基于网络药理学和分子对接技术研究黄芪-赤芍治疗COPD的作用机制＊

目的 基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探究黄芪-赤芍配伍对治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病（chronic obstructive pulmonary disease，COPD）的作用机制。方法 利用TCMSP，Pharmmaper数据库，筛选黄芪-赤芍治疗COPD的活性成分和潜在靶点；结合Genecards数据库挖掘的COPD相关靶点，对黄芪-赤芍药对与COPD靶点进行PPI网络构建，交互处理得到黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD的关键靶点，并进行GO分析和KEGG通路富集分析；并采用分子对接技术将主要活性成分与TNF-α（肿瘤坏死因子），IL-6（白细胞介素6）等进行分子对接；最后利用A549炎症细胞与人脐静脉内皮细胞缺氧损伤模型进行体外细胞实验对结果加以验证。结果 黄芪-赤芍药对中44个有效成分作用于COPD，核心成分为：槲皮素、山奈酚、丁子香萜、芍药苷、（2R，3R）-4-methoxyl-distylin、二氢异黄酮；黄芪-赤芍药对通过IL6、PTGS2、TNF等113个靶蛋白，调控Ras、PI3KAkt、IL-17等多条信号通路治疗COPD，且分子对接结果显示槲皮素、山奈酚、丁子香萜、芍药苷与IL-6、PTGS2、TNF大分子蛋白有良好的结合性，体外细胞试验证实，槲皮素与山奈酚均能减少IL-8，MMP-9炎症因子的分泌，具有不同程度的抗炎效果；芍药苷有明显的扩血管、抗血栓之效。结论 黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD具有多成分、多靶点、多通路、整体调节的作用特点。初步揭示了黄芪-赤芍药对通过抑制炎症反应、调节上皮细胞生长增强保护屏障等预测出黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD的潜在作用机制，以期为其活性成分的药效物质基础提供理论研究和思路。     

Immunotherapy as Single Treatment for Patients With NSCLC With Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis—the META-L-BRAIN Study

IntroductionBrain metastases (BMs) occur in 40% of patients with lung cancer. The activity of immunotherapy in these patients, however, remains controversial, as the cornerstone treatment is radiotherapy (RT). Because RT is associated with adverse events that may impair the quality of life, the possibility of substituting it with a single systemic approach is attractive. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the potential benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with NSCLC with untreated BM (unBM).MethodsStudies that enrolled patients with NSCLC treated with ICIs and specifically allowed for unBM were identified by searching the EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, and other databases. The outcomes evaluated were intracerebral overall response rate (icORR) and intracerebral disease control rate (icDCR) for unBM, and grades 3 and 4 toxicity rate.ResultsWe included 12 studies with a total of 566 individuals in the final analysis. Anti–programmed cell death protein-1 therapy seems to be active in the central nervous system, with an icORR of 16.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.8%–24%; I² = 33.17%) and an icDCR of 45% (95% CI: 33.4%–56.9%; I² = 46.91%). In the meta-analysis for icORR (risk ratio = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.57–2.79) and icDCR (risk ratio = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.55–1.43) we did not observe any difference among patients with BM who were treated with RT before ICI start and those who were treated with ICI only.ConclusionsICI seems to be effective as a single treatment for active BM in selected patients with advanced NSCLC.     

Defining the dimensions of circulating tumor cells in a large series of breast,prostate, colon,and bladder cancer patients

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients are of high clinical relevance. Since detection and isolation of CTCs often rely on cell dimensions, knowledge of their size is key. We analyzed the median CTC size in a large cohort of breast (BC), prostate (PC), colorectal (CRC), and bladder (BLC) cancer patients. Images of patient‐derived CTCs acquired on cartridges of the FDA‐cleared CellSearch^® method were retrospectively collected and automatically re‐analyzed using the accept software package. The median CTC diameter (μm) was computed per tumor type. The size differences between the different tumor types and references (tumor cell lines and leukocytes) were nonparametrically tested. A total of 1962 CellSearch^® cartridges containing 71 612 CTCs were included. In BC, the median computed diameter (CD) of patient‐derived CTCs was 12.4 μm vs 18.4 μm for cultured cell line cells. For PC, CDs were 10.3 μm for CTCs vs 20.7 μm for cultured cell line cells. CDs for CTCs of CRC and BLC were 7.5 μm and 8.6 μm, respectively. Finally, leukocytes were 9.4 μm. CTC size differed statistically significantly between the four tumor types and between CTCs and the reference data. CTC size differences between tumor types are striking and CTCs are smaller than cell line tumor cells, whose size is often used as reference when developing CTC analysis methods. Based on our data, we suggest that the size of CTCs matters and should be kept in mind when designing and optimizing size‐based isolation methods.

Abbreviations

ACCEPT

Automated CTC Classification, Enumeration, and PhenoTyping software

BC

breast cancer

BLC

bladder cancer

CD

computed diameter

CEL

cultured tumor cell (cell line)

CK

cytokeratin

CRC

colorectal cancer

CTC‐L

circulating tumor cells derived from cerebrospinal fluid (liquor)

CTCs

circulating tumor cells

DAPI

4′6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole

EMT

epithelial–mesenchymal transition

EpCAM

epithelial cell adhesion molecule

IQR

interquartile range

KW test

Kruskal–Wallis test

MWU test

Mann–Whitney U test

NCR

nucleus/cytoplasm ratio

P2A

perimeter to area

PC

prostate cancer

TIF

tagged Image Format files

TXT

text file

μm

micrometer

µm²

square micrometers

     

Phase I Study of Afatinib and Selumetinib in Patients with KRAS-Mutated Colorectal,Non-Small Cell Lung,and Pancreatic Cancer

Lessons Learned

• Afatinib and selumetinib can be combined in continuous and intermittent dosing schedules, albeit at lower doses than approved for monotherapy.
• Maximum tolerated dose for continuous and intermittent schedules is afatinib 20 mg once daily and selumetinib 25 mg b.i.d.
• Because the anticancer activity was limited, further development of this combination is not recommended until better biomarkers for response and resistance are defined.

BackgroundAntitumor effects of MEK inhibitors are limited in KRAS‐mutated tumors because of feedback activation of upstream epidermal growth factor receptors, which reactivates the MAPK and the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase–AKT pathway. Therefore, this phase I trial was initiated with the pan‐HER inhibitor afatinib plus the MEK inhibitor selumetinib in patients with KRAS mutant, PIK3CA wild‐type tumors.MethodsAfatinib and selumetinib were administered according to a 3+3 design in continuous and intermittent schedules. The primary objective was safety, and the secondary objective was clinical efficacy.ResultsTwenty‐six patients were enrolled with colorectal cancer (n = 19), non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (n = 6), and pancreatic cancer (n = 1). Dose‐limiting toxicities occurred in six patients, including grade 3 diarrhea, dehydration, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and mucositis. The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) was 20 mg afatinib once daily (QD) and 25 mg selumetinib b.i.d. (21 days on/7 days off) for continuous afatinib dosing and for intermittent dosing with both drugs 5 days on/2 days off. Efficacy was limited with disease stabilization for 221 days in a patient with NSCLC as best response.ConclusionAfatinib and selumetinib can be combined in continuous and intermittent schedules in patients with KRAS mutant tumors. Although target engagement was observed, the clinical efficacy was limited.     

儿童指突状树突细胞肉瘤合并骨髓增生异常综合征一例报告并文献复习

指突状树突细胞肉瘤(interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma,IDCS)是一种罕见的树突状细胞肿瘤,目前全球仅百余例报道,常以无痛性淋巴结肿大起病,侵袭性较强、预后较差[1-2]。骨髓增生异常综合征(myelodysplastic syndromes,MDS)为起源于造血干、祖细胞的恶性克隆性疾病,以单系或多系病态造血、易向白血病转化为特征,目前被认为是一种老年性疾病[3]。本研究报道1例同患IDCS和MDS的患儿,为国内外首次报道2种肿瘤同时发生,旨在探讨2种肿瘤的诊治要点,避免漏诊、误诊。     

小细胞肺癌患者外周血辅助性T细胞的表达情况及临床意义

目的研究小细胞肺癌(SCLC)患者外周血中辅助性T细胞1(Th1)、Th2、Th17及调节性T淋巴细胞(Treg)的表达情况,探讨其在SCLC进展中的作用。方法选择2016年1月至2018年4月本院收治的44例住院的SCLC患者(SCLC组)及24名健康者(对照组)作为研究对象。采用流式细胞法检测两组研究对象外周血中Th1、Th2、Th17及Treg细胞的表达情况,应用微量样本多指标流式蛋白定量技术(CBA)检测血清中的细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-17及IL-10的表达情况。结果SCLC组患者的外周血中Th1细胞、Th1/Th2、IFN-γ表达水平显著低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。SCLC组患者的外周血中Th2、Treg、Th17、Treg/Th17、IL-17、IL-10表达水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论SCLC患者外周血中Th1/Th2的降低、Treg/Th17的升高可能与SCLC的致病机理及预后密切相关,该结论将为SCLC的治疗提供新的思路。     

皮肤鳞状细胞癌诊疗专家共识（2021）

【摘要】 皮肤鳞状细胞癌是非黑素瘤皮肤癌中最常见的肿瘤之一。近年来随着对其发病机制研究的深入以及诊断技术、Mohs显微描记手术、靶向治疗、免疫治疗的发展，皮肤鳞状细胞癌的诊疗取得了较大进展。该共识在国内外近期文献及诊疗指南的基础上，结合我国的诊疗现状，重点阐述皮肤鳞状细胞癌的临床表现及分型、病理活检及报告规范、风险等级评估、分级分期以及规范化治疗等，为临床医生的诊疗工作提供参考依据。     

Antitumor effects of dioscin in A431 cells via adjusting ATM/p53-mediated cell apoptosis,DNA damage and migration

Skin cancer is the deadliest type of malignant disease and causes primary mortality worldwide. Dioscin, which exists in medicinal plants, has potent anticancer effects. However, its effects on skin cancer remain unknown. In the present study, the activity and mechanism of dioscin on the human skin cancer A431 cell line were investigated, MTT, colony formation, Transwell, wound-healing, TUNEL, Comet, immunofluorescence and western blot assays were used to assess the effects of dioscin on A431 cells. The results of MTT, colony formation, Transwell and wound-healing assays revealed that dioscin suppressed proliferation, colony formation and invasion of the cancer cells. TUNEL and comet assays demonstrated that dioscin exhibited significant effects on cell apoptosis and DNA damage. Investigations into the mechanism revealed that the expression levels of phosphorylated Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) were considerably activated by dioscin, which significantly upregulated the expression levels of p53 to activate mitochondrial apoptosis signaling. Furthermore, the expression levels of BAX, cleaved caspase-3/9 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase were upregulated, and the expression levels of BCL-2 were downregulated by dioscin. Additionally, dioscin markedly downregulated the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, RHO and cdc42, which are all associated with tumor invasion. In addition, p53-small interfering RNA transfection experiments indicated that dioscin exhibited excellent activity against skin cancer in vitro by decreasing p53 expression. Overall, the present results suggested that dioscin inhibited skin cancer cell proliferation via adjusting ATM/p53-mediated cell apoptosis, migration and DNA damage, which should be considered as a potential option for future treatments of skin cancer.     

基于CT图像的评分模型预测食管鳞癌喉返神经旁淋巴结转移风险

目的:基于原发肿瘤及淋巴结CT特征建立评分模型预测食管鳞癌患者喉返神经旁淋巴结(RLN-LN)转移风险。方法:回顾性收集2014年1月至2019年12月于北京大学肿瘤医院行食管癌根治术并清扫RLN-LN的92例食管鳞癌患者。根据术后淋巴结病理结果分为RLN-LN转移组(n=37)和非转移组(n=55)。评估术前CT图像,记录食管癌患者年龄、性别、分化程度、肿瘤位置、肿瘤大小(肿瘤长度、肿瘤厚度、厚度/长度)、RLN-LN大小(淋巴结短径、长径、短径/多平面重建(MPR)最长径]。采用多元logistic回归筛选独立预测因子并建立评分模型,采用ROC曲线评估评分模型及独立预测因子诊断RLN-LN转移的效能,采用Z检验比较曲线下面积(AUC)的差异。应用Hosmer-Lemeshow检验和校准曲线评估模型拟合度。结果:肿瘤位置、肿瘤长度、RLN-LN短径、短径/MPR最长径是RLN-LN转移的独立预测因子,其诊断RLN-LN转移的AUC分别为0.586、0.705、0.831、0.777。基于以上4个CT特征建立评分模型,评分模型诊断RLN-LN转移的AUC为0.903(95%CI 0.846~0.959),优于各单一CT特征(Z=5.812,P<0.001;Z=2.161,P=0.030;Z=2.929,P=0.003;Z=4.052,P<0.001)。拟合优度Hosmer-Lemeshow检验结果显示P=0.555,校准曲线提示评分模型预测RLN-LN转移风险与实际转移风险之间具有良好的一致性。结论:基于CT图像的评分模型有助于食管鳞癌RLN-LN转移状态危险分层。