On December 10, 2025, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN) released the Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers Clinical Practice Guidelines (Version 1.2026). This article provides an in-depth interpretation of the key updates in the guidelines, with a focus on the following critical areas: the inclusion of distress assessment as an integral component of the diagnostic and treatment workflow, the quantification of tumor infiltration depth for T1b stage disease, the elevation of the FLOT regimen to a Category 1 preferred recommendation for perioperative systemic therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma, the strengthening of the recommendation for minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the standardization of the nomenclature and testing methodologies for biomarkers including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. By systematically analyzing these key updates, this review aims to provide a practical reference for standardized clinical diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in China.

ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in attenuating cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells （A549/DDP） by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS） via the nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/reactive oxygen species （ROS）/double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase R （PKR）-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase （PERK）/CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein （CHOP） signaling pathway. MethodsSprague Dawley （SD） rats were used to prepare blank serum and Buzhong Yiqitang-containing serum samples， and A549/DDP cells were sub-cultured and randomly allocated into 9 groups： Blank （10% blank rat serum medium）， model （10% blank rat serum medium+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） （10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing rat serum medium+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， TBHQ （10% blank rat serum medium+5 μmol·L^-1 TBHQ+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， TBHQ+TCM （10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing rat serum medium+5 μmol·L^-1 TBHQ+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， NAC （10% blank rat serum medium+600 μmol·L^-1 NAC+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， NAC+TCM （10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing rat serum medium+600 μmol·L^-1 NAC+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， Salubrinal （10% blank rat serum medium+20 μmol·L^-1 Salubrinal+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， and Salubrinal+TCM （10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing rat serum medium+20 μmol·L^-1 Salubrinal+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）. The median inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） of cisplatin in each group was determined by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method. The ROS level was detected by flow cytometry. The ultrastructure of endoplasmic reticulum （ER） was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of Nrf2， phosphorylated （p）-Nrf2， CHOP， PERK， p-PERK， eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α （eIF2α）， p-eIF2α， and activated transcription factor 4 （ATF4）. The fluorescence intensity of CHOP and p-PERK was detected by confocal fluorescence localization. ResultsCompared with the model group， the TCM group showed a decrease in IC₅₀ of cisplatin in A549/DDP cells （P<0.01）. TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal groups showed increases in IC₅₀ of cisplatin in A549/DDP cells （P<0.01）. TCM combined with TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal reduced the IC₅₀ （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the blank group， the ROS level in the model group elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with that in the model group， the ROS level in the TCM group elevated （P<0.01）. The ROS levels in the TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal groups were lower than that in the model group （P<0.01）. The combinations of TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal with TCM raised the ROS levels of A549/DDP cells （P<0.01）. A flat saclike and neatly arranged ER structure was observed in the blank group， and slight expansion of ER was observed in the model group. Significant expansion of ER was observed in the TCM group. The expansion of ER was not obvious in the TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal groups but significant after TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal were combined with TCM. CHOP and p-PERK showed higher fluorescence intensity in the model group than in the blank group （P<0.01）， and the fluorescence signal intensity in the TCM group was higher than that in the model group （P<0.01）. The fluorescence intensity in the TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal groups was lower than that in the model group （P<0.01）. The fluorescence intensity in the groups of TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal combined with TCM was higher than that in corresponding groups without TCM （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the blank group， the expression levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 were up-regulated in the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the TCM group showed down-regulated expression levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 （P<0.05）. TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal increased the expression levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 （P<0.05）， while their combinations with TCM decreased the expression levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 compared with the corresponding groups without TCM （P<0.01）. There were no significant differences in the expression levels of PERK and eIF2α between groups. The expression levels of CHOP， p-PERK/PERK， p-eIF2α/eIF2α， and ATF4 were up-regulated in the model group compared with those in the blank group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the TCM group showed up-regulated expression levels of CHOP， p-PERK/PERK， p-eIF2α/eIF2α， and ATF4 （P<0.05）， while the TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal groups showed down-regulated expression levels （P<0.05）. The groups of TBHQ， NAC， and Salubrinal combined with TCM had higher expression levels than the groups without TCM （P<0.01）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang regulates ERS via the Nrf2/ROS/PERK/CHOP signaling pathway to attenuate cisplatin resistance in NSCLC.

ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in attenuating cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） by inducing ferroptosis via poly（rC）-binding protein 1 （PCBP1）. MethodsThe serum containing Buzhong Yiqitang was prepared and cisplatin-resistant human non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells （A549/DDP） were cultured and randomly grouped as follows： Blank （10% blank serum）， model （10% blank serum+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， Buzhong Yiqitang （10% serum containing Buzhong Yiqitang+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin）， Fe-1 （10% blank serum+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+5 μmol·L^-1 Fe-1）， and Buzhong Yiqitang+Fe-1 （10% serum containing Buzhong Yiqitang+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+5 μmol·L^-1 Fe-1）. Firstly， PCR Array was used to screen ferroptosis-related genes regulated by Buzhong Yiqitang， and PCBP1 was identified as the target for studying the attenuation of cisplatin resistance by Buzhong Yiqitang. Subsequently， the median inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） of cisplatin in each group was determined by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method and the resistance index （RI） was calculated. The ultrastructure of A549/DDP cells in each group was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The protein levels of PCBP1 and glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4） were determined by Western blot. The lipid reactive oxygen species （ROS） content in each group was determined by the C11-BODIRY 581/591 fluorescence probe. The ferrous ion assay kit was used to measure the ferrous ion content in each group. The malondialdehyde （MDA） assay kit was used to determine the MDA content in each group. ResultsCompared with model group， the IC₅₀ of cisplatin and the RI of A549/DDP cells decreased in the Buzhong Yiqitang group （P<0.05） but increased in the Fe-1 group （P<0.05）. The IC₅₀ of cisplatin and the RI of A549/DDP cells in the Buzhong Yiqitang+Fe-1 group were lower than those in the Fe-1 group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the Buzhong Yiqitang group showed obvious mitochondrial ferroptosis， while the mitochondrial damage became less obvious after Fe-1 treatment. Compared with that in the Fe-1 group， the mitochondrial ferroptosis was aggravated after the intervention with Buzhong Yiqitang. Compared with blank group， the model group showed down-regulated expression levels of PCBP1 and GPX4 （P<0.05） and increased content of lipid ROS， ferrous ions， and MDA （P<0.05） in A549/DDP cells. Compared with model group， the Buzhong Yiqitang group showed down-regulated expression levels of PCBP1 and GPX4 （P<0.05） and increased content of lipid ROS， ferrous ions， and MDA （P<0.05）， while the Fe-1 group showed up-regulated expression levels of PCBP1 and GPX4 （P<0.05） and reduced content of lipid ROS， ferrous ions， and MDA （P<0.05）. Compared with the Fe-1 group， the Buzhong Yiqitang+Fe-1 group showed down-regulated expression levels of PCBP1 and GPX4 and increased content of lipid ROS， ferrous ions， and MDA （P<0.05）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang attenuated cisplatin resistance in NSCLC by regulating PCBP1 to induce ferroptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Buzhong Yiqitang in attenuating cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer by observing the effects of Buzhong Yiqitang on endoplasmic reticulum stress-related molecules in human lung adenocarcinoma cells （A549） and cisplatin-resistant cells in human lung adenocarcinoma cells （A549/DDP） via the nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2（Nrf2）/reactive oxygen species（ROS） pathway. MethodsThe serum containing Buzhong Yiqitang was prepared and A549 cells and A549/DDP cells were cultured. The cells were randomized into groups A （A549 cells+blank serum）， B （A549 cells+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+blank serum）， C （A549 cells+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing serum）， D （A549/DDP cells+blank serum）， E （A549/DDP cells+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+blank serum）， and F （A549/DDP cells+20 mg·L^-1 cisplatin+10% Buzhong Yiqitang-containing serum）. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method was used to detect the half maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） of cisplatin. The protein levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 were determined by Western blotting. The DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used to measure the content of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in each group. The protein levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）， activated transcription factor 6 （ATF6）， and C/EBP-homologous protein （CHOP） were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with group B， group C showed a reduction in IC₅₀ of cisplatin （P<0.05）， which held true in group E compared with group F （P<0.05）. Moreover， the IC₅₀ of cisplatin to A549/DDP cells was higher than that to A549 cells before and after Buzhong Yiqitang intervention （P<0.05）. Compared with group A， group B showed up-regulated protein levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 （P<0.05）. Compared with group B， group C showed down-regulated protein levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 （P<0.05）. Compared with group D， group E showed up-regulated protein levels of Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 （P<0.05）， which， however， were significantly down-regulated in group F （P<0.05）. The ROS content and the protein levels of GRP78， ATF6， and CHOP followed a descending trend of group C > group B > group A in A549 cells and group F > group E > group D in A549/DDP cells （P<0.05）. Moreover， the ROS content and the protein levels of GRP78， ATF6， and CHOP in A549 cells were higher than those in A549/DDP cells before and after Buzhong Yiqitang intervention （P<0.05）. ConclusionBuzhong Yiqitang may regulate endoplasmic reticulum stress via the Nrf2/ROS pathway to attenuate cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

In the process of tumor chemotherapy， the emergence of multi-drug resistance （MDR） has always been a thorny problem， which is a result of the joint action of the host， tumor cells， and the immune microenvironment. Tumor cells can escape the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs through multiple pathways， being easy to produce drug resistance. MDR greatly restricts the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on tumor cells and affects their therapeutic effects. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has the unique advantages of multi-target， multi-pathway and individualized treatment. The TCM treatment of tumors emphasizes regulating Yin and Yang， as well as reinforcing healthy Qi and dispelling pathogen. In recent years， TCM has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the treatment of tumors and the amelioration of multi-drug resistance. TCM not only can target the phenomenon of MDR but also greatly weakens the side effects of the patients after the chemotherapy， thus improving the survival quality and rate of the patients. Accordingly， many patients adopt TCM as an adjuvant therapy during or after chemotherapy. The binding of TCM to targets can reverse the drug resistance of various tumors， which has become an emerging research highlight. From the regulatory mechanism of TCM on MDR of tumors， this paper introduces the mechanisms by which tumor cells continue to grow， proliferate， and metastasize by adjusting the intracellular drug concentration， altering or utilizing the tumor microenvironment， and affecting the cell death mode to achieve the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. In this regard， the active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM can increase the sensitivity of chemotherapeutic drugs by down-regulating drug transporters， improving the tumor microenvironment， and modulating the drug resistance pathways associated with apoptosis， autophagy， ferroptosis， or pyroptosis. The aim of this paper is to explore more clinical practical value of TCM in the treatment of tumors and provide exploratory ideas and a theoretical basis for the future research on tumors and MDR.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.

Objective: There were associations between emotional abuse and neglect (EAN) and depression, but few studies had tested potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. We aimed to provide insights on how (the mediation role of neuroticism), and under what conditions (the moderator role of psychological resilience), led to a higher level of depression. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that used a random cluster sampling method. We randomly selected 3,993 participants from four junior middle schools in northern city of China. Participants were asked to complete four self-reported questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Children Depression Inventory-Short Form, Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, and Chinese Resilience Scale. Results: The results showed that neuroticism mediated the associations between EAN and depression. In addition, the mediating effect of neuroticism was moderated by psychological resilience (p<0.05). Conclusion EAN and neuroticism could have an adverse impact on depression, and psychological resilience could alleviate these negative effects as a moderator. Our model suggested psychological resilience could be a particularly effective intervention point for victims of EAN.