Strong resonance response with ultrahigh quality factor in grating-multilayer systems based on quasi-bound states in the continuum.

Optical bound states in the continuum (BICs) exist in many photonic crystals and periodic structures with a strong resonance and ultrahigh Q factor. Such phenomena can be used in the designs of narrowband transmission filters, lasers, and sensors. In this paper, we consider the energy bands of a complex structure consisting of a grating and a multilayer substructure to obtain the position of the BIC in the structure. Hence, the higher Q factor can be obtained in the grating-multilayer structure than can be realized in the simple grating geometry. We analyze the wave propagation process in the complex structure and the change in the Q value via the use of transmission matrix theory. In addition, the reflectance spectrum is found to exhibit a series of asymmetric line-shapes with different values of the asymmetry parameter, δ, due to the interference between the two channels. One of these channels is the broadband channel, induced by the Fabry-Perot resonance, and the other channel is the narrowband channel, induced by guided mode resonance. Quasi-BICs are seen to transform into BICs as the value of δ is decreased gradually to zero. Therefore, a large Goos-Hänchen shift can be achieved as a result of the high Q factor and quasi-BIC. This work designs a complex structure with ultrahigh Q factor and strong resonance properties, which has significant implications for exploring the phenomenon of BICs.

Silencing of A-kinase anchor protein 4 inhibits the metastasis and growth of non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most malignant tumors. The treatment of advanced NSCLC can be challenging due to drug resistance. The discovery of novel cancer-testis antigens to develop new strategies for advanced metastatic NSCLC is required. AKAP4 is an oncogene discovered in some malignant tumors, and its molecular function of AKAP4 in NSCLC is unknown. This study aimed to explore the potential function of AKAP4 in the development and progression of NSCLC. AKAP-4 was found to be significantly upregulated in both clinical NSCLC tissues and NSCLC cell lines. Cell viability and migration were suppressed, apoptosis was induced, and tube formation was inhibited by the knockdown of AKAP-4, accompanied by the downregulation of VEGF, N-cadherin, EphA2, and MMP-2, and upregulation of c-AMP, PKA, and E-cadherin. In vivo xenograft experiments revealed that tumor growth was inhibited by the knockdown of AKAP4, accompanied by the activation of c-AMP/PKA signaling and inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition progression. Our results show that AKAP4 might be an important target for treating NSCLC because of its function in promoting the migration and proliferation of NSCLC cells.

Efficacy and Safety of Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy vs. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage IIIA EGFR-Mutant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The role of targeted therapy in the neoadjuvant field of stage IIIA epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still controversial. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant targeted therapy (NTT) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) used as a benchmark comparator. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in four databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI) for eligible studies on NTT published before October 2020. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs). Statistical analysis and bias assessment were performed by RevMan 5.3. Results: A total of 319 patients, including 3 randomized controlled trials and 2 non-randomized controlled trials, were included in the meta-analysis. Perform the second subgroup analysis after excluding 2 non-randomized controlled trials. The meta-analysis reveals that, for EGFR mutation-positive stage IIIA NSCLC patients, compared with NCT, NTT can significantly increase ORR (relative risk [RR]:1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.35-2.15; subgroup-RR:1.56, 95% CI 1.23-2.0) and significantly reduce grade 3/4 AEs (RR:0.5, 95% CI 0.34-0.75; subgroup-RR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.26-1.08). The OS of the NTT arm is slightly higher, but the difference is not significant (hazards ratio [HR]: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.43-1.27; subgroup-HR: 0.64 95% CI 0.40-1.03). No difference in PFS was found (HR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.27-2.44). Conclusion: In neoadjuvant setting, targeted therapy has a definitive effect on patients with EGFR mutation-positive stage IIIA NSCLC and is even better than chemotherapy in terms of toxicity and tumor response rate. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021221136.

Narrative review of pembrolizumab for the treatment of esophageal cancer: evidence and outlook.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the current evidence, review the efficacy and safety profile of pembrolizumab, along with its shortcomings, in an effort to define future research directions. BACKGROUND: The survival outcome of esophageal cancer (EC) is poor, especially in patients with advanced stage. Palliative surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy have limited efficacy in prolonging the survival time. Currently, immunotherapies, including adoptive cell therapy-based, antibody-based, and vaccine-based therapies, are attracting considerable attention. The mechanism of immunotherapy lies in the modification of immune response and prevention of immune escape. Immunomodulatory agents can block the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway, thereby allowing lymphocytes to attack tumor cells. This class of drugs has the potential to treat a variety of tumors and may substantially improve overall survival (OS) in some patients. Multiple clinical trials have shown that pembrolizumab has good efficacy and safety, enhances the EC treatment paradigm, and has even become the first-line treatment of choice for patients with PD-L1-positive recurrent or metastatic EC. METHODS: We reviewed the results of clinical trials of pembrolizumab for EC and gastroesophageal cancer presented at Embase, PubMed, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meetings, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. CONCLUSIONS: Pembrolizumab has good efficacy and tolerability profiles, and has emerged as a second-line option for the treatment of PD-L1-positive locally advanced or metastatic ESCC. Pembrolizumab has many promising applications, and further investigations into its mechanisms should be conducted.

Efficacy and Benefit of Postoperative Chemotherapy in Micropapillray or Solid Predominant Pattern in Stage IB Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The benefit of postoperative chemotherapy remains controversial for patients with either a micropapillary or solid pattern in stage IB non-small cell lung cancer. This study is designed to explore the significance of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with either a micropapillary or solid pattern in stage IB lung adenocarcinoma. Method: To conduct the meta-analysis, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Medline were used to collect literature on long-term follow-up studies published before March, 2021, involving postoperative chemotherapy for patients with both a micropapillary or solid pattern in stage IB lung adenocarcinoma as compared to non-postoperative chemotherapy. Survival data was extracted from the literature, including the overall survival and disease-free survival. Based on overall survival and disease-free survival, hazard ratios and their 95% of confidence intervals were applied to assess the prognostic effect of postoperative chemotherapy. Review Manager software was used to merge the effect size for the meta-analysis. Result: In total, 6 papers with 956 patients were included. In terms of the prognosis of patients suffering from lung cancer when receiving postoperative chemotherapy, this study comprehensively reviews and evaluates the available evidence of micropapillary or solid patterns. After excluding the heterogeneity between the studies, we found that the pooled results from 6 studies report that postoperative chemotherapy was associated with a better overall survival rate when compared with non-postoperative chemotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.77; P = 0.0002). Postoperative chemotherapy also significantly improved the disease-free survival in patients with either a micropapillary or a solid pattern in stage IB lung adenocarcinoma (postoperative chemotherapy vs. non-postoperative chemotherapy, hazard ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.64; P < 0.001). However, a subgroup analysis showed that compared with non-postoperative chemotherapy, tumor size was unrelated to the prognosis of patients in stage IB undergoing postoperative chemotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.98, 95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.02; P = 0.27). Conclusion: Postoperative chemotherapy results in a better long-term survival rate for patients with either a solid or a micropapillary pattern in stage IB lung adenocarcinoma. Multi-center, prospective, clinical trials are needed to validate our findings.

The influence of adjuvant radiation therapy after endoscopic resection on survival for early stage EC: an analysis of the surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) database.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic resection (ER) followed by radiation therapy (RT) is a treatment option for early stage esophageal cancer (EC). We used the surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) database to investigate the influence of adjuvant RT after ER on survival for early stage EC. METHODS: The SEER database [1998-2013] was queried for locoregional cases of EC. Tumor staging was redefined with the 8th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system. The T1-2 stage EC cases in which ER were followed by radiation or observation were included. Kaplan-Meier methods were performed to compare overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) between the patients who received radiation and those who did not. Subgroup analysis was made according to AJCC stage. A multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to identify independent covariates which may influence survival. RESULTS: The median survival of the no-radiation group was significantly longer than that of the radiation group [74 vs. 31 months; hazard risk (HR), 2.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.782-3.197; P<0.001]. In T1a stage subgroup, patients who did not receive RT had significantly better OS and CSS outcomes (OS: 90 vs. 31 months; HR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.766-4.773; P<0.001; CSS: 105 vs. 48 months; HR, 5.40; 95% CI, 2.636-8.226; P<0.001). In the T1b and T2 subgroup analyses, both the OS and CSS were not significantly different between the radiation group and the no-radiation group (all P>0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, radiation was not a significant factor for OS and CSS after adjustment for confounding factors (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using SEER data, we revealed that RT after ER did not improve survival in early stage EC patients; specifically, RT did not benefit T1b and T2 patients and may lead to poorer survival in T1a patients. Our findings do not support the addition of RT after ER for early stage EC, especially T1a EC.