1.Research progress on radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2016;43(12):527-530
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the digestive tract. Its morbidity and mortality rates are high. Local advanced esophageal cancer relapses easily after operation and has a poor prognosis. Operation-based comprehensive treatment plays an important role in reducing the recurrence rate and increasing the survival rate. Radiotherapy is an important part of comprehensive treatment. From conventional radiotherapy two dimeusional conformal (2DCRT) to three dimensional conformal ra-diotherapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guide radiation therapy (IGRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), radiotherapy technologies have experienced significant development. This development optimized the dose distri-bution and improved the accuracy of radiation. It has also provided a new understanding of the methods of radiotherapy, such as pre-operation radiotherapy, post-operation radiotherapy, and radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. The progress of radiotherapy re-search on esophageal cancer is reviewed in this paper.
2.Research progress in bevacizumab treatment of high grade glioma
Hailan WANG ; Zhengyu ZHAN ; Miao FENG ; Luxing ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2013;(16):1001-1004
Glioma is the most frequently observed primary tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Among the glioma cases, more than three quarters of patients suffer from high-grade gliomas. High-grade glioma is not only a high-degree malignant tumor but is also an easily recurring disease after surgery with a very poor prognosis. Radiotherapy plus concomitant chemotherapy after operation is the standard treatment strategy for high-grade gliomas, which could increase the survival rate of patients. However, the curative effect is really not satisfactory because it could only guarantee a limited survival time. Over the recent years, molecular-targeted treatment has increasingly drawn the attention of scholars with the continuous development in glioma treatment, thereby becoming the hotspot among researchers. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly expressed in glioma and in the tissues surrounding the cancer cells. VEGF could regulate tumor growth by inducing endothelial cell proliferation, growth, migration, and by increasing the vascular permeability. Hence, VEGF becomes an effective target for the treatment of glioma. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that can specifically prevent the combination of VEGF and its receptor, thereby inhibiting the formation of tumor blood vessels. At the same time, bevacizumab can normalize the tumor blood vessels, improve the permeability of blood vessels, and increase the effectiveness of drug concentration in the tumor tissues, thereby achieving anticancer efficacy. In this paper, the mechanism of bevacizumab is introduced. The research progress in the application of bevacizumab alone, as well as in combination with chemotherapy or other drugs, for the high-grade glioma treatment will be summarized.
3.Effect of Fugan Huaxian Decoction (扶肝化纤汤) on Th17/Treg Balance and Related Transcription Factors in Hepatic Fibrosis with Healthy Qi Deficiency and Toxin Accumulation Pattern Model Rats
Yan ZHONG ; Qianren TAN ; Junsong CUI ; Qing LI ; Luxing LU ; Zhenghua XIAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;64(19):2019-2026
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Fugan Huaxian Decoction (扶肝化纤汤, FHD) against hepatic fibrosis (HF) from the perspective of immunity. MethodsForty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, colchicine group, FHD high-, medium- and low-dose group, with eight rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the disease-syndrome combined model of HF with healthy qi deficiency and toxin accumulation pattern was established during six weeks in the other five groups. After successful modeling, the high-, medium- and low-dose FHD groups were respectively given 37.5, 18.75 and 9.38 g/(kg·d) of FHD granules by gavage, while the colchicine group received 2 mg/ (kg·d) of colchicine tablets by gavage, and the blank group and the model group were given 10 ml/(kg·d) of purified water, all for 3 weeks. The general condition of the rats was recorded. After the treatment, the histopathological morphology of the liver was observed by HE staining, and the levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of helper T cells 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry, and the Th17/Treg value was calculated. The mRNA expression of retinoic acid-related nuclear orphan receptor γ (RORγt) and fork-head/wing-like helix transcription factor (FoxP3) in liver tissue were detected by qRT-PCR. ResultsCompared to the general condition of rats in the blank group, those in the model group were listless, less active, stretched and pushed, arched and prone, having no resistance to gavage, significantly reduced food intake, loose stools, dirty anus, slow weight gain, dry and dull hair, purple and darkening skin of the limbs with ecchymoses, purple and black spots with varying degrees of the skin of the tail; hepatic fibrosis and hyperplasia of rats in model group were more obvious; serum IL-17, peripheral blood Th17 expression and Th17/Treg value, RORγt mRNA expression in the liver tissue significantly increased in the model group, while expression of IL-10, Treg and FoxP3 mRNA significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to those in the model group, the general condition of the rats and the liver fibrosis of HE stained liver tissue were improved in all the medication groups; the expression of IL-17 and Th17, Th17/Treg, and RORγt mRNA expression significantly decreased, while expression of IL-10, Treg, and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the high- and medium-dose FHD groups and the colchicine group; the expression of IL-17, Th17, and RORγt mRNA decreased, while the expression of IL-10 and FoxP3 mRNA increased in the low-dose FHD group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). And more improvements were found in the FHD high-dose group than FHD medium- and low-dose groups and colchicine group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionFHD can may regulate immune balance and act against fibrosis by regulating the expression of specific transcription factors FoxP3 and RORγt, affecting the differentiation of Th17 and Treg cells and Th17/Treg balance, and regulating the secretion of IL-10 and IL-17.