Research Progress on the Mental Toughness of Family Caregivers of Children with Malignant Solid Tumors

The physical,emotional,and caregiving quality of caregivers for children with malignant solid tumors is significantly influenced by mental toughness.The definition of mental toughness,study methods,primary influencing factors,and intervention strategies for the mental toughness of caregivers of children with malignant solid tumors will be examined in this paper.To improve the mental toughness of caregivers of children with malignant solid tumors,it is recommended that future studies enhance the number of intervention research methods and establish particular evaluation tools.

Solid malignancies complicated with pulmonary embolism： clinical analysis of 120 patients

Background Pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal event, occurs more frequently in cancer patients than in the general population. To offer an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to such patients in China, we analyzed the incidence rate and clinical features of pulmonary embolism in patients with solid tumor hospitalized in the Peking Union Medical College （PUMC） Hospital. Methods A retrospective analysis was made of the hospitalized patients with solid malignancies complicated with pulmonary embolism who had been admitted into the PUMC Hospital from January 2002 to December 2008. Results The incidence of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with solid malignancies was 0.27% （120/43 967） The median age at diagnosis was 57.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.0：1.4 （49：71）. Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer （NSCLC） constituted the largest proportion of the 120 patients （37.5%）, followed by patients with breast （9.2%）, ovarian （8.3%）, pancreatic （6.7%）, and liver cancer （6.7%）. Eighty patients （66.7%） had stage ]V cancer. Bone was the most common site of distant metastasis （46.3%）. D-dimer level was elevated in 90.9% of the 66 tested patients. The incidence of bleeding due to anti-coagulation therapy was 3.6%. Thirty-six （30.0%） of the 120 patients had concurrent deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. Seventeen patients developed acute pulmonary embolism within 2 weeks after surgery, 3 of whom died suddenly. Four patients presented with deep venous thrombosis and 1 with pulmonary embolism prior to the identification of malignancy. Conclusions Patients with cancer of the lung, ovarian, breast, pancreas, and liver are more likely to be complicated with pulmonary embolism than those with other types of solid tumors. Patients with distant metastasis are at a higher risk of pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism without concurrent deep venous thrombosis is more frequently observed than concurrence of both disorders in the clinical setting.

VARIOUS DOSES OF CISPLATIN (DDP) COMBINED WITH MULTI-DRUG CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ADVANCED MALIGNANT SOLID TUMOR

Two hundred and thirty-six patinets with various advanced malignant solid tumors treated by combined chemotherapy with routine doses of cisplatin (DDP) from 1980 to 1986 are presented. According to different doses of cisplatin everyday, the patients were divided into 4 groups: (1) 20 ing/day×4- 5, 80 cases; (2) 30 mg day × 3 - 5, 91 cases; (3) 40 mg/ day 3 -4, 37 cases; (4) 50 mg/day×2 - 3, 28 cases. Each group was repeated for 3 weeks. The effect and toxicity were analysed and compared with 22 cases treated by single DDP in 1975. The response (CR+PR) rate was 39.2% in 194 evaluated patients. The response rate was similar in group 20 mg and single DDP (29.2% and 27.3%). Ths response rate was lower than that of group 30 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg 43.4% and 50%) (P<0.05). The remissions in various groups were not significantly different.The toxicity of combined chemotherapy was not severe. 91.1% of patients had nausea and vomiting. There was no statistical difference in the various groups. Bone marrow suppresion was less in single DDP group than that of combined chemotherapy group (P<0.05), DDP 30-50 mg 1/d×5-3 was better than HD-DDP in some patients.

A new combined criterion to better predict malignant lesions in patients with pancreatic cystic neoplasms

Objective:Cystic lesions of the pancreas have been increasingly recognized.Some lesions exhibit benign behavior,while others have unequivocal malignant potential.Thus,accurate identification of malignancy in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cystic neoplasms(PCNs)remains a major challenge.The aim of this study was to define a combined criterion to better predict malignant lesions in patients with PCNs.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 165 patients who underwent resection of PCNs from October 2011 to May 2017.The relationship among malignancy and serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR),and the presence of enhanced solid component on imaging was analyzed.Results:NLR before surgery in patients with malignant PCNs(2.81±2.14)was significantly higher than that in patients diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor(1.90±0.69,P=0.013)or healthy volunteers(1.40±0.48;P<0.001).Serum CA19-9≥39U/m L,NLR>1.976 and presence of enhanced solid component were independent predictors of PCN malignancy.A combined criterion meeting any two or more of the three elements including CA19-9≥39 U/m L,NLR>1.976,and presence of enhanced solid component on computed tomography imaging is an indicator with a high positive predictive value of 80.5%and a high negative predictive value of 87.9%,and thus,represents a highly accurate test(86.1%).Conclusions:The new combined criterion is an effective predictor of tumor malignancy in patients with PCNs.

Programming CAR T cells to enhance anti-tumor efficacy through remodeling of the immune system

Chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)T cells have been indicated effective in treating B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and have shown encouraging results in preclinical and clinical studies.However,CAR T cells have achieved minimal success against solid malignancies because of the additional obstacles of their insufficient migration into tumors and poor amplification and persistence,in addition to antigen-negative relapse and an immunosuppressive microenvironment.Various preclinical studies are exploring strategies to overcome the above challenges.Mobilization of endogenous immune cells is also necessary for CAR T cells to obtain their optimal therapeutic effect given the importance of the innate immune responses in the elimination of malignant tumors.In this review,we focus on the recent advances in the engineering of CAR T cell therapies to restore the immune response in solid malignancies,especially with CAR T cells acting as cellular carriers to deliver immunomodulators to tumors to mobilize the endogenous immune response.We also explored the sensitizing effects of conventional treatment approaches,such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy,on CAR T cell therapy.Finally,we discuss the combination of CAR T cells with biomaterials or oncolytic viruses to enhance the anti-tumor outcomes of CAR T cell therapies in solid tumors.