ObjectiveThis review has summarized in detail the advances in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging in evaluating the efficacy of targeted therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).MethodsTo summarize the image-related guidelines, consensus, international conference reports, and relevant knowledge of clinical research on the evaluation of the efficacy of GIST targeted therapy in recent years.ResultsThe CT and MRI manifestation after targeted treatment of GIST was closely related to pathological changes, including necrosis, cystic degeneration, and bleeding. CT was the preferred imaging method. Functional magnetic resonance imaging, such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), had made some progress. The main criteria for evaluating the efficacy of GIST targeted therapy were RECIST 1.1 and Choi criteria.ConclusionCT and MRI play an important role in evaluating the efficacy of targeted therapy for GIST.
ObjectiveTo systematically elucidate the resistance mechanism of targeted drug therapy for breast cancer and to discuss future direction of optimized treatment strategies. MethodA literature review on targeted therapy for breast cancer had been conducted based on recent domestic and international research. ResultsContemporary breast cancer targeted therapies mainly comprised human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed agents, CDK4/6 inhibitors, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway blockers, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, and immune checkpoint modulators, etc. While these agents had conferred subtype-specific survival benefits, resistance developed through target mutations, compensatory signaling, epigenetic alterations, drug efflux pumps, among other mechanisms. Emerging strategies for reversing drug resistance included dual-targeted approaches (such as trastuzumab in combination with pertuzumab), dynamic monitoring of drug-resistant gene mutations by liquid biopsy, epigenetic modulators, etc. ConclusionsDrug resistance remains a key bottleneck limiting long-term efficacy of breast cancer targeted therapy. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches to decipher tumor heterogeneity, implement combinatorial multi-target inhibition with real-time monitoring of multidimensional interventions, and leverage artificial intelligence to predict resistance evolution. This integrated strategy is expected to enable personalized combination therapies, ultimately overcoming drug resistance and improving patient survival outcomes.
ObjectiveTo understand the latest progress of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)-based combination therapies for unresectable liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, and to explore the safe and effective combination therapies in order to controlling the rapid progress of disease and improving the quality of life of patients. MethodsThe literatures about TACE-based combination therapies of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma and the latest advance in researches of this field at home and abroad were collected, and the application of combination therapies, the advantages and features of the combined treatments were reviewed. ResultsTACE was a safe and effective therapeutic modality in treating primary liver cancer or secondary liver cancer.Compared with a single treatment, TACE-based combination therapies had distinct advantages to patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma not only improved the quality of life but also prolonged the survival time.With the emerging of various kinds of new drugs and the rapid development of a variety of interventional treatments, it could bring long-term survival benifit for patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. ConclusionsDoctors should pay attention to the combined treatments of patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma, improve the knowledge of personalized medication about advanced tumors and actively promote more usage of combination therapies.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of lenvatinib as targeted therapy for locally advanced thyroid cancer. MethodsThe data of 17 patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer who received targeted therapy in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Cancer Hospital from September 2021 to June 2023 were prospectively collected and analyzed. ResultsSeventeen patients received lenvatinib for a median of 8 weeks (4–32 weeks), 5 patients achieved partial response, 11 patients achieved stable disease, and 1 patient experienced progressive disease. The objective response and disease control rates were 29.4% (5/17) and 94.1% (16/17) respectively, the median tumor diameter of the target lesion decreased from 43 mm before treatment to 12 mm after treatment. Five patients did not undergo surgery because of tumor progression and their refusal; R0/1 resection was achieved in 11 of the 12 remaining patients (91.7%). All patients suffered from drug-related adverse events, and the commonest drug-related adverse events were hypertension (7/17, 41.2%), diarrhea (6/17, 35.3%), and proteinuria (5/17, 29.4%). There were no major drug-related adverse events. ConclusionPreliminary analysis indicates that lenvatinib is effective and safe for targeted therapy of locally advanced thyroid cancer, with a relatively high rate of R0/1 resection.
We briefly analyzed the research design and results through summarizing the latest hot spots relevant to targeted therapy in combination with immunotherapy (Abbreviated as “combination therapy” ) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aiming to provide references for clinical decision-making and future research directions. It was found that the clinical study results related to combination therapy for HCC were different by summarizing the study design and results of combination therapy for HCC in recent years, which might be closely related to the study design, drug selection, research objects selection, protocol implementation, and other factors. It is suggested that a variety of factors such as disease background should be considered when combination therapy for HCC is conducted in order to obtain a more comprehensive and objective understanding.
ObjectiveTo review the recent progress of the molecular targeted therapy for thyroid cancer. MethodsThe literatures of molecular etiology for thyroid cancer, mechanism and evaluation of targeted therapy via Medline and CHKD database were reviewed. ResultsSo far, four molecular targeted drugs (Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Vandetanib, and Cabozantinib) have been approved for treatment of advanced thyroid cancer by FDA. They can mainly improve the patient's progression-free survival. Besides, several new molecular targeted drugs have accomplishedⅠphase or Ⅱ phase clinical trials. These drugs may be new options for treatment of advanced thyroid cancer in the future. ConclusionsMolecular targeted drugs have been the main therapeutic method for advanced thyroid cancer. However, we should invent more effective new drugs and investigate the drug combination to improve the therapeutic effect.
The mechanisms behind diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be ascribed primarily to retinal microvascular abnormalities, excessive inflammatory response and neurodegeneration. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of endogenous non-coding RNA with a special circular structure, which is mainly composed of precursor RNA after shearing and processing. It is widely present in the retina and participates in the occurrence and development of various fundus diseases. CircRNAs express in an abnormal way in retina, serving as “the sponge” for miRNA so as to play roles in dysfunction of retinal vascular, inflammatory response and neurodegeneration in the development of DR. Further studies for circRNAs in DR will illustrate pathophysiology of DR more deeply, shedding light on circRNAs becoming novel biomarkers and molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment, thus achieving the goal of early diagnosis and precise therapy of DR.
ObjectiveTo summarize the remodeling of cholesterol metabolism in the occurrence and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and to review the research progress on targeted cholesterol metabolism in the treatment of PDAC. MethodRelevant literatures on cholesterol metabolism in the occurrence, development, and diagnosis and treatment of PDAC in recent years were searched and reviewed. ResultsMetabolites of PDAC tumor cells affected the expression of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Signaling regulation within tumor cells affects cholesterol metabolism, characterized by increased de novo cholesterol synthesis and esterification, and reduced efflux. Tumor cells also regulated tumor immune microenvironment or tumor stroma formation through cholesterol metabolism. Inhibiting cholesterol metabolism could suppress the proliferation, invasion and migration of PDAC tumor cells, and combination therapy targeting cholesterol metabolism had a synergistic anti-PDAC effect. ConclusionsRemodeling of cholesterol metabolism occurs in both PDAC tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, and is closely related to the occurrence, development, invasion, metastasis, and treatment response of PDAC. Targeting cholesterol metabolism or combined application with chemotherapy drugs can have anticancer effects. However, more research is needed to support the translation of cholesterol metabolism regulation into clinical treatment applications.
ObjectiveThis study is aimed to determine the expression of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 39 (USP39) protein in the colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, and the effect of silencing USP39 gene on the cell growth and cell cycle distribution of CRC cells.Methods① The expressions of USP39 protein in CRC tissues and its paracancerous tissues were determined by immunohistochemical staining method. ② By lentiviral infection, Lv-shUSP39 (KD-1 and KD-2 group) and Lv-shCon (shCon group) were transferred into SW1116 and HCT116 cells, and cells of blank control group did not received any treatment (Con group). To determine the role of USP39 gene in cell growth, MTT assay was performed to draw growth curve, and cell cycle distribution of CRC cells in the 4 groups were determined by flow cytometer.Results① The expression of USP39 protein was higher in CRC tissues compared to adjacent tissues (P=0.007). ② For SW1116 and HCT116 cells, the cell proliferation ability of KD-1 and KD-2 groups were remarkably decreased than those in corresponding shCon and Con groups on 3, 4, and 5-day (P<0.05). ③ Flow cytometry assay showed that, the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells were decreased obviously (P<0.05), while increased significantly in percentage of G2/M phase and number of sub-G1 phase cells in KD-1 group compared with that in the Con group and shCon group of SW1116 and HCT116 cells (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe expression of USP39 protein is highly expressed in CRC tissues. Knockdowning of USP39 gene can inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.
Diabetes has become a global epidemic disease now. Its chronic progressive deterioration and the acute and chronic complications affect the quality of the patients' lives seriously. The prevention and treatment of diabetes has become one of the research focuses in recent years. NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome can recognize the metabolic stress signals, and cause caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production, and is closely related to diabetes development. The latest studies have shown that NLRP3 inflammasome will be a new potential target for the treatment of diabetes. This article reviews the activation and regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome, and the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome on glucose metabolism and its targeted therapy in diabetes.