The stem cell hypothesis for cancer suggests that only a specific subset of cancer cells within each tumor is responsible for tumor initiation and propagation,termed cancer stem cells(CSCs),which have a character of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation,and responsible for the recurrence,metastasis and resistance to therapy.The CSC of pancreatic cancer were isolated and identified in 2007,and recent data has been reported to confirm the change of the related signal pathway,the relationship with metastasis,therapy resistance and the puzzle.This review article summarizes the latest advances with regard to the pancreatic cancer stem cells.

Smoothened (SMO) is a member of sonic hedgehog homology (SHH) signaling pathway. It plays a key role as a bridge between patched-1 (PTCH-1) and Gli. Aberrant SHH expression can be detected in various malignant tissues, and the expression in pancreatic cancer stem cells is higher apparently. SHH signals are closely associated with self-duplication of cancer stem cells, formation of tumor vessels as well as matrixes. SMO antagonists such as cyclopamine, GDC-0449 and so on show potential to inhibit activity of SHH signaling, and arrest the growth as well as metastases of tumors. Recently, a few of SMO antagonists have been studied in phase I clinical trials and some are in phase II, meanwhile, phase I or II trials of SMO antagonists to treat pancreatic cancer are performed currently. As the classical SMO antagonist, cyclopamine is extracted from a medicinal plant. Perhaps researchers may be able to determine more effective SMO-targeting drugs from herbal medicines in the future.

Breast cancer is called "Ruyan" in literature of traditional Chinese medicine. We synthesized the ancient and contemporary discussions and raised the theory that "Duxie" (poisonous pathogenic factor) is the etiological factor and pathologic product through the whole course of breast cancer. "Liuyin Fudu" (latent poison of six exogenous pathogenic factors) and "Qiqing Yudu" (stagnant poison of seven emotions) are the main etiological factors affecting the breast cancer occurrence. "Aidu Neisheng" (internal product of cancer poison) is the essential change in breast cancer occurrence. "Tandu Yujie" (stagnation of phlegm, poison and blood stasis) is the essential pathogenesis of the breast cancer's development. "Yudu Weiqing" (vestigial poison) is the main pathogenesis of breast cancer after operation. "Yudu Pangcuan" (vestigial poison invasion elsewhere) is the key pathogenesis of recurrence and metastasis after operation. "Sanjie Jiedu" (dispersing accumulation and detoxification) is an important therapeutic principle in breast cancer's treatment after operation. The "Tandu Yujie" pathogenesis theory and "Sanjie Jiedu" therapeutic principle developed the theory about breast cancer in traditional Chinese medicine, and have some clinical application value.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Ruyiping, a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine composed of 5 Chinese herbs for removing toxic materials and dissipating nodules from Runing II, another traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine for treating breast cancer, in preventing recidivation and metastasis in breast cancer patients after operation. METHODS: Eighty patients with breast cancer after operation were randomly divided into Ruyiping group and Runing II group, and prescribed Ruyiping and Runing II on the basis of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy respectively for two years. RESULTS: There were two patients with metastasis and three patients lost to follow-up in Ruyiping group and three and two in Runing II group. The recidivation and metastasis rates were 5.41% and 7.89% respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The difference of disease-free survival time between the two groups was also not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of Ruyiping in preventing recidivation and metastasis is similar to that of Runing II. Ruyiping is the essential component of Runing II for preventing recidivation and metastasis. The result provides some clinical evidences for the theory that "Yudu Pangcuan" (vestigial poison invasion elsewhere) is the essential pathogenesis of breast cancer's recidivation and metastasis and the utilization of "Sanjie Jiedu" (dispersing accumulation and detoxification) is the therapeutic principle in preventing recidivation and metastasis after operation.

Objective To evaluate a combination therapy for huge tumors in the buttocks.Methods A total of 11 patients from our hospital were collected,among them 5 cases were of hemangioma,4 cases of neurofibroma,2 cases of soft tissue sarcoma.Before definite surgical resection all cases received tumor embolization with silk thread and gelatin-sponge article using Seldinger's technic.Subsequently,all patients underwent a successful tumor resection. Results Superselective embolization for all the cases'feeding arteries resulted in recession of the tumors and relatively well-demarcated margins,and all the lumps became softer.and the local pain was alleviated.Surgical resection could be radical with avoidance of fatal intraoperative hemorrhage.The 5 cases of hemangioma had a average operative bleeding of 450 ml,4 cases of neurofibroma had 420 ml,2 cases of soft tissue sarcoma had 150 ml.No patients needed intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion.The operation time was about 2-3 hours,the normal tissues were preserved and the contour and function of the diseased limbs were very good.One case had a delayed incision healing,and the others had a healing by the first intention.There was no recurrence and other complications (like deep venous thrombosis)during a follow-up period of 4-8 months. Conclusions Surgical resection combined with interventional embolism for the treatment of huge tumors in the buttocks can reduce the risk of bleeding effectively during operation.It can improve the success rate of operation leading to satisfactory results.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment procedures for adrenal pheochromocytoma and adrenal ganglioneucoma.Methods Thirty-two cases of adrenal pheochromocytoma and 14 cases of adrenal ganglioneucoma surgical treated between 1999—2005 were analysed, The average of ganglioneucoma was 39 years old (16～63). tumor size ranged from 2.5 cm to 15 cm. The mean age of pheochromocytoma was 42 years old (19～74), tumor size ranged from 2cm to 16 cm. Tumor located in the adrenal area. All cases accepted surgical operation and were confirmed by pathology. Results Most cases of adrenal ganglioneucoma did not have any symptom but were founded incidentally. Differentials were obviously between ganglioneucoma and pheochromocytoma. Conclusion Both adrenal ganglioneucoma and pheochromocytoma are rare diseases.CT、urinary CA and 131I-MIBG are good methods for diagnosis.The final diagnosis depends on the pathology, surgical resection of tumor is a preferred choice.

Objective To investigate the experience of endoscopic mini-invasive therapy for residual lesions of peripancreatic necrotizing infection with choledocoscopy-assisted debridement technique, and to explore its clinical application value. Methods 71 patients with postoperative surgical drainage and accompanied with residual focus were collected. Choledochoscope was inserted via the drainage sinus, and the focus was observed and necrotic tissue was removed under direct choledochoscopic vision. Results Of the 71 patients who underwent this procedure, 64 were cured (success rate, 90.1%); 3 patients withdraw from treatment due to economic reasons; 4 patients received open surgery after 1 ～ 3 times of choledocoscopy-assisted debridement. The 64 cured patients received 2 ～ 9 times of choledocoscopy-assisted debridement with a mean of 5.1 times. 87.5% patients needed 4 ～ 6 times of procedures. The healing time was 18 ～ 125 days (average 71.3 days). Hemorrhage occurred in 3 patients and digestive tract fistula occurred in 2 patients and were resolved with non-operative management. Conclusions With the help of postoperative established surgical drainage channel, choledochoscopy-assisted debridement could be considered as a safe and effective miniinvasive treatment for residual focus of peripancreatic necrotizing infection, and is worth of clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Ru'ai Shuhou Recipe (RSR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 300 patients with breast cancer were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. The patients in the treatment group were treated with Western medicine and RSR, and the patients in the control group were treated only with Western medicine (the same as the treatment group). In the two groups, the 5-year recurrence rates after mastectomy in breast cancer were investigated. RESULTS: Thirty-four breast cancer patients were lost to five-year follow-up during the course of investigation, and 266 breast cancer patients went through the evaluation. The 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The recurrence rate after mastectomy was influenced by positive lymph node, primary breast tumor size, clinical stage, and patients' health status. There was significant difference in the 5-year recurrence rates between the two groups (P<0.05) under the following conditions, such as the positive lymph nodes more than four, the primary breast tumor larger than two centimeters, and in the clinical stage II and III, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/progesterone receptor (PR)-positive and ER-negative/PR-negative. The recurrence rate was not associated with the operation method and age distribution. CONCLUSION: RSR can reduce the 5-year recurrence rate after mastectomy in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage for the treatment of peripancreatic abscess. Methods The clinical data of 36 patients with peripancreatic abscess who were admitted to the General Hospital of the Chengdu Military Command were retrospectively analyzed. All the puncture sites were designed according to the region, range and shape of the abscess, and then the angle and the direction of the needle penetration were determined according to the spatial relationship between the puncture site and the abscess. Finally, the drainage tubes were placed under the guidance of the ultrasound. Results The technique was successfully performed on all the patients, and 33 patients were cured with the cure rate of 92%.The mean healing time was 37 days. Three patients were converted to laparotomy because of the unsatisfied therapeutic effects. Enterocutaneous fistula was detected in 3 patients after the surgery and they were cured after receiving nonoperative management. All patients were followed up for 3-48 months, and neither residual abscess nor recurrence was detected. Two patients were complicated with type one diabetes, one with dyspepsia, two with gallstone, and they were cured by symptomatic treatment. The body weights of 27 patients were increased compared to those before the operation. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is effective for the treatment of peripancreatic abscess.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and the criteria for the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.Methods The clinical characteristics of 36 cases of POEMS syndrome were retrospectively reviewed and compared with the cases reported in literature.Results In addition to the typical characteristics of polyneuropathy(100%),organomegaly(92%),endocrinopathy(86%),monoclonal plasmaproliferative disorder(100%) and skin changes(86%),the patients of POEMS syndrome also have other important features including extravascular volume overload(97%),papilledema(57%) and bone lesions(25%).Furthermore,25% of POEMS syndrome patients have co-existent Castleman disease.Conclusion To make the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome,both major and minor criteria are required.The former includes polyneuropathy and monoclonal plasmaproliferative disorder and the latter includes osteosclerotic bone lesions,Castleman disease,papilledema,organomegaly,edema or serous cavity effusion,endocrinopathy and skin changes.