Abnormal DNA methylation plays a critical role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis and hypomethylating agents (HMAs) such as decitabine (5-aza-29-deoxycytidine) and azacitidine (5-azacytidine) are considered efficacious for treating AML. This study aimed to identify if HMAs have therapeutic advantages compared with conventional care regimens (CCR) or placebo in elderly AML patients.

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to November July 15, 2020. Randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy and adverse events associated with HMAs, CCR, or placebo were searched. RevMan 5.3 software was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Seven trials with a total of 1966 participants were included. Meta-analyses showed that the overall survival of HMAs was better than that of CCR [HR=0.76, 95% CI (0.69-0.85), (p<0.01)], and the complete remission rate of elderly AML patients was increased by HMAs compared with CCR [RR=1.46, 95%CI (1.08-1.99), p=0.01)]. HMA treatment showed higher incidence of neutropenia [RR=1.30 (95%CI 1.07-1.59, p=0.008)], thrombocytopenia [RR=1.14 (95%CI 1.01-1.59, p=0.04)], and pneumonia [RR=1.37 (95%CI 1.06-1.76, p=0.02)] compared with CCR.

Although HMAs cause a higher incidence of adverse events such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pneumonia, demethylation drugs are well-tolerated and effective for treating AML in the elderly.

Although HMAs cause a higher incidence of adverse events such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pneumonia, demethylation drugs are well-tolerated and effective for treating AML in the elderly.

In previous studies, PCAT1 has been proved to be a key carcinogenic driver in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the regulatory mechanism of PCAT1 remains poorly understood in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The expression of PCAT1, miR-508-3p and NFIB in DLBCL was detected by RT-qPCR assay. CCK-8 assay and transwell assay were used to measure cell proliferation, migration and invasion of DLBCL cells. Western blot assay was used to explore the protein expression of NFIB. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was applied to measure the correlation between PCAT1, miR-508-3p and NFIB.

PCAT1 was demonstrated to be upregulated in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. Besides, PCAT1 expression was associated with clinical stage and IPI score of DLBCL patients. Moreover, overexpression of PCAT1 promoted DLBCL cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Mechanistic investigation displayed that PCAT1 interplayed with miR-508-3p, while NFIB was a target gene of miR-508-3p. Further, miR-508-3p was in a downtrend while NFIB was increased in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. MiR-508-3p overexpression repressed DLBCL cell growth and metastasis, while PCAT1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-508-3p on the progression of DLBCL. Moreover, NFIB silencing suppressed DLBCL cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas PCAT1 vector or miR-508-3p knockdown destroyed the inhibitory of si-NFIB on the progression of DLBCL.

Taken together, our findings validated that PCAT1 acted as completive endogenous RNA by sponging miR-508-3p and upregulating NFIB to facilitate DLBCL cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Taken together, our findings validated that PCAT1 acted as completive endogenous RNA by sponging miR-508-3p and upregulating NFIB to facilitate DLBCL cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

This present study aimed to compare the treatment response, survival profile, quality of life (QoL), and safety between drug-eluting bead bronchial arterial chemoembolization (DEB-BACE) and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Totally, 44 advanced NSCLC patients were analyzed retrospectively and were divided into DEB-BACE group (n=23) and chemotherapy group (n=21). CHS828 Treatment response, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were assessed during the follow-up.

At month (M) 2, M4 and M6 post initial treatment, objective response rate (ORR) was elevated (all p <0.05), and disease control rate (DCR) tended to be higher (without statistical significance) in DEB-BACE group compared with chemotherapy group. Regarding the QLQ-C30 item scores, the scores of physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning were increased, while the scores of nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, constipation were decreased in DEB-BACE group compared with chemotherapy group (all p <0.05). Based on survival profile, DEB-BACE group achieved better PFS and OS compared with chemotherapy group independent of TNM stage, which was also supported by further subgroup analysis and Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis (all p <0.05). Furthermore, two groups all exhibited mild and tolerable adverse events.

DEB-BACE has the potential to be an additional treatment option with favorable therapeutic efficacy, improved QoL, and tolerable safety for advanced NSCLC patients.

DEB-BACE has the potential to be an additional treatment option with favorable therapeutic efficacy, improved QoL, and tolerable safety for advanced NSCLC patients.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are neuroendocrine tumors primarily found in the pancreas and upper small intestine. There are ten different pNETs nine of these are associated with a specific functional syndrome, while one is not associated with a specific hormonal syndrome, and it is called non-functional. Up to 90% of pNETs are classified as non-functional. Immunohistochemistry is essential to define the diagnosis. However, to have a correct and reliable diagnosis, the pathologist must have adequately collected and treated tissue samples, thus the surgeon himself should be aware of some fundamental notions about tissue collection and fixation. Although several common biomarkers have been described to date, Chromogranin A and synaptophysin are currently considered the most specific immunohistochemical markers for NETs. Nearly 100% of pNETs are positive for both synaptophysin and Chromogranin A. Therefore, CgA and synaptophysin are effective for well-differentiated NETs but are less helpful in the diagnosis of poorly differentiated NECs, due to dedifferentiation, and then, degranulation of tumor cells.