1.Expert consensus on immunoprophylaxis of cervical cancer and other human papillomavirus- related diseases (2025 edition).
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(7):1107-1141
There have been recent, significant changes in strategies and policies for elimination of cervical cancer and advances in research of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases and their prevention and control. Based on the latest national and international research, and building on a consensus published in 2019, we developed an expert consensus on immunoprophylaxis of cervical cancer and other human papillomavirus-related diseases (2025 edition) in order to provide clinicians, disease prevention and control professionals, and vaccination staff a reference for the prevention and control of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases and systematic, comprehensive evidence-based support for the scientific use of HPV vaccines to optimize their prevention effectiveness.
Humans
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Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology*
;
Papillomavirus Vaccines/therapeutic use*
;
Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control*
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Female
;
Consensus
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Papillomaviridae/immunology*
;
Vaccination
;
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
2.Engineering and targeting potential of CAR NK cells in colorectal cancer.
Muhammad Babar KHAWAR ; Ali AFZAL ; Shuangshuang DONG ; Yue SI ; Haibo SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1529-1539
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a major global health concern, necessitates innovative treatments. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have shown promises, yet they grapple with challenges. The spotlight pivots to the rising heroes: CAR natural killer (NK) cells, offering advantages such as higher safety profiles, cost-effectiveness, and efficacy against solid tumors. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms underlying CAR NK cell trafficking and their interplay within the complex tumor microenvironment require further in-depth exploration. Herein, we provide insights into the design and engineering of CAR NK cells, antigen targets in CRC, and success in overcoming resistance mechanisms with an emphasis on the potential for clinical trials.
Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology*
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Humans
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Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism*
;
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics*
;
Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods*
;
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology*
;
Animals
3.Neoantigen-driven personalized tumor therapy: An update from discovery to clinical application.
Na XIE ; Guobo SHEN ; Canhua HUANG ; Huili ZHU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(17):2057-2090
Neoantigens exhibit high immunogenic potential and confer a uniqueness to tumor cells, making them ideal targets for personalized cancer immunotherapy. Neoantigens originate from tumor-specific genetic alterations, abnormal viral infections, or other biological mechanisms, including atypical RNA splicing events and post-translational modifications (PTMs). These neoantigens are recognized as foreign by the immune system, eliciting an immune response that largely bypasses conventional mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), mass spectrometry (MS), and artificial intelligence (AI) have greatly expedited the rapid detection and forecasting of neoantigens, markedly propelling the development of diverse immunotherapeutic strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody treatment. In this review, we comprehensively explore the discovery and characterization of neoantigens and their clinical use within promising immunotherapeutic frameworks. Additionally, we address the current landscape of neoantigen research, the intrinsic challenges of the field, and potential pathways for clinical application in cancer treatment.
Humans
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Neoplasms/therapy*
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Precision Medicine/methods*
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Immunotherapy/methods*
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Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics*
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Cancer Vaccines/immunology*
;
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
4.Exosomal Pparα derived from cancer cells induces CD8 + T cell exhaustion in hepatocellular carcinoma through the miR-27b-3p /TOX axis.
Wenjun ZHONG ; Nianan LUO ; Yafeng CHEN ; Jiangbin LI ; Zhujun YANG ; Rui DONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(23):3139-3152
BACKGROUND:
Cluster of differentiation 8 positive (CD8 + ) T cells play a crucial role in the response against tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where their dysfunction is commonly observed. While the association between elevated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) expression in HCC cells and exosomes and unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients is well-established, the underlying biological mechanisms by which PPARα induces CD8 + T cell exhaustion mediated by HCC exosomes remain poorly understood.
METHODS:
Bioinformatics analyses and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to investigate the regulation of microRNA-27b-3p ( miR-27b-3p ) and thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box ( Tox ) by Pparα . In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to validate the effects of HCC-derived exosomes, miR-27b-3p overexpression, and Pparα on T cell function. Exosome characterization was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting, and particle size analysis. Exosome tracing was performed using small animal in vivo imaging and confocal microscopy. The expression levels of miR-27b-3p , Pparα , and T cell exhaustion-related molecules ( Tox , Havcr2 , and Pdcd1 ) were detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blotting analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry analysis.
RESULTS:
Pparα expression was significantly increased in HCC and negatively correlated with prognosis. It showed a positive correlation with Tox and a negative correlation with miR-27b-3p . The overexpressed Pparα from HCC cells was delivered to CD8 + T cells via exosomes, which absorbed miR-27b-3p both in vitro and in vivo , acting as "miRNA sponges". Further experiments demonstrated that Pparα can inhibit the negative regulation of Tox mediated by miR-27b-3p through binding to its 3'untranslated regions.
CONCLUSIONS
HCC-derived exosomes deliver Pparα to T cells and promote CD8 + T cell exhaustion and malignant progression of HCC via the miR-27b-3p /TOX regulatory axis. The mechanisms underlying T-cell exhaustion in HCC can be utilized for the advancement of anticancer therapies.
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
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PPAR alpha/genetics*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics*
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Humans
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Liver Neoplasms/genetics*
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
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Exosomes/metabolism*
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Animals
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Mice
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High Mobility Group Proteins/genetics*
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Male
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T-Cell Exhaustion
5.c-Met-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells inhibit human serous ovarian cancer cell SKOV-3 in vitro.
Na-Na DU ; Yan-Jun ZHANG ; Yan-Qiu LI ; Lu ZHANG ; Ran AN ; Xiang-Cheng ZHEN ; Jing-Ting MIN ; Zheng-Hong LI
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):241-254
The study aimed to construct the second and third generation chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) targeting the c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) protein, and observe their killing effect on human serous ovarian cancer cell SKOV-3. The expression of MET gene in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, the correlation between MET gene expression and the abundance of immune cell infiltration, and the effect of MET gene expression on the tissue function of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma were analyzed by bioinformatics. The expression of c-Met in ovarian cancer tissues and adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The second and third generation c-Met CAR-T cells, namely c-Met CAR-T(2G/3G), were prepared by lentivirus infection, and the cell subsets and infection efficiency were detected by flow cytometry. Using CD19 CAR-T and activated T cells as control groups and A2780 cells with c-Met negative expression as Non target groups, the kill efficiency on SKOV-3 cells with c-Met positive expression, cytokine release and cell proliferation of c-Met CAR-T(2G/3G) were explored by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, ELISA and CCK-8 respectively. The results showed that MET gene expression was significantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with normal tissues, which was consistent with the immunohistochemistry results. However, in all pathological stages, there was no obvious difference in MET expression and no correlation between MET gene expression and the race and age of ovarian cancer patients. The second generation and third generation c-Met CAR-T cells were successfully constructed. After lentivirus infection, the proportion of CD8+ T cells in c-Met CAR-T(2G) was upregulated, while there was no significant change in the cell subsets of c-Met CAR-T(3G). The LDH release experiment showed that the kill efficiency of c-Met CAR-T(2G/3G) on SKOV-3 increased with the increase of effect-target ratio. When the effect-target ratio was 20:1, the kill efficiency of c-Met CAR-T(2G) reached (42.02 ± 5.17)% (P < 0.05), and the kill efficiency of c-Met CAR-T(3G) reached (51.40 ± 2.71)% (P < 0.05). ELISA results showed that c-Met CAR-T released more cytokine compared to CD19 CAR-T and activated T cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, the cytokine release of c-Met CAR-T(3G) was higher than c-Met CAR-T(2G) (P < 0.01). The CCK-8 results showed that after 48 h, the cell number of c-Met CAR-T(2G) was higher than that of c-Met CAR-T(3G) (P < 0.01). In conclusion, both the second and third generation c-Met CAR-T can target and kill c-Met-positive SKOV-3 cells, with no significant difference. c-Met CAR-T(2G) has stronger proliferative ability, and c-Met CAR-T(3G) releases more cytokines.
Humans
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Female
;
Ovarian Neoplasms/immunology*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism*
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Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology*
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/immunology*
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T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
6.Relationship of immune response with intestinal flora and metabolic reprogramming in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Rui GUO ; Zhe HE ; Fan LIU ; Hui-Zhen PENG ; Li-Wei XING
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):289-299
Numerous research conducted in recent years has revealed that gut microbial dysbiosis, such as modifications in composition and activity, might influence lung tissue homeostasis through specific pathways, thereby promoting susceptibility to lung diseases. The development and progression of lung cancer, as well as the effectiveness of immunotherapy are closely associated with gut flora and metabolites, which influence immunological and inflammatory responses. During abnormal proliferation, non-small cell lung cancer cells acquire more substances and energy by altering their own metabolic pathways. Glucose and amino acid metabolism reprogramming provide tumor cells with abundant ATP, carbon, and nitrogen sources, respectively, providing optimal conditions for tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape. This article reviews the relationship of immune response with gut flora and metabolic reprogramming in non-small cell lung cancer, and discusses the potential mechanisms by which gut flora and metabolic reprogramming affect the occurrence, development, and immunotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer, in order to provide new ideas for precision treatment of lung cancer patients.
Humans
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy*
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Lung Neoplasms/therapy*
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Immunotherapy
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Metabolic Reprogramming
7.Expert consensus on clinical application of immunotherapy intelligent prediction for colorectal cancer based on artificial intelligence platform(2025 version).
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(10):866-872
Microsatellite instability (MSI) serves as a molecular marker for DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), present in approximately 15% of colorectal cancer patients. The MSI status provides predictive information guiding treatment decisions; for instance, patients with microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancer demonstrate better responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Currently, MSI testing requires methods such as immunohistochemistry or next-generation sequencing. Although multiple clinical guidelines recommend routine MSI testing, its widespread adoption within China remains limited due to various constraints. Deep learning algorithms offer a novel AI-driven pattern recognition classification strategy, presenting a feasible approach to overcome limitations in MSI testing and enhance immunotherapy efficacy evaluation. Consequently, the Colorectal Surgery Group of the Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, in collaboration with Beihang University and drawing on current research utilizing artificial intelligence systems to assess colorectal cancer immunotherapy efficacy, has formulated the "Expert consensus on clinical application of immunotherapy intelligent prediction for colorectal cancer based on artificial intelligence platform(2025 version)". This consensus aims to facilitate the prediction of MSI status and other relevant indicators in colorectal cancer patients, while also supporting clinical decision-making regarding the selection and application of immunotherapy regimens.
Humans
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Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology*
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Artificial Intelligence
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Immunotherapy
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Microsatellite Instability
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Consensus
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Deep Learning
;
Algorithms
8.Role of Toll-like receptors in persistent infection of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus based on "latent pathogen theory".
Dan-Dan HONG ; Ting-Ting SHANG ; Hong-Yu GUO ; Wen-Ting ZUO ; Rui SUN ; Wen-Wen XU ; Qing-Ling REN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1974-1979
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus(HR-HPV) is the primary etiological factor in cervical lesions and cervical cancer. Toll-like receptors(TLRs), as important pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system, play a key role in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection. The "latent pathogen theory" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) holds that latent pathogens have both "latent" and "triggered" characteristics, which closely resemble the persistent infection and latent pathogenic potential of cervical HR-HPV. Guided by the "latent pathogen theory" and using contemporary immunological techniques, this paper explores the bidirectional immunomodulatory effects of TLRs in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection and their relationship with latent pathogens. The results indicate that TLRs play a crucial role in immune recognition and modulation. Dysregulation and overactivation of TLRs can induce chronic inflammation, allowing cervical HR-HPV to persist and evade immune detection. TLR dysfunction, coupled with a deficiency in healthy Qi that prevents the expulsion of pathogens, is a critical factor in the pathogenicity of latent pathogens. Restoring healthy Qi to modulate the immune functions of TLRs emerges as an important strategy for clearing cervical HR-HPV infection. By harmonizing the spleen and kidney and regulating immune balance, it is possible to reverse cervical HR-HPV infection, providing a scientific basis for clinical research.
Humans
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Toll-Like Receptors/genetics*
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Female
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Papillomavirus Infections/genetics*
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Papillomaviridae/immunology*
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Persistent Infection/genetics*
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Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/immunology*
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Animals
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Cervix Uteri/immunology*
;
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
9.Expression of BTLA/HVEM axis in hematological and prospects for immune target therapy.
Xiaowan LI ; Li ZHANG ; Zuxi FENG ; Yue CHEN ; Xiaofeng ZHU ; Liansheng ZHANG ; Lijuan LI
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(1):64-70
B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint, which typically interacts with herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) and plays a crucial role in regulating immune balance. BTLA interacts with its ligand HVEM in a cis manner on the surface of the same immune cell to maintain immune tolerance, while trans interactions on the surface of different immune cells mediate immunosuppressive effects. Dysregulation of the BTLA/HVEM axis can impair the functions of immune cells, particularly T lymphocytes, promoting immune escape of tumor cells and ultimately leading to tumor progression. Researchers have found that BTLA and HVEM are abnormally expressed in various tumors and are associated with prognosis, suggesting that they may be potential targets for tumor immunotherapy. This review summarizes the molecular structures of BTLA and HVEM, immunomodulatory mechanisms, recent advances in hematologic malignancies, potential inhibitors of BTLA/HVEM interaction, and their applications in immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies.
Humans
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14/chemistry*
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Receptors, Immunologic/immunology*
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Hematologic Neoplasms/genetics*
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Immunotherapy/methods*
;
Animals
10.Research progress of ICI and CAR-T in tumor immunotherapy.
Meilin YUAN ; Deqiao SHENG ; Yi YANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(2):178-182
Tumor immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment prospects for various malignant tumors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) , as representative of tumor immunotherapy, have achieved tremendous success in clinical practice and have become the first-line clinical treatment options for certain tumors. This article summarizes the progress and challenges of immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapy in tumor treatment, and discusses the future direction of tumor therapeutic vaccines development. Identifying novel therapeutic targets within the realm of tumor immunology, engineering innovative drug delivery systems, and employing combinatorial therapeutic strategies are poised to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes in oncology, thereby extending benefits to a broader patient population.
Humans
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Neoplasms/immunology*
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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use*
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Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics*
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Immunotherapy/methods*
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Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods*
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Animals
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Cancer Vaccines/therapeutic use*

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