Ying Lu

This study aims to examine the global trends in the disease burden of laryngeal cancer (LC) attributable to smoking from 1990 to 2021, including mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and to predict trends for 2036. Data on LC attributable to smoking were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) online database. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate the average annual percent change (AAPC) to evaluate trends in LC attributable to smoking. Additionally, an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was applied to forecast future disease burden over the next 15 years. From 1990 to 2021, the global age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of LC attributable to smoking decreased from 1.61 to 0.89 per 100,000 with an AAPC of -1.87%. The male mortality rate is significantly higher than that of females. In 2021, specific regions within the Balkans, the Middle East, and South Asia demonstrated notably higher compared to other global regions. According to the ARIMA model, the ASMR for LC attributable to smoking among males is projected to decline gradually from 2022 to 2036, while the decline in females is more gradual. From 1990 to 2021, the global mortality rate of LC attributable to smoking has declined, indicating a relative reduction in disease burden. However, the burden remains disproportionately higher among older adults, with males at a greater risk of mortality than females. Although the disease burden from LC attributable to smoking is expected to decline gradually over the next 15 years, it remains imperative to enhance smoking cessation efforts to further alleviate the disease burden.

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor. Despite significant advances in the past decade in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of this tumor and exploring therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of patients with glioma remains poor. Accurate diagnosis of glioma is very important for the treatment and prognosis. Although the gold-standard method for the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of patients with glioma is tissue biopsy, it still has many limitations. Liquid biopsy can provide information on the auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis of gliomas. In this review, we summarized the application of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis of glioma. The common methods used to detect ctDNA in gliomas using samples including blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the detection techniques for ctDNA, including droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS), were discussed. Detection of ctDNA from plasma of patients with brain tumors remains challenging because of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). CSF has been proposed as a medium for ctDNA analysis in brain tumors, and mutation detection using plasma ctDNA was less sensitive than CSF ctDNA sequencing. Moreover, ongoing relevant clinical studies were summarized. Finally, we discussed the challenges, and future directions for the studies on ctDNA in glioma.

Background: Nimotuzumab (NTZ) is an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody. However,the effect of targeted drugs combined with induction therapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of NTZ combined with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (PF) as induction regimen in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving concurrent radiochemotherapy. Methods: This was a multicenter randomized controlled study performed in eight Guangxi hospitals in 2015–2017. Eligible patients with NPC were randomized into nimotuzumab/PF (NPF group) and docetaxel/PF (DPF group) regimens, respectively, as induction therapy. After 2 cycles of induction therapy, all patients received cisplatin and concurrent intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Then, the two groups were compared for safety and efficacy. Results: A total of 118 patients with stage III-IVa NPC were assessed, with 58 and 60 in the NPF and DPF groups, respectively. Compared with DPF treatment, NPF induction therapy showed a more pronounced effect on cervical lymph nodes (P = 0.036), with higher response rate (RR) (81% vs 60%). Compared with the DPF group, the NPF group showed significantly reduced leukopenia, neutropenia and gastrointestinal reactions (all P < 0.05); rash only appeared in the NPF group, but all cases were grade 1. During concurrent treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the NPF group showed better tolerance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy; neutropenia, anemia, gastrointestinal reactions, oral mucositis and radiation dermatitis in the NPF group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The expression rate of EGFR was 94.9% (112/118). Compared with the DPF group, patients with EGFR expression in the NPF group showed better response (77.8% vs 63.0%, P = 0.033). Conclusion: For locally advanced NPC patients receiving follow-up cisplatin and IMRT, nimotuzumab/PF for induction therapy has better lymph node response rate and milder adverse reactions than the DPF regimen. In addition, the patients have better tolerance in subsequent concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy; however, long-term efficacy needs further follow-up evaluation. Trial registration: The registration number of the clinical trial is ChiCTR-OIC-16008201 and retrospectively registered on March 31, 2016.