BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies play a pivotal role in the comprehensive treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) generally exhibits a more favorable response to neoadjuvant therapy compared with lung adenocarcinoma (ADC). The aim of this study is to elucidate how baseline cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated endothelial cells (TAECs) influence the differential therapeutic outcomes of neoadjuvant treatment in SCC versus ADC. METHODS: We retrospectively collected pretreatment biopsy samples from 104 patients with stage II-III NSCLC who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) or neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NAIC) at Shandong Cancer Hospital between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023. Tissue microarrays were constructed using an automated arrayer, and multiplex immunofluorescence staining (α-SMA/CD31/CK/DAPI) was performed to identify CAFs (α-SMA+/CK-) and TAECs (CD31+/CK-). Quantitative analyses included CAFs and TAECs densities, the nearest neighbor distance (NND) between CAFs and TAECs, and their spatial proximity (30 μm). Differences in major pathological response (MPR) between groups, defined as residual viable tumor cells ≤10% in resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy, were assessed using the χ² test. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to analyze intergroup differences in quantitative indicators, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive performance of immune-related markers for MPR in the NAIC cohort. RESULTS: Among the 104 NSCLC patients who received neoadjuvant therapy, 35 underwent NAIC and 69 received NAC. Overall, patients with SCC were more likely to achieve MPR compared with those with ADC (50.0% vs 22.4%, P=0.006). This trend persisted in the NAIC subgroup (72.7% vs 30.8%, P=0.038), whereas no significant difference in MPR rates was observed between SCC and ADC in the NAC subgroup. At baseline, prior to NAIC or NAC, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) expression, CAFs and TAECs densities, CAFs-TAECs NND, and CAFs-TAECs proximity (30 μm) showed no significant differences between SCC and ADC. In patients with SCC receiving NAIC, baseline PD-L1/PD-1 expression, CAFs density, and TAECs density showed not significant differences between MPR and NMPR groups. However, the CAFs-TAECs distance was significantly greater in the MPR group (NND: 31.2 vs 24.7 μm, P=0.038), and the number of TAECs within 30 μm of CAFs was significantly lower (proximity: 1.1 vs 3.6, P=0.038). Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that low TAECs density was associated with MPR following NAIC (OR=36.00, 95%CI: 2.68-1486.88, P=0.019). Furthermore, ROC analysis demonstrated that baseline CAFs-TAECs NND and proximity (30 μm) exhibited strong predictive performance for MPR in SCC patients treated with NAIC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.893, sensitivity of 0.857, and specificity of 1.000. CONCLUSIONS CAFs are more spatially distant from TAECs and more prone to MPR after NAIC in SCC, which may be related to the reduced interaction of CAFs with TAECs and reduced tumor-associated angiogenesis.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/therapy* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Endothelial Cells/drug effects* ; Aged ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/drug effects* ; Immunotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy* ; Adult

Objective:To investigate the current status of application of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in China, aiming to provide reference for promoting the development of this technology.Methods:From January to March 2024, a questionnaire was designed and distributed online, targeting member units of the Professional Committee of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment, which covers 175 radiotherapy units in 30 provinces and regions nationwide. The survey focused on the current application of SBRT technology and its utilization in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A statistical description of the survey results was presented.Results:Of 175 questionnaires distributed, a total of 130 valid responses were collected, with an effective response rate of 74.3%. A total of 81.5% (106/130) of the units had implemented SBRT technology, and 99.1% of the respondents believed it was necessary to further promote SBRT technology, yet the actual training rate was only 67.0%. SBRT equipment configuration: there were a total of 267 SBRT equipment, featuring a diverse range of types, with traditional linear accelerators as the mainstays, accounting for 76.0% ( n=203), followed by 12.0% ( n=32) for TOMO, 6.4% ( n=17) for Cyber knife, 3.7% ( n=10) for Gamma knife, and proton/heavy ion equipment at 1.5% ( n=4), respectively. The percentage of units with multi-leaf collimator leaf widths ≤0.5 cm was 93.4% (99/106). The application of SBRT: the first radiotherapy unit commenced SBRT in 2000, and this technology entered a period of rapid growth after 2015, sustaining a steady increase over the past decade; SBRT technology was mainly applied in the brain, lung, liver, bone, adrenal gland, and kidney, with application rates of 97.2%, 94.3%, 86.8%, 71.7%, 56.6%, and 27.4%, respectively, while the application rates for the pancreas, metastatic lymph nodes, and other parts were less than 5%. Current status of SBRT technology application in early-stage NSCLC: 90.6% (96/106) of units had implemented SBRT; pre-treatment multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment accounted for 77% (74/96); the proportion of application units for peripheral and central type lung cancer lesions both exceeded 57.3%, whereas the application rate for ultra-central type and lesions > 5 cm lung cancer was less than 30%; there was significant variability in the selection of reference guidelines, dose fractionation patterns, and the concept of central type among units. Conclusions:The development of SBRT technology in China is in a period of steady growth, but several issues such as low training rate and lack of standardization still exist. The survey results provide important reference for clinical training and promotion of SBRT technology in China.

Objective:The impact of bystander CD8 + T cells (CD8 + Tbys) within the tumor microenvironment on the prognosis of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear, particularly concerning their infiltration differences at the invasive margin (IM) and tumor center (TC). Methods:We retrospectively collected postoperative specimens from 173 patients with primary early-stage NSCLC who underwent radical surgery at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from 2014 to 2018. Tissue microarrays encompassing IM and TC regions were prepared and subjected to multicolor immunofluorescence staining (CK/CD8/CD103/DAPI). Image processing and phenotype recognition (CD8 + T cells, CK -CD8 +; CD8 + T bys, CK -CD8 +CD103 -) were performed using inFrom software, and automatic quantitative cell density analysis was conducted using R language. Differences in CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys densities at IM and TC were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between CD8 + T, CD8 + T bys and clinicopathological features was examined using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The impact of CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys on recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier, log-rank, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results:A total of 173 patients with stage ⅠA-ⅡA NSCLC were included, with a recurrence rate of 26.6% (46/173) and a median RFS of 62.3 months (range: 44.7-71.9 months). CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys densities (1/1 000) were significantly higher in the IM region than in the TC region [70(32, 155) vs. 37(18, 88), P＜0.001; 25(11, 46) vs. 18(7, 34), P=0.002]. No significant association was found between CD8 + T, CD8 + T bys and age, gender, smoking history, histological type, or pathological stage (all P＞0.05). Patients with low-density IM CD8 + T cells had lower RFS compared to those with high-density IM CD8 + T cells ( P=0.021; median RFS not reached), Further analysis revealed that patients with low-density IM CD8 + T bys cell had lower RFS compared to those with high-density IM CD8 + T bys ( P=0.047; median RFS not reached), and low-density IM CD8 + T cell was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence ( HR=1.836, 95% CI:1.007-3.347, P=0.048). Joint analysis of IM and TC revealed that patients with low IM CD8 + T bys and high TC CD8 + T bys had significantly lower RFS compared to the other three groups ( P=0.006), and this combination was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in early-stage NSCLC ( HR=2.090, 95% CI:1.162-3.760, P=0.014). Conclusions:The spatial distribution of bystander CD8 + T cells within the primary tumor influences the prognosis of patients with early-stage NSCLC. Patients with low-density IM CD8 + T bys and high-density TC CD8 + T bys are more prone to recurrence after radical surgery.

Objective:To investigate the current status of application of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in China, aiming to provide reference for promoting the development of this technology.Methods:From January to March 2024, a questionnaire was designed and distributed online, targeting member units of the Professional Committee of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatment, which covers 175 radiotherapy units in 30 provinces and regions nationwide. The survey focused on the current application of SBRT technology and its utilization in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A statistical description of the survey results was presented.Results:Of 175 questionnaires distributed, a total of 130 valid responses were collected, with an effective response rate of 74.3%. A total of 81.5% (106/130) of the units had implemented SBRT technology, and 99.1% of the respondents believed it was necessary to further promote SBRT technology, yet the actual training rate was only 67.0%. SBRT equipment configuration: there were a total of 267 SBRT equipment, featuring a diverse range of types, with traditional linear accelerators as the mainstays, accounting for 76.0% ( n=203), followed by 12.0% ( n=32) for TOMO, 6.4% ( n=17) for Cyber knife, 3.7% ( n=10) for Gamma knife, and proton/heavy ion equipment at 1.5% ( n=4), respectively. The percentage of units with multi-leaf collimator leaf widths ≤0.5 cm was 93.4% (99/106). The application of SBRT: the first radiotherapy unit commenced SBRT in 2000, and this technology entered a period of rapid growth after 2015, sustaining a steady increase over the past decade; SBRT technology was mainly applied in the brain, lung, liver, bone, adrenal gland, and kidney, with application rates of 97.2%, 94.3%, 86.8%, 71.7%, 56.6%, and 27.4%, respectively, while the application rates for the pancreas, metastatic lymph nodes, and other parts were less than 5%. Current status of SBRT technology application in early-stage NSCLC: 90.6% (96/106) of units had implemented SBRT; pre-treatment multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment accounted for 77% (74/96); the proportion of application units for peripheral and central type lung cancer lesions both exceeded 57.3%, whereas the application rate for ultra-central type and lesions > 5 cm lung cancer was less than 30%; there was significant variability in the selection of reference guidelines, dose fractionation patterns, and the concept of central type among units. Conclusions:The development of SBRT technology in China is in a period of steady growth, but several issues such as low training rate and lack of standardization still exist. The survey results provide important reference for clinical training and promotion of SBRT technology in China.

Objective:The impact of bystander CD8 + T cells (CD8 + Tbys) within the tumor microenvironment on the prognosis of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear, particularly concerning their infiltration differences at the invasive margin (IM) and tumor center (TC). Methods:We retrospectively collected postoperative specimens from 173 patients with primary early-stage NSCLC who underwent radical surgery at the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from 2014 to 2018. Tissue microarrays encompassing IM and TC regions were prepared and subjected to multicolor immunofluorescence staining (CK/CD8/CD103/DAPI). Image processing and phenotype recognition (CD8 + T cells, CK -CD8 +; CD8 + T bys, CK -CD8 +CD103 -) were performed using inFrom software, and automatic quantitative cell density analysis was conducted using R language. Differences in CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys densities at IM and TC were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between CD8 + T, CD8 + T bys and clinicopathological features was examined using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The impact of CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys on recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier, log-rank, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results:A total of 173 patients with stage ⅠA-ⅡA NSCLC were included, with a recurrence rate of 26.6% (46/173) and a median RFS of 62.3 months (range: 44.7-71.9 months). CD8 + T and CD8 + T bys densities (1/1 000) were significantly higher in the IM region than in the TC region [70(32, 155) vs. 37(18, 88), P＜0.001; 25(11, 46) vs. 18(7, 34), P=0.002]. No significant association was found between CD8 + T, CD8 + T bys and age, gender, smoking history, histological type, or pathological stage (all P＞0.05). Patients with low-density IM CD8 + T cells had lower RFS compared to those with high-density IM CD8 + T cells ( P=0.021; median RFS not reached), Further analysis revealed that patients with low-density IM CD8 + T bys cell had lower RFS compared to those with high-density IM CD8 + T bys ( P=0.047; median RFS not reached), and low-density IM CD8 + T cell was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence ( HR=1.836, 95% CI:1.007-3.347, P=0.048). Joint analysis of IM and TC revealed that patients with low IM CD8 + T bys and high TC CD8 + T bys had significantly lower RFS compared to the other three groups ( P=0.006), and this combination was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in early-stage NSCLC ( HR=2.090, 95% CI:1.162-3.760, P=0.014). Conclusions:The spatial distribution of bystander CD8 + T cells within the primary tumor influences the prognosis of patients with early-stage NSCLC. Patients with low-density IM CD8 + T bys and high-density TC CD8 + T bys are more prone to recurrence after radical surgery.

Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.

As a new therapeutic strategy for esophageal cancer, immunotherapy has attracted more and more attention. The completed and ongoing clinical trials of immunotherapy for esophageal cancer confirm the great potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in esophageal cancer. Future research will focus on the combination of immunotherapy with existing or new therapeutic modalities and the identification of populations likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

Objective:To establish an in vivo model of acute radiation esophagitis in Wistar rats based on a small animal precision radiotherapy platform (SARRP). Methods:Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, 40, 60 and 75 Gy groups. Based on MRI images, the esophageal target area of rats was outlined and the radiotherapy plan was formulated. The rats were respectively irradiated with 0, 8, 12 and 15 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days. The changes of body weight, food intake, esophageal pathology and magnetic resonance imaging were observed.Results:The body weight of rats in 75 Gy group decreased significantly on the 6th day after irradiation (IR) ( P<0.05). The esophageal tissue of rats in each IR group was thicker than that in control ( F = 14.20, P < 0.05). HE staining showed that the formation rate of radiation-induced esophagitis in 40 Gy and 60 Gy groups were 4/5 and 5/5, respectively, mainly mild. In 75 Gy group, the incidence of radiation-induced esophagitis approached to 5/5, of which 3/5 was severe at 9 d post-IR. The pathological injury scores [ M( Q1, Q3)] of rats in each group were 0, 1.0 (0.5, 2.5), 1.0 (1.0, 2.5) and 4.0 (1.5, 6.0) on the 9th day after IR. There was significant difference between the 75 Gy group and the control group ( H=12.69, P<0.05). After dynamic monitoring of neck MRI images, it was found that the esophageal signal of rats in each IR group increased and widened at 9 d post-irradiation. Conclusions:The animal model of acute radiation-induced esophagitis in rats was successfully established based on a small animal precision radiotherapy platform combined with MRI. 75 Gy was the best irradiation dose and the 9th day was the best observation time point.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of central lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. 36 patients with central lumbar spinal stenosis were treated by unilateral dual channel spinal endoscopy who underwent Beijing Mentougou District Hospital from November 2019 to September 2021 were collected. There were 19 males and 17 females, including 11 cases of L 5-S 1, 19 cases of L 4-L 5 and 6 cases of L 3-L 4; The age was (70.0±3.9) years old, and ranged from 55 to 82 years old. The observation indicators: the changes of dural sac area in lumbar magnetic resonance cross-section before and after surgery, and the improvement of visual analogue of pain (VAS) score and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) before and after surgery in 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, as well as the occurrence of complications. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and comprison between groups was conducted using the t test; Comprison between groups of count data was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:Postoperative MRI showed that the area of the transverse dural sac increased from (65.5±6.7) mm 2 before operation to (173.5±5.5) mm 2 after operation after the removal of the ligamentum flavum ( P<0.05). The follow-up of 36 patients for 12 months after operation showed that the VAS score decreased from (8.5±2.0) scores to (1.3±0.8) scores, and the ODI decreased from (59.3±12.3)% to (13.6±1.6)%( P<0.05). No complications such as nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and infection related to operation occurred in 36 patients. Conclusions:Unilateral biportal endoscopy is one of the safe and effective treatment methods in the treatment of central lumbar spinal stenosis, with obvious improvement in symptoms, and the increase in the area of the spinal dural sac. It can obtain good early clinical effects.

Objective: To analyze the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in radiation induced esophagitis of model rabbit. Methods: Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into EGCG group, saline group, blank group. The rabbits in EGCG and saline groups were irradiated with 6 MV X-rays. The blank group did not receive radiation. After irradiation, rabbits were given with 440 μmol/L EGCG or saline three times a day in continuous 5 days. The scores of pathological changes of esophagus were observed by optical microscope.The serum levels of interleukine-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukine-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of 67KD laminin receptor (67LR) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: After treatment, the scores of pathological changes of esophagus in blank group, saline group, EGCG group were 0, 3.9±1.10 and 2.80±0.92, respectively. At different time points after drug treatment, the levels of serum inflammatory factors among three groups were significantly different (F=23.66-236.32, P<0.05). The expressions of 67LR in esophageal tissue of 3 groups were also significantly different (F=585.38, P<0.05). Conclusions EGCG reduced radiation-induced esophagitis in rabbits by decreasing the levels of serum inflammatory factors, which may be related to the expression of 67LR protein.