Esophageal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with high incidence and poor prognosis. Angiogenesis-related pathways play an important role in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the main mediator of angiogenesis. In addition to promoting angiogenesis and maintaining the survival of neovascularization, VEGF can also directly act on esophageal cancer cells and promote the occurrence and development of tumors. This article reviews the biology of VEGF and its effect on blood vessels, the expression of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells and its influencing factors, the role of VEGF in esophageal cancer cells, the immunomodulatory activity of VEGF and the clinical study of VEGF inhibitors. The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for more rational use of VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
Objective
To observe the effects of intravitreal injection of conbercept for aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP).
Methods
It is a retrospective case study. Twenty-one patients (40 eyes) with AP-ROP were enrolled in this study. There were 9 males (18 eyes) and 12 females (22 eyes), with the mean gestational age of (28.30±1.79) weeks and the mean birth weight of (1 021.40±316.70) g. All the lesions of 40 eyes were located in posterior zone, with 24 eyes in zone I and 16 eyes in zone II. All the eyes were treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept 0.025 ml (0.25 mg). During follow-up, nonresponders or patients with deterioration were retreated with intravitreal injection of conbercept or photocoagulation; patients with progressive deterioration to stage 4 had received vitrectomy. At the 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 weeks after treatments, the disappearance or decrease of retinal vessel tortuosity and neovascularization, and the growth of the normal retinal vessels toward the peripheral retina were evaluated.
Results
Thirty-six eyes were cured for only one injection, the cured rate was 90.00%. However, 2 eyes (5.00%) had progressed to stage 4 with contractive retinal detachment, which underwent vitrectomy. Two eyes (5.00%) had received twice injections, whose remaining avascular zone area treated by photocoagulation. No major systemic or ocular complications after injection appeared. All lens remained transparent and no iatrogenic retinal hole was occurred during the follow-up.
Conclusion
Intravitreal injection of conbercept is effective in the treatment of AP-ROP.
ObjectiveTo compare the short-term efficacy of conbercept and ranibizumab for macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)and explore the relationship between the integrity of ellipsoidal zone and visual acuity.
MethodsForty-four eyes of 44 patients with macular edema in CRVO were enrolled into this retrospective and comparative study. There were 15 eyes of 15 males, 29 eyes of 29 females; age ranged from 49-61 years old,with an average age of (54.65±3.10) years. All patients were examined with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), slit lamp, fundus photograph, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography(OCT). BCVA were examined with interactional visual chart and recorded with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution acuity. Twenty-three eyes were intravitreal injected with conbercept 0.5 mg (group A) and 21 eyes were intravitreal injected with ranibizumab 0.5 mg (group B). There was no statistical difference of age (t=-1.41), gender (χ2= 0.55),the percentage of hypertension patients (χ2=0.27), average BCVA (t=-2.06), IOP (t=-2.52), central macular thickness (CMT) (t=-1.96), number of different integrity of ellipsoidal zone patients (χ2=1.00) and number of different types of macular edema patients (χ2=1.03) among the two groups (P > 0.05). The change in BCVA and CMT at 3, 6 months between the two groups were compared. The relationship between BCVA at 6 months and BCVA, CMT at baseline were explored. The relationship between three groups of ellipsoidal zone and BCVA at baseline were evaluated. The change of BCVA after treatment between the three groups of ellipsoidal zone were Compared. The number of intravitreal injections between two groups was compared.
ResultsDuring the 3, 6 months after treatment, the mean BCVA were all improved with statistically difference in group A (t=5.13, 7.39; P < 0.05) and group B (t=6.60, 11.52; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of BCVA at 3, 6 moths between group A and group B (t=-0.99, -0.40; P > 0.05). During the 3, 6 months after treatment, the mean CMT were all decreased with statistically difference in group A (t=11.58, 15.96; P < 0.05) and group B (t=18.77, 35.16; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of CMT at 3, 6 months between group A and group B (t=-1.52, -1.63; P > 0.05). In both groups,BCVA at 6 months was related to BCVA at baseline (r= 0.44, 0.62; P < 0.05), but not related to CMT at baseline (r=0.19, 0.01; P > 0.05). In the two groups, BCVA at baseline was related to the integrity of ellipsoidal zone (r=0.97, 0.70; P < 0.05). There was statistical difference of the number of intravitreal injections in the two groups (t=-6.88, P < 0.05). There was no systemic or ocular serious side effects during the follow up.
ConclusionsComparing to ranibizumab, conbercept has the same effective to the treatment of macular edema in CRVO, but the number of intravitreal injections is less. The integrity of ellipsoidal zone is related to BCVA.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs combined with retinal laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF drugs alone in the treatment of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) combined with macular edema (ME). MethodsA evidence-based medicine study. Retinal vein occlusion (obstruction), macular edema, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, conbercept, aflibercept, and retinal laser photocoagulation were the Chinese and English search terms. Related literature was searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Weipu, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library. RVO combined with ME was selected as the research object, and the treatment plan was a clinical randomized controlled study comparing intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs combined with laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF drugs alone. The search time range was from January 2011 to February 2021. Repeated, incomplete or irrelevant literature, case reports and review literature were excluded. Review Manager 5.4 statistical software was used to conduct a meta-analysis of the literature. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were selected as the estimated value of effect size, and the fixed effect model was used for analysis. The evaluation indicators were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), center macular thickness (CMT), and the number of injections. ResultsAccording to the search strategy, 461 articles were initially retrieved, and 21 articles were finally included for meta-analysis. A total of 1156 patients were enrolled, of which 576 were treated with anti-VEGF drugs combined with laser photocoagulation (combined treatment group), and 580 were treated with anti-VEGF drugs alone (drug treatment group). Meta-analysis results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in BCVA and CMT between the drug treatment group and the combination treatment group at 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment (BCVA: WMD =－0.82, 95%CI －2.38-0.74, P=0.30; CMT: WMD=－3.12, 95%CI －17.25-11.01, P=0.67). For patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and ME, combined therapy can reduce the number of injections more effectively than drug therapy alone (WMD=－0.80, 95% CI －1.18-－0.42, Z=4.10, P＜0.000 1). ConclusionCompared with pure intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs, combined retinal laser photocoagulation can not better improve BCVA and CMT in patients with RVO and ME. For patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and ME, combined retinal laser photocoagulation can effectively reduce the resistance. The number of VEGF injections.
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of intravitreal injection of Conbercept with two different doses in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP）and explore the clinical feasibility of ROP treatment by lower dose conbercept.MethodsThis was a prospective study. The premature infants were enrolled with pre-threshold type 1, threshold and acute aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) from March 2018 to June 2019, who received fundus screening in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan Eye Hospital. They were randomly divided into two groups. The group A (lower dose group) were received intravitreal injection of conbercept with 0.15 mg/0.015 ml, and those in group B (control group) were received intravitreal injection of conbercept with 0.25 mg/0.025 ml. We checked and recorded the lesion area, stage, scope (according to the clock range), additional lesion (plus), etc. Fundus examination should be performed with the pediatric wide-field fundus imaging system within 7 days after treatment. It was used to observe the plus disese, ridge, regression of neovascularization on ridge, and development of retinal vessels to serrated edge or scarring. The follow-up period was at least 24 weeks. The effect evaluation was divided into recovery, improvement, recurrence and aggravation.ResultsThe 43 ROP subjects (84 eyes) were enrolled including 21 cases (40 eyes) in group A and 22 (44 eyes) in group B. There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender (χ2=1.169), birth age (t=0.283), birth weight (t=0.547), hospitalization days in NICU (t=1.187), first examination time (t=1.811), first injection time (t=0.492), follow-up time (t=0.899) and ROP condition (χ2=0.854) (P>0.05). In group A, 21 eyes (52.5%) were cured, 17 eyes (42.5%) were improved, 2 eyes (5.0%) were recurred, and no aggravating cases were found. In group B, 24 eyes (54.5%) were cured, 14 eyes (31.8%) were improved, 6 eyes (13.6%) were recurred, and no aggravating cases were found. There was no significant difference of the cure rate (χ2=2.210, P>0.05) and effective (recovery and improvement) rate (χ2=1.814, P=0.269）between two groups after the first injection.ConclusionIntravitreal injection of conbercept with the two doses should be effective in the treatment of ROP.
In recent years, the incidence of primary liver cancer has been increasing, among which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the most common subtype. The treatment of early HCC is mainly surgery, but most patients are not diagnosed until the late stage of the disease. The treatment methods and effects are very limited and the prognosis is very poor. Although targeted therapy has prolonged the overall survival of patients with HCC, the overall efficacy is unsatisfactory. The emergence of immunotherapy has brought new therapeutic prospects for HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, among which programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 are the representative immunological checkpoints, have attracted more attention. This article will introduce the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of advanced HCC, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of advanced HCC.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) and combined treatment for severe Coats disease.
MethodsNineteen Coats disease patients (24 eyes) were enrolled in this retrospective non-comparative interventional clinical study. The patients included 17 males and 2 females. The age was ranged from 1 to 42 years old, with an average of (13.05±6.78) years. The patients included 15 children (age ≤14 years old) and 4 adults (age ≥18 years old). There were 13 patients with 3a stage and 6 patients with 3b stage. The treatment methods including IVR only, IVR combined with cryotherapy, IVR combined with cryotherapy and sclerotomy to drain subretinal fluid, IVR combined with vitrectomy. Treatments were repeated if it was necessary at the first day, the first week and the first month after injection. The interval between treatments was ≥1 month. Eleven patients (57.9%) underwent one treatment, 3 patients (15.8%) underwent 2 treatments, 3 patients (15.8%) underwent 3 treatments, 2 patients (10.5%) underwent 4 treatments. The treatment frequency including 22 times of IVR only, 6 times of IVR combined with cryotherapy, 5 times of IVR combined with cryotherapy and sclerotomy to drain subretinal fluid, 1 time of IVR combined with vitrectomy. The follow-up period was ranged from 6 to 36 months, with an average of (19.11±7.05) months. Visual acuity, retinal reattachment and ocular adverse events were observed.
ResultsThree children (15.8%) were failing to test the visual acuity. Visual acuity was improved in 2 patients (10.5%), stable in 13 patients (68.4%) and decreased in 1 patient (5.3%). Three patients (15.8%) achieved totally retinal reattachment after treatment, while 16 patients (84.2%) achieved partially retinal reattachment. One patient had vitreous hemorrhage. One patient had neovascular glaucoma.
ConclusionIVR and combined treatment were effective for severe Coats disease.
Ras homolog family (Rho)/ Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway widely exists in human and mammal cells, which is closely related to inhibition of repair after optic nerve damage. The expression level of Rho/ROCK signaling pathway-related proteins is up-regulated in glaucoma, and related with the death of retinal ganglionic cell (RGC) and the axon activity. ROCK inhibitors can protect the surviving RGC and promote axon extension with a dose-dependent manner. ROCK inhibitors also can inhibit glial scar formation, lower intraocular pressure and inhibit inflammatory response to some degrees. Rho/ROCK signaling pathway correlates with the optic nerve disease progression, and ROCK inhibitors hope to become a new therapeutic drug.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy for HR+/HER2? breast cancer. Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Data, CNKI, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials on CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy for HR+/HER2? breast cancer from inception to July 5, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.4 software and Stata 14.0 software. Results A total of 8 studies involving 4 580 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly longer in the combination therapy group than those in the endocrine therapy alone group (HR=0.80, 95%CI 0.73 to 0.89, P<0.05; HR=0.54, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.59, P<0.05). The results also showed that patients in the combination therapy group also had significantly higher rates of objective remission and clinical benefit than those in the endocrine therapy group alone (RR=1.47, 95%CI 1.34 to 1.62, P<0.05; RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.30, P<0.05). In addition, the combination treatment group also increased the incidence of haematological toxicity such as neutropenia and leucopenia, but the differences in the incidence of nausea, diarrhoea and headache were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion The combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors with endocrine therapy for HR+/HER2? breast cancer patients improve overall survival, progression-free survival, clinical benefit rate and objective remission rate, with significant long-term and near-term efficacy; however, this regimen increased the incidence of several adverse effects, and clinical use should be considered when considering the occurrence of serious adverse effects.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of proliferatived diabetic retinophathy (PDR) complicated with vitreous hemorrhage by minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery.MethodsProspective clinical study. A total of 50 patients with PDR complicated with vitreous hemorrhage clinically diagnosed in Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital who needed vitrectomy were recruited in this study. According to the principle of informed consent, the patients were divided into two groups: postoperative injection group and the control group. Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients in each group were examined before operation. No significant proliferative changes in the posterior pole and traction retinal detachment were observed. There was significant difference of age between two groups (t=－24.697, P=0.030), but no significant difference of sex (χ2=0.330, P=0.564), duration of diabetes (t=－1.144, P=0.258), logMAR BCVA (t=－0.148, P=0.883), lens state (χ2=0.397, P=0.529), panretinal laser photocoagulation (χ2=1.333, P=0.248). The postoperative injection group was treated with intravitreous injection of 0.05 ml conbercept (10 mg/ml) immediately after 27G minimally invasive vitrectomy. The other treatment and follow-up were the same as those in the postoperative injection group except for conbercept injection. All patients underwent routine slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscope and B-ultrasound examination before operation. The main outcome measure included the time of operation, the incidence rate of iatrogenic retinal holes and silicone oil filling. The recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage, BCVA, intraocular pressure, central retinal thickness (CRT), postoperative complications and progression were recorded 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation.ResultsAt 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months after operation, there was significant difference of logMAR BCVA between the two groups (t=－4.980, －4.840, －4.892, －5.439; P<0.001). At 3 and 6 months after operation, the recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage in the postoperative injection group was lower than that in the control group, but there was no statistical difference between two groups (χ2=3.030, 4.153; P=0.192, 0.103). At 1 week and 1, 3, 6 months after operation, the CRT in the postoperative injection group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was significant (t=－2.622, －2.638, －3.613, －3.037; P=0.012, 0.010, 0.001, 0.004, 0.005). There was no complications such as choroid detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, retinal detachment, iris redness and neovascular glaucoma in all the eyes after operation.ConclusionsIntravitreal injection of conbercept in the treatment of PDR after operation is safe and effective. It can reduce the recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage after vitrectomy, improve the BCVA.
