Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been threatening human health for years. Cytotoxicity-based chemotherapy seems to reach plateau in NSCLC treatment. Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against programmed cell death 1 (PD-1/L1) axis are to provide long-term survival benefits for wild-type advanced NSCLC patients with acceptable adverse effects. Though beneficiary population is limited from monotherapy, combination strategies are expanding indicators. Retrospective evidences suggested ICIs are also potentially useful for brain metastasis. Furthermore, the combination of ICIs and surgery are to prolong progression free survival time for local advanced patients. Additionally, novel agents targeting in immune checkpoints other than PD-1/L1 demonstrated potential values in anticancer immunity. Herein, we summarize the novel therapies of checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC treatment and some other potential immunotherapy to provide a conspectus for novel immunotherapy in NSCLC and perspective for the future in anti-cancer treatment.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a critical rate-limiting enzyme involved in NAD synthesis that has been shown to contribute to the progression of liver cancer. However, the potential role and mechanism of NAMPT in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver cancer remain unclear. The present study assessed the expression of NAMPT in HBV-positive and-negative liver cancer cells, and investigated whether HBV-induced NAMPT expression is dependent on HBV X protein (HBx). In addition, the role of NAMPT in HBV replication and transcription, and in HBV-mediated liver cancer cell growth was explored. The effects of NAMPT on the glycolytic pathway were also evaluated. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting results revealed that NAMPT expression levels were significantly higher in HBV-positive liver cancer cells than in HBV-negative liver cancer cells, and this effect was HBx-dependent. Moreover, the activation of NAMPT was demonstrated to be required for HBV replication and transcription. The NAMPT inhibitor FK866 repressed cell survival and promoted cell death in HBV-expressing liver cancer cells, and these effects were attenuated by nicotinamide mononucleotide. Furthermore, the inhibition of NAMPT was associated with decreased glucose uptake, decreased lactate production and decreased ATP levels in HBV-expressing liver cancer cells, indicating that NAMPT may promote the aerobic glycolysis. Collectively, these findings reveal a positive feedback loop in which HBV enhances NAMPT expression and the activation of NAMPT promotes HBV replication and HBV-mediated malignant cell growth in liver cancer. The present study highlights the important role of NAMPT in the regulation of aerobic glycolysis in HBV-mediated liver cancer, and suggests that NAMPT may be a promising treatment target for patients with HBV-associated liver cancer.

Background: Some pulmonary nodules are not suitable for computed tomography-guided percutaneous localization. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of real-time localization for these nonpalpable pulmonary nodules using watershed analysis of the target pulmonary artery during thoracoscopic wedge resection.Methods: Watershed analysis is a novel technique that can be used to create a specific area on the lung surface for nodule localization. This analysis is performed by temporarily blocking the target pulmonary artery and using indocyanine green fluorescence during surgery. In our study, the surgery was simulated and evaluated preoperatively using a high-precision three-dimensional reconstruction model obtained by multidetector spiral computed tomography. The lung was observed using an infrared thoracoscopy system after an intravenous injection of indocyanine green (2.5 mg/mL), and the white-to-blue transitional zone was marked using electrocautery, after which a wedge resection was performed.Results: A total of 25 out of 26 patients underwent successful wedge resection. The mean tumor size and depth based on computed tomography scans were 13.2±6.4 and 12.2±7.8 mm, respectively. The mean operation duration was 142.6±52.8 min. The mean bleeding volume during surgery was 12.9±9.7 mL. The mean drainage tube indwelling time was 35.6±20.0 h, and the median length of postoperative stay was 3 days (range, 2-6 days).Conclusions: Our experience showed that the watershed analysis of the target pulmonary artery for nodule localization was safe and feasible. It may become an effective and attractive alternative method for localizing non-palpable pulmonary nodules in selected patients undergoing thoracoscopic wedge resection.

Background: Sublobectomy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to discuss the feasibility of sublobectomy in patients with pathological-stage IA1-2 confirmed as pathologically invasive but radiologically noninvasive adenocarcinoma. Methods: From 2011 to 2019, we screened clinical stage IA1-IA2 lung cancer patients who underwent surgery at the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (GDPH). Inclusion criteria were maximum tumor diameter of 2.0 cm or less, consolidation tumor ratio (CTR) ≤ 0.25, and pathologically confirmed invasive adenocarcinoma. Sublobectomy (segmentectomy and wedge resection) and lobectomy groups were created, and propensity scores were computed. The primary endpoints were lung cancer-specific overall survival (LCSS) and LCS-relapse-free survival (LCS-RFS) after adjusting propensity scores. Results: A total of 1731 patients were screened, and 100 patients were enrolled. The lobectomy group had 51 patients and the limited resection group had 49. No cases relapsed, and two patients died from nontumor causes. For the entire cohort, the 5-year LCSS and 5-year LCS-RFS were 100% in the lobectomy and limited resection groups. When propensity scores matched, there were no differences in LCSS and LCS-RFS between the two groups (LCSS:100%, LCS-RFS 100% in lobectomy and limited resection, respectively). Discussion: Sublobectomy may be curative for pathologically invasive but radiologically noninvasive adenocarcinoma at pathological stage IA1-2.