1.The Role of FASN in Tumors and Its Targeted Therapy
Wen-Jing JIANG ; Ruo-Xi ZHANG ; Yu-Qing TAI ; Ya-Wen SUN ; Xi-Yu ZHANG ; Xiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):920-935
Malignant tumors represent a major threat to global health. Conventional anti-tumor pharmacotherapy often encounters challenges such as drug resistance, highlighting an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key enzyme catalyzing de novo fatty acid synthesis, is subject to precise regulation at multiple levels, including transcriptional control, various post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination and phosphorylation, as well as modulation by diverse signaling pathways. Recent studies have revealed that FASN is aberrantly overexpressed in various malignant tumors and is closely associated with tumor progression and poor patient prognosis. FASN is a homodimer composed of seven functional domains that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent condensation of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to generate saturated fatty acids, primarily palmitic acid. Its stability is regulated by multiple ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes. Additionally, FASN is subject to upstream regulation via neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 8 (Nedd8) modification and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, thereby establishing a metabolic-signaling positive feedback loop. As a core executor of metabolic reprogramming, FASN promotes tumorigenesis through dual mechanisms. First, its fatty acid synthesis product, palmitate, participates in membrane phospholipid synthesis, lipid raft formation, and protein palmitoylation, thereby activating several key oncogenic signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, wingless-type MMTV integration site family member (Wnt)/β‑catenin, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), leading to tumor development and progression. Second, FASN plays a pivotal role in modulating the anti-tumor functions of immune cells and remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment. Specifically, FASN enhances immune checkpoint inhibition by inducing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) palmitoylation, suppresses the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and promotes the polarization of M2-type macrophages, consequently facilitating tumor immune evasion and malignant progression. Precisely due to its significant overexpression in tumor cells, its critical functional role, and its differential expression compared to normal cells, FASN has emerged as a highly promising target for anti-tumor drug development. Highly selective small-molecule inhibitors, notably represented by TVB-2640, have advanced to clinical trial stages and demonstrated favorable anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, the combination of FASN inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic agents or targeted drugs can overcome the limitations of monotherapy through synergistic effects or by resensitizing tumor cells to conventional drugs, achieving a “1+1>2” therapeutic outcome. With the advancement of modern traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), numerous active ingredients derived from TCM have been confirmed to exert anti-tumor effects by modulating FASN-related pathways. This integrated approach leverages the precision of Western medicine while simultaneously harnessing the holistic regulatory benefits of TCM to alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite the promising prospects of FASN-targeted therapies, challenges remain, including tumor cell metabolic plasticity, tumor context-dependent responses, and heterogeneity. This review systematically summarizes the molecular structure, physiological functions, and mechanisms of FASN in tumorigenesis, as well as recent advances in targeted therapies. Future directions—including the precise identification of responsive patient populations using spatial transcriptomics, the development of novel combination regimens, and the active exploration of integrative strategies combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine—will facilitate the clinical translation of FASN-targeted therapies and open new avenues for improving the quality of life and prognosis of cancer patients.
2.Wisdom Inheritance of Distinguished Physicians' Experience Through Integration of Multimodal Data and AIGC: A Case Study on Experience in Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer with Phlegm-dampness and Blood Stasis Syndrome by Distinguished Traditional Chinese Medicine Physicians of Sichuan School
Yang YU ; Yadong MU ; Wenping LIU ; Chongcheng XI ; Li ZHANG ; Yan GAO ; Cen JIANG ; Quansheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):14-25
Lung cancer, with persistently high incidence and mortality rates, remains a significant global health challenge. By taking the study on the experience in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer with phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndrome by distinguished traditional Chinese medicine physicians of the Sichuan School as an example, the diagnosis and treatment system for lung cancer with phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndrome, which was formed in response to the humid and foggy environment of the Sichuan Basin, possesses unique value. However, traditional inheritance modes face challenges such as fragmentation, lack of standardization, and insufficient quantification, which hinder the promotion and application of this experience. This research focused on how to leverage multimodal data and artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) to achieve precise analysis, intelligent inheritance, and clinical innovation of the experience in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer with phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndrome by distinguished traditional Chinese medicine physicians of the Sichuan School. By integrating multimodal data (encompassing four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine, modern medical imaging, clinical laboratory tests, molecular biology, and regional environmental information), a precise diagnosis and treatment system integrating macro and micro perspectives for the "disease, syndrome, and pathogenesis" was constructed. The research yielded the following results: (1) In precise syndrome differentiation, the objective quantification of the phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndrome was achieved. By constructing a "four diagnostic methods, imaging, and molecule" correlation model, the study revealed intrinsic links between tongue and pulse parameters and the tumor microenvironment, as well as between regional climatic factors and syndrome characteristics, enabling real-time dynamic monitoring of efficacy. (2) In elucidating patterns, the study systematically explored the syndrome differentiation thoughts of Sichuan School physicians, such as the timing of purgation and tonification. A "pathogenesis, syndrome complex, and prescriptions and herb" network model was constructed, which accurately elucidated the synergistic action mechanisms of core herb pairs and quantified the dynamic compatibility patterns of reinforcing healthy Qi and eliminating pathogenic factors. (3) In intelligent empowerment, an auxiliary system integrating intelligent syndrome differentiation, treatment plan generation, and efficacy evaluation was built. This system can fuse regional characteristics with individual data, dynamically generate and optimize personalized prescriptions aligned with the experience of Sichuan School, and predict efficacy trends and potential adverse reactions. The integration of multimodal data and AIGC can effectively facilitate the structured inheritance and clinical translation of distinguished physicians' experience. The established intelligent diagnosis and treatment model integrating traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine demonstrates clear potential in prolonging patients' progression-free survival, alleviating symptoms, and reducing adverse reactions to treatment. This study provides a referential methodological framework for the traditional Chinese medicine experience in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, especially the empirical inheritance and modernized development of regional academic schools. It contributes to advancing clinical diagnosis and treatment toward greater precision and personalization.
3.Research on coordinated development of medical service supply-economic-social tri-system:Based on the analysis of Zhejiang Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone
Li-na GUO ; Yue-ming XI ; Yu ZHU ; Shang-ren QIN
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(2):30-38
Objective:To explore the coordinated development status of the medical service supply-economy-society trinity systems in Zhejiang Common Prosperity Demonstration Zone,and to offer references for formulating policies conducive to the efficient and coordinated development of these three systems.Methods:Based on the panel data from 2013 to 2022,this research was conducted on the 11 prefectural-level cities in Zhejiang Province.Firstly,an evaluation index system for the three systems was established,and the entropy method was employed to determine the weights of each index and calculate the comprehensive evaluation index.Secondly,a triangular model was introduced to delineate the relative relationships among the three systems,and the coupling coordination degree model was utilized to disclose the coordination degree of the three systems.Finally,the spatial autocorrelation analysis method was applied to investigate the spatial autocorrelation of the coupling coordination degree of the three systems.Results:(1)On the whole,the development status of the three systems has improved over time,yet the comprehensive development level remains to be improved.(2)Overall,each prefectural-level city has transited from a medical service supply-society-dominated development to a balanced and coordinated development of the medical service supply-economy-society trinity systems.The coupling coordination degree of the three systems has risen from 0.468(on the verge of imbalance)in 2013 to 0.609(primary coordination)in 2022,presenting an upward trend in general.However,the coordination level remains to be improved and there exist imbalances among regions.(3)The coupling coordination degree of the three systems in Zhejiang Province exhibits a significant positive spatial correlation,and the spatial distribution characteristics are relatively stable. Conclusion:The coupling coordination degree of the medical service supply-economy-society trinity systems in Zhejiang Province awaits further enhancement. At the level of Zhejiang Province,favorable policy support should be provided,the layout of medical resources should be rationally planned,and high-quality economic and social development should be promoted. Each prefectural-level city should formulate strategies for medical service supply,economic,and social development in accordance with its own development level and local conditions,strengthen inter-city linkage and cooperation,and thereby elevate the coordinated development level of the three systems.
4.Molecular mechanisms and prospects for disease treatment of ciliogenesis and autophagy
Hao-liang HU ; Jin WANG ; Jia-yan LIU ; Shi-fang HUANG ; Yu-ting LI ; Zhe CHEN ; Lin-xi CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):631-637
Cilia,as cellular sensory organelles,actively partici-pate in and regulate cellular processes such as autophagy and metabolic breakdown during their generation and transportation.Autophagy,on the other hand,is a cell self-protection mecha-nism that maintains cellular homeostasis by clearing aggregates and damaged organelles.Combining recent research findings,this review comprehensively elucidates the bidirectional crosstalk between primary cilia and autophagy.Specifically,it highlights the crucial role of cilia-dependent signaling pathways in activa-ting cellular autophagy and how autophagy regulates cilia genera-tion and length by degrading specific ciliary proteins.Moreover,the dysregulation of primary cilia and autophagy is closely asso-ciated with the clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of vari-ous ciliopathy-related diseases such as polycystic kidney disease and tuberous sclerosis.In terms of pharmacotherapy,this review provides a comprehensive and in-depth overview of small mole-cule inhibitors targeting ciliogenesis,including cytoskeletal drugs and Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitors.Despite the current limitations in clinical use,these drugs lay the groundw-ork for developing highly specific targeted small molecule inhibi-tors of ciliogenesis and for the treatment of ciliopathies and canc-ers.By systematically discussing ciliogenesis,autophagy,disea-ses and drugs,this review offers new insights for further elucida-ting the crosstalk between ciliogenesis and autophagy,exploring their pathological mechanisms in disease development,and de-veloping therapeutic strategies in the future.
5.SPP1 expression in SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with PD-L1
Juan WU ; Xi HUANG ; Jiajia LI ; Yuqing WEI ; Liqing ZHANG ; Yongmei YU ; Zhiwei LU ; He ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(4):477-486
AIM:To analyze the expression of se-creted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)and programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1)in SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer,and to provide a scientif-ic basis for the study of the follow-up treatment of this rare pathological type of lung cancer.METH-ODS:The clinical and pathological characteristics of 12 patients with this disease were analyzed retro-spectively,and the patients were divided into two groups of adenocarcinomas and poorly differentiat-ed carcinomas according to their morphological characteristics,and the relationship between the expression of SPP1 and PD-L1 was analyzed in the two groups.RESULTS:SPP1 expression was detect-ed in all patients and Its expression level was signif-icantly higher in the poorly differentiated carcino-ma group compared with the adenocarcinoma group(P=0.015);PD-L1 expression was found in 6/7 patients(5 cases were not measured),compared with the adenocarcinoma group,PD-L1 was also highly expressed in the poorly differentiated carci-noma group(P=0.048)and the PD-L1 difference be-tween the two groups suggested that the results were similar to those of SPP1.CONCLUSION:SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer has high positive expression of SPP1 and PD-L1.It was more pronounced in patients with poorly differenti-ated carcinoma.There may be a positive correla-tion between SPP1 and PD-L1 expression in SMAR-CA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer and the mechanism of the correlation needs to be further verified in subsequent studies.
6.Effects of Rutong Ruanjian Tablets on angiogenesis in a rat model of preneoplastic breast cancer of Liver-Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Pattern via DLL4/Notch1/Hes1 pathway
Hua YANG ; Jun-yao LONG ; Jie GONG ; Bing-bing LU ; Xi ZOU ; Yu-rong WU ; Li-fang LIU ; Hui LIU ; Qi-hua CHEN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(3):774-781
AIM To investigate the effects of Rutong Ruanjian Tablets on angiogenesis in cancer tissues of rats with preneoplastic breast cancer(PBC).METHODS 60 female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group of 10 rats and a model group of 50 rats for the establishment of the PBC models of Liver-Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Pattern with 9 weeks of oral administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA)and cervical ligation.After successful modeling,the rats were randomly divided into the model group,the tamoxifen group(3.2 mg/kg),the Rutong Ruanjian Tablets group(128 mg/kg),the 3,5-difluorobenzoyl group(DAPT,5 mg/kg),and the Rutong Ruanjian Tablets(128 mg/kg via gavage)+DAPT(5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection)group,for 1 month corresponding drug administration,with 10 rats in each group.Then the rats had their cancer progression and syndrome scores observed;their angiogenesis evaluated by assessment of microvascular density(MVD);their vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression assessed by immunohistochemistry;and their mRNA and protein expressions of proteins related to the DLL4/Notch1/Hes1 pathway measured using RT-qPCR,immunohistochemistry and Western blot.RESULTS During carcinogenesis of rats induced by DMBA,there was gradual disappearance of E-cadherin expression and consistency of HE staining result with the PBC progression confirming the success of the modeling.Compared with the blank group,the model group showed increased MVD values,mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1,and protein expressions of VEGF,DLL4,Notch1 and Hes1(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the Rutong Ruanjian Tablets group exhibited reduced MVD values,mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1,and protein expressions of VEGF,DLL4,Notch1 and Hes1(P<0.05,P<0.01).The Rutong Ruanjian Tablets+DAPT group showed reduced mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1,and protein expressions of DLL4,Notch1 and Hes1 compared to the Rutong Ruanjian Tablets group(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Rutong Ruanjian Tablets can inhibit angiogenesis and attenuate cancer progression in PBC rats of Liver-Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis Pattern,and the mechanism may lie in the downregulation of DLL4/Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway related proteins.
7.Research on coagulation effect of cold atmospheric plasma jet device and its mechanism of action
Yan LI ; Hong-ye ZHENG ; Ao-xi XU ; Ya-jun ZHAO ; Shan-shan JIN ; Xu ZHANG ; Yu-fan WEI ; Yi-heng ZHANG ; Li ZHU ; Xi-ru LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):20-27
Objective To investigate the coagulation effect of a cold atmospheric plasma(CAP)jet device with helium as the working gas and to study its coagulation mechanism preliminarily.Methods A CAP jet device treatment group,a helium airflow treatment group,a hot air treatment group(60℃)and a natural coagulation group were formed according to the treatment modes of the blood samples,with 10 μL of blood samples involved in each group,in order to validate the coagulation effect of the CAP jet device in vitro;the coagulation mechanism of the CAP jet device was explored by its application to the treatment of anticoagulated whole blood,platelet-rich plasma and platelet-depleted plasma;the coagulation effect of the CAP jet device in vivo was verified with a mouse liver punctate hemorrhage model and a rabbit mesenteric hemorrhage model.Results The CAP jet device can significantly accelerate the coagulation of anticoagulated blood droplets,and the coagulation time of anticoagulated blood droplets in the CAP jet device-treated group was shortened from 28 min in the natural coagulation group to(23±1.56)s,with the difference statistically significant(P<0.05),and the CAP jet device treatment group gained advantages significantly over the helium airflow treatment group(P<0.05)and the hot air(60℃)treatment group(P<0.05)in coagulation-promoting effect;the procoagulant effect of the CAP jet device rose with the increase of platelet content in blood droplets,and the coagulation effect of platelet-rich blood droplets was significantly better than that of whole blood(P<0.05),while no coagulation was observed in platelet-poor droplets.The CAP jet device could rapidly stop hemostasis of punctate hemorrhage in mouse liver and mesenteric hemorrhage in rabbits without delayed hemorrhage occurring within 10 min,and no obvious structural abnormality of the liver and thermal damage of the tissue were found microscopically.Conclusion The CAP jet device plays procoagulant and hemostatic effects in vivo and in vitro,and its effect is not dependent on temperature and airflow evaporation effects and is considered to be related to platelet activation,with low thermal damage to living tissue.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):20-27]
8.Present situation of sensors applied to monitoring of spinal morphology and motion
Shi-yu ZHOU ; Ya-qin LI ; Yang-xi HUANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Jing WANG ; Zhi-min LIANG ; Yu-chen GUO ; Xue YANG ; Ling-li LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):105-110
The application of sensors to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion was reviewed in terms of the research object and monitoring index.The present situation of the application of sensors was introduced,such as inertial sensor,stretchable strain sensor and electromagnetic sensor.The deficiencies of sensors applied to the monitoring of spinal morphology and motion were analyzed,and the future directions of the application were pointed out.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):105-110]
9.Application of Single-cell and Spatial Omics Technologies in Ischemic Stroke Research
Xiao-Xi ZHU ; Cheng WANG ; Li-Mei YU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(11):1600-1609
Ischemic stroke(IS)research has faced bottlenecks due to the limitations of conventional technologies in resolving cellular heterogeneity and spatiotemporal dynamics.The development of single-cell and spatial omics technologies provides revolutionary tools to break through these constraints.Single-cell omics technologies,by performing high-throughput sequencing on thousands of cells,reveal the high heterogeneity and dynamic state transitions of neurons,glial cells,immune cells,and others post-IS.For instance,microglia contain pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functional subsets,while astrocytes exhibit distinct activation state spectra.Pseudotime analysis further reconstructs the fate trajectories of cells during the damage and repair processes.Spatial omics technologies,conversely,reconstruct spatial maps of gene expression through in situ capture,elucidating molecular gradients between the ischemic core,penumbra,and healthy brain regions,and enabling the analysis of critical cell-cell interaction net-works.Integrating the deep phenotyping capability of single-cell sequencing with the in situ localization information from spatial omics constitutes the current core strategy.This multimodal analysis allows for precise anchoring of cell subtypes to their spatial microenvironments,revealing their distribution patterns and functions,and constructing a more accurate atlas of cell-cell communication.This significantly ad-vances the refined dissection of IS mechanisms.This strategy has already accelerated the discovery of po-tential biomarkers and spatiotemporally specific therapeutic targets.Although challenges remain in sample preparation,data integration,and technical noise,future interdisciplinary collaboration,multi-omics in-tegration,and in-depth mining with artificial intelligence promise to comprehensively transform our under-standing of IS.Ultimately,it holds the potential to promote advances in its early diagnosis,precise sub-typing,and the development of individualized treatment strategies.
10.Application research of analytic hierarchy process-based fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for quality assessment of hemodialysis machines
Yu HE ; Tao LI ; Wei WANG ; Hao-cheng LI ; Xiao-xi ZHENG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(9):81-87
Objective To construct a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)to evaluate the quality of hemodialysis machines.Methods Firstly,the influencing factors for the quality of hemodialysis machines were determined with considerations on the requirements for medical technology assessment of medical devices and the hospital's many years of experience in use,maintenance and management of hemodialysis machines,and the indicators of the evaluation model were set with the general attributes of the product quality as the criterion level and the influencing factors as the sub-criterion level.Secondly,the AHP was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze relevant factors to construct a hierarchical judgment matrix,and the quality evaluation indicator weights for hemodylysis machines were determined with the consistency test.Finally,the operational principles of fuzzy mathematics were applied to establishing a fuzzy judgment matrix,and the evaluation results were calculated using Type Ⅳ fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model.Results The constructed fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model included one first-level indicator,seven second-level indicators and 21 third-level indicators.All the first-and second-level indicators passed the consistency tests.The evaluation results obtained with this model were practical and consistent with the hospital's long-term record data on hemodialysis machines.Conclusion The constructed fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model demonstrates a certain degree of scientific rigor for quality assessment of hemodialysis machines and can provide decision-making support for their procurement justification.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(9):81-87]

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail