Association between polymorphisms of ERCC1 and response in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Results of studies on genetic polymorphisms of ERCC1 gene in DNA repair pathway which may affect response to platinum-based chemotherapy and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer are conflicting. The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of C8092A and codon118 in ERCC1 and drug response in 90 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Genotypes of ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 were examined by sequencing, and the association between genotypes and response was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genotype frequencies of ERCC1 C8092A were CC 40.0% (36/90), CA 48.9% (44/90) and AA 11.1% (10/90), frequencies of codon118 were CC 58.9% (53/90), CT 34.4% (31/90) and TT 6.7% (6/90). There was no significant difference in response rate of patients carrying with CC, compared with CA plus AA in C8092A (33.3% vs 29.6%, P = 0.71). Response rate of patients carrying with CC in ERCC1 118 was 32.1%, 24.3% with CT plus CC (P = 0.43). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CT plus TT in C8092A (5.2 months vs 5.4 months, P = 0.62). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CA plus AA (5.5 months vs 5.3 months, P = 0.59).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that there is no association between polymorphisms in ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 and response in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy.</p>

Advances in herbal volatile oil and aromatic herbs / 中国中药杂志

The herbal volatile oil and aromatic herbs are traditional Chinese medicine which have some unique characteristics of volatility, special smell, complicated chemical constituents and the water insoluble property. The aromatic herbs from different sources have biodiversity effects on the cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory and gastrointestinal system. They also play important roles in antibiosis, anti-inflammation, anticancer, antivirus and absorption enhancement, etc. In recent years, the herbal volatile oil and aromatic herbs have been widely reported to show broad prospect in medicinal application. In order to support various developmental works, the latest research results on herbal volatile oil and aromatic herbs are reviewed in this article in respect of chemical constituents, pharmacological action, and absorption enhancement.

A randomized study comparing topotecan plus cisplatin versus etoposide plus carboplatin for previously untreated small cell lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Topotecan is one of active agents for relapsed small cell lung can-cer (SCLC), some studies have shown that it is effective against SCLC as the first-line drug. This study is to assess the efficacy, toxicity and survival rate of topotecan plus cisplatin (TP) versus etoposide plus carboplatin (CE) in patients with previously untreated SCLC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients with previously untreated SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either TP or CE. Topotecan 0.75 mg/(m²×d) via a 30-min intravenous infusion on days 1 to 5 and cisplatin 25 mg/(m²×d) on days 1 to 3 with hydration were given to patients in TP group. Carboplatin 300 mg/m² on day 1 and etoposide 100 mg/d on days 1 to 5 were given to patients in CE group. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. Responses and toxicities were evaluated in patients who received two cycles of chemotherapy. Patients with limited disease SCLC received thoracic irradiation or operation after the completion of chemotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall response rate was 75.0% in TP group and 68.8% in CE group. The median survival time was 10.5 months in TP group and 9.6 months in CE group. 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate were 40.6%, 18.8% and 9.4% in TP group and 34.4%, 15.6% and 9.4% in CE group respectively. There were no significant differences in response rate, median survival time and survival rate between two groups (P > 0.05). Myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia were the most common toxicities, there was no significant difference in grade III and IV toxicities between two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TP has similar response rate and survivals with CE, and its toxicities are acceptable. TP regimen is an effective first-line treatment for SCLC.</p>

Frequency of CYP2A6 gene deletion and its relation to risk of lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) plays an important role in oxidation of nicotine and in activation of tobacco-related carcinogens. It has been suggested that individuals with defective CYP2A6 allele are at a lower risk of developing lung cancer. This study is to investigate the frequency of CYP2A6 gene deletion and the relationship of CYP2A6 genetic polymorphism with lung cancer risk in Chinese.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study which detected CYP2A6 genotype of 180 patients with lung cancer and 224 controls by PCR-based genotype assay was conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No relationship was found between the frequency of CYP2A6 gene deletion and lung cancer risk. There was only one case of CYP2A6 del/del genotype in the controls. The frequency of CYP2A6 del allele was 13.8% in the controls, and 12.8% in lung cancer cases. The CYP2A6 del/del genotype was not found in lung cancer cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is no difference in frequency of CYP2A6 gene deletion between lung cancer cases and controls.</p>

Relationship between genetic polymorphism of metabolizing enzymes and lung cancer susceptibility / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To investigate the relations between metabolizing enzymes' genetic polymorphism and lung cancer risk in Chinese, especially in heavy smokers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CYP1A1, 2D6, 2E1 and GSTM1 genotypes were detected in 180 patients with lung cancer and 224 controls by PCR-based genotype assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CYP1A1 variant allele, CYP2D6 wild allele, CYP2E1 A genotype, GSTM1-null genotype were found to be associated with lung cancer. The individuals who carried GSTM1-null genotype and one of the CYP1A1, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 'in risk' genotypes had a 2.24-2.69 fold increased risk of lung cancer. The heavy smokers had a significantly increased risk of lung cancer than the non-smokers who carried the same genotype of metabolizing enzymes. The heavy smoker who carried all the four 'in risk' genotypes of metabolizing enzymes had an obviously increased risk of lung cancer (OR=9.85, 95%CI=2.30-45.71).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The individuals who carry the 'in risk' genotype of metabolizing enzymes have an increased risk of lung cancer. It is positively associated with tobacco carcinogen dose.</p>

Clinical study of combined chemotherapy of domestic paclitaxel and vinorelbine plus platinum for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combined chemotherapy of domestic paclitaxel and vinorelbine plus cisplatin and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 181 initially treated patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study and treated by NP (vinorelbine plus cisplatin), TC (domestic paclitaxel plus carboplatin) and TP (domestic paclitaxel plus cisplatin). The efficacy and side effects were analysed after at least two cycles of chemotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall response rates (CR+PR) were 42.4% in the NP arm, 40.3% in the TC arm and 43.3% in the TP arm respectively. No significant statistical difference was found among the three groups ( Chi-square= 0.108 6 , P > 0.05). The median survival times were 8.4 months, 9.4 months and 8.9 months respectively in the NP, TC and TP groups ( P > 0.05). The 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates were 39.0%, 16.9%, 5.1% in the NP group and 41.9%, 21.0%, 6.5% in the TC group and 40.0%, 18.3%, 5.0% in the TP group respectively. No significant statistical difference was found among the three groups ( Chi-square=0.140 4, P > 0.05). The major side effects were myelosuppression, alopecia and nausea/vomiting in the three groups. There were no chemotherapy-related death among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combined regimens of NP, TC and TP are effective and well-tolerated regimens for advanced NSCLC.</p>