Ligand-targeted PCR technique was feasible and reliable for detecting folate receptor-positive CTCs in patients with NSCLC, and CTC levels could be used as a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of NSCLC.

No abstract

Gefiinib and erlotinib are two similar small molecules of selective and reversible epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), which have been approved for second-line or third-line indication in previously treated advanced Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The results of comparing the EGFR-TKI with standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy as the first-line treatment in advanced NSCLC patients with activated EGFR mutation were still controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to derive a more precise estimation of these regimens. Finally, six eligible trials involved 1,021 patients were identified. The patients receiving EGFR-TKI as front-line therapy had a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than patients treated with chemotherapy [median PFS was 9.5 versus 5.9 months; hazard ratio (HR) 5 0.37; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 5 0.27-0.52; p < 0.001]. The overall response rate (ORR) of EGFR-TKI was 66.60%, whereas the ORR of chemotherapy regimen was 30.62%, which was also a statistically significant favor for EGFR-TKI [relative risk (RR) 5 5.68; 95% CI 5 3.17-10.18; p < 0.001]. The overall survival (OS) was numerically longer in the patients received EGFR-TKI than patients treated by chemotherapy, although the difference did not reach a statistical significance (median OS was 30.5 vs. 23.6 months; HR 5 0.94; 95% CI 5 0.77-1.15; p 5 0.57). Comparing with first-line chemotherapy, treatment of EGFR-TKI achieved a statistical significantly longer PFS, higher ORR and numerically longer OS in the advanced NSCLC patients harboring activated EGFR mutations, thus, it should be the first choice in the previously untreated NSCLC patients with activated EGFR mutation.Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with nearly 1.4 million deaths each year. Of the 1.6 million new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year, approximately 222,520 individuals (116,750 men and 105,770 women) will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 157,300 individuals (86,220 men and 71,080 women) will die from lung cancer in the USA by the end of 2010.

No abstract

Stretchable electronic and optoelectronic devices based on controllable ordered buckling structures exhibit superior mechanical stability by retaining their buckling profile without distortion in repeated stretch-release cycles. However, a simple and universal technology to introduce ordered buckling structures into stretchable devices remains a real challenge. Here, a simple and general stencil-pattern transferring technology was applied to stretchable organic light-emitting devices (SOLEDs) and polymer solar cells (SPSCs) to realize an ordered buckling profile. To the best of our knowledge, both the SOLEDs and SPSCs with periodic buckles exhibited the highest mechanical robustness by operating with small performance variations after 20,000 and 12,000 stretch-release cycles between 0% and 20% tensile strain, respectively. Notably, in this work, periodic-buckled structures were introduced into SPSCs for the first time, with the number of stretch-release cycles for the SPSCs improved by two orders of magnitude compared to that for previously reported random-buckled stretchable organic solar cells. The simple method used in this work provides a universal solution for low-cost and high-performance stretchable electronic and optoelectronic devices and promotes the commercial development of stretchable devices in wearable electronics.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has profound impacts on cancer progression and also on drug resistance, including epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Nowadays, there is still no predictive biomarker identified for the use of EGFR-TKIs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with wild-type EGFR. To clarify the role of EMT phenotype as a predictive marker for EGFR-TKI, we performed a retrospective study in 202 stage IV or recurrent NSCLC patients receiving gefitinib or erlotinib therapy from June 2008 to September 2012 in our institute. Clinical data and EGFR mutational status were collected, while epithelial, epithelial to mesenchymal, not specified or mesenchymal phenotype were classified according to EMT markers such as E-cadherin, fibronectin, N-cadherin and vimentin by immunohistochemistry. Epithelial phenotype was more frequently found in patients with EGFR mutation (p 5 0.044). Epithelial phenotype was associated with a significantly higher objective response rate (23.5 vs. 11.1 vs. 0.0 vs. 2.4%, p 5 0.011), longer progression-free survival (4.4 vs. 1.9 vs. 1.7 vs. 1.0 months, p < 0.001) and longer overall survival (11.5 vs. 8.9 vs. 4.5 vs. 4.9 months, p < 0.001) compared to epithelial to mesenchymal, not specified and mesenchymal phenotype in the wild-type EGFR subgroup. In the subgroup with EGFR mutation, the trend remained but without a statistically significant difference. In conclusion, epithelial phenotype was more likely expressed in patients with EGFR mutation and was associated with a better outcome in advanced NSCLC patients with wild-type EGFR, which indicates that the EMT phenotype might be a potential marker to guide EGFR-TKI therapy in this population.Tailored therapy based on biomarker analysis has entered reality of lung cancer treatment. Patients with EGFR-activated mutation or ALK/ROS1 fusion gain significant benefit from targeted therapy with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) or ALK inhibitors. However, only a minority of patients express these markers, with EGFR

The singlet–triplet inter-conversion in CT fluorescent materials is a dynamic process, and the deactivation rates of singlet and triplet determine the direction of the conversion.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the regulation of gene expression in different physiological and pathological processes. These macromolecules can act as microRNA (miRNA) sponges and play an important role as gene regulators throughout the circRNA‐miRNA pathway. In this study, we established a radioresistance model with the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE‐2, and then analyzed the differences in the circRNAs between radioresistant and normal nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines using a high‐throughput microarray. Tested circRNAs included 1042 upregulated and 1558 downregulated circRNAs. Relevant signaling pathways associated with the circRNAs and their target miRNAs were analyzed using bioinformatics analysis to determine the radioresistance of the differentially expressed circRNAs. Curcumin was used to treat irradiated cell lines, and changes in the circRNA before and after curcumin treatment were analyzed to investigate the radiosensitization effects of curcumin. The results showed that curcumin could regulate the circRNA‐miRNA‐messenger RNA network and inhibit the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), and growth factor receptor‐bound protein 2 (GRB2) to achieve radiosensitization. Thus, circRNA acted as a miRNA sponge and regulated the expression of miRNA, thereby affecting EGFR, STAT3, and GRB2 expression and radiosensitization.