Genetic profiling of primary and secondary tumors from patients with lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases reveals targeted therapy options.

BACKGROUND: Patients newly diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastases (LABM) have poor survival rates after treatment with conventional therapies. To improve outcomes, we retrospectively investigated whether the application of a more comprehensive genetic test of tumor biopsies samples from LABM patients could provide the basis for treatment with more effective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) regimens. METHODS: Fine needle biopsies were taken from the primary tumor (PT) and a secondary bone metastasis (BM) of 17 LABM patients before treatment. Simple genetic profiles for selecting therapies were initially obtained using an ARMS-PCR test for EGFR and ALK fusion mutations. More detailed genetic profiles of somatic exon SNVs and CNVs in 457 cancer-related genes were retrospectively derived using capture single molecule amplification and resequencing technology (capSMART). RESULTS: ARMS-PCR identified 14 EGFR positive, 3 EGFR negative and 1 ALK fusion positive patient. A therapy regimen incorporating TKIs Gefitinib and Crizotinib was offered to the EGFR and ALK fusion positive patients, respectively. With the exception of two patients, molecular profiling of matching PT and BM biopsies identified a highly shared somatic variant fingerprint, although the BMs exhibited additional genomic instability. In six of 13 EGFR positive patients and in all three EGFR negative patients, examination of the genetic profiles identified additional clinically significant mutations that are known or experimental drug targets for treatment of lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Our findings firstly suggest that treatment regimens based on comprehensive genetic assessment of newly diagnosed LABM patients should target both the PT and secondary BMs, including rogue clones with potential to form new BMs. Second, the additional information gained should allow clinicians to design and implement more personalized treatment regimens and potentially improve outcomes for LABM patients.

[The recent development of fiber-optic chemical sensor].

The present article provides a brief review of recent research on fiber-optic chemical sensor technology and the future development trends. Especially, fiber-optic pH chemical sensor, fiber-optic ion chemicl sensor, and fiber-optic gas chemical sensor are introduced respectively. Sensing film preparation methods such as chemical bonding method and sol-gel method were briefly reviewed. The emergence of new type fiber-microstructured optical fiber opened up a new development direction for fiber-optic chemical sensor. Because of its large inner surface area, flexible design of structure, having internal sensing places in fibers, it has rapidly become an important development direction and research focus of the fiber-optic chemical sensors. The fiber-optic chemical sensor derived from microstructured optical fiber is also discussed in detail. Finally, we look to the future of the fiber-optic chemical sensor.

Osimertinib combined with bevacizumab for leptomeningeal metastasis from EGFR-mutation non-small cell lung cancer: A phase II single-arm prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of osimertinib combined with bevacizumab for LM from epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFRm) NSCLC. METHODS: We conducted a phase II single-arm prospective clinical trial of EGFRm NSCLC with LM treated with osimertinib combined with bevacizumab. LM response assessment was based on the modified RANO LM radiological criteria; CNS and extra-CNS response was evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. The primary end points included LM progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR); the secondary end points included safety and LM overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 14 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 61 years, and they were predominantly female (64%). EGFR mutations were reported in exons 19 del (n = 7) and 21 L858R (n = 7). When LM was diagnosed, 12 (85.7%) patients had clinical symptoms, 71.4% (10/14) of patients were diagnosed with LM by cytology, and five (35.7%) patients had a performance status (PS) score > 2. The median LM PFS was 9.3 months (95% CI: 8.2-10.4), and the LM ORR was 50%. The safety findings in the present study were consistent with the known profile of osimertinib with bevacizumab; the median LM OS was 12.6 months, and the one-year survival rate was 35.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Osimertinib combined with bevacizumab is an appropriate treatment option for patients with LM from EGFRm NSCLC. KEY POINTS: SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY: To date, there is no prospective clinical study on the treatment of osimertinib combined with bevacizumab in EGFRm NSCLC with LM. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: The median LM PFS was 9.3 months (95% CI: 8.2-10.4), and the LM ORR was 50%, the median LM OS was 12.6 months, and the one-year survival rate was 35.7%. Osimertinib combined with bevacizumab is an appropriate treatment option for patients with LM from EGFRm NSCLC.

Highly double selective nitration of nitrostilbenes over zeolite.

A feasible zeolite-assisted ortho C-H nitration of nitrostilbenes has been developed for the first time, which can be used in situ. It uses acetyl nitrate as a mild, easily handled and commercially available nitrating reagent, leading to the synthesis of polynitrostilbenes with double selectivities and in good yields.