1.Studies on the Design and Activity of Anticancer Peptides Based on the Weak Acidic Microenvironment of Tumors
Yue-Qi NIE ; Miao JIANG ; Hui-Yan WU ; Chang-Hao DING ; Wei REN ; Jun-Yi CHANG ; Ke CHEN ; Shao-Long DU ; Peng ZHANG ; Zhong-Hua LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1380-1391
Lung cancer poses a serious threat to global public health security.Chemotherapy,as the main strategy for cancer treatment,faces challenges such as high toxicity and drug resistance.Anticancer peptides have the potential of being developed into new anticancer drugs due to their advantages of broad-spectrum anticancer activity,rapid action,and difficulty in generating drug resistance,but they also face shortcomings such as weak activity and strong toxic side effects.The weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors(pH 6.5-6.8)provides a good idea for the design of anticancer peptides of high-efficiency and low-toxicity.Previously,we designed the acid-sensitive antibacterial peptide pHly-1 using the wolf spider(Lycosa singoriensis)toxin Lycosin-Ⅰ as a template.In this study,we found that pHly-1 also had acid-sensitive anticancer activity.Further alanine scanning analysis of pHly-1 was carried out,and we ob-tained a mutant pHTP-2 with better acid sensitivity,whose IC50(half maximal inhibitory concentration)against A549 cells was 15.68 μmol/L at pH 6.6 and was greater than 100 μmol/L at pH 7.4.At pH 6.6,pHTP-2 could act on various lung cancer cell lines and induce the death of A549 cells by rapid ly-sis;at pH 7.4,500 μmol/L pHTP-2 had weak toxicity to red blood cells(the hemolysis rate was ap-proximately 38%)and primary myocardial cells(the inhibition rate was 49.7%,with P<0.05).Analy-sis of its charge,particle size,morphology,and secondary structure showed that at pH 6.6,the histidine in the sequence of pHTP-2 was protonated,increasing the positive charge(P<0.01),decreasing the hy-drated particle size(P<0.05)and forming an α-helical structure to induce membrane lysis of A549 cells.At pH 7.4,it was deprotonated,the positive charge decreases,a β-sheet structure was formed and self-aggregation occurred,limiting its effect on the A549 cell membrane and showing weak activity.In summary,pHTP-2 could respond to the weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors to exert selective cyto-toxic activity,effectively overcoming the shortcomings of anticancer peptides such as low efficiency and high toxicity.Our findings suggest that it is a high-quality lead molecule for anticancer drugs.
2.Studies on the Design and Activity of Anticancer Peptides Based on the Weak Acidic Microenvironment of Tumors
Yue-Qi NIE ; Miao JIANG ; Hui-Yan WU ; Chang-Hao DING ; Wei REN ; Jun-Yi CHANG ; Ke CHEN ; Shao-Long DU ; Peng ZHANG ; Zhong-Hua LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1380-1391
Lung cancer poses a serious threat to global public health security.Chemotherapy,as the main strategy for cancer treatment,faces challenges such as high toxicity and drug resistance.Anticancer peptides have the potential of being developed into new anticancer drugs due to their advantages of broad-spectrum anticancer activity,rapid action,and difficulty in generating drug resistance,but they also face shortcomings such as weak activity and strong toxic side effects.The weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors(pH 6.5-6.8)provides a good idea for the design of anticancer peptides of high-efficiency and low-toxicity.Previously,we designed the acid-sensitive antibacterial peptide pHly-1 using the wolf spider(Lycosa singoriensis)toxin Lycosin-Ⅰ as a template.In this study,we found that pHly-1 also had acid-sensitive anticancer activity.Further alanine scanning analysis of pHly-1 was carried out,and we ob-tained a mutant pHTP-2 with better acid sensitivity,whose IC50(half maximal inhibitory concentration)against A549 cells was 15.68 μmol/L at pH 6.6 and was greater than 100 μmol/L at pH 7.4.At pH 6.6,pHTP-2 could act on various lung cancer cell lines and induce the death of A549 cells by rapid ly-sis;at pH 7.4,500 μmol/L pHTP-2 had weak toxicity to red blood cells(the hemolysis rate was ap-proximately 38%)and primary myocardial cells(the inhibition rate was 49.7%,with P<0.05).Analy-sis of its charge,particle size,morphology,and secondary structure showed that at pH 6.6,the histidine in the sequence of pHTP-2 was protonated,increasing the positive charge(P<0.01),decreasing the hy-drated particle size(P<0.05)and forming an α-helical structure to induce membrane lysis of A549 cells.At pH 7.4,it was deprotonated,the positive charge decreases,a β-sheet structure was formed and self-aggregation occurred,limiting its effect on the A549 cell membrane and showing weak activity.In summary,pHTP-2 could respond to the weakly acidic microenvironment of tumors to exert selective cyto-toxic activity,effectively overcoming the shortcomings of anticancer peptides such as low efficiency and high toxicity.Our findings suggest that it is a high-quality lead molecule for anticancer drugs.
3.Safety and the Short-Term Efficacy of Venetoclax Combined with Azacitidine Followed by Cladribine in Children with Refractory/Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Wei-Wei DU ; Su-Xiang LIU ; Yi WANG ; Hai-Long HE ; Ai-Lian GUO ; Shao-Yan HU ; Jun LU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2023;31(6):1635-1638
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the safety and the short-term efficacy of venetoclax combined with azacitidine followed by cladribine (VAC regimen) in children with refractory/ relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
METHODS:
The clinical data, treatment outcomes, complications, and blood product consumption of 6 children with refractory/relapsed AML treated with VAC regimen in the Children's Hospital of Soochow University from August 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS:
Among the 6 children, there were 1 male and 5 females. 5 cases were refractory AML, and 1 case was relapsed AML, which recurred again 16 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 4 children were accompanied by chromosomes or genes that predicted poor prognosis, such as RUNX1, FLT3-ITD, KMT2A exon 2-exon 8 dup, MLL-AF6, 7q-, KMT2A exon 2-exon 10 dup, etc. After received VAC regimen, 4 cases achieved CR+CRi, 1 case achieved PR (only MRD did not relieve, MRD was 0.59%), and 1 case was NR (but the proportion of bone marrow blasts decreased). All 6 patients had grade Ⅳ neutropenia, and 4 patients had grade Ⅳ thrombocytopenia. During the period of neutropenia, none of the 6 children developed symptoms of infection such as fever, cough, and diarrhea. No treatment-related death occurred.
CONCLUSION
Venetoclax combined with azacitidine followed by cladribine provides a new treatment option for patients with relapsed/refractory AML who have poor efficacy in early induction remission theragy, showing good efficacy and safety.
Child
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Azacitidine/therapeutic use*
;
Cladribine/therapeutic use*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics*
;
Neutropenia
;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
4.Efficacy of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell in the Treatment of Refractory/Recurrent B Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in Children.
Fan YANG ; Tian-Yi WANG ; Wei-Wei DU ; Hai-Long HE ; Pei-Fang XIAO ; Ye LU ; Shao-Yan HU ; Ben-Shang LI ; Jun LU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2022;30(3):718-725
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) in the treatment of children with refractory/recurrent B acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL).
METHODS:
Thirty-two patients with r/r B-ALL were treated by CAR-T, the recurrence and death respectively were the end point events to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAR-T.
RESULTS:
The median age of the patients was 7.5 (2-17.5) years old; 40 times CAR-T were received in all patients and the median number of CAR-T was 0.9×107/kg; efficacy evaluation showed that 2 cases died before the first evaluation. Thirty patients showed that 3, 6, and 9-moth RFS was (96.3±3.6)%, (81.4±8.6)% and (65.3±12.5)%, respectively, while 3, 6, and 9-month OS was all 100%, and 12, 24-month OS was (94.7±5.1)% and (76±12.8)%. BM blasts≥36% before reinfusion and ferritin peak≥2 500 ng/ml within two weeks of CAR-T cell reinfusion were associated with recurrence. Adverse reactions mainly included cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and CART-cell-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES), CRS appeared in 26 patients within a week of CAR-T cell reinfusion. CRES reaction was detected in 12 patients. Eighteen patients received intravenous drip of tocilizumab, among them, 12 combined with glucocorticoid. CRS and CRES reactions were relieved within one week after treatment. Hormone dosage was related to the duration of remission in patients, and the cumulative dose of methylprednisolone≥8 mg/kg showed a poor prognosis.
CONCLUSION
CAR-T is a safe and effective treatment for r/r B-ALL, most CRS and CRES reactions are reversible. BM blasts ≥36% before reinfusion and cumulative dose of methylprednisolone ≥8 mg/kg after reinfusion both affect the therapeutic effect. Ferritin≥2 500 ng/ml within two weeks after reinfusion is related to disease recurrence and is an independent prognostic risk factor.
Adolescent
;
Antigens, CD19
;
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Chronic Disease
;
Ferritins
;
Humans
;
Immunotherapy, Adoptive
;
Methylprednisolone
;
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/therapy*
;
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
;
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism*
;
Recurrence
;
T-Lymphocytes
5.A multicenter study on the tolerance of intravenous low-dose cyclophosphamide in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Miao SHAO ; Hui Fang GUO ; Ling Yan LEI ; Qing ZHAO ; Yan Jie DING ; Jin LIN ; Rui WU ; Feng YU ; Yu Cui LI ; Hua Li MIAO ; Li Yun ZHANG ; Yan DU ; Rui Ying JIAO ; Li Xia PANG ; Li LONG ; Zhan Guo LI ; Ru LI
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2022;54(6):1112-1116
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the safety of low-dose cyclophosphamide and high-dose cyclophosphamide in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS:
A total of 1 022 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from 24 hospitals in China between March 2017 to July 2018 were enrolled. Their clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, adverse events, reasons for stopping receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide and comorbidities were collected. Among them, 506 SLE patients received short-interval low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy (SILD IV-CYC, 400 mg every two weeks), and 256 patients underwent high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy (HD IV-CYC, 500 mg/m2 of body surface area every month), the side effects between the two groups were compared, the remaining 260 SLE patients were treated with IV-CYC irregularly. Moreover, a total of 377 patients in SILD IV-CYC group and 214 patients in HD IV-CYC group had medical records of the reasons for stopping recei-ving IV-CYC. The reasons for stopping receiving IV-CYC in these two groups were analyzed.
RESULTS:
In this study, only 40.27%(238/591)of the SLE patients stopped receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide for the causes of disease improvement, however, up to 33.67% (199/591) of the patients for the reason of drug-related side effects. There were 83 patients out of 214 (38.79%) with high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment who stopped receiving IV-CYC for the drug-related side effects, which was significantly higher than that in the low-dose cyclophosphamide group (30.77%, 116/337, P=0.048). Of theses 506 patients in SILD IV-CYC group, 88 (17.39%) patients experienced gastrointestinal reactions, 66 (13.04%) suffered from infections, 49 (9.68%) had myelosuppression and 68 (13.44%) had alopecia, respectively. Among the 256 patients in the HD IV-CYC group, 80 (31.25%) experienced gastrointestinal reactions, 57 (22.27%) suffered from infections, 51 (19.92%) had myelosuppression and 49 (19.14%) had alopecia. Moreover, 71 (25.18%) of 282 female patients with age between 16 to 45 years in SILD IV-CYC group had abnormal menstruation, while menstrual disorder occurred in 39.72% (56/141) patients of HD IV-CYC group. There was no difference of drug-induced hepatic injury, hemorrhagic cystitis and fatigue between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Low-dose cyclophosphamide showed a lower prevalence of adverse events than high-dose cyclophosphamide in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Humans
;
Female
;
Adolescent
;
Young Adult
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects*
;
Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use*
;
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy*
;
Administration, Intravenous
;
Alopecia/drug therapy*
7.Meta-analysis on the Safety and Efficacy of Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Versus Everolimus Eluting Stent for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Yu-Qi LIU ; Shao-Long LI ; Lei MA ; Hai-Ying LI ; Zhi-Bin ZHANG ; Guo-Dong DU ; Qiang LEI ; Ping-Ping WANG ; Yan XIANG ; Dang-Guo SHAO
Chinese Circulation Journal 2018;33(6):550-554
Objectives:To systemically review the safety and efficacy of bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) versus everolimus eluting stent (EES) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods:The database searched includes PubMed, Medline, MEDILINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, CNKI and Wanfang. Database retrieval time was between database establishment time to October 2017. During the same time, authors accessed the conference summary and related websites to collect published randomized controlled trials of published data. To evaluate the quality of the literature according to the modified Jadad scale and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results:Nine trials were included; 6 721 patients were randomized to receive BVS (n=3 670) or EES (n=3 051). Time of follow-up was ranged from 6 to 36 months. Compared with metallic EES, risk of target lesion failure (RR=1.31, 95%CI:1.08-1.58; P=0.005) and in-stent thrombosis (RR=2.89, 95%CI:1.85-4.53; P<0.0001), ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (RR=1.44,95%CI:1.12-1.86, P=0.005)、target-vessel myocardial infarction (RR=1.74, 95%CI:1.33-2.27, P<0.0001) and all myocardial infarction (RR=1.49, 95%CI:1.16-1.91, P=0.002) were all significantly higher in BVS group than in EES group. There were no significant differences in all-cause death (RR=0.87, 95 % CI:0.57-1.33, P=0.520), cardiovascular mortality (RR=0.78, 95%CI:0.54-1.11, P=0.160) and composite endpoints (RR=1.10, 95%CI:0.95-1.27, P=0.210) between the two groups. Conclusions:Compared with metallic EES, the BVS appears to be associated with both lower efficacy and higher thrombotic risk during the observation period.
8.Long-term follow-up of Chinese herbal medicines combined with conventional treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Pei-Li WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Shao-Li WANG ; Qiao-Ning YANG ; Zhu-Ye GAO ; Jian-Peng DU ; Da-Wu ZHANG ; Chang-Geng FU ; Feng GU ; Hao XU ; Li-Zhi LI ; Cheng-Long WANG ; Da-Zhuo SHI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2017;23(10):740-746
OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognosis effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation adjunctive to conventional treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
METHODSA total of 702 patients with ACS who underwent PCI were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive conventional treatment plus CHMs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation (treatment group, 351 cases) or conventional treatment alone (control group, 351 cases) for 6 months. Six months later, all patients received conventional treatment alone. Follow-ups were scheduled at 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th month after enrollment in April 2008, and the final follow-up visit was during September 2011 and November 2011. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or revascularization (PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting); and the secondary endpoint was the composite of re-admission for ACS, congestive heart failure, nonfatal stroke or other thrombus events.
RESULTSA total of 621 (88.59%) patients completed 35.4±3.8 months follow-up, while 80 (11.41%) patients withdrew from the trial (41 in the treatment group and 39 in the control group). The incidence of primary endpoint was 5.7% (20 patients) in the treatment group versus 10.86% (38 patients) in the control group [relative risk (RR): 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30, 0.88; P=0.013; absolute risk reduction (ARR):-0.052, 95% CI: -0.06, 0.01]. The incidence of secondary endpoint was 5.98% (21 patients) in the treatment group versus 10.28% (36 patients) in control group (RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.97, P=0.037; ARR: -0.043, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.01). Most of the primary and secondary endpoints were occurred in 18 months (84.50% in the treatment group versus 78.10% in the control group).
CONCLUSIONCHMs for benefiting qi and activating blood circulation adjunctive to conventional treatment improved clinical outcomes for patients with ACS after PCI in long-term follow-up.
9.Driver gene mutations among non-small cell lung cancer tissues and its clinical significance
Chang-Shao YANG ; Yan-Long YANG ; Xiao-Jie DING ; Ya-Xi DU ; Quan LI ; Yin-Jin GUO ; Jun-Xi LIU ; Yong-Chun ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2017;33(11):1183-1187
Purpose To investigate the mutation rate of EGFR,KRAS,ALK and ROS1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its association with clinical or pathological characteristics.Methods 86 NSCLC tissues were included.Fluorescence PCR was used to detect the EGFR,KRAS mutation and ALK,ROS1 fusion gene.The association between EGFR,KRAS,ALK and ROS1 gene and age,gender,smoking history,histological type,lymph node metastasis and other clinical pathological features were analyzed.Results The total mutation rate of the driver gene in NSCLC patients was 62.8% (54/86).EGFR mutation rate was 76% (41/54).KRAS mutation rate was 9.3% (5/54).ALK gene fusion mutation rate was 13.0% (7/54),and in one of the patients,EGFR 19 deletion mutation and ALK fusion co-exist.ROS1 gene fusion mutation was 3.8% (2/54).EGFR gene mutation rate was higher in adenocarcinoma and female (P < 0.05),but no significant association was found in age,smoking history and lymph node metastasis (P >0.05).KRAS,ALK,ROS1 genes had no obvious correlation with clinical pathological features (P > 0.05).Conclusion The EGFR mutation and ALK fusion was rather high in patients with NSCLC.More attention should be paid to them.Though KRAS,ROS1 mutations and double mutations were low in NSCLC patients,they should not be ignored.
10.Relationship between EGFR gene mutation and clinicopathological features in peripheral blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in Yunnan area
shao Chang YANG ; xi Ya DU ; jie Xiao DING ; long Yan YANG ; Quan LI ; jin Yin GUO ; xi Jun LIU ; chun Yong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2017;33(8):874-878
Purpose To investigate the prevalence of EG-FR mutation in circulating cell-free DNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients of Yunnan province and its relationship with clinical pathological characteristics,which can provide foundations for individualized targeted therapy of lung cancer in this area.Methods Amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) was used to detect the EGFR exon 18,19,20 and 21 mutation in circulating cell-free DNA.The relationship between EGFR mutation and clinical characteristics were further analyzed.Results 93 patients (25.5%) harbored circulating EG-FR mutations among 364 patients.The mutation rates of EGFR 18 G719X,19del,20 S768I,T790M,20ins were 3.2% (3/93),2.2% (2/93)and3.2% (3/93)respectively.EGFR21 L858R and L861Q mutation rates were 26.9% (25/93) and 1.1% (1/93),respectively.Three patients (3.2%,3/93)harbored G719X + S768I double mutation,four patients (4.3%,4/93) harbored 19Del + T790M mutations.19Del +L858R,L858R + S768I,and S768I + T790M mutation rates were 1.1% (1/93),1.1% (1/93) and 2.2% (2/93) respectively.Conclusion The EGFR mutation rate of female and adenocarcinoma patients is higher in patients with stage Ⅲ B-ⅣNSCLC in Yunnan area.19Del is the major mutation type and double exon mutation is an obvious characteristic in NSCLC patients of Yunnan province.EGFR mutation detection in circulating cell-free DNA by ARMS method is feasible to screen patients receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment.

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