the breast cancer cell lines showed markedly increased Tbx3 mRNA expression. The results of immunohistochemistry demonstrated a significant upregulation of Tbx3 protein expression in the 60 breast cancer tissues in comparison with the normal breast tissues, as was consistent with Tbx3 mRNA expressions in these tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS: The mRNA and protein expressions of Tbx3 are markedly upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissue samples, suggesting that Tbx3 may serve as one of the malignant biomarkers in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.