[CacyBP promotes the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer]

Objective: To investigate the effects and the mechanism of Calcyclin-binding protein (CacyBP) on the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: Six lung cancer tissues and paired normal lung tissues were collected from NSCLC patients who underwent surgical treatment in Jinan Central Hospital during 2016. The expression of CacyBP in these tissues was examined by western blot. The protein and mRNA expression of CacyBP in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE), NSCLC cell lines including A549, H1299, H460 and H1975 were examined by western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. RNAi and shRNA against negative control (NC) or CacyBP were transfected into A549 cell which were denoted as siNC group, siCacyBP-1 group, sicacyBP-2 group, shNC group and shCacyBP group, respectively. Control and Flag-CacyBP plasmids were transfected into A549 cells which were denoted as NC group and Flag-CacyBP group, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), plate clone formation assay and flow cytometry assay were used to assess cell proliferation ability and cycle of A549. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to assess abilities of A549 cells migration and invasion. The protein expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail1, Vimentin, and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (p-Akt) were examined in CacyBP depleted or overexpressed A549 cells. Results: The CacyBP protein level in NSCLC tissues was 0.41±0.23, significantly higher than 0.11±0.04 in normal lung tissues (P<0.05). The CacyBP protein expression levels in different NSCLC cell lines including A549, H1299, H460 and H1975 were 0.35±0.01, 0.38±0.01, 0.32±0.01 and 0.41±0.01, respectively, which were significantly higher than 0.03±0.01 in 16HBE cells (P<0.05). The result of RT-PCR was consistent with that of western blot. Compared with siNC group (absorbance was 1.54±0.03), siCacyBP-1 group and siCacyBP-2 group showed decreased cell proliferation (absorbances were 1.38±0.04 and 1.34±0.03, P<0.05). The number of cell colony in shNC group was 41.33±3.21, significantly higher than 22.00±3.61 in shCacyBP group (P<0.05). The proportion of G(1) phase in shCacyBP group was (61.35±5.45)%, higher than (49.61±1.54) % in shNC group (P<0.05). The proportion of S phase was (25.41±3.21)%, which was lower than (38.68±0.46)% of shNC group (P<0.05). The cell migration rate of shCacyBP group was (12.67±0.71)%, which was significantly lower than (35.50±2.07)% of shNC group (P<0.05). The numbers of cell migration and invasion in shNC group were 406.33±7.37 and 92.33±8.50, respectively, which were significantly higher than 224.67±10.01 and 66.00±7.94 in shCacyBP group (P<0.05). Compared with siNC group, the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin was up-regulated, while the expressions of mesenchymal markers including N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail1 and p-Akt were down-regulated in CacyBP depleted A549 cells. Compared with NC group, overexpression of CacyBP inhibited E-cadherin expression while promoted the expressions of N-cadherin, Snail1, Vimentin and p-Akt, which could be restored by LY294002. Conclusion: CacyBP may promote the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by regulating Akt signal pathway.

[Survival benefit of primary site surgery acquired by stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective study based on seer database]

Objective: To investigate the value of primary site surgery in stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and associated prognostic factors. Methods: The data of stage Ⅳ primary non-small cell lung cancer initially diagnosed from 2010 to 2015 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and retrospective analyzed. Propensity-matched analysis was performed to decrease the selection bias between surgery and non-surgery groups. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier curves. Log rank test and Cox regression analyses were applied to evaluate the prognostic factors. Results: A total of 4 657 patients were recruited. In the matched population, the median OS of surgery and non-surgery groups were 7 and 3 months. The 3-years OS were 14.6% and 5.0%, respectively. The 3-years CSS were 17.3% and 6.5%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated primary lesion surgery was an independent prognostic factor for OS and CSS (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC who <80 years old, White and Black, gender, tumor located in the upper lobe and crossover, moderately and poorly differentiated, adenocarcinoma, T1-2 or T4 stage, N0 or N2, without regional lymph node dissection, without metastatic sites operation, and the number of metastatic organs<3, obtained a better 3-years OS and CSS from primary site surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: Primary site surgery can significantly improve the OS and CSS of patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC carefully selected.

[Anatomical partial lobectomy for the treatment of 3 336 cases of patients with lung nodule]

Objective: To explore the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of anatomical partial lobectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 3 336 patients with lung nodules underwent anatomical partial lobectomy in our center from November 2013 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. We set the safety margin distance according to the imaging feature of the lesion. The surgeons then anatomically detached the major vessels and bronchus in this region, resected the targeted lung tissue along the plane, and completed the resection of anatomical pulmonary lobe and clean and sampling of systemic lymph nodules. Results: A total of 668 cases were multiple nodules and 2 668 cases were solitary pulmonary nodules. According to the postoperative pathological results, 283 cases were benign, 1 197 cases were preinvasive lesions (including 38 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, 445 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ and 714 cases of minimally invasive adenocarcinoma), 1 713 cases were invasive adenocarcinoma, 73 cases were non-adenocarcinoma and 70 cases were metastatic carcinoma. Among 1 786 invasive primary lung cancers, 11 cases received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and their postoperative pathologic diagnoses were stage ypIA. Other 1 775 cases who did not receive postoperative neoadjuvant treatment included 1 587 cases in stage ⅠA, 112 cases in stage ⅠB, 3 cases in stage ⅡA, 18 cases in stage ⅡB, 37 cases in stage ⅢA, 9 cases in stage ⅢB, 9 cases in stage Ⅳ. The average operation time was (127.3±55.3) minutes, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (4.8±2.4) days. The incidence rate of complications (grade>2) was 1.1%(38/3 336), and no death occurred during 30 days after operation. Conclusion: Anatomic partial lobectomy has good clinical applicability, safety and effectiveness, which is worthy of clinical application and recommendation.

[Chinese expert consensus on antiangiogenic drugs for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (2020 Edition)]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common histological type of lung cancer, accounting for more than 80% of primary lung cancer. Platinum-based chemotherapy is the traditional standard for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, but the 5-years survival rate is still very low, less than 5%. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, proliferation and metastasis of solid tumors. Angiogenesis inhibitors affect the tumor microenvironment, degenerate existing tumor blood vessels and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Angiogenesis inhibitors are now one of the indispensable treatments for patients with advanced NSCLC through continuous development of new angiogenesis inhibitor and improvement of drug accessibility. This consensus is based on the "Expert consensus on anti-angiogenic drug therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in China (2019 Edition)" , combines with clinical research evidence published in the past years and clinical experience. The consensus-writing group compiles a consensus of guiding clinical departments related to lung cancer treatment to use anti-angiogenic drugs in a standardized manner, and further improves the level of standardized diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

[Current management and future prospect of HER-2 mutant non-small cell lung cancer]

Since Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (HER-2) was regarded as oncogenic driver gene for malignancies, HER-2 targeted therapy has benefited many patients with breast cancer and gastric cancer. However, as a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, HER-2 has failed to respond well to both traditional anti-HER-2 and anti-EGFR targeted agents when compared to EGFR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is reported that unlike gene copy number variation in breast cancer, HER-2 intragenic kinase domain mutations (the exon 20 in-frame insertions are dominant, and missense mutations in kinase domain are also observed) in NSCLC might account for the poor response to traditional HER-2 or EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis, molecular variations, clinical features and current therapeutic strategies for HER-2 mutated NSCLC to discuss the challenges and perspectives for this population.

[Research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer]

Lung cancer is currently the malignant tumor with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world, and the main type is non-small cell lung cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitor is a landmark discovery in the history of cancer treatment, which rewrites the history of cancer treatment, and improves the medical treatment of advanced tumors by a big step forward. The article summarizes the research progress of therapeutic drugs against anti-programmed cell death protein and programmed cell death protein ligand antibodies in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The principle of drug action, the differences in the diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in different clinical stages, and future research directions are discussed to provide the usage guidelines of immune checkpoint inhibitors for clinical oncologists.

[The outcome and safety of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy in stage Ⅱ~Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer]

Objective: To explore the safety and therapeutic effect of programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody combined with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant therapy for patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Thirteen patients, who had been diagnosed as stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ NSCLC and received PD-1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment in National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital were recruited. The patients received consecutive neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 21 days as a cycle and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after two cycles. Results: At the last time of follow-up on December 2, 2019, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of these patients were 61.5% (95% CI 30.9%-92.1%) and 100%, respectively. The downregulation rate of disease stage was 61.5% (8/13). The resectable rate was 38.5% (5/13), among them, the major pathologic response (MPR) was 60.0% (3/5) and the complete pathologic response (CPR) was 20.0% (1/5). The neoadjuvant chemotherapy displayed a low incidence of adverse reaction. The main grade 3 to 4 toxicities were neutropenia (38.5%) and leukopenia (23.1%). There was no significant immune-related toxicity. The safety and tolerability of perioperative period of patients underwent resection were promising. Conclusions: Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment is an effective, low-toxicity treatment manner, which has perioperative safety and high rate of MPR for patients with resectable NSCLC. It is a promising treatment option for patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ NSCLC.

[Therapeutic effects of target artery infusion of verapamil and chemotherapy drugs on advanced non-small cell lung cancer]

Objective: To investigate the effects of targeted artery perfusion of verapamil and chemotherapy drugs on advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Sixty patients with advanced NSCLC who were admitted to the Central Hospital of Zhumadian from April 2016 to April 2018 were selected as the research subjects. They were divided into the observation group (26 cases) and the control group (34 cases) according to the treatment method. Patients in the observation group were treated with targeted artery perfusion of verapamil and chemotherapy drugs while the control group were treated with target artery perfusion of chemotherapy drugs alone.Both groups were treated continuously for more than 2 months. The short-term curative effect, adverse reactions, changes in immune function, levels of serum tumor markers and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores before and after treatment as well as the prognosis were compared between the two groups. Results: The response rate and control rate in the observation group were 80.8% and 96.2%, higher than 55.9% and 76.5% in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, CD4(+) levels and CD4(+) /CD8(+) in the observation group were (25.43±2.76)% and (0.88±0.11), lower than (27.56±2.79)% and (0.95±0.13) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, serum levels of CEA and CA50 in the observation group were (11.57±2.32)ng/ml and (16.62±3.28)U/ml, also lower than (15.87±2.66)ng/ml and (20.31±3.42)U/ml in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, KPS score of the observation group was (81.44±2.76) points, higher than (79.62±2.38) points of the control group (P<0.05). The median survival time and progression-free median survival time of the observation group were 16.0 months and 7.5 months, respectively, significantly better than 10.0 months and 5.0 months of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment with target arterial perfusion of verapamil and chemotherapy drugs for advanced NSCLC can effectively improve the short-term curative effect, reduce serum levels of tumor markers, improve life quality and prolong the survival time. However, it has a certain inhibitory effect on the patient's immune function.

[Clinical research and drug review of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer]

Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the most common cause of cancer mortality in China. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of lung cancers. The mutation rate of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is relatively high, accounts for 32%~38% of all NSCLC. During the last decade, the application of EGFR specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) significantly improved prognosis of NSCLC patients with sensitive EGFR mutations. Thus, the research and development of third generation EGFR-TKI have entered the period of rapid development. The fourth generation EGFR-TKI which targeting EGFR C797S has even begun clinical development in China. This review will discuss the clinical research and drug review of EGFR-TKI from the perspective of drug review.

[Prognostic value of pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with thoracic radiation]

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio(NLR) in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyze 420 patients who received thoracic radiotherapy alone, sequential chemoraiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced stage NSCLC from January 2007 to December 2010 of our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups (high NLR group and low NLR group) with appropriate cutoff point using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve method. The survival curve was established by Kaplan-Meier method. The Log-rank test was used to compare the survival of the two NLR groups and the multivariate analysis was carried out by Cox regression model. Results: Among the 420 patients, 99 received radiotherapy alone, 139 received sequential chemoradiotherapy and 182 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. 345 patients died and 75 were still alive. The median follow-up time was 5.2 years and the median overall survival was 22 months. The cut-off value of pretreatment NLR was 2.1. The 5-year PFS and OS rates in high NLR group and low NLR group were 10.6% vs 15.7% (P=0.033) and 15.5% vs 22.7% (P=0.012). Multivariate analysis confirmed that pretreatment NLR (hazard ratio 1.06, P=0.041) was independent prognostic factor of OS. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the pretreatment NLR is the independent prognostic factor of OS in patients with locally advanced stage NSCLC treated with thoracic radiotherapy. However, NLR is still greatly influenced by patient's condition and treatment which needs further research.