Research progress regarding programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitors combined with targeted therapy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma

In recent years,a number of targeted therapeutic agents have achieved success in phase III trials in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),including sorafenib,lenvatinib,and regorafenib.Immunotherapy is considered to be an effective treatment for advanced HCC.Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death 1(PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1(PDL1)are important antitumor immunotherapy agents that represent breakthroughs in the treatment of advanced HCC.However,treating advanced HCC is still a great challenge,and the need for new treatments remains urgent.This review briefly summarizes the research progress in the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with targeted therapy for treating HCC.

Clinical benefit and safety profile of cross-line therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitors:a retrospective study of HR+/HER2–advanced breast cancer

Objective:CDK4/6 inhibitors(CDK4/6is)in combination with endocrine therapy have secured a central role in the treatment of hormone receptor(HR)-positive advanced breast cancer(ABC)and have transformed the therapeutic landscape.Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy in which another CDK4/6i is continued after progression on a prior CDK4/6i may still offer advantageous therapeutic effects.Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy is an area of active investigation in the ongoing pursuit to improve outcomes for patients with HR+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)–ABC.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 82 patients with HR+/HER2–ABC who were treated with cross-line CDK4/6is(abemaciclib,palbociclib,ribociclib,and dalpiciclib)after progression with another CDK4/6i.The primary endpoint was progression-free survival(PFS)according to version 1.1 of the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.Secondary endpoints included toxicity,objective response rate,disease control rate,and overall survival.Adverse events(AEs)were graded according to version 5.0 of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events,as promulgated by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.Results:Eighty-two HR+/HER2–ABC patients who received cross-line CDK4/6i therapy from January 2022 to February 2024 were enrolled.The median age of the patients was 60 years.The median PFS of all patients was 7.6 months(95%CI,5.9-9.2).Cox regression analysis identified lung metastasis and a switch to endocrine therapy following prior CDK4/6i therapy as independent predictive factors for PFS.Notably,patients who previously received abemaciclib and switched to palbociclib upon disease progression had a median PFS of 10.7 months.The strategy of transitioning to chemotherapy after progression on a prior CDK4/6i,then to a subsequent CDK4/6i merits further investigation.Hematologic toxicity was the most common grade≥3 AEs.No instances of fatal safety events were observed.Conclusions:Cross-line CDK4/6i therapy is associated with significant clinical benefits and manageable safety profiles in patients with HR+/HER2–ABC,which underscores cross-line CDK4/6i therapy potential as an effective treatment strategy.

New strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of immune-checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis

Immune-checkpoint inhibitor-mediated colitis(IMC)is an increasingly recognized adverse event in cancer immunotherapy,particularly associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)such as anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibodies.As this revolutionary immunotherapy gains prominence in cancer treatment,understanding,diagnosing,and effectively managing IMC becomes paramount.IMC represents a unique challenge due to its immune-mediated nature and potential for severe complications.However,a precise picture of IMC pathophysiology is currently unavailable.Therefore,we aimed to summarize the existing data while acknowledging the need for further research.This comprehensive review explores the mechanisms underlying ICIs,gastrointestinal adverse effects,and,in particular,IMC’s incidence,prevalence,and features.Our review also emphasizes the importance of recognizing IMC’s distinct clinical and histopathological features to differentiate it from other forms of colitis.Furthermore,this paper highlights the urgentneed for evolving diagnostic methods,therapeutic strategies,and a multidisciplinary approach to effectively manage IMC.

Opportunities and challenges of CD47-targeted therapy in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer,with the tumor microenvironment(TME)playing a pivotal role in modulating the immune response.CD47,a cell surface protein,has been identified as a crucial regulator of the TME and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy.However,the precise functions and implications of CD47 in the TME during immunotherapy for cancer patients remain incompletely understood.This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of CD47’s multifaced role in TME regulation and immune evasion,elucidating its impact on various types of immunotherapy outcomes,including checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy.Notably,CD47-targeted therapies offer a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment outcomes,especially when combined with other immunotherapeutic approaches.The review also discusses current and potential CD47-targeted therapies being explored for cancer treatment and delves into the associated challenges and opportunities inherent in targeting CD47.Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of CD47-targeted therapies,there are potential problems,including unintended effects on healthy cells,hematological toxicities,and the development if resistance.Consequently,further research efforts are warranted to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of resistance and to optimize CD47-targeted therapies through innovative combination approaches,ultimately improving cancer treatment outcomes.Overall,this comprehensive review highlights the significance of CD47 as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy and provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities in developing effective CD47-targeted therapies for cancer treatment.

Efficacy and safety of targeted therapy plus immunotherapy combined with hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (FOLFOX) for unresectable hepatocarcinoma

BACKGROUND The advent of cutting-edge systemic therapies has driven advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and therapeutic strategies with multiple modes of delivery have been shown to be more efficacious than mono-therapy.However,the mechanisms underlying this innovative treatment modality have not been elucidated.AIM To evaluate the clinical efficacy of targeted therapy plus immunotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)of FOLFOX in patients with unresectable HCC.METHODS We enrolled 53 patients with unresectable HCC who received a combination of targeted therapy,immunotherapy,and HAIC of FOLFOX between December 2020 and June 2021 and assessed the efficacy and safety of the treatment regimen.RESULTS The objective response rate was 60.4%(32/53),complete response was 24.5%(13/53),partial response was 35.9%(19/53),and stable disease was 39.6%(21/53).The median duration of response and median progression-free survival were 9.1 and 13.9 months,respectively.The surgical conversion rate was 34.0%(18/53),and 1-year overall survival was 83.0%without critical complicating diseases or adverse events(AEs).CONCLUSION The regimen of HAIC of FOLFOX,targeted therapy,and immunotherapy was curative for patients with unresectable HCC,with no serious AEs and a high rate of surgical conversion.

Advances in targeted therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive in advanced gastric cancer

Emerging therapeutic methods represented by targeted therapy are effective supplements to traditional first-line chemoradiotherapy resistance.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)is one of the most important targets in targeted therapy for gastric cancer.Trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy has been used as the first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer.The safety and efficacy of pertuzumab and margetuximab in the treatment of gastric cancer have been verified.However,monoclonal antibodies,due to their large molecular weight,inability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier,and drug resistance,lead to decreased therapeutic efficacy,so it is necessary to explore the efficacy of other HER2-targeting therapies in gastric cancer.Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors,such as lapatinib and pyrrotinib,have the advantages of small molecular weight,penetrating the blood-brain barrier and high oral bioavailability,and are expected to become the drugs of choice for perioperative treatment and neoadjuvant therapy of gastric cancer after validation by large-scale clinical trials in the future.Antibo-drug conjugate,such as T-DM1 and T-DXd,can overcome the resistance of monoclonal antibodies despite their different mechanisms of tumor killing,and are a supplement for the treatment of patients who have failed the treatment of monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab.Therefore,after more detailed stratification of gastric cancer patients,various gastric cancer drugs targeting HER2 are expected to play a more significant role.

Research Progress in Targeted Therapy for Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a prevalent malignant tumor that affects the digestive system and is often linked to a poor prognosis. The absence of effective early screening methods results in the diagnosis of esophageal cancer (EC) patients at advanced or metastatic stages. While historically considered incurable, ongoing advancements in medical research have led to the integration of various treatment modalities as primary approaches for managing advanced endometrial cancer. These modalities include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Notably, the introduction of targeted therapy and immunotherapy has significantly enhanced the survival rates of individuals with EC. Immunotherapy has appeared as the predominant treatment for advanced esophageal cancer, while targeted therapy faces certain obstacles. Consequently, this review primarily focuses on the advancements in targeted therapy for esophageal cancer (EC), evaluating the effectiveness and safety of relevant medications, and aiming to provide guidance for the comprehensive management of EC based on current research findings.

Efficacy evaluation and survival analysis of the combination of oxaliplatin plus Teysuno (SOX) with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the conversion therapy of locally advanced gastric cancer

Background:The efficacy of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)with chemotherapy in neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer has been explored.However,limited research exists on its effectiveness in conversion therapy,and its superiority over standalone chemotherapy remains to be elucidated.This study aims to investigate the efficacy and survival outcomes of patients treated with ICIs in combination with conversion therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer.Methods:Retrospective data from patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with either oxaliplatin+S-1(SOX)alone or in combination with ICIs in conversion therapywere collected.Clinical andpathological characteristics,disease-free survival,andefficacy assessments in nonoperable patients were compared between the 2 treatment groups.Efficacy was further evaluated through dynamic changes in serum markers,and patients’quality of life was assessed using the QLQ-STO22(Gastric Cancer–Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire)quality-of-life measurement scale.Results:A total of 140 patients underwent conversion therapy:80 in the SOX alone group and 60 in the SOX combined with the ICIs group.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups.Compared with the SOX alone group,the SOX combined with ICIs group exhibited a higher conversion rate(83.3%vs 75%,P=0.23),R0 resection rate(90.0%vs 83.3%,P=0.31),pathological complete response(pCR)rate(18%vs 5%,P=0.02),median disease-free survival(21.4 vs 16.9 months,P=0.007),the objective response rate in nonoperable patients(60%vs 40%,P=0.301),and median progression-free survival time(7.9 vs 5.7 months,P=0.009).The QLQ-STO22 quality-of-life assessment revealed statistically significant improvements in pain,swallowing difficulties,and dietary restrictions in the combination therapy group compared with those in the monotherapy group.The enhanced efficacy of immune combination with SOX is evident,as demonstrated by the significantly prolonged surgical duration in operated patients(206.6±26.6 min vs 197.8±19.8 min,P=0.35)and intraoperative blood loss(158.9±21.2 mL vs 148.9±25.1 mL,P=0.59).No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications.Conclusions:Compared with the SOX conversion therapy regimen,SOX combined with ICIs demonstrated higher conversion rates,R0 resection rates,pathological response rates,and disease-free survival without increasing surgical difficulty or complications.Nonoperable patients also experienced longer progression-free survival and objective response rates.

Progress in targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

In recent years, with the deepening of research on the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma, anti-VEGF receptor inhibitors and mTOR inhibitors have been produced, making metastatic renal cell carcinoma into the era of targeted therapy. This article analyzes the latest research results at home and abroad. For patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, sunitinib and pizopanib are the first choice for targeted drugs. The drug dose starts from the standard dose, and the disease can be increased as appropriate when the disease progresses;When responding, it should be treated or reduced in time. When using an anti-VEGF inhibitor, the patient's blood pressure should be closely monitored. When the patient has high blood sugar or diabetes, anti-VEGF inhibitors should be preferred.

Recent advances in targeted therapy for ovarian cancer

The global burden of ovarian cancer is gradually increasing while patients still suffer from relatively limited treatment options.With recent advances in the decoding of the molecular landscape of ovarian cancer,more options in targeted strategy were offered and can therefore be tailored in different clinical settings for individual patient.Targeting of the abnormal angiogenesis process is the first significant clinical breakthrough which revolutionized the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer,followed by the advent of poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase(PARP)inhibitors.These two strategies represented by bevacizumab and olaparib respectively underwent tests of numerous clinical trials.In recent years,immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have been incorporated into the blueprint of ovarian cancer treatment though the effectiveness still left much to be desired.Herein,we systematically outlined recent advances in targeted therapy for ovarian cancer and summarized the landmark clinical trials for each targeted therapy including angiogenesis inhibitors,PARP inhibitors and ICIs.

Adeno-associated virus mediated endostatin gene therapy in combination with topoisomerase inhibitor effectively controls liver tumor in mouse model

AIM:rAAV mediated endostatin gene therapy has been examined as a new method for treating cancer.However, a sustained and high protein delivery is required to achieve the desired therapeutic effects.We evaluated the impact of topoisomerase inhibitors in rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in a liver tumor model. METHODS:rAAV containing endostatin expression cassettes were transduced into hepatoma cell lines.To test whether the topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment increased the expression of endostatin,Western blotting and ELISA were performed.The biologic activity of endostatin was confirmed by endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation assays. The anti-tumor effects of the rAAV-endostatin vector combined with a topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide,were evaluated in a mouse liver tumor model. RESULTS:Topoisomerase inhibitors,including camptothecin and etoposide,were found to increase the endostatin exPression level in vitro.The over-expressed endostatin, as a result of pretreatment with a topoisomerase inhibitor, was also biologically active.In animal experiments,the combined therapy of topoisomerase inhibitor,etoposide with the rAAV-endostatin vector had the best tumor- suppressive effect and tumor foci were barely observed in livers of the treated mice.Pretreatment with an etoposide increased the level of endostatin in the liver and serum of rAAV-endostatin treated mice.Finally,the mice treated With rAAV-endostatin in combination with etoposide showed the longest survival among the experimental models. CONCLUSION:rAAV delivered endostatin gene therapy in combination with a topoisomerase inhibitor pretreatment is an effective modality for anticancer gene therapy.

Inhibition of FLT3:A Prototype for Molecular Targeted Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Modern therapy of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)began in 1973 with the first report of the successful combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine,which led to complete remission in approximately 45%of patients.Accurate AML diagnosis was dependent on morphology,aided initially only by cytochemistry.Unlike acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL),immunophenotyping offered little in the diagnosis of AML,at least during the 1970s and 1980s.The advent of reliable cytogenetics changed the entire prognostic outlook of AML.With karyotypic analysis,different groups of AML could be classified and stratified for various therapies.Unique mutational profiling was a major advance in further categorizing AML patients,aided by the immunophenotypic identification of antigenic markers on the cells.All these advances were occurring as the understanding of the importance of the tumor burden—known as minimal residual disease(MRD)—became crucial for the management of AML patients.The efficacy of MRD has rapidly progressed in the past decade,from a specificity of 103 with immunophenotyping to 104 with polymerase chain reaction(PCR),which is only appropriate for some patients with AML,and finally to 105 or even 106 cells with the extraordinary sensitivity of next-generation sequencing(NGS).All of these advances have promoted the concept of personalized medicine,which has led to the advent of targeted agents that can accurately be used for specific diagnostic subtypes.Responses can be predicted and measured accurately.Such targeted agents have now become a cornerstone in the management of AML,increasing effi-cacy and dramatically reducing toxicity.The focus of this review is on one of the most well-studied targeted agents in AML:the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3(FLT3)inhibitors,which have impacted the prognostication and therapeutics of AML.This review selectively discusses the FLT3 inhibitors in detail,as a model for the other burgeoning targeted agents that have already been approved,as well as those that are currently in development.

Targeted therapy of gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours(GISTs) are mesen-chymal neoplasms originating in the gastrointestinal tract, usually in the stomach or the small intestine, and rarely elsewhere in the abdomen. The malignant potential of GISTs is variable ranging from small lesions with a benign behaviour to fatal sarcomas. The majo-rity of the tumours stain positively for the CD-117(KIT) and discovered on GIST-1(DOG-1 or anoctamin 1) expression, and they are characterized by the presence of a driver kinase-activating mutation in either KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor α. Although surgery is the primary modality of treatment, almost half of the patients have disease recurrence following surgery, which highlights the need for an effective adjuvant therapy. Traditionally, GISTs are considered chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistant. With the advent of targeted therapy(tyrosine kinase inhibitors), there has been a paradigm shift in the management of GISTs in the last decade. We present a comprehensive review of targeted therapy in the management of GISTs.

Molecularly targeted therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma-a drug development crisis?

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fastest growing cause of cancer related death globally. Sorafenib,a multitargeted kinase inhibitor,is the only drug proven to improve outcomes in patients with advanced disease offering modest survival benefit. Although comprehensive genomic mapping has improved understanding of the genetic aberrations in hepatocellular cancer(HCC),this knowledge has not yet impacted clinical care. The last few years have seen the failure of several first and second line phase Ⅲ clinical trials of novel molecularly targeted therapies,warranting a change in the way new therapies are investigated in HCC. Potential reasons for these failures include clinical and molecular heterogeneity,trial design and a lack of biomarkers. This review discusses the current crisis in HCC drug development and how we should learn from recent trial failures to develop a more effective personalised treatment paradigm for patients with HCC.

Survivin:Potential role in diagnosis,prognosis and targeted therapy of gastric cancer

Survivin is a protein that is highly expressed in a vast number of malignancies,but is minimally expressed in normal tissues. It plays a role as an inhibitor of cell death in cancer cells,thus facilitating the growth of these cells. In the case of gastric cancer,survivin is over-expressed in tumor cells and plays a role in the carcinogenesis process. Several studies on gastric cancer have indicated that there is a relationship between survivin expression and the ultimate behavior of the carcinoma. Since the expression pattern of survivin is selective to cancer cells,it has been described as an "ideal target" for cancer therapy. Currently,several pre-clinical and clinical trials are on-going to investigate the effects of interfering with survivin function in cancer cells as a biologic therapy. Survivin is a potentially significant protein in the diagnosis,prognosis and treatment of gastric tumors.

Targeted therapy in gastric cancer:Personalizing cancer treatment based on patient genome

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancerrelated deaths worldwide.Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy has limited efficacy for metastatic gastric cancer,with an overall survival of approximately ten months.Recent advances in high-throughput technologies have enabled the implementation of personalized cancer therapy for high-risk patients.The use of such high-throughput technologies,including microarray and next generation sequencing,have promoted the discovery of novel targets that offer new treatment strategies for patients lacking other therapeutic options.Many molecular pathways are currently under investigation as therapeutic targets in gastric cancer,including those related to the epidermal growth factor receptor family,the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor axis,and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKTmammalian target of rapamycin factors.Advances in molecular diagnostic tools further support the discovery of new molecular targets.Limitations exist,however;not all patients can be tested for biomarkers,and numerous challenges hamper implementation of targeted therapy in clinical settings.Indeed,the scale of tumor genomic profiling is rapidly outpacing our ability to appropriately synthesize all the information in order to optimally refine patient care.Therefore,clinicians must continue to educate themselves regarding new tools and frameworks,and to utilize multidisciplinary team science,comprised of oncologists,geneticists,pathologists,biologists and bioinformaticians,to successfully implement this genomic approach therapeutically.

Advances in locoregional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy

Locoregional therapies(LRTs)of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)represented by ablation and TACE has become the main means for the clinical treatment of unresectable HCC.Among these,TACE is used throughout the stageⅠb toⅢb of HCC treatment.In recent years,immunotherapy led by immune checkpoint inhibitors has become a hot direction in clinical research.At the same time,targeted drugs such as Sorafenib and Apatinib have played an important role in the treatment and complementary therapy of advanced HCC,and their clinical application has been quite mature.HCC is the sixth most common malignant tumor in the world.When it comes to its treatment,different therapies have different indications,and their individual efficacies are not satisfactory,which makes the exploration of the use of combination therapy in HCC treatment become a new trend.In this paper,the status of the three therapies and the progress of their combined application are briefly reviewed.

Progression of targeted therapy in advanced cholangiocarcinoma

It is necessary to establish an effective therapy to improve the survival of patients with advanced eholangiocarcinoma （CCM. Recently, with the development of pathology research in CCA, a lot of special bio-markers such as EGFR, VEGF, HER2, and MEK et al. could be over expression or mutations in CCA patients. According to their changes, combinations of targeted therapy plus chemotherapy are now recognized as effective therapies for advanced CCA. The aim of this paper is to analyze recent promising studies about targeted therapy alone or combination with each other or with chemotherapies.

Adjuvant heparanase inhibitor PI-88 therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

AIM: To demonstrate that administering heparanase inhibitor PI-88 at 160 mg/d is safe and promising in reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence for up to 3 year following curative resection.

Research Progress in the Use of Drugs for Breast Cancer Targeted Therapy

In recent years,many significant advances have been made on molecular target therapy to aim directly at epidermal growth factor receptors and vascular endothelial growth factor in breast cancers.Clinical studies of such agents as trastuzumab,lapatinib,erlotinib and bevacituzumab have been widely conducted.This paper will review the recent research progress related to targeted therapy.