An overview of osimertinib as a treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): an update

Photonanozyme-Kras-ribosome combination treatment of non-small cell lung cancer after COVID-19

With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), reductions in T-cell function and exhaustion have been observed in patients post-infection of COVID-19. T cells are key mediators of anti-infection and antitumor, and their exhaustion increases the risk of compromised immune function and elevated susceptibility to cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer with high incidence and mortality. Although the survival rate after standard treatment such as surgical treatment and chemotherapy has improved, the therapeutic effect is still limited due to drug resistance, side effects, and recurrence. Recent advances in molecular biology and immunology enable the development of highly targeted therapy and immunotherapy for cancer, which has driven cancer therapies into individualized treatments and gradually entered clinicians' views for treating NSCLC. Currently, with the development of photosensitizer materials, phototherapy has been gradually applied to the treatment of NSCLC. This review provides an overview of recent advancements and limitations in different treatment strategies for NSCLC under the background of COVID-19. We discuss the latest advances in phototherapy as a promising treatment method for NSCLC. After critically examining the successes, challenges, and prospects associated with these treatment modalities, their profound prospects were portrayed.

Role of circulating-tumor DNA in the early-stage non-small cell lung carcinoma as a predictive biomarker

Lung cancer is one of the most common solid malignancies. Tissue biopsy is the standard method for accurately diagnosing lung and many other malignancies over decades. However, molecular profiling of tumors leads to establishing a new horizon in the field of precision medicine, which has now entered the mainstream in clinical practice. In this context, a minimally invasive complementary method has been proposed as a liquid biopsy (LB) which is a blood-based test that is gaining popularity as it provides the opportunity to test genotypes in a unique, less invasive manner. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) captivating the Circulating-tumor DNA (Ct-DNA) are often present in the blood of lung cancer patients and are the fundamental concept behind LB. There are multiple clinical uses of Ct-DNA, including its role in prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The treatment of lung cancer has drastically evolved over time. Therefore, this review article mainly focuses on the current literature on circulating tumor DNA and its clinical implications and future goals in non-small cell lung cancer.

Radiotherapy with continued EGFR-TKIs for oligoprogressive disease in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: A real-world study

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develops resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Here, we evaluated the efficacy of radiotherapy and continuation of TKIs in patients with advanced NSCLC with oligoprogression after EGFR-TKIs.

METHODS

From January 2011 to January 2019, 33 patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC on TKIs were treated by radiotherapy and continuation of TKIs for oligoprogressive disease. The primary endpoints were median progression-free survival 1 (mPFS1), mPFS2, and median overall survival (mOS). PFS1 was measured from the start of EGFR-TKIs therapy to the oligoprogression of the disease. PFS2 was measured from the date of oligoprogression to the further progression of the disease, while OS was calculated from oligoprogression to death from any cause or was censored at the last follow-up date.

RESULT

The mPFS1, mPFS2, and mOS were 11.0 (95% CI, 4.4-17.6), 6.5 (95% CI, 1.4-11.6) and 21.8 (95% CI, 14.8-28.8) months, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that EGFR mutation type (p = 0.024), radiotherapy method (p = 0.001), and performance status (p = 0.017) were significantly correlated with PFS2. Univariate analysis showed that sex (p = 0.038), smoking history (p = 0.031), EGFR mutation type (p = 0.012), and radiotherapy method (p = 0.009) were significantly correlated with OS. Multivariate analysis suggested that radiotherapy method (p = 0.001) and performance status (p = 0.048) were prognostic factors for PFS2, and radiotherapy method (p = 0.040) was a prognostic factor for OS.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy with continued TKIs is effective for EGFR-mutated NSCLC with oligoprogression, and it should be conducted as soon as possible. T790M+ patients have higher sensitivity to radiotherapy, and patients with good performance status and stereotactic body radiation therapy have better PFS2 and OS.

Synthesis, Biological Activity, and Molecular Modelling Studies of Naphthoquinone Derivatives as Promising Anticancer Candidates Targeting COX-2

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-associated mortalities worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a novel therapeutic option targeting localized and metastatic NSCLC. In this paper, we describe the synthesis and biological activity characterization of naphthoquinone derivatives bearing selective anticancer activity to NSCLC via a COX-2 mediated pathway. The biological evaluation of compounds 9−16 showed promising structure-dependent anticancer activity on A549 cells in 2D and 3D models. Compounds were able to significantly (p < 0.05) reduce the A549 viability after 24 h of treatment in comparison to treated control. Compounds 9 and 16 bearing phenylamino and 4-hydroxyphenylamino substituents demonstrated the most promising anticancer activity and were able to induce mitochondrial damage and ROS formation. Furthermore, most promising compounds showed significantly lower cytotoxicity to non-cancerous Vero cells. The in silico ADMET properties revealed promising drug-like properties of compounds 9 and 16. Both compounds demonstrated favorable predicted GI absorption values, while only 16 was predicted to be permeable through the blood−brain barrier. Molecular modeling studies identified that compound 16 is able to interact with COX-2 in arachidonic acid site. Further studies are needed to better understand the safety and in vivo efficacy of compounds 9 and 16.