Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), a subtype of neuroendocrine tumors with high proliferative activity, is characterized by strong invasiveness and poor prognosis. This article reports a previously healthy female non-smoker who developed NEC occurring sequentially in different lobes of both lungs. The lesions were pathologically diagnosed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining as large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), respectively. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) performed on both lesions revealed the presence of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion mutations in both lesions. Notably, the patient achieved a significant therapeutic response to ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeted therapy.
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Humans ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism* ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms/enzymology* ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology* ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To identify the underlying mechanism by which quercetin (Que) alleviates sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were assigned to sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP+Que (50 mg/kg) groups (n=15 per group) by using a random number table. The sepsisrelated ARDS mouse model was established using the CLP method. In vitro, the murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) cells were classified into control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS+Que (10 μmol/L), and LPS+Que+acetylcysteine (NAC, 5 mmol/L) groups. The effect of Que on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in mice lungs and MH-S cells was determined, and the mechanism with reactive oxygen species (ROS)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was also explored both in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: Que alleviated lung injury in mice, as reflected by a reversal of pulmonary histopathologic changes as well as a reduction in lung wet/dry weight ratio and neutrophil infiltration (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, Que improved the survival rate and relieved gas exchange impairment in mice (P<0.01). Que treatment also remarkedly reduced malondialdehyde formation, superoxide dismutase and catalase depletion, and cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, Que treatment diminished the release of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-6 both in vivo and in vitro (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Mechanistic investigation clarifified that Que administration led to a decline in the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in addition to the suppression of ROS expression (P<0.01). Furthermore, in LPS-induced MH-S cells, ROS inhibitor NAC further inhibited ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis on the basis of Que treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Que was found to exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects by suppressing the ROS/p38 MAPK pathway, thereby conferring protection for mice against sepsis-related ARDS.
Animals ; Sepsis/drug therapy* ; Quercetin/therapeutic use* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/enzymology* ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Lung/drug effects* ; Mice ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages, Alveolar/pathology* ; Inflammation/pathology* ; Protective Agents/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of combined application of Xuebijing Injection ( , XBJ) and resolvin D1 (RvD1) on survival rate and the underlying mechanisms in mice with sepsisinduced lung injury.

METHODSThe cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method was used to develop a mouse sepsis model. Specific pathogen free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=20 each): sham, CLP, CLP+XBJ, CLP+RvD1 and CLP+XBJ+RvD1. After surgery, mice in the CLP+XBJ, CLP+RvD1 and CLP+XBJ+RvD1 groups were given XBJ (25 μL/g body weight), RvD1 (10 ng/g body weight), and their combination (the same dose of XBJ and RvD1), respectively. In each group, 12 mice were used to observe 1-week survival rate, while the rest were executed at 12 h. Whole blood was collected for flow cytometric analysis of leukocyte adhesion molecules CD18, lung tissues were harvested for observing pathological changes, and testing the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1).

RESULTSCompared with the CLP group, the histopathological damage of the lung tissues was mitigated, MPO activity was decreased in the CLP+XBJ and CLP+RvD1 groups (P<0.05). In addition, the 1-week survival rate was improved, proportion of CD18-expressing cells in whole blood and ICAM-1 protein expression in lung tissue were decreased in the CLP+XBJ+RvD1 group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSXBJ together with RvD1 could effectively inhibit leukocyte adhesion, reduce lung injury, and improve the survival rate of mice with sepsis.

Animals ; CD18 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Survival Analysis

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-based targeted therapy improves the survival of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutations. However, factors including treatment or heterogeneity partly contribute to EGFR genetic status alteration between baseline and disease progresses (PD). The aim of this study is to compare difference of EGFR mutations between biopsy and rebiopsy in real world. METHODS: Data from 61 paired specimens performed EGFR testing in Jilin Provincial Cancer Hospital between January 2015 and December 2017 were collected and analyzed. The specimens were collected at baseline and PD, confirmed by histology or cytology and categorized as tumor tissue, malignant pleural effusion or plasma. All patients were naive and received chemotherapy or targeted therapy as first-line treatment. Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) was used to detect EGFR mutations. RESULTS: EGFR mutation rate in tumor tissue, pleural effusion or blood was 90.2% vs 88.5%, 6.6% vs 6.6% and 3.2% vs 4.9% at baseline or PD respectively and discrepancy was 72% and 36.3% for the same (n=50) or different (n=11) type of specimens. The EGFR mutation rate was 95.1% and 91.8% in patients before and after treatment, and the discrepancy was 63.9%, among which, 69.2% and 92.3% in chemotherapy-treated patients (n=13) with discrepancy to 46.1% (6/13), and 100.0% and 91.7% in EGFR-TKI-treated patients (n=48) with discrepancy to 70.8%. There were four types of alterations in terms of EGFR mutations: wild type turned into mutation (4.9%), mutation disappeared (8.2%), sensitive mutations transformed (1.6%), and new mutations appeared (49.1%). CONCLUSIONS In real world, the EGFR mutation status in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients altered significantly, due to tissue resources and therapeutic approaches, implying the importance of rebiopsy and real-time detection of EGFR mutation, in order to provide data to guide precise strategy in the following treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; ErbB Receptors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Targeted therapy is one of the major treatment modalities in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with sensitive driver gene mutations. BRAF is considered a promising oncogenic driver in NSCLC after the discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion and ROS1 rearrangement. BRAF V600E mutation accounts for more than half of BRAF mutations, which is a potential therapeutic target for advanced NSCLC. This review aims to summarize the advancements of BRAF gene mutation and targeted therapy for BRAF mutation in NSCLC.
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; methods ; Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics

In recent years, the number of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has gradually increased, and the treatment methods have also been significantly increased. However, there are no standard treatment plans at home and abroad for third-line and above patients who are refractory to targeted therapy epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or chemotherapy. The clinical treatment effect is also not satisfactory. Anlotinib is a novel TKI targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and c-Kit. ALTER0303 trail, phase III study has demonstrated that Anlotinib significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced NSCLC patients as 3rd line treatment.Here we report a case of advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring KRAS mutation treated with Anlotinib.
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Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quinolines ; therapeutic use

We assessed the effects of furan and lycopene on the histopathological and biochemical changes on lungs, body and lung weights, and food consumption of rats. Furan and diabetes caused histopathological changes, increment in malondialdehyde levels, and decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities. Lycopene showed a protective effect against these damages, except for glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Consequently, furan and diabetes resulted in lung toxicity. Our findings demonstrate that furan treatment resulted in more alterations in histology and biochemical parameters in diabetic rats and lycopene showed protective effects against these alterations.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; enzymology ; pathology ; Furans ; toxicity ; Lung ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDIt has been demonstrated that only 10%-20% cigarette smokers finally suffer chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The underlying mechanism of development remains uncertain so far. Nitric oxide (NO) has been found to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of COPD, the alteration of NO synthase (NOS) expression need to be revealed. The study aimed to investigate the alterations of NOS isoforms expressions between smokers with and without COPD, which might be helpful for identifying the susceptibility of smokers developing into COPD.

METHODSPeripheral lung tissues were obtained from 10 nonsmoker control subjects, 15 non-COPD smokers, and 15 smokers with COPD. Neuronal NOS (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNA and protein levels were measured in each sample by using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.

RESULTSINOS mRNA was significantly increased in patients with COPD compared with nonsmokers and smokers with normal lung function (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively). iNOS protein was also higher in COPD patients than nonsmokers and smokers with normal lung function (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). However, expressions of nNOS and eNOS did not differ among nonsmokers, smokers with and without COPD. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between iNOS protein level and lung function parameters forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) (% predicted) (r = -0.549, P = 0.001) and FEV₁/forced vital capacity (%, r = -0.535, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of iNOS significantly increased in smokers with COPD compared with that in nonsmokers or smokers without COPD. The results suggest that iNOS might be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD, and may be a potential marker to identify the smokers who have more liability to suffer COPD.

Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; enzymology ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of tripartite-motif protein 25 (TRIM25) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) protein in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and explore their role in the occurrence and progression of NSCLC.

METHODSThe expressions of TRIM25 and PKM2 protein were detected in 60 NSCLC specimens and 20 adjacent normal lung tissue (>5 cm from the lesions) with immunofluorescence histochemical method and in 10 fresh specimens of NSCLC with Western blotting. The results were analyzed in relation with the clinicopathological features of the patients.

RESULTSThe positivity rates of TRIM25 expression was 45% in the 60 lung carcinoma specimens, significantly higher than that in the 20 normal lung tissues (10%, P=0.005). TRIM25 protein was expressed in 28.6% of lung adenocarcinoma tissues and in 59.4% of squamous carcinoma tissues (P=0.017). TRIM25 protein expression was positively correlated with the TNM stages and lymph node metastasis of NSCLC (P<0.05). The expressions of PKM2 protein in 60 cases of lung carcinoma was 73.3%,while in 20 cases of normal lung tissues the expressions was 30%(P=0.001). The positivity rates of PKM2 expression differed significantly between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma (57.1% vs 87.5%, P=0.008). An inverse correlation was noted between TRIM25 and PKM2 expressions (P=0.026).

CONCLUSIONTRIM25 and PKM2 protein may participate in the occurrence and progression of NSCLC, and their expressions are inversely correlated.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; enzymology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Thyroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tripartite Motif Proteins ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements in lung adenocarcinoma, and the clinical therapy and prognosis of the patients.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 34 cases of ALK-positive patients treated in the Beijing Chest Hospital from 2005 to 2014 were reviewed. The expression of ALK proteins in the resected tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry, and EGFR mutations were examined by polymerase chain reaction and a direct DNA sequencing method.

RESULTSAmong the 34 patients, 20 were male and 14 were female, the median age was 49, and 11 were smokers and 23 were never smokers. The clinical stages of the patients were stage IA in 5 patients, IB in one patient, IIA in two patients, IIIA in 16 patients, IIIB in 5 patients, IV in 4 patients, and one patient of unknown stage. ALK-positive tumors showed strong granular staining in cell cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry. Forteen patients were solid predominant subtype with mucin production, 10 of acinar predominant subtype, 6 of papillary predominant subtype, 3 of micropapillary predominant subtype, and one was of colloid variant. There were 18 cases with mucin production, 6 cases had signet-ring cell morphology, and 10 cases showed cribriform pattern. Only one patient had coexistence of ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutation (L858R at exon 21). Of the 34 patients, 24 patients were followed up. The median follow up of the 24 patients was 11.0 months (1.7-48.7 months).

CONCLUSIONSALK-positive tumors as a molecular subtype of lung adenocarcinoma have distinct clinicopathological features. The histological findings of ALK-positive tumors are characterized by solid predominant subtype with mucin production, acinar predominant subtype, signet-ring cells and cribriform structures. They were rarely co-mutated with EGFR mutation.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; biosynthesis ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA