A real-world clinical study of immunocheckpoint inhibitor maintenance therapy after radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy in stage Ⅲ-ⅣA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor maintenance therapy after radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy for stage Ⅲ-ⅣA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the real world.Methods:The clinical data of 65 patients with stage Ⅲ-ⅣA ESCC treated by radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 in Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether to undergo immune checkpoint inhibitor maintenance therapy after radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patients were divided into a control group ( n=29) and an immune maintenance therapy group ( n=36) . The objective response rate (ORR) , progression-free survival (PFS) , and overall survival (OS) between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve accompanied with log-rank test. Cox regression model was used to conduct both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results:The ORR was 34.5% (10/29) in the control group and 61.1% (22/36) in the immune maintenance therapy group, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.56, P=0.032) . The median PFS of control group and immune maintenance therapy group were 7.2 and 17.9 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=7.86, P=0.005) . The median OS was 14.1 and 27.8 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.40, P=0.020) . Univariate analysis showed that, objective response ( HR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.03-0.28, P<0.001) and immune maintenance therapy ( HR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.88, P=0.024) were the influential factors of OS in ESCC patients treaded by radical chemoradiotherapy in stage Ⅲ-ⅣA. Multivariate analysis showed that, objective response ( HR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.03-0.29, P<0.001) and immune maintenance therapy ( HR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.17-0.92, P=0.032) were the independent influencing factors for OS in ESCC patients treaded by radical chemoracial therapy in stage Ⅲ-ⅣA. The incidence of adverse reactions was 22.22% (8/36) in the immune maintenance therapy group and 10.34% (3/29) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.61, P=0.204) . All the adverse reactions were grade 1-2, and the symptoms were relieved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusion:Maintenance therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors after radical chemoradiotherapy of stage Ⅲ-ⅣA ESCC can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with good safety.

Prediction of efficacy of early-stage tumor markers combined with NLR and PLR for immunotherapy in gastric cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To explore the predictive value of early serum tumor markers (STM) , neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) , platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) combination score on the efficacy of gastric cancer immunotherapy.Methods:A total of 76 patients with gastric cancer who received immunotherapy at Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 were selected. Patients' leading STM, NLR, PLR were collected. Optimal cut-off value of NLR and PLR were determined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The clinical efficacy and prognosis of different leading STM, NLR, PLR and combined scores in gastric cancer patients received immunotherapy were analyzed. ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of each index and the combined score. Cox regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting patients' survival.Results:The best truncation value for NLR was 2.75, and the best truncation value for PLR was 175.9. All patients completed at least 2 cycles of immunotherapy, the objective response rate (ORR) was 23.7% (18/76) , and the disease control rate (DCR) was 88.2% (67/76) . There were no significant differences in ORR [ (20.9% (9/43) vs. 27.3% (9/33) ], DCR [83.7% (36/43) vs. 93.9% (31/33) ] between the high NLR group ( n=43) and low NLR group ( n=33) ( χ2=0.42, P=0.519; χ2=1.02, P=0.313) . There were no significant differences in ORR [27.3% (12/44) vs. 18.8% (6/32) ], DCR [81.8% (36/44) vs. 96.9% (31/32) ] between the high PLR group ( n=44) and low PLR group ( n=32) ( χ2=0.75, P=0.388; χ2=2.71, P=0.555) . The ORR for the high combined score group ( n=39) and low combined score group ( n=37) was 17.9% (7/39) and 29.7% (11/37) , respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.46, P=0.230) ; the DCR was 79.5% (31/39) and 97.3% (36/37) , respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.19, P=0.041) . The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 76 patients were 8.0 and 12.0 months. The median PFS in the high NLR group and low NLR group was 7.0 and 10.0 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=7.95, P=0.005) ; the median OS was 12.0 and 14.0 months, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.04, P=0.307) . The median PFS in the high PLR group and low PLR group was 8.0 and 10.0 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=3.90, P=0.048) ; the median OS was 13.0 and 13.0 months, respectively, with no significant difference ( χ2=0.02, P=0.896) . The median PFS in the high combined score group and low combined score group was 7.0 and 10.0 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=13.52, P<0.001) ; the median OS was 12.0 and 14.0 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=5.02, P=0.025) . ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve (AUC) of leading STM, NLR, PLR and combined score to predict the efficacy of gastric cancer immunotherapy was 0.662, 0.697, 0.601 and 0.773. Univariate analysis showed that, surgery ( HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.95, P=0.031) , leading STM ( HR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.93, P=0.026) , NLR ( HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.87, P=0.011) , combined score ( HR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.26-0.68, P<0.001) were all influencing factors for PFS in gastric cancer patients received immunotherapy; tumor stage ( HR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.12-0.75, P=0.011) , leading STM ( HR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.15-0.50, P<0.001) , combined score ( HR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.96, P=0.036) were all influencing factors for OS in gastric cancer patients received immunotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that, leading STM ( HR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.98, P=0.041) was an independent influencing factor for PFS in gastric cancer patients received immunotherapy; tumor stage ( HR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.11-0.76, P=0.012) , leading STM ( HR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.17-0.58, P<0.001) , combined score ( HR=0.46, 95% CI: 0.25-0.82, P=0.009) were all independent influencing factors for OS in gastric cancer patients received immunotherapy. Conclusion:The combined score of leading STM, NLR and PLR is an independent factor influencing OS in patients receiving immunotherapy for gastric cancer, and can predict the efficacy of immunotherapy for gastric cancer.

Effects of chidamide combined with PD-1 inhibitor on anti-tumor function of CD8+ T cells in mouse model of colorectal cancer / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of histone deacetylase(HDAC)inhibitor chidamide combined with the PD-1 inhibitor on CD8+ T cells anti-cancer function in OVA-expressing MC38(MC38-OVA)colorectal-bearing mice.Methods Animal experiments:C57BL/6 tumor models were constructed by subcutaneously injecting MC38-OVA colorectal cancer cells into the back of mice.We randomized mice into control group,chidamide group,anti-PD-1 group and chidamide+anti-PD-1 group(20 each group).We monitored the tumor growth and animal survival rate of each group;we employed a flow-based method to detect the number and ratio of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells,CD8+IFN-γ+ T cells,OVA antigen-specific CD8+ T cells,and the expression changes of regulatory T cells(Treg),myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSC),and tumor-associated macrophages(TAM).Cell experiments:We used a flow-based method to detect the apoptosis of CD8+ T cells and MC38-OVA tumor cells after 0,10,25,50,100,or 200 nmol/L chidamide treatment.The proliferation of CD8+ T cells and MC38-OVA tumor cells treated with 0 and 100 nmol/L chidamide was detected by Ki-67 antibody labeling and cell counting.To evaluate CD8+ T cell killing ability,we treated CD8+ T cells with various conditions(control group,chidamide group,anti-PD-1 group and chidamide+anti-PD-1 group)followed by co-culture with MC38-OVA tumor cells,using the flow-based method.In the condition that CD8+ T cells treated with 0 and 100 nmol/L chidamide co-cultured with the same number of MC38-OVA tumor cells,the expression of CD107a was detected by flow cytometry.Results Compared with control group,the tumor growth was inhibited(P<0.05)while the survival rate was improved(P<0.01)in chidamide+anti-PD-1 group.The number of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in chidamide group,anti-PD-1 group and chidamide+anti-PD-1 group than that in control group(P<0.05).Nonetheless,the ratio and levels of CD8+IFN-γ+ and OVA antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were significantly higher in chidamide+anti-PD-1 group than those in other groups(P<0.05).The in vitro experiment results showed that chidamide could enhance the killing ability of CD8+ T cells and the expression of CD107a.Conclusion Chidamide combined with PD-1 inhibitor significantly enhanced the number and function of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and increased antigen-specific CD8+ T cells,which will provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the combination of chidamide in clinical solid tumor immunotherapy.

Advancements in the treatment of malignancies using a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunomodulators / 临床外科杂志

In recent years,there have been significant advancements in tumor immunotherapy.Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a pivotal approach for treating advanced malignant tumors.The use of immunotherapy has been widely recommended and applied in clinical treatment both domestically and internationally.However,its clinical treatment efficacy still falls short of expectations.Improving the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with advanced malignant tumors is currently a prominent research focus.Studies indicate that the combined use of immune enhancers and immune checkpoint inhibitors in various advanced malignant tumors significantly enhances the outcomes of immunotherapy.This article primarily highlights the combined application of immune enhancers and immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy,offering insights into their potential in the field of oncology treatment.

Research and clinical progress of immunotherapy for gastric cancer / 临床外科杂志

Due to the limited treatment options of advanced gastric cancer and prone to chemoresistance,there is an urgent need for novel treatment methods to improve the prognosis of these patients.At present,immunotherapy including immune checkpoint inhibitor,adoptive cell therapy,tumor vaccine,nonspecific immune enhancer and cytokine therapy has shown good curative effect on gastric cancer.Additionally,carrier drugs and 3D printing technology have also achieved curative effects in preclinical experiments.Clinical trials used immunooncology monotherapy or combined immunochemotherapy to improve the overall survival time and objective response rate of patients with gastric cancer.Based on the preliminary evidence,we believe that immunotherapy can positively affect the natural history and improve the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

Landmark Achievements in Treating Solid Tumors with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / 实用医学杂志

Tumor metastasis is a primary cause of death among solid tumor patients.Interventions such as chemotherapy with cytotoxic drugs and other targeted therapies focusing on specific genes or tumorigenesis can induce tumor shrinkage in most cases.However,these interventions do not substantially prolong the lives of patients.In recent years,immunotherapy has made significant breakthroughs in treating solid tumors with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs),following the clinical use of Ipilimumab,the first anti-tumor drug with ICIs initially approved in 2011.Currently,four types of ICIs including CTLA-4,PD-1,PD-L1,and LAG3 have been clinically applied and have demonstrated specificity towards more than 20 types of solid tumors.The significance of ICIs lies in their superiority to conventional drugs in three aspects:(1)They can prolong the survival of late-stage patients and even achieve"clinical cure";(2)They allow patients with rare tumors access a pan-tumor treatment based on specific biomarkers;and(3)They can free a majority of patients from invasive surgical approaches to preserve organ functions,thereby improving patient's quality of life.This article provides a summary of multiple clinical research projects and explores the clinical evidence derived from the notable achievements related to the three advantages.

Status and progress of chemical drug therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华消化外科杂志

With the application of FOLFOX regimen (oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin) in hepatic arterial perfusion (HAIC), chemotherapy has shown a higher value in the comprehensive treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Especially in the era of integration of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the FOLFOX-HAIC, combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy, further improves antitumor effect. The FOLFOX systemic chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy and targeted therapy scheme explored by the authors has achieved similar effects to triple therapy. Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma exhibits systemic disease characteristics, and systemic chemotherapy combined with targeted and immunotherapy has achieved higher disease control rates in the initial exploration. The mechanism may be that systemic chemotherapy changes the overall immune micro-environment of tumors, transforming the immune microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immune supportive, thereby better enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. The optimal regimen of systemic chemotherapy in comprehensive treatment may be obtained from the phase 3 study and basic studies in the future, which will be more efficient, safe and economical in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Immunotherapy Strategy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Elderly / 医药导报

Immunotherapy,represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs),has significantly changed the treat-ment strategy of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and has become an important therapy for all stages of NSCLC.However,there is an urgent need for further clarification regarding ICIs for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.Treatment strategies for ICIs were guided by assessing survival data of elderly NSCLC patients included in clinical trials.We concluded that treatment regi-mens such as ICI monotherapy,dual immunotherapy,and ICIs combined with chemotherapy could be carried out in elderly NSCLC patients with a performance status(PS)score<2.Elderly NSCLC patients treated with ICIs could achieve similar benefits as younger patients and are generally well tolerated.However,as age increases(especially above 80 years),the efficacy decreased and the incidence of immune-related adverse events(irAEs)gradually increased.Therefore,ICIs should be carefully selected for advanced NSCLC patients at an advanced age.Compared to age,PS was a key factor causing patients to be excluded from ICIs and poorer survival outcomes.In conclusion,immunotherapy in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC is extremely challenging,and many issues still need further exploration in this field.

Systemic Treatment Strategies for Elderly Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 医药导报

Senescence is the major risk factor that promotes development of different stages of chronic liver diseases and is closely related to occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.Significant differences consist in clinicopathological features and tumor microenvironment between elderly and young patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.With rapid development of systemic therapy,immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with targeted therapy have greatly improved the prognosis of patients with advanced hepa-tocellular carcinoma.The selection of treatment decisions for elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma requires to consider u-nique age-related issues.Adequate communication and necessary evaluation should be carried out before making decisions.Elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are speculated to benefit from combination immunotherapy based on age subgroup analysis of large clinical studies.However,data of effects and security obtained from clinical trials has certain limitations when being ap-plied in elderly populations of real world.The optimal therapeutic strategies for elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma still remain to be further explored in large-scale prospective clinical studies.

Nursing care of a patient with gastric cancer who developed cytokine release syndrome after the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors / 中华护理杂志

To summarize the nursing experience of a patient with gastric cancer who developed cytokine release syndrome after using immune checkpoint inhibitors.Key points of nursing care:development of nursing assessment decisions with a holistic view to guide safe nursing care;taking into account the contradiction between bleeding and thrombosis and providing good care for upper gastrointestinal bleeding;implementing a nursing strategy focusing on cleaning and anti-infection for IV oral mucositis;implementing risk management for severe pulmonary lesions;providing good hormone medication care and discharge follow-up management.The patient was successfully discharged on 52nd day with a 3-month follow-up in good condition.

Therapeutic efficacy analysis of sintilimab combined with paclitaxel and docetaxel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of sintilimab combined with paclitaxel and docetaxel in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:Prospective cohort study was performed. A total of 90 patients with advanced NSCLC receiving second-line treatment in Baotou Cancer Hospital from October 2019 to October 2022 were prospectively selected. All patients were divided into the study group (sintilimab combined with paclitaxel and docetaxel as second-line treatment, 45 cases) and the control group (paclitaxel or docetaxel alone, 45 cases) according to random number table method. The short-term efficacy, serum cytokine levels, quality of life and T-cell subsets of the two groups were compared. The survival of patients within 6 months was followed up. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the overall survival (OS) of both groups, and log-rank test was used to make comparison among groups.Results:There were 25 males (55.56%) in the study group with the age of (63±5) years and 28 males (62.22%) in the control group with the age of (65±6) years. There were no statistically significant differences in the gender, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores, the body mass (all P>0.05). The total effective rate was 88.89% (40/45) in the study group and 71.11% (32/45) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.44, P = 0.035). The levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) of both groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment (all P<0.001); the levels of VEGF and CA125 in the study group after treatment were lower than those in the control group [VEGF: (223±15) pg/ml vs. (289±15) pg/ml, t=20.82, P<0.001;CA125: (23±6) ng/ml vs. (75±4) ng/ml, t=51.28, P<0.001].Quality of life scale score, Karnofsky score of both groups after treatment were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05); quality of life scale score and Karnofsky score in the study group after treatment were higher than those in the control group [quality of life scale score: (63±6) scores vs. (51±5) scores, t=10.29, P<0.001; Karnofsky score: (80.5±5.7) scores vs.(78.8±3.7) scores, t=1.70, P=0.041]. T-cell subsets indicators of both groups after treatment were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.001). T-cell subsets indicators in the study group after treatment were higher than those in the control group [CD3 + cell proportion: (68±5)% vs. (65±5)%, t=2.52, P = 0.014; CD4 + cell proportion:(42.5±1.7)% vs. (36.5±3.7)%, t=9.91, P<0.001;CD4 +/CD8 +: 1.78±0.54 vs. 1.46±0.27, t=3.56, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups [11.11% (5/45) vs. 15.55% (7/45), χ2=0.39, P=0.534]. The follow-up time was 6 months. The OS in the study group was better than that in the control group ( χ2=3.86, P = 0.044). Conclusions:Sintilimab combined with taxoid chemotherapy drugs is effective in the second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC, and it improves immune function and shows a favorable safety.

Efficacy and safety of deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC (albumin-bound paclitaxel + carboplatin) regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with driver gene negative and programmed death-1 receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression positive.Methods:A prospective case-control study was performed. A total of 84 advanced squamous NSCLC patients with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive in Hebei Seventh People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were collected, and all patients were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the random number table method, with 42 cases in each group. The control group was given the treatment of sintilimab combined with nab-PC regimen, and the observation group was given deep hyperthermia on the basis of the control group. After 4 consecutive cycles of treatment, the short-term efficacy of the two groups was compared. The levels of serum tumor markers [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFR21-1)], and the positive expression rates of immunohistochemistry markers [p40, p63, and cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6)] before and after treatment were compared between two groups. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung cancer module (FACT-L) scores, the adverse reactions and the long-term survival of the two groups were compared.Results:There were 26 males and 16 females in the observation group, and the age was (59±11) years; there were 22 males and 15 females in the control group, and the age was (58±11) years. The objective remission rate and the disease control rate were 71.43% (30/42), 90.48% (38/42), respectively in the observation group, and 50.00% (21/42), 80.95% (34/42), respectively in the control group; the objective remission rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.04, P = 0.044); and there was no statistically significant difference in the disease control rate of both groups ( χ2 = 1.56, P = 0.212). The levels of serum CEA, SCCA and CYFRA21-1, and the positive expression rates of p40, p63, and CK5/6 in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment (all P < 0.05); and the scores of physiological status, functional status, additional concern in FACT-L scores and the total score of the scale after treatment were higher than those before treatment (all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions including thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, fever of the two groups (all P > 0.05). The median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 6.5 months (95% CI: 3.82-12.75), 5.1 months (95% CI: 3.14-12.26),respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference in the median PFS time was statistically significantly of both groups ( χ2 = 4.21, P = 0.040). The median overall survival (OS) time was 12.9 months (95% CI: 6.25-15.46), 9.7 months (95% CI: 4.74-13.02), respectively in the observation group and the control group, and the difference in the median OS time was statistically significantly of both groups ( χ2 = 4.43, P = 0.035). Conclusions:Deep hyperthermia combined with sintilimab and nab-PC regimen in the treatment of advanced squamous NSCLC with driver gene negative and PD-L1 expression positive can effectively reduce the serum tumor markers levels and positive expression rate of immunohistochemical markers, improve the quality of life of patients, and increase the short-term and long-term efficacy.

Efficacy and safety of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody combined with sorafenib or lenvatinib in treatment of patients with Child-Pugh class B unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of patients with Child-Pugh class B unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （uHCC）. MethodsA total of 96 patients with Child-Pugh class B uHCC who were admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， from December 31， 2020 to March 30， 2023 were enrolled as subjects， among whom 63 patients receiving lenvatinib combined with programmed death-1 （PD-1） inhibitor were enrolled as L group and 33 patients receiving sorafenib combined with PD-1inhibitor were enrolled as S group. The primary endpoint was objective response rate （ORR）， and secondary endpoints included time to progression （TTP）， overall survival （OS）， toxicity， drug withdrawal rate， and dose adjustment rate. The 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 its 95% confidence interval （CI） and perform the multivariate analysis of influencing factors for prognosis. ResultsAmong the 96 patients with uHCC， 55 （57.3%） had Child-Pugh class B （7 points） uHCC and 41 （42.7%） had Child-Pugh class B （8—9 points） uHCC. The L group had a significantly higher ORR than the S group （46.0% vs 15.2%， P=0.003）， and there were no significant differences between the L group and the S group in median TTP （6.6 months vs 3.5 months， P=0.48） or OS （13.8 months vs 13.2 months， P=0.95）. There was no significant difference in median TTP between the patients with Child-Pugh class B （7 points） uHCC and those with Child-Pugh class B （8—9 points） uHCC （6.6 months vs 4.8 months， P=0.35）， while there was a significant difference in OS between these two groups of patients （14.5 months vs 8.8 months， P=0.045）. The multivariate analysis showed that ORR was a protective factor for both TTP （HR=0.18， 95%CI： 0.09 ‍—‍ 0.36， P<0.001） and OS （HR=0.20， 95%CI： 0.09 ‍—‍ 0.43， P<0.001）. There were no significant differences between the L group and the S group in the overall incidence rate of adverse reactions （98.4% vs 97.0%） and the incidence rate of grade≥3 adverse reactions （68.3% vs 63.6%）， and there were also no significant differences between the two groups in dose adjustment rate （84.8% vs 70.2%） and drug withdrawal rate （56.1% vs 72.7%）. ConclusionCompared with the regimen of sorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitor， the regimen of lenvatinib combined with PD-1 inhibitor can improve the ORR of patients with Child-Pugh class B uHCC， with similar prognosis and safety profile between the two groups.

Immunotherapy for prostate cancer: current status and future perspectives / 现代泌尿外科杂志

As an emerging cancer treatment modality, immunotherapy has shown promising efficacy in a variety of solid tumors, but it has failed to achieve a breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer.This review aims to provide an overview of the current applications of immunotherapy for prostate cancer, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T), briefly describe the mechanisms of various immunotherapy modalities, summarize the results of clinical trials, and discuss the challenges and prospects.

Immunotherapy for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Research Progress and Perspectives / 肿瘤防治研究

Immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), showing great potential in the treatment of untreated and relapsed or refractory (R/R) patients. However, numerous issues that need further exploration remain with the wide application of immunotherapy. They include the exploration of biomarkers for efficacy prediction, the optimization of immunotherapy modalities, immune-related adverse effects, and the management of special populations. This review summarizes the progress of the research on immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC and discusses its challenges and future directions.

Efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with Camrelizumab monoclonal antibody in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of cryoablation combined with Camrelizumab monoclonal antibody in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. MethodsA total of 103 HCC patients who were admitted to our hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were enrolled and randomly divided into combined treatment group with 53 patients and control group with 50 patients. The patients in the control group received percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation， and those in the combined treatment group received percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation combined with Camrelizumab monoclonal antibody. The two groups were compared in terms of short-term response， changes in T lymphocyte subsets after treatment， changes in liver function and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） after treatment， and progression-free survival and overall survival during follow-up. The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves， and the log-rank test was used for comparison of survival time between the two groups. ResultsThe combined treatment group had significantly higher overall response rate and disease control rate than the control group （χ2=4.156 and 4.348， P=0.042 and 0.037）. After treatment， the combined treatment group had significant increases in the percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio （P<0.05） and a significant reduction in the percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes （P<0.05）， while the control group had no significant changes in T lymphocyte subsets after treatment （P>0.05）， and compared with the control group after treatment， the combined treatment group had significantly higher percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio （all P<0.05） and a significantly lower percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes （P<0.05）. After treatment， both groups had significant reductions in the levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and AFP （all P<0.05） and a significant increase in the level of albumin （Alb） （P>0.05）， and compared with the control group after treatment， the combined treatment group had significantly lower levels of ALT， AST， and AFP （all P<0.05） and a significantly higher level of Alb （P<0.05）. There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of grade Ⅲ‍—‍Ⅳ （moderate to severe） adverse reactions between the two groups （P>0.05）. Compared with the control group， the combined treatment group had significantly better median progression-free survival （21.32 months vs 15.31 months， χ2=4.689， P=0.030） and median overall survival （28.36 months vs 20.75 months， χ2=5.030， P=0.025）. ConclusionArgon-helium cryoablation combined with Camrelizumab monoclonal antibody can effectively improve short-term response， enhance immune function， and prolong survival time， with a favorable safety profile.

The construction of a prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on immune gene correlation and drug screening / 安徽医科大学学报

Objective @#To search for new biomarkers to predict prognosis in colorectal cancer ( CRC) patients @*Methods@#A prognostic model was developed for colorectal cancer with immune-related genes from the cancer ge.nome atlas ( 'TCGA) database using one-way Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection op.erator ( L.ASS0) regression analysis. Moreover, the immune infiltration characteristics of patients in high and lowrisk groups was compared by sstimation of stromal and immune cells in malignant tumor tissues using expression data ( ESTIMATE) and cel-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts ( CIBERSORT). Inaddition , the expression levels of immune checkpoints were analyzed in patients from different risk groups. The sensitivity of patients in the two risk groups to chemotherapeutic agents was also compared based on genomics of drugsensitivity in cancer (GDSC). @*Results@#It was found that the prognostic model constructed based on immune genescould better predict the overall survival (OS) of CRC patients, and the results showed area under curve ( AUC)values of0.764(95% C1:0.751-0.793),0.773(95% C:0.761 -0.779), and 0.760(95% C:0.742 -0. 774 ) for 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS, respectively. Patients in the low-risk group had higher expression levels of immune checkpoints and more abundant immune cells such as T cells (P <0. 001), dendritic cells (P <0. 001 ),macrophages (P <0. 001), neutrophils ( P <0. 001 ). Patients in the high-risk group might be more sensitive tosome chemotherapeutic agents such as axitinib , imatinib, methotrexate, pazopanib , rapamycin, sunitinib and tasigarnib. @*Conclusion@#A prognostic model based on 19 immune genes was effective in predicting the prognosis ofCRC patients. The number and activity of immune cells in the immune microenvironment in different patients maybe an important factor influencing their response to immunocheck inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

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.

The application of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis / 中国医师杂志

Immunocheckpoint inhibitors have been widely used in the treatment of various tumors. Although the incidence rate of immunocheckpoint inhibitor related myocarditis caused by them is low, the mortality is high. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard for evaluating cardiac morphology and function, and it has important clinical application value in the grading diagnosis, risk stratification, adverse prognosis prediction, and treatment monitoring of immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis.

A case of type 1 diabetes caused by gastric cancer treated with Sintilimab / 中国综合临床

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are currently used in the treatment of various tumors and play an important role in tumor treatment, resulting in many adverse reactions related to the immune system. Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a rare endocrine system complication, which is rarely reported at present. We report a case of T1DM after using ICIs to treat gastric cancer. The patient was a 34 year old male who developed diabetes ketoacidosis after 206 days of sintilimab monoclonal antibody use, with fasting blood glucose of 15.78 mmol/L and glycosylated hemoglobin of 8.6%. Islet related antibody: Glutamate decarboxylase antibody: 119.2 IU/mL; Insulin antibody:<2 IU/L. Fasting insulin: 0.21 mU/L; Fasting C-peptide: 0.12 μg/L. Through the analysis of patients' clinical data, it aims to improve clinicians' understanding of immune related type 1 diabetes and provide ideas for correct diagnosis and treatment.