4.Embracing minimally invasive approaches to colorectal cancer resection.
Nan Zun TEO ; James Weiquan LI ; James Chi Yung NGU ; Tiing Leong ANG
Singapore medical journal 2025;66(Suppl 1):S38-S46
The clinical burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) is high. Population-based screening and early detection are essential to improve the long-term clinical outcome. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of patients still present at an advanced stage, including with acute large bowel obstruction. Image-enhanced endoscopy and artificial intelligence can improve the detection and diagnosis of colonic adenomas and early cancer. Endoscopic resection is regarded as the preferred curative treatment option for colonic adenoma and T0 and T1 CRC limited to the superficial submucosa. Emergency colonic stenting as bridge to interval curative surgery is increasingly accepted as a first-line option when technically feasible. Minimally invasive resection techniques such as laparoscopic colectomy and robot-assisted colorectal surgery have also come of age. These techniques reduce post-treatment morbidity, shorten the recovery process and can be cost-effective while maintaining long-term oncological cure. These outcome measures are relevant to our patients; therefore, minimally invasive approaches to curative resection should be embraced.
Humans
;
Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods*
;
Laparoscopy/methods*
;
Colectomy/methods*
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Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Colonoscopy/methods*
5.A Case Report of Lung Adenocarcinoma with EGFR G719A Mutation and LMNA-NTRK1 Fusion.
Shiqi SONG ; Yaxian YANG ; Weiquan LUO ; Yueya LIANG ; Qi LI ; Tongxu ZHUO ; Weibin XIONG ; Jian HUANG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(1):75-80
Fusion variations of neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) are oncogenic drivers in various solid tumors such as breast cancer, salivary gland carcinoma, infant fibrosarcoma, etc. Gene rearrangements involving NTRK1/2/3 lead to constitutive activation of the tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) domain, and the expressed fusion proteins drive tumor growth and survival. NTRK fusions are estimated to occur at a frequency of approximately 0.1% to 1% in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are prevalent in NSCLC, but the frequency of EGFR G719A mutation is relatively low (about 2%), and EGFR mutations are typically mutually exclusive with NTRK fusion variants. The study presented the first documented case of lung adenocarcinoma harboring both EGFR G719A mutation and LMNA-NTRK1 fusion. A review of the literature was conducted to elucidate the role of NTRK fusion mutations in NSCLC and their relationship with EGFR mutations, aiming to enhance the understanding of NTRK fusion mutations in NSCLC.
.
Humans
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Adenocarcinoma/genetics*
;
Adenocarcinoma of Lung
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ErbB Receptors/genetics*
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Lamin Type A/genetics*
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Lung Neoplasms/genetics*
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Mutation
;
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics*
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Receptor, trkA/metabolism*
6.Screening and genotyping of Mur blood group among voluntary blood donors in the population of Hezhou,Guangxi
Weiquan YUAN ; Shaohua DING ; Jianmin LI ; Xueming WU ; Shengming WEN ; Houquan LIN ; Weisheng HE ; Xi-Aoming LI ; Jiajie ZHANG ; Longming XIAO ; Shengbao DUAN ; Shengwang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(7):773-778
Objective To screen the distribution frequency of Mur blood group among voluntary blood donors in Hezhou,Guangxi,and further analyze the molecular basis of of Mur antigen positive samples.Methods The Mur pheno-type of voluntary blood donors in Hezhou was serologically screened using microplate method,and the distribution frequency of Mur antigens in different ethnic groups was analyzed.Genetic typing was performed on these positive samples with PCR-SSP method to verify the accuracy of the serological method,and the genetic background was sequenced and analyzed.Re-sults Among 3 298 samples from voluntary blood donors in Hezhou,432(13.10%,432/3 298)were screened positive for Mur antigen,and PCR-SSP genotyping validation showed that all 432 samples were electrophoretic positive.Among them,the proportion of Han blood donors with positive Mur antigen was12.79%(331/2 587),Yao ethnic group was13.25%(64/483),Zhuang ethnic group was 16.51%(36/218),and no statistically significant difference was found in the three groups(P>0.05).Further sequencing results showed that 428 samples were GYP(B-A-B)Mur,also known as GYP.Mur type(12.98%,428/3 298),the other 4 samples were GYP(B-A-B)Bun,also known as GYP.Bun type(0.12%,4/3 298).Conclusion The Mur blood type frequency is high in the voluntary blood donors in Hezhou,Guangxi,and is predominant characterized by GYP.Mur genotype.Due to ethnic integration,no significant difference was noticed in the frequency of Mur blood type distribution between Han,Zhuang and Yao population.Therefore,conducting extensive Mur blood group antigen and antibody testing in Hezhou is of great significance for ensuring clinical blood transfusion safety.
7.Tildrakizumab for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients: A 12-week randomized placebo-controlled phase III trial with long-term extension
Chen YU ; Songmei GENG ; Bin YANG ; Yunhua DENG ; Fuqiu LI ; Xiaojing KANG ; Mingye BI ; Furen ZHANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Weili PAN ; Zhongwei TIAN ; Jinhua XU ; Zhenghua ZHANG ; Nan YU ; Xinsuo DUAN ; Shuping GUO ; Qing SUN ; Weiquan LI ; Juan TAO ; Zhijun LIU ; Yuanyuan YIN ; Gang WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(10):1190-1198
Background::There is a need for effective and safe therapies for psoriasis that provide sustained benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab, an anti-interleukin-23p19 monoclonal antibody, for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients.Methods::In this multi-center, double-blind, phase III trial, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous tildrakizumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0 and 4. Patients initially assigned to placebo were switched to receive tildrakizumab at weeks 12, 16, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients in the tildrakizumab group continued with tildrakizumab at week 16, and every 12 weeks until week 52. The primary endpoint was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rate at week 12.Results::At week 12, tildrakizumab demonstrated significantly higher PASI 75 response rates (66.4% [73/110] vs. 12.7% [14/110]; difference, 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.72, 62.13]; P <0.001) and Physician’s Global Assessment (60.9% [67/110] vs. 10.0% [11/110]; difference, 49.1% [95% CI, 38.64, 59.62]; P <0.001) compared to placebo. PASI 75 response continued to improve over time in both tildrakizumab and placebo-switching to tildrakizumab groups, reaching maximal efficacy after 28 weeks (86.8% [92/106] vs. 82.4% [89/108]) and maintained up to 52 weeks (91.3% [95/104] vs. 87.4% [90/103]). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild and not related to tildrakizumab. Conclusion::Tildrakizumab demonstrated durable efficacy through week 52 and was well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Trial registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05108766.
8.Use of artificial intelligence in the management of T1 colorectal cancer: a new tool in the arsenal or is deep learning out of its depth?
James Weiquan LI ; Lai Mun WANG ; Katsuro ICHIMASA ; Kenneth Weicong LIN ; James Chi-Yong NGU ; Tiing Leong ANG
Clinical Endoscopy 2024;57(1):24-35
The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, and there has been an interest in its use to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer. Accurately predicting lymph node invasion may result in fewer patients undergoing unnecessary surgeries; conversely, inadequate assessments will result in suboptimal oncological outcomes. This narrative review aims to summarize the current literature on deep learning for predicting the probability of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer, highlighting areas of potential application and barriers that may limit its generalizability and clinical utility.
9.EGFR-TKI Combined with Pemetrexed versus EGFR-TKI Monotherapy in Advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC: A Prospective, Randomized, Exploratory Study
Weiguang GU ; Hua ZHANG ; Yiyu LU ; Minjing LI ; Shuang YANG ; Jianmiao LIANG ; Zhijian YE ; Zhihua LI ; Minhong HE ; Xiaoliang SHI ; Fei WANG ; Dong YOU ; Weiquan GU ; Weineng FENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2023;55(3):841-850
Purpose:
We aimed to evaluate whether the addition of pemetrexed is effective in improving progression-free survival (PFS) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–mutated patients with or without concomitant alterations.
Materials and Methods:
This multicenter clinical trial was conducted in China from June 15, 2018, to May 31, 2019. A total of 92 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring EGFR-sensitive mutations were included and divided into concomitant and non-concomitant groups. Patients in each group were randomly treated with EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy or EGFR-TKI combined with pemetrexed in a ratio of 1:1. PFS was recorded as the primary endpoint.
Results:
The overall median PFS of this cohort was 10.1 months. There were no significant differences in PFS between patients with and without concomitant and between patients received TKI monotherapy and TKI combined with pemetrexed (p=0.210 and p=0.085, respectively). Stratification analysis indicated that patients received TKI monotherapy had a significantly longer PFS in non-concomitant group than that in concomitant group (p=0.002). In concomitant group, patients received TKI combined with pemetrexed had a significantly longer PFS than patients received TKI monotherapy (p=0.013). Molecular dynamic analysis showed rapidly emerging EGFR T790M in patients received TKI monotherapy. EGFR mutation abundance decreased in patients received TKI combined chemotherapy, which supports better efficacy for a TKI combined chemotherapy as compared to TKI monotherapy. A good correlation between therapeutic efficacy and a change in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status was found in 66% of patients, supporting the guiding role of ctDNA minimal residual disease (MRD) in NSCLC treatment.
Conclusion
EGFR-TKI monotherapy is applicable to EGFR-sensitive patients without concomitant alterations, while a TKI combined chemotherapy is applicable to EGFR-sensitive patients with concomitant alterations. CtDNA MRD may be a potential biomarker for predicting therapeutic efficacy.
10.Colonic stenting in acute malignant large bowel obstruction: audit of efficacy and safety in a Singapore tertiary referral centre.
James Weiquan LI ; James Chi-Yong NGU ; Kok Ren LIM ; Shu Wen TAY ; Bochao JIANG ; Ramesh WIJAYA ; Sulaiman YUSOF ; Calvin Jianming ONG ; Andrew Boon EU KWEK ; Tiing Leong ANG
Singapore medical journal 2023;64(10):603-608
INTRODUCTION:
Acute malignant large bowel obstruction (MBO) occurs in 8%-15% of colorectal cancer patients. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) have progressed from a palliative modality to use as bridge to surgery (BTS). We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of SEMS for MBO in our institution.
METHODS:
The data of patients undergoing SEMS insertion for MBO were reviewed. Technical success was defined as successful SEMS deployment across tumour without complications. Clinical success was defined as colonic decompression without requiring further surgical intervention. Rates of complications, median time to surgery, types of surgery and rates of recurrence were studied.
RESULTS:
Seventy-nine patients underwent emergent SEMS placement from September 2013 to February 2020. Their mean age was 68.8 ± 13.8 years and 43 (54%) patients were male. Mean tumour length was 4.2 cm ± 2.2 cm; 89.9% of malignant strictures were located distal to the splenic flexure. Technical and clinical success was 94.9% and 98.7%, respectively. Perforation occurred in 5.1% of patients, with none having stent migration or bleeding. Fifty (63.3%) patients underwent SEMS insertion as BTS. Median time to surgery was 20 (range 6-57) days. Most (82%) patients underwent minimally invasive surgery. Primary anastomosis rate was 98%. Thirty-nine patients had follow-up beyond 1-year posttreatment (median 34 months). Local recurrence and distant metastasis were observed in 4 (10.3%) and 5 (12.8%) patients, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Insertion of SEMS for acute MBO has high success rates and a good safety profile. Most patients in this audit underwent minimally invasive surgery and primary anastomosis after successful BTS.
Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Female
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Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology*
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Singapore
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Tertiary Care Centers
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Stents/adverse effects*
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Intestinal Obstruction/etiology*
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Treatment Outcome
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Retrospective Studies
;
Palliative Care

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