[Clinical Observation of Immunotherapy Efficacy and Adverse Effects 
in Chinese Patients with Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved survival of partial patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). However, it was still insufficient of data in older patients. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy in patients with LUSC in Chinese population of real world. METHODS: A total of 185 LUSC patients underwent pathological diagnosis were involved from January 2018 to January 2022. Patients were divided into elderly group (age ≥70 years) and younger group (age <70 years). The efficacy of mono-immunotherapy or combined with chemotherapy to chemotherapy in first-line treatment was compared. The expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) were evaluated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 was used to evaluate the efficacy, and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 was used to evaluate immune-related adverse. Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank test was performed. Cox regression was used in prognostic analysis. RESULTS: Combined therapy acquired significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) compared with chemotherapy alone in elderly group (P<0.05), and also in younger group, despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) in elderly group were similar with younger group (P>0.05). Both combined group and immunology alone demonstrated prolonged mPFS in first-line compared with chemotherapy in elderly group. And combined group demonstrated significantly prolonged mPFS compared with chemotherapy in younger group (P<0.01). There was no difference of mOS between different regimes in two groups. Elderly LUSC patients had higher PD-L1 positive rate (≥1%) and similar TMB compared with younger group. There was no relationship between mPFS and mOS with the expression of PD-L1 and TMB. Immunology combined with chemotherapy demonstrated better mPFS compared to chemotherapy in first-line therapy with TMB-High (P<0.05), and inferior mPFS with TMB-Low despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Cox regression model demonstrated that clinical stage was an independent predictor and prognostic factor. The incidence of immune-related adverse was 58.0% (51/88) and grade 3 or above 25.0% (22/88). The most common grade 3 adverse events were rash, immune-associated pneumonia, and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Immunology combined with chemotherapy increased ORR, mPFS and mOS of Chinese patients with LUSC in first-line therapy compared with chemotherapy. There was no difference of efficacy and adverse effects rate between elderly group and younger group. The adverse effects of immunology in elderly patients with LUSC were controllable.

Clinical Observation of Immunotherapy Efficacy and Adverse Effects in Chinese Patients with Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved survival of partial patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). However, it was still insufficient of data in older patients. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy in patients with LUSC in Chinese population of real world.@*METHODS@#A total of 185 LUSC patients underwent pathological diagnosis were involved from January 2018 to January 2022. Patients were divided into elderly group (age ≥70 years) and younger group (age <70 years). The efficacy of mono-immunotherapy or combined with chemotherapy to chemotherapy in first-line treatment was compared. The expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) were evaluated. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 was used to evaluate the efficacy, and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 was used to evaluate immune-related adverse. Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank test was performed. Cox regression was used in prognostic analysis.@*RESULTS@#Combined therapy acquired significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) compared with chemotherapy alone in elderly group (P<0.05), and also in younger group, despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) in elderly group were similar with younger group (P>0.05). Both combined group and immunology alone demonstrated prolonged mPFS in first-line compared with chemotherapy in elderly group. And combined group demonstrated significantly prolonged mPFS compared with chemotherapy in younger group (P<0.01). There was no difference of mOS between different regimes in two groups. Elderly LUSC patients had higher PD-L1 positive rate (≥1%) and similar TMB compared with younger group. There was no relationship between mPFS and mOS with the expression of PD-L1 and TMB. Immunology combined with chemotherapy demonstrated better mPFS compared to chemotherapy in first-line therapy with TMB-High (P<0.05), and inferior mPFS with TMB-Low despite the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Cox regression model demonstrated that clinical stage was an independent predictor and prognostic factor. The incidence of immune-related adverse was 58.0% (51/88) and grade 3 or above 25.0% (22/88). The most common grade 3 adverse events were rash, immune-associated pneumonia, and fatigue.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Immunology combined with chemotherapy increased ORR, mPFS and mOS of Chinese patients with LUSC in first-line therapy compared with chemotherapy. There was no difference of efficacy and adverse effects rate between elderly group and younger group. The adverse effects of immunology in elderly patients with LUSC were controllable.

Clinical observation of immunotherapy efficacy and adverse effects in elderly patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and adverse reactions of immunotherapy in elderly patients(≥65 years old)with lung squamous cell carcinoma(LUSC)in Chinese population of real world.Methods:A total of 113 elderly LUSC patients(age ≥65 years old)underwent pathological diagnosis were involved from January 2018 to January 2022.To compare the efficacy of mono-immunotherapy or combined with chemotherapy to chemotherapy in first-line and second-line treatment.44 patients received surgical or minimally invasive treatment, and 69 patients received first-line medical treatment, including 27 patients in chemotherapy group, 24 patients in combined chemotherapy group, and 11 patients in single drug immunization group.7 cases in targeted therapy group.Twenty-eight patients received second-line medical treatment, including 8 patients in chemotherapy group, 11 patients in combined immunochemotherapy(combined group), 4 patients in single drug immunotherapy group, and 5 patients in targeted therapy group.The therapeutic effects and adverse reactions were compared between the first-line and second-line treatments.The expression of programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)and tumor mutational burden(TMB)were evaluated.Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors(RECIST)version 1.1 was used to evaluate the efficacy, and common terminology criteria for adverse events(CTCAE)version 4.03 was used to evaluate immune-related adverse.Kaplan-meier and log-rank test was performed.Cox regression was used in prognostic analysis.Results:The total effective rate in the first-line combination group was 73.7%(14/19), higher than that in the chemotherapy group(24.0%, 6/25), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=10.748, P<0.01). Median progression-free survival(mPFS)was longer in the first-line combination group, the immunization group, and the chemotherapy group, and the median overall survival(mOS)was longer in the combination group, but the differences were not statistically significant(all P<0.05); mOS in the second-line combined group were longer than those in the chemotherapy group, both P<0.01). Elderly patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma had high PD-L1 positive rate(≥1%)and high TMB expression rate(≥9 mut/Mb), 81.6%(31/38)and 57.4%(31/54), respectively.mPFS in the PD-L1 positive group(≥1%)was better than that in the PD-L1 negative group(5.10 months vs.0.93 months, P<0.05). Among PD-L1 positive patients, mPFS in the second-line combination group was better than that in the chemotherapy group(7.33 months vs.2.77 months, P<0.05). mPFS and mOS time were not related to TMB expression.The overall incidence of immune-related adverse reactions was 62.0%(31/50), and 26.0%(13/50)with grade 3 or above.The most common grade 3 adverse events were rash, immune-associated pneumonia, and fatigue. Conclusions:Immunology combined with chemotherapy increased objective response rate, mPFS and mOS of elderly patients with LUSC group in first-line therapy compared with chemotherapy.In second-line treatment, the mOS was significantly prolonged in both combination therapy and mono-immunotherapy, and the combination therapy exhibited no benefit in OS compared with monotherapy.The adverse effects of immunology in elderly patients with LUSC were controllable.

DNA-templated porous nanoplatform towards programmed "double-hit" cancer therapy via hyperthermia and immunogenicity activation.

Photothermal therapy, assisted with long-term immunological anti-tumor effect, has great potential in clinical medical practice. Herein, a brand new DNA-template hydrothermal method was developed to prepare novel Co9S8 nanoplatform with outstanding hydrophily and mesoporous internal structure. Based on the mesoporous Co9S8 nanoplatform, MRI-guided enhanced photothermal-immunology "double-hit" synergistic cancer therapy was achieved, through the HSP90 inhibition and immunology activation effect of the loaded epigallocatechin gallate and oxaliplatin. It is noteworthy that the drugs were stepwise released from the nanoplatform under the trigger of pH and heat, respectively. More importantly, the high efficient synergistic cancer therapy and long-term immunological anti-tumor effect were confirmed in vivo. The developed porous nanoplatform, taking accounts of both high efficient tumor ablation and long-term anti-tumor effect, provide a new strategy to the development of next generation nanomedicine for clinical cancer treatment.

Should we establish a new protocol for the treatment of peripartum myocardial infarction?

Peripartum myocardial infarction is a rare event that is associated with high mortality rates. The differential diagnosis includes coronary artery dissection, coronary artery thrombosis, vascular spasm, and stenosis. Our evaluation of 2 cases over a 5-year time period has led to a hypothesis that peripartum myocardial infarction is an immune-mediated event secondary to coronary endothelial sensitization by fetal antigen. In our patients, we supplemented standard medical therapy with immunotherapy consisting of corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Herein, we present our most recent case-that of a 29-year-old black woman (gravida V, para IV), 2 weeks postpartum with no relevant medical history. She presented with a 1-week history of chest pain. Initial electrocardiographic and cardiac biomarkers were consistent with acute coronary syndrome. Echocardiography revealed reduced systolic function with inferior-wall hypokinesis. Angiography revealed diffuse disease with occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery not amenable to revascularization. We were successful in treating the myocardial infarction without the use of catheter-based interventions, by modifying the immunologic abnormalities. Two cases do not make a protocol. Yet we believe that this case and our earlier case lend credence to the hypothesis that peripartum myocardial infarction arises from sensitization by fetal antigens. This concept and the immune-modifying treatment protocol that we propose might also assist in understanding and treating other inflammatory-disease states such as peripartum cardiomyopathy and standard acute myocardial infarction. All of this warrants further investigation.