Flow cytometric analysis of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells in pediatric solid tumors: prognostic impact on treatment response and survival

Evaluating the prognostic value of tumor-derived circulating endothelial cells and their progenitors in platinum-refractory oral cancer patients for response to triple metronomic therapy

OBJECTIVES

Metronomic therapy is one of the modalities used to treat OSCC. The present study is the first comprehensive analysis evaluating the potential of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and their progenitors (CEPs) as prognostic biomarkers in OfSCC patients receiving metronomic therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

91 patients were included in the study group. ORR was 42.9 %, while the median OS and PFS were 6.67 months and 4.3 months, respectively. The counts of CECs and CEPs were enumerated by flow cytometry at baseline and follow-up (8, 30, 60, and 90 days after metronomic therapy).

RESULTS

We correlated the baseline and reduction of CECs after treatment with clinical response, PFS, and OS. Patients with high CEP levels at day 60 showed longer PFS, while patients with low CEC levels at day 30 had better PFS and OS. Change in CEC levels after 8 and 30 days was also correlated with PFS and OS, respectively. The change in CECs 8 days after metronomic therapy as a prognostic biomarker was further validated by multivariate Cox regression. A decline in CECs after 8 days had a favourable impact on OS, while none of the CEP measurements at any time point were statistically associated with OS or PFS.

CONCLUSION

The reduction of CECs after treatment might serve as a prognostic biomarker, whereas the baseline CEC counts as a predictive or prognostic factor in patients treated with metronomic therapy. The correlation between clinical response and survival further supports the biological relevance of these CECs and CEPs as prognostic biomarkers.

Cancer Stem Cells and Somatic Stem Cells as Potential New Drug Targets, Prognosis Markers, and Therapy Efficacy Predictors in Breast Cancer Treatment

New drug targets, markers of disease prognosis, and more efficient treatment options are an unmet clinical need in breast cancer (BC). We have conducted a pilot study including patients with luminal B stage breast cancer IIA–IIIB. The presence and frequency of various populations of cancer stem cells (CSC) and somatic stem cells were assessed in the blood, breast tumor tissue, and normal breast tissue. Our results suggest that patients with BC can be divided into two distinct groups based on the frequency of aldehyde dehydrogenase positive cells (ALDH1⁺ cells) in the blood (ALDH1^hi and ALDH1^low). In the ALDH1^hi cells group, the tumor is dominated by epithelial tumor cells CD44⁺CD24^low, CD326⁺CD44⁺CD24⁻, and CD326⁻CD49f⁺, while in the ALDH1^low cells group, CSCs of mesenchymal origin and epithelial tumor cells (CD227⁺CD44⁺CD24⁻ and CD44⁺CD24⁻CD49f⁺) are predominant. In vitro CSCs of the ALDH1^low cells group expressing CD326 showed high resistance to cytostatics, CD227⁺ CSCs of the ALDH1^hi cells group are sensitive to cytostatics. Epithelial precursors of a healthy mammary gland were revealed in normal breast tissue of patients with BC from both groups. The cells were associated with a positive effect of chemotherapy and remission in BC patients. Thus, dynamic control of their presence in blood and assessment of the sensitivity of CSCs to cytostatics in vitro can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in BC.

Correlation Between Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Long-Term Occurrence of HCV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Treatment with Direct-Acting Antivirals

We aimed to evaluate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and long-term occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and the HCC stage. Two groups with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and HCC were included: group 1, HCC following DAAs; group 2, HCC did not receive DAAs. The serum level of VEGF and HCC staging was evaluated. The duration between DAAs and HCC was 21.81 ± 11.66 months. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) was observed more in group 1 (31%). VEGF was relatively elevated in group 1 compared to group 2. HCC patients after DAAs, showed elevated VEGF with frequent PVT.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells-derived microRNA-203-containing extracellular vesicles alleviate non-small-cell lung cancer progression through modulating the DTL/p21 axis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, and is characterized by extensive metastasis and poor prognosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial cells carrying microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have diagnostic and therapeutic potential for NSCLC. We herein investigate the potential of EVs derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to transfer miR-203 to affect the progression of NSCLC. miR-203 and p21 were poorly expressed while DTL was highly expressed both in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. We employed CCK-8 proliferation, colony formation, and Transwell migration and invasion assays to evaluate the effects of miR-203 on NSCLC cell behaviors using loss- and gain-function approaches. EVs were isolated from HUVECs and then co-cultured with the A549 cells transfected with mimic-NC or miR-203 inhibitor. miR-203 targeted DTL and downregulated its expression, subsequently leading to increased stability of p21 which is a tumor suppressor. EV-enriched miR-203 from HUVECs suppressed malignant phenotypes of NSCLC cells and delayed tumor growth. In conclusion, miR-203 from HUVEC-derived EVs exerts inhibitory effects on the progression of NSCLC by targeting DTL and promoting p21 protein stability.