Cancer Cell Research (Online ISSN: 2161-2609)

Cancer Cell Research 2020 7(26) 687-693; published online  28 May 2020

Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) is a vital anticancer target that shows closely correlated with angiogenesis, cell growth, metastasis, and apoptosis of cancer cells. Recently, VEGFR inhibitors have become outstanding therapeutic agents for the treatment of various solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, ovarian cancer, etc. However, it is drug resistance that restricts the long-term benefits of patients who have received the treatment of VEGFR inhibitors. Mechanism research revealed that c-Met overexpression is one of the important factors for the resistance of VEGFR inhibitors, which is manifested by the combination therapy of VEGFR and c-Met inhibition. Moreover, c-Met, the receptor of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), elicits many different signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival, showing correlation with aggressive tumor growth, poor prognosis in cancer patients. Thus, small molecules targeting both VEGFR/c-Met kinases are identified as effective approaches to treat solid tumors and overcome the drug resistance of VEGFR inhibitors. Herein, VEGFR/c-Met inhibitors under clinical evaluation were described for reviewing the research progress of this area.

Cancer Cell Research 2020 7(26) 694-698; published online  5 June 2020

Abstract: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon, and its incidence is rising worldwide. Patients with ulcerative colitis have mucosal inflammation starting in the rectum that can extend continuously to proximal segments of the colon. Ulcerative colitis usually presents with bloody diarrhoea and is diagnosed by colonoscopy and histological findings. San huang shu ai decoction (SH), take in《lei zheng huo ren shu》in Song Dynasty, composed of coptidis rhizoma(huang lian), scutellariae radix (huang qin), phellodendri chinensis cortex (huang bo), and artemisiae argyi folium (ai ye), is a traditional Chinese medicine formula and is widely used as a clinically medication formula for its efficiency in improving hot diarrhoea. But the underlying mechanisms by which it exerts therapeutic function have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, acute ulcerative colitis was induced by oral administration of 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate for 7 days in drinking water, SH (0.8, 1.6g/kg body weight respectively) decreased disease activity index and improved colon length at a certain degree, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MPO, and telomerase in colon of positive group (sulfasalazine) and SH (low and high doses) group decreased significantly (P<0.05). These results indicated that SH can hold protective effect on UC mice, which may be related to its inhibition of the expression of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in colon, and can be used as a pharmaceutical preparations for UC treatments.

Cancer Cell Research 2020 7(26) 699-703; published online  5 June 2020

Abstract: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the colon, and its incidence is rising worldwide. Patients with ulcerative colitis have mucosal inflammation starting in the rectum that can extend continuously to proximal segments of the colon. Ulcerative colitis usually presents with bloody diarrhoea and is diagnosed by colonoscopy and histological findings. Huanglian-huangqin herbal pair(LQ), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, composed of coptidis rhizoma(huang lian) and scutellariae radix(huang qin). Xie xin tang (symopsis of prescriptions of the Golden chamber, or jin gui yao lue) containing this herbal pair. LQ is widely used as a clinically medication formula for its efficiency in inflammatory diseases. But the underlying mechanisms by which it exerts therapeutic function of UC has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, acute ulcerative colitis was induced by oral administration of 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate for 7 days in drinking water, LQ (0.9g/kg body weight) decreased disease activity index and improved colon length at a certain degree, but compared with positive group(sulfasalazine) has no statistical significance. These results indicated that LQ can hold protective effect on UC mice, but can not be used as a pharmaceutical preparations for UC treatments pontentionally.

Cancer Cell Research 2020 7(26) 704-713; published online  15 June 2020

Abstract: To explore the main authors, institutions, countries, hotspots and frontiers in the research field of chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T). The relevant literature on chimeric antigen receptor T cells was retrieved from Web of Science (WOS). The visualization maps were generated by CiteSpace and VOSviewer. We identified a total of 1644 articles among which 1596 articles were published in English. We observed rapid growth in the number of articles after 2010. Mol Ther had the largest number of publications, while Blood was the most co-cited journal. The USA contributed most publications. The largest numbers of papers were written by June Ch. The research in the field of CAR-T mainly focuses on the basic theory and hematological system tumors. Conclusion: The USA contributes the most studies on chimeric antigen receptor T cells. After 2010, relevant studies increased rapidly. There were active cooperations between authors, countries, and institutions. Research hotspots and further research should focus on hematological tumors and solid tumors.