Imbalance of Circulating Follicular Regulatory and Follicular Helper T Cell Subpopulations Is Associated with Disease Progression and Serum CYFRA 21-1 Levels in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective This study aimed to investigate the changes of follicular helper T(TFH)and follicular regulatory T(TFR)cell subpopulations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and their significance.Methods Peripheral blood was collected from 58 NSCLC patients at different stages and 38 healthy controls.Flow cytometry was used to detect TFH cell subpopulation based on programmed death 1(PD-1)and inducible co-stimulator(ICOS),and TFR cell subpopulation based on cluster determinant 45RA(CD45RA)and forkhead box protein P3(FoxP3).The levels of interleukin-10(IL-10),interleukin-17a(IL-17a),interleukin-21(IL-21),and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)in the plasma were measured,and changes in circulating B cell subsets and plasma IgG levels were also analyzed.The correlation between serum cytokeratin fragment antigen 21-1(CYFRA 21-1)levels and TFH,TFR,or B cell subpopulations was further explored.Results The TFR/TFH ratio increased significantly in NSCLC patients.The CD45RA^(+)FoxP3^(int) TFR subsets were increased,with their proportions increasing in stages Ⅱ to Ⅲ and decreasing in stage IV.PD-1^(+)ICOS+TFH cells showed a downward trend with increasing stages.Plasma IL-21 and TGF-β concentrations were increased in NSCLC patients compared with healthy controls.Plasmablasts,plasma IgG levels,and CD45RA^(+)FoxP3^(int) TFR cells showed similar trends.TFH numbers and plasmablasts were positively correlated with CYFRA 21-1 in stages Ⅰ-Ⅲ and negatively correlated with CYFRA 21-1 in stage IV.Conclusion Circulating TFH and TFR cell subpopulations and plasmablasts dynamically change in different stages of NSCLC,which is associated with serum CYFRA 21-1 levels and reflects disease progression.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND This study was designed to investigate the clinical outcomes of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)in the perioperative period in elderly patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).AIM To investigate the potential enhancement of video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)in postoperative recovery in elderly patients with NSCLC.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 85 elderly NSCLC patients who underwent ERAS(the ERAS group)and 327 elderly NSCLC patients who received routine care(the control group)after VATS at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between May 2015 and April 2017.After propensity score matching of baseline data,we analysed the postoperative stay,total hospital expenses,postoperative 48-h pain score,and postoperative complication rate for the 2 groups of patients who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection.RESULTS After propensity score matching,ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay(6.96±4.16 vs 8.48±4.18 d,P=0.001)and total hospital expenses(48875.27±18437.5 vs 55497.64±21168.63 CNY,P=0.014)and improved the satisfaction score(79.8±7.55 vs 77.35±7.72,P=0.029)relative to those for routine care.No significant between-group difference was observed in postoperative 48-h pain score(4.68±1.69 vs 5.28±2.1,P=0.090)or postoperative complication rate(21.2%vs 27.1%,P=0.371).Subgroup analysis showed that ERAS significantly reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and increased the satisfaction score of patients who underwent lobectomy but not of patients who underwent sublobar resection.CONCLUSION ERAS effectively reduced the postoperative hospital stay and total hospital expenses and improved the satisfaction score in the perioperative period for elderly NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy but not for patients who underwent sublobar resection.

Clinical and molecular significance of homologous recombination deficiency positive non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese population:An integrated genomic and transcriptional analysis

Objective:The clinical significance of homologous recombination deficiency(HRD)in breast cancer,ovarian cancer,and prostate cancer has been established,but the value of HRD in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)has not been fully investigated.This study aimed to systematically analyze the HRD status of untreated NSCLC and its relationship with patient prognosis to further guide clinical care.Methods:A total of 355 treatment-naïve NSCLC patients were retrospectively enrolled.HRD status was assessed using the AmoyDx Genomic Scar Score(GSS),with a score of≥50 considered HRD-positive.Genomic,transcriptomic,tumor microenvironmental characteristics and prognosis between HRD-positive and HRDnegative patients were analyzed.Results:Of the patients,25.1%(89/355)were HRD-positive.Compared to HRD-negative patients,HRDpositive patients had more somatic pathogenic homologous recombination repair(HRR)mutations,higher tumor mutation burden(TMB)(P<0.001),and fewer driver gene mutations(P<0.001).Furthermore,HRD-positive NSCLC had more amplifications in PI3K pathway and cell cycle genes,MET and MYC in epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)/anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)mutant NSCLC,and more PIK3CA and AURKA in EGFR/ALK wild-type NSCLC.HRD-positive NSCLC displayed higher tumor proliferation and immunosuppression activity.HRD-negative NSCLC showed activated signatures of major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-II,interferon(IFN)-γand effector memory CD8+T cells.HRD-positive patients had a worse prognosis and shorter progressionfree survival(PFS)to targeted therapy(first-and third-generation EGFR-TKIs)(P=0.042).Additionally,HRDpositive,EGFR/ALK wild-type patients showed a numerically lower response to platinum-free immunotherapy regimens.Conclusions:Unique genomic and transcriptional characteristics were found in HRD-positive NSCLC.Poor prognosis and poor response to EGFR-TKIs and immunotherapy were observed in HRD-positive NSCLC.This study highlights potential actionable alterations in HRD-positive NSCLC,suggesting possible combinational therapeutic strategies for these patients.

IMpower210:A phase Ⅲ study of second-line atezolizumab vs. docetaxel in East Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: IMpower210(NCT02813785) explored the efficacy and safety of single-agent atezolizumab vs.docetaxel as second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) in East Asian patients.Methods: Key eligibility criteria for this phase Ⅲ, open-label, randomized study included age ≥18 years;histologically documented advanced NSCLC per the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system(7th edition);Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1;and disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either atezolizumab(1,200 mg) or docetaxel(75 mg/m^(2)). The primary study endpoint was overall survival(OS) in the intention-to-treat(ITT) population with wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor expression(ITT EGFR-WT) and in the overall ITT population.Results: Median OS in the ITT EGFR-WT population(n=467) was 12.3 [95% confidence interval(95% CI),10.3-13.8] months in the atezolizumab arm(n=312) and 9.9(95% CI, 7.8-13.9) months in the docetaxel arm[n=155;stratified hazard ratio(HR), 0.82;95% CI, 0.66-1.03]. Median OS in the overall ITT population was 12.5(95% CI, 10.8-13.8) months with atezolizumab treatment and 11.1(95% CI, 8.4-14.2) months(n=377) with docetaxel treatment(n=188;stratified HR, 0.87;95% CI, 0.71-1.08). Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs) occurred in 18.4% of patients in the atezolizumab arm and 50.0% of patients in the docetaxel arm.Conclusions: IMpower210 did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint of OS in the ITT EGFR-WT or overall ITT populations. Atezolizumab was comparatively more tolerable than docetaxel, with a lower incidence of grade3/4 TRAEs.

Physical exercise reverses immuno-cold tumor microenvironment via inhibiting SQLE in non-small cell lung cancer

Dear Editor,Physical exercise has been shown to be associated with reduced cancer incidence and cancer-associated mortality[1,2],but the underlying mechanisms are obscure.Immunometabolic regulation has emerged as one of the most prominent mechanisms explaining the effects of exercise on cancer[1,2].Physical exercise primarily lowers blood cholesterol and triglycerides,and protects against cardiovascular diseases[3].However,whether physical exercise can modulate cholesterol metabolism in tumor cells is currently unknown.

Machine learning based on metabolomics unveils neutrophil extracellular trap-related metabolic signatures in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing chemoimmunotherapy

BACKGROUND Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)is the primary form of lung cancer,and the combination of chemotherapy with immunotherapy offers promising treatment options for patients suffering from this disease.However,the emergence of drug resistance significantly limits the effectiveness of these therapeutic strategies.Consequently,it is imperative to devise methods for accurately detecting and evaluating the efficacy of these treatments.AIM To identify the metabolic signatures associated with neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)and chemoimmunotherapy efficacy in NSCLC patients.METHODS In total,159 NSCLC patients undergoing first-line chemoimmunotherapy were enrolled.We first investigated the characteristics influencing clinical efficacy.Circulating levels of NETs and cytokines were measured by commercial kits.Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry quantified plasma metabolites,and differential metabolites were identified.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,support vector machine-recursive feature elimination,and random forest algorithms were employed.By using plasma metabolic profiles and machine learning algorithms,predictive metabolic signatures were established.RESULTS First,the levels of circulating interleukin-8,neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,and NETs were closely related to poor efficacy of first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Patients were classed into a low NET group or a high NET group.A total of 54 differential plasma metabolites were identified.These metabolites were primarily involved in arachidonic acid and purine metabolism.Three key metabolites were identified as crucial variables,including 8,9-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid,L-malate,and bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate(18:1/16:0).Using metabolomic sequencing data and machine learning methods,key metabolic signatures were screened to predict NET level as well as chemoimmunotherapy efficacy.CONCLUSION The identified metabolic signatures may effectively distinguish NET levels and predict clinical benefit from chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC patients.

Stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer with multiple metastases to the small intestine leading to intussusception: A case report

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal tract metastasis from lung cancer is rare and compared to small cell lung cancer(SCLC),non-SCLC(NSCLC)is even less likely to metastasize in this manner.Additionally,small intestinal tumors can also present with diverse complications,some of which require urgent intervention.CASE SUMMARY In this report,we detail a unique case of stage IV lung cancer,where the presence of small intestine tumors led to intussusception.Subsequent to a small intestine resection,pathology confirmed that all three tumors within the small intestine were metastases from adenocarcinoma of the lung.The postoperative follow-up period extended beyond 14 mo.CONCLUSION In patients with stage IV NSCLC,local tumor control can be achieved with various treatments.However,if small intestinal metastasis occurs,surgical intervention remains necessary,as it may improve survival.

Correlation between pre-anesthesia anxiety and emergence agitation in non-small cell lung cancer surgery patients

BACKGROUND Preoperative anxiety is a common emotional problem during the perioperative period and may adversely affect postoperative recovery.Emergence agitation(EA)is a common complication of general anesthesia that may increase patient discomfort and hospital stay and may be associated with the development of postoperative complications.Pre-anesthetic anxiety may be associated with the development of EA,but studies in this area are lacking.AIM To determine the relationship between pre-anesthetic anxiety and EA after radical surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS Eighty patients with NSCLC undergoing surgical treatment between June 2020 and June 2023 were conveniently sampled.We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale’s(HADS)anxiety subscale(HADS-A)to determine patients’anxiety at four time points(T1-T4):Patients’preoperative visit,waiting period in the surgical waiting room,after entering the operating room,and before anesthesia induction,respectively.The Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale(RSAS)examined EA after surgery.Scatter plots of HADS-A and RSAS scores assessed the correlation between patients’pre-anesthesia anxiety status and EA.We performed a partial correlation analysis of HADS-A scores with RSAS scores.RESULTS NSCLC patients’HADS-A scores gradually increased at the four time points:7.33±2.03 at T1,7.99±2.22 at T2,8.05±2.81 at T3,and 8.36±4.17 at T4.The patients’postoperative RSAS score was 4.49±1.18,and 27 patients scored≥5,indicating that 33.75%patients had EA.HADS-A scores at T3 and T4 were significantly higher in patients with EA(9.67±3.02 vs 7.23±2.31,12.56±4.10 vs 6.23±2.05,P<0.001).Scatter plots showed the highest correlation between HADS-A and RSAS scores at T3 and T4.Partial correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between HADS-A and RSAS scores at T3 and T4(r=0.296,0.314,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Agitation during anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing radical resection for NSCLC correlated with anxiety at the time of entering the operating room and before anesthesia induction.

Research progress on dynamic monitoring of ctDNA and drug resistance related concomitant mutations in non-small cell lung cancer

Owing to significantly prolonged survival,targeted therapy has become standardized recommendation for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with mutated driver genes.However,the genetic status of lung cancer patients is dynamic.By dynamically monitoring the evolution of genes status,differential genes and concomitant genes related to progressive disease could be confirmed early,so as to achieve a more accurate and comprehensive insight of the whole process management of targeted therapy for lung cancer patients.Under the guidance of accurate genetic testing results,it is helpful to provide patients with more effective,long-term,and stable individualized targeted therapy.

Concomitant epidermal growth factor receptor mutation/c-ros oncogene 1 rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer: A case report

BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)mutation and c-ros oncogene 1(ROS1)rearrangement are key genetic alterations and predictive tumor markers for non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and are typically considered to be mutually exc-lusive.EGFR/ROS1 co-mutation is a rare event,and the standard treatment appr-oach for such cases is still equivocal.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with lung adenocar-cinoma,with concomitant EGFR L858R mutation and ROS1 rearrangement.The patient received two cycles of chemotherapy after surgery,but the disease prog-ressed.Following 1-month treatment with gefitinib,the disease progressed again.However,after switching to crizotinib,the lesion became stable.Currently,crizotinib has been administered for over 53 months with a remarkable treatment effect.CONCLUSION The efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and crizotinib was vastly different in this NSCLC patient with EGFR/ROS1 co-mutation.This report will aid future treatment of such patients.

Analysis and Review of Downregulated Actin Cytoskeletal Proteins in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties of NSCLC proteins is a potential alternative for developing treatment strategies. Towards this, 35 downregulated actin cytoskeletal proteins on NSCLC prognosis and treatment were studied by examining their protein-protein interactions, gene ontology enrichment terms, and signaling pathways. Using PubMed, various proteins in NSCLC were identified. The protein-protein interactions and functional associations of these proteins were examined using the STRING database. The focal adhesion signaling pathway was selected from all available KEGG and Wiki pathways because of its role in regulating gene expression, facilitating cell movement and reproduction, and significantly impacting NSCLC. The protein-protein interaction network of the 35 downregulated actin cytoskeleton proteins revealed that ACTG1, ACTR2, ACTR3, ANXA2, ARPC4, FLNA, TLN1, CALD1, MYL6, MYH9, MYH10, TPM1, TPM3, TPM4, PFN1, IQGAP1, MSN, and ZXY exhibited the highest number of interactions. Whereas HSPB1, CTNNA1, KRT17, KRT7, FLNB, SEPT2, and TUBA1B displayed medium interactions, while UTRN, TUBA1B, and DUSP23 had relatively fewer interactions. It was discovered that focal adhesions are critical in connecting membrane receptors with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, protein kinases, phosphatases, and adapter proteins were identified as key signaling molecules in this process, greatly influencing cell shape, motility, and gene expression. Our analysis shows that the focal adhesion pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC and is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Efficacy and Safety of Primary Radiotherapy in Combination with EGFR-TKIs for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring EGFR Mutation

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKI with the radiotherapy in EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 72 patients with stage IV lung cancer with EGFR-sensitive mutation. Patients in the A group were treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) combined with radiotherapy for primary tumors (34 cases). The B group was treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI alone until the disease progressed (38 cases). PFS, OS, pulmonary infection and hematological toxicity during treatment were commented in both groups. Results: The objective remission rate was 47.1% (16/34) in the A group and 21.1% (8/38) in the B group. There was a significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in hematological toxicity between the A group and the B group. There were 10 patients (29.4%) with degree II pulmonary infection in the A group and 3 patients (7.9%) in the B group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant, suggesting that the incidence of pneumonia in the A group was higher than that in the B group. The median PFS (Progression-Free Survival)) and OS (Overall Survival) of the A group were significantly longer than those of the B group (16.5 months vs 9 months) and the median OS (36 months vs 19 months). The PFS and OS in the A group were significantly longer than those in the B group. Conclusion: EGFR-TKI combined with primary radiotherapy can significantly prolong the drug resistance time of EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC.

Pang Fuwan Uses Yao Medicine to Observe the Therapeutic Effects on the Physical and Mental Symptoms of Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: Investigate the efficacy and safety of Yao Medicine in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma, and explore the best therapeutic measure for clinical benefit. Methods: From July 2020 to July 2022, 84 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma were selected and randomly divided into the Observation Group and control group, and the control group was treated with routine Western medicine, with 42 cases in each group. The activity of daily living (ADL) was assessed before and after treatment, meanwhile, the self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety SAS (SAS) were used to assess the improvement of a bad mood, and quality of life SF-36 was used to assess the quality of life, to judge the efficacy and safety. Results: The effective rate of observation group was 91.67%. The effective rate of the control group was 76.19%. The effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P 0.05). There were no significant differences in the scores of SDS, SAS and quality of life between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05), and after treatment, the scores of SDS, SAS and quality of life in the two groups were compared with those in the control group (P > 0.05), the scores of VAS, SDS and SAS decreased significantly, while ESCV, angle of straight leg elevation, ADL, physiological score, emotional score, social score and health status score increased significantly, the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: Yao Medicine can improve the psychosomatic symptoms of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma better, with better efficacy and higher safety.

Clinical Effect of Tislelizumab Combined with Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Stage IIIb-IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective:To analyze the therapeutic effect of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIb-IV non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:A total of 50 patients with stage IIIb-IV NSCLC admitted between January 2022 and January 2024 were randomly divided into two groups using a random number table.The observation group included 25 cases treated with tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy,while the reference group included 25 cases treated with conventional chemotherapy.The clinical control rate,adverse reaction rate,tumor markers,immune function indicators,and quality of life scores were compared between the two groups.Results:The observation group had a higher clinical control rate and a lower adverse reaction rate compared to the reference group(P<0.05).Before treatment,there were no significant differences in tumor markers,immune function indicators,and quality of life scores between the two groups(P>0.05).Three months after treatment,the tumor marker levels in the observation group were lower than those in the reference group.Except for CD8^(+),all immune function indicators in the observation group were higher than those in the reference group,and the quality-of-life scores in the observation group were higher than those in the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Implementing tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with stage IIIb-IV NSCLC can improve the clinical control rate,reduce the adverse reaction rate,lower tumor marker levels,protect immune function,and improve quality of life.

Effects and translatomics characteristics of a small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3 against non-small cell lung cancer

In non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),the heterogeneity promotes drug resistance,and the restricted expression of programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)limits the immunotherapy benefits.Based on the mechanisms related to translation regulation and the association with PD-L1 of methyltransferaselike 3(METTL3),the novel small-molecule inhibitor STM2457 is assumed to be useful for the treatment of NSCLC.We evaluated the efficacy of STM2457 in vivo and in vitro and confirmed the effects of its inhibition on disease progression.Next,we explored the effect of STM2457 on METTL3 and revealed its effects on the inhibition of catalytic activity and upregulation of METTL3 protein expression.Importantly,we described the genome-wide characteristics of multiple omics data acquired from RNA sequencing,ribosome profiling,and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing data under STM2457 treatment or METTL3 knockout.We also constructed a model for the regulation of the translation of METTL3 and PD-L1.Finally,we found PD-L1 upregulation by STM2457 in vivo and in vitro.In conclusion,STM2457 is a potential novel suppressor based on its inhibitory effect on tumor progression and may be able to overcome the heterogeneity based on its impact on the translatome.Furthermore,it can improve the immunotherapy outcomes based on PDL1 upregulation in NSCLC.

Effect of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy on Diverse Organ Lesions in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Objective The combination of stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)is actively being explored in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients.However,little is known about the optimal fractionation and radiotherapy target lesions in this scenario.This study investigated the effect of SBRT on diverse organ lesions and radiotherapy dose fractionation regimens on the prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs.Methods The medical records of advanced NSCLC patients consecutively treated with ICIs and SBRT were retrospectively reviewed at our institution from Dec.2015 to Sep.2021.Patients were grouped according to radiation sites.Progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were recorded using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between different treatment groups using the log-rank(Mantel-Cox)test.Results A total of 124 advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs combined with SBRT were identified in this study.Radiation sites included lung lesions(lung group,n=43),bone metastases(bone group,n=24),and brain metastases(brain group,n=57).Compared with the brain group,the mean PFS(mPFS)in the lung group was significantly prolonged by 13.3 months(8.5 months vs.21.8 months,HR=0.51,95%CI:0.28–0.92,P=0.0195),and that in the bone group prolonged by 9.5 months with a 43%reduction in the risk of disease progression(8.5 months vs.18.0 months,HR=0.57,95%CI:0.29–1.13,P=0.1095).The mPFS in the lung group was prolonged by 3.8 months as compared with that in the bone group.The mean OS(mOS)in the lung and bone groups was longer than that of the brain group,and the risk of death decreased by up to 60%in the lung and bone groups as compared with that of the brain group.When SBRT was concurrently given with ICIs,the mPFS in the lung and brain groups were significantly longer than that of the bone group(29.6 months vs.16.5 months vs.12.1 months).When SBRT with 8–12 Gy per fraction was combined with ICIs,the mPFS in the lung group was significantly prolonged as compared with that of the bone and brain groups(25.4 months vs.15.2 months vs.12.0 months).Among patients receiving SBRT on lung lesions and brain metastases,the mPFS in the concurrent group was longer than that of the SBRT→ICIs group(29.6 months vs.11.4 months,P=0.0003 and 12.1 months vs.8.9 months,P=0.2559).Among patients receiving SBRT with<8 Gy and 8–12 Gy per fraction,the mPFS in the concurrent group was also longer than that of the SBRT→ICIs group(20.1 months vs.5.3 months,P=0.0033 and 24.0 months vs.13.4 months,P=0.1311).The disease control rates of the lung,bone,and brain groups were 90.7%,83.3%,and 70.1%,respectively.Conclusion The study demonstrated that the addition of SBRT on lung lesions versus bone and brain metastases to ICIs improved the prognosis in advanced NSCLC patients.This improvement was related to the sequence of radiotherapy combined with ICIs and the radiotherapy fractionation regimens.Dose fractionation regimens of 8–12 Gy per fraction and lung lesions as radiotherapy targets might be the appropriate choice for advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs combined with SBRT.

Serum albumin as a prognostic predictor reflecting host immunity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:Serum albumin(ALB)can transport nutrients to circulating and local immune cells by passing through blood vessels and has attracted attention as a prognostic predictor of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)because it reflects the host immunity from peripheral blood(PBL)to the tumor microenvironment. Methods:Clinical data regarding the PBL and tumor tissues were obtained at The First Hospital of Jilin University between February 2009 and March 2017.We detected indices of glucose and lipid metabolism,classified and counted PBL lymphocytes using flow cy-tometry,determined the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by quantitative immunofluorescence,and analyzed the T-cell receptor(TCR)rep-ertoire by high-throughput sequencing of the TCR β-chain.The correlations between ALB and metabolic immune indices were analyzed by t tests and Pearson chi-square test. Results:A total of 211 enrolled NSCLC patients were divided into a relatively high-ALB group(>41.75 g/L,n = 56)and a low-ALB group(≤41.75 g/L,n = 155);patients with high ALB had lower Treg cells(P<0.05)and more CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in the PBL(P<0.01)and a higher proportion of stromal CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(P = 0.047)than patients with low ALB.High ALB was also significantly related to more diversity in the TCR repertoire(P = 0.0021,r2 = 0.5481).Moreover,ALB was identified as an in-dependent prognostic factor based on a multivariate Cox regression analysis(P = 0.032;hazard ratio(HR)= 1.804;95%confidence interval(CI)= 1.035-3.146).The median overall survival in patients with low ALB vs high ALB was 28.2 vs 42.2 months(P=0.0142),respectively.Among patients with nonmetastatic NSCLC(stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ),there was a higher incidence of distant metastasis in the low-ALB group than that in the high-ALB group(41.3%and 22.2%,P=0.043).A low ALB also had a strong association with a higher risk for disease progression(P<0.001)and death(P<0.01;HR = 0.555;95%CI= 0.312-0.988). Conclusions:Albumin could affect the host immunity,and high ALB predicted a reduced risk of distant metastasis and improved the prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Chemotherapy-free radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors:a new regimen for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer?

Maintenance immunotherapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy remains the standard therapeutic approach in patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer(LA-NSCLC).The efficacy of pembrolizumab without chemotherapy in stage IV NSCLC has incited interest in similar approaches for LA-NSCLC.Several recent investigations involving the synergistic potential of immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy(i RT)have generated encouraging results.This review discusses the existing studies and prospective directions of chemotherapy-free i RT strategies in unresectable LA-NSCLC.Although the initial findings of chemotherapy-free i RT strategies have shown promising efficacy,we must consider the methodologic limitations of current studies and the myriad of challenges that accompany the implementation of chemotherapy-free i RT.These challenges include determining the optimal dose and fractionation,precise target volume delineation,and identification of additional suitable patient cohorts.Furthermore,the feasibility of chemotherapy-free i RT as a novel treatment modality for select patients with LA-NSCLC is contingent upon validation through randomized phase III trials.

Intraoperative photodynamic therapy for tracheal mass in non-small cell lung cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND Tracheal neoplasms represent less than 0.1%of all malignancies and have no established treatment guidelines.Surgical resection with reconstruction is the primary treatment.This study demonstrates successful treatment of concurrent lung and tracheal tumors using surgical excision and intraoperative photodynamic therapy(PDT),highlighting the effectiveness and safety of this approach.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old male with a history of smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was diagnosed with tracheal squamous cell carcinoma and right lower lobe adenocarcinoma.A multidisciplinary team created a treatment plan involving tumor resection and PDT.The tracheal tumor was removed through a tracheal incision and this was followed by intraluminal PDT.The trachea was repaired and a right lower lobectomy was performed.The patient received a second PDT treatment postoperatively and was discharged 10 d after the tracheal surgery,without complications.He then underwent platinum-based chemotherapy for lymphovascular invasion of lung cancer.Three-month postoperative bronchoscopy revealed normal tracheal mucosa with a scar at the resection site and no evidence of tumor recurrence in the trachea or lung.CONCLUSION Our case of concurrent tracheal and lung cancers was successfully treated with surgical excision and intraoperative PDT which proved safe and effective in this patient.

Biological insights in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung oncogenesis relies on intracellular cysteine to overcome oxidative stress.Several tumor types,including non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),upregulate the system x-c cystine/glutamate antiporter(xCT)through overexpression of the cystine transporter SLC7A11,thus sustaining intracellular cysteine levels to support glutathione synthesis.Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)serves as a master regulator of oxidative stress resistance by regulating SLC7A11,whereas Kelch-like ECH-associated protein(KEAP1)acts as a cytoplasmic repressor of the oxidative responsive transcription factor NRF2.Mutations in KEAP1/NRF2 and p53 induce SLC7A11 activation in NSCLC.Extracellular cystine is crucial in supplying the intracellular cysteine levels necessary to combat oxidative stress.Disruptions in cystine availability lead to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation,thus resulting in a type of cell death called ferroptosis.Pharmacologic inhibitors of xCT(either SLC7A11 or GPX4)induce ferroptosis of NSCLC cells and other tumor types.When cystine uptake is impaired,the intracellular cysteine pool can be sustained by the transsulfuration pathway,which is catalyzed by cystathionine-B-synthase(CBS)and cystathionine g-lyase(CSE).The involvement of exogenous cysteine/cystine and the transsulfuration pathway in the cysteine pool and downstream metabolites results in compromised CD8^(+)T cell function and evasion of immunotherapy,diminishing immune response and potentially reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions.Pyroptosis is a previously unrecognized form of regulated cell death.In NSCLCs driven by EGFR,ALK,or KRAS,selective inhibitors induce pyroptotic cell death as well as apoptosis.After targeted therapy,the mitochondrial intrinsic apoptotic pathway is activated,thus leading to the cleavage and activation of caspase-3.Consequently,gasdermin E is activated,thus leading to permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane and cell-lytic pyroptosis(indicated by characteristic cell membrane ballooning).Breakthroughs in KRAS G12C allele-specific inhibitors and potential mechanisms of resistance are also discussed herein.