1.Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer after Neoadjuvant Therapy: Essential or Optional?
Di ZHANG ; Luo YANG ; Yuan ZHENG ; Qi ZHOU
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(1):208-220
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on survival outcomes in breast cancer (BC) patients who have already undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery.
Materials and Methods:
Data from a population-based cohort (2010-2020) were analyzed for BC patients treated with NAC and surgery. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression identified prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), and a nomogram was developed and validated. Personalized scores from the nomogram were used for risk stratification to assess the effect of postoperative AC.
Results:
A total of 15,921 BC patients were analyzed, with 11,144 in the training cohort and 4,777 in the validation cohort. The key prognostic indicators for OS included age, race, marital status, histological grade, BC subtype, T category, N category, type of surgery, and response to NAC (all p < 0.05). The nomogram effectively predicted individualized OS rates and stratified patients into various risk categories. Postoperative AC was found to significantly enhance OS in the high-risk subgroup (p=0.011 in the training cohort, p=0.012 in the overall population). However, for the low-risk subgroup, there was no significant survival benefit from postoperative AC (p=0.130 for the training cohort, p=0.588 for the overall population), suggesting that some patients might safely forgo unnecessary postoperative AC.
Conclusion
This study efficiently differentiates between varying levels of risk, enabling clinicians to identify patients unlikely to benefit from postoperative AC and thus reduce the likelihood of overtreatment.
2.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
3.Combined anterior and posterior miniscrews increase apical root resorption of maxillary incisors in protrusion and premolar extraction cases
Zhizun WANG ; Li MEI ; Zhenxing TANG ; Dong WU ; Yue ZHOU ; Ehab A. ABDULGHANI ; Yuan LI ; Wei ZHENG ; Yu LI
The Korean Journal of Orthodontics 2025;55(1):26-36
Objective:
Miniscrews are commonly utilized as temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in cases of maxillary protrusion and premolar extraction. This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential side effects of two conventional miniscrew configurations on the maxillary incisors.
Methods:
Eighty-two adult patients with maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion who had undergone bilateral first premolar extraction were retrospectively divided into three groups: non-TAD, two posterior miniscrews only (P-TADs), and two anterior and two posterior miniscrews combined (AP-TADs). Cone-beam computed tomography was used to evaluate the maxillary central incisors (U1).
Results:
The APTADs group had significantly greater U1 intrusion (1.99 ± 2.37 mm, n = 50) and less retroclination (1.70° ± 8.80°) compared to the P-TADs (–0.07 ± 1.65 mm and 9.45° ± 10.68°, n = 60) and non-TAD group (0.30 ± 1.61 mm and 1.91° ± 9.39°, n = 54).However, the AP-TADs group suffered from significantly greater apical root resorption (ARR) of U1 (2.69 ± 1.38 mm) than the P-TADs (1.63 ± 1.46 mm) and non-TAD group (0.89 ± 0.97 mm). Notably, the incidence of grade IV ARR was 16.6% in the AP-TADs group, significantly higher than the rates observed in the P-TADs (6.7%) and non-TAD (1.9%) groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that after excluding tooth movement factors, the AP-TADs configuration resulted in an additional 0.5 mm of ARR compared with the P-TADs group.
Conclusions
In cases of maxillary protrusion and premolar extraction, the use of combined anterior and posterior miniscrews enhances incisor intrusion and minimizes torque loss of the maxillary incisors. However, this approach results in more severe ARR, likely due to the increased apical movement and composite force exerted.
4.Combined anterior and posterior miniscrews increase apical root resorption of maxillary incisors in protrusion and premolar extraction cases
Zhizun WANG ; Li MEI ; Zhenxing TANG ; Dong WU ; Yue ZHOU ; Ehab A. ABDULGHANI ; Yuan LI ; Wei ZHENG ; Yu LI
The Korean Journal of Orthodontics 2025;55(1):26-36
Objective:
Miniscrews are commonly utilized as temporary anchorage devices (TADs) in cases of maxillary protrusion and premolar extraction. This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential side effects of two conventional miniscrew configurations on the maxillary incisors.
Methods:
Eighty-two adult patients with maxillary dentoalveolar protrusion who had undergone bilateral first premolar extraction were retrospectively divided into three groups: non-TAD, two posterior miniscrews only (P-TADs), and two anterior and two posterior miniscrews combined (AP-TADs). Cone-beam computed tomography was used to evaluate the maxillary central incisors (U1).
Results:
The APTADs group had significantly greater U1 intrusion (1.99 ± 2.37 mm, n = 50) and less retroclination (1.70° ± 8.80°) compared to the P-TADs (–0.07 ± 1.65 mm and 9.45° ± 10.68°, n = 60) and non-TAD group (0.30 ± 1.61 mm and 1.91° ± 9.39°, n = 54).However, the AP-TADs group suffered from significantly greater apical root resorption (ARR) of U1 (2.69 ± 1.38 mm) than the P-TADs (1.63 ± 1.46 mm) and non-TAD group (0.89 ± 0.97 mm). Notably, the incidence of grade IV ARR was 16.6% in the AP-TADs group, significantly higher than the rates observed in the P-TADs (6.7%) and non-TAD (1.9%) groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that after excluding tooth movement factors, the AP-TADs configuration resulted in an additional 0.5 mm of ARR compared with the P-TADs group.
Conclusions
In cases of maxillary protrusion and premolar extraction, the use of combined anterior and posterior miniscrews enhances incisor intrusion and minimizes torque loss of the maxillary incisors. However, this approach results in more severe ARR, likely due to the increased apical movement and composite force exerted.
5.Chemical consitituents and hypoglycemic activity of Qinhuai No. 1 Rehmannia glutinosa
Meng YANG ; Zhi-you HAO ; Xiao-lan WANG ; Chao-yuan XIAO ; Jun-yang ZHANG ; Shi-qi ZHOU ; Xiao-ke ZHENG ; Wei-sheng FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):205-210
Eight compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 70% acetone extract of
6.Summary of the best evidence for dietary management in adults with prediabetes
Meilin ZHOU ; Yuan ZHU ; Shuang ZHENG ; Lei CHEN ; Mei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(19):2586-2593
Objective:To retrieve, evaluate and summarize evidence on dietary management in adults with prediabetes, and to provide an evidence-based basis for clinical nursing practice and patient self-management.Methods:Guidelines, expert consensus, clinical decisions, evidence summaries, and systematic reviews on dietary management of patients with prediabetes were electronically searched on domestic and international guideline websites, association websites, and databases in both Chinese and English. The search period was from database establishment to October 31, 2024. Quality assessment of the literature and extraction and summarization of the evidence was carried out.Results:A total of 17 papers were included, including six guidelines, three expert consensus, and eight systematic reviews and Meta-analysis. A total of 39 pieces of evidence were summarized, including eight themes of total energy intake; nutrient recommendations, cooking principles; dietary pattern selection; dietary supplement recommendations; food recommendations; synergy of diet, exercise and medication; and dietary guidance.Conclusions:The best evidence summarized can provide reference for clinical medical and nursing staff, patients with prediabetes and their families. Future evidence-based translational practice for dietary management in prediabetic patients according to this evidence summary should be based on clinical context and consideration of the individual patient's situation for dietary program development.
7.Effect of ocular hypotensive agents on the intraocular metabolism of ranibizumab in rabbit
Tianyang ZHOU ; Jingjing YANG ; Xiang LI ; Huiyun XIA ; Jijun HE ; Zheng YUAN ; Junjie ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(5):438-442
Objective:To compare the effects of brinzolamide-timolol (B&T) eye drops and dipivefrine hydrochloride (DH) eye drops on the intraocular metabolism of ranibizumab after intravitreal injection in rabbit.Methods:Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly and equally divided into DH group, B&T group, and control group.The right eye was selected as the experimental eye.The B&T and DH groups received DH and B&T eye drops, respectively, twice daily, 30 μl each time.The control group did not receive any treatment.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in both eyes before the first administration and 1 hour after the first administration on the second day.After IOP measurement, the experimental eye received an intravitreal injection of 0.25 mg ranibizumab (10 mg/ml).Aqueous humor samples were collected 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after injection.Ranibizumab concentration in the aqueous humor was measured by ELISA kit.Pharmacokinetic parameters including time to peak concentration ( tmax), peak concentration ( Cmax), elimination half-life ( t1/2) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of ranibizumab were calculated.This experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECA-2023-03). Results:The tmax of ranibizumab in the aqueous humor was 1 day in all three groups.The Cmax values in the control, B&T and DH groups were (8.122±2.445), (13.079±3.140) and (8.299±0.899)μg/ml, respectively.Except for day 3 in the control group, the ranibizumab concentrations in aqueous humor of the B&T group were higher than that of the DH group and the control group at all time points after injection, with statistically significant significances (all P<0.05).The t1/2 of ranibizumab in aqueous humor in the control group, B&T group, and DH group were (2.90±0.29), (3.36±0.35) and (2.80±0.29) days, respectively, and the AUC0-t values were (52.697±10.178), (80.244±11.249) and (51.985±8.734)μg/ml·d, respectively.The t1/2 and AUC0-t of ranibizumab in aqueous humor of the B&T group were significantly higher than those of the DH group and the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).The mean bioavailability in the B&T group was increased by 52.3% compared to the control group. Conclusions:B&T eye drops prolong the half-life and enhance the intraocular bioavailability of ranibizumab after intravitreal injection in rabbits, whereas DH has no significant effect on its intraocular metabolism.
8.Preoperative short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor administration for locally advanced rectal cancer: the initial results of a randomized controlled clinical trial (STELLAR II)
Haoyue LI ; Haitao ZHOU ; Lichun WEI ; Yinggang CHEN ; Wenjue ZHANG ; Feiyan DENG ; Ning LI ; Zheng JIANG ; Zheng LIU ; Jianwei LIANG ; Zhaoxu ZHENG ; Xianyu MENG ; Yufei LU ; Zifa LEI ; Xiaoge SUN ; Gong LI ; Yingjie WANG ; Yongwen SONG ; Shunan QI ; Hao JING ; Yirui ZHAI ; Shulian WANG ; Yexiong LI ; Yuan TANG ; Jing JIN
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2025;47(9):913-921
Objectives:To explore whether short-course radiotherapy (SCRT)-based total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) combined with PD-1 inhibitors could further promote tumor regression and improve the prognosis.Methods:This is a prospective, multicenter, two-arm randomized controlled, seamless phase Ⅱ/Ⅲ trial for proficient mismatch repair or microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Eligible patients were randomly assigned to the iTNT (TNT+PD-1) group or the TNT group. Patients in the TNT group received SCRT (5 Gy×5) followed by 4 cycles of CAPOX or 6 cycles of mFOLFOX chemotherapy, with the iTNT group receiving SCRT followed by the same regime in combination with 4 cycles of Sintilimab. Total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery or watch and wait (W&W) was performed after neoadjuvant therapy and then 2 cycles of same regimen as before were recommended. The primary endpoints are the complete response (CR) rate for phase Ⅱ trial and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) for phase Ⅲ trial. A total of 588 patients will be enrolled for the phase Ⅱ/Ⅲ trial. Short-term efficacy and safety data from the initial 100 treated patients were analyzed as planned.Results:From 2022-8-31 to 2023-5-24 the initial 100 patients were enrolled from 10 hospitals in China, 76.0%(76/100) patients were male, and the median age was 61 years (21-74 years). More patients had tumors located in the lower rectum (78.0%, 78/100), staged T3-4 (97.0%, 97/100) and N1-2 (93.0%, 93/100), and about half of the tumors invaded the mesorectal fascia (52.0%, 52/100) and with extramural vascular invasion (51.0%, 51/100). Analyses were performed according to the per-protocal (PP) set. All patients in the iTNT group ( n=52) and the TNT group ( n=48) completed SCRT; The 4-cycle chemotherapy±Sintilimab completion rates were 86.5% and 100.0% in the iTNT and TNT groups, respectively. In the iTNT group, 82.7% (43/52), 11.5% (6/52), and 5.8% (3/52) of the patients received 4, 3, and 2 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor. After TNT, 68 patients underwent radical surgery and 15 patients achieved cCR and adopted W&W. The pathological complete response (pCR) rates were 48.5% (16/33) and 17.1% (6/35) in the iTNT and TNT groups, with CR rates of 50.0% (25/50) and 26.1% (12/46), respectively. The incidence of treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events was 26.9% (14/52, iTNT group) and 18.8% (9/48, TNT group), with thrombocytopenia and leukopenia being the most common. Among patients receiving immunotherapy, grade 3 immunotherapy-related adverse events occurred in 2 (3.8%, 2/52) patients: one case was pancreatitis, another case was hepatitis combined with myositis and myocarditis. Conclusion:The preliminary results show that SCRT-based TNT combined with PD-1 inhibitors could further improve the CR rate for LARC without unexpected serious adverse events.
9.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
10.T cell-related ubiquitination genes as prognostic indicators in hepatocellular carcinoma
Zheng CHEN ; Zheyu ZHOU ; Yihang YUAN ; Chaobo CHEN
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(4):226-230
Objective:To construct a novel clinical prognosis signature for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients using T cell-related ubiquitination genes.Methods:Transcriptome and clinical data of 371 liver cancer and 50 normal samples were obtained from the TCGA database, and microarray sequencing data of 221 liver cancer samples were selected from the GSE14520 dataset. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of HCC patients were analyzed to identify T cell-related marker genes. These were combined with ubiquitination-related genes. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on TCGA transcriptome data to select key genes, resulting in the identification of T cell-related ubiquitination genes. A prognostic model was then constructed using LASSO-Cox regression. Finally, a nomogram was created by combining risk scores and clinical parameters. Count data were expressed by examples and percentages(%). Spearman correlation test was used for correlation analysis. Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:Initially, 1 458 T cell-related marker genes were identified. Intersection with 797 ubiquitination-related genes led to the identification of 94 common genes. WGCNA analysis revealed the prognosis-related module MEturquoise. After performing differential gene analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and COX regression, 16 candidate genes were confirmed. LASSO-COX algorithm accurately selected five key genes- UBE2S, PSMD1, FBXL5, UBE2E1, and PSMA7—to construct the prognostic model. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the risk score of the prognostic model was significantly associated with the prognosis of HCC patients (Log-rank test=0.001). Both univariate and multivariate COX regression analysed demonstrated that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients( P<0.05). Finally, a nomogram was constructed by combining the risk score and clinical parameters, providing a more accurate prediction of patient prognosis. Conclusion:The T cell-related ubiquitination gene prognostic model can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail