TACE-sorafenib side effects were acceptable, and this treatment may improve overall survival in patients with HCC with first-order or lower-branch PVTT when compared with patients who underwent TACE alone.

PurposeTo investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitor (TACE-L-P) versus TACE combined with lenvatinib (TACE-L) for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and MethodsData of advanced HCC patients treated with TACE-L-P (TACE-L-P group) or TACE-L (TACE-L group) from January 2019 to December 2020 were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. The differences in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), tumor responses (based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. Potential factors affecting OS and PFS were determined.ResultsA total of 81 patients were included in this study. Among them, 41 received TACE-L-P and 40 received TACE-L. The patients in TACE-L-P group had prolonged OS (median, 16.9 vs. 12.1 months, P=0.009), longer PFS (median, 7.3 vs. 4.0 months, P=0.002) and higher objective response rate (56.1% vs. 32.5%, P=0.033) and disease control rate (85.4% vs. 62.5%, P=0.019) than those in TACE-L group. Multivariate analyses revealed that the treatment option of TACE-L, main portal vein invasion and extrahepatic metastasis were the independent risk factors for OS, while TACE-L and extrahepatic metastasis were the independent risk factors for PFS. In subgroup analyses, a superior survival benefit was achieved with TACE-L-P in patients with extrahepatic metastasis or tumor number >3 but not in those with main portal vein invasion. The incidence and severity of AEs in TACE-L-P group were comparable to those in TACE-L group (any grade, 92.7% vs. 95.0%, P=1.000; grade 3, 36.6% vs. 32.5%, P=0.699).ConclusionTACE-L-P significantly improved survival over TACE-L with an acceptable safety profile in advanced HCC patients, especially those with extrahepatic metastasis or tumor number >3 but without main portal vein invasion.

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Liver fibrosis currently represents a global health problem without effective pharmacotherapeutic strategies. The clinical translation of polydatin, a promising natural anti‐fibrotic drug candidate with broad anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, remains a major challenge due to its limited water solubility and tissue absorption. Herein, a polydatin‐loaded micelle (PD‐MC) based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pH dual‐sensitive block polymer PEG‐P(PBEM‐co‐DPA) is developed. The micelle exerts great potential in improving the biocompatibility of polydatin and shows highly efficient liver‐targeted drug release in response to the fibrotic microenvironment. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that PD‐MC can significantly suppress inflammatory response and oxidative stress, reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, and avert activation of macrophages and hepatic stellate cells. More excitingly, the blank micelle itself promotes the hepatic ROS consumption at the pathologic site to provide anti‐inflammatory benefits. These favorable therapeutic virtues of targeting multiple cell types endow PD‐MC with remarkable efficacy with minimal side effects in liver fibrosis treatment. Thus, PD‐MC holds great potential to push forward the clinical application of polydatin in pharmacotherapeutic approaches against liver fibrosis.

The antihypertensive effect of an angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide Ile-Gln-Pro (IQP), whose sequence was derived from Spirulina platensis , was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) for 1 week. The weighted systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the peptide IQP-treated group were significantly lower than those of the negative control group from the third and fourth days, respectively. Accompanying the blood pressure reduction, a significant regulation of the expression of major components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was found in the treatment group, including downregulation of the mRNA levels of renin, ACE, and the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor in the kidney, as well as serum angiotensinogen (Ang), ACE, and angiotensin II (Ang II) concentrations. The treatment group also showed upregulation of mRNA expression of the angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor in the kidney. Our findings suggested that IQP might be of potential use in the treatment of hypertension.

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Currently, treatment of intracranial diseases still remains a great challenge because the blood–brain barrier (BBB) blocks access of most drugs to the central nervous system. Herein, a theranostic small molecular probe, iRGD‐ICG‐Lys‐DTPA@Gd (iRGD‐ILD), capable of crossing BBB is developed. Owing to the small molecular size and αvβ3 integrin receptor–mediated transcytosis, this tailor‐made molecular probe integrating the fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging functions effectively passes through BBB to target tumor cells even in the early stage of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), thereby allowing a bimodal imaging–guided therapy of GBM. The reactive oxygen species and heat generated by the ICG moiety under the 808 nm laser irradiation exert photodynamic/photothermal therapeutic effects, which results in significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged median survival of C6‐Luc glioma‐bearing mice. Notably, the integration of FDA‐approved clinically available agents, e.g., ICG, DTPA and Gd, into a molecular probe may ensure desirable biocompatibility and biosafety for in vivo applications. Overall, the results highlight the potential of a water‐soluble small molecule as a novel theranostic probe for highly effective GBM treatment.