ABSTRACTBackgroundUnresolved issues complicate treating limited‐stage small‐cell lung cancer (LS‐SCLC). We conducted a real‐world study analyzing LS‐SCLC treatment patterns to address clinical needs.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled patients with LS‐SCLC treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2008 and December 2023. Information was collected on clinicopathological features, cancer‐related treatments, laboratory test results, and clinical and prognostic data. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate progression‐free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox regression models were used to assess the factors influencing survival.ResultsAmong the 203 patients with LS‐SCLC, the median OS (mOS) was 28.8 months. Log‐rank testing revealed significant mOS differences among radiotherapy timing groups (p = 0.031): concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) 30.1 months, sequential therapy 27.5 months, and no radiotherapy 21.7 months. Early cCRT showed a non‐significant mOS trend advantage over late cCRT (38.3 vs. 29.5 months, p = 0.058). Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) demonstrated comparable mOS (36.9 vs. 29.6 months, p = 0.27). Peripheral blood biomarkers (PBBs) lacked prognostic significance. Multivariate analysis identified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) > 1 (HR = 3.652, 95% CI 1.579–8.448; p = 0.002) and N2/N3 metastasis (N2: HR = 2.872, 95% CI 1.312–6.286, p = 0.008; N3: HR = 2.645, 95% CI 1.195–5.856, p = 0.016) as survival predictors. Sequential radiotherapy increased mortality risk versus early cCRT (HR = 1.701, 95% CI 1.125–2.573; p = 0.012).ConclusionsPerformance status and lymph node metastasis are prognostic factors for patients with LS‐SCLC. cCRT improves the prognosis of LS‐SCLC, with early cCRT providing a significant survival benefit and late cCRT being an acceptable option.

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) poses a considerable threat to survival in lung adenocarcinoma. Currently, minor resection is the recommended surgical approach for small-diameter lung cancer. The accurate preoperative identification of LNM in patients with small-diameter lung cancer is important for improving patient survival and outcomes. A total of 1740 patients with clinical early-stage lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection were enrolled in this study. The Lasso model was used to screen clinical and imaging features, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relevant diagnostic factors to establish a diagnostic model for predicting LNM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curve analysis were used to verify the clinical efficacy of the model, which was further validated with an internal validation set. The proportion of solid components (PSC), sphericity, nodule margin, entropy, and edge blur were identified as diagnostic factors that were strongly correlated with LNM in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the internal training set was 0.91. Decision curve analysis revealed that the model could achieve greater benefits for patients. The calibration curve was used to further verify the applicability of the prediction model. Patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma with LNM can be identified by typical imaging features. The diagnostic model can help to optimize surgical planning among thoracic surgeons.

In recent years, perioperative immune checkpoint inhibitors have become indicated for early-stage lung cancer, emphasizing the importance of high-resolution endoscopic evaluation of preoperative drug therapy. At the initial evaluation, a male patient in his 60s presented with a primary lesion obstructing the right upper lobe bronchus. After three courses of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, chest computed tomography and endoscopic examinations showed a near-complete response. Narrow-band imaging indicated that subepithelial vascular regularity and distribution patterns were within normal limits. However, autofluorescence imaging (AFI) revealed a magenta-colored area on the bronchial epithelium corresponding to the initial lesion site. Two months later, the magenta coloration faded, suggesting pathological normalization of the bronchial epithelium thickening. AFI enabled visualization of tumor progression in the bronchi otherwise completely obstructed by the lesion, potentially offering valuable information to determine bronchial resection lines during surgery.

As the population ages, the number of elderly lung cancer patients has been increasing. While surgery is the best treatment for resectable lung cancer, elderly patients often have multiple comorbidities, making accurate preoperative risk assessment crucial when formulating an appropriate treatment plan. This study aims to explore how psoas muscle volume relates to postoperative outcomes in elderly lung cancer patients. This single-center, retrospective study included 344 elderly (≥ 75) patients who underwent complete surgical resection for non-small cell cancer between 2010 and 2023. The psoas muscle volume index (PVI, cm3/m3) was measured using a 3-dimensional imaging workstation based on preoperative computed tomography images and grouped based on the median value for each gender. Postoperative complications and survival rates were then compared between the groups. The median PVI was 60.5 cm3/m3 for males and 47.7 cm3/m3 for females. The PVI-high group had significantly fewer complications (15.6%) than the PVI-low group (37.1%) (p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was higher in the PVI-high group (80.5%) than in the PVI-low group (66.7%) (p = 0.01). Multivariate analyses showed that PVI-high was an independent predictor of lower complication risk (odds ratio 0.28, p < 0.001) and an independent factor that improved OS (hazard ratio 0.60, p = 0.042). PVI in elderly lung cancer patients is associated with postoperative complications and survival.

The current standard treatment for advanced and metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) involves a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, but paclitaxel's hormone preconditioning can reduce immune response and effectiveness. Polymeric micellar paclitaxel (Pm-Pac), a nanoformulation, bypasses this issue, enhancing tumor permeability and retention. While Pm-Pac has shown promise in non-small cell lung cancer, its efficacy in ESCC is yet to be established. This is a prospective phase II trial involving untreated stage IV ESCC receiving two cycles of Pm-Pac, cisplatin, and tislelizumab. If no disease progression was observed, they received two additional cycles followed by a year of tislelizumab maintenance. Each 3-week cycle consisted of Pm-Pac (230 mg/m2), cisplatin (70 mg/m2), and tislelizumab (200 mg) on Day 1. The main objective was ORR. Secondary endpoints encompassed OS, PFS, DCR, and safety. Between September 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024, 23 patients were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 14.8 months. The ORR stood at 69.6% (95% CI: 0.45-0.84) with a DCR of 100% (95% CI: 0.86-1.00). Out of the patients, 2 experienced complete responses, 14 had partial responses, and 7 maintained stable diseases. The mPFS was 10.8 months (95% CI: 0.26-0.632). The 1-year OS rate was 69.6% (95% CI: 49.1-84.4). Notably, no grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events or treatment-linked fatalities were reported. The combination of Pm-Pac, cisplatin, and tislelizumab as an initial therapy for advanced ESCC is safe and effective and should be tested on a larger scale in the future. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2400088576.

Breast cancer (BC) and lung cancer are the two most common malignancies among women in China. As breast cancer diagnostic and therapeutic technologies continue to advance, the lifespan of patients with breast cancer has been extended, and the number of breast cancer patients with second primary lung cancer (SPLC) has increased. Furthermore, among women with SPLC, breast cancer stands as the most prevalent initial malignancy, and SPLC remains the predominant cause of mortality within this demographic. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of breast cancer with SPLC patients and to investigate postoperative survival and prognostic factors. This retrospective study analyzed 150 patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer in BC at one cancer center in China from January 2000 to December 2020. We assessed demographic data, cancer characteristics, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the significance of survival differences among selected variables was verified using the log-rank test. A univariate Cox regression analysis was used for estimating hazard ratios. A multivariate Cox regression analysis with a backward elimination method was used to estimate hazard ratios and to identify independent prognostic factors. There were 29 cases (19.3%) of death. The median follow-up time for this cohort was 96.3 months. The median OS was calculated at 60.0 months, with survival rates at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year marked at 89.7%, 65.5%, 44.8%, and 10.3%. The median time from BC surgical treatment to the occurrence of SPLC was observed at 4.5 months. A peak period of SPLC occurs in the first year after BC surgery. The median follow-up time from SPLC surgical treatment to death or the end of follow-up was 73.5 months. The median survival time from SPLC surgical treatment to death by any cause was 39.2 months, with survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year marked at 86.2%, 51.7%, and 31.0%, and survival rates were 0% at the 9th year. The average age at BC diagnosis was 53.8 ± 10.4 years (range 25-81). 41.3% of patients had other chronic diseases. The average menarche age was 14.7 ± 1.5 years (range 11-20). 64.7% of patients had menopause. Independent prognostic factors for the BC with SPLC by multivariate analysis were the status of menopause and T-stage of SPLC. Further analysis revealed that patients who were menopausal and had a poor T stage of SPLC had a higher mortality rate. Based on these findings, future studies should focus on the menstrual status, hormone levels, and pathological stage of SPLC in BC patients.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare malignant tumor. To explore the clinicopathological characteristics and efficacy of Chinese population with MM in the real-world. Two hundred and forty-eight patients diagnosed with MM between September 2007 and August 2024 from three large medical centers (Beijing Hospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital, and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital) were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were performed. Breast cancer gene 1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) status was evaluated. Chinese population with MM had a lower diagnostic age, higher proportion of youth and female, more advanced stage and lower expression of characteristic markers. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) were 8.90 and 25.60 months for the first-line treatment, and 3.28 and 19.50 months for the second-line. The first-line immunotherapy provided a relatively higher objective response rate (33.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.402) and a trend to prolong mPFS (12.10 vs. 9.20 months, p = 0.345) and mOS (NA vs. 23.90, p = 0.185) compared with chemotherapy. Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy relatively prolonged mPFS (10.47 vs. 7.93 months, p = 0.074) and mOS (31.30 vs. 23.20 months, p = 0.673) than chemotherapy alone. Carboplatin relatively improved mPFS than cisplatin (10.87 vs. 8.87 months, p = 0.185). Age and histologic type were predictors for PFS, and gender, histologic subtype, and CK5/6 were prognosis factors for OS. Briefly, 17.78% patients existed BAP1 deletions and correlated with OS benefit. Chinese population with MM present unique clinicopathologic characteristics and could benefit from the first-line immunotherapy and bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy. Gender, histologic subtype, and CK5/6 are prognosis factors for OS. BAP1deletions correlate with OS benefit.

Chemo-resistance is a major obstacle to the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) has been reported to be associated with ESCC progression. This study is designed to explore the role and mechanism of IFI27 in the cisplatin (DDP) resistance of ESCC. IFI27 and Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 18 (USP18) levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). IFI27, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), USP18, and Homeobox A5 (HOXA5) protein levels were determined using western blot. DDP resistance, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were assessed using MTT, EdU, flow cytometry, transwell, and wound healing. Interaction between USP18 and IFI27 was verified using Co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) assay. Binding between HOXA5 and USP18 promoter was predicted by JASPAR and validated using Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays. IFI27 was upregulated in DDP-resistant ESCC tissues and cells. IFI27 knockdown repressed DDP resistance, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and induced cell apoptosis invitro. Mechanistically, USP18 induced the deubiquitination of IFI27 and prevented its degradation. Furthermore, HOXA5 was a transcription factor of USP18 and activated the transcriptional activity of USP18 via binding to its promoter region. USP18 transcriptionally mediated by HOXA5 could promote cell malignant behaviors and DDP resistance through deubiquitinating IFI27, providing a promising therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.

H. Ju, Y. Li, X. Xing, X. Miao, Y. Feng, Y. Ren, J. Qin, D. Liu, Z. Chen, and Z. Yang, "Manganese-12 Acetate Suppresses the Migration, Invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer Cells," Thoracic Cancer 9, no. 3 (2018): 353-359, https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12584. The above article, published online on 08 January 2018 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors; the journal Editor-in-Chief, Tateaki Naito; and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. The retraction has been agreed upon following an investigation into concerns raised by a third party which revealed inappropriate image panel duplications between this (Figure1a and b) and three other articles from the same institute published in a different scientific context. The authors admitted to the image compilation error and stated that during the experimental work, the author groups shared a laboratory which could have led to the error in reusing the images. Due to the number of errors identified in the published figures, the authors and the editors have lost confidence in the presented data and consider the conclusions substantially compromised.