Tumor metastasis occurs in lung cancer, resulting in tumor progression and therapy failure. Anoikis is a mechanism of apoptosis that combats tumor metastasis; it inhibits the escape of tumor cells from the native extracellular matrix to other organs. Deciphering the regulators and mechanisms of anoikis in cancer metastasis is urgently needed to treat lung cancer. Several natural and synthetic products exhibit the pro-anoikis potential in lung cancer cells and in vivo models. These products include artonin E, imperatorin, oroxylin A, lupalbigenin, sulforaphane, renieramycin M, avicequinone B, and carbenoxolone. This review summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of anoikis regulation and relevant regulators involved in lung cancer metastasis and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting anoikis in the treatment of lung cancer metastasis.

Gefitinib is one of commonly used first-line treatment options for patients with positive EGFR mutation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most patients with gefitinib treatment relapse over time due to the loss of drug sensitivity. Compound Kushen injection (CKI) has been used to treat lung cancer, including EGFR-mutated NSCLC. In this report, we examined the anti-cancer and drug sensitivity increased activities of CKI in gefitinib less sensitive NSCLC cell lines H1650 and H1975. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to uncover gene regulation and molecular mechanisms of CKI. Our results indicated that when associating with gefitinib in a dose-dependent fashion, CKI demonstrated the ability to inhibit the proliferation and to increase the sensitivity to gefitinib treatment in gefitinib less sensitive cell lines. This could be the results of down regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and up regulation of autophagy, which were identified as the potential primary targets of CKI to increase gefitinib treatment effect.

The circadian rhythm is generated at the cellular level by a molecular clock system that involves specific genes. Studies have revealed that circadian clock disruption is a control point in cancer progression. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the cancers closely associated with circadian disruption. In the present review, the involvement of the circadian clock in CRC development was summarized. Abnormal expression of certain clock genes has been found in patients with CRC and their correlation with clinicopathological features has also been explored. The period and cryptochrome 2 (Cry2), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) genes were reported to have tumour suppressor properties. Conversely, Cry1, brain and muscle ARNT‑like‑1, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) and timeless may aggravate CRC progression, but these findings are not consistent and require to be confirmed by further research. Circadian scheduling also indicated advantages in chemotherapy treatments for patients with CRC by increasing the maximum tolerated doses and decreasing toxicities. Dysfunction of the molecular CLOCK system disrupted cellular processes to accelerate colon tumorigenesis, such as metabolism, cell cycle, DNA damage repair, proliferation and apoptosis, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and stemness. The clock gene network and how the dynamics of the system influence CRC were discussed.

Background. Whether traditional Chinese medicine preparation combined therapy can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy is controversial. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine preparation combined with chemotherapy. Method. Three databases were searched from inception through August 2018. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the combined treatment of chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine preparation compared to chemotherapy alone for treating cancer were retrieved. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was adopted to make comprehensive comparisons between the experimental and control groups. Results. Four RCTs were included in this review, comprising 256 subjects. The majority of the RCTs were judged as being of poor methodological quality. Meta-analysis showed that the combination of traditional Chinese medicine preparation and chemotherapy appeared to be more effective than chemotherapy alone, for the treatment of cancer, as assessed by the disease control rate (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.79) and the objective response rate (RR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.28 to 5.77). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of bone marrow suppression (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.37) or gastrointestinal reaction (RR: 1.12, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.69). Conclusions. Traditional Chinese medicine preparation combined with chemotherapy may improve objective response rates and disease control rates more than chemotherapy alone. The evidence that combined traditional Chinese medicine preparation can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy is insufficient. More rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Objective. To explore the role of Chinese prescriptions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and provide references for the application of herbs and prescriptions. Methods. Randomized and quasirandomized controlled clinical trials on Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of NSCLC were collected from seven databases to establish a database of prescriptions on NSCLC. Data-mining analyses were performed by RStudio (v4.0.3) software. Results. A total of 970 prescriptions were obtained from 945 included studies, involving 7 syndromes and 428 herbs. The main patterns of NSCLC included qi deficiency pattern, yin deficiency pattern, blood deficiency pattern, kidney deficiency pattern, heat toxin pattern, phlegm-dampness pattern, and blood stasis pattern. High-frequency herbs on NSCLC were Astragali Radix (Huangqi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome (Baizhu), Glycyrrhizae Radix Rhizome (Gancao), Poria (Fuling), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Hedyotidis Diffusae Herba (Baihuasheshecao), Codonopsis Radix (Dangshen), and Glehniae Radix (Beishashen). The properties of the herbs were mainly cold, warm, and mild. The flavors of the herbs were mainly sweet, bitter, and pungent. The main meridian tropisms were Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, and Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. Conclusion. Applying clearing and tonifying method by targeting the lung and spleen was the most frequently used therapy in the treatment of NSCLC. This study offered a glimpse of unique views of traditional Chinese medicine on NSCLC and may benefit the treatment of NSCLC.