Eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinicopathological studies of prevalence

Introduction
Sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC) of the eyelid is an aggressive tumour with the ability to metastasise and an increased morbidity. Controversies regarding the epidemiology of this malignant eyelid tumour is widespread in the scientific literature. Western reports repeatedly describes eyelid SGC as a rare occurring tumour in general, accounting for 1%–3% of all eyelid tumours, however studies from Asia have uncovered a higher frequency of eyelid SGC including 54% of all eyelid tumours in Japan, and 43%–56% in India. We wish to retrieve observational data of eyelid SGC prevalence in proportion to total eyelid tumours, from pathological studies published worldwide to resolve this controversy.

Methods and analysis
We will search Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus and Google Scholar to identify published reports on eyelid SGC prevalence proportions, aiming to clarify the incidence of the tumour. We will include observational clinicopathological studies reporting prevalence with confirmed histopathology. No limitations on publication date or language will be applied. Data from the individual studies and study quality will be extracted by two individual reviewers. Study quality will be assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Instrument for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Raw proportions will be transformed and pooled using a random effects model for meta-analysis. And subgroup analysis according to geography will be performed. If data are deemed unsuitable for a meta-analysis, a narrative synthesis will be presented. We will judge the certainty of evidence and present whether this has an overall effect on the results. The results may shed light on a long-standing academic disparity of the scientific literature.

Ethics and dissemination
This systematic review does not require ethical approval. The results of this proposed review will be the subject to a publication in an international peer-reviewed journal within the ophthalmic or pathological specialty.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42023487141.

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Efficacy and safety of SBRT combined with sintilimab and IBI305 in patients with advanced HCC and previously failed immunotherapy: study protocol of a phase 2 clinical trial

Introduction
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in China. The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and antiangiogenic drugs, such as bevacizumab and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has been recommended as first-line treatment for advanced HCC. However, two-thirds of patients did not benefit from this form of immunotherapy. Currently, data on the subsequent regimen for patients previously treated with ICIs are lacking. Studies have shown that the combination of radiotherapy (RT) and ICIs is a potentially effective second-line therapy for HCC. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of combined therapy with stereotactic body RT (SBRT), sintilimab and IBI305 (a biosimilar of bevacizumab) in patients with HCC following the progression of first-line ICI therapy.

Methods and analysis
This study is an open-label, single-arm, single-centre, phase 2 trial of 21 patients with advanced HCC in whom previous ICI therapy has failed. Participants will receive approximately 30–40 Gy/5–8F SBRT, followed by 200 mg sintilimab and 15 mg/kg IBI305 intravenously every 3 weeks. Treatment will continue until the development of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. We will use Simon’s two-stage design, with the objective response rate (ORR) as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints include ORR of lesions without RT, disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival and safety.

Ethics and dissemination
The study was authorised by the Medical Ethics Committee. Dissemination of results will occur via a peer-reviewed publication and other relevant media.

Trial registration number
ChiCTR2200056068.

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HBV integrations reshaping genomic structures promote hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mostly characterised by HBV integrations, is prevalent worldwide. Previous HBV studies mainly focused on a few hotspot integrations. However, the oncogenic role of the other HBV integrations remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate HBV integration-induced tumourigenesis further.

Design
Here, we illuminated the genomic structures encompassing HBV integrations in 124 HCCs across ages using whole genome sequencing and Nanopore long reads. We classified a repertoire of integration patterns featured by complex genomic rearrangement. We also conducted a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based gain-of-function genetic screen in mouse hepatocytes. We individually activated each candidate gene in the mouse model to uncover HBV integration-mediated oncogenic aberration that elicits tumourigenesis in mice.

Results
These HBV-mediated rearrangements are significantly enriched in a bridge-fusion-bridge pattern and interchromosomal translocations, and frequently led to a wide range of aberrations including driver copy number variations in chr 4q, 5p (TERT), 6q, 8p, 16q, 9p (CDKN2A/B), 17p (TP53) and 13q (RB1), and particularly, ultra-early amplifications in chr8q. Integrated HBV frequently contains complex structures correlated with the translocation distance. Paired breakpoints within each integration event usually exhibit different microhomology, likely mediated by different DNA repair mechanisms. HBV-mediated rearrangements significantly correlated with young age, higher HBV DNA level and TP53 mutations but were less prevalent in the patients subjected to prior antiviral therapies. Finally, we recapitulated the TONSL and TMEM65 amplification in chr8q led by HBV integration using CRISPR/Cas9 editing and demonstrated their tumourigenic potentials.

Conclusion
HBV integrations extensively reshape genomic structures and promote hepatocarcinogenesis (graphical abstract), which may occur early in a patient’s life.

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High-fat diet promotes liver tumorigenesis via palmitoylation and activation of AKT

Objective
Whether and how the PI3K-AKT pathway, a central node of metabolic homeostasis, is responsible for high-fat-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain a mystery. Characterisation of AKT regulation in this setting will provide new strategies to combat HCC.

Design
Metabolite library screening disclosed that palmitic acid (PA) could activate AKT. In vivo and in vitro palmitoylation assay were employed to detect AKT palmitoylation. Diverse cell and mouse models, including generation of AKT1C77S and AKT1C224S knock-in cells, Zdhhc17 and Zdhhc24 knockout mice and Akt1C224S knock-in mice were employed. Human liver tissues from patients with NASH and HCC, hydrodynamic transfection mouse model, high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD)-induced NASH/HCC mouse model and high-fat and methionine/choline-deficient diet (HFMCD)-induced NASH mouse model were also further explored for our mechanism studies.

Results
By screening a metabolite library, PA has been defined to activate AKT by promoting its palmitoyl modification, an essential step for growth factor-induced AKT activation. Biologically, a high-fat diet could promote AKT kinase activity, thereby promoting NASH and liver cancer. Mechanistically, palmitoyl binding anchors AKT to the cell membrane in a PIP3-independent manner, in part by preventing AKT from assembling into an inactive polymer. The palmitoyltransferases ZDHHC17/24 were characterised to palmitoylate AKT to exert oncogenic effects. Interestingly, the anti-obesity drug orlistat or specific penetrating peptides can effectively attenuate AKT palmitoylation and activation by restricting PA synthesis or repressing AKT modification, respectively, thereby antagonising liver tumorigenesis.

Conclusions
Our findings elucidate a novel fine-tuned regulation of AKT by PA-ZDHHC17/24-mediated palmitoylation, and highlight tumour therapeutic strategies by taking PA-restricted diets, limiting PA synthesis, or directly targeting AKT palmitoylation.

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High-fat diet-induced AKT-palmitoylation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a breakthrough mechanistic investigation

Primary liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, accounting for over 700 000 deaths each year.1 In the last decade, the contribution of diet has been unravelled as a significant driver of hepatic oncogenesis.2 Specifically, diets high in fat have been associated with increased risk for the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in many epidemiological studies,3 4 and these findings have been recapitulated in various in vitro and in vivo models. Although the link between diet and tumourigenesis has been convincingly established, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In Gut, Bu et al hypothesised that exogenous metabolites from the diet might play a direct regulatory role in protein signalling and specifically in the activation of protein kinase B (AKT).5 The PI3K-AKT pathway is a well-characterised transducer of extracellular signals and promotes tumourigenesis…

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Prognostic and clinicopathological value of Ki-67 in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
The relationship between Ki-67 expression and the prognosis of patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been extensively studied. However, their findings were inconsistent. Consequently, the present meta-analysis was performed to identify the precise value of Ki-67 in predicting the prognosis of ESCC.

Design
The current meta-analysis was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Data sources
Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched until 26 September 2023.

Statistical methods
Pooled HRs and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated to estimate the role of Ki-67 in predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in ESCC. Between-study heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochrane’s Q test and I2 statistics. Specifically, significant heterogeneities were identified based on p50% so the random-effects model should be used; otherwise, the fixed-effects model should be used. The relationship between Ki-67 and clinicopathological characteristics of ESCC was evaluated by combining ORs with their corresponding 95% CIs.

Results
11 articles with 1124 patients were included in the present meta-analysis. Based on our analysis, increased Ki-67 expression was markedly associated with poor OS (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.28, p=0.006) and DFS (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.43, p=0.002) in ESCC. Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed that Ki-67 upregulation significantly predicted OS and DFS when a Ki-67 threshold of >30% was used. Nonetheless, Ki-67 was not significantly associated with sex, T stage, N stage, TNM stage, tumour differentiation or tumour location.

Conclusions
In the present meta-analysis, high Ki-67 expression significantly predicted OS and DFS in patients with ESCC, especially when Ki-67 >30% was used as the threshold. These results suggest that Ki-67 could serve as an effective and reliable prognostic indicator for ESCC.

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Targeting MMP9 in CTNNB1 mutant hepatocellular carcinoma restores CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumour immunity and improves anti-PD-1 efficacy

Objective
The gain of function (GOF) CTNNB1 mutations (CTNNB1 GOF ) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cause significant immune escape and resistance to anti-PD-1. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of CTNNB1 GOF HCC-mediated immune escape and raise a new therapeutic strategy to enhance anti-PD-1 efficacy in HCC.

Design
RNA sequencing was performed to identify the key downstream genes of CTNNB1 GOF associated with immune escape. An in vitro coculture system, murine subcutaneous or orthotopic models, spontaneously tumourigenic models in conditional gene-knock-out mice and flow cytometry were used to explore the biological function of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) in tumour progression and immune escape. Single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics were used to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms of MMP9.

Results
MMP9 was significantly upregulated in CTNNB1 GOF HCC. MMP9 suppressed infiltration and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, which was critical for CTNNB1 GOF to drive the suppressive tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) and anti-PD-1 resistance. Mechanistically, CTNNB1 GOF downregulated sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), resulting in promotion of β-catenin/lysine demethylase 4D (KDM4D) complex formation that fostered the transcriptional activation of MMP9. The secretion of MMP9 from HCC mediated slingshot protein phosphatase 1 (SSH1) shedding from CD8+ T cells, leading to the inhibition of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3)-mediated intracellular of G protein-coupled receptors signalling. Additionally, MMP9 blockade remodelled the TIME and potentiated the sensitivity of anti-PD-1 therapy in HCC.

Conclusions
CTNNB1 GOF induces a suppressive TIME by activating secretion of MMP9. Targeting MMP9 reshapes TIME and potentiates anti-PD-1 efficacy in CTNNB1 GOF HCC.

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Targeting metalloproteases is a promising strategy to enhance immunotherapy responses by overcoming immune exclusion in hepatocellular carcinoma

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1), has revolutionised cancer treatment across various malignancies. Despite this groundbreaking progress, a considerable cohort of patients fails to derive benefit from anti-PD(L)1 mAb therapy due to primary and secondary resistance mechanisms. The percentage of patients who respond to these treatments varies among different tumour types, ranging from 40% in more sensitive tumours, like metastatic melanoma, to virtually zero in less sensitive tumours such as glioblastoma.1 Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the deadliest solid tumours, emerges as a moderately sensitive tumour, where monotherapy with anti-PD(L)1 agents demonstrates a response in only about 15% of cases.2 These encouraging yet constrained clinical outcomes have elevated immunotherapy to a pivotal status in clinical practice, instigating evaluations of combinatory approaches with other agents alongside anti-PD(L)1 mAbs to…

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