Malignant Tumors Research Articles

Surgical resection following chemoradiotherapy for thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor: a report of two cases

BackgroundThoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor (SMARCA4-UT) is a high-grade malignant neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Most cases of SMARCA4-UT have extensive chest wall and mediastinum involvement. The efficacy of surgical resection has not been clearly established. Here, we report two surgical cases of SMARCA4-UT with chest wall invasion after chemoradiotherapy.Case presentationThe first patient was a 40-year-old man with back pain. Computed tomography revealed a 6.8 cm mass in contact with the thoracic vertebrae near the intervertebral foramen, which was suspected to involve the third to fifth ribs. The patient was diagnosed with SMARCA4-UT with clinical T3N0M0 stage IIB. The tumor shrank after chemoradiotherapy, and conversion surgery combined with partial vertebrectomy was performed. Histopathological findings revealed 30% residual tumor in the tumor bed. Thirty-six days after surgery, the patient developed multiple liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination. Chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment was performed, resulting in tumor shrinkage. However, peritoneal dissemination recurred within a short interval. The patient died 5 months postoperatively. The second patient was a 74-year-old man with chest pain. Computed tomography revealed a 7.4-cm mass in the left upper lobe with invasion of the third and fourth ribs. The patient was initially diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer with clinical T4N1M0 stage IIIA. The tumor shrank after induction chemoradiotherapy, and a left upper lobectomy combined with the chest wall resection was performed. Based on histopathological findings, the patient was diagnosed with SMARCA4-UT. The residual tumor percentage was 3%. The patient was followed up for 12 months postoperatively without recurrence.ConclusionsWe performed the complete resection of SMARCA4-UT following chemoradiotherapy. The two surgical cases had different postoperative courses. Radical surgery after chemoradiotherapy is effective for local control. However, its long-term prognostic efficacy remains unclear. Multidisciplinary approaches and further investigations of novel therapeutic options are required.

Assessment of the impact of procurement centralization on the drug provision for patients within the High-Cost Nosology Program in the Russian Federation

Background. In the Russian Federation, patients receive expensive drugs from the federal budget funds within High-Cost Nosology (HCN) Program.Objective: to assess the impact of drug procurement centralization on the weighted average price (WAP) per 1 unit of measurement (UM) of a drug, the procurement structure within HCN Program over 5 years (2019–2023), as well as the annual volume of procurements for each nosology and the additional annual growth compared to the previous year.Material and methods. The data on public procurement within HCN Program, regional and federal drug provision programs over the specified time period have been analyzed. During the analysis of individual nosologies, 22 drugs for the treatment of 12 HCN have been considered.Results. The median value of the change of WAP per 1 UM for all drugs within HCN Program was 6.01%. Aplastic anemia was characterized by the lowest volume of procurements over 5 years, while for malignant neoplasms was the largest. The growth in procurements from year to year within nosologies varied from +1% to +661%, while a decrease was from –97% to –1%.Conclusion. The results can be used as a basis for further research related to the process of implementation of preferential drug provision, and to development of additional tools to improve the efficacy of pharmacotherapy choice for included drugs and management decisions regarding the further expansion of HCN Program.

Research progress on S-palmitoylation modification mediated by the ZDHHC family in glioblastoma

S-Palmitoylation has been widely noticed and studied in a variety of diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that S-palmitoylation modification also plays a key role in Glioblastoma (GBM). The zDHHC family, as an important member of S-palmitoyltransferases, has received extensive attention for its function and mechanism in GBM which is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of the brain and has an adverse prognosis. This review focuses on the zDHHC family, essential S-palmitoyltransferases, and their involvement in GBM. By summarizing recent studies on zDHHC molecules in GBM, we highlight their significance in regulating critical processes such as cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis. Specifically, members of zDHHC3, zDHHC4, zDHHC5 and others affect key processes such as signal transduction and phenotypic transformation in GBM cells through different pathways, which in turn influence tumorigenesis and progression. This review systematically outlines the mechanism of zDHHC family-mediated S-palmitoylation modification in GBM, emphasizes its importance in the development of this disease, and provides potential targets and strategies for the treatment of GBM. It also offers theoretical foundations and insights for future research and clinical applications.

The advancements of organoids push the boundaries of glioblastoma research.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor of the nervous system, which is difficult to treat due to its strong invasiveness, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. To understand the complex biological behavior of glioblasts and the interaction between tumors and hosts, a new in vitro platform based on human cells is required, which can summarize the complex cellular structure and cell diversity of the human brain, as well as the biological behavior of GBM. Organoids are 3D self-organizing tissues, partially similar to source tissues, which can simulate the structure and physiological functions of organs or tissues in vitro. In this review, we underline the widespread application of different types of GBOs models in GBM pathogenesis, including cells derived, tumor tissues derived, and other co-culture models, as well as their application and shortcomings in the treatment of GBM.

HOXC12 promotes the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells by upregulating SALL4 and activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

BackgroundGastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, with a poor prognosis. HOXC is a family of transcription factors that are up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues. However, the relationship between Homeobox C12 (HOXC12) and gastric cancer is still unclear.MethodsTCGA-STAD and HPA data were analyzed to explore HOXC12 level. Kaplan–Meier Plotter was used to analyze the relationship between HOXC12 level and the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. The HOXC12 was knocked down or overexpressed by shRNA or overexpression vector to explore its functions. Cell migration/invasion assays and wound healing assay were used to assess the invasion/migration ability of gastric cancer cells. Western blot and qPCR were used to detect gene expression and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the active region bound by HOXC12 in the promoter of Spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4).ResultsHOXC12 was highly expressed in gastric cancer and was positively correlated with the poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. HOXC12 promotes the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. HOXC12 upregulated the transcription of SALL4 by binding to its promoter. HOXC12 was negatively correlated with both the levels of CD8+ T cells and T cell cytotoxicity-related genes.ConclusionHOXC12 promotes the invasion/migration of gastric cancer cells via SALL4/Wnt/β-catenin axis, and is negatively correlated with the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, suggesting HOXC12 as a diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

LncRNA DDX11-AS1 promotes breast cancer progression by targeting the miR-30c-5p/MTDH axis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumours. However, ceRNAs, which are significantly associated with the prognosis of breast cancer (BC), need to be further investigated. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of the lncRNA DDX11-AS1 on BC progression. Bioinformatics analysis via a public microarray revealed that DDX11-AS1 was upregulated in BC. The above findings were verified via RT‒qPCR analysis of BC tissues. Additionally, our study revealed that the expression levels of DDX11-AS1 increased with increasing pathological grade and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, DDX11-AS1 knockdown markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of BC cells. Mechanistically, DDX11-AS1 could prevent the degradation of MTDH in BC via competitively binding with miR-30c-5p, which could act as a tumour promoter factor. Additionally, miR-30c-5p was downregulated and MTDH was upregulated in BC cells and tissues. The promoting effect of DDX11-AS1 on BC cells was enhanced by miR-30c-5p silencing and reduced by treatment with MTDH inhibitors. Collectively, the above results suggest that the DDX11-AS1/miR-30c-5p/MTDH axis could be associated with the progression of BC and that DDX11-AS1 could be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for BC.

Interpretable prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis based on machine learning and SHAP.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can be fatal if left unrecognized and untreated. The purpose was to develop a machine learning (ML) model for predicting the 30-day all-cause mortality risk in SAP patients and to explain the most important predictors. This research utilized six ML methods, including logistic regression (LR), k-nearest neighbors(KNN), support vector machines (SVM), naive Bayes (NB), random forests(RF), and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost), to construct six predictive models for SAP. An extensive evaluation was conducted to determine the most effective model and then the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was applied to visualize key variables. Utilizing the optimized model, stratified predictions were made for patients with SAP. Further, the study employed multivariable Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, along with subgroup analysis, to explore the relationship between the machine learning-based score and 30-day mortality. Through LASSO regression and recursive feature elimination (RFE), 25 optimal feature variables are selected. The XGBoost model performed best, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.881, a sensitivity of 0.5714, a specificity of 0.9651 and an F1 score of 0.64. The first six most important feature variables were the use of vasopressor, high Charlson comorbidity index, low blood oxygen saturation, history of malignant tumor, hyperglycemia and high APSIII score. Based on the optimal threshold of 0.62, patients were divided into high and low-risk groups, and the 30-day survival rate in the high-risk group decreased significantly. COX regression analysis further confirmed the positive correlation between high-risk scores and 30-day mortality. In the subgroup analysis, the model showed good risk stratification ability in patients with different gender, renal replacement therapy and with or without a history of malignant tumor, but it was not effective in predicting peripheral vascular disease. the XGBoost model effectively predicts the severity of SAP, serving as a valuable tool for clinicians to identify SAP early.

Poria cocos inhibits the invasion, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells by inducing ferroptosis in cells

ObjectiveGastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors of the digestive system. The advanced metastasis of gastric cancer severely limits the conventional approaches for its treatment, while certain traditional Chinese medicinal compounds have been reported to possess promising abilities in inhibiting tumor metastasis. Such as Poria (PA), known as Fu Ling in Chinese, is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb derived from Poria cocos, a fungus belonging to the polyporaceae family.MethodsThe proliferation capacity of cells was measured using the MTT assay, while the invasion and migration abilities of cells after treatment with different concentrations of PA were evaluated through wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The differential expression of mRNA was analyzed using qPCR. The in vivo growth of tumors was assessed by subcutaneous tumor formation in mice.ResultsBoth in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that PA significantly inhibits the proliferation of GC. Moreover, in vitro experiments have revealed that PA not only suppresses the invasion and migration of GC cells but also reverses TNF-β-induced EMT. Further experiments have revealed that PA inhibits cell invasion, migration and EMT by inducing ferroptosis in GC cells.ConclusionIn brief, the present study shows that PA inhibits tumor metastasis by inducing ferroptosis in GC cells. Our findings suggest that PA may have therapeutic potential in GC.

Hsa_circ_0109320 Serves as a Novel Circular RNA Biomarker in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Promoting Metastasis.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, ranks among the top 10 cancers worldwide in terms of prevalence and mortality. NSCLC, a highly malignant tumor, exhibits distant invasion and migration as well as an unfavorable prognosis. As an innovative circular RNA, hsa _circ_0109320 (circ_0109320) has been recognized as a promising cancer modulator. However, our understanding of the influence of circ_0109320 in NSCLC remains insufficient. Our research explored the clinical significance and effects of circ_0109320 on oncogenic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) phenotypes. Microarray analysis and qPCR indicated that circ_0109320 expression in NSCLC specimens increased relative to that in adjacent normal tissues and was further elevated in metastatic lymph nodes. The specimens acquired from 25 patients confirmed these findings. Additionally, circ_0109320 indicated a good score (AUC = 0.688, P = 0.013) on the ROC curves, which suggests its suitability as a promising biomarker for lung cancer. Meanwhile, circ_0109320 was noticeably upregulated in lung cancer (LC) cell lines compared to human bronchial epithelial cells. Next, we performed loss- and gain-of-function experiments to examine the role of circ_0109320 in the tumor phenotypes of the cell lines. We observed that depletion or overexpression of circ_0109320 did not alter cell viability. However, the ectopic removal of circ_0109320 repressed the migration and invasion of A549 and SK-MES-1 cells, whereas circ_0109320 overexpression promoted cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, the examination of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers indicated that circ_0109320 elevates cell EMT activity. In conclusion, circ_0109320 level was highly associated with increased tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. circ_0109320 could be a promising predictor of clinical outcomes and a reliable target to treat NSCLC by inhibiting metastasis.

Lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis: key features of molecular mechanisms of concomitant disease

Lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis have long been significant problems for global health, occupying leading positions in terms of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. Numerous clinical and experimental studies have allowed to get knowledge of the mechanisms of development of these pathological processes individually, the impact of diseases on the macroorganism, and various options of treatment. According to population studies, the interaction between these two processes is undeniable – both active tuberculosis and post-tuberculosis changes are equally risk factors for the development of neoplastic processes, and malignant tumors create favorable conditions and predispositions for the development of mycobacterial infection. However, the mechanisms of interaction between these two diseases in concomitant cases remain opened and insufficiently studied. This literature review provides a detailed description of the variants of lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis combinations, the pathophysiological basis of the interaction between infectious and neoplastic processes: modulation of the immune response by M. tuberculosis and lung tumor; oncogenic signaling pathways activated by tuberculosis infection; mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in post-tuberculosis scar changes and its role in the formation of so-called "scarcinoma"; the relationship between tumor-mediated and tuberculosis-associated immunosuppression; the role of the PD-1: PD-L signaling pathway, and the influence of modern types of anti-tumor immunotherapy on the course of these pathological processes. The final part of the review presents our own data from experimental studies on the combination of cancer and tuberculosis in a laboratory model, identifying promising directions for further research on this issue.

Analysis of Polyphyllin II alters microRNA expression profile in lung cancer A549 cells

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant tumor that threatens the whole world, previous studies found that Polyphyllin II (PPII) can suppress NSCLC cells growth, exhibits significant antitumor activity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate the expression of other genes and play a crucial role in the prevention and development of cancer. However, the miRNA portrait of ginsenoside PPII-treated NSCLC A549 cells has not yet been studied. In this work, miRNA-seq analysis was used to determine the changes in miRNA expression profile of NSCLC A549 cells PPII-treaded. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on differentially expressed miRNA target genes. Then, predicted the target genes of miRNA and performed functional enrichment analysis on them. We identified 58 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated miRNAs displaying changes their expression in PPII treated A549 cells were greater than 2-fold. In addition, the expression levels of miRNAs were validated by real-time PCR. Therefore, this work has a certain promoting effect on the study of the anti-cancer mechanism of PPII in lung cells.

Research on the Therapeutic Effect of Qizhu Anti Cancer Recipe on Colorectal Cancer Based on RNA Sequencing Analysis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in clinical practice, and traditional Chinese medicine, as an important adjuvant treatment method, plays important roles in the treatment of malignant tumors. This study aims to explore the mechanism of action of the Qizhu anti-cancer recipe on colorectal cancer through transcriptome sequencing. The control group and Qizhu anti-cancer recipe group were established separately, and sequencing of the cells of the two groups was performed using the Illumina sequencing platform. Two sets of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) were screened using the DESeq2 algorithm, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Reactome, Disease Ontology (DO), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) were used to comprehensively analyze the molecular functions and signaling pathways enriched by DEGs. A total of 122 DEGs were identified through differential analysis, including 24 upregulated genes and 98 downregulated genes. GO analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in functions such as alkaline phase activity, ion transport, cell differentiation, etc.; KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways such as Thiamine metabolism, apoptosis, signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, cellular senescence and so on. Reactom analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in response pathways such as EGR1,2,3 bind to the NAB2 promoter, EGR binds ARC gene, EGR-dependent NAB2 gene expression, etc.; DO analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in diseases such as disease of cellular proliferation, disease of anatomical entity, organ system cancer, etc.; PPI analysis identified key differentially expressed genes, including DDIT3, CHAC1, TRIB3, and ASNS. Based on transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, it was found that the Qizhu anti-cancer recipe may involve DEGs and signaling pathways in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Our study may provide potential drug targets for developing new treatment strategies for colorectal cancer.

Research progress of the SLFN family in malignant tumors

The Schlafen (SLFN) gene family has emerged as a critical subject of study in recent years, given its involvement in an array of cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, immune responses, viral infection inhibition, and DNA replication. Additionally, SLFN genes are linked to chemosensitivity, playing a pivotal role in treating malignant tumors. Human SLFNs comprise three domains: the N-terminal, middle (M), and C-terminal. The N- and C-terminal domains demonstrate nuclease and helicase/ATPase activities, respectively. Meanwhile, the M-domain likely functions as a linker that connects the enzymatic domains of the N- and C-terminals and may engage in interactions with other proteins. This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of the SLFN family’s structure and sequence, examine its significance in various tumors, and explore its connection with immune infiltrating cells and immune checkpoints. The objective is to assess the potential of SLFNs as vital targets in cancer therapy and propose novel strategies for combined treatment approaches.

Whole-body MRI-based long-term evaluation of pediatric NF1 patients without initial tumor burden with evidence of newly developed peripheral nerve sheath tumors

BackgroundPatients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can develop plexiform neurofibromas (PN). Large tumor burden is a predictor for the development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is the recommended imaging method for the evaluation of PN. WB-MRI is recommended for NF1 patients at transition from adolescence to adulthood. In the absence of internal PN further follow-up WB-MRI is not considered necessary. PN are often detected in early childhood, leading to the assumption that they may be congenital lesions. It remains unclear whether this invariably applies to all patients or whether patients who initially displayed no tumors can still develop PN over time. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed WB-MRI scans of pediatric patients with NF1 without initial tumor burden and compared these with long-term follow-up scans for presence of newly developed PN.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed WB-MRI scans of 17 NF1-children (twelve male; median age at initial scan: 9 [IQR 6.1–11.9] years) who initially displayed no PN. MRI scans with a follow-up interval of at least 6 years (median follow-up interval: 9 [IQR 5.6–12.4] years) were reviewed in consensus by two radiologists regarding the development of new PN over time.ResultsNew PN were identified in two out of 17 children without initial tumor burden in follow-up examinations. One of these two patients developed two larger distinct PN of 4.5 cm on the right upper arm and of 2.5 cm on the left thoracic wall between the age of ten and twelve. The second child developed multiple smaller PN along the major peripheral nerves between the age of eleven and 16. In addition, 15 of the children without initial tumor burden did not develop any distinct tumors for a period of at least 6 years.ConclusionOur results indicate that PN can be newly detected in pediatric patients over time, even if no PN were detected on initial MRI scans. Therefore, it seems reasonable to perform at least a second MRI in pediatric NF1 patients at transition to adulthood, even if they did not display any tumor burden on initial MRI, and when the MRI was performed significantly under the age of 18. With this approach, tumors that may have developed between scans can be detected and patients at risk for complications can be identified.

The Clinical Application of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Canine Masses of Mesenchymal and Epithelial Origin: A Preliminary Case Series

Evaluating masses of mesenchymal and epithelial origin accurately using computed tomography (CT) has several limitations in dogs. This study aimed to present dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters to aid in improving the diagnostic accuracy for masses of mesenchymal and epithelial origin in veterinary medicine. Four dogs diagnosed with benign and malignant soft tissue sarcoma (STS), cholesteatoma, or squamous cell carcinoma underwent CT, conventional MRI, and DCE-MRI. Ktrans is a quantitative DCE-MRI parameter representing vascular permeability and tissue perfusion and is related to the potential for malignancy. Hemangiopericytomas (Grade II, STS) showed a higher Ktrans than normal muscle tissue and myxosarcoma (Grade I, STS). Squamous cell carcinoma (a malignant epithelial tumor) also showed a higher Ktrans than normal muscle tissue and cholesteatoma (a mass originating from keratinized squamous epithelium). These results suggest that higher Ktrans values may indicate a greater likelihood that a lesion is more malignant. In conclusion, Ktrans might be useful as a biomarker for evaluating the malignancy of a mass and as an indicator of lesion characteristics in dogs.

Treatment of Conjunctival Melanoma Cell Lines With a Light-Activated Virus-Like Drug Conjugate Induces Immunogenic Cell Death.

Conjunctival melanoma (CJM) is a rare malignant ocular surface tumor, which often leads to local recurrences and metastases. In murine models of subcutaneous tumors, treatment with a novel virus-like drug conjugate (VDC; Bel-sar) showed a dual mechanism of action with direct tumor cell killing as well as stimulation of an antitumoral immune response. Bel-sar is currently being evaluated for the treatment of primary uveal melanoma and indeterminate nevi in a phase III clinical trial. We determined whether Bel-sar also has direct antitumor efficiency and a potential immunostimulatory capacity in CJM cells. Three human tumor-derived CJM lines were used. Bel-sar's subcellular and intracellular locations were determined with tracers. Following light activation of Bel-sar, cytotoxicity and exposure of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) were assessed. Treated tumor cells were co-cultured with THP-1 derived macrophages to assess tumor-cell phagocytosis. Bel-sar was bound and internalized by CJM cells and subsequently found in the cell membrane, lysosome, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria. Bel-sar activation induced near complete cell death with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 30 pM and 60 pM. Finally, light-activated Bel-sar enhanced exposure of DAMPs, including calreticulin, heat shock protein 90, and stimulated phagocytosis by macrophages. Treatment with a novel VDC (Bel-sar) induced pro-immunogenic cell death in all three CJM cell lines. The in vitro cytotoxicity was accompanied by exposure of DAMPs, suggesting Bel-sar is a potential treatment for CJM by a dual mechanism of action. This dual mechanism may provide a targeted and direct killing of tumor cells and induce an immune response which might decrease local recurrences and metastasis.

Study on artificial intelligence recognition pre-processing algorithm for cervical cancer

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, with the number of deaths due to cervical cancer in developing countries accounting for 80% of the global total. In China, the incidence rate of cervical cancer is increasing year by year. At present, the commonly used methods for cervical cancer screening include TCT, HPV testing, TCT+HPV combined testing, FRD, and VIA/VILI. Among them, although TCT+HPV combined testing has high sensitivity and specificity, it is costly and time-consuming. VIA/VILI screening is cost-effective, easy to operate, and suitable for promotion in economically underdeveloped areas.However, VIA/VILI screening relies on the subjective judgment of doctors, so its accuracy is relatively low in rural areas of China with a large population and a lack of well-trained doctors. To address this issue, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) technology is needed to improve the accuracy and reliability of VIA/VILI screening. OBJECTIVES: The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI)-based Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) screening and computer-aided diagnosis has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of cervical cancer screenings and increase the coverage rate of cervical cancer screenings, thus reducing the incidence rate of the disease. To this end, we have developed an AI preprocessing algorithm aimed at improving the accuracy of AI in detecting cervical cancer. METHODS: Initially, the algorithm maps images to the YCrCb and Lab color spaces. Unlike traditional enhancement methods that mainly focus on the luminance channel, our method primarily enhances the Cr channel in the YCrCb color space and a channel in the Lab color space. This paper innovatively proposes the LT_CLAHE algorithm to enhance the Cr channel, obtaining an enhanced image with a bias towards blue-green colors, and uses the WLS algorithm to enhance the a channel, obtaining an enhanced image with a bias towards red colors. Subsequently, the enhanced images from both color spaces are fused to eliminate color distortion. RESULTS: Experimental results show that our method significantly enhances the texture of lesions and outperforms traditional methods across various objective indicators. When the enhanced images from this paper are used as input for neural networks, there is also a significant increase in the accuracy of neural network detection.

Effect of MPP2 and its DNA methylation levels on prognosis of colorectal cancer patients

Colorectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with poor prognosis, which is partly due to the lack of an effective biomarker. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of membrane palmitoylated protein (MPP2) on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. We obtained transcriptome data and DNA methylation data of 380 colorectal cancer patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then we used a series of bioinformatics analysis methods to reveal the relationship between MPP2 expression, DNA methylation sites, prognosis, immune checkpoint and clinical characteristics of patients. Finally, in vitro experiment and the meta-analysis of thousands of patients further confirmed the impact of MPP2 on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients and cell migration and proliferation. The expression level of MPP2 is negatively regulated by its DNA methylation sites, which leads to its low expression in colorectal cancer. High expression of MPP2 is an independent prognostic risk factor, which may be a biomarker for colorectal cancer. Moreover, the expression of MPP2 shows a close relationship with immune checkpoint or immune cells infiltration, especially CD4+T cells. In addition, meta-analysis involving 1584 patients from four different data further confirmed that MPP2 was a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Finally, knockdown of MPP2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of SW480 cells via mTOR signaling pathway. This study was the first to suggest that MPP2 may become a promising biomarker, and has an important role in immune checkpoint or immune cell infiltration in colorectal cancer.

Case report: A rare case of breast and multiorgan metastases secondary to papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally considered a highly indolent endocrine malignancy, often accompanied by cervical lymph node metastasis and rarely involving distant metastases. We present a rare case of a 37-year-old woman with PTC, who exhibited regional lymph node metastasis, right breast metastasis, and probable right psoas major and multiple bone metastases. Initial symptoms included hoarseness, and subsequent examination revealed a secondary malignant tumor in the right breast, originating from the thyroid gland. This case highlights an unusual pattern of multiple systemic metastasis in PTC, particularly the rare occurrence of breast metastasis.

A rare case of retroperitoneal recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma 10 years after nephroureterectomy

IntroductionLocal recurrence for upper tract urothelial carcinoma typically occurs within 2 years post‐surgery. We report a rare case of retroperitoneal recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma 10 years after nephroureterectomy.Case presentationA 67‐year‐old female was referred to our urology department for a left ureteral tumor. The surgical specimen of the laparoscopic left nephroureterectomy revealed urothelial carcinoma at the pT3 stage. Ten years post‐nephroureterectomy, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a mass lesion in the left retroperitoneum, a computed tomography‐guided biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Despite suspected distant metastases of other organ tumors, examinations such as digestive endoscopy and bronchoscopy did not reveal any tumor lesions. The patient was diagnosed with recurrent invasive urothelial carcinoma as a pathological feature of squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionThe decision‐making process for treating malignant tumors, such as in cases with recurrence as squamous cell carcinoma, can be challenging.