Rare Combined Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Response to PD-1 Inhibitor as Third-Line Therapy: A Case Report.

Background: Combined small cell lung cancer (c-SCLC) is a relatively rare subtype of SCLC, especially when SCLC is initially diagnosed and recurrent lesions are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Moreover, SCLC combined lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has few been reported. Case Presentation: Here, we report a 68-year-old man pathologically diagnosed as stage IV SCLC of right lung. With cisplatin and etoposide, the lesions were significantly reduced. It was not until three years later that a new lesion was found in his left lung, pathologically confirmed as LUSC. The patient was initiated with sintilimab based on high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H). Both lung tumors were stable, and PFS was 9.7 months. Conclusion: This case provides a meaningful reference for the third-line treatment of SCLC combined LUCS patients. This case also provides valuable information on the response to PD-1 inhibition of patients with c-SCLC based on TMB-H and better understanding of PD-1 therapy applications in the future.

Knockdown of LncRNA SBF2-AS1 Inhibited Gastric Cancer Tumorigenesis via the Wnt/LRP5 Signaling Pathway.

This investigation aimed to uncover the impact of a long noncoding RNA, SET-binding factor 2 antisense RNA1 (SBF2-AS1) on the malignant progression of gastric cancer (GC) and to further explore its underlying mechanism. SBF2-AS1 expression was quantified by qRT-PCR in GC cell lines and GC tissues. In vitro loss-of-function studies of SBF2-AS1, accompanied by flow cytometry, CCK-8, and cell invasion tests, were applied to elucidate the impact of SBF2-AS1 on the tumor progression of GC cells. Finally, Western blotting and a luciferase assay were used to detect WNT/LRP5 signaling pathway activation. SBF2-AS1 was aberrantly expressed in GC cell lines (p<0.05) and GC tissues (p<0.05). Cell invasive and proliferative capabilities were inhibited via SBF2-AS1 knockdown, resulting in apoptosis of NCI-N87 and MKN74 cells. Additionally, online database analysis uncovered a positive correlation between SBF2-AS1 and the Wnt/LRP5 signaling pathway (p<0.05). SBF2-AS1 knockdown blocked the Wnt/LRP5 signaling pathway, whereas the effects of SBF2-AS1 knockdown on the malignant genotype of MKN74 as well as NCI-N87 cells were partially restored by triggering the Wnt/ LRP5 signaling pathway. High expression of SBF2-AS1 was found in GC, the malignant progression of which was repressed via SBF2-AS1 knockdown by inhibiting the Wnt/LRP5 signaling pathway.

Cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam sodium vs piperacillin sodium/tazobactam sodium for treatment of respiratory tract infection in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory tract infections in the elderly are difficult to cure and can easily recur, thereby posing a great threat to patient prognosis and quality of life. AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effects of different antibiotics in elderly patients with respiratory tract infection. METHODS: Seventy-four elderly patients with respiratory tract infection were randomly allocated to a study (n = 37; treated with cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam sodium) or control (n = 37; treated with piperacillin sodium/tazobactam sodium on the basis of routine symptomatic support) group. Both groups were treated for 7 d. Time to symptom relief (leukocyte recovery; body temperature recovery; cough and sputum disappearance; and rale disappearance time), treatment effect, and laboratory indexes [procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and neutrophil percentage (NE)] before and 7 d after treatment and the incidence of adverse reactions were assessed. RESULTS: In the study group, the time to WBC normalization (6.79 ± 2.09 d), time to body temperature normalization (4.15 ± 1.08 d), time to disappearance of cough and sputum (6.19 ± 1.56 d), and time to disappearance of rales (6.68 ± 1.43 d) were shorter than those of the control group (8.89 ± 2.32 d, 5.81 ± 1.33 d, 8.77 ± 2.11 d, and 8.69 ± 2.12 d, respectively; P = 0.000). Total effective rate was higher in the study group (94.59% vs 75.68%, P = 0.022). Serum PCT (12.89 ± 3.96 µg/L), CRP (19.62 ± 6.44 mg/L), WBC (20.61 ± 6.38 × 109/L), and NE (86.14 ± 7.21%) levels of the study group before treatment were similar to those of the control group (14.05 ± 4.11 µg/L, 18.79 ± 5.96 mg/L, 21.21 ± 5.59 × 109/L, and 84.39 ± 6.95%, respectively) with no significant differences (P = 0.220, 0.567, 0.668, and 0.291, respectively). After 7 d of treatment, serum PCT, CRP, WBC, and NE levels in the two groups were lower than those before treatment. Serum PCT (2.01 ± 0.56 µg/L), CRP (3.11 ± 1.02 mg/L), WBC (5.10 ± 1.83 × 109/L), and NE (56.35 ± 7.17%) levels were lower in the study group than in the control group (3.29 ± 0.64 µg/L, 5.67 ± 1.23 mg/L, 8.13 ± 3.01 × 109/L, and 64.22 ± 8.08%, respectively; P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the groups (7.50% vs 12.50%, P = 0.708). CONCLUSION: Piperacillin sodium/tazobactam sodium is superior to cefoperazone sodium/ sulbactam sodium in the treatment of elderly patients with respiratory tract infection with a similar safety profile.

Neferine inhibits MDA-MB-231 cells growth and metastasis by regulating miR-374a/FGFR-2.

BACKGROUND: Neferine (NEF) is a major bisbenzylisoquinline alkaloid mainly exists in the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) that possesses anti-tumor effects. Our study designed to check the effect of NEF on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and further explore the potential mechanism. METHODS: MDA-MB-231 cells were administrated with various dosages of NEF for 24 h after which cell viability was measured. The effects of NEF on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were assessed by BrdU staining, flow cytometry assay and Transwell assay. Western blot was utilized to assess the accumulation of proteins related with proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways. RESULTS: Viability was efficiently reduced by NEF in a dose-dependent manner. NEF (8 µM) significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion but enhanced apoptosis in MDA-MB-213 cells. Interestingly, NEF suppressed miR-374a expression and miR-374a mediated the inhibitory effect of NEF. Moreover, miR-374a positively regulated FGFR-2 expression and FGFR-2 overexpression impeded the effect of NEF on MDA-MB-213 cells. FGFR-2 overexpression abolished the suppressive effect of NEF on PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways. CONCLUSION: We found that NEF possessed the anti-growth and anti-metastasis effect on MDA-MB-231 cells through regulating miR-374a/FGFR-2, which might provide new insight for breast cancer management.

Clinical treatment of advanced synchronous triple primary malignancies: comprehensive treatment based on targeted therapy.

The prevalence of cancer remains high. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment level and the increase of cancer survivors after treatment, multiple primary tumors are more common than before. The diagnosis and treatment of synchronous multiple primary tumors is more complicated than that of single or metachronous multiple tumors, and patients also suffer more. Because of the different conditions of these patients, lack of large-scale clinical observation data, it is necessary for clinicians to make realistic decisions on the specific conditions of patients. It is a challenge for clinicians to apply the advances of modern medicine to the diagnosis and treatment of such patients so as to prolong their survival time and improve their quality of life. This report describes the survival of an advanced elderly patient with lung, prostate and bladder cancer after receiving targeted therapy-based comprehensive treatment.