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Purpose: Recent progress in understanding the molecular biology of epithelial ovarian cancer has not yet translated into individualized treatment for these women or improvements in their disease outcome. Gene expression has been utilized to identify distinct molecular subtypes, but there have been no reports investigating whether or not molecular subtyping is predictive of response to bevacizumab in ovarian cancer.Experimental Design: DASL gene expression arrays were performed on FFPE tissue from patients enrolled on the ICON7 trial. Patients were stratified into four TCGA molecular subtypes. Associations between molecular subtype and the efficacy of randomly assigned therapy with bevacizumab were assessed.Results: Molecular subtypes were assigned as follows: 122 immunoreactive (34%), 96 proliferative (27%), 73 differentiated (20%), and 68 mesenchymal (19%). In univariate analysis patients with tumors of proliferative subtype obtained the greatest benefit from bevacizumab with a median PFS improvement of 10.1 months [HR, 0.55 (95% CI, 0.34-0.90), P = 0.016]. For the mesenchymal subtype, bevacizumab conferred a nonsignificant improvement in PFS of 8.2 months [HR 0.78 (95% CI, 0.44-1.40), P = 0.41]. Bevacizumab conferred modest improvements in PFS for patients with immunoreactive subtype (3.8 months; P = 0.08) or differentiated subtype (3.7 months; P = 0.61). Multivariate analysis demonstrated significant PFS improvement in proliferative subtype patients only [HR, 0.45 (95% CI, 0.27-0.74), P = 0.0015].Conclusions: Ovarian carcinoma molecular subtypes with the poorest survival (proliferative and mesenchymal) derive a comparably greater benefit from treatment that includes bevacizumab. Validation of our findings in an independent cohort could enable the use of bevacizumab for those patients most likely to benefit, thereby reducing side effects and healthcare cost. Clin Cancer Res; 23(14); 3794-801. ©2017 AACR.

Comprehensive Summary: The difunctionalization of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes is an under‐explored transformation that accesses to moieties that are otherwise difficult to prepare. Herein, a new oxidative radical alkylarylation of N‐aryl bicyclobutyl amides with C(sp3)−H feedstocks is achieved in an atom‐economic and photocatalyst‐ and light‐free manner. This protocol follows a sequential C(sp3)–H/C(sp2)–H functionalization, providing an efficient route for diversity‐oriented synthesis of functionalized 3‐spirocyclobutyl oxindoles. In particular, a wide range of C(sp3)−H feedstocks, including ether, alcohol, amine, thioether, polychlorinated methane, silane, acetone, acetonitrile, toluene, and alkane are all suitable for the C(sp3)−H functionalization, demonstrating the broad applicability of this transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundRecently, measurement of RNA at single cell resolution has yielded surprising insights. Methods for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have received considerable attention, but the broad reliability of single cell methods and the factors governing their performance are still poorly known.ResultsHere, we conducted a large-scale control experiment to assess the transfer function of three scRNA-seq methods and factors modulating the function. All three methods detected greater than 70% of the expected number of genes and had a 50% probability of detecting genes with abundance greater than 2 to 4 molecules. Despite the small number of molecules, sequencing depth significantly affected gene detection. While biases in detection and quantification were qualitatively similar across methods, the degree of bias differed, consistent with differences in molecular protocol. Measurement reliability increased with expression level for all methods and we conservatively estimate measurements to be quantitative at an expression level greater than ~5-10 molecules.ConclusionsBased on these extensive control studies, we propose that RNA-seq of single cells has come of age, yielding quantitative biological information.

To tackle misdiagnosis in lung cancer screening with low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT), we aimed to compile a genome atlas for differentiating benign, preinvasive, and invasive lung nodules and characterize their molecular pathogenesis. We collected 432 lung nodule tissue samples from Chinese patients, spanning benign, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). We performed comprehensive sequencing, examining somatic variants, gene expressions, and methylation levels. Our findings uncovered EGFR and TP53 mutations as key drivers in ‐ early lung cancer development, with EGFR mutation frequency increasing with disease progression. Both EGFR mutations and EGF/EGFR hypo‐methylation activated the EGFR pathway, fueling cancer growth. Transcriptome analysis identified four lung nodule subtypes (G1‐4) with distinct molecular features and immune cell infiltrations: EGFR‐driven G1, EGFR/TP53 co‐mutation G2, inflamed G3, stem‐like G4. Estrogen/androgen response was associated with the EGFR pathway, proposing a new therapy combining tyrosine kinase inhibitors with antiestrogens. Preinvasive nodules exhibited stem cell pathway enrichment, potentially hindering invasion. Epigenetic regulation of various genes was essential for lung cancer initiation and development. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of neoplastic progression and identifies potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Artesunate (ART) is a water‐soluble derivative of artemisinin, which has shown anti‐inflammatory, anti‐tumor, and immunomodulating effects. We aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of ART in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Methods: The mice were randomly divided into the control group, high‐fat, high‐cholesterol diet‐induced MASH group, and the MASH treated with ART (30 mg/kg once daily) group. Liver enzymes, lipids, and histological features were compared among groups. The molecular mechanisms were studied by transcriptomic and lipidomics analyses of liver tissues. Results: The mice of the MASH group had significantly increased hepatic fat deposition and inflammation in terms of biochemical indicators and pathological manifestations than the control group. The ART‐treated group had improved plasma liver enzymes and hepatic cholesterol, especially at week 4 of intervention (p < 0.05). A total of 513 differentially expressed genes and 59 differentially expressed lipids were identified in the MASH group and the MASH+ART group. Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment test showed that ART regulated glycerolipid metabolism pathway and enhanced fatty acid degradation. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐α acted as a key transcription factor in the treatment of MASH with ART, which was confirmed by cell experiment. Conclusions: ART significantly improved fat deposition and inflammatory manifestations in MASH mice, with potential therapeutic effects. The mechanism of artemisinin treatment for MASH may involve extensive regulation of downstream genes by upstream transcription factors, such as PPAR‐α, to restore hepatic lipid homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is becoming an escalating health problem in pediatric populations. This study aimed to investigate the role of N‐acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) in maternal high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced MASLD in offspring at early life. Methods: We generated male hepatocyte‐specific NAT10 knockout (Nat10HKO) mice and mated them with female Nat10fl/fl mice under chow or HFD feeding. Body weight, liver histopathology, and expression of lipid metabolism–associated genes (Srebp1c, Fasn, Pparα, Cd36, Fatp2, Mttp, and Apob) were assessed in male offspring at weaning. Lipid uptake assays were performed both in vivo and in vitro. The mRNA stability assessment and RNA immunoprecipitation were performed to determine NAT10‐regulated target genes. Results: NAT10 deletion in hepatocytes of male offspring alleviated perinatal lipid accumulation induced by maternal HFD, decreasing expression levels of Srebp1c, Fasn, Cd36, Fatp2, Mttp, and Apob while enhancing Pparα expression. Furthermore, Nat10HKO male mice exhibited reduced lipid uptake. In vitro, NAT10 promoted lipid uptake by enhancing the mRNA stability of CD36 and FATP2. RNA immunoprecipitation assays exhibited direct interactions between NAT10 and CD36/FATP2 mRNA. Conclusions: NAT10 deletion in offspring hepatocytes ameliorates maternal HFD‐induced hepatic steatosis through decreasing mRNA stability of CD36 and FATP2, highlighting NAT10 as a potential therapeutic target for pediatric MASLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate physicians' awareness and knowledge towards pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and their attitude toward change in nomenclature from NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in China. Methods: The questionnaire survey contained five parts (characteristics of the participants, epidemiology, diagnosis, management of NAFLD, and attitudes toward the nomenclature of MAFLD/MASLD). The participants included 53 hepatologists, 88 gastroenterologists (GEs), 74 endocrinologists (ENDOs), 61 primary care physicians (PCPs), and 157 pediatricians across 31 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions of China's mainland. Results: Hepatologists saw the largest number of pediatric NAFLD patients annually (median 9 [range 1–20]), with the lowest number by PCPs (even notwithstanding one patient annually). The primary sources of pediatric NAFLD knowledge were acquired via guidelines. Hepatologists had the highest total knowledge score among all five types of physicians. Approximately one‐third of nonspecialists (ENDOs and PCPs) considered liver biopsy necessary for pediatric NAFLD patients, and this percentage increased to half in specialists (hepatologists and GEs). For nonspecialists, the major barriers to the management of pediatric NAFLD were poor patient adherence to lifestyle modifications and lacking confidence in managing NAFLD. Above 90% physicians agreed to change the nomenclature NAFLD to MAFLD; however, they were not sure whether it could reduce the economic burden. Conclusions: Despite the epidemic of pediatric NAFLD in China, a significant knowledge gap remains in the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric NAFLD, particularly among frontline workers such as pediatricians and PCPs. More education programs should be carried out in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]