Efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate whether anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody can improve the efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with lenvatinib in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 232 patients with unresectable HCC who were treated at The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022， among whom 128 received cryoablation combined with lenvatinib （double combination） and 104 received cryoablation combined with lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody （triple combination）. Propensity score matching was performed at a ratio of 1∶1， and finally there were 86 patients in each group. The two groups were evaluated in terms of objective response rate （ORR）， disease control rate （DCR）， overall survival （OS）， progression-free survival （PFS）， and adverse events （AEs）. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Survival curves were plotted， and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate of patients in both groups， while the log-rank test was used for comparison between the two groups. The Cox regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio （HR） and 95% confidence interval （CI） and perform the univariate and multivariate analyses of influencing factors for prognosis. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 28 months， and there were 33 deaths （38.0%） in the triple combination group and 40 deaths （46.0%） in the double combination group. Compared with the double combination group， the triple combination group had significantly higher ORR （35.6% vs 14.5%， P=0.008） and DCR （86.1% vs 64.1%， P=0.003）. OS and PFS in the triple combination group were significantly higher than those in the double combination group （P=0.045 and 0.026）. The univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model analyses showed that treatment regimen （HR=0.60， P=0.038） and alpha-fetoprotein level （HR=2.37， P=0.001） were independent risk factors for OS， and treatment regimen （HR=0.65， P=0.025）， diabetes mellitus （HR=1.94， P=0.005）， whether or not to have received local treatment （HR=0.63， P=0.014）， and distant metastasis （HR=0.58， P=0.009） were independent risk factors for PFS. There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of AEs between the two groups （P>0.05）. ConclusionFor patients with unresectable HCC， the triple combination of cryoablation， lenvatinib， and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody significantly improves the treatment outcome and survival of patients compared with the double combination of cryoablation and lenvatinib， without increasing AEs， which provides a clinical basis for optimizing the treatment regimen for unresectable HCC.

Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma: diagnosis and management / Metástase vítrea de melanoma cutâneo: diagnóstico e tratamento

ABSTRACT Purpose: To report the clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes in a series of patients with vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma. Methods: This single-center, retrospective, interventional case series included patients with biopsy-confirmed vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma diagnosed between 1997 and 2020. Standard 23- or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed for diagnostic sampling. Sclerotomies were treated with double or triple freeze-thaw cryotherapy. Perioperative intravitreal injections of melphalan (32 µg/0.075 mL) were administered, when indicated. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and systemic and ocular treatment responses were reported. Results: Five eyes of five patients with unilateral vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 84 (range, 37-88) years. The median follow-up after ophthalmic diagnosis was 28 (8.5-36) months; one patient did not have a follow-up. The initial visual acuity ranged from 20/30 to hand motions. Baseline clinical findings included pigmented or non-pigmented cellular infiltration of the vitreous (5/5), anterior segment (4/5), and retina (3/5). Four patients had secondary glaucoma. Systemic therapy included checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (n=3, all with partial/complete response), systemic chemotherapy (n=2), surgical resection (n=3), and radiation (n=2). The median time from primary diagnosis to vitreous metastasis was 2 (2-15) years. One patient had an active systemic disease at the time of vitreous metastasis. The final visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to no light perception. Ophthalmic treatment included vitrectomy in all five patients, intravitreal administration of melphalan in three, and intravitreal administration of methotrexate in one. One patient required enucleation, and histopathology revealed extensive invasion by melanoma cells. Conclusions: Vitreous metastasis from cutaneous melanoma can present as a diffuse infiltration of pigmented or non-pigmented cells into the vitreous and may be misdiagnosed as uveitis. Diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy and periodic intravitreal chemotherapy may be indicated.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever os achados clínicos, tratamentos, e desfechos em uma série de pacientes com me tástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo. Métodos: Série retrospectiva de casos de único centro com intervenção. Pacientes incluídos tiveram seu diagnóstico de MVMC confirmado por biópsia entre 1997 e 2020. Vitrectomia via pars plana com 23 ou 25 gauge foram realizadas para obter espécimens. Esclerotomias foram tratadas com crioterapia em duplo ou triplo congelamento. Injeção intravítrea perioperatória de melfalano (32 ug/0,075 mL) foi administrada quando necessário. Foram relatados acuidade visual, pressão intraocular, resposta terapêutica sistêmica e ocular. Resultados: Cinco olhos de 5 pacientes com metástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo unilateral foram identificados. Idade média de diagnóstico foi 84 anos (variando de 37-88). Seguimento médio após diagnóstico oftalmológico foi 28 (8,5-36) meses; 1 paciente não teve acompanhamento. Acuidade visual inicial variou de 20/30 a movimentos de mão. Achados clínicos iniciais incluíram infiltração de células pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas no vítreo (5/5), segmento anterior (4/5), e retina (3/5). Quatro pacientes tiveram glaucoma secundário. Tratamento sistêmico incluiu imunoterapia com inibidores da via de sinalização (3 - todos com resposta parcial/completa), quimioterapia sistêmica (2), ressecção cirúrgica (3), e irradiação (2). Intervalo médio entre diagnóstico primário e metástases vítreas foi 2 (2-15) anos. Um paciente teve doença sistêmica ativa simultânea as metástases vítreas. Acuidade visual final variou entre 20/40 e SPL. Tratamento oftalmológico incluiu vitrectomia nos 5 pacientes, melfalano intravítreo em 3 e metotrexato intravítreo em 1. Um paciente precisou de enucleação. A histopatologia revelou invasão celular extensa de melanoma. Conclusões: Metástases vítreas de melanoma cutâneo pode se manifestar como uma infiltração difusa de células pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas no vítreo e erroneamente diagnosticada como uveites. Vitrectomia diagnóstica e quimioterapia intravítrea periódica podem estar indicadas.

Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 de presentación súbita inducida por inhibidores del punto de control inmunitario en el tratamiento de cáncer avanzado. Serie de casos / Sudden onset type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of advanced cancer. Cases report

Tres pacientes con cáncer avanzado en tratamiento con inhibidores del punto de control inmunitario (inmune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs), sin antecedentes de diabetes mellitus (DM), ingresaron al Servicio de Urgencias con poliuria, polidipsia y pérdida de peso, y diagnóstico de cetoacidosis diabética, sin evidencia clínica de infección. Fueron tratados con líquidos e infusión de insulina pasando luego a un régimen de insulina bolo basal que continuó después del alta. Las pruebas de detección de autoanticuerpos para DM resultaron negativas, y se les diagnosticó DM inducida por ICIs, pembrolizumab en dos de ellos y nivolumab en el otro. El propósito de esta serie de casos es demostrar el desarrollo de la DM1 en forma aguda en pacientes tratados con inhibidores de PD-1. Sobre la base de estos casos y la literatura revisada, se buscaron determinar las características clínicas, y sugerir estrategias para la identificación, control, tratamiento precoz y seguimiento de los pacientes tratados con ICIs a fin de minimizar el impacto de la disfunción autoinmune.

Three patients with advanced cancer, treated with inmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with no history of diabetes mellitus (DM), were admitted to the Emergency Department with polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss and a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis without clinical evidence of infection. They were treated with fluids and insulin infusion transitioning to a basal-bolus insulin regimen, which continued after discharge. Autoantibody detection tests for DM were negative and they were diagnosed with DM induced by ICIs, pembrolizumab in two of them, and nivolumab in another. The purpose of this case report is to show the development of DM1 in an acute form in patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors. Based on these cases and the reviewed literature, we seek to identify clinical characteristics and suggest strategies for the proper identification, control, treatment, and follow-up of patients treated with ICIs to minimize the impact of autoimmune dysfunction.

Merkel cell carcinoma: epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of a rare disease

Abstract Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare skin cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation. The risk factors include sun exposure, advanced age, immunosuppression (such as transplant recipients, patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms, or patients with HIV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus infection. Clinically, Merkel cell carcinoma appears as a cutaneous or subcutaneous plaque or nodule, but this tumor diagnosis is rarely made clinically. Therefore, histopathology and immunohistochemistry are usually necessary. Primary tumors without evidence of metastases are treated with complete surgical excision and appropriate surgical margins. The presence of occult metastasis in a lymph node is frequent and a sentinel lymph node biopsy should be performed. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy increases local tumor control. Recently, agents that block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have shown objective and durable tumor regression in patients with advanced solid malignancies. The first anti-PD-L1 antibody used in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma was avelumab, but pembrolizumab and nivolumab have also shown efficacy. This article describes the current state of knowledge of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and staging of Merkel cell carcinoma, as well as new strategies for its systemic treatment.

Advances in Predictive Research of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors-related Adverse Events / 中国肺癌杂志

The era of tumor treatment has been revolutionized by the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, while immunotherapy benefits patients, it can also lead to immune-related adverse events that may affect multiple organs and systems throughout the body, potentially even posing a life-threatening risk. The diverse clinical manifestations and onset times of these adverse events further complicate their prediction and diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical characteristics and predicted biomarkers of adverse events related to inhibitors at immune checkpoints, in order to help clinicians evaluate drug risks and early warn adverse events.
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Immune Thrombocytopenia Induced by Sintilimab in Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review / 中国肺癌杂志

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show unique advantages in the treatment of lung cancer, making the treatment of lung cancer enter the era of immunotherapy, but ICIs will also have adverse reactions, and the incidence of immune-induced hematological toxicity is not very high. Immunotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare adverse event.We report one case of thrombocytopenia induced by ICIs and review the literature on thrombocytopenia associated with ICIs and discuss the clinical features, possible mechanisms, and optimal treatment. 
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Related Cystoureteritis: A Case Report and Literature Review / 中国肺癌杂志

A patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma developed symptoms of frequent urination and urgent urination after 14 cycles of Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy. After making comprehensive analysis of the results of urine routine test, renal function, cystoscope and computed tomography (CT) examination, immune checkpoint inhibitors related cystoureteritis and acute kidney injury were considered. The patient's symptoms were relieved after discontinuation of Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy. However, the symptoms of urinary irritation worsened significantly after rechallenging Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy, and the symptoms was relieved after corticosteroids treatment. If patients develop urinary symptoms during immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment, immune checkpoint inhibitors related cystoureteritis should be considered for early differential diagnosis in order to implement appropriate treatment.
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Evaluation of Efficacy and Prognosis Analysis of Stage III-IV SMARCA4-deficient Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated by PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors plus Chemotherapy and Chemotherapy / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#The SMARCA4 mutation has been shown to account for at least 10% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present, conventional radiotherapy and targeted therapy are difficult to improve outcomes due to the highly aggressive and refractory nature of SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC (SMARCA4-DNSCLC) and the absence of sensitive site mutations for targeted drug therapy, and chemotherapy combined with or without immunotherapy is the main treatment. Effective SMARCA4-DNSCLC therapeutic options, however, are still debatable. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy and prognosis of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in combination with chemotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*METHODS@#46 patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC were divided into two groups based on their treatment regimen: the chemotherapy group and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Efficacy assessment and survival analysis were performed in both groups, and the influencing factors for prognosis were explored for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*RESULTS@#Male smokers are more likely to develop SMARCA4-DNSCLC. There was no significant difference in the objective response rate (76.5% vs 69.0%, P=0.836) between chemotherapy and the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy or the disease control rate (100.0% vs 89.7%, P=0.286). The one-year overall survival rate in the group with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy was 62.7%, and that of the chemotherapy group was 46.0%. The difference in median progression-free survival (PFS) between the PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy group and the chemotherapy group was statistically significant (9.3 mon vs 6.1 mon, P=0.048). The results of Cox regression analysis showed that treatment regimen and smoking history were independent influencing factors of PFS in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and family history was an individual influencing factor of overall survival in patients with stage III-IV SMARCA4-DNSCLC.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Treatment regimen may be a prognostic factor for patients with SMARCA4-DNSCLC, and patients with PD-1 ICIs plus chemotherapy may have a better prognosis.

Peripheral Blood Laboratory Test Results Combined with TCF1+CD8+ T Lymphocytes Ratio to Predict the Response and Prognosis of Immunotherapy to Advanced Lung Cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy lacks viable biomarkers for response and prognosis prediction. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of peripheral blood laboratory test results combined with lymphocyte subset ratios to the response and prognosis of immunotherapy in advanced lung cancer.@*METHODS@#Advanced lung cancer patients admitted to West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May 2021 to July 2023 were prospectively enrolled in this study. Clinical data and peripheral blood were collected before and after treatment and lymphocyte subset ratios were analyzed by flow cytometry. Logistic regression was used to identify factors correlated to ICIs treatment efficacy. Cox modeling was applied to explore the prognostic factors.@*RESULTS@#Logistic regression showed that the baseline level of transcription factor T cell factor 1 (TCF1)+CD8+ T cell ratio and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte percentage, cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) after 1 cycle of ICIs treatment were the potential predictors for ICIs response (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that the baseline level of TCF1+CD8+ T cell ratio (P=0.020) and peripheral WBC count after 1 cycle of ICIs treatment (P<0.001) were prognostic factors.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with high baseline TCF1+CD8+ T cell ratio combined with low WBC counts and low CYFRA21-1 level after 1 cycle of ICIs treatment are more likely to benefit from ICIs therapy.

Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and chemotherapy improve pulmonary ventilation and diffusion function in patients with lung cancer / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate changes of pulmonary ventilation function and diffusion function in lung cancer patients after neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy combined with chemotherapy treatment.@*METHODS@#Patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer (Ⅱa-Ⅲb) admitted to Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from October 2021 to July 2022, who received ICIs combined with chemotherapy for more than two courses were enrolled. Patients underwent pulmonary ventilation function and diffusion function assessments before and after treatment. The demographic information, sizes and locations of cancer lesions, doses and duration of ICIs used, pulmonary function results before and after treatment, and the tumor regression were documented. The changes of pulmonary function parameters before and after the treatment were analyzed with paired t test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The factors influencing the pulmonary function changes were analyzed by multiple linear Lasso regression and ridge regression.@*RESULTS@#Among the 52 patients, 50 cases were males (96.15%) and 43 cases were squamous carcinoma (82.69%). The medium age of the patients was 67 years. After neoadjuvant therapy, 36 patients (69.23%) showed remission of tumor lesions. After treatment, the parameters of pulmonary ventilation inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) and the area under the expiratory flow-volume curve (AREAex), and the parameter of pulmonary diffusion total lung capacity increased compared with the baseline (all P<0.05). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) also showed an increasing trend. Multivariate linear Lasso regression and ridge regression showed that baseline IVC had a significant negative effect on IVC improvement (Beta=－0.435, t=－2.968, P<0.01), baseline TLC had a significant negative effect on the improvement of TLC (Beta=－0.266, t=－2.474, P<0.05), and the remission of obstructive pneumonia favored the improvement of TLC (Beta=0.308, t=2.443, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#After ICIs neoadjuvant treatment combined with chemotherapy, the lung ventilation and diffusion function can be improved in lung cancer patients, particularly for those with reduced baseline ventilation and diffusion function.

Research Progress in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Combination Therapy Applied to Non-small Cell Lung Cancer after EGFR Mutation-targeted Therapy Resistance / 中国肺癌杂志

With the development of precision medicine for lung cancer, targeted therapy has greatly improved the survival and prognosis of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the occurrence of acquired drug resistance ultimately leads to patients with no targeted drugs available and no standard treatment options for this group of patients afterwards. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the treatment of advanced NSCLC. However, due to the unique features of NSCLC with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, such as immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), single ICIs treatment has limited clinical benefits in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation, and the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies is the trend. This review further discusses potential subpopulations with EGFR mutations that may benefit from ICIs treatment, and analyzes how decisions can be made in the era of combined immunotherapy to maximize the efficacy of ICIs treatment in EGFR mutation targeted therapy for NSCLC patients with drug resistance, with the aim of achieving individualized treatment.

Correlation Analysis between Thyroid Function Abnormality and Efficacy in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer after Immunotherapy / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Thyroid function abnormality (TFA) is one of the common adverse reactions in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immunotherapy, but the risk factors of TFA and its relationship with efficacy are not completely clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the risk factors of TFA and its relationship with efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC after immunotherapy.@*METHODS@#The general clinical data of 200 patients with advanced NSCLC in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 1, 2019 to June 31, 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. χ² test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to explore the risk factors of TFA. Kaplan-Meier curve was drawn and Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis was used to explore the efficacy factors.@*RESULTS@#A total of 86 (43.0%) patients developed TFA. Logistic regression analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS), pleural effusion and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were factors influencing TFA (P<0.05). Compared with normal thyroid function group, the median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients in the TFA group was significantly longer (19.0 months vs 6.3 months, P<0.001), and the objective response rate (ORR) (65.1% vs 28.9%, P=0.020) and disease control rate (DCR) (100.0% vs 92.1%, P=0.020) of the TFA group were better than those of the normal thyroid function group. Cox regression analysis showed that ECOG PS, LDH, cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and TFA were factors influencing prognosis (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#ECOG PS, pleural effusion and LDH may be risk factors affecting the occurrence of TFA and TFA may be a predictor of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Patients with advanced NSCLC who have TFA after immunotherapy may obtain better efficacy.

Advances in predictive biomarkers associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors for tumor therapy / 生物工程学报

Malignant tumors are diseases that seriously threaten human health and social development. Traditional tumor therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy cannot fully meet the needs of clinical treatment, and emerging immunotherapy has become a research hotspot in the field of tumor treatment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved as a tumor immunotherapy method for the treatment of various tumors, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer and colorectal cancer, etc. However, during the clinical use of ICIs, only a small number of patients experienced durable responses, which also led to drug resistance and adverse reactions. Therefore, the identification and development of predictive biomarkers is crucial to improve the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs. The predictive biomarkers of tumor ICIs mainly include tumor biomarkers, tumor microenvironment biomarkers, circulation-related biomarkers, host environmental biomarkers and combinatorial biomarkers. They are of great significance for screening, individualized treatment and prognosis evaluation of tumor patients. This article reviews the advances of predictive markers for tumor ICIs therapy.

Effect of surgical resection after preoperative immunotherapy combined chemotherapy on unresectable stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective:Immune checkpoint inhibitors have a high remission rate in the preoperative application of resectable and potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer when combined with chemotherapy. For the unresectable stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer, whether the transformation can be achieved through this regimen to provide opportunities for surgical resection is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the pattern of transformation therapy by reviewing the efficacy and safety of preoperative therapy and surgery of this group.Methods:A review of 23 patients undergoing surgical resection after transformation therapy by preoperative immunotherapy combined chemotherapy between November 2019 and November 2021 was performed. All patients must clarify the pathological diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer by biopsy. After the multi-disciplinary treatment team and preoperative imaging assessment, the diagnosis should be consistent with unresectable stage III as described in the Expert Consensus on Multidisciplinary Management of Stage Ⅲ Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, 2019 Edition. After 2 to 4 cycles of preoperative anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with chemotherapy, the surgical team assessed the chance of resection and performed surgery. Important indicators such as surgical resection rate, R0 resection rate, MPR, pCR, incidence of grade 3-5 adverse reactions and various other perioperative data were counted.Results:In the whole group, initial imaging evaluation was 10 of stage cⅢA and 13 of stage cⅢB.15 cases had multiple stations N2 lymph nodes metastasis, 9 had enlarged fused N2 lymph nodes metastasis, 6 had large vessel invasion(T4), and 1 had contralateral mediastinal lymph node metastasis(N3). After preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, 17 cases achieved PR, 3 achieved SD and 3 achieved PD. The surgical resection rate of the whole group was 91.3%(21/23, 1 lobectomy combined with superior vena cava reconstruction, 2 sleeve lobectomy, 5 pneumonectomy, 12 lobectomy/combined lobectomy, 1 wedge resection and 2 unresectable cases), R0 resection rate was 95.2%(20/21). MPR was achieved in 13 cases, 8 of them reached pCR. There were no perioperative deaths, median surgical time was 260(190-460) min, median bleeding volume was 100(50-750) ml, median drainage time was 5(3-9) days, and median hospitalization was 7(5-11) days. Two cases got immunotherapy-related grade 3 adverse reactions, one was interstitial pneumonia and the other was immune-related injury involving the eye, oral and genital mucosa. Two cases got surgical complications and one was persistent lung leakage, which stopped after 46 days of conservative treatment; The other was pleural effusion, which was relieved after drainage.Conclusion:For the unresectable stage Ⅲ NSCLC, immunotherapy combined chemotherapy is an effective preoperative downstage method. It can convert 91.3% cases to resectable ones while achieving a good degree of pathological remission. Its side reactions are generally controllable and safety.

Biomarkers related to the treatment of melanoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors / 中华皮肤科杂志

Recently, great breakthroughs have been made in the treatment of melanoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, only a small proportion of patients show a long-lasting response to immunotherapy, and risks of immune-related adverse events and drug resistance have been also increasing along with the emergence of combination treatment. This review summarizes biomarkers related to the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of melanoma, aiming to predict and screen out patients who may benefit from immunotherapy, guide individualized clinical treatment, and reduce the occurrence of drug resistance and adverse reactions.

Gut microbiota and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment of melanoma / 中华皮肤科杂志

A growing number of studies have shown that gut microbiota affects the development of melanoma through various mechanisms, and plays a vital role in the treatment of melanoma. This review summarizes the relationship between gut microbiota and the development of melanoma, the effect of gut microbiota on the checkpoint blockade immunotherapy of melanoma and related adverse effects.

Clinical Characteristics of 5 Cases of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Diabetes Mellitus / 罕见病研究

  Objective  By summarizing the clinical characteristics and follow-up outcomes of 5 patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor induced diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM) and reviewing the relevant literatures, the article aims at providing reference to clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of the ICI-DM.  Methods  Clinical data of 5 patients with ICI-DM who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2018 to February 2023 and did retrospectively analyzed.  Results  Five patients with a mean age of (65±7)years received treatment by the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand inhibitor (PD-L1). The median time from the first immunotherapy to the discovery of elevated plasma glucose was 100 (43, 210)days, and the median cycle of immunotherapy was 7 (2.5, 10.5). The onset of the illness of all the 5 patients started with diabetic ketosis or ketoacidosis. At the onset, urine ketone bodies were positive, random plasma glucose was (36.36±15.89)mmol/L, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)was (8.6%±0.66%), arterial blood pH was (7.28±0.16), and the median fasting C-peptide level was 0.09 (0.05, 0.32)μg/L. Five patients had an onset plasma glucose level of grade 3 or 4.Then, ICI treatment was discontinued in all patients and insulin therapy started. The daily dosage of insulin was (56±20)IU, supplemented with hypoglycemic drugs. After treatment, urine ketone body turned negative, pH value increased to normal range, and random plasma glucose decreased significantly (the median difference of random blood glucose before and after treatment was 21.30 mmol/L, P=0.043) showing that the treatment was effective. During the follow-up, all patients continued to use insulin. The PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors were restarted after hyperglycemia remission. The tumor condition was under control.  Conclusions  ICI-DM mainly occurs in patients who receive treatment with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors usually with acute hyperglycemia whose laboratory tests indicate insulin secretion defects. Some patients had positive islet cell antibodies, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies and autoantibodies.Patients with positive autoantibodies needed early diagnosis and continuous insulin treatment. ICI treatment can be restarted after endocrinologists brought the blood glucose under control.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of NSCLC with different KRAS genotypes / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors （ICIs） in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） with different KRAS genotypes. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， the Cochrane Library， Web of Science， Embase， CNKI， Wanfang data and VIP， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about ICIs alone， combined use of various ICIs or ICIs combined with traditional chemotherapy （trial group） versus traditional chemotherapy （control group） for NSCLC were collected from the inception of the databases to April 1， 2023. After screening literature， extracting data and evaluating quality， meta-analysis， sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis were conducted by using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS A total of 7 RCTs involving 5 980 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that overall survival （OS） [HR＝ 0.79， 95%CI （0.72， 0.87）， P＜0.000 01] and progression-free survival （PFS） [HR＝0.63， 95%CI （0.50， 0.80）， P＝0.000 2] of trial group were significantly longer than those of control group； furthermore， the OS of KRAS mutant type [HR＝0.63， 95%CI （0.53， 0.75）， P＜0.000 01] and KRAS wild type [HR＝0.87， 95%CI （0.78， 0.98）， P＝0.02]， PFS of KRAS mutant type [HR＝ 0.58， 95%CI （0.43， 0.78）， P＝0.000 3] and KRAS wild type [HR＝0.68， 95%CI （0.47， 0.99）， P＝0.04] in the trial group were all significantly longer than in the control group. Subgroup analysis by different treatment regimens showed that the OS of KRAS mutant type patients receiving first- and second-line treatment regimens， using ICIs alone and those receiving ICIs combined with traditional chemotherapy as well as PFS of KRAS mutant type and wild type patients receiving first-line treatment regimens in the trial group were all significantly longer than in the control group （P＜0.05）. Sensitivity analysis results indicated that the findings of this study were robust. Publication bias results showed that the possibility of publication bias in this study was small. CONCLUSIONS ICIs show significant efficacy in NSCLC patients， and NSCLC patients benefit equally regardless of whether KRAS mutations occur.

Data mining of severe cutaneous adverse reactions related to immune checkpoint inhibitors in the FAERS / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To mine and analyze severe cutaneous adverse reaction signals of 5 commonly used immune checkpoint inhibitors （ICIs）， and to provide reference for clinically safe use of drugs. METHODS Based on the FDA adverse events reporting system （FAERS） database，adverse drug events （ADEs） reports about severe cutaneous adverse reactions related to ipilimumab， nivolumab， pembrolizumab， atezolizumab and durvalumab were collected from listing in the United States to the fourth quarter of 2022. The ADE signals were mined and analyzed with reporting odds ratio （ROR） and Bayesian confidence propagation neural network （BCPNN）. RESULTS A total of 5 726 reports of severe cutaneous adverse reactions were collected， including 3 037 reports for nivolumab，1 465 reports for pembrolizumab， 130 reports for durvalumab， 429 reports for atezolizumab and 665 reports for ipilimumab. All 5 kinds of ICIs caused positive signals， the correlation degree of which was as follows： pembrolizumab＞atezolizumab＞nivolumab＞ipilimumab＞durvalumab. Stevens-Johnson syndrome（SJS） and toxic epidermal necrolysis （TEN） have been reported for all 5 ICIs， and the association was the strongest with pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS All 5 kinds of ICIs are associated with the risk of severe skin adverse reactions， and close attention should be paid to their clinical use， especially being cautious when using pembrolizumab. The combination of ICIs should be avoided as much as possible.

Progress of immunotherapy strategies for uveal melanoma / 肿瘤研究与临床

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Recently, great progresses have been made in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of UM, however, nearly 50% of patients still develop liver metastases, which severely affects on the survival of UM patients. Whether UM patients will benefit from the immune checkpoint blockade similarly as the cutaneous melanoma (CM)? Whether the specific gene mutations targeting UM could improve the anti-tumor efficacy? Whether chimeric antigen receptor T cell or T cell receptor T cell immunotherapy is effective to UM patients with liver metastases? How about the combinational therapies in UM and the clinical effects? This review summarizes the anti-tumor research and novel treatment options of UM, analyzes the current achievements and problems.