Spin states of metal centers in electrocatalysis.

Understanding the electronic structure of active sites is crucial in efficient catalyst design. The spin state, spin configurations of d-electrons, has been frequently discussed recently. However, its systematic depiction in electrocatalysis is lacking. In this tutorial review, a comprehensive interpretation of the spin state of metal centers in electrocatalysts and its role in electrocatalysis is provided. This review starts with the basics of spin states, including molecular field theory, crystal field theory, and ligand field theory. It further introduces the differences in low spin, intermediate spin, and high spin, and intrinsic factors affecting the spin state. Popular characterization techniques and modeling approaches that can reveal the spin state, such as X-ray absorption microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, are introduced as well with examples from the literature. The examples include the most recent progress in tuning the spin state of metal centers for various reactions, e.g., the oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, nitrate reduction reaction, and urea oxidation reaction. Challenges and potential implications for future research related to the spin state are discussed at the end.

Impact of PRR11 Expression on Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer Patients with Diabetes.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of PRR11 protein expression levels on the prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression levels of PRR11 protein in cancerous tissues of 70 pancreatic cancer patients, including 45 patients with diabetes mellitus (Group A) and 25 patients without diabetes mellitus (Group B). Patients' blood glucose, lipid profiles, and glycemic control status were compared between the groups. Survival curves were plotted to explore the impact of PRR11 protein expression levels on the prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer. Results: The positive rate of PRR11 protein expression in Group A patients (86.67%) was significantly higher than in Group B patients (52.00%), P < .05. Group A patients exhibited significantly higher levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) compared to Group B patients (P < .05). Interestingly, the expression levels of PRR11 in cancerous tissues were positively correlated with FBG, TC, TG, and HbAlc levels (P < .05). The positive rate of PRR11 protein expression in patients with poor glycemic control (93.75%) was significantly higher than in patients with good glycemic control (53.85%), P < .05. Notably, the survival rate of PRR11 protein-positive patients was significantly lower than that of negative patients (P < .05). Conclusion: The finding highlights that the positive expression of PRR11 protein in patients with diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. It suggests that PRR11 may play a role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer and could serve as a potential predictive marker and therapeutic target. However, further research is warranted to explore the functional mechanisms and pathways of PRR11 to better understand its role in pancreatic cancer, and develop personalized therapies.

PIK3IP1: structure, aberration, function, and regulation in diseases.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, controlling diverse functions in cells, is one of the most frequently dysregulated pathways in cancer. Several negative regulators have been reported to intricately constrain the overactivation of PI3K pathway. Phosphatidylinoinosidine-3-kinase interacting protein 1 (PIK3IP1), as a unique transmembrane protein, is a newly discovered negative regulator of PI3K pathway. PIK3IP1 negatively regulates PI3K activity by directly binding to the p110 catalytic subunit of PI3K. It has been reported that PIK3IP1 is frequently low expressed in tumors and autoimmune diseases. In tumor cells and impaired cardiomyocyte, PIK3IP1 inhibits cell proliferation and survival. Consistently, the expression of PIK3IP1 is related with the condition of cancer. In addition, PIK3IP1 inhibits the inflammatory response and immune function via maintaining the quiescent state of immune cells. Thus, low expression of PIK3IP1 represents the severe condition of autoimmune diseases. PIK3IP1 is regulated by transcription factors, epigenetic factors or micro-RNAs to facilitate its normal function in different cellular contexts. This review integrates the total findings on PIK3IP1 in different disease, and summaries the structure, biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of PIK3IP1.

Design and Testing of a Compliant ZTTΘ Positional Adjustment System with Hybrid Amplification.

This article presents the design, analysis, and prototype testing of a four-degrees-of-freedom (4-DoFs) spatial pose adjustment system (SPAS) that achieves high-precision positioning with 4-DoFs (Z/Tip/Tilt/Θ). The system employs a piezoelectric-driven amplification mechanism that combines a bridge lever hybrid amplification mechanism, a double four-bar guide mechanism, and a multi-level lever symmetric rotation mechanism. By integrating these mechanisms, the system achieves low coupling, high stiffness, and wide stroke range. Analytical modeling and finite element analysis are employed to optimize geometric parameters. A prototype is fabricated, and its performance is verified through testing. The results indicate that the Z-direction feed microstroke is 327.37 µm, the yaw motion angle around the X and Y axes is 3.462 mrad, and the rotation motion angle around the Z axis is 12.684 mrad. The x-axis and y-axis motion magnification ratio can reach 7.43. Closed-loop decoupling control experiments for multiple-input-multiple-outputs (MIMO) systems using inverse kinematics and proportional-integral-derivative feedback controllers were conducted. The results show that the Z-direction positioning accuracy is ±100 nm, the X and Y axis yaw motion accuracy is ±2 µrad, and the Z-axis rotation accuracy is ±25 µrad. Due to the ZTTΘ mechanism, the design proved to be feasible and advantageous, demonstrating its potential for precision machining and micro-nano manipulation.

Integrative Chinese-Western medicine strategy to overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) have emerged as a promising complementary therapy in the management of prostate cancer (PCa), particularly in addressing resistance to Docetaxel (DTX) chemotherapy. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the development of resistance to DTX in PCa and explore the innovative approach of integrating TCMs in PCa treatment to overcome this resistance. Key areas of investigation include alterations in microtubule proteins, androgen receptor and androgen receptor splice variant 7, ERG rearrangement, drug efflux mechanisms, cancer stem cells, centrosome clustering, upregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, enhanced DNA damage repair capability, and the involvement of neurotrophin receptor 1/protein kinase C. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With "Prostate cancer", "Docetaxel", "Docetaxel resistance", "Natural compounds", "Traditional Chinese medicine", "Traditional Chinese medicine compound", "Medicinal plants" as the main keywords, PubMed, Web of Science and other online search engines were used for literature retrieval. RESULTS: Our findings underscore the intricate interplay of molecular alterations that collectively contribute to the resistance of PCa cells to DTX. Moreover, we highlight the potential of TCMs as a promising complementary therapy, showcasing their ability to counteract DTX resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy. CONCLUSION: The integration of TCMs in PCa treatment emerges as an innovative approach with significant potential to overcome DTX resistance. This review not only provides insights into the mechanisms of resistance but also presents new prospects for improving the clinical outcomes of patients with PCa undergoing DTX therapy. The comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms lays the foundation for future research and the development of more effective therapeutic interventions.

Immunosenescence and immunotherapy in older NSCLC patients.

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) predominantly affects the elderly since its incidence and mortality rates skyrocket beyond the age of 65. The landscape of NSCLC treatment has been revolutionized by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which have emerged after a long and mostly inactive period of conventional treatment protocols. However, there is limited data on the exact effects of these chemicals on older patients, whose care can be complicated by a variety of conditions. This highlights the need to understand the efficacy of emerging cancer medicines in older patients. In this study, we will review the data of ICIs from clinical trials that were relevant to older people with NSCLC and poor performance status. We will also discuss the role of immunosenescence in immunotherapy and biomarkers in predicting the efficacy of ICIs in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Dark horse target Claudin18.2 opens new battlefield for pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignant tumors, which is a serious threat to human health and life, and it is expected that pancreatic cancer may be the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries by 2030. Claudin18.2 is a tight junction protein expressed in normal gastric mucosal tissues, which is involved in the formation of tight junctions between cells and affects the permeability of paracellular cells. Claudin18.2 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and is associated with the initiation, progression, metastasis and prognosis of cancer, so it is considered a potential therapeutic target. Up to now, a number of clinical trials for Claudin18.2 are underway, including solid tumors such as pancreatic cancers and gastric cancers, and the results of these trials have not yet been officially announced. This manuscript briefly describes the Claudia protein, the dual roles of Cluadin18 in cancers, and summarizes the ongoing clinical trials targeting Claudin18.2 with a view to integrating the research progress of Claudin18.2 targeted therapy. In addition, this manuscript introduces the clinical research progress of Claudin18.2 positive pancreatic cancer, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, CAR-T cell therapy, and hope to provide feasible ideas for the clinical treatment of Claudin18.2 positive pancreatic cancer.

Small molecule agents for triple negative breast cancer: Current status and future prospects.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with poor prognosis. The number of cases increased by 2.26 million in 2020, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world. TNBCs lack hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), which limits treatment options. Currently, paclitaxel-based drugs combined with other chemotherapeutics remain the main treatment for TNBC. There is currently no consensus on the best therapeutic regimen for TNBC. However, there have been successful clinical trials exploring large-molecule monoclonal antibodies, small-molecule targeted drugs, and novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Although monoclonal antibodies have produced clinical success, their large molecular weight can limit therapeutic benefits. It is worth noting that in the past 30 years, the FDA has approved small molecule drugs for HER2-positive breast cancers. The lack of effective targets and the occurrence of drug resistance pose significant challenges in the treatment of TNBC. To improve the prognosis of TNBC, it is crucial to search for effective targets and to overcome drug resistance. This review examines the clinical efficacy, adverse effects, resistance mechanisms, and potential solutions of targeted small molecule drugs in both monotherapies and combination therapies. New therapeutic targets, including nuclear export protein 1 (XPO1) and hedgehog (Hh), are emerging as potential options for researchers and become integrated into clinical trials for TNBC. Additionally, there is growing interest in the potential of targeted protein degradation chimeras (PROTACs), degraders of rogue proteins, as a future therapy direction. This review provides potentially valuable insights with clinical implications.

Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate with prostate cancer risk in a cross-ethnic population: a Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a causal relationship exists between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) and the occurrence of prostate cancer in East Asian and European populations and to determine if genetic factors influence the association between the EGFR and prostate cancer risk. METHODS: In this Mendelian randomization study, the existence of a causal relationship between the EGFR and prostate cancer occurrence was assessed using five analytical techniques, including Mendelian randomization-Egger regression (MR-Egger), calculation of the weighted median estimator (WME), the maximum likelihood ratio method, the linear median weighting method and the random-effects inverse-variance weighting (IVW) method. RESULTS: In the IVW model, no causal relationship was observed between the EGFR and prostate cancer in either the East Asian or European populations. CONCLUSIONS: After excluding confounding factors and reverse causal associations using two-sample Mendelian randomization, unbiased estimates were obtained, and there was no causal relationship between prostate cancer and the EGFR in the East Asian or European populations. Therefore, for patients with suspected prostate cancer, it is considered unnecessary to improve the detection of glomerular filtration rate, which will effectively reduce the economic burden of patients.

The FJQR Has Synergistic Effect with Fluoropyrimidine in the Maintenance Treatment for HER-2 Negative Gastric Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Maintenance therapy aimed to strengthen the first-line chemotherapy and improve quality of life is needed for gastric cancer (GC). Currently, many clinical studies have confirmed the important role of fluoropyrimidine in the maintenance stage. Our team has created patented prescriptions "Fuzheng jiedu Quyu Method" recipe (FJQR), which was considered as an adjuvant therapeutic scheme (reduce toxicity and increase the efficacy of chemotherapy). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FJQR combined with fluoropyrimidine as a maintenance treatment in HER-2 negative GC patients. METHODS: We performed the analysis of 129 patients with HER-2 negative GC who entered the maintenance stage in our hospital and Tianjin Cancer Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020. Out of the 129 eligible patients, 64 were categorized into the maintenance treatment group with FJQR+fluoropyrimidine, and 65 patients were assigned to the control group if they received fluoropyrimidine alone. Capecitabine was orally 1000mg/m2, Qd, half an hour after meals, and FGQR was 15g Bid after capecitabine. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), overall remission rate (ORR), quality of Life (QOL), TCM syndrome and safety. RESULTS: The mPFS in the treatment group was significantly prolonged compared with the control group (6.3 vs. 5.0 months, p = 0.03), while the mOS was not substantially improved (11.4 vs. 10.5 months, p = 0.38). Gastrointestinal symptoms and pain became better in the treatment group. The number of distant metastatic organs, first-line chemotherapy cycles, and lymph node metastasis were independent risk predictors for PFS. Blood stasis syndrome may be the protective factor. In terms of safety, treatment-related adverse events (AEs) in the treatment group were relatively lighter, and the incidence of grade III-IV AEs could be significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: FJQR and fluoropyrimidine have synergistic effects as maintenance treatment in HER-2 negative GC, with good efficacy and safety.

Therapeutic role of EGFR - Tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis.

Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a significant complication that advances fast and has a poor prognosis for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Current therapies for LM are inconsistent and ineffective, and established techniques such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery continue to fall short of potential outcomes. Nonetheless, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) exhibit potent anti-tumor activity and hold considerable promise for NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations. Thus, assessing EGFR-TKIs effectiveness in treating these central nervous system (CNS) problems is crucial. This review integrates current literature on the intracranial efficacy of EGFR-TKIs to explore the varying impacts of approved EGFR-TKIs in LM patients and the therapeutic possibilities presented by other EGFR-TKIs in development. To delineate the optimal clinical treatment strategy, further exploration is needed regarding the optimal sequencing of EGFR-TKIs and the selection of alternative therapy options following initial treatment failure with EGFR-TKIs.

Clinical efficacy of Camrelizumab combined with first-line chemotherapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: Exploring the clinical efficacy of camrelizumab in combination with first-line chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Methods: The clinical data of 35 patients with ES-SCLC who received camrelizumab combined with EC or EP regimen in First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were OS, ORR and DCR. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis, Kaplan-Meier curve and Log-Rank test analysis, and survival curve was drawn. Results: The median PFS of 35 patients with SCLC was 7.4 months (95 % CI 6.75-9.81 months), .and the median OS was 12.5 months (95% CI,11.71-16.90 months). The ORR and DCR were 65.7 % and 74.3 %, respectively. Adverse events (AEs) were mainly concentrated in grade 1-2, and the probability of occurrence of grade 3 or above was low. Reactive Cutaneous Capillary Endothelial Proliferation (RCCEP) was the most common, followed by nausea &vomit and anemia. The other common AEs included abnormal thyroid function, decreased neutrophil count, skin rash and leucopenia. Conclusion: Camrelizumab in combination with first-line chemotherapy regimens prolonged OS and PFS in SCLC patients and showed efficacy and safety in real-world data.

Chinese herbal medicines for prostate cancer therapy: From experimental research to clinical practice.

Prostate cancer remains the second most common malignancy in men worldwide, is a global health issue, and poses a huge health burden. Precision medicine provides more treatment options for prostate cancer patients, but its popularity, drug resistance, and adverse reactions still need to be focused on. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely accepted as an alternative therapy for cancer, with the advantages of multiple targets, multiple pathways, and low toxicity. We searched the experimental research and clinical practice of CHMs for prostate cancer treatment published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in the last five years. We found five CHM formulas and six single CHM extracts as well as 12 CHM-derived compounds, which showed induction of apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest, suppression of angiogenesis, proliferation, and migration of prostate cancer cells, reversal of drug resistance, and enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. The mechanisms of action include the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AR, EGFR and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways, which are commonly implicated in the development of prostate cancer. We also summarized the advantages of CHMs in patients with hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer and provided ideas for their further experimental design and application.

Traditional Chinese medicines for non-small cell lung cancer: Therapies and mechanisms.

The most common subtype of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has a poor prognosis and seriously threatens the health of human beings. The multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment model has gradually become the mainstream of NSCLC treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used effectively either as an adjunctive therapy or alone throughout the NSCLC therapy, which has a significant impact on survival, quality of life, and reduction of toxicity. Therefore, this paper reviewed the theoretical basis, the latest clinical application, and combined treatment mechanisms in order to explore the advantage stage of TCM treatment and the synergistic therapeutic mechanisms.

Application of organoids in precision immunotherapy of lung cancer (Review).

In immunotherapy, the immune system is modulated in order to treat cancer. Traditional two dimensional in vitro models and in vivo animal models are insufficient to simulate the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) in the original tumor. As tumor immunotherapy involves the immune system, additional tumor mimic models, such as patient-derived organoids, are required for the evaluation of the efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, non-tumor components and host tumor cells in the TME may interact to promote cancer incidence, progression, drug resistance and metastasis. It is possible to produce organoid models for lung cancer by retaining endogenous stromal components (e.g., multiple immune cell types), supplying cancer-associated fibroblasts and exogenous immune cells, constructing tumor vasculature and adding other biological or chemical components that emulate the TME. Therefore, the lung cancer organoid culture platform may facilitate preclinical testing of immunotherapy drugs for lung cancer by mimicking immunotherapy responses. The present review summarizes current lung cancer organoid culture methods for TME modeling and discusses the use of lung cancer-derived organoids for the detection of lung cancer immunotherapy and individualized cancer immunotherapy.

Synergist for antitumor therapy: Astragalus polysaccharides acting on immune microenvironment.

Various new treatments are emerging constantly in anti-tumor therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, the efficacy is still not satisfactory. Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Radix astragali. Studies found that astragalus polysaccharides have gained great significance in increasing the sensitivity of anti-tumor treatment, reducing the side effects of anti-tumor treatment, reversing the drug resistance of anti-tumor drugs, etc. In this review, we focused on the role of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment. We reviewed the immunomodulatory effect of astragalus polysaccharides on macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes. We found that astragalus polysaccharides can promote the activities of macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical applications of astragalus polysaccharides in patients with digestive tract tumors. We summarized the effective mechanism of astragalus polysaccharides on digestive tract tumors, including apoptosis induction, proliferation inhibition, immunoactivity regulation, enhancement of the anticancer effect and chemosensitivity. Therefore, in view of the multiple functions of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical efficacy, the combination of astragalus polysaccharides with antitumor therapy such as immunotherapy may provide new sparks to the bottleneck of current treatment methods.

Maintenance anlotinib improves the survival prognosis of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: a single-arm, prospective, phase II study.

The extent to which anlotinib provides survival benefits in the maintenance therapy of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of anlotinib monotherapy as maintenance therapy following induction chemotherapy in ES-SCLC patients. 27 ES-SCLC patients registered at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were screened from February 2022 to October 2022, of which 3 were not eligible. Eligible patients in stable status after first-line chemotherapy would subsequently accept oral anlotinib (12 mg, p.o., qd. on d1-d14, every 21 days). The maintenance method was continued until disease progression or unmanageable toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint is median progression-free survival (mPFS). The second endpoints include median duration of response (mDOR), median overall survival (mOS) and safety. The mPFS and mDOR have been determined (mPFS: 252 days, 95% CI: 217.782-286.218 days; mDOR: 126 days, 95% CI: 98.899-153.101 days). The mOS was not reached; only 7 patients were reached while 20 patients survived. The primary treatment-related adverse events included hypertension (n=7, 25.9%), fatigue (n=5, 18.5%), poor appetite (n=5, 18.5%), and others. Notably, no patients required a dose reduction due to the severity of adverse events. Patients were generally able to tolerate treatment with anlotinib and exhibited a favorable prognosis. Anlotinib achieved prospective efficacy and manageable safety in the maintenance treatment of ES-SCLC.

Developing a Core Outcome Set for Assessing Clinical Safety Outcomes of Prostate Cancer in Clinical Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Among the common malignant tumors in men worldwide, the incidence of prostate cancer ranks second to lung cancer. This disease will bring an economic burden to patients and their families and can reduce the quality of life of patients. Researchers have conducted numerous clinical trials on the efficacy and safety of different interventions in the treatment of prostate cancer with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with standard treatment regimens. However, the currently published clinical trials exhibit inconsistent and irregular reporting of outcome measures. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to emphasize the need for a core outcome set (COS) to facilitate future prostate cancer research, aiming to improve the quality of trials and generate high-quality evidence. METHODS: This mixed methods project has three phases, as follows: (1) a scoping review of the literature to identify outcomes that have been reported in clinical trials and systematic reviews of interventions involving TCM for the treatment of prostate cancer as well as a qualitative component using interviews to obtain the views of patients with prostate cancer, their families, and their caregivers who have a history of TCM treatment; (2) a Delphi survey among stakeholders to prioritize the core outcomes-Participants will include traditional Chinese and Western medicine clinicians in prostate cancer-related directions, nurses, and methodology experts who will participate in 2 rounds of the Delphi method expert consultation to score each outcome in the list of outcome indicators; and (3) a face-to-face consensus meeting to discuss and agree on the final COS for the application of TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer. RESULTS: The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022356184) before the start of the review process, and we will initiate the review on August 1, 2023; results should be expected by September 1, 2023. The Delphi survey among stakeholders is expected to start in October 2023. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a core outcome set for assessing clinical safety outcomes of prostate cancer in clinical trials of TCM will provide a significant first step to assist Chinese doctors, researchers, and policy makers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022356184; https://tinyurl.com/ysakz74r. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/46794.

Autophagy and Glycometabolic Reprograming in the Malignant Progression of Lung Cancer: A Review.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, there are currently limited treatment options that are widely available to patients with advanced lung cancer, and further research is required to inhibit or reverse disease progression more effectively. In lung and other solid tumor cancers, autophagy and glycometabolic reprograming are critical regulators of malignant development, including proliferation, drug resistance, invasion, and metastasis. To provide a theoretical basis for therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy and glycometabolic reprograming to prevent lung cancer, we review how autophagy and glycometabolism are regulated in the malignant development of lung cancer based on research progress in other solid tumors.

The clinical application of atorvastatin in patients with small-cell lung cancer with dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Various experimental studies demonstrated that atorvastatin exerted additive effects with anticancer drugs to impair tumor growth, delay relapse, and prolong survival time in lung cancer. However, it is indistinct whether there are survival benefits of atorvastatin in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with dyslipidemia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin plus first-line standard chemotherapy in SCLC combined dyslipidemia. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 91 eligible SCLC patients with dyslipidemia registered at the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2018 to October 2022. SCLC patients with confirmed dyslipidemia were assigned to the treatment group to receive atorvastatin plus first-line standard chemotherapy (n = 45) or to the control group to accept chemotherapy (n = 46) until disease progression or unmanageable toxicity occurred. The clinicopathological parameters and survival data were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the prognostic significance of SCLC. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was considered to be the pivotal symbol as the primary endpoint. The second endpoints were recognized as the median overall survival (mOS) and toxicity. RESULTS: In the total of 91 enrolled patients, the curative effect can be evaluated in all patients. Research results showed that atorvastatin added to first-line standard chemotherapy was associated with a significant improvement in survival (mPFS: 7.4 vs 6.8 months, P = 0.031; mOS: 14.7 vs 13.2 months, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin added to first-line standard chemotherapy achieved prospective efficacy and manageable safety in SCLC combined dyslipidemia.