Jie Wei^*†1, Yuanliang Yan^*†1, Xi Chen^*†, Long Qian^*†, Shuangshuang Zeng^*†, Zhi Li^‡, Shuang Dai^*†, Zhicheng Gong^*†,Zhijie Xu^§

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.7, pp. 849-858, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15447833065047

Abstract Over the past decade, natural compounds have been proven to be effective against many human diseases, including cancers. Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has exhibited attractive cytotoxic activity on several cancer cells. An increasing number of studies have emphasized the antitumor effects of TPL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here we mainly focused on the key molecular signaling pathways that lead to the inhibitory effects of TPL on human NSCLC, such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) modulation, inhibition of NF- B activation, suppression of miRNA expression, etc. In addition, the effect… More >

Hongliang Yang^*1, Lei Yan^†1, Kai Sun^‡, Xiaodong Sun^†, Xudong Zhang,§ Kerui Cai^†, Tiejun Song^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 359-369, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15220594629967

Abstract This study aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA BCAR4 on the viability and aggressiveness of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of BCAR4 and GLI2 downstream genes in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification (CHIRP) and Western blot were employed to measure the expression of the GLI2 downstream proteins. Ki-67 expression in nude mice tumors was tested by immunohistochemistry. MTT assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were used to assess NSCLC cell viability and aggressiveness, respectively. Tumor xenograft was conducted to determine the effects of BCAR4 and… More >

Changyu Liu^*, Yongde Liao^*, Sheng Fan^*, Xiangning Fu^*, Jing Xiong^†, Sheng Zhou^†, Man Zou^‡, Jianmiao Wang^§

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 283-292, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15035795904677

Abstract G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) was found to promote non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by estrogen, indicating the potential necessity of inhibiting GPER by a selective antagonist. This study was performed to elucidate the function of GPER-selective inhibitor G15 in NSCLC development. Cytoplasmic GPER (cGPER) and nuclear GPER (nGPER) were detected by immunohistochemical analysis in NSCLC samples. The relation of GPER and estrogen receptor (ER ) expression and correlation between GPER, ER , and clinical factors were analyzed. The effects of activating GPER and function of G15 were analyzed in the proliferation of A549 and H1793 cell lines and development of… More >

Jing Tang^*1, Xu Yong Li^†1, Jing Bo Liang^‡, De Wu^§, Li Peng^¶, Xiaobing Li^¶

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.6, pp. 635-641, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15288447760357

Abstract Apatinib is an oral TKI with antiangiogenic properties, and it is currently approved for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer in China. This agent has also been tested in other human solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since the combination of chemotherapy and an antiangiogenic agent has been shown to be a feasible strategy in NSCLC, it is conceivable that a similar approach combining apatinib with chemotherapy may yield clinical activity. With this in mind, we investigated the efficiency of apatinib in combination with pemetrexed or docetaxel in advanced NSCLC. We treated a total of 20 patients with… More >

Jun Shan Ruan^*†, Huan Zhou^*, Lin Yang^‡, Ling Wang^*, Zong Sheng Jiang^§, Hong Sun^*, Shao Ming Wang^*†

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.5, pp. 593-600, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504017X15051723858706

Abstract Transforming growth factor- 1 (TGF- 1)-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may contribute to tumor metastasis. TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells (a human NSCLC cell line) resulted in the adoption of mesenchymal responses that were predominantly mediated via the TGF- 1–integrin signaling pathway. Ursolic acid has been previously reported to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis in several cancers. However, whether ursolic acid can attenuate TGF- 1-induced EMT in H1975 cells and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, ursolic acid significantly attenuated the TGF- 1-induced decrease in E-cadherin level and elevated the level of… More >

Liwei Jia^*, Dongying Lv^†, Shuang Zhang^*, Zhenyue Wang^*, Bo Zhou^*

Oncology Research, Vol.27, No.4, pp. 503-508, 2019, DOI:10.3727/096504018X15344989701565

Abstract Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is an active ingredient in Astragalus membranaceus and is involved in various biological processes, such as regulating the immune system, and counteracting inflammation and malignancy. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of AS-IV on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay and flow cytometry were performed to investigate cell survival and cell death, and Western blotting was performed to assess protein expression. We found that AS-IV inhibited the migration and proliferation of NSCLC cells and caused a noticeable increase in cell death. Furthermore, the expression of Bax, a marker… More >

Nahathai Dukaew^*†, Teruaki Konishi^‡§, Kongthawat Chairatvit^¶, Narongchai Autsavapromporn^#, Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon^**, Ariyaphong Wongnoppavich^†

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 161-175, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15736439848765

Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) is an important treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the major obstacles to successful RT include the low radiosensitivity of cancer cells and the restricted radiation dose, which is given without damaging normal tissues. Therefore, the sensitizer that increases RT efficacy without dose escalation will be beneficial for NSCLC treatment. Eurycomalactone (ECL), an active quassinoid isolated from Eurycoma longifolia Jack, has been demonstrated to possess anticancer activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of ECL on sensitizing NSCLC cells to X-radiation (X-ray) as well as the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that ECL… More >

ZiJun Liao^*†, Qi Zheng^†, Ting Wei^‡, YanBing Zhang^†, JieQun Ma^†, Zheng Zhao^§, HaiFeng Sun^§, KeJun Nan^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 147-159, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15732109856009

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. miR-561 has been reported to be downregulated in gastric cancer and affects cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. However, the role and underlying molecular mechanism of miR-561 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unknown and need to be further elucidated. In this study, we discovered that miR-561 expression was downregulated in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The overexpression of miR-561 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and cell cycle G1 /S transition and induced apoptosis. The inhibition of miR-561 facilitated cell proliferation and G1 /S transition and suppressed apoptosis. miR-561… More >

Jianping Xu, Xiaoyan Liu, Sheng Yang, Yuankai Shi

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 127-133, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15707896762251

Abstract Apatinib, an oral small molecular receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) developed first in China, exerts antiangiogenic and antineoplastic function through selectively binding and inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). In this study, we aimed to explore the efficacy and safety profile of apatinib monotherapy, or combined with chemotherapy or endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKI in heavily pretreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases. We performed a retrospective analysis for relapsed NSCLC patients with brain metastases from our institute, who received apatinib (250 mg or 500 mg p.o. qd) monotherapy, or combination with EGFR-TKI or chemotherapy… More >

Xiuhua Weng^*1, Shaohong Luo^*1, Shen Lin^*, Lixian Zhong^†, Meiyue Li^*, Rao Xin^*, Pinfang Huang^*, Xiongwei Xu^*

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 117-125, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15707883083132

Abstract To evaluate the cost–utility of pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy as the first-line setting for metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the US health care system perspective, a Markov model was developed to compare the lifetime cost and effectiveness of pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for untreated metastatic NSCLC, based on the clinical data derived from phase III randomized controlled trial (KEYNOTE- 042; ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02220894). Weibull distribution was fitted to simulate the parametric survival functions. Drug costs were collected from official websites, and utility values were obtained from published literature. Total costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were computed… More >