The Memorial Sloan Kettering Prognostic Score: Correlation with survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Background: Notwithstanding that the past decade has witnessed unprecedented medical progress, gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer death, highlighting the need for effective prognostic markers. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Prognostic Score (MPS) has been validated as a valuable prognostic tool for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of the MPS in advanced GC.

Nomogram Based on Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio to Predict Survival of Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Who Receive First-Line PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Combined with Chemotherapy.

Background: Chemoimmunotherapy has become the first-line treatment for unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Still, reliable biomarkers to identify patients who could benefit from this combined therapy remain uncertain. This study focused on elucidating the predictive significance of the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and establishing the prognostic nomogram for unresectable ESCC treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Association of inflammatory markers with survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy as first line treatment.

Background: The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has changed the landscape of first-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Currently, the prognostic significance of inflammatory markers in first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for gastric cancer is currently unclear. This study aimed to identify inflammatory markers with potential to predict treatment outcome in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

Long-term survival of gastric mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm: Two case reports.

Background: Gastric mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN), which consists of neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine components, is quite rare. Until now, most data on gastric MiNEN come from clinical cases, without large-scale retrospective studies or controlled clinical trials. Consequently, no consensus regarding the origin, molecular characteristics, or appropriate treatment of MiNEN has been reached so far.

Assessment of TMB, PD-L1, and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio as predictive potential in a phase Ib study of sintilimab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Background: Sintilimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the programmed cell death 1 (PD-L1). We aimed to assess the safety and activity of sintilimab monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy in advanced solid tumors.

Methods: This phase Ib study included six cohorts.

Efficacy and safety of sintilimab in combination with chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced or metastatic nonsquamous or squamous NSCLC: two cohorts of an open-label, phase 1b study.

Combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy improves the therapeutic outcome for first-line (1L) patients with advance nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two cohorts of a phase 1b study (NCT02937116) aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, plus chemotherapy in 1L patients with nonsquamous and squamous NSCLC (nsqNSCLC/sqNSCLC); and to identify potential biomarkers for treatment response. Treatment-naïve patients with nsqNSCLC were enrolled and intravenously given sintilimab (200 mg), pemetrexed (500 mg/m), and cisplatin (75 mg/m), every 3 weeks (Q3W) for 4 cycles in cohort D.

Safety and efficacy of sintilimab combined with oxaliplatin/capecitabine as first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in a phase Ib clinical trial.

Background: Sintilimab blocks the interaction between programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligands. The safety and efficacy of sintilimab combined with oxaliplatin/capecitabine (CapeOx) as first-line treatment were evaluated in patients with gastric (G)/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in a phase Ib clinical trial.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma without previous systemic treatment were enrolled as one cohort of a multi-cohort study.

A phase II study of biweekly oxaliplatin plus S-1 combination chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer in China.

Oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) was a first-line regimen for advanced gastric cancer. The continuous administration of S-1 for 3 weeks can result in unacceptable gastrointestinal and hematological toxicities. Therefore, an alternative regimen (administration of S-1 for 1-week followed by 1-week rest) is warrant for improved tolerability and noninferiority efficacy.

Method to measure 3D deformation using defocused images of objects with artificial speckle features.

A novel method to measure three-dimensional deformation based on defocused images of an object is presented in this paper. To do this, images of an object with artificial speckle features are taken by a camera. The in-plane coordinates of the points on a specimen surface are obtained according to the camera setup parameters and the defocused distance.

LncRNA UCA1 in anti-cancer drug resistance.

The pivotal role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) in anti-cancer drug resistance has been confirmed in many cancers. Overexpression of lncRNA UCA1 correlates with resistance to chemotherapeutics such as cisplatin, gemcitabine, 5-FU, tamoxifen, imatinib and EGFR-TKIs, whereas lncRNA UCA1 knockdown restores drug sensitivity. These studies highlight the potential of lncRNA UCA1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, and a therapeutic target in malignant tumors.

Optical method to measure the surface of objects by using only one photo.

What we believe is a novel method to measure the dimension of an object with one defocused photo of an object is presented in this paper. To do this, a photo of the object is taken by a camera. The focal plane is chosen as a reference plane.

Neurokinin-2 receptor polymorphism predicts lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

To analyze the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of two subtypes of neurokinin (NK) receptors, and (also known as and ), in colorectal cancer (CRC), peripheral blood samples were collected from 199 CRC patients. Direct-sequencing was performed to identify the rs10198644 and rs4644560 SNPs. Genotype results were correlated with clinical factors.

A phase II study of biweekly S-1 and paclitaxel (SPA) as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer.

Purpose: Paclitaxel and S-1 are both effective antitumor chemotherapeutic agents for advanced gastric cancer. However, the continuous administration of S-1 for 3 weeks or more can result in unacceptable toxicities, particularly hematological toxicities. Therefore, an alternative treatment schedule (1-week administration followed by 1-week rest) is warrant for testing in order to allow continuation of the therapy.

Clostridium difficile carriage in hospitalized cancer patients: a prospective investigation in eastern China.

Background: Clostridium difficile carriage has been considered as a potential source for the deadly infection, but its role in cancer patients is still unclear. We aimed to identify the clinical and immunological factors that are related to C. difficile carriage in Chinese cancer patients.

A study of weekly docetaxel and carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Weekly docetaxel demonstrated similar efficacy but better tolerability than standard triweekly docetaxel, and carboplatin was less nephrotoxic, neurotoxic and emetogenic than cisplatin. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly docetaxel with carboplatin as first-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Forty-three Chinese patients have been included.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ureter: A case report and literature review.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising in the ureter is extremely rare; only a few cases have been previously reported in the literature. The current study reports the case of a 65-year-old female who presented with right-sided back pain. A mass was identified in the right ureter, and a nephroureterectomy was performed.

Phase II trial of gefitinib in pretreated Chinese women with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

A phase II clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib on pretreated Chinese female non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Chinese female patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who failed at least one platinum-based chemotherapy received gefitinib monotherapy (250 mg/day) between April 2002 and January 2010. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR), and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

A phase II trial of gemcitabine plus carboplatin in advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cisplatin-based combinations in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma(TCC) of the urothelium. Concern over cisplatin toxicity instigated a search for alternative regimens. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of gemcitabine plus carboplatin combination as first-line treatment in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium.