Background : Ovarian cancer (OC) is the gynecologic malignant tumor with high mortality. Accumulating evidence indicates that M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can secret EGF to participate in ovarian cancer growth, migration, and metastasis. An EGF-downregulated lncRNA, LIMT (lncRNA inhibiting metastasis), was identified as a critical regulator of mammary cell migration and invasion. Nevertheless, whether EGF secreted from M2-like TAMs regulates LIMT expression in ovarian cancer progression remains largely unknown. Methods : The human OC cell lines OV90 and OVCA429 were recruited in this study. The differentiation of the human monocyte cell line THP-1 into M2-like TAMs was confirmed using flow cytometry within the application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). ELISA was performed to detect EGF concentration in co-culture system of M2-like TAMs and OC cell lines. Moreover, CCK-8, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining of Ki67 were performed to assess the capacity of cell proliferation. Besides, cell migration and invasion were determined by wound healing and transwell assays. Furthermore, the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and EGFR/ERK signals were analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Female athymic nude mice (8–12 weeks of age; n = 8 for each group) were recruited for in vivo study. Results : In the present study, THP-1 cells exhibited the phenotype markers of M2-like TAMs with low proportion of CD14 + marker and high proportion of CD68 + , CD204 + , CD206 + markers within the application of PMA. After co-culturing with M2-like TAMs, EGF concentration in the supernatants was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner. Besides, OC cells presented better cell viability, higher cell proliferation, and stronger migration and invasion. The expression of EMT-related markers N-cadherin, Vimentin and EGFR/ERK signals were markedly up-regulated, while E-cadherin was significantly decreased. However, these effects induced by co-culture system were reversed by the application of AG1478 (an EGFR inhibitor) or LIMT overexpression. Furthermore, the endogenous expression of LIMT was decreased in OC cell lines compared with the control group. Also, the in vivo experiments verified that the inhibition of EGFR signaling by AG1478 or overexpression of LIMT effectively repressed the tumor growth. Conclusion : Taken together, we demonstrated that EGF secreted by M2-like TAMs might suppress LIMT expression via activating EGFR-ERK signaling pathway to promote the progression of OC.

Comprehensive treatment prevented the recurrence of IUAs to a certain extent, but some severe endometrial injuries were found to be irreparable, reducing the rate of subsequent pregnancy and live birth.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the safety and feasibility of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment combined with suction curettage under hysteroscopic guidance for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).Fifty-three patients with definite CSP were treated with HIFU followed by suction curettage under hysteroscopic guidance. All the patients received 1 session of HIFU ablation under conscious sedation. Suction curettage under hysteroscopic guidance was performed at an average of 2.9 (range: 1–5) days after HIFU ablation. Blood flow of pregnancy tissue before and after HIFU, intraoperative blood loss in suction curettage and hysteroscopy procedure, time for β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) to return to normal level, and time for normal menstruation recovery were recorded.Immediately after HIFU treatment, color Doppler ultrasound showed that the fetal cardiac activity disappeared and the blood flow in the pregnancy tissue significantly decreased. All the patients underwent suction curettage under hysteroscopic guidance after the treatment of HIFU, the median volume of blood loss in the procedure was 20 mL (range: 10–400 mL). The average time for menstruation recovery was 35.1 ± 8.1 (range: 19–60) days. The average time needed for serum β-hCG to return to normal levels was 27.5 ± 6.4 (range: 12–40) days. The average hospital stay was 7.8 ± 1.5 (range: 5–11) days.Based on our results, it appears that HIFU combined with suction curettage under hysteroscopic guidance is safe and effective in treating patients with CSP at gestational ages <8 weeks.