Liquid nitrogen frozen cells for chemotherapy drug delivery and vaccination of melanoma.

PURPOSE: Cancer vaccine (CV) has thrived as a promising tool for cancer prevention and treatment. However, how to maintain the integrity and diversity of individualized vaccine antigens and activate the adaptive immune system is still challenging. METHODS: Herein, a preventive and therapeutic vaccine platform for in situ effective multi-model synergistic therapy is developed. In our study, we process B16F10 cells by liquid nitrogen frozen (LNF) to obtain LNF cells, the characterization of LNF cells were conducted. Moreover,  the anti-tumor effect and immune activation ability were studied, and the role as a CV were investigated. RESULTS: The LNF cells preserve intact cellular structure and tumor-associated self-antigen gp100. Moreover, LNF cells have the ability of loading and releasing doxorubicin (DOX). Except for the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy brought by DOX, the LNF cells can promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and induce immune response by activating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, particularly with the existence of adjuvant, R848. Specifically, the CD8+ T cells of mice in LNF-DOX/R848 group are 6 times of that in PBS group in tumor microenvironment, and twice in spleen. Therefore, LNF cells can also be utilized as a CV. Vaccination with LNF/R848 cells effectively suppress the tumor growth in mice by fivefold as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In this work, we obtain the LNF cells with a simple procedure. The LNF cells not only provides a tumor cells-based multi-modal system for cancer therapy but inspires new insights into future development of individualized CVs strategies. This study processes live B16F10 cells by liquid nitrogen frozen to obtain LNF cells, which preserve cell integrity and homologous targeting ability. The LNF cells can load and deliver drug and can serve as tumor vaccine. Results demonstrated the LNF cells have effective prophylactic ability, and ideal anti-tumor ability with the loaded drug and adjuvant.

Pathogenic roles of long noncoding RNAs in melanoma: Implications in diagnosis and therapies.

Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of cutaneous neoplasms, which are pigment-producing cells of neuroectodermal origin found all over the body. A great deal of research is focused on the mechanisms of melanoma to promote better diagnostic and treatment options for melanoma in its advanced stages. The progression of melanoma involves alteration in different levels of gene expression. With the successful implementation of next-generation sequencing technology, an increasing number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) sequences have been discovered, and a significant number of them have phenotypic effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies, implying that they play an important role in the occurrence and progression of human cancers, particularly melanoma. A number of evidence indicated that lncRNAs are important regulators in tumor cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, immune escape, energy metabolism, drug resistance, epigenetic regulation. To better understand the role of lncRNAs in melanoma tumorigenesis, we categorize melanoma-associated lncRNAs according to their cellular functions and associations with gene expression and signaling pathways in this review. Based on the mechanisms of lncRNA, we discuss the possibility of lncRNA-target treatments, and the application of liquid biopsies to detect lncRNAs in melanoma diagnosis and prognosis.

Reconstruction of constricted ears by combing bilateral cartilage flaps bridging with V-Y advancement flap.

BACKGROUND: Despite a number of surgical procedures for the reconstruction of moderate to severe constricted ears described in the literature, a most cost-effective method remains to be explored. It is still a challenge to maximize the full use of the ear cartilage and surrounding skin while achieving the best results. METHODS: From 2011 to 2016, seven constricted ear patients were enrolled in this study. Five of them were moderate (type IIB Tanzer classification) deformities, and two were severe (type III Tanzer classification). All constricted ear patients were treated with bilateral cartilage flaps bridging and the V-Y advancement flap from preauricular skin, with the option of inserting a conchal cartilage graft if additional stability was required. Mean follow-up period was 4.0 ± 3.5years. RESULTS: All patients were satisfied with significant increase in the height of the constricted ears, also with the reconstruction of scapha and antihelix. The surgical scar was not obvious. No complications were observed. Long-term follow-up period revealed that the reconstructive procedure produced the long-lasting cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: Combination of bilateral cartilage flaps bridging with V-Y advancement of preauricular flap can make full use of its deformed tissue and surrounding skin. The method is effective and reliable in the reconstruction of moderate and some severe constricted ears.