1.Mesoderm Development-related Genes and Signaling Pathways Affect the Occurrence and Development of Melanoma
Jia-Xin MA ; Zhi-Dong GUO ; Yun-Bin ZHANG ; Ming YAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1179-1192
This study systematically investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of mesoderm development-associated genes in melanoma progression through integrated bioinformatics analy-sis and experimental validation.Utilizing the GSVA(gene set variation analysis)algorithm to perform enrichment analysis of 7 752 biological functions in 406 skin cutaneous melanoma(SKCM)cases,we i-dentified for the first time the significant activation of mesoderm development pathways during SKCM pathogenesis.Four core regulatory genes(SMAD4,NODAL,BMPR1A,and ZFP36L1)were screened using LASSO-COX regression analysis and a prognostic risk-scoring system was established.Gene Ontolo-gy(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analyses revealed predomi-nant enrichment of these genes in mRNA metabolic processes and TGF-β signaling pathways.Experimen-tal validation through Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction(qPCR),Western blotting,and immuno-histochemistry(IHC)demonstrated that:(1)Downregulation of SMAD4 and BMPR1A in tumor tissues was significantly correlated with poor prognosis(P<0.05);(2)NODAL promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT);(3)High ZFP36L1 expression was associated with enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity.Further analyses revealed significant correlations be-tween core gene expression levels and tumor immune infiltration characteristics as well as immune check-point molecules.By integrating multi-omics analysis with experimental validation,this study elucidates the critical roles of mesoderm development-associated genes in SKCM progression,particularly clarifying the molecular mechanisms through which SMAD4/NODAL/BMPR1A/ZFP36L1 influence tumor biologi-cal behaviors via immune microenvironment regulation and EMT processes.These findings provide novel theoretical foundations for molecular subtyping and targeted therapy in melanoma.
2.Research progress on treatment of pleural effusion related to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Tianqi AN ; Jianhui TIAN ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Bin LUO ; Zujun QUE ; Yao LIU ; Pan YU ; Ruihua ZHAO ; Yun YANG
China Oncology 2025;35(3):333-338
Immunotherapy for cancer,as an emerging treatment modality,has made significant strides in recent years and has become a crucial therapeutic approach following surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapy.In particular,the clinical utilization of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has not only enhanced the survival rates of patients with refractory or recurrent tumors but has also significantly optimized the overall strategy for cancer treatment.However,as the population undergoing cancer immunotherapy continues to grow,this expansion not only yields clinical benefits but also precipitates a range of specific adverse reactions known as immune-related adverse events(irAEs).Pleural effusion is a common and severe complication in cancer patients,significantly affecting both their quality of life and treatment outcomes.Typically,tumor-related pleural effusion is often due to pleural metastasis,with malignant pleural effusion(MPE)characterized by rapid growth,being difficult to control,and tendency for recurrence.With the approval of new drugs and the expansion of indications for existing medications,the number of cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment is increasing,bringing ICIs-related pleural effusion into focus.While ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is relatively rare in clinical practice,it is closely linked to treatment choices of patients and prognosis.Unlike MPE,the pathogenesis of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is more complex,not only involving non-specific immune activation leading to autoimmune inflammatory reactions but also potentially related to nodular pleural granulomatous reactions,eosinophilic chronic pleurisy,and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.In terms of diagnosis,ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is typically diagnosed through exclusion,requiring the exclusion of other causes such as tumor progression,radiotherapy,and chemotherapy-induced pleural effusion,adding complexity and difficulty to the diagnostic process.Treatment for ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion often involves glucocorticoids,tocilizumab,or infliximab,aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis by suppressing excessive immune reactions.Preventing the occurrence of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is equally crucial,necessitating comprehensive patient assessment before ICIs administration and continuous monitoring during treatment to promptly detect and manage potential adverse reactions.Through this comprehensive management approach,the impact of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion on patient quality of life and treatment outcomes can be minimized,optimizing overall treatment results.This review aimed to explore the pathogenesis,histological features,clinical manifestations,diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,and delve into the characteristics of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,in order to enhance understanding of this complication and provide a reference for clinical practice.
3.Research progress on treatment of pleural effusion related to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Tianqi AN ; Jianhui TIAN ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Bin LUO ; Zujun QUE ; Yao LIU ; Pan YU ; Ruihua ZHAO ; Yun YANG
China Oncology 2025;35(3):333-338
Immunotherapy for cancer,as an emerging treatment modality,has made significant strides in recent years and has become a crucial therapeutic approach following surgery,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapy.In particular,the clinical utilization of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)has not only enhanced the survival rates of patients with refractory or recurrent tumors but has also significantly optimized the overall strategy for cancer treatment.However,as the population undergoing cancer immunotherapy continues to grow,this expansion not only yields clinical benefits but also precipitates a range of specific adverse reactions known as immune-related adverse events(irAEs).Pleural effusion is a common and severe complication in cancer patients,significantly affecting both their quality of life and treatment outcomes.Typically,tumor-related pleural effusion is often due to pleural metastasis,with malignant pleural effusion(MPE)characterized by rapid growth,being difficult to control,and tendency for recurrence.With the approval of new drugs and the expansion of indications for existing medications,the number of cancer patients receiving ICIs treatment is increasing,bringing ICIs-related pleural effusion into focus.While ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is relatively rare in clinical practice,it is closely linked to treatment choices of patients and prognosis.Unlike MPE,the pathogenesis of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is more complex,not only involving non-specific immune activation leading to autoimmune inflammatory reactions but also potentially related to nodular pleural granulomatous reactions,eosinophilic chronic pleurisy,and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.In terms of diagnosis,ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is typically diagnosed through exclusion,requiring the exclusion of other causes such as tumor progression,radiotherapy,and chemotherapy-induced pleural effusion,adding complexity and difficulty to the diagnostic process.Treatment for ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion often involves glucocorticoids,tocilizumab,or infliximab,aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve prognosis by suppressing excessive immune reactions.Preventing the occurrence of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion is equally crucial,necessitating comprehensive patient assessment before ICIs administration and continuous monitoring during treatment to promptly detect and manage potential adverse reactions.Through this comprehensive management approach,the impact of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion on patient quality of life and treatment outcomes can be minimized,optimizing overall treatment results.This review aimed to explore the pathogenesis,histological features,clinical manifestations,diagnostic methods and treatment strategies of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,and delve into the characteristics of ICIs treatment-related pleural effusion,in order to enhance understanding of this complication and provide a reference for clinical practice.
4.Mesoderm Development-related Genes and Signaling Pathways Affect the Occurrence and Development of Melanoma
Jia-Xin MA ; Zhi-Dong GUO ; Yun-Bin ZHANG ; Ming YAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1179-1192
This study systematically investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of mesoderm development-associated genes in melanoma progression through integrated bioinformatics analy-sis and experimental validation.Utilizing the GSVA(gene set variation analysis)algorithm to perform enrichment analysis of 7 752 biological functions in 406 skin cutaneous melanoma(SKCM)cases,we i-dentified for the first time the significant activation of mesoderm development pathways during SKCM pathogenesis.Four core regulatory genes(SMAD4,NODAL,BMPR1A,and ZFP36L1)were screened using LASSO-COX regression analysis and a prognostic risk-scoring system was established.Gene Ontolo-gy(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analyses revealed predomi-nant enrichment of these genes in mRNA metabolic processes and TGF-β signaling pathways.Experimen-tal validation through Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction(qPCR),Western blotting,and immuno-histochemistry(IHC)demonstrated that:(1)Downregulation of SMAD4 and BMPR1A in tumor tissues was significantly correlated with poor prognosis(P<0.05);(2)NODAL promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT);(3)High ZFP36L1 expression was associated with enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity.Further analyses revealed significant correlations be-tween core gene expression levels and tumor immune infiltration characteristics as well as immune check-point molecules.By integrating multi-omics analysis with experimental validation,this study elucidates the critical roles of mesoderm development-associated genes in SKCM progression,particularly clarifying the molecular mechanisms through which SMAD4/NODAL/BMPR1A/ZFP36L1 influence tumor biologi-cal behaviors via immune microenvironment regulation and EMT processes.These findings provide novel theoretical foundations for molecular subtyping and targeted therapy in melanoma.
5.Clinical value of peripheral immune function status in the assessment of'Deficiency of Vital Qi'in lung cancer metastasis
Fan XU ; Jianhui TIAN ; Youjun LIU ; Zhenyang CHENG ; Zujun QUE ; Bin LUO ; Yun YANG ; Jialiang YAO ; Wang YAO ; Xinyi LU ; Yao LIU ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Jianchun WU ; Yingbin LUO ; Minghua LI ; Wenfei SHI ; Yajing CUI ; Wenji SHANGGUAN ; Yan LI
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(10):1065-1070
Objective:To investigate the association between peripheral immune function status and lung cancer metastasis,and to identify peripheral blood immune biomarkers for'Deficiency of Vital Qi'assessment in lung cancer metastasis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on peripheral blood immune markers collected before treatment from lung cancer patients admitted into Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,between March 2023 and April 2025.Patients were categorized into the non-metastatic and the metastatic groups based on the presence of distant metastasis,and the differences in the expressions of immune cells and cytokines between groups were compared.Peripheral blood immune markers with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were incorporated into a multivariate binary logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of lung cancer metastasis.Results:A total of 193 lung cancer patients were included(101 in the non-metastatic group and 92 in the metastatic group).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,smoking history,drinking history,or pathological type(all P>0.05).Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in multiple immune markers between the non-metastatic and metastatic groups(all P<0.05),including:lymphocyte count,CD3+,CD4+,and CD8+T,CD19+B cells,absolute counts of CD3-CD16+CD56+NK cells,percentages of Treg cells,CD8+CD28+Treg cells,G-MDSC,and CD3-CD16+CD56+dim NK cells,and levels of cytokine IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-10.Binary logistic regression analysis of differential indicators suggested that the percentage of Treg cells and CD8+CD28+Treg cells in peripheral blood were independent predictors of distant metastasis in lung cancer(OR=1.193,95%CI[1.047,1.36],P<0.01;OR=0.978,95%CI[0.957,0.999],P<0.05).Conclusion:Peripheral blood immune dysfunction is the biological basis for'qi deficiency'in lung cancer metastasis.This study quantitatively demonstrates the correlation between peripheral immune function status and lung cancer metastasis,providing empirical evidence for the theories of'qi deficiency and hidden toxicity'and'metastatic state of tumors'.
6.Initial Construction of the Tumor Metastatic State Doctrine under the Perspective of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine
Jianhui TIAN ; Bin LUO ; Zujun QUE ; Yun YANG ; Jialiang YAO ; Yan LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2065-2069
Based on the concepts of "people-oriented" in traditional Chinese medicine and "tumor-suppression" in modern medicine, we have combed the studies on the spatial and temporal evolution of tumor metastasis and its biological characteristics in different perspectives, and initially proposed the theory of tumor metastasis from the perspective of the dynamic game between the tumor cells and the body's immune system under the theory of the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, that is, the formation of metastasis is the result of the dynamic evolution of the cancer cells and their surrounding environmental factors in the body over time and space. It is believed that the symptomatic manifestation of metastasis is systematic, the triggering factors of metastasis are constant, and the clinical outcome of metastasis is staged. Accordingly, it is proposed to understand the mechanism of metastasis from the perspective of spatial and temporal dynamics, to establish a clinical and pathological model for identifying metastasis, and to reveal the critical point of metastasis, so as to facilitate the change of the research on tumor metastasis from static to dynamic, and provide ideas for the formulation of metastasis prevention and treatment strategies, and the construction of a new system of metastasis prevention and treatment in the clinical tumor field.
7.Population pharmacokinetics of Ainuovirine and exposure-response analysis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals
Xiaoxu HAN ; Jin SUN ; Yihang ZHANG ; Taiyi JIANG ; Qingshan ZHENG ; Haiyan PENG ; Yao WANG ; Wei XIA ; Tong ZHANG ; Lijun SUN ; Xinming YUN ; Hong QIN ; Hao WU ; Bin SU
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(20):2473-2482
Background::Ainuovirine (ANV) is a new generation of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection. This study aimed to evaluate the population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) profile and exposure-response relationship of ANV among people living with HIV.Methods::Plasma concentration-time data from phase 1 and phase 3 clinical trials of ANV were pooled for developing the PopPK model. Exposure estimates obtained from the final model were used in exposure-response analysis for virologic responses and safety responses.Results::ANV exhibited a nonlinear pharmacokinetic profile, which was best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. There were no significant covariates correlated to the pharmacokinetic parameters of ANV. The PopPK parameter estimate (relative standard error [%]) for clearance adjusted for bioavailability (CL/F) was 6.46 (15.00) L/h, and the clearance of ANV increased after multiple doses. The exposure-response model revealed no significant correlation between the virologic response (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks and the exposure, but the incidence of adverse events increased with the increasing exposure ( P value of steady-state trough concentration and area under the steady-state curve were 0.0177 and 0.0141, respectively). Conclusions::Our PopPK model supported ANV 150 mg once daily as the recommended dose for people living with HIV, requiring no dose adjustment for the studied factors. Optimization of ANV dose may be warranted in clinical practice due to an increasing trend in adverse reactions with increasing exposure.Trial registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry https://www.chictr.org.cn (Nos. ChiCTR1800018022 and ChiCTR1800019041).
8.Clinical status and research progress of immunotherapy resistance in lung cancer
Xu FAN ; Liu YAO ; Yang YUN ; Luo BIN ; Tian JIANHUI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2024;51(12):628-634
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and lethality globally.In recent years,emerging immunotherapy based on the immune checkpoint inhibitors,programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand(PD-1/L1),as a representative,has made revolu-tionary breakthroughs in the field of lung cancer.The indications for this treatment mode have moved from driver-gene-negative advanced or locally advanced lung cancer to adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of perioperative lung cancer,and an increasing number of mono-clonal antibodies against PD-1 and PD-L1 has been approved for the treatment of lung cancer.However,with the widespread use of immun-otherapy,the problem of drug resistance has gradually come to the fore.Only a small proportion of the overall lung cancer population re-sponds to immunotherapy,bringing a new round of challenges to lung cancer treatment.In this paper,the clinical status of immunotherapy resistance in lung caner is reviewed,and cutting-edge advances in knowledge of resistance mechanisms and coping strategies are reviewed,with the aim of providing clinicians with ideas and the basis for formulating individualized,precise treatment plans.
9.The Etiological Study of Three Hunter Syndrome Families in Southern China
Shi-yao ZHENG ; Jia TANG ; Yang AI ; Xiao-yun WU ; Jie XIE ; Ying HUANG ; Yi-bin GUO
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2023;44(3):490-496
ObjectiveTo reveal the molecular pathogenesis of Hunter syndrome in three families in southern China and to clarify the correlation between phenotype and genotype, so as to lay a foundation for future prenatal or preimplantation genetic diagnosis. MethodsOn the basis of initial clinical diagnosis and pedigree analysis, qualitative detection of glycosaminoglycans in urine was performed first, and then anticoagulant blood samples were collected from the children and their relatives. DNA was extracted and the IDS gene sequence was analyzed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Various methods such as RT-PCR and bioinformatics analysis were used to identify the pathogenicity of the new variants. ResultsThe urine test results of the patients in the three families were all strongly positive(++). Probands were all male, with hemizygous mutations in IDS gene from their mothers, and the mutation sites were c.615_622delCATACAGT, c.847_848delGT and IVS7 ds+1 G>A, respectively. The cross-species conservation analysis showed that the amino acid of IDS gene mutation site was highly conserved during species evolution. Compared with the normal protein, mutant proteins exhibited significant differences in the predicted results of advanced structure. The variants identified in the three families were classified as pathogenic by ACMG criteria. ConclusionsThe three probands were diagnosed with Hunter syndrome. The c.615_622del(p.Il206Valfs*18), c.847_848del(p.Val283Alafs*57) and IVS7 ds+1 G>A (p.G336Dfs*12) of IDS gene are all novel pathogenic mutations, which are the underlying causes of morbidity in children. This study has further enriched the mutation spectrum of IDS gene.
10.Analysis of Chinese Medical Syndrome Features of Ischemic Stroke Based on Similarity of Symptoms Subgroup.
Xiao-Qing LIU ; Run-Shun ZHANG ; Xue-Zhong ZHOU ; Hong ZHOU ; Yu-Yao HE ; Shu HAN ; Jing ZHANG ; Zi-Xin SHU ; Xue-Bin ZHANG ; Jing-Hui JI ; Quan ZHONG ; Li-Li ZHANG ; Zi-Jun MOU ; Li-Yun HE ; Lun-Zhong ZHANG ; Jie YANG ; Yan-Jie HU ; Zheng-Guang CHEN ; Xiao-Zhen LI ; Yan TAN ; Zhan-Feng YAN ; Ke-Gang CAO ; Wei MENG ; He ZHAO ; Wei ZHANG ; Li-Qun ZHONG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2023;29(5):441-447
OBJECTIVE:
To derive the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome classification and subgroup syndrome characteristics of ischemic stroke patients.
METHODS:
By extracting the CM clinical electronic medical records (EMRs) of 7,170 hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from 2016 to 2018 at Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Province, China, a patient similarity network (PSN) was constructed based on the symptomatic phenotype of the patients. Thereafter the efficient community detection method BGLL was used to identify subgroups of patients. Finally, subgroups with a large number of cases were selected to analyze the specific manifestations of clinical symptoms and CM syndromes in each subgroup.
RESULTS:
Seven main subgroups of patients with specific symptom characteristics were identified, including M3, M2, M1, M5, M0, M29 and M4. M3 and M0 subgroups had prominent posterior circulatory symptoms, while M3 was associated with autonomic disorders, and M4 manifested as anxiety; M2 and M4 had motor and motor coordination disorders; M1 had sensory disorders; M5 had more obvious lung infections; M29 had a disorder of consciousness. The specificity of CM syndromes of each subgroup was as follows. M3, M2, M1, M0, M29 and M4 all had the same syndrome as wind phlegm pattern; M3 and M0 both showed hyperactivity of Gan (Liver) yang pattern; M2 and M29 had similar syndromes, which corresponded to intertwined phlegm and blood stasis pattern and phlegm-stasis obstructing meridians pattern, respectively. The manifestations of CM syndromes often appeared in a combination of 2 or more syndrome elements. The most common combination of these 7 subgroups was wind-phlegm. The 7 subgroups of CM syndrome elements were specifically manifested as pathogenic wind, pathogenic phlegm, and deficiency pathogens.
CONCLUSIONS
There were 7 main symptom similarity-based subgroups in ischemic stroke patients, and their specific characteristics were obvious. The main syndromes were wind phlegm pattern and hyperactivity of Gan yang pattern.
Humans
;
Syndrome
;
Ischemic Stroke
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Liver
;
Phenotype

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail