Purpose: This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy. Materials and Methods: Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety. Results: Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways. Conclusion This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.

Purpose: This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy. Materials and Methods: Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety. Results: Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways. Conclusion This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.

Purpose: This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy. Materials and Methods: Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety. Results: Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways. Conclusion This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.

Objective:To explore the reasonable timing of radiotherapy for epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis in the era of third-generation targeted drugs. Methods:Clinical data of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis who received first-line treatment with third-generation targeted drugs and stereotactic radiotherapy at Shanghai Armed Police Corps Hospital from September 2019 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the timing of radiotherapy before / after targeted drug resistance, all patients were divided into the early and salvage radiotherapy groups. The proportion of brain metastasis, physical fitness, complete response rate, objective response rate, delaying the progression of brain metastasis and overall survival (OS) were compared between two groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, log-rank test was used for univariate prognostic analysis, and factors with P <0.1 were included in Cox multivariate analysis. Results:A total of 85 patients were included, including 51 (60%) cases receiving early radiotherapy. Patients who participated in early radiotherapy had a higher proportion of symptomatic brain metastasis (82% vs. 56%, P=0.013) and poorer physical fitness (Kanofsky performance score <70: 61% vs. 26%, P=0.002) compared to patients who underwent salvage radiotherapy. Early radiotherapy significantly improved the complete response rate of intracranial lesions (35% vs. 12%, P=0.015) and objective response rate (88% vs. 71%, P=0.041), delayed the progression of brain metastasis (median intracranial progression free survival: 23.0 months vs. 16.0 months, P=0.005; median intracranial secondary progression free survival: 31.0 months vs. 22.0 months, P=0.021), and improved OS (median OS: 44.0 months vs. 35.0 months, P=0.046). In multivariate analysis, diagnosis-specific graded prognostic assessment score <2.5, mutation of EGFR exon 21, and salvage brain radiotherapy were adverse prognostic factors for OS. Conclusion:In the era of third-generation targeted drugs therapy, early involvement of stereotactic radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastasis can bring greater clinical benefits.

The well-known insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)/IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling pathway is overexpressed in many tumors, and is thus an attractive target for cancer treatment. However, results have often been disappointing due to crosstalk with other signals. Here, we report that IGF-1R signaling stimulates the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells through the translocation of IGF-1R into the ER to enhance sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2 (SERCA2) activity. In response to ligand binding, IGF-1Rβ is translocated into the ER by β-arrestin2 (β-arr2). Mass spectrometry analysis identified SERCA2 as a target of ER IGF-1Rβ. SERCA2 activity is heavily dependent on the increase in ER IGF-1Rβ levels. ER IGF-1Rβ phosphorylates SERCA2 on Tyr⁹⁹⁰ to enhance its activity. Mutation of SERCA2-Tyr⁹⁹⁰ disrupted the interaction of ER IGF-1Rβ with SERCA2, and therefore ER IGF-1Rβ failed to promote SERCA2 activity. The enhancement of SERCA2 activity triggered Ca²⁺_ER perturbation, leading to an increase in autophagy. Thapsigargin blocked the interaction between SERCA2 and ER IGF-1Rβ and therefore SERCA2 activity, resulting in inhibition of HCC growth. In conclusion, the translocation of IGF-1R into the ER triggers Ca²⁺_ER perturbation by enhancing SERCA2 activity through phosphorylating Tyr⁹⁹⁰ in HCC.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and side effects of multi-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of brain metastases from colorectal cancer.Methods:A total of 98 patients with brain metastases from colorectal cancer searched from the database of Professional Committee of Brain Metastasis of Shanghai Anticancer Association were recruited in this study. Among them, 46 patients weretreated with SRT and 52 patients with SRS. Clinical characteristics of all patients were analyzed between two groups and the local tumor control rate, median survival time and the incidence of radiation-induced brain injury were compared between two groups.Results:The objective remission rates (ORR) in the SRT and SRS groups were 76.1% and 67.3%, respectively. The 12-month local tumor control rates were 88.3% and 83.9% between two groups, with no statistical difference ( P=0.689). The median overall survival time of all patients was 11.6 months, 10.8 months in the SRT group and 12.7 months in the SRS group. There was no statistical difference between two groups ( P=0.129). Multivariate analysis showed that the main factors leading to poor prognosis included the number of tumors of >3( P=0.026), low GPA score ( P=0.035), and lack of systematic treatment mode and bevacizumab ( P=0.001). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of acute and late radiation-induced brain injury between two groups. Conclusions:Both SRT and SRS are effective therapies for brain metastases from colorectal cancer. The synergistic application of systematic treatment mode may be one of the main reasons affecting the survival time of the patients.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of brain metastases from January 2006 to December 2016, lung adenocarcinoma and analyze the related factors. Methods: In this multi-center retrospective analysis, clinical data of 208 patients with brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed and assigned into the SRT (n=86) and SRS groups (n=122). The clinical characteristics of patients in two groups were analyzed. The local tumor control rate, median survival time and radiation brain injury were statistically compared between two groups. Results: At the end of follow-up, the objective response rates (ORR) were 70.9% and 71.3% in the SRT and SRS groups (P=0.772). The local tumor control rates at 12 months were 89% and 86% in the SRT and SRS groups (P=0.383). The median overall survival time of all patients was 14.3 months, 15.6 months in the SRT group and 13.7 months in the SRS group (P=0.349). Multivariate analysis showed that large target volume (P<0.001), low GPA score (P=0.012) and no insensitive gene mutation (P<0.001) were the main factors of poor prognosis. The incidence of late radiation brain injury was 5.8% and 14.8% in two groups (P=0.043). Conclusions SRT and SRS yield similar clinical efficacy in the treatment of brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma. SRT may have a lower incidence of late radiation brain injury than SRS.

In the original publication, the label of Fig. 2C should be read as "GFAP/lectin/DAPI" not "DMP1/GFAP/lectin/DAPI".

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a tight boundary formed between endothelial cells and astrocytes, which separates and protects brain from most pathogens as well as neural toxins in circulation. However, detailed molecular players involved in formation of BBB are not completely known. Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1)-proteoglycan (PG), which is known to be involved in mineralization of bones and dentin, is also expressed in soft tissues including brain with unknown functions. In the present study, we reported that DMP1-PG was expressed in brain astrocytes and enriched in BBB units. The only glycosylation site of DMP1 is serine89 (S89) in the N-terminal domain of the protein in mouse. Mutant mice with DMP1 point mutations changing S89 to glycine (S89G), which completely eradicated glycosylation of the protein, demonstrated severe BBB disruption. Another breed of DMP1 mutant mice, which lacked the C-terminal domain of DMP1, manifested normal BBB function. The polarity of S89G-DMP1 astrocytes was disrupted and cell-cell adhesion was loosened. Through a battery of analyses, we found that DMP1 glycosylation was critically required for astrocyte maturation both in vitro and in vivo. S89G-DMP1 mutant astrocytes failed to express aquaporin 4 and had reduced laminin and ZO1 expression, which resulted in disruption of BBB. Interestingly, overexpression of wild-type DMP1-PG in mouse brain driven by the nestin promoter elevated laminin and ZO1 expression beyond wild type levels and could effectively resisted intravenous mannitol-induced BBB reversible opening. Taken together, our study not only revealed a novel element, i.e., DMP1-PG, that regulated BBB formation, but also assigned a new function to DMP1-PG.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Glycosylation ; Male ; Mice ; Proteoglycans ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) combined with bevacizumab for brain metastases in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsThe clinical data of 95 patients with brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, including 36 patients treated with SRT and bevacizumab (bevacizumab group) and 59 patients treated with SRT, corticosteroids, and mannitol (traditional drug group).The tumor response rate, peritumoral edema control rate, improvement in Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, and adverse reactions were analyzed.Results Compared with the traditional drug group, the bevacizumab group had significantly higher tumor response rate (P=0.033) and peritumoral edema control rate (P=0.000) at 1-4 weeks after treatment, as well as an obvious improvement in KPS score and reduced doses of corticosteroids and mannitol.In addition, the adverse reactions in the bevacizumab group were mild and controllable.Conclusions SRT combined with bevacizumab for brain metastases in patients with lung adenocarcinoma can achieve higher short-term tumor response rate and peritumoral edema control rate and improve patients' quality of life.