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.

Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy for small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: As one of the most aggressive neuroendocrine tumors, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has the most disappointing prognosis of all lung cancers. Although SCLC responds well to initial chemotherapy, the majority of patients experience disease recurrence within one year, and patient survival is poor. It is still necessary to explore the application of ICIs in SCLC since the beginning of the road to immunotherapy, which broke the 30-year treatment deadlock of SCLC. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase with search terms such as "SCLC", "ES-SCLC", "ICIs", and "ICBs", and categorized and summarized the relevant literature obtained, and we compiled the latest progress about the application of ICIs in SCLC. RESULTS: We listed 14 clinical trials on ICIs, including 8 clinical trials on first-line SCLC treatment, 2 clinical trials on second-line SCLC treatment, 3 clinical trials on third-line SCLC treatment, and 1 clinical trial on SCLC maintenance treatment. CONCLUSION: ICIs in combination with chemotherapy can improve OS in SCLC patients, but the extent to which SCLC patients can benefit from ICIs is limited, and ICIs' combination treatment strategies still need to be continuously explored.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for RET fusion non-small cell lung cancer: hopes and challenges.

Immune ch eckpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a milestone in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, NSCLC with known oncogenic drivers has been overlooked in most studies evaluating anti-programmed death-1/programmed death ligand 1. Rearranged during transfection proto-oncogene (RET) gene fusion was identified in 1-2% of NSCLC patients. More recently, two selective RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, demonstrated higher efficacy and good tolerability. In contrast, the activity of ICIs in RET fusion NSCLC has not been well characterized. Here, we analyzed the clinical data of ICIs and discussed the suitable time to introduce ICIs in RET fusion NSCLC. Finally, we put forward future strategies to adequately maximize the efficacy of ICIs treatment in patients with RET fusion NSCLC in the upcoming era of combination immunotherapies.

The Clinical Observation of Acupuncture Combined With Antiemetic Drugs in the Prevention and Treatment of CINV in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with antiemetic drugs in prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) among breast cancer patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical records of 81 postoperative breast cancer patients at our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021. These patients were divided into the acupuncture group and the control group. The efficacy of the antiemetic drugs combined with acupuncture for CINV was analysed. The primary endpoints were total, acute, and delayed nausea and vomiting grade and remission rate. Safety and overall patient quality of life were secondary endpoints. Results: During the whole observation period, compared with the control group, the frequency of nausea and vomiting was decreased in the acupuncture group (P=0.034). And the ECOG-PS score in the acupuncture group was significantly improved (P=0.004). In addition, the adverse events, such as abdominal (12.2% vs. 5.0%, P=0.252), distention (19.5% vs. 5.0%, P=0.049), and diarrhea (9.7% vs. 0, P=0.044), were decreased by acupuncture. Conclusions: Acupuncture combined with antiemetics could reduce the incidence of CINV, improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the incidence of adverse side effects of antiemetic drugs.

Research Progress of Antibody-Drug Conjugate Therapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer is an intractable malignant tumor that has the fifth highest morbidity and the third highest mortality in the world. Even though various treatment options did much to ameliorate the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer, the survival time remained unsatisfactory. It is significant to develop new therapeutic agents to improve the long-term outcome. Antibody-drug conjugate is an innovative and potent antineoplastic drug composed of a specifically targeted monoclonal antibody, a chemical linker, and a small molecule cytotoxic payload. Powerful therapeutic efficacy and moderate toxicity are its preponderant advantages, which imply the inevitable pharmaceutical developments to meet the demand for individualized precision therapy. Nevertheless, it is unavoidable that there is a phenomenon of drug resistance in this agent. This article systematically reviewed the recent progress of antibody-drug conjugates in advanced gastric cancer therapy.

Research Progress on RET Fusion in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Great progress has been made in the treatment of driver gene-positive Non- Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in recent years. RET fusion was seen in 0.7% to 2% of NSCLC and was associated with younger age and never-smoker status. The pralsetinib and selpercatinib for RET fusion NSCLC was recommended by the 2021 NSCLC treatment guidelines. This review outlines the research progress in the treatment of RET fusion NSCLC, identifies current challenges and describes proposals for improving the outlook for these patients.

Advances in Immunotherapy of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) represents the uncommon cancer originating from pleural mesothelial cells, which is associated with dismal prognostic outcome. According to CheckMate-743 results, nivolumab plus ipilimumab has been approved to treat the unresectable MPM in treatment-naive patients as a first-line therapy by the FDA in October 2020. Immunotherapy is expected to be the best choice for MPM treatment. In the following article, the past treatment plan and the progress of immunotherapy for MPM will be reviewed.