Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), products of neutrophil death when exposed to certain stimuli, were first proposed as a type of response to bacterial infection in infectious diseases. Since then, extensive studies have discovered its involvement in other non-infectious inflammatory diseases including thromboembolism, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. NET formation is closely associated with tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis in CRC. Therefore, the application of NETs in clinical practice as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and prognostic predictors has a promising prospect. In addition, therapeutics targeting NETs are significantly efficient in halting tumor progression in preclinical cancer models, which further indicates its potential clinical utility in cancer treatment. This review focuses on the stimuli of NETosis, its pro-tumorigenic activity, and prospective clinical utility primarily in but not limited to CRC.

Lung cancer growth is dependent on angiogenesis. In recent years, angiogenesis inhibitors have attracted more and more attention as potential lung cancer treatments. Current anti-angiogenic drugs targeting VEGF or receptor tyrosine kinases mainly inhibit tumor growth by reducing angiogenesis and blocking the energy supply of lung cancer cells. However, these drugs have limited efficiency, raising concerns about limited scope of action and mechanisms of patient resistance to existing drugs. Therefore, current basic research on angiogenic regulators has focused more on screening carcinogenic/anticancer genes, miRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins and other biomolecules capable of regulating the expression of specific targets in angiogenesis signaling pathways. In addition, new uses for existing drugs and new drug delivery systems have received increasing attention. In our article, we analyze the application status and research hotspots of angiogenesis inhibitors in lung cancer treatment as a reference for subsequent mechanistic research and drug development.

YZD combined with FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy significantly improved OS in this first-line trial in the patients with MCRC and significantly decreased grade 3/4 AEs. However, RR was not improved, and PFS did not reach statistical significance by the addition of YZD. The treatment of YZD combined with FOLFOX-4 may be necessary in order to optimize efficacy and safety.

BackgroundThe association between body mass index (BMI) and recurrence of anorectal abscess remains controversial. This study investigated the exact relationship between BMI and anorectal abscess recurrence or anal fistula formation following initial surgery.Material/MethodsThis was a retrospective registry-based study conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Chinese Medicine. Patients treated for anorectal abscess from 01/2015 to 03/2016 were included. Clinical data and time to recurrence were recorded. The Cox regression model was used to estimate the association between BMI and recurrence.ResultsA total of 790 patients were operated on during the study period. The average age of the participants was 38.3±11.6 years, and 83.2% were male. Median follow-up was 27 (range, 1–38) months. Compared with the low BMI (range, 15.7–22.8 kg/m2) patients, the high BMI (range, 26.0–40.6 kg/m2) patients showed higher risk of recurrence (HR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.15–2.67). In the non-adjusted model, high BMI was found to be positively correlated with recurrence (HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.10–2.40, P=0.02), and a stronger association was found in the fully adjusted model (HR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.15–2.67, P=0.01). BMI was also used as a continuous variable for sensitivity analysis, and a similar trend was observed (P=0.01 for trend).ConclusionsElevated BMI is an independent risk factor of anorectal abscess recurrence and for increased risk of abscess recurrence or anal fistula formation.