Objective:To compare four postmastectomy radiotherapy plans with different arc angles for left-sided breast cancer prepared using deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique, in order to explore the feasibility of selecting optimal arc angles based on the parameters of patients′ anatomical structures.Methods:A total of 51 patients who underwent postmastectomy radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer using DIBH at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were selected. Among these, 40 patients selected using simple random sampling were treated with four radiotherapy plans with different arc angles, labeled as SV120, SV100, SV80, and SV60, while the remaining 11 patients were treated with only the SV60 plans. The dose parameters of the target volumes (TVs) and organs at risk (the heart, lungs, and contralateral breast), as well as the beam-on times of individual arcs, in these plans were compared. The parameters of the anatomical structures (i.e., the heart, lung, and breast) of the 51 patients, including PHeart, PLungl, and PBreast, were extracted. Taking these parameters as independent variables and the quality of the SV60 plans as the dependent variable, fitting was conducted using P(SV60)—a multivariate logistic regression model—based on a training set (45 patients) and a testing set (six patients). The classification threshold of the plans was set at 0.5. Results:As the arc angle increased, the plans exhibited improved modulation capabilities for TVs and the left lung. However, the V5 of the right lung and the average beam-on time of a single arc also increased. The SV120 plans demonstrated significantly better V107% of planning target volume (PTV; 6.84%), homogeneity index (HI; 0.13), conformity index (CI; 0.81), and mean dose to the left lung (1 330.97 cGy) compared to the other three types of plans, with statistically significant differences ( W = 0-99, P < 0.001). The SV60 plans displayed lower mean doses to the contralateral breast (198.97 cGy) and the heart (440.35 cGy) and lower V5 of the right lung (0.27%) than the other three types of plans, with significant differences in V5 of the right lung and the mean dose to the contralateral breast ( W = 0-157, P < 0.001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in these parameters (except for V5 of the right lung) among the other three types of plans. The four types of plans exhibited average beam-on times of individual arcs of 22.0, 19.1, 16.1, and 14.4 s, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( χ2= 93.0, P < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model revealed that PLungl, PHeart, and PBreast were negatively correlated with the quality of the SV60 plans ( t = -64.84, -28.20, -24.45, P<0.001). This model yielded an accuracy of 93.33% and a precision of 92.86% in the training set, while its accuracy and precision reached 100% in the testing set. Conclusions:For patients treated with postmastectomy radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer using DIBH, it is feasible to select appropriate arc angles based on patients’ anatomical structures.

Objective:To compare four postmastectomy radiotherapy plans with different arc angles for left-sided breast cancer prepared using deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique, in order to explore the feasibility of selecting optimal arc angles based on the parameters of patients′ anatomical structures.Methods:A total of 51 patients who underwent postmastectomy radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer using DIBH at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were selected. Among these, 40 patients selected using simple random sampling were treated with four radiotherapy plans with different arc angles, labeled as SV120, SV100, SV80, and SV60, while the remaining 11 patients were treated with only the SV60 plans. The dose parameters of the target volumes (TVs) and organs at risk (the heart, lungs, and contralateral breast), as well as the beam-on times of individual arcs, in these plans were compared. The parameters of the anatomical structures (i.e., the heart, lung, and breast) of the 51 patients, including PHeart, PLungl, and PBreast, were extracted. Taking these parameters as independent variables and the quality of the SV60 plans as the dependent variable, fitting was conducted using P(SV60)—a multivariate logistic regression model—based on a training set (45 patients) and a testing set (six patients). The classification threshold of the plans was set at 0.5. Results:As the arc angle increased, the plans exhibited improved modulation capabilities for TVs and the left lung. However, the V5 of the right lung and the average beam-on time of a single arc also increased. The SV120 plans demonstrated significantly better V107% of planning target volume (PTV; 6.84%), homogeneity index (HI; 0.13), conformity index (CI; 0.81), and mean dose to the left lung (1 330.97 cGy) compared to the other three types of plans, with statistically significant differences ( W = 0-99, P < 0.001). The SV60 plans displayed lower mean doses to the contralateral breast (198.97 cGy) and the heart (440.35 cGy) and lower V5 of the right lung (0.27%) than the other three types of plans, with significant differences in V5 of the right lung and the mean dose to the contralateral breast ( W = 0-157, P < 0.001). In contrast, no significant difference was observed in these parameters (except for V5 of the right lung) among the other three types of plans. The four types of plans exhibited average beam-on times of individual arcs of 22.0, 19.1, 16.1, and 14.4 s, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( χ2= 93.0, P < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression model revealed that PLungl, PHeart, and PBreast were negatively correlated with the quality of the SV60 plans ( t = -64.84, -28.20, -24.45, P<0.001). This model yielded an accuracy of 93.33% and a precision of 92.86% in the training set, while its accuracy and precision reached 100% in the testing set. Conclusions:For patients treated with postmastectomy radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer using DIBH, it is feasible to select appropriate arc angles based on patients’ anatomical structures.

Objective:To investigate the differences in dosimetric impacts of the systematic errors induced by the leaf positions of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) on the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for patients with different T stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods:A total of 44 patients with T 1-4N 1M 0 NPC were selected to design the VMAT plans using the Pinnacle planning system as the initial plans. The prescribed doses to the primary gross tumor volume (PGTV) were 68-70 Gy in 33 fractions for patients with T 1 and T 2 stage NPC and 71 Gy in 33 fractions for patients with T 3 and T 4 stage NPC. The prescribed doses to other target volumes were identical. In the initial plan files, a systematic error ranging from ±0.2 to ±1 mm was introduced to the position of each MLC leaf, leading to an increase or decrease in the subfield area. Then, potential error plans at the positions of MLC leaves during VMAT treatment were simulated. Dose evaluation indices involved target volumes and organs at risk (OARs). The indices related to target volumes consisted of the D98% of PGTV and PGTVnd, while those concerning OARs included the D0.1 cm 3 of the brainstem, spinal cord, and optic chiasm. Results:After the systematic errors induced by the positions of MLC leaves were introduced, the sensitivity range of each dose index range was (3.87%-9.87%)/mm ( R2 = 0.932-0.998, P < 0.01). Specifically, patients with stage T 4 NPC displayed higher sensitivity to the D98% of PGTV than those with stage T 1, T 2 and T 3 NPC ( Z = -3.12, -2.86, -2.59, P < 0.05), patients with stage T 3 NPC exhibited lower sensitivity to the D0.1 cm 3 of optic chiasm than those with stage T 1 and T 2 NPC ( Z = -2.92, -2.72, P < 0.05), and patients with stage T 4 NPC manifested lower sensitivity to the D0.1 cm 3 of chiasma than those with stage T 1 and T 2 NPC ( Z = -3.51, -3.25, P < 0.05). The relationship between the sensitivity of MU/Gy and PGTV D98% was y=-3.020+ 0.025 x ( r = 0.80, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The MU/Gy in the plans increased with the T stage of NPC, and the D98% of PGTV was more significantly affected by the systematic errors induced by the positions of MLC leaves. After the systematic errors induced by the positions of MLC leaves were introduced into the VMAT plans, doses to patients with T 4 stage NPC changed more significantly than those to patients with other T stages of NPC. Therefore, stricter quality control of leaf positions is required for patients with T 4 stage NPC, and it is recommended that the systematic errors should be less than 0.42 mm.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of AKR1B10 inhibitor combined with sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft growth. Methods: HepG2 xenograft model was established in nude mice. The mice were then randomly divided into four groups: control group, epalrestat monotherapy group, sorafenib monotherapy group and combination treatment group. Tumor volume, tumor weight, T/C ratio and the change in body weight of nude mice in each group were compared to evaluate the curative effect. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissues to evaluate the proliferation status of tumor cells. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between the groups. Student’s t-test was used to test means of two groups and chi-square test was used for multiple samples. Results: The differences of the grafted tumor volume before and after treatment between the control group, epalrestat group, sorafenib group and combined therapy group was 238.940 ± 39.813, 124.991 ± 84.670, -26.111 ± 11.518, and -54.072 ± 17.673(mm³), respectively, (F = 37.048, P < 0.001). The tumor mass were 0.273 ± 0.140, 0.158 ± 0.078, 0.079 ± 0.054, 0.045 ± 0.024 (g), (F = 16.594, P < 0.001); T/C ratio were 100%, 57.9%, 28.9%, 16.5%, and Ki-67 positive rate were 23.295 ± 6.218, 13.503 ± 3.392, 7.325 ± 2.257, 4.664 ± 1.189 (%), (χ² = 822.203, P < 0.001) . The tumor volume (t = -3.579, P = 0.002) and Ki-67 positive rate (t = -10.003, P < 0.001) in epalrestat monotherapy group were significantly lower than control group. The tumor volume (t = 2.056, P = 0.025), tumor mass (t = 2.101, P = 0.043), and Ki-67 positive rate (t = -2.850, P = 0.005) in combination treatment group were significantly lower than sorafenib monotherapy group. Compared with the control group, the body weight of nude mice in the treatment group decreased to a certain extent, but there was no statistically significant difference between epalrestat monotherapy group and control group (t = -1.599, P = 0.262), and combined therapy and sorafenib monotherapy group (t = -0.051, P = 0.96). Conclusion AKR1B10 inhibitor enhanced the inhibitory effect of sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene expression profile by using gene chip technology and probe into the role of corresponding gene in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps by analysing the difference of the gene depression. METHOD: The total RNAs were respectively extracted from 6 pairs of inferior turbinates and nasal polyps, and then were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with incorporation of fluorescent dUTP as the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized with the BiostarH-40 s gene chips, it was scanned by laser scanner and the acquired image was analyzed by software. RESULT: 1887 genes were differently expressed in gene profile of nasal polyps, among which 1099 were upregulated and 788 were down-regulated. Six genes were found in all gene chips, among which 4 genes were upregulated and 2 were down-regulated. The 6 genes encoded the protein of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, highly similar to GAMMA-interferon-inducible protein IP-30 precursor, highly similar to complement factor I precursor and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3). CONCLUSION Detecting the differently expressed genes will provide clues and theoretical foundation for the pathogenesis of nasal polyps. The nasal polyps is a polygenic disease and the genes of GAMMA-interferon-inducible protein, insulin-like growth factor binding protein may play an important role in its pathogenesis.
Adult ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Young Adult