Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy with heterogeneous clinical manifestations and prognoses. The existing staging systems offer assistance in prognosis determination, yet their accuracy in the real-world context is limited, and numerous crucial parameters have been disregarded. Comprehensive exploration of prognostic value parameters for MM patients in the real world is of paramount significance.
In this study, 812 newly diagnosed MM patients treated with standard first-line therapy at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from January 2010 to April 2021 were enrolled, representing one of the largest MM cohorts in China. Among them, 703 patients did not receive transplantation (527 in the training set and 176 in the validation set), and 109 patients underwent transplantation. Forty-three baseline parameters encompassing clinical, laboratory, and pathological features were incorporated. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were conducted to screen the most prognostically significant parameters.
The results revealed that ten parameters, including ECOG score, extramedullary lesions, platelet count, reticulocyte count, anion gap, hypercalcemia, complement C3, β2-microglobulin, cytogenetics, and interleukin-2 receptor, were of the greatest prognostic value. These parameters include some integrated into current mainstream staging systems and many previously overlooked. A risk scoring system was developed using these ten parameters, demonstrating relatively high accuracy.
This research comprehensively evaluated the baseline disease characteristics of a wide range of MM patients, validated and identified the clinical significance of various parameters, providing new evidence for accurate prognosis determination of patients.
Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) ranks among the most commonly diagnosed cancers of head and neck cancers. This study aimed to devise a nomogram capable of predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) of LSCC patients.
From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, 3866 patients with LSCC diagnosed between 2000 and 2020 were selected. These patients were evenly split into a training cohort (n = 1933) and a validation cohort (n = 1933). Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were employed to identify independent prognostic factors for CSS, which were subsequently integrated to develop a nomogram. The nomogram's predictive accuracy and discriminative ability were thoroughly assessed using various metrics. Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed against the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system.
Eight independent prognostic factors were integrated into the nomogram. Excellent discrimination was exhibited by both the training and validation cohorts, as evidenced by the C-index and calibration curves. In the training group, the area under the curve (AUC) values at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.728, 0.746, and 0.766, respectively, while in the validation group, they were 0.771, 0.751, and 0.763, respectively. When compared to the traditional TNM staging system, three metrics consistently demonstrated the superior performance of the nomogram.
This study successfully constructed a novel and well-calibrated nomogram, serving as a convenient, practical, and efficient clinical decision-making tool that offers precise prognostic information for patients with LSCC.
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly heterogeneous tumor. Molecular profiling serves as the foundation for personalized treatment of ICC. Comprehensive molecular testing is needed to identify more patients that are suitable for specific targeted therapies. This consensus is based on clinical data from both domestic and international sources, tailored to the Chinese context, and focuses on key targets for ICC. We present 15 recommendations aimed at guiding the precision detection of ICC.
Driven by recent scientific breakthroughs that underscore the critical role of the immune system in tumor development, strategies targeting the immune system have emerged as a promising avenue for cancer therapy. Therapeutic vaccine strategies represent a dynamic and evolving approach in cancer immunotherapy, offering the potential for more effective and personalized treatment options for patients. This review describes significant advancements in therapeutic vaccine strategies that leverage the immune response to target and eliminate cancer cells. The combination of these vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors has shown encouraging clinical outcomes, including improved survival rates and tumor reduction across multiple cancer types. This review also addresses key challenges for cancer vaccines such as overall low immunogenicity and tumor heterogeneity, highlighting the potential of combination therapies to overcome these barriers and enhance treatment efficacy.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with lung cancer, including improving their survival rates. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocardial infarction is a rare but serious complication of using ICIs. We here present a case of a 70-year-old man who developed ICI-associated myocardial infarction, underwent percutaneous coronary stent implantation, and subsequently received standard oral medication. Chemotherapy was resumed after tumor progression was identified, at which time a review of coronary computed tomography angiography showed no stent stenosis. Strengthening the education and supervision of patients with cancer receiving ICIs and identifying and managing ICI-associated atherosclerosis in a timely manner is therefore necessary.
As the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a substantial global health burden. Immunotherapy has transformed HCC management, encompassing immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokine-based therapies, adoptive cell therapies, and oncolytic viruses. Clinical research is increasingly focused on combination immunotherapy, which offers improved treatment prospects, particularly for patients with unresectable HCC. This review provides a concise overview of the HCC immune microenvironment, emphasizing the role of immune cells in HCC pathogenesis and progression. Additionally, it examines the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC immunotherapy, summarizes relevant clinical trials and their outcomes, discusses key therapeutic agents and combination strategies, and addresses current challenges and future directions in the field.
In this study, a bibliometric analysis was performed to systematically characterize the research landscape of small molecule compounds for lung cancer (LC) treatment and identify emerging trends.
Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. The bibliometric software tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze publication trends, institutional collaboration networks, author contributions, and keyword co-occurrence patterns. Additionally, the patent portfolios of high-output authors and highly cited researchers were quantified.
Annual publications have exhibited steady growth since 2011, with Asian countries (notably China) dominating output (80% of the top 10 institutions) and the USA leading in citation impact (52.79 average citations/publication). The patent analysis revealed a preponderant focus on drug synthesis methodologies, with high-output authors showing significant patent productivity. The co-occurrence analysis identified shifting research frontiers: early emphasis on epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors transitioned post-2016 to emerging themes, including molecular docking, cancer metabolism, and migration.
This study highlights the translational emphasis of small molecule research in LC. However, significant geographical disparities exist, with Asian countries dominating publication output and the USA maintaining preeminence in citation impact. Future research should prioritize overcoming acquired resistance, leveraging natural product optimization, drug repurposing, advancing delivery systems, and exploring combination therapies.