Xiaohui Yu

High mobility group box 3 promotes cervical cancer proliferation by regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

High mobility group box 3 (HMGB3) plays an important role in the development of various cancer. This study aims to explore whether HMGB3 regulates cervical cancer (CC) progression and elucidate the underlying mechanism. HMGB3 expression in clinical patients' tumor samples were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. HMGB3 overexpression/knockdown were used to investigate its function. Cell apoptosis and cycle were detected by Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry. In vivo tumor model was made by subcutaneous injection of HeLa cells transfected with shRNAs targeting HMGB3 (sh-HMGB31) into the flank area of nude mice. Western blot was used to detect the levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in Hela and CaSki cells transfected with sh-HMGB3 or shRNAs targeting β-catenin. Both messenger RNA and protein levels of HMGB3 were upregulated in CC tissues from patients. High expression level of HMGB3 had positive correlation with serosal invasion, lymph metastasis, and tumor sizes in CC patient. Functional experiments showed that HMGB3 could promote CC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. The expression levels of c-Myc and MMP-7 were increased, resulting in regulating cell apoptosis, cell cycle, and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our data indicated that HMGB3 may serve as an oncoprotein. It could be used as a potential prognostic marker and represent a promising therapeutic strategy for CC treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of the Anti–PD-L1 mAb Socazolimab for Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer: a Phase I Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study

Abstract Purpose: This study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03676959) is an open, phase I dose-escalation and expansion study investigating the safety and efficacy of the recombinant, fully human anti–programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) mAb socazolimab in patients diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients received socazolimab every 2 weeks until disease progression. The study was divided into a dose-escalation phase and a dose-expansion phase. Safety and tolerability were primary endpoints of the dose-escalation phase. The primary endpoints of the dose-expansion phase were safety and the objective response rate (ORR) of the 5 mg/kg dose. Efficacy was assessed by the third-party independent review committee (IRC) using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). Results: 104 patients were successfully enrolled into the study. Twelve patients were included in the dose-escalation phase, with one complete response and two partial responses in the 5 mg/kg treatment group. Ninety-two patients (5 mg/kg) were enrolled in the dose-expansion phase. Fifty-four patients (59.3%) had baseline PD-L1–positive tumor expression (combined positive score ≥1). ORR was 15.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 8.7%–24.5%]. Median PFS was 4.44 months (95% CI, 2.37–5.75 months), and the median OS was 14.72 months (95% CI, 9.59–NE months). ORR of PD-L1–positive patients was 16.7%, and the ORR of PD-L1–negative patients was 17.9%. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that socazolimab has durable safety and efficacy for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer and exhibits a safety profile similar to other anti–PD-1/PD-L1 mAbs.

A Clinical Study of PD-L1 Antibody ZKAB001（Drug Code） in Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer

This is a Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation, and multidose study, aiming to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics(PK) of ZKAB001 (a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the Programmed Death - Ligand 1 (PD-L1) membrane receptor on T lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system) administered every 14 days in subjects with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.