Research progress of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC)is a malignant tumor originating from the gastric epithelium,and its incidence and mortality rates rank third among all malignant tumors worldwide.It is also one of the most common cancers in China and is treated predominantly by Western medicine in clinical practice.However,with the advancements in medical technology and informatics,the values of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in preventing and treating GC and improving prognosis have increasingly been recognized.According to TCM,clinical manifestations of GC can be divided into Yege(dysphagia),regurgitation,stomach pain,and Zhengxia(abdominal mass).Due to the unbalanced distribution of health care resources in China,most GC patients already have progressive or advanced-stage disease at the first diagnosis.As a result,most GC patients have poor physical function,and surgery or chemotherapy alone will aggravate the impairment to the immune function and seriously affect the quality of life.In contrast,TCM therapies have shown promising efficacy in the management of these patients.Here we review the role of the integrated TCM and Western medicine in treating advanced GC.

Fe-Zn alloy, a new biodegradable material capable of reducing RoS and inhibiting oxidative stress

Fe-based biodegradable materials have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical properties and favorable biocompatibility.Currently,research on Fe-based materials mainly focuses on regulating the degradation rate.However,excessive release of Fe ions during material degrada-tion will induce the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),leading to oxidative stress and ferroptosis.Therefore,the con-trol of RoS release and the improvement of biocompatibility for Fe-based materials are very important.In this study,new Fe-Zn alloys were prepared by electrodeposition with the intention of using Zn as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative damage during alloy degradation.Initially,the impact of three potential degra-dation ions(Fe^(2+),Fe^(3+),Zn^(2+))from the Fe-Zn alloy on human endothelial cell(EC)activity and migration ability was investigated.Subsequently,cell adhesion,cell activity,ROs production and DNA damage were assessed at various locations surrounding the alloy.Finally,the influence of different concentrations of Zn^(2+) in the medium on cell viability and ROS production was evaluated.High levels of ROS exhibited evident toxic effects on ECs and promoted DNA damage.As an antioxidant,Zn?+effectively reduced ROS production around Fe and improved the cell viability on its surface at a concentration of 0.04 mmol/l.These findings demonstrate that Fe-Zn alloy can attenuate the ROS generated from Fe degradation therebyenhancingcytocompatibility.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles in the fight against cancer

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles(OMVs)are diminutive vesicles naturally released by Gram-negative bacteria.These vesicles possess distinctive characteristics that attract attention for their potential use in drug administration and immunotherapy in cancer treatment.Therapeutic medicines may be delivered via OMVs directly to the tumor sites,thereby minimizing exposure to healthy cells and lowering the risk of systemic toxicity.Furthermore,the activation of the immune system by OMVs has been demonstrated to facilitate the recognition and elimination of cancer cells,which makes them a desirable tool for immunotherapy.They can also be genetically modified to carry specific antigens,immunomodulatory compounds,and small interfering RNAs,enhancing the immune response to cancerous cells and silencing genes associated with disease progression.Combining OMVs with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation has shown promising synergistic effects.This review highlights the crucial role of bacterial OMVs in cancer,emphasizing their potential as vectors for novel cancer targeted therapies.As researchers delve deeper into the complexities of these vesicles and their interactions with tumors,there is a growing sense of optimism that this avenue of study will bring positive outcomes and renewed hope to cancer patients in the foreseeable future.

Amide proton transfer:A new magnetic resonance imaging technology toward individualized assessment

To the Editor:The amide proton transfer(APT)magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)is an emerging molecular imaging method for detecting mobile proteins/peptides and the potential of hydrogen(pH)with enhanced detection sensitivity compared to direct measurement without external magnetic resonance contrast agents[Figure 1].Such changes may be potential markers for tumor aggressiveness,treatment efficacy,and overall prognosis.Consequently,the utilization of APT can assist medical professionals in devising treatment regimens tailored to the individual needs of cancer patients,resulting in improved therapeutic outcomes.

Ultrasound-driven self-decomposition porphyrins as metal-free CO precursors for gas and sonodynamic synergistic therapy

Carbon monoxide(CO) is an endogenous therapeutic gas with an anti-tumor effect. The precise delivery and controlled release of CO in tumor tissues play crucial roles in anti-cancer treatment. However, efficient in situ generation of CO from metal-free COreleasing molecules(CORMs) remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop ultrasound(US)-driven self-decomposition porphyrin as organic and metal-free US-CORMs, which can spatiotemporally control the CO release(347 mmol CO/mol porphyrin) efficiently under physiologically harmless US conditions(1.0 MHz, 1.5 W/cm^(2), 50% duty cycle, 50 min). Moreover,porphyrin as a sonosensitizer can also generate reactive oxygen species(ROS) under US treatment to achieve sonodynamic therapy(SDT). Advanced functions of such porphyrin-based CORMs in CO gas-sonodynamic synergistic treatment have been demonstrated by evaluating the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects.

Lyophilized lymph nodes:A paradigm shift in CAR T-cell delivery for solid tumor therapy

CAR T(chimeric antigen receptor T-cell)therapy represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatments.By empowering immune cells to target malignant cells directly,it opens another door to precision medicine,promising cures for once refractory malignancies.However,the extension of CAR T therapy to solid tumors confronts formidable obstacles1.The physical and biochemical barriers within the tumor microenvironment,such as dense extracellular matrices and immunosuppressive factors,impede CAR T cell infiltration and function,leading to diminished success rates in solid tumor treatment2.