Objective To analyze the expression of H2A histone family, member X (H2AFX) gene in lung adenocarcinoma and its influence on prognosis. Methods We analyzed the expression level of H2AFX gene in the tumor tissues (497 cases) and normal adjacent tissues (54 cases) of lung adenocarcinoma patients via The Cancer Genome Atlas. The patients were divided into high expression group and low expression group according to the expression level of H2AFX gene in lung adenocarcinoma samples. The relationship between H2AFX and clinicopathological features of patients was analyzed through logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to study the correlation between H2AFX expression and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Univariate and multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic significance of H2AFX expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The research also covered H2AFX-related pathways of genes in the development of lung adenocarcinoma with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results The H2AFX expression was higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than that in normal adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Besides, it was significantly correlated with age (P<0.001), T staging (P=0.007), and N staging (P=0.010), but had little to do with M staging or gender (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test showed that the survival rate of patients with high H2AFX expression was vastly lower than that of patients with low H2AFX expression (P<0.001). Multiple Cox regression analysis demonstrated that H2AFX could be an independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma [hazard ratio=1.41, 95% confidence interval (1.11, 1.78), P=0.004]. The results of GSEA displayed that H2AFX was involved in cell cycle, homologous recombination, DNA replication, base excision and repair, spliceosome, mismatch repair, p53 signaling pathway, nucleotide excision and repair, RNA degradation, RNA polymerase, and other pathways. Conclusions The expression of H2AFX gene is high in lung adenocarcinoma, and closely connected to the prognosis, occurrence, and evolution of lung adenocarcinoma. This gene can be one of the new molecular markers and therapeutic targets for lung adenocarcinoma.
How to accurately identify factors of cancer occurrence and to provide intervention early are the key issues that urgently need to be addressed in cancer prevention and treatment. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis uses genetic variants as instrument variables for exposures of interest, which compensates the shortcomings of traditional observational studies and clinical trials. This review introduced the current application status of MR analysis in cancer etiology and treatment researches in details, including assessment of cancer risk factors, exploration of cancer treatment targets, and evaluation of drug efficiency and adverse reactions. The scopes and dimensions of cancer etiology and treatment researches are greatly expanded because of various MR designs and abundant high-level omics data. As well, it provides a practical and feasible method for constructing cancer etiology networks and drug targeted databases, which are promising for supporting the development of precision cancer prevention and treatment.
In 2025, the American Cancer Society published "Cancer statistics, 2025", which projected cancer data for the upcoming year based on incidence data collected by central cancer registries (through 2021) and mortality data obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (through 2022). Similarly, the National Cancer Center of China released "Cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2022" in December 2024, analyzing data from 22 cancer registries across the country. This study provides a comparative analysis of cancer incidence and mortality trends in China and the United States during the same period, with a focus on sex- and age-specific distributions and long-term changes in cancer patterns. Long-term trends indicate that lung and liver cancer mortality rates in China have declined, primarily due to tobacco control measures and hepatitis B vaccination programs. However, the burden of gastric and esophageal cancers remains substantial. In the United States, mortality rates for colorectal and lung cancers have continued to decline, largely attributed to widespread screening programs and advances in immunotherapy. As economic growth and social development, China’s cancer profile is gradually shifting towards patterns observed in countries with high human development index. However, the prevention and control of upper gastrointestinal cancers remains a critical public health challenge that requires further attention.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the global situation of off-label drug use in cancer patients. MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, CBM and VIP databases from their inception to October 2014, to collect studies on off-label drug use in cancer patients. The publication language was limited to English and Chinese. Combieg criteria was used for methodological quality assessment of included studies. A describe analysis was used to analyze the incidence and the proportion of different off-label used drugs. ResultsA total of 14 cross-sectional studies were included. Among them, 1 was from Switzerland, 1 was from Italy, 1 was from Australia, and the other 11 studies were from China. Seven included studies reported the investigated patients' number, containing 3 713 cancer patients and 13 238 prescriptions. The incidences of off-label drug were 2 844, accounting for 21.48%. There were similar rates of off-label prescriptions in Europe, Asia and Australia, but the average off-label prescriptions of European cancer patients were lower than Asia and Australia. The total rate of "unapproved dose", "unapproved indication", and "unapproved solvents" were more than 80% in off-label drug use. ConclusionThe average off-label prescriptions of European cancer patients are lower than Asian and Australian. "Unapproved dose", "unapproved indication" and "unapproved solvents" are the most common off-label prescription in off-label drug use.
With the publication of a vast amount of clinical research on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the National Health Commission of China have all updated their diagnostic and treatment guidelines for HCC. There are no differences in the definition of HCC risk populations among the AASLD 2023, NCCN 2024, and China Liver Cancer Staging and Treatment Guideline (CNLC) 2024. Notably, CNLC 2024 has updated its guidance on high-risk factors and prospective surveillance for HCC based on the characteristics of HCC patients in China. The four guidelines have seen significant updates in the areas of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies, local treatments, and systemic treatments for HCC. CNLC 2024 refines the indications for local treatment, improves systemic treatment, and introduces new first-line therapy, including camrelizumab combined with rivoceranib or tislelizumab. The second-line therapy nivolumab plus ipilimumab for advanced HCC are recommended by AASLD 2023, NCCN 2024, and ASCO 2024, which may become a new first-line therapeutic option for patients with advanced HCC. We compare and interpret these four guidelines in this paper.
ObjectiveTo find out the risk factors affecting the prognoses and microvascular invasion (MVI) of patients with China Liver Cancer Staging-stageⅠ a (CNLC Ⅰ a) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MethodsBased on the established inclusion and exclusion criteria, the clinicopathologic information and follow-up data of patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC were retrospectively collected, who underwent radical resection in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2016. The Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC, and the non-conditional logistic regression was utilized to analyze the preoperative clinical indicators associating with MVI. ResultsA total of 300 patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC were included in this study, among which 51 (17.0%) cases accompanied with MVI. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 104 months (median 39 months), with a recurrence time ranging from 2 to 104 months (median 52 months), and an overall survival time ranging from 3 to 104 months (median 98 months). During the follow-up period, postoperative recurrence occurred in 145 (48.3%) cases. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that: tumor diameter >3 cm, presences of MVI and satellite nodules increased the risk of shortened recurrence time for the patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC (P<0.05); Factors including gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase level >60 U/L, tumor low differentiation, presences of MVI and satellite nodules were associated with shortened overall survival time for the patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC (P<0.05). The preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level ≥400 μg/L and tumor diameter >3 cm increased the risk of presence of MVI for the patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC [χ2=3.059, OR(95%CI)=2.357(1.047, 5.306), P=0.038; χ2=3.002, OR(95%CI)=2.301(1.026, 5.162), P=0.043]. ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that adopting corresponding strategies to address the risk factors affecting prognosis of patients with CNLC Ⅰ a HCC and the risk factors associated with MVI can have a significant clinical impact on improving surgical treatment outcomes for these patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of multicycle neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with apatinib in the treatment of advanced rectal cancer through the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA).MethodsA total of 173 patients with advanced rectal cancer who underwent surgery after 2–4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with apatinib were selected from the DACCA (Version January 20, 2019). The patients were grouped by treated cycle and clinical TNM (cTNM) stage, and the overall variation of clinical and pathological indicators before and after treatment were compared.ResultsAmong 173 cases, 63 cases (36.42%), 45 cases (26.01%), and 65 cases (37.57%) were respectively in the 2, 3, and 4-cycle group; 54 cases (31.21%), 91 cases (52.60%), and 28 cases (16.18%) in stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ-group. Clinical response degree: complete pathologic response (cPR) was observed in 23 cases (13.29%), and the rate of conversion resection was 100% (173/173). Clinical response grade: complete response (CR) in 58 cases (33.53%), partial response (PR) in 93 cases (53.76%), stable disease (SD) in 21 cases (12.14%), progressive disease (PD) in 1 cases (0.58%). Tumor regression grade: TRG0 in 21 cases (12.57%), TRG1 in 22 cases (13.17%), TRG2 in 84 cases (50.30%), TRG3 in 40 cases (23.95%). There was a statistical difference in CEA before and after the treatment (P<0.001). All cases underwent radical resection, and the successful rate of transformed resection was 100%. There was significant difference on the clinical response grade among the cases of different treatment cycle (H=18.513, P<0.001), and the longer treatment cycle was correlated with better clinical response (G=–0.474, P<0.001). In addition, there was significant difference on the cPR rate among the cases of different cTNM stage (χ2=6.450, P=0.040).ConclusionsMulticycle neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with apatinib in treating patients with advanced rectal cancer is efficient. More treatment cycles lead to better efficacy. The lower cTNM stage maybe means more chance of achieving cPR and a satisfactory rate of conversion resection.
Objective To summarize the relationships between chemokines or chemokine receptors, especially CCL19/CCL21-CCR7 and CXCL12-CXCR4 axis and occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Methods Domestic and international publications online involving the relationships between chemokines, chemokine recepotors and gastric cancer in recent years were collected and reviewed. Results By regulating the microenvironment of the growth of gastric cancer, CCL19/CCL21-CCR7 played an important role in lymph node metastasis and CXCL12-CXCR4 axis played a key role in the development of peritoneal carcinomatosis. CCR7 might function as a specific prognostic marker for lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. Blocking the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis might be useful for the future development of a more effective therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer involved in peritoneal dissemination. Conclusions Chemokines and chemokine receptors promote the evolution of gastric cancer in variable ways, so the mechanisms of which should be comprehended to provide a theoretical basis for the future treatment. As new therapeutic targets, chemokines and chemokine receptors have a prosperity for the clinic evaluation and treatment of gastric cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relation between the place of residence of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and patient compliance or regimen decision-making or outcomes for neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in the current version of the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). MethodsThe version of DACCA selected for this analysis was updated on June 29, 2022. The patients were enrolled according to the established screening criteria and then assigned into inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as inside and outside of Chengdu City groups. The differences in the patient compliance or regimen decision-making or outcomes (changes of symptom and imaging, and cancer marker carcinoembryonic antigen) for NAT were analyzed. ResultsA total of 3 574 data that met the screened criteria were enrolled, 3 142 (87.91%) and 432 (12.09%) were inside of Sichuan Province group and outside of Sichuan Province group, respectively; 1 340 (42.65%) and 1 802 (57.35%) were inside of Chengdu City group and outside of Chengdu City group in Sichuan Province, respectively. ① The constituent ratios of the patient compliance for NAT had no statistical differences between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=0.299, P=0.585) as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=3.109, P=0.078). ② In terms of the impact of the place of residence on the decision-making of NAT: For the patients with targeted therapy or not, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=5.047, P=0.025), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=0.091, P=0.762); For the patients with radiotherapy or not, there were no statistical differences in the constituent ratios of patients between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=2.215, P=0.137; χ2=2.964, P=0.085); For the neoadjuvant intensity, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=12.472, P=0.002), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=2.488, P=0.288). ③ The outcomes for NAT: The changes of carcinoembryonic antigen had no statistical differences between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (H=1.762, P=0.184; H=3.531, P=0.060); In the symptom changes, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=3.896, P=0.048), which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=0.016, P=0.900); In the image changes, the difference was statistically significant between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=7.975, P=0.005), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=0.063, P=0.802). ConclusionsThrough data analysis in DACCA in this study, it is found that there are no statistical differences in compliance and carcinoembryonic antigen changes. However, decision-making of NAT for patients of inside and outside of Sichuan Province has different choices on whether to assist targeted therapy and chemotherapy intensity for NAT; Symptom changes of NAT in patients of inside of Sichuan Province has a better effect than in patients of outside of Sichuan Province; Imaging change of NAT in patients of inside of Chengdu City has a better effect than in patients of outside of Chengdu City.
ObjectiveTo analyze differences in postoperative pathological stage characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with different marital status in Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). MethodsAccording to the established screening conditions, the patients were collected from the updated version of DACCA on January 23, 2023, and then assigned into three categories according to marital status: married, unmarried, widowed or divorced patients. The differences in postoperative pathological staging, peripheral nerve involvement, pathological tumor regression grade (TRG), cancer nodules, and high-risk factors among the CRC patients with different marital statuses were analyzed. ResultsA total of 6 947 data matching the screening criteria were collected, including 113 unmarried patients (1.6%), 6 315 married patients (90.9%), and 519 divorced or widowed patients (7.5%). The analysis results showed that the pathological TNM staging (Ⅰ–Ⅳ staging: H=19.030, P<0.001;Ⅰ+Ⅱ and Ⅲ+Ⅳ staging: χ2=19.124, P<0.001), pathological T staging (H=7.147, P=0.028), and high-risk factors grading (H=10.246, P=0.006) had statistical differences. The trend presented that the proportions of the patients with earlier pathological TNM staging and T staging (Ⅰor T1 staging) in the married patients were the highest among the 3 marital statuses patients, and the proportions of the later staging (Ⅳ or T4 staging) were the lowest in the married patients. The same trend was found in the high-risk factors grading. However, there were no statistical differences in other pathological features such as peripheral nerve involvement, pathological TRG, and cancer nodules among the CRC patients with 3 marital statuses (P>0.05). ConclusionsThrough data analysis in DACCA, it is found that CRC patients with different marital statuses exhibit certain differences in postoperative pathological stage characteristics, especially in terms of pathological TNM staging, pathological T staging, and high-risk factor grading. However, this conclusion needs to be objectively regarded. From a statistical perspective, the samples size of patients with 3 marital statuses in this study is different. In the future, further analysis can be conducted by balancing the samples size on this basis. From a clinical perspective, there may be more influencing factors, so objective analysis should be conducted after eliminating interference factors one by one.