1.Impacts of curcumin on proliferation, migration and cisplatin resistance of bladder cancer cells by regulating LKB1-AMPK-LC3 signaling pathway.
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(1):9-16
Objective To study the impacts of curcumin on the proliferation, migration and cisplatin (DDP) resistance of bladder cancer cells by regulating the liver kinase B1-AMP activated protein kinase-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LKB1-AMPK-LC3) signaling pathway. Methods Human bladder cancer cell line T24 was cultured in vitro, and its DDP resistant T24/DDP cells were induced by cisplatin (DDP). After treating T24 and T24/DDP cells with different concentrations of curcumin, the optimal concentration of curcumin was screened by MTT assay. T24 cells were randomly grouped into control group, curcumin group, metformin group, and combination group of curcumin and metformin. After treatment with curcumin and LKB1-AMPK activator metformin, the proliferation, autophagy, migration, and apoptosis of T24 cells in each group were detected by MTT assay, monodansylcadavrine (MDC) fluorescence staining, cell scratch assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to LKB1-AMPK-LC3 signaling pathway in T24 cells of each group. T24/DDP cells were randomly assigned into control group, curcumin group, metformin group, and combination group of curcumin and metformin. Cells were treated with curcumin and metformin according to grouping and treated with different concentrations of DDP simultaneously. Then, the effect of curcumin on the DDP resistance coefficient of T24/DDP cells was detected by MTT assay. T24/DDP cells were randomly grouped into control group, DDP group, combination groups of DDP and curcumin, DDP and metformin, DDP, curcumin and metformi. After treatment with DDP, curcumin, and metformin, the proliferation, autophagy, migration, apoptosis, drug resistance, and the expression of proteins related to LKB1-AMPK-LC3 signaling pathway in T24/DDP cells of each group were detected with the same methods. Results Compared with the control group, the activity of T24 cells, relative number of autophagosomes, migration rate, Phosphorylated-LKB1 (p-LKB1)/LKB1, Phosphorylated-AMPK (p-AMPK)/AMPK, LC3II/LC3I, and the DDP resistance coefficient of T24/DDP cells in the curcumin group were lower, and the apoptosis rate of T24 cells was higher; the changes in various indicators in the metformin group were opposite to those in the curcumin group. Compared with the curcumin group, the activity of T24 cells, relative number of autophagosomes, migration rate, p-LKB1/LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, LC3II/LC3I, and the DDP resistance coefficient of T24/DDP cells in the combination group of curcumin and metformin were higher, and the apoptosis rate of T24 cells was lower. Compared with the control group, there were no obvious changes in various indicators of T24/DDP cells in the DDP group. Compared with the control group and DDP group, the viability of T24/DDP cells, relative number of autophagosomes, migration rate, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) protein expression, p-LKB1/LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, and LC3II/LC3I in the combination group of DDP and curcumin were lower, and the apoptosis rate of T24/DDP cells was higher; the changes in the above indicators in the combination group of DDP and metformin were opposite to those in the combination group of DDP and curcumin. Compared with the combination group of DDP and curcumin, the viability of T24/DDP cells, relative number of autophagosomes, migration rate, P-gp protein expression, p-LKB1/LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, and LC3II/LC3I in the combination group of DDP, curcumin and metformin were higher, and the apoptosis rate of T24/DDP cells was lower. Conclusion Curcumin can reduce the activity of LKB1-AMPK-LC3 signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting autophagy, proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells, promoting their apoptosis, and weakening their resistance to DDP.
Humans
;
Cisplatin/pharmacology*
;
Curcumin/pharmacology*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
;
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects*
;
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cell Movement/drug effects*
;
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
;
Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*
;
Metformin/pharmacology*
;
Autophagy/drug effects*
2.Advances in pharmacological research for retinopathy of prematurity.
Yanxi XIE ; Suilian ZHENG ; Hui YANG
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(3):411-421
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative retinal vascular disease that threatens the vision of premature infants. Various novel drugs have demonstrated therapeutic potential for ROP by targeting signaling pathways associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [such as PI3K/AKT, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α/VEGF], oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and Notch pathways. Propranolol, insulin-like growth factor-1, and celecoxib attenuate pathological neovascularization via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Tripterine and melatonin inhibit retinal neovascularization by modulating the HIF-1α/VEGF signaling axis. Adiponectin mitigates the damage caused by oxidative stress and preserves endothelial function by enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress TNF-α-mediated inflammatory responses, modulate retinal development and angiogenesis, and reduce retinal neovascular lesions. DAPT, a γ-secretase inhibitor, blocks Notch signaling to suppress abnormal vascular proliferation. These agents exhibit synergistic multi-pathway anti-angiogenic effects in preclinical models and early-phase clinical trials, offering critical insights for advancing drug development and clinical translation in ROP management.
Retinopathy of Prematurity/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
;
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Fatty Acids, Omega-3/therapeutic use*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
;
Receptors, Notch/metabolism*
;
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
;
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/therapeutic use*
3.Multidimensional characteristics of the tumor microenviron-ment and advances in targeted delivery strategies.
Hongdan CHEN ; Long ZHANG ; Chong LI
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(4):489-499
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical determinant of tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic response, and serves as the basis for designing precise delivery strategies. Its marked heterogeneity underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding of its composition and function. In addition to the extensively studied classical TME, emerging evidence highlights the significant roles of the tumor mechanical microenvironment and the tumor microbial microenvironment in modulating treatment efficacy. These non-classical dimensions not only independently influence tumor behavior but also interact dynamically with classical TME components. Mechanical cues within the TME, including matrix stiffness and solid stress, significantly affect drug distribution and treatment efficacy, suggesting that mechanical remodeling represents a potential strategy to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Concurrently, tumor-associated microbiota and their metabolites participate in immune regulation and metabolic reprogramming, contributing to tumor development and offering novel therapeutic targets. Moreover, recent advances have broadened our understanding on the multilayered regulatory landscape of the TME through the investigation of previously underappreciated factors such as neural regulation, metabolic niche dynamics, spatiotemporal heterogeneity, and epigenetic modulation. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics of these diverse TME dimensions and highlights recent progress in targeted delivery strategies, to facilitate the development of more personalized and effective anticancer therapies.
Humans
;
Tumor Microenvironment
;
Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Drug Delivery Systems
;
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
4.Expert consensus on the management of off-label use of novel antineoplastic agents.
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(5):567-572
To enhance medication safety and rational use, a multidisciplinary expert panel from the Yangtze River Delta region-comprising specialists in pharmacy, clinical medicine, healthcare administration, and evidence-based medicine-was convened to develop this consensus through multiple rounds of Delphi consultation. A management system for the off-label use of novel antineoplastic agents was established, incorporating a tiered management process and a regional information sharing platform. Standardized procedures were implemented to regulate the applications, review, documentation, and dynamic adjustment of off-label use. The regional platform centralizes the collection and evaluation of evidence for off-label usage, facilitating consistent and homogeneous manage-ment across healthcare institutions. The tiered management process and information sharing platform established herein are intended to serve as a practical reference for standardizing the management of off-label use of novel antineoplastic agents in medical institutions.
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Humans
;
Off-Label Use/standards*
;
Consensus
;
Evidence-Based Medicine
5.Effect of Previous Differential Treatments on the Efficacy after Switching to Flumatinib in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.
Xiao-Han WANG ; Jing-Ya SUN ; Ling-Ling YIN ; Ting-Ting QIU ; De-Peng LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1248-1253
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of different previous treatments on the efficacy of flumatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
METHODS:
The clinical data of 69 patients with CML treated with flumatinib in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from 2019 to 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a first-line flumatinib group and a first-line non-flumatinib group according to whether flumatinib was used as first-line treatment. The molecular response (MR) at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment was compared between the two groups to evaluate the early efficacy. The first-line non-flumatinib group was further divided into imatinib group, nilotinib group, and dasatinib group according to the previous first-line drugs used. The efficacy data of these three groups at 3, 6 and 12 months after switching to flumatinib were collected, and the MR was evaluated to compare efficacy differences.
RESULTS:
The rate of early molecular response (EMR) in the first-line flumatinib group was significantly higher than that in the first-line non-flumatinib group (<i>Pi> < 0.05). At 6 months and 12 months of treatment, the proportion of patients achieving MR 4.5 in the first-line flumatinib group was significantly higher than that in the first-line non-flumatinib group (<i>Pi> < 0.05). Compared with the imatinib and nilotinib groups, the previous dasatinib group showed a significantly higher proportion of patients achieving MR 5.0 at 3, 6, and 12 months after switching to flumatinib (<i>Pi> < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Compared with the previous treatment with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), initial use of flumatinib at diagnosis enable patients to achieve deeper molecular remission more rapidly. Compared with previous use of imatinib or nilotinib, previous use of dasatinib is associated with deeper molecular remission after switching to flumatinib.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use*
;
Dasatinib/therapeutic use*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Pyrimidines/therapeutic use*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
;
Middle Aged
;
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
6.Screening of Anti-Tumor Drugs that Enhance Antigen Presentation of AML Cells with TCR-Like Antibody.
Xiao-Ying YANG ; Bo TANG ; Hui-Hui LIU ; Wei-Wei XIE ; Shuang-Lian XIE ; Wen-Qiong WANG ; Jin WANG ; Shan ZHAO ; Yu-Jun DONG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1305-1311
OBJECTIVE:
To screen anti-tumor drugs that improve antigen processing and presentation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells.
METHODS:
A TCR-like or TCR mimic antibody that can specifically recognize HLA-A*0201:WT1126-134 ( <i>RMFPNAPYLi>) complex (hereafter referred to as HLA-A2:WT1) was synthesized to evaluate the function of antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) in AML cells. AML cell line THP1 was incubated with increasing concentrations of IFN-γ, hypomethylating agents (HMA), immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD), proteasome inhibitors (PI) and γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI), followed by measuring of HLA-ABC, HLA-A2 and HLA-A2:WT1 levels by flow cytometry at consecutive time points.
RESULTS:
The TCR-like antibody we generated only binds to HLA-A*0201+WT1+ cells, indicating the specificity of the antibody. HLA-A2:WT1 level of THP-1 cells detected with the TCR-like antibody was increased significantly after co-incubation with IFN-γ, showing that the HLA-A2:WT1 TCR like antibody could evaluate the function of APM. Among the anti-tumor agents screened in this study, GSI (LY-411575) and HMA (decitabine and azacitidine) could significantly increase the HLA-A2:WT1 level. The IMiD lenalidomide and pomalidomide could aslo upregulate the expression of HLA-A2:WT1 complex under certain concentrations of the drugs and incubation time. As proteasome inhibitors, carfilzomib could significantly decreased the expression of HLA-A2:WT1, while bortezomib had no significant effect on HLA-A2:WT1 expression.
CONCLUSION
HLA-A2:WT1 TCR-like antibody can effectively reflect the APM function. Some of the anti-tumor drugs can affect the APM function and immunogenicity of tumor cells.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*
;
Antigen Presentation/drug effects*
;
HLA-A2 Antigen/immunology*
;
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/immunology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Interferon-gamma
7.Real-world Study of Icotinib in EGFR Mutant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Based on the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.
Sen HAN ; Lan MI ; Jian FANG ; Xu MA
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(1):33-39
BACKGROUND:
In the real world, the plasma drug concentration range of Icotinib treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not yet clear, and there may be a correlation between drug concentration and its efficacy, as well as adverse reactions. This study conducted therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of Icotinib. The aim of this study was to analyze the drug exposure of Icotinib in targeted therapy for NSCLC, and to investigate the relationship between Icotinib drug concentration and its efficacy and safety.
METHODS:
Prospective blood samples were collected from NSCLC patients with EGFR-sensitive mutations who received treatment with Icotinib in Peking University Cancer Hospital from April 2022 to July 2024. The drug trough concentration of Icotinib in plasma was detected, and the correlation between drug concentration and efficacy, as well as the toxic side effects, were further analyzed based on the patient's clinical medical records.
RESULTS:
22 patients who were treated with Icotinib underwent TDM, but one of them did not acquire the data due to prolonged discontinuation. The remaining 21 patients, each with 1-7 blood draws, obtained a total of 32 plasma drug concentration data. The drug concentration of icotinib is a range of 126.9-2317.1 ng/mL. Among the 21 patients, 18 cases were female (85.7%), and 3 cases were male (14.3%), with an age range of 44-85 years old. The pathological types are all lung adenocarcinoma. Except for 5 patients receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy, 16 patients had assessable tumors. The objective response rate was 43.8% (7/16), and the disease control rate reached 100.0% (16/16). The median value of drug concentration is 805.5 ng/mL among those 21 patients. Compared with the patients who achieved stable disease, the median value of drug concentrations of Icotinib in patients who achieved partial response were 497.2 and 1195.5 ng/mL, respectively (P=0.017). The median value of drug concentrations for patients who did not experience adverse reactions during treatment and those who experienced adverse reactions were 997.0 and 828.6 ng/mL, respectively (P=0.538).
CONCLUSIONS
Icotinib demonstrates good therapeutic effect and tolerable toxicity on the EGFR gene mutant NSCLC. There is a certain negative correlation between the plasma drug concentration of Icotinib and its efficacy, while there seems no significant correlation with safety.
Humans
;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics*
;
ErbB Receptors/metabolism*
;
Lung Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Crown Ethers/blood*
;
Middle Aged
;
Drug Monitoring
;
Aged
;
Quinazolines/blood*
;
Mutation
;
Adult
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Antineoplastic Agents/blood*
;
Prospective Studies
8.Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition: Biological Basis and Clinical Prospects of Lung Cancer Invasion, Metastasis, and Drug Resistance.
Hengxing SUN ; Mengting XIONG ; Shuanshuan XIE ; Jing WEN
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(2):155-164
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. The primary reasons for treatment failure in lung cancer patients are tumor invasion and drug resistance, particularly resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant targeted therapy, which considerably undermine the therapeutic outcomes for those with advanced lung cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serves as a crucial biological process closely associated with physiological or pathological processes such as tissue embryogenesis, organogenesis, wound repair, and tumor invasion. Numerous studies have indicated that EMT, mediated through various signaling pathways, plays a pivotal role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of lung cancer, while it is also closely associated with drug resistance in lung cancer cells. Therefore, research focusing on the molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology related to EMT can contribute to reversing drug resistance in drug treatment for lung cancer, thereby improving prognosis. This article reviews the progress in research on EMT in the invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance of lung cancer based on relevant domestic and international literature.
Humans
;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects*
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
;
Lung Neoplasms/physiopathology*
;
Neoplasm Metastasis
;
Neoplasm Invasiveness
;
Animals
;
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
9.Expert Consensus on Rational Use and Monitoring of Small Molecule Targeted Drugs for Lung Cancer.
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(4):245-255
The application of small molecule targeted drugs for lung cancer has significantly improved the survival of lung cancer patients. However, these drugs have a wide variety of types, fast development and market launch of new drugs, complex adverse reactions, and are mostly used at home, which increases the risk of irrational drug use. At the same time, insufficient monitoring of efficacy and safety is also prone to occur, ultimately affecting treatment outcomes. This consensus focuses on 43 small molecule targeted drugs or combinations for lung cancer, providing standardized recommendations for rational drug use and monitoring of efficacy/adverse reactions in clinical practice. The recommendations are regarding drug selection, dosage adjustment, efficacy monitoring, adverse reaction monitoring, and improvement of patient compliance. This consensus aims to improve the rational use and efficacy/safety monitoring quality of small molecule targeted drugs for lung cancer, ensure the effectiveness and safety of drug treatment, prolong the survival of lung cancer patients and improve their quality of life.
.
Humans
;
Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects*
;
Consensus
;
Molecular Targeted Therapy
;
Drug Monitoring
;
Small Molecule Libraries/therapeutic use*
10.Research Progress of Anti-lung Cancer Drug-related Interstitial Lung Disease.
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(4):309-318
Lung cancer is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rate worldwide. In addition to the diversified treatment and prolonged lifespan in view of the development of medical technology, the side effect of medicine should not be ignored. Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD) is also commonly encountered during this process, and ILD triggered by the treatment of lung cancer characterized by the inflammation and scarring of lung tissue after the antitumor treatment in lung cancer leads to a poor prognosis and high mortality. The diagnosis and treatment of ILD caused by anti-lung cancer agents remains challenging in clinical settings and requires joint efforts from multidisciplinary team (MDT). This review systematically updates the epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, genomics/genetics study, diagnosis and treatment of ILD related to anti-lung cancer agents. By the integration of the latest evidences, the paper offers clinical work references for early diagnosis of ILD related to anti-lung cancer agents to enhance the survival and quality of life of the lung cancer patients.
.
Humans
;
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/therapy*
;
Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*

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