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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Radiogenomics predicts immune microenvironment heterogeneity and response to combination immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with anti-angiogenic agents is the preferred first-line therapy option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet only a subset of patients responds, urging the quest for prediction biomarkers. We aimed to integrate genomics with radiology to propose an immune-derived radiogenomics biomarker of response to such combination immunotherapy and evaluate its added value in clinical context. METHODS: We integrated bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and proteomics data of 994 HCC patients with single-cell RNA-seq data of 11 samples across multiple datasets to identify an immune-related signature (IRS) that may influence sensitivity or resistance to such combined immunotherapy strategy, followed by verification of selected marker genes using immunohistochemistry and cytological experiments. We then trained/validated a cross-modality radiogenomics biomarker using machine learning based on TCIA database that was further tested in multi-scale independent cohorts covering 754 HCC patients. RESULTS: Integrative multi-omics analysis identifed a parsimonious 2-gene prognostic signature including KPNA2 and SMG5 that was significantly associated with immune heterogeneity and response to combination immunotherapy. Machine-learning pipeline exported the optimal 4-feature radiogenomics biomarker using support vector machine that significantly discriminated prognosis (hazard ratio 1.415&#x2013;1.890; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05 for all) and modestly predicted response to ICI plus anti-angiogenic therapy (area under the curve 0.720&#x2013;0.829) in independent retrospective series across major imaging modalities (computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging). In a prospective neoadjuvant cohort, this biomarker also showed favorable performance for predicting pathological response and tumor recurrence, accompanied by biological validation through single-cell RNA-seq analysis of pre-treatment biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a cross-device-cross-modal radiogenomics biomarker that can improve patient selection for emerging ICI plus anti-angiogenic therapy with novel potential therapeutic targets in HCC.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

Effects of combined immunotherapy with levamisole and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on immunocompetence of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, head and neck, and lung undergoing radiation therapy.

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, and lung carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy (RT) prior to being randomly assigned either to a group receiving no further treatment or to a group treated with combined adjuvant immunotherapy (bacillus Calmette-Guérin and levamisole). A battery of in vitro immunologic evaluations in addition to skin tests was used to evaluate these patients prior to RT, immediately following RT, and at regular intervals thereafter. Mean percentages and levels of circulating T lymphocytes were significantly lower in all three types of patients prior to RT than in normal healthy controls. B-lymphocyte percentages and levels, however, were not significantly different from controls except for lower B-cell levels in the lung group. Following completion of RT, circulating levels of both T and B lymphocytes were significantly lower than pretreatment values although the percentages were not significantly changed. Mitogenic responses of patient lymphocytes to both phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen were significantly lower prior to RT than were healthy control responses. A further depression of blastogenesis following RT was statistically significant. Preliminary data at intervals following RT indicate a gradual recovery of depressed immune parameters (T- and B-lymphocyte levels and mitogenic responses) both in patients treated with adjuvant immunotherapy and in those receiving no further treatment. Although not statistically significant in preliminary data, there is a suggestion that recovery of these immune parameters is slower in the group receiving immunotherapy. Plasma sialic acid levels were elevated in patients when compared to healthy controls and remained elevated throughout the study with little fluctuation. Lymphocyte cytotoxic activity against tumor target cells was variably affected by RT, but was generally increased at 8 weeks following RT when compared to previous values.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed2026

Therapeutic melanoma vaccines: Platforms, neoantigen strategies, and emerging combination immunotherapies.

Melanoma has emerged as a major focus of cancer immunotherapy research because of its highly immunogenic nature and responsiveness to immune-based treatments. Therapeutic melanoma vaccines are designed to stimulate tumor-specific immune responses through the delivery of Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAAs), Tumor-Specific Antigens (TSAs), and personalized neoantigens. This narrative review provides an overview of current melanoma vaccine strategies, including peptide-based vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, nucleic acid-based platforms such as mRNA, DNA, and viral vector vaccines. Recent advances in vaccine engineering and tumor genomics have accelerated the development of personalized neoantigen vaccines capable of targeting mutations unique to individual tumors. In parallel, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly being incorporated into neoantigen identification pipelines to improve epitope prediction and optimize vaccine design. Combination strategies involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs), particularly anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies, have further enhanced interest in melanoma vaccines by helping overcome tumor-induced immune suppression and augment T-cell activation. In addition to reviewing vaccine mechanisms and emerging technologies, this manuscript examines the evolving clinical trial landscape through analysis of melanoma vaccine studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Although many studies have reported encouraging safety and immunogenicity findings, challenges related to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, biomarker selection, and manufacturing complexity continue to limit widespread clinical implementation. Ongoing advances in computational immunology, biomaterial engineering, and precision oncology are expected to further refine melanoma vaccine development and improve therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, these innovations may help establish melanoma vaccines as an increasingly important component of future personalized cancer immunotherapy strategies.

DNA vaccines↗
PubMed1979

[Non-lymphoblastic acute leukaemia: maintenance therapy by trial of a combination of chemo- and immunotherapy (author's transl)].

A trial of immunotherapy in the maintenance treatment of non-lymphoblastic acute leukaemias led to a comparison of 2 groups of patients in complete remission. Group C (14 patients) received only monthly reinduction chemotherapy. Group C + I (17 patients) received identical chemotherapy together with weekly immunotherapy combining BCG and irradiated leukaemic cells. Whilst the duration of the first remission was unmodified, the overall survival and above all survival after the first recurrence were prolonged in group C + I. These results were all the more marked when a homogeneous patients having received the same induction chemotherapy is considered.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Graft versus leukemia. VI. Adoptive immunotherapy in combination with chemoradiotherapy for spontaneous leukemia-lymphoma in AKR mice.

A three-step treatment plan incorporating adoptive immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy was used to treat AKR (H-2k) mice bearing spontaneous leukemia-lymphoma (SLL). 1) Leukemic mice were treated with chemoradiotherapy for immunosuppression and leukemia cytoreduction. 2) To introduce a graft-versus-leukemia reaction against residual malignant cells, the immunosuppressed AKR mice were given immunocompetent cells from H-2 mismatched DBA/2 (H-2d) donors. 3) To "rescue" the AKR hosts from incipient graft-versus-host disease, the mismatched DBA/2 cells were killed with combination chemotherapy, and cells from allogeneic H-2 matched RF (H-2k) donors were administered to restore hematopoiesis. Leukemic AKR mice thus treated had significant prolongation of their median survival time and a higher 60-day survival rate post treatment than did untreated controls, chemoradiotherapy controls, or control mice that received chemoradiotherapy plus cells from syngeneic donors. Therefore, adoptive immunotherapy may be useful as an adjunct to conventional therapy for treatment of SLL in AKR mice.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed2026

Integrating clinical and genomic features to predict response to neoadjuvant therapy in microsatellite-stable rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has shifted rectal cancer management toward organ preservation. However, achieving a complete response (CR) for "watch-and-wait" strategies is hindered by high response heterogeneity. Although immunotherapy-combined NAT has expanded the candidate pools, the predictive significance of molecular alterations remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate clinical and genomic profiles of rectal cancer patients undergoing NAT to identify response predictors and to develop a nomogram for estimating CR probability. DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center cohort study. METHODS: This study included 437 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center between December 2019 and March 2023. Patients underwent paired tumor and germline genomic sequencing (887-gene panel) before NAT. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify clinical and genetic risk factors associated with tumor response and long-term survival. RESULTS: Of the 437 patients, 96.6% had microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors. In the MSS locally advanced rectal cancer cohort (N = 307), the CR rate was 35.5%. Multivariate analysis identified immunotherapy-combined NAT (iTNT) (OR 4.41, 95% CI: 2.42-8.27), SYNE1 mutation (OR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.06-4.26), negative mesorectal fascia (MRF) status (OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17-0.66), and lower tumor location (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27-0.84) as independent predictors of CR. KRAS mutation was the sole independent predictor of reduced disease-free survival (DFS; HR 1.93, 95% CI: (1.11-3.36), p = 0.020). KRAS G12D subtype was associated with the worst 2-year distant metastasis-free survival (71.3%) and exhibited a distinct predilection for lung metastasis. The clinical-genomic nomogram yielded strong discrimination (AUC = 0.705) and calibration, with favorable DCA net benefit. CONCLUSION: Clinical and genomic features jointly determine outcomes in MSS rectal cancer. SYNE1 mutation serves as a novel biomarker for CR, while KRAS mutations, especially the G12D subtype, identify patients at high risk for systemic relapse. The clinical-genomic nomogram facilitates individualized selection for organ-preservation strategies.

biomarker↗
PubMed2026

Decoding tumor immune microenvironment heterogeneity by single-cell and spatial multi-omics: From immunotherapy resistance to translational biomarkers.

Immune checkpoint blockade has transformed cancer therapy, yet primary and acquired resistance remain major clinical challenges. Increasing evidence indicates that immunotherapy resistance cannot be fully explained by tumor-intrinsic alterations or conventional biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, or microsatellite instability. Instead, therapeutic response is shaped by the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) as a heterogeneous, spatially organized, and dynamically evolving ecosystem. Single-cell omics has revealed diverse immune and stromal cell states, including progenitor and terminally exhausted T cells, suppressive myeloid programs, B-cell/TLS-associated immune-reactive states, and CAF-mediated exclusion phenotypes. Spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, and imaging-based approaches further demonstrate that these cell states assemble into distinct immune niches, including immune-inflamed, T-cell-excluded, myeloid-suppressive, metabolic/hypoxic, and TLS-associated niches. These spatial ecosystems determine whether antitumor immune cells can access malignant cells, receive antigen-presenting support, or become restrained by stromal, vascular, metabolic, and myeloid barriers. In this review, we summarize how single-cell and spatial multi-omics redefine TIME heterogeneity in immunotherapy resistance, highlight ligand-receptor communication networks linking cell states to spatial immune dysfunction, and discuss emerging translational biomarkers for patient stratification. We further propose that future immunotherapy biomarkers should evolve from static single-marker assays toward longitudinal, spatially resolved, and interpretable multi-omics models that guide precision combination immunotherapy.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Multi-omics dynamic profiling reveals predictive biomarkers for first-line immunochemotherapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is associated with a poor prognosis. Although first-line immunochemotherapy improves clinical outcomes, robust prognostic biomarkers for this treatment modality remain unavailable. The aim of this study was to identify non-invasive, easily accessible, and dynamically monitored biomarkers of ES-SCLC by machine learning integrating serum metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics at multiple time points. METHODS: A total of 816 serum samples were collected from ES-SCLC patients receiving first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy or first-line chemotherapy for metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics analysis. The immunochemotherapy cohort was randomly divided into training and validation subsets at a 6:4 ratio. Biomarkers were identified using machine learning algorithms, and their prognostic significance was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Kaplan&#x2013;Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression. Potential metabolic pathways and mechanisms were further explored via integrated multi-omic analysis. RESULTS: The immunochemotherapy exhibited a prolonged median progression-free survival (PFS) and higher objective response rate (ORR) compared to the chemotherapy group. A total of 5 serum metabolites (uric acid, L-aspartate-semialdehyde, dimethisterone, xanthine, L-cysteine), 6 lipids (Cer d18:1/26:0, Cer d18:2/25:0, SM d18:1/20:1, SM d17:1/25:1, DG O-18:1_16:0, PS 18:0_24:0), and 3 proteins (ACIN1, ACSL4, PHGDH) were identified and constructed into independent prognostic models. Among patients receiving immunochemotherapy, those categorized as low-risk based on the model demonstrated significantly longer PFS compared with those in the high-risk group. These prognostic signatures also retained predictive value in patients who underwent second-line treatment with anlotinib plus immunochemotherapy. Integrated analysis revealed that glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism was the commonly enriched pathway across all three omics layers. Notably, PHGDH (protein), L-aspartate-semialdehyde and L-cysteine (metabolites), and PS (18:0_24:0) (lipid), key elements in this pathway, were all incorporated in the predictive model. In addition, models of the composition of these substances after one cycle of treatment can still predict the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, we constructed and validated a set of non-invasive, dynamically monitorable prognostic models (containing 5 metabolites, 6 lipids, and 3 proteins) using machine learning by integrating multiple time point data from the serum metabolome, lipid panel, and proteome to accurately distinguish the prognostic risk of patients with ES-SCLC receiving immunochemotherapy. PFS was significantly prolonged in patients in the low-risk group, and this model remains predictive in the subsequent second-line treatment with anlotinib in combination with immunochemotherapy. Glycine-serine-threonine metabolic pathway may be the key mechanism, of which PHGDH, L-aspartate semialdehyde, L-cysteine and PS (18:0_24:0) are the core predictors. This study provides the first multi-omics dynamic prognostic tool for ES-SCLC immunochemotherapy and reveals potential therapeutic targets.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Icaritin Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma to PD-L1 Therapy by NQO1-Dependent Ferroptosis Induction.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains challenging with limited immunotherapy response. Despite its clinical promise in advanced HCC, the mechanisms of icaritin, especially concerning ferroptosis induction and immune modulation, remain elusive. This study aims to determine if the antitumor effect of icaritin involves the induction of ferroptosis via NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and if it can augment the efficacy of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy by potentiating natural killer (NK) cell activity. Using human HCC cell lines (Huh7, Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, SNU-449, and MHCC97-H) and two synergistic mouse models (Hepa1-6 and SgPten/c-Met), we examined icaritin's inhibition of tumor growth and induction of ferroptosis via the NQO1 pathway, monitoring key markers (reactive oxygen species [ROS], glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4], ferritin heavy chain 1 [FTH1]). The NQO1 inhibitor dicoumarol was employed to validate the pathway. Tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling was assessed through cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) markers and immune cell profiling, focusing on NK cell infiltration. Combination therapy with anti-PD-L1 was tested in&#xa0;vivo. Icaritin significantly inhibited HCC growth in&#xa0;vitro and in&#xa0;vivo. Its antitumor effect was mediated by NQO1-mediated ferroptosis, via elevated ROS, diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, and downregulated GPX4 and FTH1. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data revealed that NQO1 is overexpressed in human HCC tissues. Icaritin enhanced NK cell infiltration while reducing CAF abundance and suppressing recombinant focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) signaling. Notably, icaritin synergized with anti-PD-L1 therapy to enhance tumor suppression without increasing toxicity, correlating with potentiated NK cell immunity. Our findings demonstrate that icaritin triggered NQO1-mediated ferroptosis and remodeled TME to enhance NK cell recruitment and PD-L1 therapy efficacy. This provides rationale for evaluating icaritin-based combination immunotherapy in HCC through dual action on ferroptosis and NK cell activation.

Ferroptosis↗
PubMed2026

Pan-cancer analysis identifies APOC1 as a TAM-derived modulator of adaptive immune resistance and predictor of therapeutic response.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) has been implicated in several malignancies, yet its expression patterns, clinical significance, and immunomodulatory roles across cancer types remain poorly characterized. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive multi-omic analysis of APOC1 across 33 cancer types integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, genomic, epigenomic, and pharmacogenomic data from TCGA, GTEx, CPTAC, and multiple independent external cohorts. Immune infiltration was assessed using seven complementary algorithms. Spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing were employed to determine the cellular source of APOC1 expression. RESULTS: APOC1 upregulation in most cancers was associated with cancer type-specific prognosis. After adjustment for clinical covariates and macrophage infiltration, high APOC1 remained an independent adverse factor in KIRC, LGG, and STAD. APOC1 expression positively correlated with genomic instability hallmarks, including homologous recombination deficiency and aneuploidy, with these associations largely independent of immune infiltration; in contrast, associations with tumor mutational burden were substantially confounded by macrophage abundance. Immune infiltration analysis revealed a pattern consistent with adaptive immune resistance: APOC1 correlated positively with immune-activating signatures (STAT1, MHC-II, TCR signaling) and immunosuppressive M2 macrophages and Tregs, yet negatively with anti-tumor effectors (activated NK cells, dendritic cells). Spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing identified tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) as the primary cellular source of APOC1, with transcripts co-localizing with CD68 in tissue sections. APOC1 expression correlated with multiple immune checkpoint molecules and was elevated in responders to immune checkpoint blockade, consistent with an inflamed yet regulated tumor microenvironment. Pharmacogenomic analyses revealed that APOC1-high tumors display distinct drug response profiles, characterized by resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors and potential sensitivity to the HDAC inhibitor Entinostat. CONCLUSION: This pan-cancer analysis establishes APOC1 as a context-dependent biomarker and a TAM-derived modulator of adaptive immune resistance, with prognostic and therapeutic implications across malignancies. APOC1-expressing TAMs represent a potential target for combination immunotherapy strategies.

APOC1↗
PubMed2026

CARM1 in human cancer: a multifunctional epigenetic node driving tumor plasticity and therapeutic vulnerability.

Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1/PRMT4) is a signal-responsive epigenetic regulator that couples oncogenic and stress signals to chromatin, transcription, RNA processing, metabolism, and genome maintenance. Its effects arise from both asymmetric arginine methylation of histone and non-histone substrates and methyltransferase-independent scaffolding activities. This review critically synthesizes the structural basis, substrate networks, methylarginine readers, and cancer-contextual functions of CARM1. We propose that its apparently opposing oncogenic and tumor-suppressive activities are determined by lineage-specific substrates, regulatory post-translational modifications, cofactor and chromatin availability, and stage- or microenvironment-dependent stress signals. We further evaluate CARM1-directed therapy using an evidence-graded framework. Catalytic inhibitors such as TP-064 and EZM2302 differ in binding mode and substrate coverage, whereas emerging degraders can remove scaffolding functions but remain constrained by delivery, E3-ligase heterogeneity, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic-window uncertainties. Biomarker-guided synthetic-lethal and immunotherapy combinations may therefore offer the most tractable route to clinical translation. This framework positions CARM1 as a context-conditioned signal-to-chromatin translator rather than a uniformly druggable oncogene.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

NSCLC in Vulnerable and Special Populations: Toward Personalized Care.

NSCLC encompasses a heterogeneous patient population whose clinical needs, biological features, and treatment outcomes differ substantially from those represented in pivotal studies. Adolescents and young adults, women, pregnant patients, individuals with actionable genomic alterations or constitutional pathogenic variants, immunocompromised patients, including those with chronic viral infections, older adults, patients with brain metastases, and survivors with second primary lung cancers remain consistently underrepresented in research programs. This limits the generalizability of current evidence and challenges the delivery of equitable precision oncology. Across these populations, distinct disease biology, differential genomic landscapes, sex- and age-related variations in pharmacology, and complex psychosocial or ethical considerations shape clinical decision-making. Advances in molecular testing and targeted therapies have improved outcomes for some subgroups; however, persistent disparities in diagnostic access, trial eligibility, and supportive care remain major barriers. In parallel, modern systemic agents including brain-penetrant targeted therapies, immunotherapy combinations, and antibody-drug conjugates have broadened therapeutic options, although their safety, effectiveness, and long-term consequences require dedicated evaluation in underrepresented populations. This review synthesizes contemporary evidence from these special NSCLC populations, highlighting shared challenges and unique considerations. We discuss implications for clinical practice, supportive care, survivorship, and research design and outline opportunities to strengthen inclusivity in precision oncology. Addressing longstanding gaps in representation, trial methodology, and structural inequities is essential to ensure that recent therapeutic advances translate into improved outcomes for the full spectrum of patients living with NSCLC.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Genetic Profile, Treatment Response, and Outcomes of BCR::ABL1-Positive Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia: A Study From the BCR::ABL1 Pathology Group.

Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) with BCR::ABL1 fusion is rare, and its clinicopathological features, genetic landscape, therapeutic response, and patient outcomes remain incompletely defined, as does its relationship to blast-phase chronic myeloid leukemia. In this multicenter study of 44 patients, 86.4% had B/myeloid MPAL, 72.7% showed lymphoid predominance, 40.9% had complex karyotypes, and 68.3% harbored somatic mutations, most commonly RUNX1 mutations (46.3%). RUNX1 mutations frequently co-occurred with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-associated alterations, whereas DNMT3A, TET2, and BCORL1 mutations were restricted to RUNX1-mutated cases. In contrast, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-associated alterations (IKZF1 mutation/deletion and ETV6 mutations) were confined to RUNX1-wild-type patients. TP53 and signaling pathway mutations (NRAS, KRAS, PTPN11, and FLT3) were not detected. Forty-two patients received induction chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: 74.2% of lymphoid-predominant patients and 63.6% of myeloid-predominant patients received ALL- and AML-type therapies, respectively. Ten patients relapsed, and 2 had primary refractory disease; some exhibited a dynamic shift in predominant lineage immunophenotype, chromosomal alterations, and somatic mutations at the relapse or refractory stage. The overall remission rate was 86.8%, with no significant differences across ALL-, AML-, or hybrid-type regimens. After a median follow-up of 24.2 months, the median overall survival was 52.5 months. Complex karyotype was associated with inferior overall survival compared with cases lacking additional chromosomal alterations (P = .02), whereas RUNX1 mutations were not. No significant differences in genetic profiles, treatment response, or outcomes were observed between patients with and without chronic myeloid leukemia-like features. This study provides a comprehensive genomic and clinical characterization of BCR::ABL1-positive MPAL, supporting improved risk stratification and future therapeutic strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Cell-mediated immunity in operable bronchial carcinoma: the effect of injecting irradiated autologous tumour cells and BCG.

In 52 patients undergoing tests of cell-mediated immunity before surgical resection of bronchial carcinoma a positive tuberculin test result was found in 71% compared with 68% of age- and sex-matched controls. Sensitisation to DNCB occurred in 52% of 37 patients but in 78% of controls. There was depression of lymphocyte transformation by PPD in 19 patients compared with controls (P=0.001), but there was no difference in lymphocyte transformation by PHA or pokeweed mitogen between 34 patients and controls. In a pilot study patients were randomly allocated to autograft (eight) or non-autograft (seven) groups. The autograft group were given an intradermal injection of a suspension of irradiated autologous tumour-cells mixed with intradermal BCG on the day of operation. Tests of cell-mediated immunity were repeated two weeks after operation. Five patients in each group received a course of radiotherapy to the mediastinum three weeks after operation. There was a rise in cutaneous tuberculin reactivity (P=0.08) and total leucocyte count (P=0.09) in the autograft group postoperatively with a fall in total lymphocyte and T lymphocyte counts in the non-autograft group (P less 0.05). These differences, however, were not followed by any difference in the frequency of tumour recurrence or the survival rate two years after operation. The results show that the immunological surveillance mechanism is impaired even in patients with early bronchial carcinoma and that it is possible to overcome postoperative immunological depression with specific immunotherapy combined with BCG. This treatment did not produce any clinical advantage in this small number of patients and the skin lesions caused the patients considerable discomfort.

Aged↗
PubMed2026

Exploring New Frontiers in Osteosarcoma Treatment: Clinical Trial Insights.

INTRODUCTION: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common bone malignancy in adolescents and older adults and typically develops in the long bones. Outcomes in advanced cases remain poor despite the use of chemotherapeutic drugs like doxorubicin, methotrexate, and cisplatin, underscoring the urgent need for safer, more focused treatments. METHODS: A comprehensive review of clinical trials and literature identified emerging OS therapies targeting DNA repair, immune pathways, and tumor-specific markers. The EMA's approval of Mepact for nonmetastatic OS underscores the shift toward precision treatments and the evolving landscape of OS management. Patent protection can influence the pricing and accessibility of innovative medicines for OS by affecting market exclusivity and competition. RESULTS: According to recent research, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), RB, and TP53 gene alterations both contribute to the development of OS. These results highlight the importance of conducting further proteomic and genomic research in order to develop focused and efficient treatment plans. Furthermore, patent protection stimulates innovative drug development by encouraging research investment and faster launches, but restricts affordability due to exclusivity, posing a policy dilemma. DISCUSSION: Treatment for OS is still challenging, particularly in high-grade and metastatic cases when conventional chemotherapy is frequently harmful and unsuccessful. While new targeted medicines and advances in understanding bone cell dynamics and genetic abnormalities such as TP53, RB, and BMPs offer hope for more accurate, less invasive treatments, the approval of Mapact represents progress. CONCLUSION: The necessity for integrated therapies combining immunotherapy, targeted delivery, and molecular insights to enhance OS treatment results is highlighted by developments in genomics and bone remodeling.

Mepact↗