Breast reconstruction is an essential part in the comprehensive management of breast cancer. The clinical application of patches (e.g., acellular dermal matrix, ADM) is the most impactful innovation in implant breast reconstruction in recent years. The wide application of patches in implant breast reconstruction promotes the development of immediate prosthetic reconstruction, im-proves the aesthetic outcomes of reconstructed breasts, and avoids additional donor tissue damage caused by autologous flap breast reconstruction. At present, patches used in breast reconstruction are mainly ADMs, bovine pericardial patches, and TiLOOP, which are widely used because of their good histocompatibility and tissue defect repair ability. This article reviews the applications and research statuses of these patches.

Objective To construct the Hut78 cell line with EZH2 gene knocked into by CRISPR/Cas9 system. Methods The EZH2 expression vector pMD-18T-EZH2 with homologous arm and the sgRNA expression vector pSpCas9 (BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA, which could cut the double stranded genomic DNA, were constructed, and the two vectors were co-transfected into Hut78 cells. Then the expression of EZH2 mRNA was detected by qPCR, and the expressions of EZH2 and H3K27me3 proteins were detected by Western blot assay. Results The pMD-18T-EZH2 and pSpCas9(BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA recombinant vectors were confirmed by DNA sequencing. When Hut78 cells were transfected with the two recombinant plasmid, qPCR results showed that the expression of EZH2 mRNA was significantly increased, and Western blot analysis showed that the expressions of EZH2 and H3K27me3 proteins were significantly increased. Conclusion EZH2 gene is successfully knocked into Hut78 cells by CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Objective To investigate the effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-derived chemokine ligands 7 (CCL7) on the proliferation and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Methods The mRNA expression level and protein level of CCL7 in CAFs and paracancerous fibroblasts were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot respectively. To confirm the paracrine level of CCL7 in CAFs and paracancerous fibroblasts, the protein levels of CCL7 in the corresponding conditional medium were detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of CCL7 on the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231 (TNBC cell line) was investigated by MTS assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Results In comparison with paracancerous fibroblasts, the mRNA expression level and protein level of CCL7 in CAFs were significantly increased (both P<0.01). There was an obviously increase of paracrine level of CCL7 in CAFs-conditional medium (P<0.01). The MTS assay and Transwell assay results indicated that CCL7 was more able to promote the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231. Conclusion CAFs in the TNBC stroma can produce more chemokine CCL7, and CCL7 can promote the proliferation and invasion of TNBC cells

Objective: To detect the possible molecular mechanisms of the formation of vessels that encapsulated tumor clusters (VETC) and identify the relationship between vimentin protein expression in endothelial cells and contrast-enhanced ultrasound characters in VETC (+ ) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 64 paraffin embedded HCC tissue samples were collected, all of which the tumor diameters were between 2 cm and 5 cm measured by the preoperative ultrasound. Immunohistochemistry staining for CD34 was used to detect the formation of VETC and the expressions of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vimentin were also determined. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 150 ng/ml recombinant human Ang-2 protein (rhAng-2) at various times and the protein expression of vimentin was detected by western blot assay. The contrast-enhanced ultrasound characters were also analyzed in both VETC (+ ) and VETC (-) HCC. Results: Tumor clusters encapsulated by vessels to form cobweb-like networks, which were identified as VETC phenotype, were observed in 27 HCC tissues (42.18%). In VETC (+ ) HCC tissues, Ang-2 was overexpressed in tumor cells and endothelial cells while vimentin was only upregulated in endothelial cells. With the treatment of 150 ng/ml rhAng-2 protein, the expression of vimentin in HUVECs was 0.878±0.102 and 0.918±0.092 at 12 h and 36 h, significantly upregulated when compared to the 0.322±0.061 at 6 h (P<0.01). In contrast-enhanced ultrasound, a crack and tendon-like filling character was observed in VETC (+ ) HCC during the arterial-phase, while the large scale and diffuse-like filling character was observed in VETC (-) HCC. The filling time of unit diameter in VETC (+ ) HCC was (3.95±0.22)s, significantly longer than (2.28±0.27)s of VETC (-) HCC (P<0.01). Conclusions The overexpressions of Ang-2 and vimentin are positively correlated with the formation of VETC and considered as potential therapeutic targets of VETC (+ ) HCC. The crack and tendon-like filling characters in arterial-phase of contrast-enhanced ultrasound indicates the VETC (+ ) HCC.