Immune microenvironment characteristics and their implications for immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in HER2-overexpressing gastric cancer.

HER2-positive gastric cancer is a distinct tumor subtype, accounting for ~10% of gastric cancer cases. It is characterized by HER2 overexpression and responds well to HER2-targeting therapies. Recently, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to HER2-targeting therapies produced satisfactory outcomes in these patients. In the present study, we used gene expression profiles and patient surgical sections to analyze the tumor immune microenvironment characteristics of gastric tumors with high HER2 expression. Several differentially enriched pathways were identified between the HER2 high-expression group and the low-expression group, such as pathways related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, calcium signaling, and cell adhesion molecules. Tumors with high HER2 expression comprised fewer stromal cells and fewer immune cells, and had higher tumor purity. They also presented with lower expression of PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIGIT, and LAG-3. In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive blueprint of the immune microenvironment of HER2-positive gastric tumors. This analysis highlights the importance of considering the tumor microenvironment when assessing response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Tumor clinicopathological characteristics and their prognostic value in mucinous colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: This study analyzed clinicopathological features of colorectal mucinous carcinoma and their prognostic values. Patients & method: This study enrolled 265 patients with mucinous colorectal cancer. Clinicopathological information and prognosis were reviewed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meier method, log- rank test and COX proportional hazard regression models were used. Results: In postoperative mucinous carcinoma patients (median age 56, 119 [44.9%] female), advanced tumor stage (odds ratio [OR]: 2.378; 95% CI: 1.512-3.741; p = 0.0002), poor differentiation (OR: 1.896; CI: 1.217-2.955; p = 0.0047) and right-sided tumors (OR: 2.421; CI: 1.145-5.102; p = 0.0206) were associated with shorter overall survival. Appendiceal/ileocecal cecal tumors were not different for prognosis. Conclusion: Mucinous colorectal carcinoma exhibits distinct tumor characteristics. Poor differentiation, advanced stage at presentation and the right side serve as negative prognostic factors.

Clinicopathologic features and treatment advances in cancers with HER2 alterations.

HER2 is one of the most important proteins of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, whose alterations include amplification, overexpression and gene mutation. Growing attention has been given to HER2 as a biomarker for prognosis, an indicator for treatment response and a target for new drugs. Tumors with HER2 alterations have been well studied in multiple locations as distinct entities for treatment, especially breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. These four cancers are the leading causes of cancer incidence and cancer-related death worldwide. The present study details the landscape of HER2 amplification/overexpression and mutations and gives an up-to-date analysis of current clinical trials in the four cancers mentioned above. Different HER2-altered cancers not only respond differently to HER2-targeting therapies but also display diverse survival outcomes. Even in the same type of cancer, HER2 amplification/overexpression differs from HER2 mutation in terms of clinicopathologic features and treatment strategies. As an emerging strategy in cancer treatment, immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrate distinct outcomes in HER2-altered breast cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer.

The online-to-offline (O2O) food delivery industry and its recent development in China.

This paper offers a unique perspective about the development of the online-to-offline (O2O) food delivery industry from 2017 to 2019 in China. This study demonstrates the latest transformation and improvements of the O2O market that address some common problems in the early stages of the development of this raising industry in China. New strategies and regulations from the O2O platforms, food providers, and national and local governments are discussed. In our view, the mission of the O2O industry in general has shifted from pursuing enormous quantity to ensuring high quality. China's O2O food delivery industry warrants further attention and studies as it grows and develops into the future. We suggest future studies to work on its economic, behavioral, and health impacts on population level as it encompasses both great risks and rewards.

BRAF Mutation as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Comprehensive Analysis of Immune Microenvironment in BRAF Mutated Colon Cancer.

BRAF mutated colon cancer presents with poor survival, and the treatment strategies are controversial. The tumor microenvironment, which plays a key role in tumorigenesis as well as responses to treatments, of this subtype is largely unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the differences of immune microenvironments between BRAF mutated and BRAF wild-type colon cancer utilizing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus and confirmed the findings by tissue specimens of patients. We found that BRAF mutated colon cancer had more stromal cells, more immune cell infiltration, and lower tumor purity. Many immunotherapeutic targets, including PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, and TIM-3, were highly expressed in BRAF mutated patients. BRAF mutation was also correlated with higher proportions of neutrophils and macrophages M1, and lower proportions of plasma cells, dendritic cells resting, and T cells CD4 naïve. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a different pattern of the immune microenvironment in BRAF mutated colon cancer and provides insights into the future use of checkpoint inhibitors in this subgroup of patients.

A double-edged sword: the association of daytime napping duration and metabolism related diseases in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have suggested that daytime napping may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, limited data have revealed the association between nap duration and other metabolic diseases. Data from the baseline survey of Lanxi Cohort Study, a population-based study of natural residents in Zhejiang Province, China, were used to investigate the relationship between nap duration and metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: A total of 3236 participants underwent a physical examination, laboratory tests, and face to face interview. They were categorized into four groups according to nap duration. Logistic regression models were used to examine the odds ratios (ORs) of napping duration with four metabolism-related diseases. Stratified analysis was further used to explore the interaction effects of gender and age on results. RESULTS: Compared to the no daytime napping group, people who napped during the daytime for more than 1 h were independently associated with a greater prevalence of diabetes (OR 1.56). Those who napped during the daytime within a half hour showed a lower prevalence of fatty liver, dyslipidemia, and central obesity. To be more specific, those who habitually napped during the daytime for more than 1 h exhibited an increasing prevalence of diabetes among female older than 50 years old. Those who habitually napped during the daytime within a half hour exhibited a decreasing prevalence of fatty liver and dyslipidemia among male <50 years old, and that of central obesity among female <50 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Short daytime napping duration is associate with reduced rate of metabolism-related diseases and may protects people from negative health conditions, whereas long daytime napping duration is associate with higher prevalence of diabetes, which then can be harmful for health.

Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma: clinical pathology and treatment options.

Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is a distinct subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC) characterized by the presence of abundant extracellular mucin which accounts for at least 50% of the tumor volume. Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is found in 10%-20% of CRC patients and occurs more commonly in female and younger patients. Moreover, mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is more frequently located in the proximal colon and diagnosed at an advanced stage. Based on its molecular context, mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is associated with the overexpression of mucin 2 (MUC2) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) proteins. At the same time, it shows higher mutation rates in the fundamental genes of the RAS/MAPK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma also shows higher rates of microsatellite instability (MSI) than non-mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma which might correlate it with Lynch syndrome and the CpG island methylator phenotype. The prognosis of mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma as to non-mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma is debatable. Further, the impaired responses of mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma to palliative or adjuvant chemotherapy warrant more studies to be performed for a specialized treatment for these patients. In this review, we discuss the molecular background and histopathology of mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma, and provide an update on its prognosis and therapeutics from recent literatures.