Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives:  We evaluate the surgical outcome of clinically single-zone N2 lung cancer limited to aortopulmonary zone (AP zone; lymph node #5 or #6).

Patients And Methods:  We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, in whom mediastinal lymph node metastasis was confined to AP zone.

Results:  A total of 84 patients who underwent upfront surgery were included in final analysis. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2021 Mar 19;13. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China.

Chemo-resistance and refractoriness remain challenges for Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and the underlying molecular mechanisms haven't been fully explained. In this study, we investigated the influence of circUBAP2 on the NSCLC tumor cells. This study might provide novel therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment. Read More

Lung Cancer 2021 Apr 15;156:20-30. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, United States; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, United States; Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, United States. Electronic address:

Objectives: Despite extensive effort, the search for clinically-relevant metabolite biomarkers for early detection, disease monitoring, and outcome prediction in lung cancer remains unfulfilled. Although biofluid evaluation has been explored, the complexity inherent in metabolite data and the dynamic discrepancy between metabolites in biofluids vs. tumor tissue have prevented conclusive results. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2021 Apr 18;150:23-30. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Lung Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital & Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Objective: Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) occur in up to 5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and often develop after previous systemic treatments. In this article, we explored whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) enhanced the dismal survival of patients with LM.

Materials And Methods: Data on NSCLC patients with LM prescribed ICIs were collected at the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute. Read More

Br J Radiol 2021 Apr 21:20201272. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Radiology, The First People's Hospital of Kashi Area, Kashi, Xinjiang, China.

Objectives: To assess the methodological quality of radiomic studies based on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We systematically searched for eligible studies in the PubMed and Web of Science datasets using the terms "radiomics", "PET/CT", "NSCLC", and "EGFR". The included studies were screened by two reviewers independently. Read More

Adv Ther 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.

The introduction of immunotherapy has fundamentally transformed the treatment landscape in cancer, providing long-term survival benefit for patients with advanced disease across multiple tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the placebo-controlled phase 3 PACIFIC trial, the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with unresectable, stage III NSCLC who had not progressed after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). These findings have led to the widespread acceptance of the 'PACIFIC regimen' (durvalumab after CRT) as the standard of care in this setting. Read More

Surg Endosc 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.

Background: Previous studies have reported the feasibility and efficacy of thoracoscopic anatomical sublobar resection under three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) simulation; however, its long-term outcomes have not been clearly established in primary lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of this technique.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 112 consecutive patients with selected clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent thoracoscopic anatomical sublobar resection from 2004 to 2014. Read More

Minerva Med 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, (National Clinical Research Center for Cancer), (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin) (Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer), Tianjin, China -

Jpn J Clin Oncol 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: The Oncomine™ Dx Target Test based on next-generation sequencing has been approved for the screening of oncogenic mutations in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Methods: We assessed the tissue sample factors that affect the success rate of Oncomine™ Dx Target Test companion diagnostics and the feasibility of using biopsy specimens for Oncomine™ Dx Target Test companion diagnostics in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Results: Ninety-nine biopsy samples were subjected to genetic testing using the Oncomine™ Dx Target Test companion diagnostics to detect v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B1 mutations (Cohort 1), and 136 biopsy samples were examined using Oncomine™ Dx Target Test companion diagnostics for the detection of multiple oncogenic mutations (Cohort 2) between July 2018 and April 2020. Read More

Int J Clin Oncol 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Radiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.

Background: The association between sarcopenia and prognosis in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing trimodality therapy, consisting of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgery, has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of sarcopenia and fat mass with prognosis after trimodality therapy.

Methods: To assess sarcopenia, the psoas muscle mass was measured. Read More

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the value of the high-risk-pattern histology (micropapillary and solid components) for predicting distant metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma and to determine the survival benefit with adjuvant targeted therapy for resected non-small cell lung cancer with high-risk-pattern histology.

Methods: Patients receiving surgery for non-small cell lung cancer were included in this retrospective study. Histological classification was performed according to 2015 World Health Organization classification. Read More

Ther Radiol Oncol 2019 May 24;3. Epub 2019 May 24.

Department of Radiation Oncology and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has emerged as a standard-of-care treatment for patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are poor surgical candidates. Current evidence supports the consensus that lung SABR with BED ≥100 Gy leads to high local tumor control, and that the treatment is generally well-tolerated when applied to peripheral lung tumors. However, several studies present conflicting evidence for the treatment of central and ultra-central lung tumors, with some showing superb outcomes and others showing concerning rates of morbidity and mortality. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2021 Apr 20;13. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Traumatology, Changzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Changzhou 213011, Jiangsu, China.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abnormally expressed in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, the contributions of circRNAs to the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), one of the subtypes of NSCLC, remain unclear. Based on a microarray assay, we found that hsa_circ_0072309 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC compared with matched normal samples. Read More

Clin Lung Cancer 2021 Mar 20. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Department of Medical Oncology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate if F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT)-derived parameters are useful in predicting response and survival after programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blocking immunotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC characterized by a high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (≥50%) on immunohistochemistry.

Patients And Methods: In 30 patients with advanced stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and high PD-L1 expression, F-FDG PET/CT parameters before start of treatment with PD-1 blocking immunotherapy were evaluated retrospectively. In 24 out of the 30 patients, F-FDG PET/CT was available 8 to 9 weeks after start of the treatment. Read More

J Transl Med 2021 Apr 20;19(1):161. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most widely spread cancers in the world and half of the non-small cell lung cancers are lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Although there were several drugs been approved for LUAD therapy, a large portion of LUAD still cannot be effectively treated due to lack of available therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated the oncogenic roles of DKC1 in LUAD and its potential mechanism and explored the possibility of targeting DKC1 for LUAD therapy. Read More

Immunotherapy 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes significant mortality each year. After successful resection of disease stage IB (>4 cm) to IIIA (per AJCC 7), adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy improves median overall survival and is the standard of care, but many patients still experience recurrence of disease. An adjuvant regimen with greater efficacy could substantially improve outcomes. Read More

Future Oncol 2021 Apr 21. Epub 2021 Apr 21.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 1608582, Japan.

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for immune-related adverse events (irAEs) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors. The authors conducted a retrospective study in which patients with malignant melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, gastric cancer or renal cell carcinoma who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies were included. Of 247 patients, 118 developed a total of 182 irAEs. Read More

J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2021 Apr 20:1-7. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

3Division of Medical Oncology, and.

Background: Bone metastases and skeletal-related events (SREs) are a frequent cause of morbidity in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Data are limited on bone metastases and SREs in patients with mNSCLC treated using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and on the efficacy of bone-modifying agents (BMAs) in this setting. Here we report the incidence, impact on survival, risk factors for bone metastases and SREs, and impact of BMAs in patients with mNSCLC treated with ICIs in a multi-institutional cohort. Read More

World Neurosurg 2021 Apr 17. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

Objective: The predictive value of pre-radiosurgery leucocyte-based prognostic ratios was investigated in a selected cohort of non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) patients with radiosurgically treated brain metastases (BM) and concomitant immunotherapy (IT) or targeted therapy (TT).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 166 NSCLC BM patients treated with Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR) were assessed within 14 days prior to radiosurgical treatment. Read More

Chest 2021 Apr 17. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA 91010. Electronic address:

Background: The utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in detecting mutations and monitoring treatment response has not been well studied beyond a few actionable biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Research Question: How does the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) compare to that of solid tumor biopsy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients?

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 370 adult NSCLC patients treated at the City of Hope between November 2015 and August 2019 to assess the utility of ctDNA in mutation identification, survival, concordance with matched tissue samples in thirty-two genes, and tumor evolution.

Results: A total of 1688 somatic mutations were detected in 473 ctDNA samples from 370 NSCLC patients. Read More

Am J Manag Care 2021 Apr 1;27(4):e105-e113. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Humana Healthcare Research Inc, 515 W Market St, Louisville, KY 40202. Email:

Objectives: To compare treatments, overall survival (OS), and total costs among patients receiving anticancer therapy in hospital outpatient vs physician office settings.

Study Design: This retrospective observational study utilized claims data from a large national health plan to identify patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC), metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), or metastatic breast cancer (mBC) treated in hospital outpatient or physician office settings.

Methods: Patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug or commercial plans for at least 180 days prior to and at least 30 days after start of first-line (1L) therapy were included. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021 Apr;25(7):2828

Department of Thoracic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

The article "LINC01093 promotes proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells via targeting akt signaling pathway, by Z.-X. Wang, Z. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021 Apr;25(7):2866-2884

School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.

Objective: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are a relatively new class of immunotherapeutic drugs approved for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to conduct a network meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of these immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Materials And Methods: We used Bayesian network meta-analysis methods to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the included treatments. Read More

Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai, New York, 10029, USA.

Specific extracts of selected vegetables (SV) have been shown to benefit the survival of stage IIIb/IV non-small cell lung cancer patients in phase I/II studies and is currently in a phase III trial. However, the underlying mechanism of SV-mediated antitumor immune responses has not been elucidated. Our results indicate that SV modulated the NK and adoptive T cell immune responses in antitumor efficacy. Read More

Am J Clin Pathol 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, DevonUK.

Objectives: Stratified management of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) through epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) variant analysis has become standard clinical practice. The Idylla system is a fully compliant European in vitro diagnostics device, a fully automated platform designed to rapidly genotype formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. This retrospective study aims to validate the Idylla EGFR Mutation Test for use with extracted DNA from known NSCLC samples. Read More

Am Surg 2021 Apr 20:31348211011116. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Rudy L Ruggles Biomedical Research Institute, Nuvance Health System, Danbury, CT, USA.

Background: Current recommendations for segmentectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include size ≤2 cm, margins ≥ 2 cm, and no nodal involvement. This study further stratifies the selection criteria for segmentectomy using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Methods: The NCDB was queried for patients with high-grade (poorly/undifferentiated) T1a/b peripheral NSCLC (tumor size ≤2 cm), who underwent either lobectomy or segmentectomy. Read More

Brief Bioinform 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Center of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University and at Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Northwest University), Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, China.

Targeting tumor microenvironment (TME), such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), has achieved increased overall response rates in many advanced cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, only in a fraction of patients. To improve the overall and durable response rates, combining other therapeutics, such as natural products, with ICB therapy is under investigation. Unfortunately, due to the lack of systematic methods to characterize the relationship between TME and ICB, development of rational immune-combination therapy is a critical challenge. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Apr 19;11(1):8511. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Unit 951, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2130 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) has arisen as an important tool for immuno-profiling tumor tissues. We updated our manual protocol into an automated protocol that allows the use of up to seven markers in five mIF panels to apply to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. Using a tyramide signal amplification system, we optimized five mIF panels that included cytokeratin to characterize malignant cells (MCs), immune checkpoint markers (i. Read More

J Clin Pathol 2021 Apr 19. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain.

The effectiveness of targeted therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depends on the accurate determination of the genomic status of the tumour. For this reason, molecular analyses to detect genetic rearrangements in some genes (ie, , , ) have become standard in patients with advanced disease. Since immunohistochemistry is easier to implement and interpret, it is normally used as the screening procedure, while fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) is used to confirm the rearrangement and decide on ambiguous immunostainings. Read More

Clin Lung Cancer 2021 Mar 24. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

Immunotherapy has markedly improved the survival rate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has introduced a new era in lung cancer treatment. Although some patients achieve durable responses to checkpoint blockade, not all experience such benefits, and some suffer from significant immunotoxicities. Thus, it is crucial to identify potential biomarkers suitable for screening the population that may benefit from immunotherapy. Read More