Genetic Variants in the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR Pathway Predict Platinum-based Chemotherapy Response of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancers in a Chinese Population

Xu, Jia-Li,Wang, Zhen-Wu,Hu, Ling-Min,Yin, Zhi-Qiang,Huang, Ming-De,Hu, Zhi-Bin,Shen, Hong-Bing,Shu, Yong-Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: The PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated in resistance to cisplatin. In the current study, we determined whether common genetic variations in this pathway are associated with platinum-based chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Seven common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in core genes of this pathway were genotyped in 199 patients and analyzed for associations with chemotherapy response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between AKT1 rs2494752 and response to treatment. Patients carrying heterozygous AG had an increased risk of disease progression after two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy compared to those with AA genotype (Adjusted odds ratio (OR)=2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-4.77, which remained significant in the stratified analyses). However, log-rank test and cox regression detected no association between these polymorphisms in the PI3K pathway genes and survival in advanced NSCLC patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that genetic variants in the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway may predict platinum-based chemotherapy response in advanced NSCLC patients in a Chinese population.

Recent developments in the field of dehydration of bio-renewable glycerol to acrolein over molecular sieve catalysts

Tianlin Ma,Manyun Yin,Chunyang Su,Ningfei Guo,Xiangxiang Huang,Zhen Han,Yujie Wang,Gangling Chen,Zhi Yun 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.117 No.-

The surplus production of glycerol as a byproduct of biodiesel has become an urgent problem for the sustainabilityof the biodiesel industry. The catalytic transformation of glycerol to value-added chemicalshas attracted the attention of researchers worldwide over the last decade. Among them, selective dehydrationof glycerol to acrolein has gained interest from both academic researchers and industrial applications. Molecular sieves have been considered as the most promising catalysts for industrialapplications of glycerol dehydration. However, there is no systematic summary for the research carriedout for this reaction over molecular sieve catalysts. This work provides a comprehensive and criticalreview of glycerol dehydration to acrolein over molecular sieve catalysts, including ZSM-5, ZSM-11,MCM-22, MCM-41, SBA-15, SAPO-34, HY and Hb. The key technical problems that restrict its industrialapplication are the easy coking and poor stability of the molecular sieves. In particular, the pore size, porestructure, acid amount, acid strength, acid type and reaction conditions that influence the dehydrationperformance are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism, reaction kinetics, reactionthermodynamics and future research directions for catalyst design and engineering are also presented. This review will deepen our understanding of the catalytic dehydration of glycerol to acrolein and provideguidance for researchers on the rational design of molecular sieve catalysts.

Self‐assembly of covalent porphyrin compound and its enhanced electrochemiluminescence performance

Wen-Kai Zhu,Wen-Rong Cai,Zhen-Zhi Yin,Ming-Jie Cheng,Kong Yong 대한화학회 2022 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.43 No.12

A novel Zn-coordination covalent porphyrin assembly (TCPP-BZA-Zn) is designed. The assembly structure is synthesized through the amidation reac- tion between the porphyrin terminal carboxyl group and the amino group of benzylamine (BZA), and further assembled through π–π stacking. In particular, the inherently ordered structure of TCPP-BZA-Zn with Zn as the catalytic active center endows the porphyrin assembly structure with several obvious advantages, such as high ion transport properties and high electrocatalytic per- formance. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide as a co-reaction reagent, TCPP-BZA-Zn/GCE showed excellent ECL behavior. The amplification phenome- non of ECL was further studied by cyclic voltammetry and the corresponding mechanism was proposed. Based on TCPP-BZA-Zn, an electrochemilumines- cence sensor was constructed for copper ion detection. The ECL intensity of the sensor shows a good linear relationship with the concentration of copper ion in the range of 10 nM–1 mM, and the detection limit is 1.3 nM.

Determinants of Willingness to Undergo Lung Cancer Screening among High-Risk Current and Ex-smokers in Sabah, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Nyanti Larry Ellee,Chua Chia Zhen,Loo Han Chuan,Khor Cheng Zhi,Toh Emilia Sheau Yuin,Gill Rasvinder Singh,Chan Eng Tat,Tan Ker Yin,Rosli Taufiq,Rahim Muhammad Aklil Abd,Ibrahim Arfian,Huan Nai Chien,R 대한결핵및호흡기학회 2023 Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Vol.86 No.4

Background: Attitudes towards smoking, lung cancer screening, and perceived risk of lung cancer have not been widely studied in Malaysia. The primary objective of this study was to describe the factors affecting the willingness of high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers to undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in current smokers or ex-smokers aged between 55 and 80 years at three hospitals in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The questionnaire recorded the following parameters: perceived lung cancer risk; Prostate Lung Colon Ovarian Cancer 2012 risk prediction model excluding race and ethnicity predictor (PLCOm2012norace); demographic characteristics; psychosocial characteristics; and attitudes towards lung cancer and lung cancer screening.Results: A vast majority of the 95 respondents (94.7%) indicated their willingness to undergo screening. Stigma of lung cancer, low levels of knowledge about lung cancer symptoms, concerns about financial constraints, and a preference for traditional medication were still prevalent among the respondents, and they may represent potential barriers to lung cancer screening uptake. A desire to have an early diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 11.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 84.05; p=0.02), perceived time constraints (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.32 to 11.73; p=0.01), and proximity of LDCT screening facilities (OR, 14.33; 95% CI, 1.84 to 111.4; p=0.01) had significantly higher odds of willingness to undergo screening.Conclusion: Although high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers are likely to undergo screening for lung cancer, several psychosocial barriers persist. The results of this study may guide the policymakers and clinicians regarding the need to improve lung cancer awareness in our population.

Tumor-Derived Transforming Growth Factor-β is Critical for Tumor Progression and Evasion from Immune Surveillance

Li, Zheng,Zhang, Li-Juan,Zhang, Hong-Ru,Tian, Gao-Fei,Tian, Jun,Mao, Xiao-Li,Jia, Zheng-Hu,Meng, Zi-Yu,Zhao, Li-Qing,Yin, Zhi-Nan,Wu, Zhen-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Tumors have evolved numerous mechanisms by which they can escape from immune surveillance. One of these is to produce immunosuppressive cytokines. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$(TGF-${\beta}$) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a crucial function in mediating immune suppression, especially in the tumor microenvironment. TGF-${\beta}$ produced by T cells has been demonstrated as an important factor for suppressing antitumor immune responses, but the role of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ in this process is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ using shRNA resulted in dramatically reduced tumor size, slowing tumor formation, prolonging survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and inhibiting metastasis. We revealed possible underlying mechanisms as reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ Treg cells, and consequently enhanced IFN-${\gamma}$ production by CTLs. Knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ also significantly reduced the conversion of na$\ddot{i}$ve $CD4^+$ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Finally, we found that knockdown of TGF-${\beta}$ suppressed cell migration, but did not change the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. In summary, our study provided evidence that tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ is a critical factor for tumor progression and evasion of immune surveillance, and blocking tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for cancer.