Breast cancer can be classiifed into 4 intrinsic subtypes by gene expression proifling: basal-like, HER-2-positive, Luminal A and Luminal B. Although Luminal cancers share similarities, the studies showed that Lu-minal A and B breast cancers should be perceived as distinct entities. Luminal B breast cancer has lower expression of hormone receptors, and it also exhibits worse prognosis and has a distinct proifle of response to chemotherapy and en-docrine therapy. This review presented the available clinical evidence for chemotherapy and endocrine therapy patterns of response, and potential targets for treatment.

Background and purpose:Esophagorespiratory ifstula is often accompanied with life-threatening pulmonary infection. Though the pulmonary infection can be controlled temporarily by conservative medical treatment or stent placement, but patients have a poor quality of life and short survival time. This study was to investigate the effectiveness and security of surgical treatment for patients with esophagorespiratory fistula.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients with esophagorespiratory ifstula after surgical treatment between Jun. 2009 and Oct. 2013 in Henan Province Chest Hospital. The causes were the following: esophageal cancers (4 cases), congenital ifstula (1 case), diverticulum (1 case) and trauma (1 case). All patients underwent surgical treatment through thoracotomy. Surgical treatment consisted of esophagectomy gastroesophageal anastomosis and pulmonary lobectomy in 2 patients, esophagectomy gastroesophageal anastomosis and tracheal ifstula repair in 1 patient, remnant stomach repair and pulmonary lobectomy in 1 patient, esophageal ifstula repair and pulmonary lobectomy in 2 patients and esophagotracheal ifstula double deligation in 1 patient.Results:There was no perioperative death. The incidence rate of postoperative complications was 57% (4/7). Two patients got severe pulmonary infection. One patient suffered from esophageal-tracheal fistula recurrence and underwent elective jejunostomy. One patient had thoracic cavity infection. Six patients resumed normal eating after postoperative recovery. Follow-up was acquired in all cases. Three cases with benign ifstula remained well without recurrence. Four cases with malignant ifstula had an average survival time of 18.8 months (11–28 months).Conclusion:Once congenital esophagorespiratory ifstula is conifrmed, surgical management is recommended as early as possible. The selective surgical treatment for malignant esophagorespiratory ifstulas according to patient’s condition could improve the life quality and lengthen the survival time.

Background and purpose:Many patients may suffer from acute pain after radical mastectomy un-der general anesthesia. This article aimed to investigate the effect of intercostal nerve block coupled with general anes-thesia on analgesia after radical mastectomy for breast cancer.Methods:Ninety-six patients underwent modiifed radical mastectomy for breast cancer were randomized with random number into group C (intercostal nerve block coupled with general anesthesia) and group G (general anesthesia), with 48 patients in each group. Group C received intercostal nerve block by ultrasound before general anesthesia. Group G received only general anesthesia. The induction of general an-esthesia was the same between the two groups. During the surgery, 10 μg sufentanil was given to the patient if heart rate or blood pressure were 20% higher than baseline. After surgery, sufentanil was given if VAS score exceeded 0 point. The perioperative amount of sufentanil was recorded. VAS scores were recorded respectively on 2 (T1), 12 (T2) and 24 h (T3) after surgery. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was also observed.Results:Sufentanil amount used intra- and post- operation were signiifcantly lower in group C [(25.2±3.5) and (3.3±1.2) μg] than that in group G [(40.5±4.3) and (8.4±2.2) μg] (P<0.01). The VAS scores on 2, 12 and 24 h after surgery in group C(0.45±0.15,1.75±0.08 and 2.05±0.12), were signiifcantly lower than those in group G (4.32±0.21, 4.88±0.13 and 4.78±0.16) (P<0.01). The incidences of nausea and vomiting on 2 and 24 h after surgery in group C (6.25% and 16.66%) were signiifcantly lower than those in group G (20.8% and 41.66%). There was no adverse complication related with intercostal nerve block in group C.Conclusion:Intercostal nerve block coupled with general anesthesia plays an important role in preemptive analgesia for patients undergoing modiifed radical mastectomy for breast cancer, which may improve postoperative pain control and reduce the usage of opioids and incidence of nausea and vomiting. Intercostal nerve block under ultrasound is quite safe and effective for patients.

Background and purpose:In 2013, the ofifcial journal of European Society of Radiotherapy &Oncology (ESTRO) -Radiotherapy & Oncology published the updated version of Consensus Guidelines of Delineation of the neck node levels for head and neck tumors, which contributed to the standardization of description of neck nodal metastasis, as well as reduction of treatment variations from various institutions. This study applied this updated guidelines to analyze the patterns of lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and explore the prognostic value of the radiologic characteristics of nodes, in order to provide evidence for future revision of N staging system. Methods:A total of 656 patients from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2010 were retrospectively recruited to analysis. All were pathologically diagnosed as non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. All patients received a pretreatment MRI scan. We retrospectively reviewed the MRI imaging of 656 patients and mapped the lymph node metastasis using the 2013 International Consensus Guidelines.Results:Median follow-up was 46.9 months. Four-year local recurrence-free survival, nodal recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival was 91.3%, 95.1%, 87.7%, 78.5% and 92.8%, respectively. The most common metastatic node levels were levelⅡ (76.2%) and levelⅦa (65.1%), followed by levelⅢ (50.4%),Ⅴa(17.5%) andⅣa (11.7%). There was a very low incidence of node skipping (1.0%). Cervical nodal necrosis was observed in 46.4%of patients with positive nodes and extracapsular spread was noted in 74.4% of them. Univariate analysis showed that bilateral nodal involvement, greatest dimension of positive nodes (≥6 cm), central nodal necrosis, T stage and N stage were prognostic factors for disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival (P<0.05). Extracapsular spread showed a trend to correlate with poor distant metastasis-free survival (P=0.060). The involvement of lower neck levels (below the caudal border of cricoid cartilage) did not have a signiifcant impact on disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. In multivariate analysis, T stage and greatest dimension of nodes (≥6 cm) were independent prognostic factors for distant metastasis-free survival (P<0.05). T stage, greatest dimension of nodes (≥6 cm) and central nodal necrosis were independent prognostic factors of disease-free survival (P<0.05).Conclusion:This study demonstrates the patterns of lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on 2013 International Consensus Guidelines. Bilateral nodal involvement, greatest dimension of positive nodes and central nodal necrosis had prognostic values on disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. In our study, the involvement of lower neck levels was not proved to be a prognostic factor for disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival.

Background and purpose:Gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN) is a spectrum of disease arising from trophoblastic cells, and the majority of patients with GTN have favorable outcome because of the sensi-tivity to chemotherapy. While the cure rate for high-risk patients is still 70% to 80% as a result of drug resistance and disease recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with high-risk GTN.Methods:The clinical records of patients with high-risk GTN treated in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2013 were analyzed and reviewed retrospectively from the aspect of different treatment.Results:Fifty-one patients with high-risk GTN were admitted to this hospital. Among 51 high-risk GTN patients, 46 patients were evaluated retrospectively and 5 patients were excluded for incomplete treatments. Of the 46 patients with high-risk GTN, 27 patients were treated by chemotherapy alone, 19 patients received chemotherapy and adjuvant surgical therapy. Forty-four patients received EMA-CO (VP-16+Act-D+MTX/VCR+CTX) as a ifrst-line chemotherapy, 81.82% (36/44) had complete remission and 8 patients developed resistance to EMA-CO. EMA-EP (VP-16+Act-D+MTX/VP-16+cisplatin) was used as second-line chemotherapy for the 8 patients resistant to EMA-CO, 6 patients (2 underwent adjuvant surgical therapy) achieved remission and 2 patients died as a result of drug-resistance and disease progression. For the remaining 2 patients, one was treated by 5-FU+KSM and pulmonary resection, and the other was treated by MTX for misdiagnosis as ectopic pregnancy and then converted to EMA-CO for the pathological diagnosis of choriocarcinoma after surgery. Both of them achieved complete remission. Ultimately, 95.65% (44/46)patients achieved complete remission. Among the 19 patients who underwent adjuvant surgical therapy, 94.70% (18/19) patients achieved complete remission after chemotherapy and adjuvant surgery, and the remaining one patient died of disease progression.Conclusion:Standard combination chemotherapy is crucial in the treatment of high-risk GTN. The role of adjuvant surgery in the management of high-risk GTN should not be underestimated.

Background and purpose:Bladder cancer is the most common urological tumor, and its pathogen-esis is still not fully understood. The study was aimed to observe the expressions of key genes in many tumor-associated signaling pathways in normal bladder tissue and bladder carcinoma, and to provide further evidence for the subsequent study of bladder cancer recurrence and metastasis.Methods:Twenty-seven cases of bladder cancer specimens were col-lected, and normal bladder tissues and bladder cancer tissues were distinguished by frozen section. Then, the expressions of 84 genes of cancer-related signaling pathways in bladder cancer tissues and normal bladder tissues were screened by Cancer Pathway Finder PCR Array produced by QIAGEN company.Results:Compared with the normal bladder tissues, the bladder carcinoma tissues had 8 up-regulated genes and 19 down-regulated genes. In this study, the impact of epithe-lial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling pathway was selected as a research direction in which theGSC,KRT14,DSP were up-regulated,SNAI2,SNAI3 were down-regulated. ThereforeGSC,KRT14,DSP,SNAI2 andSNAI3 were chosen as target genes, and verified by qRT-PCR in many examples. The result showed that the expressions ofGSC gene in bladder cancer tissues were up-regulated, but with no statistical significance;KRT14,DSP expressions in bladder cancer were higher than those in normal bladder tissues (P<0.05);SNAI2,SNAI3 expressions in bladder cancer were lower than those in normal bladder tissues (P<0.05), andSNAI3 showed the most obvious expression differences.Conclusion:KRT14,DSP andSNAI3 may play an important role in bladder cancer’s occurrence, development and metastasis.

Background and purpose:The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer increased gradually in China, cancer survival rate plays an important role in guiding cancer prevention and treatment.Methods:Data of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed during 2002-2006, follow-up information and death report were from Shanghai Cancer Registry, Life Table and EdererⅡ were used to calculate observed survival (OS) and relative survival (RS), the related demographic characteristics and status were also analyzed to relfect the survival situations of the colorectal cancer survivors in major areas in Shanghai.Results:In this study, 16 682 colon cancer cases and 11 906 rectum cancer cases were included in analysis, 5-year OS rates for colon cancer and rectum cancer were 48.84% and 51.65%, RS rates were 70.50% and 71.31%. Signiifcant difference in survival had been found among the various diagnostic stages, the survival rate in stageⅠ was much higher than those in stageⅢ and stageⅣ. The survival of colorectal cancer patients with different gender, age, tumor histological and residential areas were also found with differences, female was higher than male, age ranged from >44-54 years had the highest survival rates than other age groups. The survival of epithelial tumors was higher than other histologic types in colon cancer, and the survival of non-epithelial tumors was higher than other histologic types in rectum cancer. Over the past 3 decades, the 5-year OS increased dramatically in Shanghai. Conclusion:The level of survival of colorectal cancer in Shanghai is similar with it in developed counties. Colorectal cancer survival rate with different population characteristics may provide suggestions and evidence for further improvement of early screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Background and purpose: The morbidity of colorectal cancer in China increased year by year. This study aimed to explore the signiifcance of ADAMTS9 protein levels and promoter methylation in colorectal cancer onset and progression. Methods:ADAMTS9 promoter methylation status was detected by methylation speciifc PCR method in 162 colorectal cancer patients’ peripheral blood DNA samples; Plasmatic ADAMTS9 protein levels was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in 162 colorectal cancer patients and 150 healthy subjects. Results: Compared with healthy people, patients with colorectal cancer had a significant lower ADAMTS9 protein level in plasma [(65.25±9.70)μg vs (50.28±9.66)μg, P<0.001];ADAMTS9 gene promoter methylation was observed in 66 among 162 colorectal cancer patients (40.7%);The plasma level of ADAMTS9 protein in patients with methylated ADAMTS9 gene had signiifcantly reduced (P<0.001), while the plasma level of ADAMTS9 protein in patients with low ADAMTS9 protein had signiifcantly increased (P=0.007);ADAMTS9 methylation is closely related to tumor size (larger, P=0.017) and tumor differentiation degree (P=0.029), ADAMTS9 protein low expression is closely related to invasion depth (P=0.020), lymph node metastasis (P=0.019) and Dukes staging (P=0.002).Conclusion: ADAMTS9 protein downregulation induced by DNA promoter methylation may be involved in the pathogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and promote the progression in colorectal cancer.

Background and purpose:It is increasingly focused on that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) effect cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of tumor cells, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPPA) plays an important role in IGF-1-dependent IGFBP-4 protease mechanism that regulats tumor cells' growth. This study aimed to investigate the serum levels and clinical signiifcance of IGF-1, IGFBP-4, and PAPPA in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:IGF-1, IGFBP-4, and PAPPA plasma levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from 82 patients with NSCLC and 40 control subjects, then the correlations between variables were assessed by Spearman correlation analysis, and associations between the IGFs variables and lung cancer risk were calculated through the odds ratio (OR) and its 95%conifdence interval (CI) with the use of unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results:Serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-4 and PAPPA in NSCLC patients were signiifcantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). There was a signiifcant positive correlation between the serum IGF-1 levels and PAPPA levels (r=0.835,P=0.000), and a negative correlation with IGFBP-4 levels (r=-0.612,P=0.000). IGFBP-4 and PAPPA levels were negatively correlated(r=-0.673, P=0.000). High plasma levels of IGF-1(OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.25-4.36,P=0.008) and PAPPA (OR=1.64, 95%CI: 0.89-3.01,P=0.046)were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, however high plasma levels of IGFBP-4(OR=0.54, 95%CI:0.30-1.01,P=0.047)were associated with reduced risk of lung cancer. Conclusion:To detect IGF-1, IGFBP-4 and PAPPA in serum in NSCLC patients is meaningful for the clinical auxiliary diagnosis and biology behavior prediction of NSCLC. And further study of signal transduction pathways of IGFs with the occurrence and development of NSCLC is a meaningful research direction.

Background and purpose: It has been demonstrated that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is over-expressed in some subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and COX-2 correlates with the expression of P-glycoprotein and Bcl-2, which may contribute to chemotherapy-resistance in NHL. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of COX-2 in B-cell lymphoma cell lines and the potential mechanisms of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, to sensitize lymphoma cell lines to epirubicin. Methods: Quantitative fluorescent real-time poly-chain-reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were employed to determine the expression of COX-2 in Raji, Jeko-1 and Namalwa cell lines, as well as in peripheral blood B cells from normal controls. Cell lines were treated with celecoxib at gradient concentrations, followed by the detection of cell viabilities by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8).Meanwhile, the changes in expression of MDR-1 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA before and after celecoxib treatment were determined by qRT-PCR. Raji cells were treated with epirubicin alone or in combination with gradient concentrations of celecoxib for 72 h, then CCK-8 was used to analyze whether celecoxib sensitize Raji cells to epirubicin. Results:Neither lymphoma cell lines nor normal B cells expressed detectable COX-2 in this study. Celecoxib inhibited the proliferation of the 3 lymphoma cell lines, and the mRNA expressions of MDR-1 and Bcl-2 were decreased by celecoxib in a concentration-dependent manner, except for that MDR-1 was undetectable in Jeko-1 cells. In addition, celecoxib sensitized Raji cells to epirubicin, indicating a synergistic anti-tumor effect between the two agents. Conclusion:Selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib down-regulates the expressions of MDR-1 mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA in B-cell-originated lymphoma cell lines, and sensitizes Raji cells to epirubicin.