Clinical utility of ramucirumab in advanced gastric cancer

Emerging Roles of Redox-Mediated Angiogenesis and Oxidative Stress in Dermatoses

Angiogenesis is the process of new vessel formation, which sprouts from preexisting vessels. This process is highly complex and primarily involves several key steps, including stimulation of endothelial cells by growth factors, degradation of the extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes, migration and proliferation of endothelial cells, and capillary tube formation. Currently, it is considered that multiple cytokines play a vital role in this process, which consist of proangiogenic factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factors, and angiopoietins) and antiangiogenic factors (e.g., endostatin, thrombospondin, and angiostatin). Angiogenesis is essential for most physiological events, such as body growth and development, tissue repair, and wound healing. However, uncontrolled neovascularization may contribute to angiogenic disorders. In physiological conditions, the above promoters and inhibitors function in a coordinated way to induce and sustain angiogenesis within a limited period of time. Conversely, the imbalance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors could cause pathological angiogenesis and trigger several diseases. With insights into the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis, increasing reports have shown that a close relationship exists between angiogenesis and oxidative stress (OS) in both physiological and pathological conditions. OS, an imbalance between prooxidant and antioxidant systems, is a cause and consequence of many vascular complains and serves as one of the biomarkers for these diseases. Furthermore, emerging evidence supports that OS and angiogenesis play vital roles in many dermatoses, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and skin tumor. This review summarizes recent findings on the role of OS as a trigger of angiogenesis in skin disorders, highlights newly identified mechanisms, and introduces the antiangiogenic and antioxidant therapeutic strategies.

Apatinib Promotes Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells through Downregulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α and Increased Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species

At present, apatinib is considered a new generation agent for the treatment of patients with gastric cancer. However, the effects of apatinib on pancreatic cancer have not been clarified. This study investigated the impact of apatinib on the biological function of pancreatic cancer cells and the potential mechanism involved in this process. Using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method, we confirmed that apatinib treatment inhibited cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, the migration rate of pancreatic cells was inhibited. The effects of apatinib on apoptosis and cell cycle distribution of pancreatic carcinoma cells were detected by flow cytometry. The number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased, and the cell cycle was altered. Furthermore, we demonstrated that apatinib inhibited the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor, and markers of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which increased the levels of reactive oxygen species in vitro. Apatinib significantly inhibited the biological function of pancreatic cancer cells. It promoted apoptosis, downregulated the expression of HIF-1α, and increased the levels of reactive oxygen species.

Apatinib has anti-tumor effects and induces autophagy in colon cancer cells

OBJECTIVES

Apatinib recently has been used to treat patients with gastric cancer, but the function of apatinib in colon cancer remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of apatinib on the biological function and its potential mechanism of colon cancer cells in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of apatinib in colon cancer cells were detected by assessing cell viability, migration and invasion capabilities. Apoptosis cells and the cell cycle distribution of colon cancer cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The potential mechanism was investigated via autophagy related proteins and pathways in vitro.

RESULTS

The proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells were inhibited when they were treated with different concentration of apatinib (20, 40 μM). When HCT116 and SW480 cells were treated with apatinib at the concentration of 20 μM, the apoptosis percentage were 3.7% and 5.8% respectively. As the drug concentration increased to 40μΜ, the the apoptosis percentage increased to 11.9% and 13.5%. Meanwhile, cell cycle was also altered. Furthermore, apatinib inhibited the expression of AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and increased the expression of LC3-II.

CONCLUSION

Apatinib can significantly inhibit the malignant phenotype of colon cancer cells, and it was involved in regulation of autophagy.

Clinical benefits of combined chemotherapy with S-1, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel in advanced gastric cancer patients with palliative surgery

Background and aim

Advanced gastric cancer accounts for a substantial portion of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Surgical intervention is the curative therapeutic approach, but patients with advanced gastric cancer are not eligible for the radical resection. The present work aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of palliative surgery combined with S-1, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Method

A total of 20 patients who underwent palliative resection of gastric cancer in China–Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from 2010 to 2011 were evaluated. Days 20–30 postoperative, these patients started to receive chemotherapy of S-1 (40 mg/m², oral intake twice a day) and intravenous infusion of oxaliplatin (135 mg/m²) and docetaxel (75 mg/m²). After three cycles of chemotherapy (21 days/cycle), patients were evaluated, and only those who responded toward the treatment continued to receive six to eight cycles of the treatment and were included in end point evaluation. Patients’ survival time and adverse reactions observed along the treatment were compared with those treated with FOLFOX.

Results

Out of 20 patients evaluated, there was one case of complete response, nine cases of partial response, six cases of stable disease, and four cases of progressive disease. The total efficacy (complete response + partial response) and clinical benefit rates were 50% and 80%, respectively. Of importance, the treatment achieved a significantly longer survival time compared to FOLFOX, despite the fact that both regimens shared common adverse reactions. The adverse reactions were gastrointestinal reaction, reduction in white blood cells, and peripheral neurotoxicity. All of them were mild, having no impact on the treatment.

Conclusion

Combination therapy of S-1, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel improves the survival of gastric cancer patients treated with palliative resection, with adverse reactions being tolerated. The clinical application of the chemotherapy warrants further investigation.