Jiong Qian

Detection of let-7a MicroRNA by Real-time PCR in Colorectal Cancer: a Single-centre Experience from China

Colorectal cancer, a heterogeneous disease arising from a complex series of molecular changes, is one of the worlds leading causes of cancer deaths. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), an extensive class of small non-coding RNAs, have been implicated in cancer development and progression. One of the first miRNAs to be identified was let-7 miRNA, which has recently been found to be expressed at reduced levels in human lung cancer cells. We used a rapid stem-loop reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method to quantify human let-7a miRNA expression in samples of human colorectal cancer. This method was able to detect let-7a miRNA in as little as 0.05 ng of total RNA from colorectal mucosa and its specificity was high (100%). Our results showed that the expression of let-7a miRNA was considerably reduced in two of eight patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study of Chinese patients to show reduced expression of endogenous let-7 miRNA in colorectal cancer.

Clostridium difficile carriage in hospitalized cancer patients: a prospective investigation in eastern China.

BackgroundClostridium difficile carriage has been considered as a potential source for the deadly infection, but its role in cancer patients is still unclear. We aimed to identify the clinical and immunological factors that are related to C. difficile carriage in Chinese cancer patients.MethodsA total of 400 stool samples were collected from cancer patients who received chemotherapy in three hospitals of eastern China. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted and two toxin genes (tcdA and tcdB) were detected. PCR ribotyping was performed using capillary gel electrophoresis. Concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.ResultsEighty-two (20.5%) samples were confirmed to be C. difficile-positive and positive for tpi, tcdA, and tcdB genes. The C. difficile-positive rates in patients with diarrhea and no diarrhea were 35% and 19.7%, respectively (p = 0.09). Patients who were younger than 50 years old and were hospitalized for at least 10 days had a C. difficile-positive rate as high as 35%. In contrast, patients who were older than 50 years old and were hospitalized for less than 10 days had a C. difficile-positive rate of only 12.7% (p = 0.0009). No association was found between C. difficile carriage and chemotherapy regimen, antibiotic drug use, or immunosuppressive mediators, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), or interleukin-10 (IL-10). Twelve ribotypes of C. difficile were identified, but none of them belonged to ribotype 027.ConclusionsWe conclude that younger patients and those with longer hospitalization stays may be more prone to C. difficile carriage. Studies of larger populations are warranted to clarify the exact role of C. difficile carriage in hospitalized cancer patients in China.

A study of weekly docetaxel and carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND Weekly docetaxel demonstrated similar efficacy but better tolerability than standard triweekly docetaxel, and carboplatin was less nephrotoxic, neurotoxic and emetogenic than cisplatin. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly docetaxel with carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Forty-three Chinese patients have been included. Patients were administered docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, 15 and carboplatin at an area under the curve (AUC) 5 on day 1 every 28-day cycle (maximum six cycles). RESULTS Of the 43 eligible patients, the assessed overall response rate (RR) was 30.2% with 30.2% partial response (PR) in 13 patients, 48.8% stable disease (SD) in 21 patients and 20.9% progressive disease (PD) in 9 patients. The estimated median progression free survival and median overall survival (OS) time were respectively, 120 days (95% CI: 80-160 days) and 340 days (95% CI: 224-456 days) with the patients surviving of 46.5% (95% CI: 31.6-61.4%) at one year and 20.0% (95% CI: 7.1-33.3%) at two years. The major grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were included leucocytopenia in 6 patients (13.9%) and neutropenia in 8 patients (18.6%). One patient (2.3%) suffered grade 1 febrile neutropenia. All grade of the nonhematological toxicities, such as nausea, vomiting, alopecia and fatigue held the proportion of 48.8% (grade 3/4 4.6%), 27.9%, 55.8% and 53.5% (grade 3/4 9.3%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The combination of weekly docetaxel and carboplatin showed feasible efficacy with acceptable hematologic toxicities for advanced lung cancer.

Phase II trial of gefitinib in Chinese female patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

e18066 Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in women is a unique entity worthy of in-depth study. Here we performed a phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib on pretreated Chinese female non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. And further we tried to elucidate the correlation of EGFR mutations with the tumor response and the survival. METHODS Chinese female patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who failed at least one platinum-based chemotherapy received gefitinib monotherapy (250mg/d) between April 2002 and January 2010. Tumor evaluation by RECIST criteria was scheduled every 8 weeks. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was calculated and a Cox regression model was used to identify factors that potentially affect survival and overall response rate (ORR). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations were investigated on diagnostic biopsy tissue by direct gene sequencing of exons 18 to 21 of chromosome 7 and correlated with ORR, PFS and OS. RESULTS Of the 40 evaluable female patients, the ORR was 62.5%. All patients have responded with one (2.5%) complete response, 24(60%) partial response, 12 (30%) stable disease, and 3 (7.5%) progressive disease. The OS and PFS were 20 months (95% CI: 11.9-28 months) and 13 months (95% CI: 8.0-17.9 months), respectively. Survival (OS and PFS) were longer in patients with good performance status and in patients older than 65 years (P<0.05). The most frequently observed toxicities were rash/dry skin (80%), diarrhea (42.5%) and vomiting/anorexia (32.5%). Four patients developed grade 3 toxicities (rash and diarrhea) but did not require either dose reduction or discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Gefitinib is a highly effective and well-tolerated agent for Chinese women with pretreated advanced NSCLC. Biomarker evaluation of EGFR mutation analysis is ongoing.