Objective To explore the mechanism of modified maimendong decoction (MMD) in inhibiting lung cancer metastasis from the perspective of immune regulation. Methods CTC-TJH-01 and LLC cells were intervened with different concentrations of modified maimendong decoction. The cell proliferation was detected with a CCK-8 kit, apoptosis was detected with an Annexin V-FITC/PI kit, and cell migration was detected through Transwell assays. A lung metastasis model was established through the tail vein injection of LLC cells into C57BL/6 mice, and body weight change and lung tumor metastasis in the mice were evaluated after continuous gavage intervention with MMD. HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were employed to observe the histomorphology, Ki-67 protein level, and NK and T cell levels of metastatic lesions. The levels of NK and T cells in the peripheral blood of mice were detected throughflow cytometry. Results MMD had no significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of CTC-TJH-01 and LLC cells in vitro. In mice, MMD could significantly inhibit the lung metastasis of LLC cells, increase the proportion of NK and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood and tumor microenvironment (P<0.05), and reduce the expression of Ki-67 protein in metastatic tumor tissues (P<0.05). Conclusion MMD may inhibit the growth of metastatic tumors by upregulating the expression levels of NK and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood to promote the elimination of circulating tumor cells, and regulating the infiltration of NK and CD8⁺ T cells in the immune microenvironment of metastatic tumors, then play an antimetastatic role in lung cancer.

Immunotherapy for cancer,as an emerging treatment modality,has made significant strides in recent years and has become a crucial therapeutic approach following surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapy.In particular,the clinical utilization of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has not only enhanced the survival rates of patients with refractory or recurrent tumors but has also significantly optimized the overall strategy for cancer treatment.However,as the population undergoing cancer immunotherapy continues to grow,this expansion not only yields clinical benefits but also precipitates a range of specific adverse reactions known as immune-related adverse events(irAEs).Pleural effusion is a common and severe complication in cancer patients,significantly affecting both their quality of life and treatment outcomes.Typically,tumor-related pleural effusion is often due to pleural metastasis,with malignant pleural effusion(MPE)characterized by rapid growth,being difficult to control,and tendency for recurrence.With the approval of new drugs and the expansion of indications for existing medications,the number of cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment is increasing,bringing ICIs-related pleural effusion into focus.While ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is relatively rare in clinical practice,it is closely linked to treatment choices of patients and prognosis.Unlike MPE,the pathogenesis of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is more complex,not only involving non-specific immune activation leading to autoimmune inflammatory reactions but also potentially related to nodular pleural granulomatous reactions,eosinophilic chronic pleurisy,and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.In terms of diagnosis,ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is typically diagnosed through exclusion,requiring the exclusion of other causes such as tumor progression,radiotherapy,and chemotherapy-induced pleural effusion,adding complexity and difficulty to the diagnostic process.Treatment for ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion often involves glucocorticoids,tocilizumab,or infliximab,aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis by suppressing excessive immune reactions.Preventing the occurrence of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is equally crucial,necessitating comprehensive patient assessment before ICIs administration and continuous monitoring during treatment to promptly detect and manage potential adverse reactions.Through this comprehensive management approach,the impact of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion on patient quality of life and treatment outcomes can be minimized,optimizing overall treatment results.This review aimed to explore the pathogenesis,histological features,clinical manifestations,diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,and delve into the characteristics of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,in order to enhance understanding of this complication and provide a reference for clinical practice.

Metastasis remains the primary cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent critical targets for metastasis prevention and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine may prevent lung cancer metastasis through long-term intervention in CTC activity. Tiao-Shen-Zhi-Ai Formular (TSZAF) represents a Chinese medicine compound prescription utilized clinically for lung cancer treatment. This study combined three principal active ingredients from TSZAF into a novel TSZAF monomer combination (TSZAF mc) to investigate its anti-metastatic effects and mechanisms. TSZAF mc demonstrated significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion in CTC-TJH-01 and LLC cells, while inducing cellular apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, TSZAF mc substantially inhibited LLC cell growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, TAZSF mc significantly suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and CXCL5 expression in lung cancer cells and tissues. Additionally, TAZSF mc notably reduced neutrophil infiltration in metastatic lesions. These findings indicate that TSZAF mc inhibits lung cancer growth and metastasis by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and reducing CXCL5 secretion, thereby decreasing neutrophil recruitment and infiltration. TSZAF mc demonstrates potential as an effective therapeutic agent for lung cancer metastasis.
Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/drug effects* ; Animals ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Neoplasm Metastasis/prevention & control* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neutrophil Infiltration/drug effects* ; Down-Regulation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; beta Catenin/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/drug effects*

Immunotherapy for cancer,as an emerging treatment modality,has made significant strides in recent years and has become a crucial therapeutic approach following surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapy.In particular,the clinical utilization of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has not only enhanced the survival rates of patients with refractory or recurrent tumors but has also significantly optimized the overall strategy for cancer treatment.However,as the population undergoing cancer immunotherapy continues to grow,this expansion not only yields clinical benefits but also precipitates a range of specific adverse reactions known as immune-related adverse events(irAEs).Pleural effusion is a common and severe complication in cancer patients,significantly affecting both their quality of life and treatment outcomes.Typically,tumor-related pleural effusion is often due to pleural metastasis,with malignant pleural effusion(MPE)characterized by rapid growth,being difficult to control,and tendency for recurrence.With the approval of new drugs and the expansion of indications for existing medications,the number of cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment is increasing,bringing ICIs-related pleural effusion into focus.While ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is relatively rare in clinical practice,it is closely linked to treatment choices of patients and prognosis.Unlike MPE,the pathogenesis of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is more complex,not only involving non-specific immune activation leading to autoimmune inflammatory reactions but also potentially related to nodular pleural granulomatous reactions,eosinophilic chronic pleurisy,and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.In terms of diagnosis,ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is typically diagnosed through exclusion,requiring the exclusion of other causes such as tumor progression,radiotherapy,and chemotherapy-induced pleural effusion,adding complexity and difficulty to the diagnostic process.Treatment for ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion often involves glucocorticoids,tocilizumab,or infliximab,aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis by suppressing excessive immune reactions.Preventing the occurrence of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is equally crucial,necessitating comprehensive patient assessment before ICIs administration and continuous monitoring during treatment to promptly detect and manage potential adverse reactions.Through this comprehensive management approach,the impact of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion on patient quality of life and treatment outcomes can be minimized,optimizing overall treatment results.This review aimed to explore the pathogenesis,histological features,clinical manifestations,diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,and delve into the characteristics of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,in order to enhance understanding of this complication and provide a reference for clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the association between peripheral immune function status and lung cancer metastasis,and to identify peripheral blood immune biomarkers for'Deficiency of Vital Qi'assessment in lung cancer metastasis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on peripheral blood immune markers collected before treatment from lung cancer patients admitted into Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,between March 2023 and April 2025.Patients were categorized into the non-metastatic and the metastatic groups based on the presence of distant metastasis,and the differences in the expressions of immune cells and cytokines between groups were compared.Peripheral blood immune markers with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were incorporated into a multivariate binary logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of lung cancer metastasis.Results:A total of 193 lung cancer patients were included(101 in the non-metastatic group and 92 in the metastatic group).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,smoking history,drinking history,or pathological type(all P>0.05).Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in multiple immune markers between the non-metastatic and metastatic groups(all P<0.05),including:lymphocyte count,CD3+,CD4+,and CD8+T,CD19+B cells,absolute counts of CD3-CD16+CD56+NK cells,percentages of Treg cells,CD8+CD28+Treg cells,G-MDSC,and CD3-CD16+CD56+dim NK cells,and levels of cytokine IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-10.Binary logistic regression analysis of differential indicators suggested that the percentage of Treg cells and CD8+CD28+Treg cells in peripheral blood were independent predictors of distant metastasis in lung cancer(OR=1.193,95%CI[1.047,1.36],P<0.01;OR=0.978,95%CI[0.957,0.999],P<0.05).Conclusion:Peripheral blood immune dysfunction is the biological basis for'qi deficiency'in lung cancer metastasis.This study quantitatively demonstrates the correlation between peripheral immune function status and lung cancer metastasis,providing empirical evidence for the theories of'qi deficiency and hidden toxicity'and'metastatic state of tumors'.

The immune microenvironment plays a key role in the development and progression of tumors.In recent years,with the rapid advancement of high-throughput sequencing technologies,researchers have gained a deeper under-standing of the composition and function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.However,traditional bulk sequenc-ing technologies are limited in resolving heterogeneity at the single-cell level,constraining a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the tumor microenvironment.The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing technology has brought new opportunities to uncover the heterogeneity of the immune microenvironment in lung cancer.Currently,T-cell-centered im-munotherapy in clinical settings is prone to side effects affecting prognosis,such as immunogenic drug resistance or immune-related pneumonia,with the key factor being changes in the interactions between immune cells and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment.Single-cell RNA sequencing technology can reveal the origins and functions of different subgroups within the tumor microenvironment from perspectives such as intercellular interactions and pseudotime analysis,thereby discovering new cell subgroups or novel biomarkers,providing new avenues for uncovering resistance to immunotherapy and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.This review comprehensively discusses the newest research techniques and advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing technology for unveiling the heterogeneity of the tumor micro environment after lung cancer immunotherapy,offering insights for enhancing the precision and personalization of immunotherapy.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide,with metastasis being the primary cause of mortality in lung cancer patients,and its prevention and control efficacy remain limited.In recent years,immunothera-py has emerged as a promising direction for overcoming the bottleneck of metastasis.Macrophages,as essential components of innate immunity,participate in the entire process of tumor initiation and progression.Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)represent the most abundant immune population in the tumor microenvironment(TME),displaying both anti-tumor M1-like and pro-tumor M2-like phenotypes.The latter promotes tumor invasion and metastasis,angiogenesis,lymphangiogenesis,immune suppression,and reactivation of dormant disseminated tumor cells(DTCs),thereby facilitating tumor metastasis.In recent years,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has shown significant efficacy in inhibiting tumor metastasis and has been extensively validated.It exerts anti-tumor effects by reducing the recruitment of TAMs,inhibiting M2-like polarization,and modulating cytokines and proteins in the TME.This paper reviews the relationship between TAMs and lung cancer metastasis,elucidates the targets and mechanisms of TCM in regulating TAMs to prevent and treat lung cancer metastasis,aiming to pro-vide insights into lung cancer prevention and treatment.

Based on the concepts of "people-oriented" in traditional Chinese medicine and "tumor-suppression" in modern medicine， we have combed the studies on the spatial and temporal evolution of tumor metastasis and its biological characteristics in different perspectives， and initially proposed the theory of tumor metastasis from the perspective of the dynamic game between the tumor cells and the body's immune system under the theory of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine， that is， the formation of metastasis is the result of the dynamic evolution of the cancer cells and their surrounding environmental factors in the body over time and space. It is believed that the symptomatic manifestation of metastasis is systematic， the triggering factors of metastasis are constant， and the clinical outcome of metastasis is staged. Accordingly， it is proposed to understand the mechanism of metastasis from the perspective of spatial and temporal dynamics， to establish a clinical and pathological model for identifying metastasis， and to reveal the critical point of metastasis， so as to facilitate the change of the research on tumor metastasis from static to dynamic， and provide ideas for the formulation of metastasis prevention and treatment strategies， and the construction of a new system of metastasis prevention and treatment in the clinical tumor field.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Feiji Formula on the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells,as well as lung metastasis in animal models and explore its possible mechanisms.Methods:TNMplot,TCGA,and DAVID databases were used to analyze the expression of complement-related proteins(CFHR5[complement factor H-related protein 5],MBL2[mannose-binding lectin 2],C9[complement component 9])in lung metastatic tissues and their relationship with immune cell infiltration,as well as related biological processes and signaling pathways.A subcutaneous xenograft mice model was established using 2LL cells.Mice were administered 2 g/mL Feiji Formula decoction(0.2 mL per dose)via oral gavage for 21 days.The effects of Feiji Formula on the incidence of lung metastasis,the number of lung metastatic nodules,and the protein expression of CFHR5/MBL2/C9 in the lung tissues of the model mice were observed.Exosome tracing assay was performed to observe the secretion and uptake of exosomes by CTC-TJH-01 and H1299 cells.Different concentrations of Feiji Formula were applied to treat H1299 and CTC-TJH-01 cells,and its effects on cell viability,invasion,migration,and CFHR5/MBL2/C9 protein expression were detected by CCK-8,scratch healing assay,Transwell assay,and WB method.Results:Network pharmacology analysis showed that CFHR5/MBL2/C9 proteins were highly expressed in lung metastatic tissues(all P<0.05)and were closely related to the complement system involved in immune response regulation.Compared with the control group,the Feiji Formula group demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of lung metastatic nodules(P<0.05).Feiji Formula(0-200 μg/mL)had no significant effect on the viability of H1299 and CTC-TJH-01 cells(both P>0.05).Both CTC-TJH-01 and H1299 cells could secrete and uptake each other's exosomes.Compared with the 0 μg/mL control group,Feiji Formula at concentrations of 50-200 μg/mL significantly inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of H1299 and CTC-TJH-01 cells(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and significantly reduced the protein expression levels of CFHR5 and MBL2(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Notably,the expression level of C9 protein in CTC-TJH-01 cells increased only after treatment with 200 μg/mL Feiji Formula(P<0.05).Conclusion:Feiji Formula can inhibit the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells as well as lung metastasis in model mice by regulating complement-associated proteins CFHR5/MBL2/C9.This effect may be related to exosome-mediated intercellular communication.

Postoperative asymptomatic patients with early cancer (lung cancer) have dormant disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in their metastatic target organs, and the proliferation of these DTCs is the key link leading to clinical metastasis. The development of therapeutic agents to maintain DTCs dormant or eradicate dormant DTCs will prevent tumor metastasis and break through the bottleneck of improving the overall efficacy of treating malignant tumors. This paper reviews the methods of establishing in vitro and in vivo research models of DTCs with dormant characteristics to promote the understanding of dormant DTCs and improve the research and development efficiency of anti-tumor metastasis drugs.