Medical oncology
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The application of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) is a novel method to induce the death of cancer cells. NsPEFs could directly function on the cell membrane and activate the apoptosis pathways, then induce apoptosis in various cell lines. ⋯ In this study, nsPEFs were applied to the human liver cancer cells HepG2 with different parameters. By apoptosis assay, morphological observation, detecting the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m), intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the expressions of key apoptosis factors, we demonstrated that nsPEFs could induce the morphology of cell apoptosis, the change in ΔΨ m, [Ca2+]i and the upregulation of some key apoptosis factors, which revealed the responses of liver cancer cells and indicated that cells may undergo apoptosis through the mitochondria-dependent pathway after nsPEFs were applied.
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Previous studies of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have demonstrated that the addition of tumor grade to the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging can provide improved prognostication and that the recently proposed 8th edition AJCC staging exhibited superior reproducibility to the 7th edition in resectable PDAC. Thus, we aimed to combine tumor grade and 8th AJCC stage to develop a refined staging scheme for resectable PDAC. We analyzed 7719 patients with resectable PDAC from the 2004-2012 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. ⋯ The RPA staging outperformed the 8th AJCC classifications in terms of discrimination (concordance index, 0.585 versus 0.565; P < 0.001) and prognostic homogeneity. Tumor grade can provide additional prognostic information to the 8th AJCC staging. The proposed RPA staging is a superior risk-stratified tool to the 8th AJCC staging and is not substantially more complex.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignant tumor of digestive system. The aim of this study was to identify gene signatures during CRC and uncover their potential mechanisms. The gene expression profiles of GSE21815 were downloaded from GEO database. ⋯ KEGG pathway analysis showed the up-regulated DEGs were enriched in cell cycle and DNA replication, while the down-regulated DEGs were enriched in drug metabolism, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, and retinol metabolism pathways. The top 10 hub genes, GNG2, AGT, SAA1, ADCY5, LPAR1, NMU, IL8, CXCL12, GNAI1, and CCR2 were identified from the PPI network, and sub-networks revealed these genes were involved in significant pathways, including G protein-coupled receptors signaling pathway, gastrin-CREB signaling pathway via PKC and MAPK, and extracellular matrix organization. In conclusion, the present study indicated that the identified DEGs and hub genes promote our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of CRC, and might be used as molecular targets and diagnostic biomarkers for the treatment of CRC.
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Most of the studies concerning enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in colorectal surgery include heterogeneous groups of patients undergoing open or laparoscopic surgery, both due to colonic and rectal cancer, thus creating a potential bias. The data investigating the differences between patients operated for either colonic or rectal cancer are sparse. The aim of the study was to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colonic and rectal cancer with ERAS protocol. ⋯ Univariate logistic regression showed that the type of surgery, drainage and stoma creation significantly prolonged LOS. In a multivariate logistic regression model, only a bowel preparation and drainage were shown to be significant. Although functional recovery and high compliance with ERAS protocol are possible irrespective of the type of surgery, laparoscopic rectal resections are associated with a longer LOS.
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The timing of surgery and antineoplastic therapies in patients with resectable non-metastatic pancreatic cancer is still a controversial matter of debate, with special regard to neoadjuvant approaches. Following the criteria of the PRISMA statement, a literature search was conducted looking for RCTs focusing on adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies in resectable pancreatic cancer. The quality of the available evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. ⋯ Median age ranged between 53 and 66. Overall survival in the surgery-only arms ranged between 11 and 20.2 months; in the adjuvant treatment arms 12.5-29.8 months; and in the neoadjuvant setting 9.9-19.4 months. Neoadjuvant protocols should be offered only in randomized clinical trials comparing the standard of care (surgery followed by adjuvant treatments) to a neoadjuvant approach followed by surgery and adjuvant treatment.