Role of circulating tumor DNA in the management of early-stage lung cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the predominant cause of cancer-related death in the world. The low accuracy of early detection techniques and high risk of relapse greatly contribute to poor prognosis. An accurate clinical tool that can assist in diagnosis and surveillance is urgently needed.

Signaling protein signature predicts clinical outcome of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterized by abnormalities of numerous signaling proteins that play pivotal roles in cancer development and progression. Many of these proteins have been reported to be correlated with clinical outcomes of NSCLC. However, none of them could provide adequate accuracy of prognosis prediction in clinical application.

Shp2 regulates migratory behavior and response to EGFR-TKIs through ERK1/2 pathway activation in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

In the clinical treatment of lung cancer, therapy failure is mainly caused by cancer metastasis and drug resistance. Here, we investigated whether the tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 is involved in the development of metastasis and drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Shp2 was overexpressed in a subset of lung cancer tissues, and Shp2 knockdown in lung cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation and migration, downregulated c-Myc and fibronectin expression, and upregulated E-cadherin expression.

Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients by Targeted Sequencing.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) isolated from peripheral blood has recently been shown to be an alternative source to detect gene mutations in primary tumors; however, most previous studies have focused on advanced stage cancers, and few have evaluated ctDNA detection in early-stage lung cancer. In the present study, blood and tumor samples were collected prospectively from 58 early-stage non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (stages IA, IB, and IIA) and a targeted sequencing approach was used to detect somatic driver mutations in matched tumor DNA (tDNA) and plasma ctDNA. We identified frequent driver mutations in plasma ctDNA and tDNA in EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, and TP53, and less frequent mutations in other genes, with an overall study concordance of 50.

Diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration in superior vena cava syndrome.

Background: The pathological diagnosis is of critical importance to the subsequent treatment for the pathients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The aim of this study is to report our experience in the diagnosis of SVCS by endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

Methods: The data of 520 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from September 2009 to May 2012 at our institution were reviewed.

Tolerability and toxicity of adjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine for treating non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The combination of cisplatin and vinorelbine is an evidence-supported regimen for adjuvant chemotherapy for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). But this doublet has considerable toxicity and unfavorable tolerability, and results in poor compliance. The cisplatin and gemcitabine regimen is one of the most active and well-tolerated regimens against advanced NSCLC, but its toxicity and tolerability has not been adequately evaluated in the adjuvant setting.

[Application of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of isolated mediastinal lesions].

Objective: To evaluate the role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of isolated mediastinal lesions.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 73 consecutive patients with isolated mediastinal lesions of unknown origin without parenchymal lung abnormalities, who underwent EBUS-TBNA from September 2009 to April 2011. The patients who were nondiagnostic with EBUS-TBNA subsequently underwent surgical biopsies and a minimum of 6 months'clinical and radiologic follow-up.

Application of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions.

Background: Mediastinal lesions are often difficult to diagnose in clinical practice because of the unique anatomical position of the mediastinum, which makes performance of biopsy difficult. The value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of lung cancer and mediastinal lymph node staging has been widely accepted. However, few studies have been conducted on the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mediastinal lesions.

Development and validation of a clinical prediction model to estimate the probability of malignancy in solitary pulmonary nodules in Chinese people.

Introduction: This study evaluated the clinical factors affecting the probability of malignancy of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A clinical prediction model was subsequently developed to estimate the probability of malignancy. This model was then validated.

[Establishment of a mathematical prediction model to evaluate the probability of malignancy or benign in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical factors affecting the definite pathological diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) with multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and to build the clinical prediction model to estimate the probability of malignancy.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study in our institution included 371 patients (197 males and 174 females) with definite pathological diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules from Jan 2000 to Sep 2009 (group A). Clinical data included age, gender, course of disease, symptoms, history and quantity of smoking history, history of tumor, family history of tumor, site, diameter, calcification, speculation, border, lobulation, traction of pleural, vascular convergence sign, and cavity.