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Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Aiming at the shortcomings of artificial surgical path planning for the thermal ablation of liver tumors, such as the time-consuming and labor-consuming process, and...
OBJECTIVE
Aiming at the shortcomings of artificial surgical path planning for the thermal ablation of liver tumors, such as the time-consuming and labor-consuming process, and relying heavily on doctors' puncture experience, an automatic path-planning system for thermal ablation of liver tumors based on CT images is designed and implemented.
METHODS
The system mainly includes three modules: image segmentation and three-dimensional reconstruction, automatic surgical path planning, and image information management. Through organ segmentation and three- dimensional reconstruction based on CT images, the personalized abdominal spatial anatomical structure of patients is obtained, which is convenient for surgical path planning. The weighted summation method based on clinical constraints and the concept of Pareto optimality are used to solve the multi-objective optimization problem, screen the optimal needle entry path, and realize the automatic planning of the thermal ablation path. The image information database was established to store the information related to the surgical path.
RESULTS
In the discussion with clinicians, more than 78% of the paths generated by the planning system were considered to be effective, and the efficiency of system path planning is higher than doctors' planning efficiency.
CONCLUSION
After improvement, the system can be used for the planning of the thermal ablation path of a liver tumor and has certain clinical application value.
Topics: Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Ablation Techniques; Algorithms; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Liver
PubMed: 38894328
DOI: 10.3390/s24113537 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The emergence of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has significantly impacted the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer and its associated sequelae. While the... (Review)
Review
The emergence of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has significantly impacted the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer and its associated sequelae. While the definitive role of EUS for pancreatic cancer remains incompletely characterized by currently available guidelines, EUS undoubtedly offers high diagnostic accuracy, the precise staging of pancreatic neoplasms, and the ability to perform therapeutic and palliative interventions. However, current challenges to EUS include limited specialized expertise and variability in operator proficiency. As the technology and techniques continue to evolve and become more refined, EUS is poised to play an increasingly integral role in shaping pancreatic cancer care.
PubMed: 38893682
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14111156 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Oleoresin of Roxb. ex G. Don (DA) has been traditionally used for local medicinal applications. Several in vitro studies have indicated its pharmacological potential....
Oleoresin of Roxb. ex G. Don (DA) has been traditionally used for local medicinal applications. Several in vitro studies have indicated its pharmacological potential. However, the low water solubility hinders its use and development for pharmaceutical purposes. The study aimed to (1) formulate oil-in-water (/) Pickering emulsions of DA oleoresin and (2) demonstrate its activities in cancer cells. The Pickering emulsions were formulated using biocompatible carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal (cCNC) as an emulsifier. The optimized emulsion comprised 3% (F1) and 4% (/) (F2) of oleoresin in 1% cCNC and 0.1 M NaCl, which possessed homogeneity and physical stability compared with other formulations with uniform droplet size and low viscosity. The constituent analysis indicated the presence of the biomarker dipterocarpol in both F1 and F2. The pharmacological effects of the two emulsions were demonstrated in vitro against two cancer cell lines, HepG2 and HCT116. Both F1 and F2 suppressed cancer cell viability. The treated cells underwent apoptosis, as demonstrated by distinct nuclear morphological changes in DAPI-stained cells and Annexin V/PI-stained cells detected by flow cytometry. Our study highlights the prospect of Pickering emulsions for oleoresin, emphasizing enhanced stability and potential pharmacological advantages.
Topics: Humans; Hep G2 Cells; Cell Proliferation; Emulsions; HCT116 Cells; Apoptosis; Plant Extracts; Colonic Neoplasms; Cell Survival; Liver Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
PubMed: 38893569
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112695 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The existing kinase inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have conferred survival benefits but are hampered by adverse effects and drug resistance, necessitating...
The existing kinase inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have conferred survival benefits but are hampered by adverse effects and drug resistance, necessitating the development of novel agents targeting distinct pathways. To discover potent new anti-HCC compounds, we leveraged scaffold hopping from Sorafenib and introduced morpholine/piperidine moieties to develop ureido-substituted 4-phenylthiazole analogs with optimized physicochemical properties and binding interactions. Notably, compound exhibited potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells (IC = 0.62 ± 0.34 μM), significantly exceeding Sorafenib (IC = 1.62 ± 0.27 μM). Mechanistic investigations revealed that compound potently inhibited HCC cell migration and colony formation, and it induced G2/M arrest and early-stage apoptosis. Kinase profiling revealed IGF1R as a key target, which compound potently inhibited (76.84% at 10 μM). Molecular modeling substantiated compound 's strong binding to IGF1R via multiple hydrogen bonds. Computational predictions indicate favorable drug-like properties for compound . These findings provide a promising drug candidate for the treatment of HCC patients.
Topics: Humans; Receptor, IGF Type 1; Cell Proliferation; Hep G2 Cells; Thiazoles; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Liver Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Movement; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Docking Simulation; Receptors, Somatomedin; Molecular Structure; Cell Line, Tumor; Sorafenib; Models, Molecular
PubMed: 38893528
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112653 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results in the abnormal regulation of cellular metabolic pathways. Constraint-based modeling approaches can be utilized to dissect...
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) results in the abnormal regulation of cellular metabolic pathways. Constraint-based modeling approaches can be utilized to dissect metabolic reprogramming, enabling the identification of biomarkers and anticancer targets for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, two genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) were reconstructed by employing RNA sequencing expression patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their healthy counterparts. An anticancer target discovery (ACTD) framework was integrated with the two models to identify HCC targets for anticancer treatment. The ACTD framework encompassed four fuzzy objectives to assess both the suppression of cancer cell growth and the minimization of side effects during treatment. The composition of a nutrient may significantly affect target identification. Within the ACTD framework, ten distinct nutrient media were utilized to assess nutrient uptake for identifying potential anticancer enzymes. The findings revealed the successful identification of target enzymes within the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway using a cholesterol-free cell culture medium. Conversely, target enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway were not identified when the nutrient uptake included a cholesterol component. Moreover, the enzymes PGS1 and CRL1 were detected in all ten nutrient media. Additionally, the ACTD framework comprises dual-group representations of target combinations, pairing a single-target enzyme with an additional nutrient uptake reaction. Additionally, the enzymes PGS1 and CRL1 were identified across the ten-nutrient media. Furthermore, the ACTD framework encompasses two-group representations of target combinations involving the pairing of a single-target enzyme with an additional nutrient uptake reaction. Computational analysis unveiled that cell viability for all dual-target combinations exceeded that of their respective single-target enzymes. Consequently, integrating a target enzyme while adjusting an additional exchange reaction could efficiently mitigate cell proliferation rates and ATP production in the treated cancer cells. Nevertheless, most dual-target combinations led to lower side effects in contrast to their single-target counterparts. Additionally, differential expression of metabolites between cancer cells and their healthy counterparts were assessed via parsimonious flux variability analysis employing the GSMMs to pinpoint potential biomarkers. The variabilities of the fluxes and metabolite flow rates in cancer and healthy cells were classified into seven categories. Accordingly, two secretions and thirteen uptakes (including eight essential amino acids and two conditionally essential amino acids) were identified as potential biomarkers. The findings of this study indicated that cancer cells exhibit a higher uptake of amino acids compared with their healthy counterparts.
Topics: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Humans; Biomarkers, Tumor; Models, Biological; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 38893469
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112594 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Developing clinically meaningful nanomedicines for cancer therapy requires the drugs to be effective, safe, simple, cheap, and easy to store. In the present work, we...
Developing clinically meaningful nanomedicines for cancer therapy requires the drugs to be effective, safe, simple, cheap, and easy to store. In the present work, we report that a simple cationic Fe(III)-rich salt of [FeCl(TMPPH)][FeCl] () exhibits a superior anticancer performance on a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines, including breast, colorectal cancer, liver, pancreatic, prostate, and gastric cancers, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) values in the range of 0.098-3.97 μM (0.066-2.68 μg mL), comparable to the best-reported medicines. can form stand-alone nanoparticles in water without the need for extra surface modification or organic-solvent-assisted antisolvent precipitation. Critically, is TME-responsive (TME = tumor microenvironment), and can only elicit its function in the TME with overexpressed HO, converting HO to the cytotoxic •OH to oxidize the phospholipid of the cancer cell membrane, causing ferroptosis, a programmed cell death process of cancer cells.
Topics: Humans; Ferroptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Nanomedicine; Antineoplastic Agents; Nanoparticles; Ferric Compounds; Tumor Microenvironment; Hydrogen Peroxide; Cell Survival; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38893373
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112495 -
Cancers May 2024Despite recent advances, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) remain a challenging topic, due to their diversity and the lack of suitable biomarkers. Multianalyte assays and the...
Despite recent advances, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) remain a challenging topic, due to their diversity and the lack of suitable biomarkers. Multianalyte assays and the shift to an omics-based approach improve on the conventional single-analyte strategy, albeit with their own drawbacks. We explored the potential of serum β-hCG as a biomarker for NETs and discussed its role in disease monitoring. We recruited 40 patients with non-functioning pancreatic NETs, all with liver metastases. Serum β-hCG concentrations were measured at 3-month intervals over 48 months. We performed a comparative and a repeated measures analysis of β-hCG depending on WHO grade (G1, G2), liver tumor burden (LTB; below 10%, 10-25%), and RECIST 1.1. (stable disease, progressive disease). Patients with progressive disease ( < 0.001), 10-25% LTB ( < 0.001) and WHO Grade 2 ( < 0.001) displayed higher β-hCG concentrations. Throughout the study, β-hCG concentrations consistently increased across the entire cohort. Delta β-hCG during the study period was greater in patients with 10-25% LTB ( < 0.001), progressive disease ( < 0.001), and G2 ( = 0.003). Serum β-hCG correlates with established indicators of malignancy and disease progression in metastatic NETs, supporting further studies as a monitoring and prognostic biomarker. Despite promising results from novel biomarkers, there is still a place for single-analyte assays in NETs.
PubMed: 38893179
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112060 -
Cancers May 2024Among neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a non-negligible proportion (9-22%) is represented by sufferers of NENs of unknown primary origin (UPO), a poor prognostic group... (Review)
Review
Among neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a non-negligible proportion (9-22%) is represented by sufferers of NENs of unknown primary origin (UPO), a poor prognostic group with largely unmet clinical needs. In the absence of standard therapeutic algorithms, current guidelines suggest that the treatment of UPO-NENs should be based on tumor clinical-pathological characteristics, disease burden, and patient conditions. Chemotherapy represents the backbone for the treatment of high-grade poorly differentiated UPO-NENs, usually providing deep but short-lasting responses. Conversely, the spectrum of available systemic therapy options for well-differentiated UPO-NENs may range from somatostatin analogs in indolent low-grade tumors, to peptide receptor radioligand therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), or chemotherapy for more aggressive tumors or in case of high disease burden. In recent years, molecular profiling has provided deep insights into the molecular landscape of UPO-NENs, with both diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Although preliminary, interesting activity data have been provided about upfront chemoimmunotherapy, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and the combination of ICIs plus TKIs in this setting. Here, we review the literature from the last 30 years to examine the available evidence about the treatment of UPO-NENs, with a particular focus on future perspectives, including the expanding scenario of targeted agents in this setting.
PubMed: 38893145
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112025 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024: The survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) has improved gradually since the introduction of FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and gemcitabine + albumin-bound paclitaxel...
: The survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) has improved gradually since the introduction of FOLFIRINOX (FFX) and gemcitabine + albumin-bound paclitaxel (GnP) regimens. However, the trends and outcomes of initial palliative chemotherapy before and after the advent of these regimens and their contribution to survival rates are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate this in patients with PC in Korea using claims data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Patients diagnosed with PC who underwent initial palliative chemotherapy between 2007 and 2019 were identified from the NHIS database. Patient demographics, comorbidities, chemotherapy regimens, and survival rates were analyzed using follow-up data up to 2020. In total, 14,760 patients (mean age, 63.78 ± 10.18 years; men, 59.19%) were enrolled. As initial palliative chemotherapy, 3823 patients (25.90%) received gemcitabine alone; 2779 (18.83%) received gemcitabine + erlotinib; 1948 (13.20%) received FFX; and 1767 (11.97%) received GnP. The median survival values were 15.00 months for FFX; 11.04 months for GnP; 8.40 months for gemcitabine alone; and 8.51 months for gemcitabine + erlotinib. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for GnP vs. FFX was 1.291 (95% CI, 1.206-1.383) in the multivariate Cox regression analysis of mortality. Radiation therapy (aHR, 0.667; 95% CI, 0.612-0.728) and second-line chemotherapy (aHR, 0.639; 95% CI, 0.597-0.684) were significantly associated with improved survival. : Our study found that first-line chemotherapy with FFX was associated with significantly longer survival than the other regimens, although caution is needed in interpreting the results.
PubMed: 38892939
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113229 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024This study systematically reviewed the association between metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and the development of hepatic cancer.... (Review)
Review
This study systematically reviewed the association between metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and the development of hepatic cancer. Previous research has highlighted MASLD as a predisposing condition. To collect recent global data on the relationship between MASLD and hepatic cancer. A systematic review was conducted, which included an analysis of studies on the relationship between MASLD and the incidence of hepatic cancers, focusing on the role of fibrosis and MASLD severity as predictors of cancer risk. Following standard methodological frameworks for the assessment of longitudinal studies, the review gathered information on fibrosis scores, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence, and other types of hepatic neoplasms. A total of 522 studies were initially identified, of which 6 studies were appropriate for the review. They collectively revealed that the stage of fibrosis in MASLD is a significant independent predictor of mortality and liver-related events, with higher fibrosis stages correlating with greater risk. Longitudinal data showed that increases in FIB-4 scores were linked to a higher risk of developing HCC and cirrhosis. MASLD was also associated with an increased risk of non-hepatic cancers such as colorectal cancer in males and breast cancer in females. The severity of MASLD was found to be a modifiable risk factor for biliary tract cancer (BTC), with the risk further amplified by diabetes. Moreover, lifestyle factors and comorbidities, such as smoking and diabetes, were identified as modifiers of cancer risk in MASLD patients. The systematic review identified the association between MASLD and an elevated risk of hepatic cancer, establishing a clear link between the severity of liver fibrosis and the incidence of HCC and other hepatic neoplasms. This supports the need for screening for hepatic cancer in patients with MASLD, particularly in the presence of advanced fibrosis or other risk-modifying factors.
PubMed: 38892843
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113132