The development of combination immunotherapy based on the mediation of regulatory mechanisms of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is promising. However, a deep understanding of tumor immunology must involve the systemic tumor immune environment (STIE) which was merely illustrated previously. Here, we aim to review recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics for the studies of STIE, TIME, and their interactions, which may reveal heterogeneity in immunotherapy responses as well as the dynamic changes essential for the treatment effect. We review the evidence from preclinical and clinical studies related to TIME, STIE, and their significance on overall survival, through different immunomodulatory pathways, such as metabolic and neuro-immunological pathways. We also evaluate the significance of the STIE, TIME, and their interactions as well as changes after local radiotherapy and systemic immunotherapy or combined immunotherapy. We focus our review on the evidence of lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, aiming to reshape STIE and TIME to enhance immunotherapy efficacy.

Aim : To characterize the gastric cancer immune landscape and evaluate its correlation with prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. Methods : Gene expression data from eight GEO datasets were preprocessed. The datasets were partitioned into training and validation subsets. Immune- and prognostic-related genes were identified from the training set to construct an Immune-Related Gene Set Score (IRGS) prediction model. The model underwent external validation in two independent cohorts, with further optimization incorporating clinical factors. Differences in immune biomarkers between IRGS groups were analyzed and their correlation with therapeutic response was assessed in an immune cohort. Results : Elevated IRGS significantly correlated with prolonged overall survival (OS) in both training (HR 0.46, 0.37-0.56) and validation (HR 0.54, 0.39-0.74) sets (P < 0.001). External cohorts confirmed these findings (GSE84437 cohort, P = 0.002; GEO cohort, P = 0.003). IRGS correlated significantly with age, gender, and stage. Tumor microenvironment analysis showed positive associations between IRGS and key immunocyte populations, specifically B cells, CD4+ T cells, and M2 macrophages. Responders to immunotherapy had elevated IRGS scores than non-responders (P = 0.016). Conclusions : The IRGS model is a robust predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy response in GC, underscoring its potential clinical utility.

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located at specific anatomic sites of the liver with those of non-specific sites.Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five databases, covering the period from the establishment of each database to September 30, 2024. Prospective and retrospective studies involving ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA for the treatment of HCC were included. Data extraction and statistical analysis were performed using Stata 15.1 software. The main outcomes were 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates, complete ablation rates, and major complication rates. The results were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: A total of 9 studies were included, involving 2,381 patients, of which 1,047 had HCC at specific anatomic sites, and 1,334 had HCC at non-specific sites. The OR values (95% CI) for overall survival at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years for patients with HCC at specific anatomic sites compared to non-specific sites were 0.89 (0.59, 1.35), 0.83 (0.66, 1.05), and 1.12 (0.91, 1.38), respectively. The OR for complete ablation rate was 0.97 (0.61, 1.53), and the OR for major complications was 1.44 (0.59, 3.51).Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA for HCC at specific anatomic sites shows similar efficacy and safety to that at non-specific sites, with no significant differences in survival rates, complete ablation rates, or complication rates.