Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods An electronically search was conducted in The Cochrane Library, PubMed and EMbase databases from inception to December 2016 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy for NSCLC. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 12 RCTs involving 6 559 patients were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: The median progression free survival (PFS) (HR=0.86, 95%CI 0.81 to 0.91, P<0.001) and objective response rate (ORR) (HR=1.43, 95%CI 1.20 to 1.70,P<0.001) of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy were significantly longer than those of the chemotherapy group. There were no significant differences between two groups in incidence of median overrall survival (OS) (HR=0.91, 95%CI 0.82 to 1.00,P=0.06), fatigue (RR=1.03, 95%CI 0.97 to 1.11, P=0.33), dyspnea (RR=1.01, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.13, P=0.82) and cough (RR=1.01, 95%CI 0.89 to 1.15, P=0.91). However, the incidence of neutrocytopenia (RR=1.16, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.28, P=0.003), thrombocytopenia (RR=1.46, 95%CI 1.23 to 1.73, P<0.001), diarrhea and hypertension (RR=2.91, 95%CI 2.28 to 3.71,P<0.001) of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those of the chemotherapy group. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy group had lower rate of anemia (RR=0.86, 95%CI 0.75 to 0.98,P=0.03). Conclusion Compared with chemotherapy alone, tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy can improve the median PFS and ORR while it can be used as a treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical emergency of the abdomen with increasing incidence and lack of effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine, as a treasure of the Chinese people, has been used in the treatment of AP for decades with favorable therapeutic effects. Currently, clinical trials and experimental studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine has the effects of inhibiting pancreatic enzyme activity, anti-inflammation, promoting gastrointestinal dynamics, as well as delaying the progress of AP, improving clinical symptoms, reducing related complications, and reducing the mortality rate. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine has considerable clinic value in treating AP. Based on the related research progress and clinical practice of our team, the authors summarized the targets and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating AP.
Transcription factor p63 originates from p53 protein family and is encoded by TP63 gene. TP63 gene contains two different promoters encoding two proteins, TAp63 and ΔNp63, which can be cleaved to produce p63α, p63β, p63δ and some other subtypes. ΔNp63α is one of the promoters of TP63 gene and acts as a core regulatory factor to regulate gene expression at epigenetic and transcriptional levels. Recent research shows that ΔNp63α abnormal expression can lead to the occurrence of various malignant tumors and reduce the sensitivity of malignant tumors to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, ΔNp63α can be used as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for malignant tumors. This article reviews the latest research progress of ΔNp63α in the mechanism and drug resistance in malignant tumors.
Objective To summarize the advance in targeted therapy for radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC). Method The literatures relevant to the targeted therapy for RAIR-DTC were reviewed and summarized. Results Targeted therapy for RAIR-DTC mainly included multi-kinase inhibitors suppressing angiogenesis and mutation-specific kinase inhibitors targeting specific mutations. Representative multi-kinase inhibitors such as sorafenib and lenvatinib, which significantly prolonged progression-free survival, had been approved to put into clinical use, though there were shortcomings such as adverse effects and resistance. Mutation-specific kinase inhibitors acted on targets such as RET, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway respectively, with relatively small side effects, most of which had only been applied in clinical trials up to now. Conclusions Targeted therapy for RAIR-DTC has made rapid progress in recent years, filling the gap in treatment for RAIR-DTC. Further explorations and investigations are needed to establish a more effect and safer treatment mode.
ObjectiveTo compare the current status of clinical studies regarding lung cancer between China and the United States in 2019, and to indicate the weakness, trend and future development direction of clinical studies drug treatment in China.MethodsThe data of lung cancer clinical studies from January 1st to November 30th, 2019 in China and the United States were retrieved and analyzed through Informa pharmaprojects database.ResultsThe United States was superior on the number of projects (128 vs. 156) and research institutions (743 vs. 2 250). Compared with the United State, there were more phase Ⅲ confirmatory researches (19.5% vs. 10.3%), bioequivalent drug researches (3.1% vs. 0%), and researches initiated by academic institutions (39.8% vs. 28.1%) in China. The United States exhibited advantages in phaseⅠ andⅠ/Ⅱstudies (25.8% vs. 60.3%), immunodrugs (49.2% vs. 60.3%), primary tested drug ratio (61.7% vs. 93.6%), targets abundance (32.9% vs. 69.6%), and chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T, 0.7% vs. 7.1%).ConclusionCompared with the United States, China should pay more attention to innovative drug investigations in early phase of clinical studies, especially novel immune agents, vaccines, and CAR-T.
Bone malignancies exhibit the characteristics of high incidence, poor prognosis, and strong chemoresistance. Exosomal microRNAs can regulate the proliferation of bone malignant cells, improve chemoresistance, influence cell communication and the microenvironment, and have significant potential in the diagnosis and treatment of bone malignancies. Due to their stability, exosomal microRNAs can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. However, their widespread application in clinical settings requires standardized research. This review summarizes the progress of exosomal microRNA research in various bone malignancies including osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and fibrosarcoma, to provide new theoretical foundations and perspectives for the field.
ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
Objective To summarize the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the occurrence and progression of various sorts of liver injury. Methods Literatures on the structures, property of molecular biology and function of NF-κB, as well as its relationships with liver injury were collected and reviewed. Results NF-κB was an important nuclear factor existed in cells widely distributed in most cell types. The activation of NF-κB was induced by various sorts of liver injury. The activated NF-κB could affect the liver injury by regulating cytokines, adhesion molecules, and activating factor involving in immunologic reaction， inflammatory reaction and the apoptosis. Conclusion NF-κB plays an important role during the occurrence and progression of liver injury， and may become a new target in the treatment of liver injury.
The therapeutic efficacy of Danshen and Jiangxiang in the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) is relatively significant. Studying the mechanism of action of Danshen and Jiangxiang in the treatment of IS can effectively identify candidate traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) with efficacy. However, it is challenging to analyze the effector substances and explain the mechanism of action of Danshen-Jiangxiang from a systematic perspective using traditional pharmacological approaches. In this study, a systematic study was conducted based on the drug-target-symptom-disease association network using complex network theory. On the basis of the association information about Danshen, Jiangxiang and IS, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the “drug pair-pharmacodynamic ingredient-target-IS” network were constructed. The different topological features of the networks were analyzed to identify the core pharmacodynamic ingredients including formononetin in Jiangxiang, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA in Danshen as well as core target proteins such as prostaglandin G/H synthase 2, retinoic acid receptor RXR-alpha, sodium channel protein type 5 subunit alpha, prostaglandin G/H synthase 1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptor. Further, a method for screening IS candidates based on TCM symptoms was proposed to identify key TCM symptoms and syndromes using the “drug pair-TCM symptom-syndrome-IS” network. The results showed that three TCMs, namely Puhuang, Sanleng and Zelan, might be potential therapeutic candidates for IS, which provided a theoretical reference for the development of drugs for the treatment of IS.