Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology最新文献

Background: Neoadjuvant trastuzumab and pertuzumab combined with carboplatin and taxane (TCbHP) is the standard treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. However, limited clinical data and efficacy biomarkers for TCbHP have been reported in Chinese HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to observe the pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the cohort, with an exploratory analysis of efficacy-related biomarkers in a subset of patients.

Design: This was a prospective, observational, non-interventional cohort study.

Methods: Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with TCbHP neoadjuvant therapy were prospectively collected. Exploratory genomic and transcriptomic biomarker analyses were performed in a subset of patients with available baseline tumour specimens retrospectively collected.

Results: A total of 252 patients with a median age of 48 years were enrolled. Patients with stage III were 69.4% (175/252), and clinical N3 patients accounted for 24.6% (62/252). Patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive were 62.7% (158/252). Total pCR rate was 55.2% (139/252). HR-negative and HR-positive rates were 72.3% (68/94) and 44.9% (71/158), respectively. Among neoadjuvant taxanes, including paclitaxel, docetaxel, and nab-paclitaxel, the pCR rates were 50.0% (57/114), 50.0% (41/82), and 73.2% (41/56), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that HR negativity, receiving nab-paclitaxel, HER2 3+, and cT1-2 were independent predictive factors of high pCR. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed on baseline tumour specimens from 40 patients. Genomic analysis revealed lower pCR rates in patients with PIK3CA mutations (odds ratio = 13.47, p = 0.025) and SPOP amplification (p = 0.047) than in wild types. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that higher pCR rates were associated with elevated ERBB2 (p = 0.004) and CDK12 (p < 0.001) mRNA.

Conclusion: Neoadjuvant trastuzumab and pertuzumab with carboplatin-based chemotherapy is the recommended regimen for Chinese patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, and nab-paclitaxel may be an optimal alternative taxane for TCbHP regimens. PIK3CA mutations may be predictive biomarkers for poor efficacy.

Lymph nodes, brain, bone, and liver are recognized as the four most common metastatic sites for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Metastasis to these locations exhibits some common features, such as immune suppression, and distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity involving differentiation of immune cells, impacting treatment efficacy and prognosis. Lymph node metastases are characterized by immune suppression with exhausted CD8+ T cells, expanded regulated T cell (Tregs), M2-polarized macrophages, and high programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression. Brain metastases display an "immune desert" phenotype due to blood-brain barrier constraints, reduced T-cell infiltration, and microglia-mediated immunosuppression. Bone metastases involve osteoclast activation, RANKL/OPG pathway dysregulation, and metabolic reprogramming, while liver metastases show Kupffer cell-driven PD-L1/ programmed death 1(PD-1) axis suppression and elevated Treg infiltration. Key biomarkers across all types of metastases include PD-L1, cytokine profiles, immune cell ratios, and metabolic markers. Therapeutic strategies focus on combination therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with metabolic modulators, localized drug delivery, and biomarker-guided approaches. Challenges in this field encompass spatial heterogeneity, dynamic TME evolution, and clinical translation barriers. Future research directions highlight spatial transcriptomics, microbiome interactions, and organoid models to optimize personalized immunotherapy. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of regarding TME alterations across these four main metastatic locations of LUAD. It will also discuss relevant TME biomarkers and their clinical significance on therapeutic response and prognosis. We expect this article to serve as a source of evidence and inspiration for the future development of treatment strategies based on LUAD TME.

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a serious complication of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. There are no guidelines or consensus on the optimal treatment regimens and strategies for LM yet.

Objectives: To analyze the influence of different treatment methods on the survival of patients and explore the factors influencing the prognosis of patients with LM. We profiled the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune microenvironment in patients with LM using genetic and lymphocyte subset analyses.

Design: We identified 209 patients with advanced NSCLC who developed LM without extracranial progression following third-generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKIs) therapy. Their medical records were reviewed to extract relevant data.

Methods: Survival curves were plotted and prognostic factors were analyzed using R software and SPSS statistical software, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed on the results of CSF genetic testing and lymphocyte subset profiling.

Results: The median overall survival (mOS) time of patients who received high-dose EGFR-TKI monotherapy or in combination with other treatments was longer than that of patients with standard-dose EGFR-TKI combined with other treatments (19.7 vs 9.0 months), patients who received EGFR-TKI combined with anti-angiogenic drugs was longer than that of patients who did not combine anti-angiogenic drugs (19.6 vs 12.0 months). Analysis of CSF genomic profiles from 124 patients with LM identified a greater frequency of EGFR L858R (64.5%) versus exon 19 deletions (35.5%). We also observed a significant enrichment of B-cell subsets in the CSF of patients with LM compared to those without, and the B-cell count gradually decreased during the treatment process.

Conclusion: For patients developing LM after third-generation EGFR-TKI resistance, high-dose EGFR-TKIs or EGFR-TKIs combined with anti-angiogenic drugs represent viable therapeutic strategies, and B lymphocytes may serve as a promising immunotherapy target for LM.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with multiple tumors have a poor prognosis and need more attention.

Objectives: To develop an easily available radiological indicator that can differentiate the prognosis of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A (BCLC-A) patients with multiple tumors.

Design: This was a retrospective, multicenter study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected from patients who underwent thermal ablation (TA), laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH), or LH combined with TA at five tertiary hospitals.

Methods: Tumor distribution (TD) was classified into three types: same-segment, different-segments, and different-lobes, and three junior doctors (<5 years of experience) were invited to classify the tumors. We compared disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) among the different TD types and performed pathological consistency and classification analyses. Six pathological indicators (tumor differentiation, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), arginase-1 (Arg-1), hepatocyte paraffin 1, cytokeratin-19 (CK-19), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) were included.

Results: A total of 373 patients were included with a 36.0-month median follow-up. The Fleiss kappa score among the three doctors was 0.803. Patients with the same-segment type had better DFS and OS than those with different-segment (p < 0.001) and different-lobe (p < 0.001) types; therefore, the same segment was defined as a concentrated distribution. Different segments and lobes had comparable DFS (p = 0.072) and OS (p = 0.830) and were defined as having dispersed distributions. Patients in concentrated group had higher pathological consistency in tumor-differentiation (96.2% vs 86.7%, p = 0.003), AFP (95.3% vs 84.4%, p = 0.005), Arg-1 (96.7% vs 83.3%, p = 0.001) and CK-19 (96.0% vs 82.4%, p = 0.004), and better tumor-differentiation (23.3% vs 41.7%, p < 0.001) and lower expression rate in AFP (36.8% vs 49.5%, p = 0.035), CK-19 (9.3% vs 24.3%, p = 0.008), and VEGF (17.0% vs 39.3%, p = 0.004) than dispersed group.

Conclusion: We established a method based on MRI to accurately differentiate the TD type of multiple tumors for patients in the BCLC-A stage. Patients with concentrated distribution tumors had a better prognosis than patients with dispersed distribution.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionized the care of advanced breast cancer. ADCs pair an antibody targeted against a tumor-associated antigen with a cytotoxic payload, aiming to deliver therapy more effectively and with fewer off-target toxicities. Given the growth of ADCs in the past few years, patients are now candidates for multiple agents sequentially. Optimal strategies for sequencing ADCs are not yet known. Here we review retrospective data on ADC sequencing, translational understanding of mechanisms of resistance, and novel ADCs and combination agents in the pipeline that aim to improve upon currently available care.

Background: Systemic inflammation has been linked to cancer progression and survival outcomes. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a readily available biomarker that may reflect this process in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic impact of baseline NLR on overall survival in mUC patients receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Design: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 196 patients with advanced, unresectable urothelial carcinoma treated at four centers (Ankara University School of Medicine, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, and Gazi University School of Medicine) between 2005 and 2023. These patients were stratified into high and low NLR groups using a cutoff of 4.2. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and the prognostic significance of NLR was evaluated using univariate (log-rank test) and multivariate (Cox proportional hazards model) analyses.

Results: The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 27 months (95% CI: 19.1-34.9). Patients with low NLR had significantly longer OS than those with high NLR (56.6 vs 14.6 months; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, NLR remained an independent predictor of OS after adjusting for age, liver metastases, and bone metastases (HR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.37-3.81; p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Elevated NLR is an independent prognostic marker in mUC, underscoring the role of systemic inflammation in cancer progression. These findings highlight the potential of NLR as a readily available biomarker for risk stratification in mUC, irrespective of treatment modality.

Background: While developments in targeted therapy have marked a new epoch for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring actionable genomic alterations, the management of individuals resistant to epithelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) remains a formidable challenge.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of available therapeutic regimens and to identify the optimal treatment strategy for patients with disease progression following EGFR-TKI therapy.

Design: This is a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Data sources and methods: Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov, along with conference proceedings from January 1, 2020, to June 1, 2025, were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing treatment options for advanced NSCLC patients resistant to EGFR-TKIs were eligible. We identified the optimal therapeutics through comparison of the surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA).

Results: Overall, 19 RCTs involving 4,039 participants were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that sacituzumab tirumotecan (Sac-TMT) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS; hazard ratio [HR] 0.20, 95% credible interval [CI] 0.13-0.30) and overall survival (OS; HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.20-0.66) compared to conventional chemotherapy as evidenced by its superior SUCRA values (0.997 for PFS and 0.946 for OS). Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) also demonstrated clinically meaningful efficacy outcomes. Specifically, Sac-TMT showed statistically superior PFS benefits relative to nearly all comparator regimens, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based and bispecific antibody (bsAb)-based strategies (all p < 0.05). Amivantamab in combination with lazertinib and chemotherapy (SUCRA = 0.816) and ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy (SUCRA = 0.779) both exhibited capabilities in prolonging PFS. Notably, the triplet regimen was associated with the highest incidence of severe-grade AEs compared to all other treatment options.

Conclusion: Sac-TMT, Dato-DXd, and bsAbs-based regimens were identified as the most efficacious options with manageable toxicity for advanced NSCLC patients who progressed after EGFR-TKIs. These findings underscore the pivotal role of innovative therapeutic agents, illuminating potential treatment avenues for this difficult-to-treat refractory population.

Trial registration: This study was registered as INPLASY202510014.

Background: Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (pLELC) is a rare Epstein-Barr virus-associated subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising activity, robust predictors of benefit remain lacking. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is widely used but has limited accuracy. Routine blood tests and serum tumor markers (STMs) are inexpensive and universally available, yet their prognostic value in pLELC has not been systematically evaluated.

Objectives: To develop and validate a composite blood-based score integrating hematologic indices and STMs for predicting immunotherapy outcomes in advanced pLELC.

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 254 patients with advanced pLELC treated with ICIs across six tertiary centers in China. Baseline hematologic indices, serum biochemistry, and STMs were collected. A composite Blood Routine & Tumor-Marker Score (BRTS) was constructed using LASSO Cox regression with progression-free survival (PFS) as the endpoint. Patients were stratified into high- and low-BRTS groups, and prognostic value was validated in an independent cohort. Nomograms combining BRTS with clinical variables were developed and internally validated.

Results: High BRTS was associated with significantly shorter PFS and overall survival (OS) in both training (hazard ratio (HR) for PFS = 4.59; OS = 6.86) and validation cohorts (HR for PFS = 5.37; OS = 3.87; all p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, BRTS remained an independent predictor alongside treatment line, regimen, and liver metastasis, whereas PD-L1 expression lost significance. Nomograms incorporating BRTS demonstrated good discrimination (C-index ~0.79), calibration, and clinical net benefit. Prognostic utility was consistent across treatment lines.

Conclusion: The BRTS, derived from widely available laboratory tests, robustly stratified immunotherapy outcomes in advanced pLELC and outperformed PD-L1 alone. This simple, low-cost tool may facilitate individualized treatment decisions and warrants prospective validation.

SMARCA4 deficiency plays a critical role in the oncogenesis of various aggressive tumors that exhibit resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, posing significant challenges to clinical management. The pivotal role of SMARCA4 deficiency in tumorigenesis suggests the need for a paradigm shift from traditional tumor origin-based approaches to novel tumor-agnostic strategies focused on molecular alterations associated with SMARCA4 deficiency. This review explores potential targetable molecular changes and emerging therapeutic strategies for SMARCA4-deficient tumors. Molecular alterations related to SMARCA4 deficiency involve impaired genomic stability, defects in DNA mismatch repair, and elevated tumor mutation burdens, all of which suggest potential sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Recent studies indicate that combining ICIs with chemotherapy or anti-angiogenic agents as first-line treatments may offer clinical benefits for SMARCA4-deficient tumors. Furthermore, SMARCA4 deficiency epigenetically affects chromatin accessibility, alters the distribution of Polycomb group proteins on chromatin, and modulates histone acetylation, highlighting the potential efficacy of epigenetic regulators such as EZH2 and HDAC inhibitors. In addition, synthetic lethality strategies targeting vulnerabilities in SMARCA4-deficient tumors are promising therapeutic approaches, including inhibitors of SMARCA2, CDK4/6, ATR, CHK1, PARP, and the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Based on current clinical evidence, ICI-based combination therapies represent the most promising first-line regimens for SMARCA4-deficient tumors. Although a theoretical basis supports the potential of tumor-agnostic therapy as a promising strategy for these tumors, several challenges remain in clinical practice. These include heterogeneous therapeutic responses across tumor types, safety concerns associated with synthetic lethality-based agents, and the absence of any histology-agnostic approved therapy for SMARCA4-deficient tumors. The continued development of novel therapeutics and further large-scale clinical evaluations are essential to overcoming these barriers.

Cutaneous metastases from breast cancer, although relatively uncommon, represent the most frequent form of skin metastases overall and pose a significant clinical and therapeutic challenge. Their presence classifies the disease as stage IV, typically prompting the initiation or modification of systemic treatment. However, current clinical guidelines do not distinguish between cutaneous and visceral metastases, which may lead to unnecessary alterations in systemic therapy-even when visceral disease remains well controlled-potentially compromising an otherwise effective regimen. This review provides a comprehensive overview of systemic and loco-regional treatment options for cutaneous breast cancer metastases, including current guidelines stratified by tumor subtype. Special attention is given to loco-regional therapies such as electrochemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical excision, photodynamic therapy, intralesional agents, and topical treatments, all of which can be integrated with systemic therapy to improve local disease control, reduce symptoms, and enhance patient quality of life. We propose an integrated and personalized therapeutic model that combines systemic and loco-regional approaches, supported by a decision-making flowchart designed to assist clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies. By adopting a multidisciplinary perspective, this approach aims to improve both local and systemic disease management, clinical outcomes, and patient well-being. Further research is warranted to refine therapeutic combinations, establish standardized protocols, and fully realize the clinical benefits for patients with metastatic breast cancer presenting with cutaneous involvement.