Korean Red Ginseng Enhances Immunotherapeutic Effects of NK Cells via Eosinophils in Metastatic Liver Cancer Model

Metastasis decreases the survival rate of patients with liver cancer. Therefore, novel anti-metastatic strategies are needed. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is often ingested as a functional food with an immune-boosting effect. We investigated a combination of KRG and natural killer (NK) cells as a novel immunotherapy approach. SK-Hep1 cells were injected into the tail vein of NRGA mice to establish an experimental metastasis model. KRG, NK cells, or a combination of KRG and NK cells were administered. Tumor growth was observed using an in vivo imaging system, and metastatic lesions were evaluated by histological analysis and immunohistochemistry. Bioluminescence intensity was lower in the KRG and NK cell combination group than in the other groups, indicating that the combination treatment suppressed the progression of metastasis. CD56 expression was used as a NK cell marker and hematological analysis was performed. The combination treatment also decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and the area of metastatic lesions in liver and bone tissues, as well as increased the eosinophil count. Expression of cytokines-related eosinophils and NK cells was determined by Western blotting analysis. The expression of interleukin 33 (IL33) was induced by the combination of KRG and NK cells. High IL33 expression was associated with prolonged overall survival in the Kaplan–Meier plotter. Our results suggest that KRG enhances the immune activity of NK cells by IL-33 through eosinophils and suppresses metastatic liver cancer progression.

Prognostic Factors of Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis to Liver at Different Ages of Diagnosis: A SEER Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Liver is a common metastatic organ for most malignancies, especially the pancreas. However, evidence for prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer metastasis to the liver at different ages is lacking. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the predictors of patients with pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver grouped by age of diagnosis.Methods: We chose the patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 from the SEER database. The primary lesions of metastatic liver cancer between sexes were compared using the Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical variables. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were the endpoint of the study. The prognostic factors were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, and Cox proportional-hazards regression model.Results: The main primary sites of metastatic liver cancer for our patients are lung and brunchu, sigmoid colon, pancreas, which in males are lung and bronchu, sigmoid colon and pancreas, while breast, lung and bronchu, sigmoid colon in females. Furthermore, we explored the prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver grouped by age at diagnosis. Tumor grade, histology and treatment are valid prognostic factors in all age groups. Additionally, gender and AJCC N stage in age<52 years old, while race and AJCC N stage in age >69 years old were predictors. Surgery alone was the optimal treatment in group age>69 years old, whereas surgery combined with chemotherapy was the best option in the other groups.Conclusion: Our study evaluated the predictors of patients with pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver at various ages of diagnosis.

Prognostic factors of survival in pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver at different ages of diagnosis: a SEER population-based cohort study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Liver is a common metastatic organ for most malignancies, especially the pancreas. However, evidence for prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer metastasis to the liver at different ages is lacking. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the predictors of patients with pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver grouped by age of diagnosis. METHODS We chose the patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 from the SEER database. The primary lesions of metastatic liver cancer between sexes were compared using the Pearson’s chi-square test for categorical variables. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were the endpoint of the study. The prognostic factors were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, and Cox proportional-hazards regression model. RESULTS The main primary sites of metastatic liver cancer for our patients are lung and brunchu, sigmoid colon, pancreas, which in males are lung and bronchu, sigmoid colon and pancreas, while breast, lung and bronchu, sigmoid colon in females. Furthermore, we explored the prognostic factors of pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver grouped by age at diagnosis. Tumor grade, histology and treatment are valid prognostic factors in all age groups. Additionally, gender and AJCC N stage in age<52 years old, while race and AJCC N stage in age>69 years old were predictors. Surgery alone was the optimal treatment in group age>69 years old, whereas surgery combined with chemotherapy was the best option in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS Our study evaluated the predictors of patients with pancreatic cancer metastasis to liver at various ages of diagnosis.