ObjectiveTo analyze the status of applying programmed death-1 (PD-1) / programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors combined with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) / vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors in advanced refractory colorectal cancer. MethodThe relevant literature on domestic and foreign research in recent years was summarized. ResultsThe discovery of immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 and the clinical application of related drugs had changed the treatment pattern of advanced solid tumors, but PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors had a poor efficacy in the mismatch repair prodicient tumors, and most advanced colorectal cancer belonged to this type. The combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors could enhance the therapeutic effect in the advanced refractory colorectal cancer, and their interaction mechanisms and clinical efficacy were continuously being proven. ConclusionsThe combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors is a promising treatment strategy for advanced refractory colorectal cancer. More studies need to be further clarified its efficacy.
ObjectiveTo summarize the latest advances in copper and cuproptosis in the field of breast cancer, and to provide a reference for clinical treatment decisions. MethodThe literatures related to copper and cuproptosis in recent years were read and summarized, and the research progress on the role of copper in breast cancer, the application of cuproptosis in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer were reviewed. ResultsCuproptosiswas a novel form of programmed cell death, which occurred via direct binding of copper to lipoylated components of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, this resulted in lipoylated protein aggregation and subsequent iron-sulfur cluster protein loss, leading to proteotoxic stress and ultimately cell death. Cuproptosis induced proliferation and migration of breast cancer cell , mediated personalized immunotherapy, and participated in endocrine and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. ConclusionExploring the mechanism of cuproptosis provides potential applications for subsequent immunotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy for breast cancer, leading to new effective strategies for patients.
Mitochondrial quality control includes mechanisms such as mitochondria-derived vesicles, fusion / fission and autophagy. These processes rely on the collaboration of a variety of key proteins in the inner and outer membranes of mitochondria to jointly regulate the morphological structure and functional integrity of mitochondria, repair mitochondrial damage, and maintain the homeostasis of their internal environment. The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control is associated with leukemia. Therefore, by exploring the mechanisms related to mitochondrial quality control of various leukemia cells and their interactions with immune cells and immune microenvironment, this article sought possible targets in the treatment of leukemia, providing new ideas for the immunotherapy of leukemia.
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody on the anti-lung cancer effect of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) which were programmed in vitro. MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 patients (8 males and 12 females with an average age of 56.45±5.89 years ranging from 42 to 65 years) diagnosed with advanced lung cancer from January to May 2019 at the Department of Oncology of Dalian Central Hospital were collected and induced to amplify into CIK cells in vitro. PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with CIK cell culture group, individual cell culture group and PD-1 monoclonal antibody group were set up to detect the cell killing activity of CIK cells against lung cancer under different effective target ratio conditions, and the ratio of perforin and granzyme positive expression in PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined CIK cell culture group and individual CIK cell culture group was detected by flow cytometry. ELISA method was used to detect the interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) cytokine secretion levels in the two groups.ResultsThe killing effect of CIK cells on A549 lung cancer cells increased with the increase of effective target ratio by CCK8, and PD-1 monoclonal antibody increased the killing effect of CIK cells on A549 lung cancer cells under different effective target ratio, E∶T=5∶1 (28.5%±1.9% vs. 20.3%±1.8%), 10∶1 (40.6%±2.4% vs. 31.7%±2.1%), 20∶1 (57.4%±3.5% vs. 44.7%±3.8%), 40∶1 (74.1%±8.3% vs. 60.8%±5.3%). The killing effect of PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with CIK cells and CIK cells alone on A549 lung cancer cells was statistically different (P<0.05). The killing effect of cells in both groups on lung cancer A549 cells was stronger than that of the PD-1 monoclonal antibody group (P<0.01). The results of flow cytometry showed that PD-1 monoclonal antibody increased the positive ratio of perforin and granzyme release in CIK cells, and the positive ratios of perforin release (46.7%±3.5%% vs. 35.1%±2.2%) and granzyme release (34.6%±3.8% vs. 25.7%±3.3%) in PD-1 monoclonal antibody combination with CIK cells group and CIK cells group were statistically different (P<0.05). Similarly, the secretion levels of IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ cytokines were also increased in the PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with CIK cells group compared with the CIK group (5 409.0±168.8 pg/mL vs. 4 300.0±132.3 pg/mL, 252.7±16.7 pg/mL vs. 172.5±8.6 pg/mL, 327.2±23.5 pg/mL vs. 209.7±16.0 pg/mL, P<0.05).ConclusionPD-1 monoclonal antibody can promote the release of tumoricidal substances in CIK cells and improve the killing effect of CIK cells on lung cancer A549 cells. It is speculated that the infusion of PD-1 monoclonal antibody before CIK cell adoption in lung cancer patients may be more beneficial to the treatment of disease. PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with CIK cell therapy is promising as a new type of lung cancer immunotherapy.
Esophageal cancer is a highly prevalent tumor species in Henan province, which brings heavy medical burden to families and society. Surgical treatment plays a dominant role in the treatment of non-advanced esophageal cancer. However, cancer cells in esophageal cancer lesions are highly invasive, postoperative recurrence and metastasis rates are pretty high. More effective systemic and comprehensive treatment is urgently needed to improve the prognosis. We invited 52 doctors in esophageal surgery, oncology, pathology, imaging, and radiation therapy of 32 hospitals at all levels in Henan province, to repeatedly negotiate and fully discuss in combination with evidence and clinical practice experience. Finally, “diagnosis and treatment pathway of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for esophageal cancer in Henan province” was formulated. In this treatment pathway, seven recommendations were proposed from seven perspectives including target population, patient evaluation, protocol selection, surgical timing, postoperative management, organ preservation, and general principles to offer reference for medical personnel related to esophageal cancer surgery.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignant tumor worldwide. With the development of medical technology, the treatment strategies of CRC are constantly improving and updating. The aim of treating CRC is not only to improve outcomes but also to maintain organ function and enhance quality of life. For patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, a variety of neoadjuvant treatment options are available and it is important to choose an individualized strategy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become an important part of the first- and posterior-line treatment for patients with deficient mis-match repair or high microsatellite instability colorectal cancer in metastatic colorectal cancer, and the emergence of new targets and drugs has further improved treatment efficacy and long-term survival. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies have confirmed the potential the value of predicting and guiding treatment for minimal residual disease. This article summarizes the representative research results, guideline updates, and important academic conference reports in the field of colorectal cancer.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and is an important cause for cancer death. Although the application of immunotherapy in recent years has greatly improved the prognosis of NSCLC, there are still huge challenges in the treatment of NSCLC. The immune microenvironment plays an important role in the process of NSCLC development, infiltration and metastasis, and they can interact and influence each other, forming a vicious circle. Notably, single-cell RNA sequencing enables high-resolution analysis of individual cells and is of great value in revealing cell types, cell evolution trajectories, molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation, and intercellular regulation within the immune microenvironment. Single-cell RNA sequencing is expected to uncover more promising immunotherapies. This article reviews the important researches and latest achievements of single-cell RNA sequencing in the immune microenvironment of NSCLC, and aims to explore the significance of applying single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the immune microenvironment of NSCLC.
ObjectiveTo summarize the mechanism of action of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, the application in breast cancer in recent years and the advances in the study of their bio-markers of effects. MethodRelevant literatures on PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and the study in the field of breast cancer were reviewed and summarized.ResultsIn recent years, the monotherapy of immune checkpoint inhibitors represented by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or in combination with other therapies had brought new hope for patients with breast cancer especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, only a small number of patients could benefit from breast cancer immunotherapy. The current researchers think that the efficacy of these drugs is related to PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue, tumor mutation burden (TMB), high level of microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR).ConclusionBreast cancer can benefit from the immunotherapy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, but formulating personalized medicine model, finding biomarkers that can predict efficacy and selecting patients with breast cancer who can benefit from it for targeted therapy are the new requirements in the new era of breast cancer immunotherapy.
Objective To summarize current research status of sperm protein 17 (SP17) in breast cancer. Method Bysearching PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases, the studies about expression and function of SP17 in the breast cancer were summarized. Results SP17 only expressed in the breast cancer tissue but not in the normal breast tissue. The result of the study showed that SP17 was only detected in the metastatic stage of tumor cells. The preclinical trails found that the breast cancer cells with SP17 positive expression could be killed by the specific T lymphocyte. Conclusions SP17 might be a potential target of immunotherapy of breast cancer, it might promote metastasis of cancer. More studies are needed to further explore its function in tumor development, thus accelerate its application in clinical practice.
Objective To investigate immunological therapeutic effect and safety of dendritic cells (DCs) combined with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70)-peptide complex (PC) derived from autogeneic hepatoma tissue. Methods Thirty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from February 2010 to February 2015 in the Gaochun People’s Hospital of Nanjing and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were studied, and subsequently were divided into an immunotherapy group (treated with HSP70-PC/DCs vaccine,n=15) and a chemotherapy group (n=15) according to the prescribed postoperative treatment methods. The levels of T lymphocyte subtypes were assayed by FACS. The toxicity adverse reactions, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA19-9, hepatic tumor recurrence rate, survival rate, and KPS of two groups patients were evaluated and compared between these two groups. Results ① The values of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD3CD56 had no significant differences between the immunotherapy group and the chemotherapy group before treatment (P>0.05), which in the immunotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the chemotherapy group after treatment (P<0.05), and which were significantly higher in the immunotherapy group after treatment as compared with the levels before treatment (P<0.05), and which had no significant differences in the chemotherapy group between after treatment and before treatment (P>0.05). ② Before treatment, the levels of AFP and CA19-9 had no significant differences between the immunotherapy group and the chemotherapy group (P>0.05), which in the immunotherapy group were significantly lower than those in the chemotherapy group after treatment (P<0.05). In the immunotherapy group, the levels of AFP and CA19-9 after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (t=2.564，P=0.021；t=2.011，P=0.041), which in the chemotherapy group before treatment were decreased as compared with the levels before treatment (t=2.221,P=0.036;t=2.487,P=0.066). ③ The patients treated with the HSP-PC/DCs vaccines was well tolerated and no obvious toxicity was appeared. ④ All the patients were followed up 5–19 months with median follow-up time of 9 months. The median survival time was 560 d and 436 d in the immunotherapy group and the chemotherapy group, respectively. After treatment, KPS score was significantly higher and recurrence rate was significantly lower in the immunotherapy group as compared with the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). The total survival had no significant difference between the immunotherapy group and the chemotherapy group (P>0.05). Conclusions The preliminary results of limited cases in this study show that HSP70-PC/DC vaccination is safe and effective in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, the pulsed DCs are effective in activating specific T-cell responses against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. HSP70-PC/DC vaccine might improve immunity and prevent postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.