Comment on “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis”

The present letter to the editor is in response to the research “Outcomes of curative liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis” by Elshaarawy et al in World J Gastroenterol 2021; 13(5): 424–439. The preoperative assessment of the liver reserve function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis is crucial, and there is no universal consensus on how to assess it. Based on a retrospective study, Elshaarawy et al investigated the impact of various classical clinical indicators on liver failure and the prognosis after hepatectomy in HCC patients with cirrhosis. We recommend that we should strive to explore new appraisal indicators, such as the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min.     

Diffusion MRI changes in the anterior subventricular zone following chemoradiation in glioblastoma with posterior ventricular involvement

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - There is growing evidence that the subventricular zone (SVZ) plays a key role in glioblastoma (GBM) tumorigenesis. However, little is known regarding how the SVZ, which...     

Involvement of ER stress and reactive oxygen species generation in anti-cancer effect of CKD-516 for lung cancer

CKD-516 (Valecobulin), a vascular-disrupting agent, inhibits microtubule elongation. We evaluated the effect of CKD-516 on lung cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The effects of S516, an active metabolite of CKD-516, were evaluated in HUVECs and three lung cancer cell lines and by a microtubule polymerization assay. Tubulin cross-linking was used to identify the binding site of S516 on tubulin, and Western blotting was performed to identify the intracellular pathways leading to cell death. Subcutaneous lung cancer xenograft models were used to assess the in vivo effect of CKD-516 on tumor growth. S516 targeted the colchicine binding site on β-tubulin. In lung cancer cells, S516 increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by mitochondria and the ER. In addition, CKD-516 monotherapy strongly inhibited the growth of lung cancer xenograft tumors and exerted a synergistic effect with carboplatin. The findings suggest that CKD-516 exerts an anticancer effect in company with inducing ER stress and ROS production via microtubule disruption in lung cancer cells. CKD-516 may thus have therapeutic potential for lung cancer.     

Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentration and Nutritional Status of Malignant Tumor Patients

Background: The level of the systemic inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is elevated in many patients with malignant disease and may be related to nutritional status.

Objective: To analyze the association between serum CRP levels in patients with malignant tumors and their nutritional status.

Method: A total of 3,692 cases were analyzed and the serum CRP levels were determined using an immunometric assay. Nutritional status was assessed by using patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). The biochemical evaluation of prealbumin (PA), albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglycerides (TG) were assayed within 48?h admission to the hospital. The association between serum CRP concentration and the nutritional status, the stage of the tumor and other factors was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Result: Elevated serum CRP was observed in 47.6% (1,548/3,269) of patients compared with the reference value, and the median CRP concentration was 18.29?mg/l. Patient serum CRP concentrations in the malnourished group (PG-SGA B?+?C) were higher than in the well-nourished (PG-SGA A) patients (P?<?0.05). The serum CRP level was related to the patients' age, gender, tumor stage, and was affected by hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, but it has no effect on hypertension. The CRP high patients had lower PA and ALB levels, lower Karnofsky performance status scores, and higher PG-SGA scores (P?<?0.05), and there was no relationship with CHOL and TG levels. Weight loss in the previous 1?mo was seen with CRP positive patients (P?<?0.05).

Conclusion: Almost 50% of malignant tumor patients had elevated serum CRP levels indicating a systemic inflammatory state. The nutritional status was worse in cancer patients with higher concentrations of serum CRP. The level of CRP was associated with the tumor stage, and, as stage is a prognostic factor, so can CRP be used as a prognostic maker in malignant tumors patients.     

Targeting an RNA-Binding Protein Network in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

1. Download high-res image (232KB)
2. Download full-size image