The mechanisms behind diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be ascribed primarily to retinal microvascular abnormalities, excessive inflammatory response and neurodegeneration. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of endogenous non-coding RNA with a special circular structure, which is mainly composed of precursor RNA after shearing and processing. It is widely present in the retina and participates in the occurrence and development of various fundus diseases. CircRNAs express in an abnormal way in retina, serving as “the sponge” for miRNA so as to play roles in dysfunction of retinal vascular, inflammatory response and neurodegeneration in the development of DR. Further studies for circRNAs in DR will illustrate pathophysiology of DR more deeply, shedding light on circRNAs becoming novel biomarkers and molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment, thus achieving the goal of early diagnosis and precise therapy of DR.
Objective To summarize the research progress of copper and its derivatives in gastrointestinal tumors in recent years, aiming to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions. Method The literatures related to copper homeostasis and copper death in recent years were read and summarized, and the research progress on the role of copper in cancer and copper applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment was reviewed. Results Copper was an essential trace element involved in a variety of basic biological processes. Elevated levels of copper in serum and tissues were associated with the development of tumors. As the mechanisms of copper action in various gastrointestinal tumors were being investigated, the use of copper and related derivatives in the treatment of cancer patients had become a new strategy. Conclusion Copper and its derivatives have a promising future in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, but their benefits in clinical patients still need to be demonstrated in numerous clinical trials.
ObjectiveTo summarize the remodeling of cholesterol metabolism in the occurrence and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and to review the research progress on targeted cholesterol metabolism in the treatment of PDAC. MethodRelevant literatures on cholesterol metabolism in the occurrence, development, and diagnosis and treatment of PDAC in recent years were searched and reviewed. ResultsMetabolites of PDAC tumor cells affected the expression of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Signaling regulation within tumor cells affects cholesterol metabolism, characterized by increased de novo cholesterol synthesis and esterification, and reduced efflux. Tumor cells also regulated tumor immune microenvironment or tumor stroma formation through cholesterol metabolism. Inhibiting cholesterol metabolism could suppress the proliferation, invasion and migration of PDAC tumor cells, and combination therapy targeting cholesterol metabolism had a synergistic anti-PDAC effect. ConclusionsRemodeling of cholesterol metabolism occurs in both PDAC tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, and is closely related to the occurrence, development, invasion, metastasis, and treatment response of PDAC. Targeting cholesterol metabolism or combined application with chemotherapy drugs can have anticancer effects. However, more research is needed to support the translation of cholesterol metabolism regulation into clinical treatment applications.
ObjectiveTo understand the current progress of surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemical drug therapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy of metaplastic breast cancer (MBC), so as to provide reference for the clinical therapy selection of MBC. MethodThe literature relevant to MBC therapy research in recent years was comprehensively reviewed. ResultsAt present, the pathogenesis of MBC was not clear. The histopathology of MBC was more complex and the prognosis was poor. Compared with the invasive ductal carcinoma, the MBC patients had older age of onset, larger tumor diameter, faster growth and stronger invasiveness. The simple mastectomy was currently used in surgical treatment. The axillary lymph node involvement rate of MBC patients was lower, so the sentinel lymph node biopsy was widely used. The chemical drug therapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy had limited effects on MBC patients. However, with its unique molecular expression by the genomic analysis of MBC and rise of precision medicine, targeted therapy and immunotherapy had become current research hotspots, providing potential therapeutic strategies for MBC patients. ConclusionsDue to the complex histopathology and poor prognosis of MBC, and most research on MBC is retrospective studies, lacking sufficient prospective studies with sufficient sample size, so there is currently no clear consensus on the optimal treatment method for MBC. In order to better improve prognosis of MBC patients, further in-depth research on MBC histopathology, prospective studies with sufficient sample size, and development of targeted and effective therapeutic drugs are needed in the future.
ObjectiveTo explore the adjuvant treatment options for elderly patients or those with low cardiopulmonary function who cannot tolerate lobectomy for peripheral solid pathological stage ⅠA (pⅠA) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with peripheral solid pⅠA stage NSCLC treated with lobectomy and compromised sublobar resection (CSR) in our center from 2018 to 2019. The incidence of postoperative complications and independent predictors of postoperative recurrence were analyzed. Patients in the CSR group were divided into a targeted therapy group, a chemotherapy group, and an observation group based on postoperative treatment measures. The 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the three subgroups before and after propensity score matching (PSM) were compared. ResultsA total of 586 patients were included, including 288 males (49.15%) and 298 females (50.85%), with a median age of 64.00 years. There were 335 patients of lobectomy and 251 patients of compromised sublobar resection. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the lobectomy group and CSR group [RR=0.987, 95%CI (0.898, 1.085), P=0.789). Multivariate analysis showed that gender, tumor location, and size were independent risk factors for recurrence after CSR. After PSM, 17 patients were enrolled in each of the three subgroups of CSR. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year RFS rate (P=0.115) and 5-year OS rate (P=0.101) between the targeted therapy group and the chemotherapy group after PSM, but both were significantly better than those in the observation group (P=0.041, P=0.009). Compared with lobectomy, there was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year RFS rate (P=0.069) and 5-year OS rate (P=0.540) in the targeted therapy group, while the chemotherapy group and observation group were significantly inferior to the lobectomy group (P<0.05). ConclusionCSR for treating elderly patients or those with low cardiopulmonary function with peripheral solid pⅠA stage NSCLC does not increase the incidence of postoperative complications. Gender, tumor location, and size are independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence. In terms of 3-year RFS rate and 5-year OS rate, adjuvant targeted therapy after CSR is not only superior to chemotherapy or observation but is also not inferior to lobectomy.
ObjectiveTo review the recent progress of the molecular targeted therapy for thyroid cancer. MethodsThe literatures of molecular etiology for thyroid cancer, mechanism and evaluation of targeted therapy via Medline and CHKD database were reviewed. ResultsSo far, four molecular targeted drugs (Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Vandetanib, and Cabozantinib) have been approved for treatment of advanced thyroid cancer by FDA. They can mainly improve the patient's progression-free survival. Besides, several new molecular targeted drugs have accomplishedⅠphase or Ⅱ phase clinical trials. These drugs may be new options for treatment of advanced thyroid cancer in the future. ConclusionsMolecular targeted drugs have been the main therapeutic method for advanced thyroid cancer. However, we should invent more effective new drugs and investigate the drug combination to improve the therapeutic effect.
Objective To understand the latest research progress of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy drugs in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Method The literature on the efficacy of different treatment drugs for metastatic colorectal cancer in recent years both domestically and internationally was retrieved and reviewed. Results There had been many clinical research progress in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, new drugs had emerged, targeted drugs were particularly prominent, and more trials of therapeutic drugs and drug combination treatment regimens were also being carried out. Different treatment methods were applied to patients according to the mutation status of RAS/RAF and the expression of mismatch repair protein, the survival benefit varied greatly. Conclusion Precision medicine is becoming increasingly important, screening patients to choose appropriate treatment modality can further improve survival benefit.
Objective To summarize functions and mechanisms of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and its application in targeted therapy. Method Literatures about FAP in recent years were collected to make a review. Results Thereis an important relationship between the FAP and the dipeptidyl peptidase-Ⅳ. FAP has a serine protease activity and is an important immunosuppressive component in the tumor microenvironment. FAP participate in the pathological process of the neoplastic and the non-neoplastic diseases. In the targeted therapy, the enzyme inhibitors, antibodies, vaccines, and prodrugs of FAP had been extensively studied. Conclusion FAP have various functions and participates in pathological process of many diseases, and it is of great significance to research of tumor targeted therapy.
ObjectiveThis review has summarized in detail the advances in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging in evaluating the efficacy of targeted therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).MethodsTo summarize the image-related guidelines, consensus, international conference reports, and relevant knowledge of clinical research on the evaluation of the efficacy of GIST targeted therapy in recent years.ResultsThe CT and MRI manifestation after targeted treatment of GIST was closely related to pathological changes, including necrosis, cystic degeneration, and bleeding. CT was the preferred imaging method. Functional magnetic resonance imaging, such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), had made some progress. The main criteria for evaluating the efficacy of GIST targeted therapy were RECIST 1.1 and Choi criteria.ConclusionCT and MRI play an important role in evaluating the efficacy of targeted therapy for GIST.
Neonatal broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic lung disease in premature infants, with a complex pathogenesis and limited treatment options, severely affecting health. In recent years, targeted autophagy and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) have received attention as potential therapeutic approaches. Autophagy is crucial in the development of BPD, as it can improve pathological processes such as alveolarization disorders, abnormal pulmonary vascular development, and inflammatory responses through targeted regulation, and enhance the pulmonary microenvironment. Meanwhile, MSC is considered to have promising applications in promoting lung development and repair due to immune regulatory properties and paracrine functions. This article reviews the mechanisms and synergistic effects of targeted autophagy and MSC therapy for BPD, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing clinical treatment strategies for BPD and improving the quality of life of premature infants.