1.HER2 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges
Zhao-Tao PAN ; Feng-Yu GAI ; Chen CHEN ; Tong LI ; Yan-Ping QING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):936-950
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite therapeutic advancements over recent decades, the prognosis for patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) remains poor. Approximately 2%-4% of mCRC cases exhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification or overexpression, defining a distinct molecular subtype. This HER2-positive status is strongly associated with primary resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies, which are the standard of care for patients with RAS wild-type tumors. Beyond its well-established role in breast and gastric cancers, HER2 has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and actionable therapeutic target in mCRC. However, selecting appropriate treatment strategies remains challenging due to patient heterogeneity and diverse molecular subtypes. This review systematically summarizes the molecular biology, diagnostic strategies, and advances in targeted therapies for HER2-positive mCRC. On the diagnostic front, we discuss the applications of immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection technologies. We highlight discrepancies in diagnostic criteria across key clinical trials—such as HERACLES, DESTINY, and MOUNTAINEER—underscoring the urgent need for standardized, CRC-specific definitions to ensure consistent patient selection and comparability of efficacy data across studies. Although NGS enables comprehensive genomic profiling, its cost-effectiveness relative to traditional methods must be carefully considered. Therapeutically, we summarize clinical trial data for HER2-directed agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as tucatinib and lapatinib, monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan. We review dual-targeting strategies and note recent FDA approvals that represent significant milestones in second-line treatment. Additionally, we explore the potential of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with HER2-targeted therapies to enhance antitumor immunity through mechanisms including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. ADCs enable precise delivery of cytotoxic payloads, reducing off-target toxicity while effectively inhibiting oncogenic pathways. A substantial portion of this review is dedicated to dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance to HER2-targeted therapies—persistent challenges that limit clinical benefit. These mechanisms include reactivation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK, concurrent mutations in genes like KRAS or BRAF, and alterations in HER2 expression that compromise treatment efficacy. For instance, specific HER2 mutations (e.g., L755S) can reduce drug binding affinity, while ctDNA monitoring facilitates early detection of emerging resistance clones during disease progression, thereby enabling timely therapeutic adjustments. Tumor heterogeneity and dynamic interactions with the microenvironment further complicate resistance patterns observed in clinical practice. HER2-targeted therapy represents a new frontier in precision oncology for mCRC, offering renewed hope for improving patient outcomes. Realizing this potential will require continued optimization of diagnostic algorithms and treatment workflows. Future efforts must focus on overcoming resistance, validating liquid biopsy approaches for dynamic monitoring, and establishing unified clinical guidelines. HER2 has become an essential biomarker for stratifying mCRC patients beyond traditional RAS and BRAF status, underscoring the shift from empiric treatment to biomarker-driven precision medicine. International, multidisciplinary collaboration will be critical to validate emerging biomarkers and refine treatment algorithms globally.
2.TGF-β1-engineered Biomimetic Platelet Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Ischemic Stroke
Li-Qi CHEN ; Tian-Fang KANG ; Guo-Jun HUANG ; Ting YIN ; Ai-Qing MA ; Lin-Tao CAI ; Hong PAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):697-710
ObjectivePost-ischemic acute inflammation and the subsequent persistent dysregulation of the immune microenvironment represent major pathological drivers that aggravate neuronal injury and severely restrict functional recovery following ischemic stroke. Although current reperfusion therapies partially restore blood flow, they fail to effectively modulate the secondary inflammatory cascade and oxidative stress, which remain critical barriers to neurological restoration. To address this challenge, this study aimed to engineer and systematically evaluate a biomimetic nanosystem composed of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-loaded platelet membrane-camouflaged lipid nanoparticles (PLP). This nanosystem was designed to achieve dual lesion-targeted delivery and immune microenvironment remodeling. By verifying its spatiotemporal accumulation, anti-inflammatory activity, and neuroprotective efficacy, we sought to establish an integrated therapeutic strategy that simultaneously enables lesion targeting, immune regulation, and functional recovery after ischemic injury. MethodsThe physicochemical properties of PLP, including hydrodynamic particle size, zeta potential, structural stability, and morphology, were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The preservation of platelet membrane-derived adhesion and immunoregulatory proteins was confirmed by SDS-PAGE through comparative analysis of protein band profiles between PLP and native platelet membranes. The in vitro biological activities of PLP were evaluated using two complementary cellular models. LPS-induced M1-polarized RAW264.7 macrophages were employed to assess inflammatory modulation, while oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-induced BV2 microglial cells and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were utilized to investigate neuroinflammatory regulation and neuronal protection. For in vivo validation, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model was established to mimic ischemia-reperfusion injury. The spatiotemporal biodistribution and lesion-targeting capability of the PLP were monitored through live fluorescence imaging. Therapeutic efficacy was comprehensively evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence analysis, body weight monitoring, and neurological severity score (NSS) assessment. ResultsPLP nanoparticles displayed a uniform spherical morphology, nanoscale particle size distribution, and stable negative surface charge, indicating favorable colloidal stability and circulation potential. SDS-PAGE results confirmed the effective retention of key platelet membrane proteins associated with endothelial adhesion, immune evasion, and inflammatory regulation, demonstrating the successful biomimetic construction. Optimal therapeutic concentrations were determined in OGD/R-induced BV2 cells, where PLP exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity.In vitro experiments demonstrated that PLP significantly inhibited the polarization of RAW264.7 macrophages toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype and markedly reduced neuronal apoptosis under ischemia-reperfusion conditions. In vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that PLP rapidly accumulated in the ischemic brain hemisphere and maintained prolonged retention for up to 7 d, suggesting enhanced lesion-specific targeting and sustained drug release. Compared with control group, PLP treatment significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, attenuated reactive astrogliosis, improved weight recovery, and accelerated neurological functional restoration, as reflected by significantly improved NSS scores. ConclusionThis study establishes a multifunctional biomimetic nanoplatform that integrates platelet membrane-mediated active targeting with the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties of TGF-β1. The PLP system enables rapid lesion homing and long-term retention while synergistically regulating the post-stroke inflammatory microenvironment by suppressing pro-inflammatory immune activation, reducing neuronal apoptosis, and limiting excessive astrocyte reactivity. Importantly, this study proposes a conceptually therapeutic paradigm that combines targeted delivery with immune microenvironment remodeling to achieve comprehensive neurovascular protection. These findings provide strong experimental evidence supporting the translational potential of biomimetic nanotherapeutics as next-generation precision interventions for ischemic stroke.
3.Psychological Stress-induced Immune Dysregulation: The Key Factor Undermining Aerobic Exercise’s Antagonism Against Tumor Progression
Xin ZHOU ; Hua ZHANG ; Jing-Jing LIU ; Hui-Xin PAN ; Jing ZHANG ; Qing-Lu WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1656-1671
Cancer is one of the most lethal and burdensome diseases worldwide. Its progression not only causes irreversible damage to the body, but also imposes a substantial psychological burden on patients due to its complex prognosis. Immune imbalance, a hallmark of the tumor microenvironment (TME), accelerates tumor invasion and metastasis by impairing the function of effector immune cells, promoting the abnormal infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, and disrupting cytokine homeostasis, thereby constituting a major barrier to the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Compared with conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, aerobic exercise has shown considerable potential in antagonizing tumor progression through relatively mild but effective immunomodulatory mechanisms. On the one hand, regular aerobic exercise enhances the number and activity of key effector immune cells, such as CD8+ T cells, thereby strengthening their ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells and alleviate immune imbalance. On the other hand, aerobic exercise promotes tumor vascular normalization, improves vascular maturity, and stimulates the secretion of irisin and other anti-inflammatory myokines, thereby remodeling the TME and relieving its immunosuppressive state to delay tumor progression. However, psychological stress following a cancer diagnosis can not only act as an independent disruptive factor that exacerbates immune imbalance within the TME, but also amplify the effects of other detrimental factors, such as reduced treatment adherence, thereby further weakening the antagonistic effect of aerobic exercise on tumor growth. Psychological stress, as a chronic stressor, promotes the excessive secretion of emotion-related hormones, including glucocorticoids (GCs) and norepinephrine (NE), which further suppress the activation and effector functions of antitumor immune cells such as CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, while facilitating the recruitment of protumor immune cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs). These changes ultimately disrupt immune homeostasis in the TME, promote tumor immune evasion, accelerate tumor invasion and metastasis, and offset the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on tumor control. In addition, psychological stress induces hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and abnormal excitation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), thereby maintaining elevated levels of GCs, NE, and related stress hormones, suppressing inflammatory chemokine expression and immune cell recruitment, and further disturbing immune homeostasis in the TME, which accelerates tumor progression. More importantly, prolonged psychological stress can also disrupt the homeostasis of central neurotransmitters, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and glutamate (Glu). This not only directly inhibits the activation and effector functions of antitumor immune cells and promotes the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment, but also impairs cellular energy metabolism and continuously provides energy for tumor cells through metabolic reprogramming, thereby sustaining rapid tumor growth and adaptation to a hostile TME. Ultimately, these alterations contribute to the dysregulation of “neuro-endocrine-immune” axis and weaken the protective effect of aerobic exercise against tumor progression. Therefore, this review focuses on the interaction between psychological stress and the “neuro-endocrine-immune” axis, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms by which psychological stress induces immune imbalance and weakens the antagonistic effect of aerobic exercise on tumor progression. We further highlight the important role of psychological stress in tumor progression and propose that combining psychotropic interventions, aerobic exercise, and clinical antitumor immunotherapy may help restore the tumor-killing capacity of the immune system. Such a multimodal strategy may exert synergistic effects at multiple levels, including psychological stress relief, neuroendocrine regulation, and reconstruction of immune homeostasis, thereby providing new perspectives for identifying therapeutic targets in solid tumors, enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, and improving patient prognosis.
4.Investigation of nutritional status in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its relationship with the risk of sarcopenia
Qing CAO ; Yan XU ; Caiyun HOU ; Li WANG ; Huan PAN ; Min CHEN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(5):131-135
Objective To explore the nutritional status in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and analyze its relationship with the risk of sarcopenia. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 312 elderly patients with T2DM admitted to the 904th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army between January 2023 and December 2025. Based on the presence or absence of sarcopenia, the patients were classified into a sarcopenia group (121 cases) and a non-sarcopenia group (191 cases). The nutritional status and related factors were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the correlation and influencing factors. Results The incidence rate of sarcopenia among elderly patients with T2DM was 38.78%. Compared with the non-sarcopenia group, the sarcopenia group had older age and higher proportions of patients with daily activity dependence, coronary heart disease, and gastrointestinal diseases. Conversely, the proportions of patients exercising ≥4 times per week and those paying attention to nutritional knowledge were lower in the sarcopenia group than those in the non-sarcopenia group (P<0.05). The body mass index (BMI), calf circumference (CC), body weight, albumin (ALB), hemoglobin (Hb), and MNA-SF score in the sarcopenia group were lower compared with those in the non-sarcopenia group (P<0.05). After logistic regression analysis, it was found that low BMI, exercising ≥4 times per week, dependence on daily activity, and low ALB and Hb were independent factors influencing sarcopenia in elderly patients with T2DM (P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence rate of sarcopenia is relatively high in elderly patients with T2DM. Low BMI, low ALB, low Hb, reduced weekly exercise frequency, and daily activity dependence are independent related factors. It is necessary to pay clinical attention to nutritional assessment and intervention.
5.Discussion on the practice of ethical review in organ transplantation under refined management
Fang HUANG ; Xinfeng PAN ; Hui ZENG ; Qing HE ; Yong XU ; Lanlan WEI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):441-447
The development of organ transplantation has brought new hope to many patients with organ failure and their families, but it has also raised numerous ethical issues. How to balance the rights and interests between organ donors and recipients, as well as ensure the fairness and transparency of the transplantation process has become an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the latest Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation and the Working Rules of the Ethics Committee for Human Organ Transplantation, the current difficulties and challenges in organ transplantation ethics were deeply analyzed. Taking the ethical review practice of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital as an example, this paper explored issues such as full informed consent of both donors and recipients, risk assessment of marginal donors, and the review of relationships between donors and recipients. It also explored and constructed a set of complete ethical review models for organ transplantation through refined management. This model improved the efficiency and quality of ethical review as well as enriched the related knowledge system. It is expected that the implementation of this model can provide a reference for promoting effective ethical review nationwide, advancing the improvement and development of ethical review work in organ transplantation. Meanwhile, more medical ethics experts and practitioners are called upon to focus on and engage in the research and practice of ethical review in organ transplantation, jointly promoting progress in this field.
6.Therapeutic Study on The Inhibition of Neuroinflammation in Ischemic Stroke by Induced Regulatory T Cells
Tian-Fang KANG ; Ai-Qing MA ; Li-Qi CHEN ; Han GONG ; Jia-Cheng OUYANG ; Fan PAN ; Hong PAN ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):946-956
ObjectiveNeuroinflammation plays a crucial role in both the onset and progression of ischemic stroke, exerting a significant impact on the recovery of the central nervous system. Excessive neuroinflammation can lead to secondary neuronal damage, further exacerbating brain injury and impairing functional recovery. As a result, effectively modulating and reducing neuroinflammation in the brain has become a key therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Among various approaches, targeting immune regulation to control inflammation has gained increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the role of in vitro induced regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in suppressing neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke, as well as their potential therapeutic effects. By exploring the mechanisms through which Tregs exert their immunomodulatory functions, this research is expected to provide new insights into stroke treatment strategies. MethodsNaive CD4+ T cells were isolated from mouse spleens using a negative selection method to ensure high purity, and then they were induced in vitro to differentiate into Treg cells by adding specific cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutic potential of Treg cells transplantation in a mouse model of ischemic stroke was evaluated. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, after Treg cells transplantation, their ability to successfully migrate to the infarcted brain region and their impact on neuroinflammation levels were examined. To further investigate the role of Treg cells in stroke recovery, the changes in cytokine expression and their effects on immune cell interactions was analyzed. Additionally, infarct size and behavioral scores were measured to assess the neuroprotective effects of Treg cells. By integrating multiple indicators, the comprehensive evaluation of potential benefits of Treg cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke was performed. ResultsTreg cells significantly regulated the expression levels of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo, effectively balancing the immune response and suppressing excessive inflammation. Additionally, Treg cells inhibited the activation and activity of inflammatory cells, thereby reducing neuroinflammation. In the MCAO mouse model, Treg cells were observed to accumulate in the infarcted brain region, where they significantly reduced the infarct size, demonstrating their neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, Treg cell therapy notably improved behavioral scores, suggesting its role in promoting functional recovery, and increased the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic strategy for stroke treatment. ConclusionIn vitro induced Treg cells can effectively suppress neuroinflammation caused by ischemic stroke, demonstrating promising clinical application potential. By regulating the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, Treg cells can inhibit immune responses in the nervous system, thereby reducing neuronal damage. Additionally, they can modulate the immune microenvironment, suppress the activation of inflammatory cells, and promote tissue repair. The therapeutic effects of Treg cells also include enhancing post-stroke recovery, improving behavioral outcomes, and increasing the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice. With their ability to suppress neuroinflammation, Treg cell therapy provides a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, offering broad application prospects in clinical immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.
7.Characteristic Expression of Multiple Neurotransmitters Oscillation Imbabance in Brains of 1 028 Patients with Depression
Anqi WANG ; Xuemei QING ; Yanshu PAN ; Pingfa ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jian LI ; Cheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):278-286
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristic expression patterns of six neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE), inhibitory neurotransmitter (INH), and excitatory neurotransmitter (EXC) in the whole brain and different brain regions of depression patients by Search of Encephalo Telex (SET), providing new ideas for the study of heterogeneous etiology of depression. Methods(1) A retrospective study was conducted on supra-slow signals of EEG fluctuations in 1 028 patients with depression. The SET system was used to obtain the expression information of six neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions: left frontal region (F3), right frontal region (F4), left central region (C3), right central region (C4), left parietal region (P3), right parietal region (P4), left occipital region (O1), right occipital region (O2), left anterior temporal region (F7), right anterior temporal region (F8), left posterior temporal region (T5), and right posterior temporal region (T6). The expression information of each neurotransmitter was compared with the normal model, and it was found that single neurotransmitter was in one of three states: increased, decreased, or normal expression. The simultaneous expression states of six neurotransmitters in the brain space were referred to as the expression pattern of multiple neurotransmitters. (2) A MySQL database was established to analyze the actual expression patterns of different neurotransmitters in the whole brain of patients with depression. (3) Factor analysis was conducted to further analyze the characteristic rules of 78 variables of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions in depression patients. Results(1) The expression of single neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions of the total depression population showed one of three expression states (increased/decreased/normal), being normal in the majority. The decreased and increased expression of 5-HT, ACh, DA, INH, EXC, and NE in the whole brain occurred in 6% and 25%, 31% and 17%, 36% and 9%, 15% and 31%, 32% and 14%, and 22% and 22%, respectively. (2) The antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters (EXC/INH, DA/5-HT, and ACh/NE) showed significant antagonistic relationships in the whole brain and different brain regions, with a strong negative correlation between EXC and INH (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.69 to 0.76), a strong negative correlation between DA and 5-HT (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.83 to 0.90), and a moderate negative correlation between ACh and NE (P<0.01, with |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.66). Meanwhile, non-antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions also showed correlations, with DA/NE (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.46) and NE/EXC (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.61) showing weak and moderate negative correlations, respectively, and DA/EXC showing a weak positive correlation (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.47). (3) The six neurotransmitters in the 1 028 patients with depression presented a total of 170 expression patterns in the whole brain. The top 30 expression patterns were reported in this paper, with a cumulative rate of 60.60%, including patterns ① INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE-/EXC- (9.05%), ② INH+/5-HT-/ACh↓/DA+/NE-/EXC- (4.57%), and ③ INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE↓/EXC- (3.31%). That is, the proportion of depression patients with normal levels of all the six neurotransmitters was 9.05%, and the patients with at least one neurotransmitter abnormality accounted for 91.95%. (4) The factor analysis extracted 22 common factors from 78 variables in the whole brain and different brain regions. These common factors showed the absolute values of loadings ranging from 0.32 to 0.86 and the eigenvalues (F) ranging from 1.03 to 13.43, with a cumulative contribution rate of 76.82%. The characteristic expression patterns included ① AChP3↓/AChW↓/AChC3↓/AChF3↓/AChO1↓/AChT5↓/AChF7↓/NEP3↑/NEW↑/NEC3↑/NEF3↑/NEO1↑/NET5↑/NEF7↑ (F=13.43, whole brain), ② 5-HTO2↑/DAO2↓/5-HTP4↑/DAP4↓/5-HTW↑/DAW↓/5-HTC4↑/DAC4↓ (F=5.94), and ③ EXCF4↓/DAF4↓/NEF4↑/INHF4↑/5-HTF4↑/AChF4↓ (F=5.33). ConclusionThe actual 170 expression patterns of 6 neurotransmitters in the whole brain of 1 028 depression patients indicate that depression is a heterogeneous disease with individualized characteristics. The 22 characteristic expression patterns in the whole brain and 12 brain regions verify the pathogenesis hypothesis of multi-neurotransmitters oscillation imbalance in brains of depression patients. In summary, this study provides new guidance for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and establishes a methodological foundation for the effectiveness evaluation of individualized treatment of depression by traditional Chinese medicine based on the objective biological markers.
8.Characteristic Expression of Multiple Neurotransmitters Oscillation Imbabance in Brains of 1 028 Patients with Depression
Anqi WANG ; Xuemei QING ; Yanshu PAN ; Pingfa ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jian LI ; Cheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):278-286
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristic expression patterns of six neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE), inhibitory neurotransmitter (INH), and excitatory neurotransmitter (EXC) in the whole brain and different brain regions of depression patients by Search of Encephalo Telex (SET), providing new ideas for the study of heterogeneous etiology of depression. Methods(1) A retrospective study was conducted on supra-slow signals of EEG fluctuations in 1 028 patients with depression. The SET system was used to obtain the expression information of six neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions: left frontal region (F3), right frontal region (F4), left central region (C3), right central region (C4), left parietal region (P3), right parietal region (P4), left occipital region (O1), right occipital region (O2), left anterior temporal region (F7), right anterior temporal region (F8), left posterior temporal region (T5), and right posterior temporal region (T6). The expression information of each neurotransmitter was compared with the normal model, and it was found that single neurotransmitter was in one of three states: increased, decreased, or normal expression. The simultaneous expression states of six neurotransmitters in the brain space were referred to as the expression pattern of multiple neurotransmitters. (2) A MySQL database was established to analyze the actual expression patterns of different neurotransmitters in the whole brain of patients with depression. (3) Factor analysis was conducted to further analyze the characteristic rules of 78 variables of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions in depression patients. Results(1) The expression of single neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions of the total depression population showed one of three expression states (increased/decreased/normal), being normal in the majority. The decreased and increased expression of 5-HT, ACh, DA, INH, EXC, and NE in the whole brain occurred in 6% and 25%, 31% and 17%, 36% and 9%, 15% and 31%, 32% and 14%, and 22% and 22%, respectively. (2) The antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters (EXC/INH, DA/5-HT, and ACh/NE) showed significant antagonistic relationships in the whole brain and different brain regions, with a strong negative correlation between EXC and INH (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.69 to 0.76), a strong negative correlation between DA and 5-HT (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.83 to 0.90), and a moderate negative correlation between ACh and NE (P<0.01, with |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.66). Meanwhile, non-antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions also showed correlations, with DA/NE (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.46) and NE/EXC (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.61) showing weak and moderate negative correlations, respectively, and DA/EXC showing a weak positive correlation (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.47). (3) The six neurotransmitters in the 1 028 patients with depression presented a total of 170 expression patterns in the whole brain. The top 30 expression patterns were reported in this paper, with a cumulative rate of 60.60%, including patterns ① INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE-/EXC- (9.05%), ② INH+/5-HT-/ACh↓/DA+/NE-/EXC- (4.57%), and ③ INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE↓/EXC- (3.31%). That is, the proportion of depression patients with normal levels of all the six neurotransmitters was 9.05%, and the patients with at least one neurotransmitter abnormality accounted for 91.95%. (4) The factor analysis extracted 22 common factors from 78 variables in the whole brain and different brain regions. These common factors showed the absolute values of loadings ranging from 0.32 to 0.86 and the eigenvalues (F) ranging from 1.03 to 13.43, with a cumulative contribution rate of 76.82%. The characteristic expression patterns included ① AChP3↓/AChW↓/AChC3↓/AChF3↓/AChO1↓/AChT5↓/AChF7↓/NEP3↑/NEW↑/NEC3↑/NEF3↑/NEO1↑/NET5↑/NEF7↑ (F=13.43, whole brain), ② 5-HTO2↑/DAO2↓/5-HTP4↑/DAP4↓/5-HTW↑/DAW↓/5-HTC4↑/DAC4↓ (F=5.94), and ③ EXCF4↓/DAF4↓/NEF4↑/INHF4↑/5-HTF4↑/AChF4↓ (F=5.33). ConclusionThe actual 170 expression patterns of 6 neurotransmitters in the whole brain of 1 028 depression patients indicate that depression is a heterogeneous disease with individualized characteristics. The 22 characteristic expression patterns in the whole brain and 12 brain regions verify the pathogenesis hypothesis of multi-neurotransmitters oscillation imbalance in brains of depression patients. In summary, this study provides new guidance for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and establishes a methodological foundation for the effectiveness evaluation of individualized treatment of depression by traditional Chinese medicine based on the objective biological markers.
9.A Single-Arm Phase II Clinical Trial of Fulvestrant Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of ER+/HER2– Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Integrated Analysis of 18F-FES PET-CT and Metabolites with Treatment Response
Qing SHAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Xianjun PAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Yali WANG ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xiaohua ZENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):126-139
Purpose:
This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy.
Materials and Methods:
Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety.
Results:
Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.
10.A Single-Arm Phase II Clinical Trial of Fulvestrant Combined with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of ER+/HER2– Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: Integrated Analysis of 18F-FES PET-CT and Metabolites with Treatment Response
Qing SHAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Xianjun PAN ; Wenqi ZHOU ; Yali WANG ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xiaohua ZENG
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):126-139
Purpose:
This Phase II trial was objected to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding fulvestrant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)– locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the association of 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-fluoroestradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT) and metabolites with efficacy.
Materials and Methods:
Fulvestrant and EC-T regimen were given to ER+/HER2– LABC patients before surgery. At baseline, patients received 18F-FES PET-CT scan, and plasma samples were taken for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included total pathologic complete response (tpCR) and safety.
Results:
Among the 36 patients enrolled, the ORR was 86.1%, the tpCR rate was 8.3%. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events was 22%. The decrease in ER value in sensitive patients was larger than that in non-sensitive patients, as was Ki-67 (p < 0.05). The maximum standardized uptake value, mean standardized uptake values, total lesion ER expression of 18F-FES PET-CT in sensitive patients were significantly higher than those in non-sensitive patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, these parameters were significantly correlated with Miller and Payne grade and the change in ER expression before and after treatment (p < 0.05). Thirteen differential expressed metabolites were identified, which were markedly enriched in 19 metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
This regimen demonstrated acceptable toxicity and encouraging antitumor efficacy. 18F-FES PET-CT might serve as a tool to predict the effectiveness of this therapy. Altered metabolites or metabolic pathways might be associated with treatment response.


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