Altered mean platelet volume (MPV) is implicated in several malignancies. However, the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of MPV in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still elusive. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the predictive significance of MPV in CRC. The retrospective study recruited 509 consecutive CRC patients between January 2009 and December 2009. The relationships between MPV and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to evaluate the prognostic impact of MPV. Of the 509 CRC patients, high MPV levels were detected in 150 (29.5%) patients. Elevated MPV was associated with tumor differentiation (p < 0.001). Patients with increased MPV had poor overall survival compared with those with normal level (60.0% vs. 83.6%, log-rank test, p = 0.035). Cox regression analysis showed that MPV was an independent prognostic factor in CRC (HR = 1.452, 95% CI = 1.118–1.884, p = 0.005). In conclusion, MPV is easily available in routine blood test. Elevated MPV might act as a marker of prognosis and therapeutic target for CRC.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Serum biomarkers such as cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can be used as diagnostic and prognostic factors and can also provide valuable information during follow-up. However, serum protein biomarkers show limited diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in stand-alone assays because their levels reflect tumor burden. To validate whether biomarkers in nipple discharge may serve as novel biomarkers for breast cancer, we composed a panel of potential cancer biomarkers, including CA15-3, CA125, CEA, and malignant tumor-specific growth factor (TSGF), and evaluated their expression in both serum and nipple discharge in order to explore the expression and significance of estrogen receptor (ER), progestrone receptor (PR), epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2/neu), CA15-3, CA125, CEA, and TSGF expression for their combined predictive value for breast cancer and in judging the prognosis of breast cancer. Univariate analysis revealed that combined detection of CA15-3, CA125, CEA, and TSGF in nipple discharge served as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer, but in the multivariate analyses the adverse effects of the four biomarkers combination in nipple discharge positivity on overall survival were lost. Multivariate analysis revealed that the positivity of the combined detection of the four biomarkers in both nipple discharge and serum was significantly higher than that of other detection methods. Thus, the combined detection of these four biomarkers both in serum and nipple discharge was retained as an independent prognostic variable in breast cancer patients. Our results indicate that CA15-3, CA125, CEA, and TSGF in nipple discharge can serve as novel biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer.

Bone defects remains a challenge for surgeons. Bone graft scaffold can fill the defect and enhance the bone regeneration. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is an allogeneic bone graft substitute, which can only be used as a filling material rather than a structural bone graft. Coating of the scaffolds with nanoscale DBM may enhance the osteoinductivity or osteoconductivity. Herein the lyophilization method is presented to coat the nano‐DBM on surface of the porous polycaprolactone (PCL)/β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing technology. The morphology, elastic modulus, in vitro cell biocompatibility, and in vivo performance are investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows DBM particle clusters with size of 200–500 nm are observed on scaffolds fibers after coating. MC3T3‐E1 cells on nano‐DBM coated PCL/β‐TCP scaffold show better activity than on PCL/β‐TCP scaffold. In vivo tests show better infiltration of new bone tissue in nano‐DBM coated PCL/β‐TCP scaffold than PCL/β‐TCP scaffold via the interface. These results show the presence of nano‐DBM coating on PCL/β‐TCP scaffold could enhance the attachment, proliferation, and viability of cells and benefit for the new bone formation surrounding and deep inside the scaffolds. Nano‐DBM could potentially be used as a new kind of biomaterial for bone defect treatment.

Adjuvant chemotherapy does not delay or prevent return to work in women treated for early-stage breast cancer.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into numerous different cell types and thus have therapeutic potential for tissue engineering, anti‑inflammatory and immunomodulatory purposes. FGF2 may affect the biological behavior of MSCs. MSCs were transduced with either adenovirus‑null vector/green fluorescent protein (GFP) or a vector encoding for the overexpression of FGF2/GFP. The expression of FGF2 was demonstrated to be significantly higher in MSC (FGF2) compared with MSC (vector) by qPCR and western blot analysis. In order to investigate the function of FGF2 in MSCs over time, it was observed that FGF2 stimulates cell proliferation and induces cell differentiation by activating the mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Following blockade of the FGF2‑induced activation of the extracellular signal‑regulated kinase pathway by overexpression of sprouty isoforms, the marker of differentiation markedly decreased. Altogether, the results demonstrated a novel cell biological mechanism that FGF2 differentiates into tenocytes and the MAPK pathway is key in differentiation.