Object: In recent times, many published papers reported the diagnostic performance of CT, MRI, positron emission tomography (PET) using 2-[¹⁸F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for detecting the lymph nodes (LNs) metastases in patients with cervical cancer. This study is aimed at assessing and comparing the diagnostic value of those non-invasive modalities in detecting the LNs metastases in cervical cancer patients. Methods: Studies on the non-invasive modalities for the detection of metastatic LNs were searched in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase databases. Pooled positive likelihood ratios and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic OR, area under curve (AUC), summary receiver operating characteristics were calculated as evaluation indices. Results: In region- or node-based analysis, the AUC of DWI-MRI (0.92) and PET or PET/CT (0.90) were better than CT (0.83), and the difference was significant (DWI-MRI vs. CT: Z = 4.61, p < 0.001; PET or PET/CT vs. CT: Z = 3.61, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Among the 4 non-invasive modalities, the PET or PET/CT has the highest specificity, and DWI-MRI has the highest sensitivity.

Histone modification is an important form of epigenetic regulation. Thereinto, histone methylation is a critical determination of chromatin states, participating in multiple cellular processes. As a conserved histone methylation mark, histone 3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) can mediate multiple transcriptional-related events, such as the regulation of transcriptional activity, transcription elongation, pre-mRNA alternative splicing, and RNA m6A methylation. Additionally, H3K36me3 also contributes to DNA damage repair. Given the crucial function of H3K36me3 in genome regulation, the roles of H3K36me3 and its sole methyltransferase SETD2 in pathogenesis, especially malignancies, have been emphasized in many studies, and it is conceivable that disruption of histone methylation regulatory network composed of “writer”, “eraser”, “reader”, and the mutation of H3K36me3 codes have the capacity of powerfully modulating cancer initiation and development. Here we review H3K36me3-mediated biological processes and summarize the latest findings regarding its role in cancers. We highlight the significance of epigenetic combination therapies in cancers.

Ras association domain family member 5 (RASSF5, also named NORE1) is an identified member of the RASSF gene family which could bind selectively to activate Ras and function as an antineoplastic effector in multiple cellular regulations. While highly expressed in majority of normal tissues, RASSF5 is epigenetically inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in numerous cancer cell lines and primary cancers, suggesting it as a potential tumor suppressor. Nevertheless, the physiologic significance of RASSF5 in tumorigenesis remains unclear. We performed a systematic literature review and assessment from PUBMED and MEDLINE databases in this article. RASSF5 is involved in a series of cellular responses including apoptosis, senescence, cell cycle regulation, differentiation and cell proliferation and the inactivation of RASSF5 has been implicated to participate in the oncogenesis, progression and poor prognosis of human cancers. In this review, we mainly elucidate the acknowledged structure, progress in the verified functions and research advances of RASSF5 and the probably relevant signaling pathways. Based on these evidences, potentiality of RASSF5 as a new therapeutic target for human cancers may play a significant role in future oncotherapy.

C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) participates in multiple oncogenic processes, but its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is unclear. Herein, we explored the mechanism by which CCL20 works in LUAD progression. We performed bioinformatical analyses based on the complete transcriptome sequencing data from 1544 LUAD cases in 4 independent cohorts to evaluate signaling pathways regulated by CCL20. We established A549 and H358 cell lines with CCL20 knockdown to explore how CCL20 promotes tumor progression in vitro and in vivo experiments. Using another independent cohort of 348 urothelial carcinoma patients treated with the anti-PD-L1 agent (atezolizumab), we explored the synergistic effect of CCL20 and TGF-β on immunotherapy efficacy. High CCL20 expression is a poor prognostic marker for LUAD patients, and is associated with enhanced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammatory response, and activated TNF pathway in LUAD. CCL20 knockdown restrained the EMT process and cell proliferation of LUAD cells in vitro and in vivo. Low CCL20 expression blocked the detrimental effects of high TGF-β on survival and effectively improved patients' response to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Collectively, we revealed the underlying mechanisms by which CCL20 promotes LUAD progression based on the largest sample size. The synergistic inhibitory effect of CCL20 and TGF-β on immune-checkpoint blockade therapy efficacy provides new views of immunotherapy resistance.

No abstract