Incidence rates have risen for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, whereas rates have remained stable for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in many western countries. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze trends in incidence rates for esophageal cancer and gastric cardia cancer in Cixian county, which is one of the high-risk areas for esophageal cancer in China as well as in the world. The data were obtained from the Cixian Cancer Registry, which is a population-based registry. All the data were checked and analyzed using SPSS 11.5. Between the years 1988 and 2003 there were 11 183 cases of esophageal cancer in the county. The age-standardized incidence rate was 168.55 per 100 000. In 1988, the age-standardized incidence rate for male patients was 250.76/100 000; it declined to 160.05/100 000 in 2003, representing a decrease of 36.2%. The age-standardized incidence rate for female patients was 153.86/100 000 in 1988; it declined to 82.55/100 000 in 2003, showing a decrease of 46.3%. A slight decreasing trend was observed during the period, with a yearly decrease of 3.61% in male patients and 3.39% in female patients. For gastric cardia cancer, there were 1654 cases from 1988 to 2003. The age-standardized incidence rate was 25.58 per 100 000. The age-standardized incidence rate for male patients was 13.75/100 000 in 1988; it increased to 28.55/100 000 in 2003, with a yearly increase of 7.65%. The age-standardized incidence rate for female patients was 7.12/100 000 in 1988; it increased to 12.91/100 000, with a yearly increase of 5.44%. A statistically significant increasing trend of gastric cardia cancer was observed during the study period. Cixian county is a geographical region with a very high incidence of esophageal cancer and cardia cancer. The trend in the incidence rates of esophageal cancer had decreased slightly; on the other hand, gastric cardia cancer showed a significantly increased trend in the last 16 years. Detailed epidemiological analyses of demographic trends and risk factors will help to guide future cancer control strategies.

To investigate the effects of recombinant human endostatin Endostar on metastasis and angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of colorectal cancer cells in a mouse xenograft model. Colon cancer cells SW620 were injected subcutaneously into the left hind flank of nude mice to establish mouse xenograft models. The mice were treated with normal saline or Endostar subcutaneously every other day. The growth and lymph node metastasis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in tumor tissue were detected. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were studied by flow cytometry. The expression of VEGF-A, -C, or -D in SW620 cells was determined by immunoblotting assays. Endostar inhibited tumor growth and the rate of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). The density of blood vessels in or around the tumor area was 12.27 ± 1.21 and 22.25 ± 2.69 per field in Endostar-treated mice and controls (P < 0.05), respectively. Endostar also decreased the density of lymphatic vessels in tumor tissues (7.84 ± 0.81 vs. 13.83 ± 1.08, P < 0.05). Endostar suppresses angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the lymph nodes with metastases, simultaneously. The expression of VEGF-A, -C and -D in SW620 cells treated with Endostar was substantially lower than that of controls. Endostar inhibited growth and lymph node metastasis of colon cancer cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in a mouse xenograft model of colon cancer.

This study aimed at estimating the effects of epidemiological risk factors for lung cancer in never-smokers. A multicenter and matched case-control study was conducted in the cities of Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, Qinhuangdao, Baoding, and Chengde in North China. It comprised 1,086 cases and 2,172 healthy subjects as controls, all of whom had smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes. Patients were newly diagnosed with lung cancer between January 2015 and December 2017. Each patient was matched to two control participants for sex and age (±5 years). Both univariate analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Subsequently, data were stratified by participant sex and different air quality conditions for analysis. Type of job, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace or at home, above-average exposure to cooking oil fumes, depression, poor sleep quality, occupational exposure, cardiovascular diseases, and family history of cancer were revealed as significant risk factors for lung cancer in never-smokers. However, higher educational level, frequent use of a PM_2.5 mask, cooking using clean fuels, and consumption of dietary supplements and tea reduced the risk of lung cancer. Risk factors varied between males and females. In areas with air pollution, the number of risk factors was greater than elsewhere, and the magnitudes of their effects were different. Hence, focusing on these risk factors is important for the prevention and control of lung cancer in never-smokers.

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As the leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality globally among males in 2012, lung cancer is a disease of particular concern. Previously, the neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were revealed to be prognostic factors for various types of cancer, including lung cancer. In the present study, a retrospective review was conducted with patients who were diagnosed with lung cancer between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005 in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. A total of 695 patients were included, and the optimal cutoffs of the NLR and the PLR were 6.0 and 248.0, respectively. There were statistically significant associations between tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, surgery, metastasis incidence and NLR (P<0.001). The associations between TNM stage, surgery incidence and PLR were also revealed to be statistically significant (P<0.001). Patients in the low NLR group demonstrated longer overall survival (OS) than patients in the high NLR group (819.57 days vs. 629.86 days, P=0.041). The NLR at diagnosis was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor for OS. Thus, the NLR may be a promising approach for predicting the prognosis of patients with lung cancer.