Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Aug 27;13:1865050. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1865050. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Transformed small-cell lung cancer (T-SCLC) is a clinically important form of histologic transformation and a mechanism of acquired resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is associated with poor prognosis, with a median overall survival of only about 9-13 months. This review summarizes recent advances in the mechanisms, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of T-SCLC. Repeat biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming histologic transformation, whereas molecular profiling and liquid biopsy may facilitate early detection and longitudinal disease monitoring. Platinum-etoposide remains the most commonly used clinical standard after transformation, but its benefit is typically transient and durable disease control remains uncommon. Continuation of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy may prolong progression-free survival in selected patients but has not consistently improved overall survival. Anti-angiogenic therapy, particularly anlotinib, and chemo-immunotherapy have shown encouraging activity in selected patients, while emerging strategies targeting DLL3, MYC, SOX2, and epigenetic regulators may broaden the therapeutic landscape. Prospective studies integrating repeat tissue sampling, comprehensive genomic profiling, biomarker-guided patient stratification, pharmacogenomics, functional drug-sensitivity testing where feasible, and integrated multi-omics approaches are needed to advance molecularly guided and individualized treatment for T-SCLC.

PMID:42724635 | PMC:PMC13560167 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1865050

J Cancer. 2026 Jan 30;17(3):515-523. doi: 10.7150/jca.127381. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, largely due to their molecular heterogeneity, complex tumor microenvironment (TME), and variable treatment responses. In recent years, the emergence of spatially resolved omics technologies-encompassing spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics-has revolutionized the ability to interrogate tumor architecture with unprecedented resolution. These methods enable precise mapping of cellular and molecular interactions within intact tissue contexts, thereby uncovering spatially defined niches that influence tumor progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. In GI malignancies such as colorectal, gastric, and esophageal cancers, spatial omics have provided critical insights into cancer-stromal-immune crosstalk, identified predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy and targeted agents, and guided the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes the latest advances in spatial omics applied to GI oncology over the past five years, with an emphasis on their integration into early diagnosis, treatment stratification, and real-time monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. We also discuss current challenges, including standardization, data integration, and clinical validation, as well as future directions for incorporating spatial profiling into routine oncology practice. By bridging the gap between bench discoveries and bedside applications, spatial omics hold transformative potential for achieving truly personalized treatment in gastrointestinal cancers.

PMID:41869445 | PMC:PMC13003551 | DOI:10.7150/jca.127381