Application of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: One of the most important treatments for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is radiation therapy. Currently, the criteria for administering postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PORT) in SCLC remain uncertain. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the influence of PORT on the prognosis of limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC). METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search across three databases, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Data analysis involved utilizing both random-effects and fixed-effects models for pooling the results. A comparative analysis was performed to assess the prognostic outcomes of patients with LS-SCLC who did and did not undergo PORT. The primary outcome assessed was overall survival (OS), while the secondary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: This analysis included 11 retrospective studies comprising 7694 eligible participants. Among the entire population of LS-SCLC patients, the OS was superior in those receiving PORT than in those not receiving it (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.79, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.87; P < 0.0001). In pN0 stage LS-SCLC patients, PORT was associated with a detrimental effect on OS (HR: 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.04-1.43; P = 0.01). In pN1 stage LS-SCLC patients, additionally administering PORT did not provide a significant OS advantage as compared to not administering it (HR: 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.60-1.12; P = 0.21). In pN2 stage LS-SCLC patients, those receiving PORT demonstrated a significant improvement in OS (HR: 0.59; 95 % CI: 0.50-0.70; P < 0.0001) as compared to those not receiving it. Regarding DFS in LS-SCLC patients, the difference in the protective effect with and without the administration of PORT was less pronounced (HR: 0.76, 95 % CI: 0.58-1.00; P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: With respect to OS, PORT is not advisable in patients with pN0 or pN1 stage LS-SCLC but is highly recommended in pN2 stage LS-SCLC. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.

Roles and signaling pathways of CITED1 in tumors: overview and novel insights.

CBP/p300 interacting transactivator with Glu/Asp-rich carboxy-terminal domain 1 (CITED1) is a transcriptional activator belonging to the non-DNA-binding transcription co-regulator family. It regulates diverse pathways, including the transforming growth factor/bone morphogenetic protein/SMAD, estrogen, Wnt-ß-catenin, and androgen-AR signaling pathways, by binding to CBP/p300 co-activators through its conserved transactivation domain CR2. CITED1 plays an important role in embryonic development and a certain regulatory role in the occurrence and development of various tumors. In this article, the biological characteristics, expression regulation, participating signaling pathways, and potential roles of CITED1 in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors are reviewed.

Anti-γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type ß Receptor Antibody-Associated Encephalitis After 2 Cycles of Durvalumab Therapy in a Patient with Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

Anti-γ-aminobutyric acid type ß receptor (anti-GABABR) antibody-associated encephalitis is a type of autoimmune encephalitis. According to current literature, its pathogenesis is reported to be closely related to tumor factors. However, diagnosis can be difficult because of the rarity of cases, limited clinical understanding, and a lack of specificity in clinical manifestation and imaging presentation. Clinical trials have demonstrated that immunotherapy can prolong the survival of patients with small cell lung cancer; however, in some cases, immunotherapy may induce anti-GABABR antibody-associated encephalitis. Patients who develop this encephalitis during immunotherapy often delay treatment because the cause is not clearly identified. In this study, we report a case of a 61-year-old man with a confirmed diagnosis of small cell lung cancer who had acute onset of cognitive impairment and seizures after two cycles of durvalumab (AstraZeneca UK Limited) combination chemotherapy. This reaction was initially considered as an immune-related adverse event (irAE) caused by durvalumab treatment, and the patient was eventually considered to have a paraneoplastic neurological disorder caused by the primary tumor. This report raises awareness of the symptoms of cognitive impairment and seizures in patients with small cell lung cancer, and the possible adverse events associated with immunotherapy. This case also highlights the importance of detecting anti-GABABR antibodies in patients with small cell lung cancer.

Case Report: Vemurafenib Treatment in Brain Metastases of BRAFS365L -Mutant Lung Papillary Cancer by Genetic Sequencing of Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulating Tumor DNA Detection.

BRAF mutations, primarily sensitizing mutations, such as BRAFV600E , have been proven to response to the BRAF inhibitor, Dabrafenib combined with trametinib therapy, but there have been no data demonstrating that it has activity against NSCLC-related brain metastases (BM). How patients harboring BRAFS365L mutation (a rare mutation following BRAFV600E -inhibitor treatment) in NSCLC is unknown. Vemurafenib, another BRAF inhibitor, can reverse the resistance that develops with the BRAFS365L mutation following dabrafenib combined with trametentinib treatment in melanoma, but none has been reported in NSCLC. Lung papillary cancer, as a rare typing, occupies about 4% of NSCLC. Hence, we reported the first case of a patient with BM of lung papillary carcinoma harboring a BRAFV600E mutation who benefited from dabrafenib combined with trametinib, and following the development of the BRAFS365L mutation, vemurafenib remained an effective therapeutic option. Moreover, we found that the next-generation sequencing (NGS) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may potentially provide more accurate information about intracranial lesions than ctDNA in the blood serum, which will be a better detection method.

Can corporate social responsibility protect firm value during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a significant decline in the stock market worldwide, and hospitality companies are experiencing serious financial problems. Protecting and preserving firm value is a critical way of helping hospitality companies survive the crisis. The influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firm value has been widely investigated. However, little is known about the stock price movement following CSR activity adoption during an industrial crisis. Using event study and difference-in-difference method, this study reveals that engaging in CSR activities can increase the stock returns and stakeholder attention of hospitality firms during the pandemic. Community-related CSR has a stronger and more immediate effect on stock returns than customer- and employee-related CSR. Results also indicate that hospitality firms that pursue improved stock market performance during a pandemic can invest in CSR to protect communities, customers, and employees for attracting further stakeholder attention.

Effective Treatment with Cabozantinib in an Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patient Harboring a CD74-ROS1 Fusion: A Case Report.

Cabozantinib has been shown to have potent anti-ROS1 activity in many solid malignancies, particularly against those with solvent-front resistance mutations following crizotinib therapy. With regard to the most common CD74-ROS1 fusion, the efficacy of cabozantinib has only been demonstrated in vitro. Therefore, we evaluate the efficacy of cabozantinib in a patient with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a CD74-ROS1 fusion in the present study. A 40-year-old female patient presented with 1-month history of cough, white sputum and chest pain. Chest CT scan revealed a consolidation in the middle lobe of the right lung together with multiple cavity lesions spreading in both lungs. Histopathological analysis of biopsy samples from the lesion in the middle lobe of the right lung suggested lung adenocarcinoma. After two lines of chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI therapy, a CD74-ROS1 rearrangement was detected and the patient was administered with cabozantinib for 1.5 years. Since cabozantinib resistance developed, crizotinib therapy was applied and demonstrated clinical effectiveness until now. Together, we report the first case of cabozantinib effectiveness in treating a CD74-ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC patient. Crizotinib remained as an effective therapeutic option following the acquisition of cabozantinib resistance.

Rare case of a male breast tumour secondary to poorly differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma.

Rectal cancer metastasis to the breast is rare. A case history is presented of a 57-year-old man with breast metastases from rectal carcinoma. However, this patient did not have metastasis in common metastatic sites, such as the liver, lung, and other organs. The patient had undergone chemotherapy for advanced rectal carcinoma 6 months earlier and presented with a mammary mass. An ultrasound-directed core needle biopsy of the breast mass was performed. Cytology indicated an adenocarcinoma with poor to moderate differentiation in the breast mass Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed cytokeratin (CK) expression with a pattern that is characteristic of colorectal tumours: CK7(-), CK20(+), CDX2(-), Villin(+) TOPOII(-), and a Ki-67 index of 30%. The 3 main breast tumour markers were negative. Based on these histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, the patient was diagnosed with breast metastases from rectal carcinoma. Distant metastasis should be taken into account when a patient has a medical history of rectal adenocarcinoma, even when a rare metastasis site is involved. We should be vigilant when patients have some features that are favorable for metastasis. Histopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical tests are helpful for diagnosis. Regardless of surgical treatment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, standard chemotherapy regimens for intestinal tumors, and EGFR molecular-targeted drugs, there is no obvious effect and the prognosis is poor. The treatment method needs further study.

Melatonin potentiates the antitumor effect of curcumin by inhibiting IKKß/NF-κB/COX-2 signaling pathway.

Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound, has commonly been used as a food additive or in many traditional medicine remedies for over 2,000 years in many Asian countries. Melatonin is a hormone secreted from pineal glands of mammals and possesses diverse physiological functions. Both curcumin and melatonin have the effective potential to inhibit proliferation of various types of cancers, but there is no report on their combination for bladder cancer treatment, and the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated whether the combination of curcumin and melatonin leads to an enhanced inhibition of cell proliferation in bladder cancer cells. Our results showed that the combinational treatment enhanced the repression of nuclear translocation of NF-κB and their binding on COX-2 promoter via inhibiting IKKß activity, resulting in inhibition of COX-2 expression. In addition, combined treatment with curcumin and melatonin induced cell apoptosis in bladder cancer through enhancing the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space into the cytosol. These results, therefore, indicated that melatonin synergized the inhibitory effect of curcumin against the growth of bladder cancer by enhancing the anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and pro-apoptotic activities, and provide strong evidence that combined treatment with curcumin and melatonin might exhibit an effective therapeutic option in bladder cancer therapy.

An integrated microfluidic device for rapid and high-sensitivity analysis of circulating tumor cells.

Recently there has been a more focus on the development of an efficient technique for detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), due to their significance in prognosis and therapy of metastatic cancer. However, it remains a challenge because of the low count of CTCs in the blood. Herein, a rapid and high-sensitivity approach for CTCs detection using an integrated microfluidic system, consisting of a deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) isolating structure, an automatic purifying device with CD45-labeled immunomagnetic beads and a capturing platform coated with rat-tail collagen was reported. We observed high capture rate of 90%, purity of about 50% and viability of more than 90% at the high throughput of 1 mL/min by capturing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive cells from blood. Further capturing of CTCs from metastatic cancers patients revealed a positive capture rate of 83.3%. Furthermore, our device was compared with CellSearch system via parallel analysis of 30 cancer patients, to find no significant difference between the capture efficiency of both methods. However, our device displayed advantage in terms of time, sample volume and cost for analysis. Thus, our integrated device with sterile environment and convenient use will be a promising platform for CTCs detection with potential clinical application.