First-Line Treatment Of Cancer Research Articles

First-line treatment for advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: a network meta-analysis

BackgroundSeveral head-to-head meta-analyses have compared the efficacy and safety of different first-line treatments in patients with EGFR mutation-positive (M+) advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsq-NSCLC). However, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluation encompassing multiple treatment strategies. Our objective is to conduct a network meta-analysis that includes various treatment modalities, enabling both direct and indirect comparisons for a more thorough assessment.MethodsWe conducted a search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from inception until May 8, 2024, to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while secondary outcomes included objective response rate (ORR) and grade 3 or higher adverse events (≥3AEs). Stata 15.0 and R 4.3.2 software were utilized for the network meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 30 RCTs, comprising 8654 participants, were included. The study encompassed the following 19 treatments: Chemotherapy; Afatinib; Afatinib + Cetuximab; Apatinib + Gefitinib; Befotertinib; Cetuximab + Chemotherapy; Erlotinib; Erlotinib + Bevacizumab; Erlotinib + Chemotherapy; Gefitinib; Gefitinib + Chemotherapy; Gefitinib + Olaparib; Icotinib; Icotinib + Chemotherapy; Lazertinib; Naquotinib; Osimertinib; Osimertinib + Bevacizumab; Osimertinib + Chemotherapy. The network meta-analysis results indicated that, in terms of PFS, Osimertinib + Chemotherapy (SUCRAs: 93.4%) and Osimertinib (SUCRAs: 84.61%) were the most effective. Regarding OS, Lazertinib (SUCRAs: 89.72%), Gefitinib (SUCRAs: 72.07%), and Osimertinib + Chemotherapy (SUCRAs: 70.74%) emerged as the top three options. Afatinib (SUCRAs: 92.27%) was associated with the best ORR improvement. For ≥3AEs, Afatinib (SUCRAs: 74.93%) and Osimertinib (SUCRAs: 69.42%) were likely the best choices.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that, considering both survival and safety, Osimertinib stands out as the preferred first-line treatment for untreated EGFR M + advanced or metastatic nsq-NSCLC. Notably, the combination of Osimertinib with chemotherapy demonstrated superior survival benefits. However, due to the limitations in the number and quality of included studies, these conclusions await further validation through more high-quality research.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024562981, identifier CRD42024562981.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study of Socazolimab or placebo combined with carboplatin and etoposide in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04878016) conducted in 54 hospitals in China. Adults who were histologically diagnosed and never treated for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) were enrolled. Eligible Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive four cycles (21 days as one cycle) of intravenous carboplatin (area under the curve of 5 mg/mL per min, day 1 of each cycle) and etoposide (100 mg/m² of body-surface area, on days 1–3 of each cycle) with either socazolimab (5 mg/kg, day 1 of each cycle) or matching placebo, following maintenance therapy with socazolimab or placebo. From July 15, 2021, to May 12, 2022, 498 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive socazolimab (250 patients) or placebo (248 patients) combined with chemotherapy. As of October 13, 2023, patients treated with socazolimab presented significant overall survival (OS) benefit (13.90 months) compared with the placebo plus EC group (11.58 months) (hazard ratio for death, 0.799; 95% CI, 0.652–0.979; p = 0.0158). The median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.55 months in the socazolimab plus EC group, prolonging disease progression or death by nearly 1.2 months (5.55 months vs 4.37 months, hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.569; 95% CI, 0.457–0.708; p < 0.0001). 200 (80.3%) patients in the socazolimab plus EC group experienced ≥ grade 3 treatment-related adverse events and 187 (75.7%) patients occurred in the placebo plus EC group. Socazolimab combined with standard EC regimen chemotherapy for first-line treatment of ES-SCLC significantly prolonged overall survival and did not increase the safety risk of treatment.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of PD-L1 testing associated with pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in China.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China, and pembrolizumab shows differential efficacy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with different PD-L1 expression levels. To assess the cost-effectiveness of PD-L1 testing associated with pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of NSCLC from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system. Over a lifetime horizon, a three-state partitioned survival model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of PD-L1 testing and no PD-L1 testing. In the PD-L1 testing group, patients were stratified by PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥ 50%, 1-49%, or < 1% and received pembrolizumab monotherapy, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone, respectively. In the non-PD-L1 testing group, all patients received pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy. Model inputs were obtained from published literature and a healthcare price database, and clinical outcomes from two randomized clinical trials were used. The net monetary benefit (NMB) was estimated for the PD-L1 testing group versus the non-PD-L1 testing group. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses, and scenario analyses were conducted to assess robustness of results. Using PD-L1 testing to guide treatment led to cost savings of $49,392.7 and a reduction in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of 0.234, resulting in a positive NMB of $46,421.7 at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $12,680.8/QALY (GDP per capita in China, 2023). Findings were robust across sensitivity and scenario analyses. Using PD-L1 testing to guide first-line pembrolizumab treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC is a cost-effective strategy at a WTP threshold of $12,680.8/QALY for China.

Concomitant medication effects on patients with lung cancer taking immune checkpoint inhibitors a review.

In the past decade, a variety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are currently approved for lung cancer in the world. As a new therapeutic approach, ICIs have shown significant clinical benefits in the first-line or second-line treatment for advanced lung cancer, improving the survival and quality of life of patients. Patients need to take multiple drugs in the meantime due to their own disease or side effects during treatment. In view of drug interactions, concomitant medications have a positive or negative impact on the prognosis of lung cancer patients. In this review, we reviewed the effects of multiple drugs on the prognosis of patients with lung cancer taking ICIs. Several studies indicate that antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), corticosteroids, and opioid analgesics can decrease the efficacy of ICIs. Aspirin and bone-targeting drugs can enhance the efficacy of ICIs and improve the survival rate. The effects of metformin (MET), renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RASI), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS) (except aspirin), and statins on ICIs are controversial. Future research should further explore the effects of these concomitant medications on ICIs and develop personalized prescriptions based on the specific needs of patients.

Fatal C-Reactive Protein-less Sepsis with Anti-IL-6 Autoantibody Production after Administration of Durvalumab.

Durvalumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (durvalumab) can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We herein report the first case of fatal sepsis with anti-interleukin-6 autoantibody production following durvalumab administration. A 62-year-old woman with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer received carboplatin-etoposide plus durvalumab chemotherapy. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased below the detection sensitivity post-treatment. She developed severe sepsis during maintenance durvalumab therapy; however, her serum CRP level did not increase. The serum tested positive for anti-interleukin-6 autoantibodies, which can cause CRP-less infections. Anti-interleukin-6 autoantibody production and subsequent sepsis without serum CRP elevation are possible irAEs.

Hydroxychloroquine in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (Study 15): A randomised phase II multicentre trial.

Most patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) present with extensive-stage (ES) disease and have a poor prognosis despite achieving high initial response rates to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. This study evaluated whether adding hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to chemotherapy could improve outcomes. This was a randomised multicentre phase II trial. Eligible patients had untreated ES-SCLC, a performance status 0-2 and measurable disease. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to HCQ (400mg orally twice daily) plus carboplatin-gemcitabine or carboplatin-etoposide alone. Chemotherapy was administered for up to six cycles, with HCQ given concurrently and then as single agent for up to 30 months. Primary endpoint was PFS, aiming for a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.70. 72 patients were randomised (36 HCQ+chemotherapy and 36 chemotherapy alone). Median HCQ treatment duration was 4.4 months. HCQ did not improve PFS (HR 1·12 95%CI 0·69-1.84; p=0·64), with a median of 5.7 months (HCQ+chemotherapy) versus 6.2 months (chemotherapy). The corresponding median OS were 8.9 and 10.2 months (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.48-1.45, p=0.52). Fewer patients in the HCQ arm completed four cycles of chemotherapy due to adverse events (64% vs. 81%). Grade ≥3 adverse events were higher in the HCQ+chemotherapy arm (83.3% vs. 27.8%), primarily anaemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, partly due to the initially higher gemcitabine dose used CONCLUSIONS: Combining HCQ with platinum doublet chemotherapy did not improve PFS or OS outcomes for ES-SCLC, resulting in more patients stopping chemotherapy due to increased adverse events. When considered alongside other randomised studies of HCQ in cancer, the evidence collectively indicates a limited role for HCQ as a therapeutic option.

Toripalimab combined with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for refractory recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer: a single-arm, open-label, phase II study (JS001-ISS-CO214).

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding toripalimab to bevacizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for refractory recurrent or metastatic (R/M) cervical cancer (CC). Patients were administered toripalimab (240 mg) + bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg) combined with platinum-based chemotherapy once every three weeks for six cycles, followed by the maintenance therapy involving toripalimab + bevacizumab once every 3 weeks for 12 months or when disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. The secondary endpoints were safety profiles, disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study and in the final analysis. The median follow-up duration was 18.6 (range, 3.3-28.5) months. The ORR was 83.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]=62.6-95.3) and the DCR was 95.8% (95% CI=78.9-99.9); 9 (37.5%) patients achieved complete response, 11 (45.8%) achieved partial response, and 3 (12.5%) had stable disease. The median PFS was 22.6 (95% CI=10.4-34.7) months and the median OS was not reached. The most common grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (41.7%) and leukopenia (16.7%). The most common immune-related AEs (irAEs) were thyroid dysfunction (37.5%) and increased adrenocorticotropic hormone (37.5%) and serum cortisol levels (33.3%). No grade ≥3 irAEs were observed. Toripalimab combined with bevacizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy show promising clinical efficacy and favorable safety profile, providing an alternative first-line treatment option for patients with R/M CC. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04973904.

Five Year Follow Up Results of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Case, Who Had Neoadjuvan Chemotheraph

Aim: We wanted to investigate whether the watch and wait method without surgery or surgery is superior in patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant treatment. Material and Methods: The clinical data of case above the age of 18 who were diagnosed with rectal tumors between 2018 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: After neoadjuvant treatment, the mass disappeared completely in some case. All case were operated after neoadjuvant treatment. Adenocarcinoma was seen in 140 (80%) case operated after neoadjuvant treatment, normal colon wall was seen in 10 (5.5%) case and chronic inflammation was seen in 20 (11%) case. Conclusion: The importance of neoadjuvant treatment according to the stage of the disease in case with rectal cancer is being better understood day by day. Early surgery is recommended as the first-line treatment for early-stage rectal cancer due to its favorable outcomes. However, it has been widely accepted that in locally advanced or advanced rectal cancers with lymph node metastasis, neoadjuvant treatment before surgery is much more beneficial in terms of disease-free survival and survey after surgery

Efficacy and safety of lorlatinib as first-line treatment for advanced ALK-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: A clinical case study

In recent years, approaches to the pharmacological treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have significantly evolved due to a deeper understanding of tumor biology and, consequently, the active development of personalized medicine and the introduction of targeted therapies. The identification of activating mutations, including ALK gene rearrangements, enables long-term objective control, which is particularly crucial in young patients with extensive metastatic disease and brain metastases (BM). The high rate of central nervous system (CNS) metastases characteristic of ALK-positive NSCLC underscores the importance of selecting therapeutic agents with high intracranial activity. Lorlatinib, a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and effectively suppressing resistance mutations that may develop during treatment with crizotinib or second-generation TKIs. Initially, lorlatinib was used in the second-line and subsequent lines of therapy; however, updated results from the CROWN study have demonstrated its unprecedented efficacy as a first-line treatment, including in patients with BM. Currently, lorlatinib is approved in the Russian Federation for the treatment of ALK-positive advanced NSCLC in both previously treated patients and as a first-line therapy. This paper presents a clinical case of a 49-yearold patient with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and brain metastases. Following the diagnostic phase, which included videoassisted thoracoscopy and morphological verification, the patient underwent a course of chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed. Subsequently, based on the results of molecular genetic testing, lorlatinib was initiated at a dose of 100 mg/day. Within a month, a significant regression of CNS metastases was observed. Therapy was accompanied by minimal side effects, including hypercholesterolemia and elevated liver enzymes, which were successfully managed with lipid-lowering agents and physical activity. During targeted therapy, the patient has maintained stable disease for 26 months, showing a strong clinical response without the need for dose reduction. This case report highlights the efficacy and tolerability of lorlatinib in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC with BM and underscores its potential in clinical practice.

The Effectiveness of Afatinib as First-Line Treatment in Vietnamese Patients With EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases.

The role of afatinib in the first-line treatment of EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has been proven through clinical trials and real-world studies. However, additional data on the effectiveness of afatinib in patients with brain metastases are lacking. EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with brain metastases were retrospectively reviewed across nine cancer centers in Vietnam from April 1, 2018 to June 1, 2022. The primary endpoints included central nervous system progression-free survival (CNS-PFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR) and CNS-ORR. Among 87 enrolled patients, 21.8%, 17.2%, and 60.9% received whole-brain radiation, gamma knife, and no locoregional therapy, respectively. With a median follow-up of 32.2 months for CNS-PFS and 35.3 months for OS, the median CNS-PFS and OS were 17.9 and 29.9 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving whole-brain radiation had significantly shorter CNS-PFS than those untreated with local therapy (16.1 vs. 22.6 months, p = 0.019), but not translating to an inferior OS. Furthermore, both the CNS-PFS and OS of patients with uncommon mutations were significantly worse than those of patients with Del19 (11.3 vs. 24.2 months, p = 0.013 and 17.7 vs. 34.0 months, p = 0.003, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a lower afatinib starting dose did not significantly affect CNS-PFS or OS. The CNS-ORR and ORR were 77.4% and 71.3%, respectively. In our real-world study, afatinib showed encouraging effectiveness in Vietnamese patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and brain metastases at baseline.

Updated cost-effectiveness analysis of tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The RATIONALE-305 trial demonstrated that tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy regimens was more beneficial than chemotherapy regimens alone in the treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC). This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tislelizumab combination chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced GC/GEJC from the perspective of the Chinese health service system. A three-state partition survival model was constructed to evaluate the economics of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of advanced GC/GEJC. Clinical data were collected from the RATIONALE-305 trial, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as the output index. The stability of the results was verified using sensitivity and subgroup analyses. In addition, scenario analysis was conducted for the model simulation time and different parameter extrapolation models. The results of basic analysis showed an increase of 0.31 QALYs in the tislelizumab group compared with the placebo group (1.53 QALYs vs 1.22 QALYs), and a concomitant increase in cost of 10,326.68 USD, with an ICER of 33,876.38 USD/QALY, which is less than the current Chinese willingness-to-pay threshold (36,924.80 USD/QALY). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the utility values of progression-free survival, progressive disease and the price of capecitabine had a greater impact on the model. Subgroup analysis revealed that combination therapy was equally cost-effective in people with a program death ligand 1 tumor area positivity score of ≥5%. From the perspective of the Chinese health service system, the treatment of advanced GC/GEJC with tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy has a cost-effective advantage over chemotherapy alone.

Addition of SHR-1701 to first-line capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) plus bevacizumab for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer

This phase 2/3 trial (NCT04856787) assessed the efficacy and safety of SHR-1701, a bifunctional protein targeting PD-L1 and TGF-β, in combination with BP102 (a bevacizumab biosimilar) and XELOX (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) as a first-line treatment for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this phase 2 study, a total of 62 patients with untreated, histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma and no prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease were enrolled. Patients received SHR-1701 (30 mg/kg), bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg), and oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) intravenously on day 1, along with oral capecitabine (1 g/m2 twice daily) on days 1–14 of 21-day cycles. Up to eight induction cycles were administered, followed by maintenance therapy for responders or those with stable disease. The primary endpoints were safety and objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1. The combination achieved an ORR of 59.7% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 83.9%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.3 months (95% CI: 8.3–13.7), with 6- and 12-month PFS rates of 77.2% and 41.3%, respectively. The estimated 12-month overall survival (OS) rate was 67.7%. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 59.7% of patients, with anemia and neutropenia (8.1% each) being the most common. Retrospective DNA sequencing revealed that high tumor mutational burden, neo-antigens, and SBS15 enrichment correlated with better responses. Elevated baseline lactate dehydrogenase was linked to shorter PFS. SHR-1701 combined with XELOX and bevacizumab demonstrated a manageable safety profile and potent antitumor activity in unresectable mCRC.

Chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with gastric cancer: protocol for a systematic review

IntroductionThe integration of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is continually making new advances in the field of gastric cancer treatment and has already become the new standard of care for the disease....

Adebrelimab versus serplulimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: A cost-effectiveness analysis in China.

Adebrelimab versus serplulimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: A cost-effectiveness analysis in China.

Progress of research on PD-L1 inhibitor adebrelimab usage in malignant tumors.

Adebrelimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and is also a novel immune checkpoint inhibitor, which has been used in the first-line treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with its unique mechanism of action and good clinical efficacy. Significant progress has been made in the treatment of adebrelimab in other malignancies such as non-small cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and the treatment of SCLC at different stages is also being explored. Therefore, adebrelimab emerges as a promising new treatment option for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other types of malignant tumors.

Interim results of PIPAC with cisplatin and doxorubicin in combination with FOLFOX chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases: single-arm phase II study

Interim results of PIPAC with cisplatin and doxorubicin in combination with FOLFOX chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases: single-arm phase II study

Long-term outcome of chemoimmunotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer according to key clinical trial eligibility: 3-year outcomes from a prospective cohort study.

Chemoimmunotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC); however, its real-world long-term outcomes associated with patient backgrounds are still unclear. We explored this association using an updated large real-world prospective cohort with a minimum follow-up of 3years. This prospective cohort study, conducted across 32 hospitals, enrolled patients with ES-SCLC receiving carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab between September 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Updated data with a minimum 3-year follow-up period were analyzed. Patients who met eligibility criteria for pivotal phase 3 clinical trials were considered "trial-eligible." The median (range) time from the treatment initiation to data cutoff (September 30, 2023) was 42.2 (35.8-48.2) months for the enrolled 207 patients. Most patients (89%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria (132 [64%]) were categorized as trial-eligible. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) probability and overall survival (OS) were 6.1% and 20.9%, respectively. The 3-year OS probabilities for trial-eligible and trial-ineligible patients were 26.7 and 9.5%, respectively. The trial-eligible cohort had a larger percentage of patients achieving a 3-year OS (30/132, 22.7%) than the trial-ineligible cohort (5/75, 6.7%) (P=0.003) CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the first documentation of the long-term outcomes following chemoimmunotherapy in a large prospective real-world cohort of patients with ES-SCLC. Key eligibility criteria significantly influenced the long-term effectiveness. These findings provide valuable insights into the practical effectiveness of chemoimmunotherapy and clinical decision-making for patients with ES-SCLC.

Taurine Protects Irinotecan-induced Muscle Dysfunction by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Irinotecan is a key component of standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. However, irinotecan-induced muscle dysfunction is a contributing factor to cancer cachexia. Here, we present the protective effect of taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid with great antioxidant properties, in attenuating muscle dysfunction induced by irinotecan. Irinotecan (20 μg/ml) was added to human skeletal muscle cells (HSkMCs) with or without pre-treatment of taurine (5 mM). The effects of taurine and irinotecan on the viability, cytotoxicity, and differentiation ability of HSkMC myoblasts were examined. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) were also monitored. Irinotecan caused cytotoxicity of HSkMCs, while taurine pretreatment increased cell viability and inhibited adenylate kinase release significantly in both myoblasts and myotubes. During differentiation, taurine increased ROS clearance and preserved the myotube differentiation ability impaired by irinotecan. Irinotecan exposure resulted in the up-regulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78). Taurine pretreatment could combat such irinotecan-induced ERS. The current in vitro study provides molecular evidence that taurine plays a beneficial role in protecting against irinotecan-induced muscle dysfunction by modulating oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Evaluating transportability of overall survival estimates from US to UK populations receiving first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to explore how the UK versus the USA compare in patient characteristics, treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced non-small cell...

Characterization of a drug resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell line developed by repeated cycles of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy

Breast cancer accounts for 14% of cancer fatalities and 23% of all cancer diagnoses, making it the most common cause of cancer death among women and one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers. This disease is a life-threatening public health concern because of its significant influence on the general population. Therefore, further molecular research is required to determine its prognosis and create tailored treatments. Since it closely resembles mammary epithelium, the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, which expresses genes for oestrogen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors, is the most appropriate in vitro model for cancer research. Resistant cell lines were created by repeatedly cultivating MCF-7 wild-type cells in media containing 5-fluorouracil, a first-line treatment for breast cancer. The resistant cell lines were found to be cross-resistance to other anticancer medications in addition to being resistant to 5-fluorouracil, according to the in vitro MTT cytotoxicity assay.