Despite recent progress in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer, clinical intervention in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) remains stagnant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy, followed by anti-programmed death 1 antibody (sintilimab) maintenance, in ES-SCLC patients. To explore a new method for safe treatment of ES-SCLC patients, thirteen ES-SCLC patients were enrolled between June 2019 and December 2021. All patients received first-line chemotherapy (etoposide plus platinum) combined with CIK cell therapy. Patients who reached a stable disease state or responded well to treatment received sintilimab maintenance treatment. The primary objective of this study was to determine the median overall survival (OS); the secondary objective was to assess the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival 1 and 2 (PFS1 was defined as the duration from the signing of informed consent to the date of tumor progression, or death, or the last follow-up. PFS2 was defined as the duration from the first day of sintilimab treatment to the date of tumor progression, death, or the last follow-up.), and adverse reactions. At a 24.1-month follow-up, the median OS was 11.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6–13.0) months, median PFS1 was 5.5 (95% CI: 5.0–6.0) months, and the median PFS2 was 2.3 (95% CI: 0.5–4.1) months. The ORR was 76.9% (10/13), the disease control rate was 100% (13/13), and the 20-month survival rate was 41.7%. Eight participants exhibited grade 3 or 4 adverse events after combination therapy. During maintenance treatment with sintilimab, level 3 adverse events occurred in 1 patient (1/9). In conclusion, adding CIK cells to standard chemotherapy regimens, followed by maintenance therapy with sintilimab, may represent a new safe and effective treatment strategy.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03983759)

Background: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic inflammatory disease initially involving anogenital areas. Noninvasive assessment is essential for precise management in VLS. We aim to analyze high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) features and correlate HFUS with histopathological changes.Materials and methods: Forty patients with histopathologically confirmed VLS lesions were retrospectively identified from August 2020 to September 2021. The clinical manifestations, dermoscopic images as well as both 20 and 50 MHz HFUS images were assessed. HFUS assessment included epidermal morphology, hypoechoic dermal band thickness, and hypoechoic dermal band internal echo. We compared HFUS images with histopathology, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between hypoechoic dermal band thickness and histopathological depth.Results: Hypoechoic dermal band was present in 100% (40/40) VLS lesions. There was a significant linear positive correlation between the histopathological depth and corresponding hypoechoic dermal band thickness, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.685 (p < 0.001). Besides, 95% (38/40) lesions revealed smooth epidermis, and the internal echo of hypoechoic dermal band was assessed as homogeneous in 60% (24/40) and inhomogeneous in 40% (16/40) lesions.Conclusion: HFUS characteristics, as well as measurable hypoechoic dermal band thickness, may provide valuable information in the precise diagnosis and the treatment monitoring of VLS.