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Wei Hong,1,2 Zizhuo Wang,1,2 Wei Yao,1,2 Xin Zhang,1,2 Lijie Zhang,1,2 Bin Liang1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Bin Liang, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 27 85726432, Fax +86 27 85727002, Email bliang@hust.edu.cnAim: Partial splenic embolization (PSE) combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been reported in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhotic hypersplenism and thrombocytopenia. However, efficacy and safety of repeated PSE when required are unclear. This study aims to investigate post-procedural changes in peripheral blood cell and hepatic function, progression-free survival (PFS), and safety of HCC patients with hypersplenism received TACE and repeated PSE compared to those received TACE alone.Methods: This retrospective study included 102 HCC patients with hypersplenism who received TACE (n = 73) or TACE+PSE (n = 29) from January 2014 to December 2021. Changes in peripheral blood cell and hepatic function were investigated at 1 week, 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. TACE procedure sessions and adverse events were recorded. PFS and prognostic factors were analyzed.Results: Despite response to initial PSE being limited, repeated PSE increased platelet (PLT) again, which peaked at 18 months. It also continued to improve red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin, which showed significant differences in changes from baseline between two groups until 24 months, as well as Child-Pugh scores at 12 and 18 months. Mean TACE procedure sessions were significantly higher in TACE+PSE group than that in TACE alone group (4.55 vs 3.26, P = 0.019). TACE+PSE group had longer median PFS (19.4 vs 9.5 months, P = 0.023) than TACE alone group, where PSE was an independent protective factor (HR, 0.508; P = 0.014). Initial and repeated PSE showed no significant differences in safety.Conclusion: Repeated PSE is effective in increasing PLT again and improving RBC, hemoglobin and liver function. It contributed to performing serial TACE procedures thereafter. TACE combined with repeated PSE has significantly longer PFS than TACE alone, where PSE was an independent protective factor. Moreover, the safety of repeated PSE was comparable to initial PSE.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, hypersplenism, transarterial chemoembolization, partial splenic embolization

Liang B, Li C, Zhou Z, Xie Y. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023;17:1037–1045. We, the Editor and Publisher of the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy have retracted the published article. Following publication of the article, concerns were raised about the duplication of images from Figure 4. Specifically, Images for Figure 4A, Migration, 0 and 200; 400 and 800; and Invasion, 0 and 400 have been duplicated. The corresponding author did not respond to our queries and was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for how the images came to be duplicated or provide satisfactory original data for the study. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, the Publisher and Editor requested to retract the article and the corresponding author was notified of this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.

Lijie Zhang,1,2,&ast; Wei Hong,1,2,&ast; Zizhuo Wang,1,2 Chuansheng Zheng,1,2 Bin Liang,1,2 Heshui Shi1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; 2Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bin Liang; Heshui Shi, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China, Tel +86 27 85726432, Fax +86 27 85727002, Email bliang@hust.edu.cn; heshuishi@hust.edu.cnBackground: Population aging has emerged as a pressing global concern and a significant medical challenge. The use of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been extensively employed for managing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is limited evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of TACE specifically in individuals aged 80 years and above.Aim: To examine the safety and effectiveness of TACE in elderly patients (≥ 80 years) compared to younger patients (< 80 years) with HCC, and the potential risk factors that may impact the progression-free survival (PFS) for TACE were also identified.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a consecutive cohort of unresectable HCC patients who were initially treated with TACE. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the age at which they underwent TACE, and the efficacy and safety of the treatment were evaluated. The PFS was investigated, and the prognostic factors were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models.Results: A total of 198 patients were included in this study, with 44 patients aged 80 years or older and 154 patients younger than 80 years. The cumulative risk of PFS after TACE was similar between the two groups (P = 0.800). In the multivariate analysis, a lower ECOG score (P = 0.039) and an earlier BCLC stage (P = 0.004) were identified as independent predictors of better PFS. Patients in both groups tolerated the TACE treatment well.Conclusion: The impact of aging on poor PFS is not significant. In patients with HCC, TACE therapy is both safe and effective for octogenarians, similar to younger patients. Furthermore, the better PFS is associated with a low ECOG score and an early BCLC stage.Keywords: transarterial chemoembolization, hepatocellular carcinoma, elderly patients, octogenarians

Beiwei Liang,1,&ast; Chunlai Li,1,&ast; Zhan Zhou,1 Yubo Xie1,2 1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yubo Xie, Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, People’s Republic of China, Email xybdoctor@163.comIntroduction: Experimental data indicate that morphine and fentanyl may have antitumor effects in gastric cancer cells (GC). Hydromorphone, as an analgesic, is used against refractory cancer pain in recent years. However, the data on hydromorphone influencing the biological characteristics of human gastric cancer cells are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate how hydromorphone affected the growth of human gastric cancer in vitro.Material and Methods: Human GC cell lines (HGC-27, MGC-803, AGS and SGC-7901) and human gastric epithelial cells GSE-1 were exposed to various concentrations of hydromorphone (0– 800μM). The cell viability, invasion and migration abilities were measured using cell counting kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays. Apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated by flow cytometry.Results: Hydromorphone was toxic in GSE-1 cells at the concentration 800μM. It showed enhanced antitumor effects at a longer incubation time and higher concentrations in HGC-27, MGC-803, AGS and SGC-7901 cells. Hydromorphone inhibited the progression of MGC- 803 cells by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction.Conclusion: Hydromorphone suppresses the proliferation of human GC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. That may provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of hydromorphone in the safe and effective treatment of GC.Keywords: hydromorphone, invasion, migration, proliferation, stomach neoplasm

Bin Liang,1,&ast; Huiyu Chen,2,&ast; Donghong Yu,3,4 Wantong Zhao,1,3 Xiaoling Cai,1,3 Huahong Qiu,2 Liangpu Xu1 1Medical Genetic Diagnosis and Therapy Center, Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defect, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Laboratory Department, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Fujian Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 4Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Liangpu Xu; Huahong Qiu, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-0591-87554929 ; +86-0591-87604121, Email xiliangpu@fjmu.edu.cn; 722hhq@sina.comObjective: This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) in Fuzhou region of China as a source of clinical reference.Methods: GBS isolates were obtained from pregnant women with PROM. All isolates were genotyped, serotyped, and tested for drug-resistance and virulence genes using PCR and DNA sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Vitek® 2 automated system.Results: Among the 140 GBS isolates, seventeen sequence types (STs) were identified, of which ST19 (20.0%) was the most prevalent, followed by ST862, ST10, and ST12. Three clonal complexes (CC19, CC10 and CC1) were identified. The predominant serotype was III (45.7%), followed by V (23.6%), Ib (18.6%), Ia (7.1%), and II (3.6%). The prevalence of multidrug resistance was 72.8% (102/140). All isolates were susceptible to penicillin G, ampicillin, quinupristin, linezolid, vancomycin, and tigecycline. The majority of isolates were resistant to erythromycin (70.0%), clindamycin (72.1%), and tetracycline (81.4%), and 28.6% of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. Of the 98 erythromycin-resistant strains, mreA, ermB, mefA, mefE, ermA, and ermTR were detected in 100%, 70.4%, 49.0%, 22.4%, 13.3%, and 9.2%, respectively. No linB was detected among 101 clindamycin-resistant strains. Of the 114 tetracycline-resistant strains, tetM, tetK, tetL and tetO were detected in 52.6%, 61.4%, 7.9%, and 23.7%, respectively. Regarding virulence genes, all strains carried rib and hylB, followed by scpB (98.6%), and bca (80.7%), whereas only one strain carried bac.Conclusion: ST19/III and ST862/III were the most prevalent GBS subtypes. Penicillin G remains a first-line antibiotic for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment of GBS infections. The prevalence of resistance to clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline is high among GBS isolates in the Fuzhou region. ST862 and ST651 are emerging animal origin STs in human infections, and may become potential zoonotic threats.Keywords: Group B Streptococcus, molecular epidemiology, premature rupture of the membranes, antibiotic resistance, China

BackgroundCheckpoint blockade immunotherapy has improved metastatic cancer patient survival, but response rates remain low. There is an unmet need to identify mechanisms and tools to circumvent resistance. In human patients, responses to checkpoint blockade therapy correlate with tumor mutation load, and intrinsic resistance associates with pre-treatment signatures of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), immunosuppression, macrophage chemotaxis and TGFβ signaling.MethodsTo facilitate studies on mechanisms of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) evasion of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, we sought to develop a novel panel of murine syngeneic SCC lines reflecting the heterogeneity of human cancer and its responses to immunotherapy. We characterized six Kras-driven cutaneous SCC lines with a range of mutation loads. Following implantation into syngeneic FVB mice, we examined multiple tumor responses to α-PD-1, α-TGFβ or combinatorial therapy, including tumor growth rate and regression, tumor immune cell composition, acquired tumor immunity, and the role of cytotoxic T cells and Tregs in immunotherapy responses.ResultsWe show that α-PD-1 therapy is ineffective in establishing complete regression (CR) of tumors in all six SCC lines, but causes partial tumor growth inhibition of two lines with the highest mutations loads, CCK168 and CCK169. α-TGFβ monotherapy results in 20% CR and 10% CR of established CCK168 and CCK169 tumors respectively, together with acquisition of long-term anti-tumor immunity. α-PD-1 synergizes with α-TGFβ, increasing CR rates to 60% (CCK168) and 20% (CCK169). α-PD-1 therapy enhances CD4 + Treg/CD4 + Th ratios and increases tumor cell pSmad3 expression in CCK168 SCCs, whereas α-TGFβ antibody administration attenuates these effects. We show that α-TGFβ acts in part through suppressing immunosuppressive Tregs induced by α-PD-1, that limit the anti-tumor activity of α-PD-1 monotherapy. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo, α-TGFβ acts directly on the tumor cell to attenuate EMT, to activate a program of gene expression that stimulates immuno-surveillance, including up regulation of genes encoding the tumor cell antigen presentation machinery.ConclusionsWe show that α-PD-1 not only initiates a tumor rejection program, but can induce a competing TGFβ-driven immuno-suppressive program. We identify new opportunities for α-PD-1/α-TGFβ combinatorial treatment of SCCs especially those with a high mutation load, high CD4+ T cell content and pSmad3 signaling. Our data form the basis for clinical trial of α-TGFβ/α-PD-1 combination therapy (NCT02947165).

Chao Zhang,1,2,&ast; Bingshao Liang,1,&ast; Zhile Xiong,1,2 Zhuwei Liang,1,2 Hao Cai,1 Huamin Zhong,1 Yongqiang Xie,1 Yuanwei Xie,2 Xiaochun Liu,2 Shiying Xie,2 Fangjun Lan,2 Zhenwen Zhou2 1Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Clinical Laboratory, Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhenwen Zhou, Clinical Laboratory, Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13925097897, Email zzw6248@126.comPurpose: Chlorhexidine and mupirocin are often prescribed to children in affected communities to prevent colonization and transmission of Staphylococcus aureus, but this has led to an increasing rate of biocide resistance. In this study, we aimed to determine the distribution of biocide resistance genes among S. aureus isolates from school-age children in Guangzhou, investigate chlorhexidine gluconate and mupirocin susceptibility and clonal complex (CC) genotypes in strains carrying biocide-resistance genes, and further explore the role of biofilms in this resistance.Patients and Methods: Antibiotic resistance and multilocus sequence genotyping were performed on 722 S. aureus isolates from previous study. The distribution of nine biocide genes (qacA/B, mupA, mepA, sepA, norA, lmrS, smr, mupB, qacG) was determined by PCR. Isolates carrying qacA/B or mupA genes were further tested for susceptibility to chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and mupirocin and biofilm formation abilities.Results: The most prevalent of the nine biocide resistance genes were mepA (95.57%), followed by norA (78.81%), lmrS (77.01%), and sepA (58.17%). The qacG gene was not detected. Distribution of sepA was significantly decreased in CC30 and CC45 genotypes, and presence of sepA was associated with resistance to antibiotics such as CLI, ERY, TCY, SXT, CIP, and LVX. In addition, 64 (94.1%, n=68) qacA/B+ isolates showed CHG resistance, 12 (100.0%, n=12) mupA+ isolates were mupirocin resistant, and 4 (80%, n=5) and 5 (100%, n=5) qacA/B+mupA+ isolates were CHG and mupirocin resistant, respectively. Of these 85 isolates, 98.8% (n=84) had different degrees of biofilm-forming abilities, which were positively associated with CHG and mupirocin resistance.Conclusion: The distribution of biocide resistance genes was associated with special CCs. The qacA/B and mupA genes are highly associated with resistance to CHG and mupirocin, and biofilm formation was found to contribute to this biocide resistance.Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, biocide resistance genes, qacA/B, children, chlorhexidine, mupirocin, biofilm formation

Wei Hu,1,&ast; Zhiqing Duan,1,&ast; Yinuo Zhang,1,&ast; Jing Liu,2,&ast; Jing Bao,1 Ruqing Gao,1 Yajie Tang,1 Tiande Liu,1 Hu Xiong,1 Wen Li,1 Xiaowei Fu,1 Shousheng Liao,2 Lu Fang,1 Bo Liang1 1Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bo Liang; Lu Fang, Email lb2087@163.com; fanglu@medmail.com.cnBackground: Periampullary carcinoma, which includes ampullary carcinoma, pancreatic head cancer, distal common bile duct cancer, and duodenal papillary cancer, is a relatively rare malignancy with uncertain therapeutic options. Although several studies have investigated the efficacy of multiple adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for periampullary carcinoma treatment, the optimal regimen remains to be determined. The inherent heterogeneity of the mucosal origin divides periampullary carcinoma into intestinal and pancreaticobiliary types. Therefore, the selection of chemotherapy regimens based on pathological type may have potential therapeutic significance.Case Presentation: A 72-year-old woman with moderately differentiated periampullary adenocarcinoma experienced disease progression after receiving FOLFOX regimen. Subsequently, the sample was subtyped first by H&E evaluation and then by the evaluation of an IHC panel composed of CK20, CDX2, MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC. The pathologists concluded that the patient’s sample was of the pancreaticobiliary (PB) subtype. The subsequent change to gemcitabine plus S-1 adjuvant therapy achieved remission of liver metastases based on the pathological classification of the cancer.Conclusion: Based on the pathological classification, adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine may be beneficial for patients with PB subtype periampullary carcinoma. 5-Fu-based adjuvant chemotherapy may be beneficial for patients with intestinal subtype periampullary carcinoma.Keywords: periampullary carcinoma, adjuvant chemotherapy, pathological classification, S-1, gemcitabine

Linyan Huang1 &ast;, Li Zhang1,2 &ast;, Shuiping Jiang,1 Baozhu Liang,1 Ningning Xu,1 Jingxin Li,1 Xiaoyan Zhang,1,3 Zhen Zhang1 1Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, People’s Hospital of Dehong, Yunnan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China&ast; These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhen Zhang, Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 253 Industrial Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510282, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-15913162742, Email zzhen311@163.comBackground: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has seriously affected people’s lives, especially those with chronic diseases. Diabetes self-management, which plays an important role in glycaemic control and reducing the risk of acute and long-term complications, may be discouraged by social distancing.Purpose: To evaluate the level of self-management activities in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients and Methods: A survey of with 872 patients with T2DM in the inpatient and outpatient departments through face-to-face interviews was conducted from 1 July, 2020 to 30 September, 2020. The main outcome measures were glycaemic control status and level of self-management activities during the pandemic.Results: In terms of glycaemic control, the data showed that patients with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7.0 mmol/L (36.4%), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) < 10.0 mmol/L (26.3%), or glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) < 7.0% (18.6%) in our investigation has well-controlled blood glucose level, and 11.9% of patients experienced blood glucose < 3.9 mmol/L during the outbreak. The diabetes self-management of Chinese patients decreased and the final diabetes self-management score of the Chinese patients was 3.4 ± 1.45. Patients with higher education, diabetes education, comorbidities, and online consultations had higher diabetes self-management scores (P < 0.05). Adherence to diabetes self-management in the normal glycaemic control group was higher than that in the substandard glycaemic control group (P< 0.05). Among all participants, 72.1% of the patients reduced the frequency of hospital visits, and 44.8% considered that they had diabetes-related stress during the pandemic. The mean anxiety level score rated by 286 patients was 5.3± 2.8.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected diabetes self-management, including substandard glycemic control, increased diabetes-related stress, limited exercise range and medical visits. Therefore, future interventions should focus on the online management of chronic diseases and support online consultation’ development and promotion, which can overcome physical distance and provide personalized services conveniently.Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019, diabetes self-management, online consultation, type 2 diabetes mellitus

Guochao Mao, Changyou Shan, Weimiao Li, Baobao Liang, Li Ma, Shuqun Zhang Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shuqun Zhang, Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 157 Xiwu Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613891841249, Fax +862987679512, Email shuqun_zhang1971@163.comIntroduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of several tumors with poor prognosis and causes a significant social burden. A growing number of studies have shown that RRM1 plays a crucial role in the development and progression of multiple human cancers. However, the specific role and mechanism of RRM1 have not been fully defined in HCC.Methods: TCGA and GTEx data were used for the first time to conduct a pan-cancer analysis of RRM1 expression and prognosis, and identified RRM1 as a possible potential oncogene in HCC. At the same time, a combination of analyses (including expression analysis, correlation analysis or survival analysis) identified non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that contribute to RRM1 overexpression.Results: MIR4435-2HG/miR-22-3p and SNHG6/miR-101-3p were identified as the most promising RRM1 upstream ncRNA-related pathways in HCC. In addition, RRM1 levels were significantly and positively correlated with tumor immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarker or immune checkpoint expression.Conclusion: These results suggest that high expression of RRM1 mediated by ncRNAs is associated with poor prognosis and tumor immune infiltration in HCC.Keywords: HCC, RRM1, ncRNAs, regulatory mechanism, immune cell infiltration

Li Dai,&ast; Xiangren Jin,&ast; Liuxing Wang, Haibin Wang, Zhiqiang Yan, Guanghai Wang, Baichuang Liang, Fu Huang, Yuling Luo, Taichun Chen, Qian Wang Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550001, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Qian Wang, Tel +8615885004333, Email Wangqian118@outlook.comAbstract: Currently, effective therapies for advanced gastric cancer with systemic metastasis are lacking. Pharmacological research has been slowly progressing over the past decades. Here, we report the case of a 56-year-old female with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression (IHC 2+/FISH-) in gastric cancer with systemic metastasis. The first-line therapeutic regime consisted of systemic administration of camrelizumab, local arterial infusion of oxaliplatin and arterial embolization, oral apatinib, and PS scheme (oral tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil (S-1) and paclitaxel (PTX), which was administered both intraperitoneally and systemically). After the treatment, a 3-month progression-free survival (PFS) was observed. Due to the occurrence of CTCAE grade 4 adverse reactions, the patient could not tolerate chemotherapy. In the second line of treatment, we replaced the PS scheme with disitamab vedotin and continued the use of carrilizumab and apatinib. After four cycles, efficacy evaluation showed that it was stable disease (SD), only CTCAE 1/2 grade adverse reactions occurred, and endoscopy examination showed local tumor control with a reduction in the ulcer lesion. At the time of submission of the current manuscript, a 6-month PFS was achieved and the treatment was continued. Due to the safety and efficacy of disitamab vedotin observed in our case, we propose that disitamab vedotin could be a promising drug for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer patients with HER2 expression.Keywords: gastric cancer, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, disitamab vedotin

Guochao Mao,&ast; Jianhua Wu,&ast; Hanxiao Cui, Luyao Dai, Li Ma, Zhangjian Zhou, Baobao Liang, Shuqun Zhang, Shuai Lin Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shuai Lin; Shuqun Zhang, Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 157 Xiwu Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710004, People’s Republic of China, Email voyage420@163.com; shuqun_zhang1971@163.comPurpose: We aimed to characterize the expression patterns of glycolysis and hypoxia genes in colon cancers as well as their value in prognosis and immune microenvironment.Methods: The expression profiles were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Enrichment of hypoxia and glycolysis gene sets in colon cancer was identified by gene set enrichment analysis. Then, a prognostic signature was built up after Cox regression analyses, and overall survival analysis validated the predictive ability. Immune status and infiltration in cancer tissues were explored using the single sample gene set enrichment analysis and CIBERSORT algorithm. A nomogram model integrating clinical variables and the gene signature was established and assessed.Results: Altogether, 378 cancer and 39 control cases were enrolled. Three glycolysis gene sets and two hypoxia gene sets were enriched in colon cancer (P < 0.05). Five independent genes (ENO3, GPC1, P4HA1, SPAG4, and STC2) were significantly correlated with prognosis of colon cancer patients. Patients with higher risks had significantly better prognosis than those with lower risks (P = 0.002 and AUC = 0.750), which was also observed in the elderly, female and stage I–II subgroups (P < 0.05). In high-risk cases, proportion of NK cells resting increased (P < 0.05) while that of dendritic cells activated (P < 0.05), dendritic cells resting (P < 0.01) and monocytes (P < 0.01) decreased. Besides, expressions of 22 checkpoint genes were found abnormal in groups with different risks (P < 0.05). The predictive nomogram presented satisfactory performance with C-index of 0.771 (0.712– 0.830). The area under ROC curve was 0.796 and 0.803 for 3- and 5-year survival prediction, respectively.Conclusion: A glycolysis and hypoxia combined gene signature was a promising method to evaluate the prognosis and immune infiltration of colon cancer patients, which may provide a new tool for cancer management.Keywords: colon cancer, gene signature, glycolysis, hypoxia, prognosis

Bo-Wen Jiang,1,2,* Xue Ji,1,2,* Zhong-Qing Lyu,3 Bing Liang,1,2 Jian-Hang Li,3 Ling-Wei Zhu,1,2 Xue-Jun Guo,1,2 Jun Liu,1,2 Yang Sun,1,2 Yan-Jing Liu3 1Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 3Third Affiliated Clinical Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yang Sun; Yan-Jing Liu, Tel +86 431-86986933, Email sunyang10@hotmail.com; 214953156@qq.comPurpose: To elucidate the contribution of a transferable plasmid harboring the blaNDM-1 gene in an Escherichia coli clinical isolate to the spread of resistance determinants.Methods: Nine extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli were collected from diarrhea samples from a pediatric patient and genetic linkage was investigated through enterobacteriaceae repetitive intragenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bacterial species were identified by 16s rRNA sequencing, susceptibility testing with the use of a BD PhoenixTM-100 Automated Microbiology System, and assessment of virulence genes by PCR. The transferability of blaNDM-1 in E. coli strain TCM3e1 was confirmed by conjugation experiments. Complete sequencing of E. coli strain TCM3e1 was determined with the PacBio and Illumina NovaSeq platforms and the characteristics were analyzed with bioinformatics software.Results: The results showed that all nine E. coli strains were the same clone. E. coli strain TCM3e1 was resistant to 12 antimicrobial agents and carried the virulence gene EAST-1. Conjugation transfer analysis showed that blaNDM-1 was carried on a self-transmissible plasmid. Two copies of the blaNDM-1 gene were present on an IncC plasmid and some resistance genes with two or three copies were located downstream of the blaNDM-1 gene and formed a tandem repeat fragment (blaDNM-1-bleo-sul1- aadA17- dfrA12).Conclusion: A transmissible plasmid harboring two copies of the blaNDM-1 gene, including clonal dispersions of the blaNDM-1 gene, was identified in clinical isolates. These findings emphasized the necessity of surveillance of the plasmid-borne blaNDM-1 to prevent dissemination.Keywords: diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, multi-drug-resistant, New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase, blaDNM-1 gene

AlInAs/AlGaAs quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as excellent emitters across the visible spectral range, showcasing highly tunable electronic properties through variations in composition and size. This versatility allows for diverse band alignments within the same system. In this study, we present compelling evidence for the coexistence of type-I indirect and direct emissions from QDs, supported by comprehensive analyses of their photoluminescence responses to excitation power, temperature, and time, along with band structure calculations. The high-density QD system exhibits signs of lateral coupling, facilitated by carrier transfer between dots, modulated by energy barriers and recombination times. Additionally, we can unequivocally prove that the QDs act as carrier reservoirs that progressively feed optically active states in the bulk GaAs at low temperaturesan attractive prospect for hot-carrier photovoltaics. Above certain temperatures, the bulk system reverts to the anticipated predominantly radiative recombination dynamics. Our theoretical framework, accounting for the coexistence of QD specimens with varying recombination times, successfully elucidates the optical response at different temperatures, emphasizing the pivotal role of QD excitation in enhancing the effective lifetime of carriers in the bulk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liangliang Yan,1,2,* Lei Chen,1,2,* Kun Qian,1,2 Xuefeng Kan,1,2 Hongsen Zhang,1,2 Bin Liang,1,2 Chuansheng Zheng1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chuansheng ZhengDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail cszheng@hust.edu.cnPurpose: Resection of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe (CL) is challenging even for accomplished surgeons. This retrospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and iodine 125 seeds implantation (ISI) for unresectable or “ablation unsuitable” HCC-CL detected at the initial presentation in clinical practice.Patients and Methods: A total of 20 HCC-CL patients undergoing sequential TACE and ISI from January 2014 to October 2018 were enrolled in this study. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), tumor response rate, and complication rates were analyzed and compared to non-caudate lobe (NCL) HCC patients. Multivariate analyses for potential clinical and radiological factors were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.Results: The technical success rate was 100%, as all the patients received 28 ISI treatments. The median OS was 35 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 100%, 63.2%, and 11.1%, respectively. The median PFS was 16 months. The objective response rate was 60.0%. The puncture tract bleeding (2/20) and pneumothorax (1/20) were the most common complications in operation, but no operation-related deaths occurred. One year after the surgery, biliary tract injury occurred in 1 patient, necessitating percutaneous biliary intervention. No statistical difference was observed between the CL and NCL groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B and tumor size > 3 cm were two significant factors associated with OS.Conclusion: Sequential TACE and ISI were associated with the survival benefits in HCC-CL and should be considered as a reliable therapy for surgeons and interventional radiologists.Keywords: transarterial chemoembolization, iodine 125 seeds implantation, hepatocellular carcinoma, caudate lobe, survival

Hailong Huang,1,2,* Meiying Cai,1,2,* Yan Wang,1,2 Bin Liang,1,2 Na Lin,1,2 Liangpu Xu1,2 1Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Fujian Key Laboratory for Prenatal Diagnosis and Birth Defects, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Na Lin; Liangpu XuCenter for Prenatal Diagnosis, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 18 Daoshan Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province 350001, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail 846519465@qq.com; Xiliangpu@fjmu.edu.cnObjective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the SNP array for the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) screened by echocardiography.Patients and Methods: A total of 356 pregnant women with fetal congenital heart malformations revealed by echocardiography at the Center for Prenatal Diagnosis of Fujian Maternal and Children Hospital during the period from November 2016 through July 2019 were recruited. The fetuses were assigned into three cohorts, including 142 with a single cardiac malformation, 106 with multiple cardiac malformations and 108 with cardiac and extracardiac malformations. All fetuses underwent chromosomal karyotyping and SNP array simultaneously, and the effectiveness of the SNP array for the prenatal diagnosis of CHD was evaluated.Results: The overall prevalence of abnormal karyotypes was 9.3% among the 356 fetuses with CHD, and a higher proportion was found in fetuses with cardiac and extracardiac malformations (18.5%) than in those with single (5.6%) or multiple cardiac malformations (4.7%) (P< 0.05). Consistent with karyotype analysis, SNP array detected an additional 25 fetuses with pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs), seven with variant of unknown significance (VOUS) and seven with benign CNVs, and a lower proportion of abnormal CNV was found in fetuses with a single cardiac malformation (4.2%) than in those with multiple cardiac malformations (9.4%) or cardiac and extracardiac malformations (14.8%) (P< 0.05). Among the 33 fetuses with chromosomal abnormality, postnatal follow-up showed termination of pregnancy in 25 with pathogenic CNVs, one with VOUS, and six with normal karyotypes and SNP array findings but severe multiple malformations by ultrasonography.Conclusion: SNP array increases the overall detection of abnormal CNVs by 9%, which improves the detection of CNVs associated with CHD. SNP array may serve as a tool for prenatal diagnosis of CHD that facilitates the discovery of pathogenic genes associated with CHD and provide valuable insights into the precision assessment of fetal prognosis during the prenatal counseling.Keywords: congenital heart disease, SNP array, echocardiography, prenatal diagnosis

Yaofei Jiang,1,2,* Zhenhong Zou,1,* Zulei Zhang,1,3,* Yi Zhang,1,* Yuting Sun,1 Bo Liang1 1Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiac Surgery, Ganzhou People’s Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Bo LiangDepartment of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail 1690960497@qq.comBackground: No study has reported the risk factors associated with the prognosis of patients with transverse colon cancer. Therefore, we aimed to demonstrate the long-term outcomes of transverse colon cancer patients undergoing radical surgery and explore the prognostic factors.Materials and Methods: The clinical data of a total of 366 patients with transverse colon cancer staged from I to IIIC undergoing radical surgery from February 1992 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological features were recorded, and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between the factors and overall survival (OS) as well as disease-free survival (DFS). Kaplan–Meier curves were generated to assess the association between TNM stage and OS and DFS, respectively.Results: The median follow-up time was 62 months, and the 5-year OS and DFS rates were 87.5% and 86.5%, respectively. In addition, a significant difference was also found in the OS and DFS curves according to TNM stage. The N classification, vascular invasion, differentiation, preoperative CA199, preoperative CA125 and preoperative AFP were significantly associated with OS according to univariate analysis, while N classification and differentiation were independent prognostic factors for OS according to multivariate analysis (both P < 0.05). Similarly, N classification, vascular invasion, differentiation, preoperative CA199, preoperative CA125, and preoperative AFP were statistically correlated with DFS according to univariate analysis, while N classification and preoperative CA199 were independent prognostic factors for DFS according to multivariate analysis (both P < 0.05).Conclusion: N classification was an independent factor for both OS and DFS, while differentiation and CA199 were independent prognostic factors only for OS and DFS, respectively.Keywords: transverse colon cancer, radical surgery, risk factor

Yi-fen Shi,1,* Na Wang,2,* Zi-yang Huang,1 Rong-rong Chen,1 Yi-sha Huang,1 Yi-yi Zhu,1 Chong-yun Xing,1 Bin Liang,1 Kang Yu,1 Jian-hua Feng1,3 1Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People’s Republic of China; 2Health Care Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jian-hua Feng; Kang Yu Department of HematologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 577 55578999 extension 669889Fax +86 577 55578999Email wzfjh@126.com; yukang@wzhospital.cnBackground: Peripheral monocytes, a key cell type for innate immunity, have been shown to be associated with survival in various types of hematological malignancies. However, no previous studies regarding the prognostic impact of peripheral absolute monocyte count (AMC) in early relapsed B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have been reported.Methods: Forty-nine cases of early relapsed adult B-ALL were reviewed. The upper (0.80 × 109/L) and lower limits (0.12 × 109/L) of the normal value for AMC were used as cut-off points. Kaplan–Meier curves and Log rank test were used for comparison of overall survival (OS). The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used for investigating the factors associated with OS.Results: More than half (59.2%) of all patients showed a normal AMC (0.12– 0.80 × 109/L). The median follow-up was 5.3 months from the start of first salvage therapy. Univariate analysis revealed that normal AMC (versus low/high AMC) at the time of relapse was a prognostic factor for improved OS (P = 0.021). On multivariate analysis, normal AMC (versus low/high AMC) at the time of relapse remained an independent prognostic factor for improved OS (hazard ratio = 0.43, P = 0.030).Conclusion: AMC at the time of relapse, which can be easily derived from routine clinical laboratory testing of complete blood count, might be used as a prognostic marker for survival outcomes in adult patients with early relapsed B-ALL.Keywords: B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, early relapse, absolute monocyte count, prognosis, survival

Fu Xiong,1,2,* Yanyan Cao,1,2,* Xiaopeng Guo,1,2 Hongsen Zhang,1,2 Jihua Wang,1,2 Bin Xiong,1,2 Bin Liang,1,2 Chuansheng Zheng1,2 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, People’s Republic of China; 2Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chuansheng Zheng Email hqzcsxh@sina.comPurpose: To evaluate the adriamycin (ADM) pervasion distance within tumor stroma after relaxin (RLX) infusion through tumor feeding artery and further investigate the therapeutic effects of RLX infusion combined with transcatheter chemoembolization (TACE) on the rabbit VX2 liver cancer, since the chemotherapy impaired due to limited drug distribution hindered by stiffened tumor stroma.Materials and Methods: In the first part, rabbits received normal saline (NS), RLX or combined with TACE, and the penetration distance of ADM was measured by immunofluorescence and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were evaluated by gelatin substrate zymography in each group. In the second part, the rabbits received NS, TACE and RLX combined with TACE, respectively. The tumor growth rates, necrosis rates and intrahepatic metastasis were measured, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE), transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) and Ki67 staining were conducted in each group.Results: In the first part, the expression of MMP-9 was increased in groups treated by RLX compared with NS group, especially three days after RLX infusion (p=0.001). The ADM penetration distance was significantly increased in groups treated by RLX compared with NS group (p< 0.05), and it was farthest three days after RLX infusion. In the second part, compared with the NS and TACE groups, the tumor growth rates, the positive staining rates of Ki67 and the tumor growth rates were significantly decreased in RLX+TACE group (p< 0.05). However, the positive staining rates of TUNEL and the tumor necrosis rates were significantly increased (p< 0.05), and HE staining also revealed higher necrosis rates. The intrahepatic metastasis indicates no difference between the three groups (p=0.273).Conclusion: An increased penetration distance was obtained by RLX infusion through tumor feeding artery, and better therapeutic effects were achieved by RLX combined with TACE.Keywords: relaxin, liver cancer, transcatheter chemoembolization, MMP-9, penetration distance

Xiaofang Shen,1,* Wei Zhao,1,* Yumei Zhang,2 Bin Liang2 1Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Dongying City People’s Hospital, Dongying City, Shandong Province 257091, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Dongying City Dongying District People’s Hospital, Dongying City, Shandong Province 257000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaofang ShenDepartment of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Dongying City People’s Hospital, No. 317, Nanyi Road, Dongying District, Dongying City, Shandong Province 257091, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13780757608Email shenxiaofang142@163.comBackground: This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of lncRNA-NEAT1 on cervical cancer (CC) and the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods: The expression of lncRNA-NEAT1 and miR-124 was detected in CC tissues and cells (HeLa and SiHa cells) by qRT-RCR. The relation between lncRNA-NEAT1 expression and clinical parameters of CC patients was explored. The cell migration and invasion were detected by wound healing assay and transwell assay. The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and anchorage-independent colony assay. The targeting relation between miR-124 and lncRNA-NEAT1 was predicted by TargetScan and identified by dual luciferase reporter gene and RNA pull-down assay. The expression of metastasis- (MMP-2 and MMP), EMT- (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin), and NF-κB pathway-related factors (NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65 and IκBα) was detected by Western blot.Results: The expression of lncRNA-NEAT1 was upregulated in CC tissues and cells and positively correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of lncRNA-NEAT1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion, influenced the expression of EMT markers, and activated NF-κB pathway in HeLa and SiHa cells. Silencing of lncRNA-NEAT1 exhibited opposite effects on HeLa and SiHa cells. LncRNA-NEAT1 could negatively regulate its target miR-124. MiR-124 reversed the effects of lncRNA-NEAT1 on the migration, invasion, EMT and NF-κB pathway of HeLa cells.Conclusion: LncRNA-NEAT1 promoted the migration and invasion of CC cells via regulating miR-124/NF-κB pathway.Keywords: cervical cancer, lncRNA-NEAT1, migration, invasion, miR-124/NF-κB pathway

Jie Song,1,* Youming Chen,2,* Donghong He,1,* Wenhui Tan,1 Fang Lv,1 Biao Liang,1 Tingting Xia,3 Jing Li1,4 1Center of Digestive Endoscopy, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jing Li; Tingting Xia Email jingliaaa0407@163.com; xiatting@mail.sysu.edu.cnPurpose: Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a common Chinese herbal compound extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, has been proposed to increase the tumour response of and stabilize chemotherapy drugs while reducing their toxicity. Here, we examined the effects of APS on apoptosis in gastric cancer (GC) cells in the presence or absence of adriamycin (0.1 μg/mL).Methods: GC cells cultured in the presence or absence of adriamycin (0.1 μg/mL) were administered APS (50– 200 μg/mL) for 24– 72 h and subjected to an MTT assay to examine cell viability. Active caspase-3 expression and DNA fragmentation were assessed to evaluate apoptosis, and real-time PCR was used to analyse the expression levels of multidrug resistance (MDR1) genes and tumour suppressor genes. Western blot analysis was applied to detect cleaved caspase-3 and phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK).Results: Cellular viability was profoundly reduced by APS, and GC cell apoptosis was strongly increased by APS in a time- and dose-dependent manner; these changes may be linked to an increase in p-AMPK levels because the AMPK inhibitor compound C blocked the effects of APS. Similarly, adriamycin-induced decreases in cellular viability and apoptosis of GC cells were enhanced by APS administration. The expression of tumour suppressor genes (SEMA3F, P21WAF1/CIP1, FBXW7), but not of MDR1, was increased by APS compared to the control, and p-AMPK levels were lower in adriamycin-resistant GC cells than in either adriamycin-sensitive GC cells or an immortalized human gastric epithelial cell line.Conclusion: APS induces apoptosis independently and strengthens the proapoptotic effect of adriamycin on GC cells, suggesting that APS may act as a chemotherapeutic sensitizer.Keywords: Astragalus polysaccharide, gastric cancer, apoptosis, chemotherapy

Bin Liang, 1,* Hua Xiang, 2,* Cong Ma, 3 Bin Xiong, 1 Yilong Ma, 4 Chang Zhao, 4 Yuanhui Yao, 2 Zishu Zhang, 3 Changyong Chen, 5 Haiping Li, 5 Qingyun Long, 6 Jun Zhou, 6 Chao Luo, 7 Huaiming Qiu, 7 Hongyao Hu, 8 Hui Zhao, 8 Guofeng Zhou, 1 Chuansheng Zheng 1 1Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Interventional Radiology, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Interventional Radiology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital General South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Radiology, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Region, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Interventional Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei General Hospital, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chuansheng ZhengDepartment of Radiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hqzcsxh@sina.com Guofeng ZhouDepartment of Radiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zhouguofeng69@126.comPurpose: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with CalliSpheres® microspheres (CSM-TACE) and conventional TACE (cTACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Patients and Methods: Three hundred and thirty-five HCC patients receiving CSM-TACE or cTACE were consecutively enrolled in this multi-center, retrospective cohort study, and then divided into CSM-TACE group and cTACE group accordingly. Complete response (CR), objective response (ORR) and disease control response (DCR) was assessed according to mRECIST criteria at 1 month (M1), 3 months(M3) and 6 months(M6) after treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Liver function indexes and adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated.Results: CR at M3 (P=0.020) and ORR at M1 (P< 0.001), M3 (P< 0.001) and M6 (P=0.017) after treatment were significantly higher in the CSM-TACE compared with cTACE group. DCRs, PFS (25.3 months vs 24.2 months, P=0.503) and OS (27.8 months vs 25.3 months, P=0.203) were similar between the two groups. CSM-TACE was independently correlated with higher ORR at M1 (P=0.002) and longer OS (P=0.023). Abnormal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.049) was independently associated with lower ORR at M3, and history of alcohol intake (P=0.019) and largest nodule size ≥ 7 cm (P=0.015) independently correlated with lower ORR at M6 (P=0.015). Largest nodule size ≥ 7 cm (P=0.029) and abnormal albumin (ALB) (P=0.046) were independently associated with shorter PFS. Child-Pugh stage B/C (P=0.023), abnormal ALB (P=0.001), ALP (P=0.008) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (P=0.005) were independently associated with shorter OS. Most liver function indexes and AEs were similar between the two groups (P> 0.05), except that ALP (P=0.005), total bilirubin (P=0.031), pain during procedure (P=0.034) and occurrence of fever post(treatment (P=0.017) were significantly elevated in the CSM-TACE compared with cTACE group.Conclusion: CSM-TACE presents with a better treatment response and similar survival profile compared with cTACE in HCC patients.Keywords: chemoembolization, CalliSpheres microspheres, hepatocellular carcinoma, treatment response, survival, predictive factor