Targeting tumor-associated macrophages by anti-tumor Chinese materia medica

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a key role in all stages of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. TAMs secrete different kinds of cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes to affect the progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy depending on their state of reprogramming. Therapeutic benefit in targeting TAMs suggests that macrophages are attractive targets for cancer treatment. Chinese materia medica (CMM) is an important approach for treating cancer in China and in the Asian region. According to the theory of Chinese medicine (CM) and its practice, some prescriptions of CM regulate the body's internal environment possibly including the remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we briefly summarize the pivotal effects of TAMs in shaping the TME and promoting tumorigenesis, invasion, metastasis and immunosuppression. Furthermore, we illustrate the effects and mechanisms of CMM targeting TAMs in antitumor therapy. Finally, we reveal the CMM's dual-regulatory and multi-targeting functions on regulating TAMs, and hopefully, provide the theoretical basis for CMM clinical practice related to cancer therapy

Combination of EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy as first-line therapy for advanced NSCLC: a meta-analysis.

The impact of combining epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. Therefore, randomized trials that compared this combined regimen with chemotherapy or EGFR-TKIs monotherapy were included for this meta-analysis. We used published hazard ratios (HRs), if available, or derived treatment estimates from other survival data. Pooled estimates of treatment efficacy of the combined regimen in the entire unselected population and selected patients by EGFR-mutation status and smoking history were calculated. Eight trials eventually entered into this meta-analysis, including 4585 patients. Overall, the combined regimen significantly delayed disease progression (HR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.95, P = 0.01); subgroup analysis showed significantly higher progression free survival advantages in Asian patients (P<0.001), with sequential combination of TKIs and chemotherapy (P = 0.02). In selected patients by EGFR-mutation, both mutation positive (HR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.28-0.83, P = 0.009) and negative (HR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98, P = 0.02) patients gained progression free survival benefit from the combined regimen, albeit the magnitude of benefit was marginally larger in mutation positive patients (P = 0.05). In selected patients by smoking history, never/light smokers achieved a great progression free survival benefit from the combined regimen (HR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.35-0.74, P = 0.0004). Unfortunately, the combined regimen had no significant impact on overall survival, irrespective of ethnicity, dose schedules or EGFR-mutation status. Severe anorexia (RR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.11-3.63; P = 0.02) and diarrhea (RR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.94-3.76; P<0.001) were more frequent in the combined regimen arm. This strategy of combining EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy deserved to be considered in the future, although it is not approved for advanced NSCLC at the moment

External validity of a prognostic nomogram for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on the 8th edition of the AJCC/UICC staging system: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background The tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) staging system does not perform well for guiding individualized induction or adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We attempted to externally validate the Pan’s nomogram, developed based on the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) staging system, for patients with locoregionally advanced disease. In addition, we investigated the reliability of Pan’s nomogram for selection of participants in future clinical trials. Methods This study included 535 patients with locoregionally advanced NPC who were treated between March 2007 and January 2012. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with predicted outcomes. The calibration was tested using calibration plots and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Discrimination ability, which was assessed using the concordance index, as compared with other predictors. Results Pan’s nomogram was observed to underestimate the 5-year OS of the entire cohort by 8.65% [95% confidence interval (CI) − 9.70 to − 7.60%, P < 0.001] and underestimated the 5-year OS of each risk group. The differences between the predicted and observed 5-year OS rates were smallest among low-risk patients (< 135 points calculated using Pan’s nomogram; which predicted minus observed OS, − 6.41%, 95% CI − 6.75 to − 6.07%, P < 0.001) and were largest among high-risk patients (≥ 160 points) (− 13.56%, 95% CI − 15.48 to − 11.63%, P < 0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow test suggested that the predicted and observed 5-year OS rates had no ideal relationship (P < 0.001). Pan’s nomogram had better discriminatory ability compared with the levels of Epstein–Barr virus DNA acid (EBV DNA) and the 7th or 8th AJCC/UICC staging system, although not better compared with the combination of EBV DNA and the 8th staging system. Additionally, Pan’s nomogram was marginally inferior to our predictive model, which included the 8th AJCC/UICC N-classification, age, gross primary tumor volume, lactate dehydrogenase, and body mass index. Conclusions Pan’s nomogram underestimated the 5-year OS of patients with locoregionally advanced NPC at our cancer center, and may not be a precise tool for selecting participants for clinical trials

Initial Hyperleukocytosis and Neutrophilia in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Incidence and Prognostic Impact

<div><p>Background</p><p>This study aimed to evaluate initial hyperleukocytosis and neutrophilia as prognostic indicators in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A retrospective analysis of 5,854 patients identified from a cohort of 6,035 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was performed with initial hyperleukocytosis and neutrophilia analyzed as prognostic factors. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were applied.</p><p>Results</p><p>Hyperleukocytosis was observed in 508 patients (8.7%). Multivariate analysis showed that initial hyperleukocytosis was an independent predictor of death (HR 1.40, 95%CI 1.15–1.70, <i>p</i> = 0.001), progression (HR 1.25, 95%CI 1.06–1.47, <i>p</i> = 0.007) and, marginally, distant metastasis (HR 1.21, 95%CI 0.97–1.52, <i>p</i> = 0.088). Neutrophilia was also an independent predictor of death (HR 1.46, 95%CI 1.18–1.81, <i>p</i> = 0.001), progression (HR 1.31, 95%CI 1.10–1.56, <i>p</i> = 0.003), and distant metastasis (HR 1.29, 95%CI 1.02–1.65, <i>p</i> = 0.036), after adjusting for prognostic factors and excluding hyperleukocytosis.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Initial hyperleukocytosis and neutrophilia were independent, poor prognostic factors and may be convenient and useful biological markers for survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p></div

Flow diagram of identifying trials.

<p>Flow diagram of identifying trials.</p

Forest plots in selected patients by EGFR-mutation status.

<p>HRs and 95% CIs of (a) progression-free survival and (b) overall survival. TKIs = tyrosine kinase inhibitors, CT = chemotherapy, SE = standard error.</p

Demographics and treatment characteristics for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

<p>CRT: conventional radiotherapy; IMRT: intensity modulated radiation therapy; IC: induced chemotherapy; CC: concurrent chemotherapy; AC: adjuvant chemotherapy</p><p>Demographics and treatment characteristics for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.</p