Pulmonary Metastases Research Articles

HPB SO24 - Recurrence Pattern of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma based on Time-to-Recurrence: A 5-year Single-Centre Retrospective Study

Abstract Background A vast majority of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develop early disease recurrence, even after curative-intent surgical resection. Understanding the pattern of disease recurrence will enable identification of areas for improvement within the preoperative diagnostic and management algorithms for these patients. The aim of the retrospective cohort study was to compare the recurrence pattern of PDAC in patients with early (<12 vs >12 months) and very early (<6 vs >6 months) recurrence following surgical resection. Method A retrospective review of histologically confirmed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (N=151) between 2015-2020 at a tertiary HPB centre was undertaken. All patients underwent CT and PET-CT for initial staging before resection. Initial recurrence after resection was identified through postoperative imaging and/or HPB MDT outcomes. Early recurrence (ER) was defined as recurrence within the first 12 months after surgery (n=78). Additionally, very early recurrence (VEM) was defined as recurrence within the first six months after surgery (n=46). Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0. Results In total, 117 (77.5%) of patients experienced recurrence, with a median recurrence-free survival of 11.3 (5.1-19.6) months. Patients with ER had significantly higher pathological T staging (p=0.01), greater margin positivity rate (p=0.01) and higher lymph node ratio (p=0.046), while those in VER had significantly larger maximum tumour diameter and number of involved lymph nodes (p=0.04) compared to their counterparts. Patients with ER (47.4 vs 31.5%, p=0.046) and VER (60.9 vs 30.5%, p<0.001) had significantly greater rates of liver metastasis compared to their counterparts. There were no differences in loco-regional recurrence, peritoneal or pulmonary metastasis between the groups. Conclusion Approximately 20% of patients undergoing surgical resection for PDAC developed liver metastasis within six months of surgery. This raises concerns for the presence of micro-metastatic disease within the liver unidentified on preoperative imaging. Therefore, there is a need to enhance preoperative imaging and treatment algorithms to improve survival of patients with PDAC.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic hepatectomy for liver metastasis from clitoral malignant melanoma: a case report.

Malignant melanomas occur most commonly in the skin, mucous membranes, or choroid. Clitoral malignant melanomas are extremely rare. Stage IV malignant melanomas have a poor prognosis, and molecularly targeted agents or immune checkpoint inhibitors are recommended. However, surgical resection is reportedly a valid option for improving the prognosis of patients with oligometastases, defined as a small number of metastases that can be completely resected. In this report, we describe hepatic resection for a recurrent liver metastasis in a patient who had undergone removal of a clitoral malignant melanoma 9years previously. An 82year-old woman presented with a black nodule on her clitoris. Total resection of the nodule resulted in a diagnosis of clitoral malignant melanoma (pT4bN0M0, pStage IIC; UICC 8th edition). A follow-up computed tomography scan 4years later revealed a single 5mm mass in the lower lobe of the right lung, prompting partial resection of the right lung. Pathological examination of the operative specimen revealed a pulmonary metastasis of malignant melanoma. The patient was treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy as adjuvant chemotherapy for 1year. A follow-up computed tomography scan 9years after surgical removal of the primary lesion revealed an 18mm mass in segment II of the liver, prompting robot-assisted laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy. The provisional diagnosis of metastatic malignant melanoma in the liver was confirmed by histopathological examination of the operative specimen. The patient was treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for 1year. No further recurrence was detected at the 1.5year follow-up. We performed hepatectomy for oligometastasis of clitoral malignant melanoma, an extremely rare entity. Surgery has the potential to prolong the prognosis of patients with oligometastasis.

Non‐functional metastatic thyroid carcinoma with oesophageal invasion and ulceration in a cat

AbstractAn adult, male, neutered, domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 2‐month history of dysphagia and a movable cervical mass. Cytology of the cervical mass was consistent with carcinoma. Thoracic radiographs revealed pleural effusion, cardiomegaly, diffuse patchy interstitial pattern and pulmonary nodules. Fluid analysis of the pleural effusion was consistent with marked septic neutrophilic inflammation, and Pasteurella multocida was isolated. Contrast‐enhanced cervical and thoracic computed tomography scan revealed a cervical mass in the region of the right thyroid lobe, with circumferential invasion of the oesophageal wall and well‐defined pulmonary nodules consistent with distant metastases. Oesophago‐gastroscopy was performed and revealed a proximal, oesophageal, mural mass causing severe intraluminal obstruction. Humane euthanasia was elected. Postmortem examination with histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed a thyroid carcinoma with oesophageal invasion and pulmonary metastases. The oesophageal mucosa was extensively disrupted and ulcerated by the thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, echocardiogram and postmortem examination confirmed cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

Long-Term Outcome After Resection of Hepatic and Pulmonary Metastases in Multivisceral Colorectal Cancer

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) with hepatic (CRLM) and pulmonary metastases (CRLU) presents a significant clinical challenge, leading to poor prognosis. Surgical resection of these metastases remains controversial because of limited evidence supporting its long-term benefits. To evaluate the impact of surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases on long-term survival in patients with multivisceral metastatic colorectal cancer, this retrospective cohort study included 192 patients with UICC stage IV CRC treated at a high-volume academic center. Methods: Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases (n = 100) and those who received non-surgical treatment (n = 92). Propensity score matching was used to adjust for baseline differences. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Results: Unadjusted analysis showed a significant OS benefit in the surgical group (median OS: 6.97 years) compared with the conservative group (median OS: 2.17 years). After propensity score matching, this survival advantage persisted (median OS: 5.58 years vs. 2.35 years; HR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.18–0.47, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Surgical resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases in multivisceral metastatic CRC significantly improves long-term survival, supporting an aggressive surgical approach in selected patients.

GdX inhibits the occurrence and progression of breast cancer by negatively modulating the activity of STAT3

ABSTRACT Aim To elucidate the biological functionality and regulatory mechanisms of GdX in breast cancer (BC). Methods The examination of GdX expression in human BC tissues and cell lines was conducted through immunohistochemical (IHC) and Western blot. Cell proliferation capacity was assessed via the CCK-8 and colony formation assay, while cell migration was determined through the wound healing assay. The expression levels of BCL-XL, Cyclin D1, and C-myc gene were quantified using RT-qPCR and Western blot. In vivo tumor growth was evaluated in nude mice xenografted with MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing GdX, and a mouse model with GdX-deficient BC was established to observe the impact of GdX on BC formation and metastasis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence were employed to confirm the interaction between GdX and STAT3. Western blot was employed to validate the influence of GdX overexpression on the phosphorylation process of STAT3. Results GdX exhibited low expression in the cancer tissues of BC patients and cell lines. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells overexpressing GdX displayed a notable reduction in proliferation and diminished migratory capabilities, accompanied by downregulated mRNA and protein expression of BCL-XL, Cyclin D1, and C-myc. In the xenograft mouse model, heightened GdX expression correlated with a decelerated in vivo tumor growth. Furthermore, in mice deteleing GdX, both the quantity and weight of tumors increased, along with evident pulmonary metastasis. Mechanistically, STAT3 emerged as a downstream target gene of GdX. Conclusions GdX exerts its inhibitory effects on the initiation and progression of BC by negatively modulating the phosphorylation of STAT3.

PDGFRB promotes dedifferentiation and pulmonary metastasis through rearrangement of cytoskeleton under hypoxic microenvironment in osteosarcoma

BackgroundOsteosarcoma (OS) cells commonly suffer from hypoxia and dedifferentiation, resulting in poor prognosis. We plan to identify the role of hypoxia on dedifferentiation and the associated cellular signaling. MethodsWe performed sphere formation assays and determined spheroid cells as dedifferentiated cells by detecting stem cell-like markers. RNAi assay was used to explore the relationship between hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB). We obtained PDGFRB knockdown and overexpression cells through lentiviral infection experiments and detected the expression of PDGFRB, p-PDGFRB, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), p-FAK, phosphorylated myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC2), and ras homolog family member A (RhoA) in each group. The effects of PDGFRB on cytoskeleton rearrangement and cell adhesion were explored by immunocytochemistry. Wound-healing experiments, transwell assays, and animal trials were employed to investigate the effect of PDGFRB on OS cell metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. ResultsDedifferentiated OS cells were found to exhibit high expression of HIF1A and PDGFRB, and HIF1A upregulated PDGFRB, subsequently activated RhoA, and increased the phosphorylation of MLC2. PDGFRB also enhanced the phosphorylation of FAK. The OS cell morphology and vinculin distribution were altered by PDGFRB. PDGFRB promoted cell dedifferentiation and had a significant impact on the migration and invasion abilities of OS cells in vitro. In addition, PDGFRB increased pulmonary metastasis of OS cells in vivo. ConclusionOur results demonstrated that HIF1A up-regulated PDGFRB under hypoxic conditions, and PDGFRB regulated the actin cytoskeleton, a process likely linked to the activation of RhoA and the phosphorylation of, thereby promoting OS dedifferentiation and pulmonary metastasis.

Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging applications in pediatric musculoskeletal tumors.

The hybrid imaging positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) is an important tool in the management of pediatric oncology patients, particularly in malignant musculoskeletal pathologies, because it combines the functional and metabolic information of tumor provided by PET with the high soft-tissue contrast and the functional information offered by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed an observational retrospective study that included pediatric patients diagnosed with primary bone or soft-tissue sarcomas in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit at the HM Montepríncipe University Hospital, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid (Spain) who underwent whole-body 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/MRI as a staging study and for follow-up evaluation for treatment response from September 2017 to January 2023. This study explores the protocols, the practical application of the PET/MRI technique and our clinical experience at our center in the diagnosis and follow-up of primary bone tumors and soft-tissue sarcomas in children. Seventy-one 18F-PET/MR studies were performed on 39 patients. Most of them (55%) were initial extension studies and (45%) were follow-up studies. Most of the patients studied were male (74.4%) with a median age of 15 years. Of the 39 cases, 51% were primary bone tumors while 18% were Langerhans cell histiocytosis and 21% soft tissue tumors. Of the 71 studies, five showed metastases at the initial diagnosis, three presented lymph node involvement, one with local infiltration, and one with pulmonary metastasis. PET/MR has represented a significant advancement in the evaluation of pediatric malignant neoplasms, with specific applications in musculoskeletal tumors showing clear benefits over PET/CT. The primary advantage is the reduction in ionizing radiation doses and the assessment of soft tissues, making it an excellent option for malignant musculoskeletal pathologies in pediatric patients who often require long-term follow-up. It is particularly useful for early tumor detection and functional therapy monitoring in oncology. The development of new protocols is making studies increasingly faster and better tolerated, even without the need for anesthesia. PET/MRI has shown to increase diagnostic accuracy in primary bone and soft tissue tumors, as it allows for the comprehensive evaluation of their morpho-metabolic characteristics, locoregional, and distant involvement in a single study. It is also useful in surgical planning and post-treatment follow-up.

Pulmonary metastasis of giant cell tumour of tibia.

Giant cell tumour of the tibia with pulmonary metastasis is very rare and the malignancy usually appears several years after the initial lesion. Imaging at the earliest instance is highly beneficial since surgical resection to remove the metastases raises survival rates; therefore, relentless follow-up in GCT is vital.

Sialic Acids Blockade-Based Chemo-Immunotherapy Featuring Cancer Cell Chemosensitivity and Antitumor Immune Response Synergies.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with cancer, although the majority of such patients achieve low response rates; consequently, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. The upregulation of sialic acid-containing glycans is a common characteristic of cancer-related glycosylation, which drives disease progression and immune escape via numerous pathways. Herein, the development of self-assembled core-shell nanoscale coordination polymer nanoparticles loaded with a sialyltransferase inhibitor, referred to as NCP-STI which effectively stripped diverse sialoglycans from cancer cells, providing an antibody-independent pattern to disrupt the emerging Siglec-sialic acid glyco-immune checkpoint is reported. Furthermore, NCP-STI inhibits sialylation of the concentrated nucleoside transporter 1 (CNT1), promotes the intracellular accumulation of anticancer agent gemcitabine (Gem), and enhances Gem-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD). As a result, the combination of NCP-STI and Gem (NCP-STI/Gem) evokes a robust antitumor immune response and exhibits superior efficacy in restraining the growth of multiple murine tumors and pulmonary metastasis. Collectively, the findings demonstrate a novel form of small molecule-based chemo-immunotherapy approach which features sialic acids blockade that enables cooperative effects of cancer cell chemosensitivity and antitumor immune responses for cancer treatment.

MTOR inhibitor in the treatment of TFE-positive advanced maligmnant PEComa of the uterus: a case report and literature review.

The pre- and intra-operative diagnoses of malignant uterine vascular perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) can be challenging, for which the literature is limited. Some cases have been shown to have TSC gene mutations or rearrangements of the MiT factor family, resulting in variable responses to mTOR inhibitors. We report a case of a TFE-positive malignant PEComa of the uterus with pulmonary metastases that responded favorably to the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus. A 52-year-old female underwent a total hysterectomy 5 years ago for suspected sub-serosal or broad ligament fibroids. The intraoperative pathologic diagnosis was leiomyosarcoma of the uterus and the postoperative diagnosis was malignant PEComa of the uterus. The patient declined genetic testing and further treatment. In December 2020 the patient presented with a pelvic mass and underwent open abdominal mass resection and pelvic adhesiolysis. The pathologic findings confirmed recurrent malignant PEComa of the uterus. The pulmonary lesions gradually progressed during the follow-up period, so treatment with everolimus was initiated. Close follow-up evaluation for nearly 3 years showed disease remission without recurrence or progression. The patient described herein had a TFE-positive uterine malignant PEComa with lung metastasis and responded well to the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus. Close follow-up in the last 3 years showed remission without recurrence or progression.

Left inguinal dedifferentiated liposarcoma and primary unclassified sarcoma of the left lung as synchronous multiple sarcomas: a case report

BackgroundPulmonary nodules in patients with soft tissue sarcomas are likely pulmonary metastases, whereas synchronous primary pulmonary sarcomas are rare. Without surgery, determining whether a solitary pulmonary nodule is a primary or metastatic nodule is difficult. Herein, we report a rare case of a primary pulmonary sarcoma that presented synchronously with a primary dedifferentiated liposarcoma.Case presentationA 77-year-old man presented to another hospital with left inguinal swelling and a suspected recurrent inguinal hernia. Computed tomography revealed a left inguinal mass and pure-solid nodule in the left lung and the patient was referred to our hospital for detailed examination and treatment. The inguinal mass was pathologically diagnosed as a dedifferentiated liposarcoma using needle biopsy, whereas bronchoscopic biopsy revealed histological findings suggestive of a sarcoma; however, the primary site could not be determined. Positron emission tomography–computed tomography revealed no high-accumulation lesions except for the two sarcomas. We decided to perform surgery on both sarcomas for diagnostic and curative purposes. The surgical specimens showed that the two sarcomas were different. Based on the immunohistochemical staining findings of MDM2, a left inguinal dedifferentiated liposarcoma and primary pulmonary unclassified sarcoma were diagnosed. The patient displayed no evidence of recurrence 1 year after surgery.ConclusionsWe encountered a rare case of synchronous multiple primary sarcomas, one presenting in the lung and the other in the soft tissue. Surgery was required to achieve a definitive diagnosis for the patient, who achieved disease-free survival at 1 year. This case suggests that proactive resection of pulmonary nodules in patients with soft tissue sarcomas may be feasible as a diagnostic treatment if complete resection is achieved.

Protecting Against Postsurgery Oral Cancer Recurrence with an Implantable Hydrogel Vaccine for In Situ Photoimmunotherapy

AbstractOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) often recurs aggressively and metastasizes despite surgery and adjuvant therapy, driven by postoperative residual cancer cells near the primary tumor site. An implantable in situ vaccine hydrogel was designed to target residual OSCC cells post‐tumor removal. This hydrogel serves as a reservoir for the sustained localized release of δ‐aminolevulinic acid (δ‐ALA), enhancing protoporphyrin IX‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), and a polydopamine‐hyaluronic acid composite for photothermal therapy (PTT). Additionally, immune adjuvants, including anti‐CD47 antibodies (aCD47) and CaCO3 nanoparticles, are directly released into the resected tumor bed. This approach induces apoptosis of residual OSCC cells through sequential near‐infrared irradiation, promoting calcium interference therapy (CIT). The hydrogel further stimulates immunogenic cell death (ICD), facilitating the polarization of tumor‐associated macrophages from the M2 to the M1 phenotype. This facilitates phagocytosis, dendritic cell activation, robust antigen presentation, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐mediated cytotoxicity. In murine OSCC models, the in situ vaccine effectively prevents local recurrence, inhibits orthotopic OSCC growth and pulmonary metastases, and provides long‐term protective immunity against tumor rechalle nge. These findings support postoperative in situ vaccination with a biocompatible hydrogel implant as a promising strategy to minimize residual tumor burden and reduce recurrence risk after OSCC resection.

Bioengineered Extracellular Vesicles Delivering siMDM2 Sensitize Oxaliplatin Therapy Efficacy in Colorectal Cancer.

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is the first-line drug for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), and susceptibility to drug resistance affects patient prognosis. However, the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Platinum-acquired resistance in CRC is a continuous transition process; though, current research has mainly focused on the end state of drug resistance, and the early events of drug resistance have been ignored. In this study, single-cell transcriptome sequencing is combined with a dynamic network biomarker (DNB), and found that the functional inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I occur early in the development of attained resistance to OXA in CRC cells, as evidenced by a decrease in the levels of subunit proteins, primarily NDUFB8. Specifically, the mouse double minute 2 homologue (MDM2) mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of NDUFB8, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under chemotherapeutic stress, consequently contributing to drug resistance. Based on this, the study constructs engineered extracellular vesicles carrying siMDM2 by electroporation and validates the application of EV-siMDM2 to improve the efficacy of OXA-based chemotherapy by inhibiting the MDM2/NDUFB8/ROS signaling axis in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and hepatic and pulmonary metastasis mouse models, thus providing new ideas and an experimental basis for the platinum-resistant treatment of CRC.

Krukenberg tumour in a 46-year-old black African woman with a background of ovarian fibroma- A case report

BackgroundTumours that metastasize to the ovary can occur in conjunction with other ovarian lesions, including benign sex cord stroma tumours like fibroma or fibrothecoma. This case report presents a unique instance of metastatic signet ring carcinoma involving the ovary in a background of fibroma in a Black African woman.Patient presentationA 46-year-old gravida 3, para 0 (2 alive), patient was referred from the general outpatient clinic to the gynecology clinic due to progressive abdominal swelling over the past eight months. Abdominal examination revealed marked distension with massive ascites. Physical examination of the chest demonstrated dullness to percussion over both lung bases, with increased dullness noted on the right. Auscultation revealed decreased air entry in the right middle and lower lung zones, with normal to increased air entry in the remaining lung fields. Abdominopelvic ultrasound revealed a large irregularly marginated homogeneous solid mass in the right adnexa measuring 16.4 × 11.7 × 12.7 cm. An abdominal CT scan revealed bilateral pleural effusion, which was more pronounced on the right, ascites, and evidence of pulmonary and hepatic metastasis. Serum chemistry revealed abnormal levels of several analytes, including elevated CA 125 at 1,108.8 (normal range 0–35) U/L and CA 19–9 at 63.8 (normal range 0–35) U/L. She subsequently underwent staging laparotomy with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, without any postoperative complications. The histologic sections of the right and left ovaries revealed a moderately cellular lesion composed of intersecting bundles of spindle cells in a fascicular and storiform pattern. Additionally, pockets of small round to oval-shaped cells with intracytoplasmic clear vacuoles pushing the nucleus to the periphery (signet ring cells) were identified in a few foci. These cells were initially thought to be ovarian stroma or theca cells. Microscopic examination revealed signet ring cells with cytoplasmic positivity for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The histopathological diagnosis was metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma involving the ovary, with an underlying ovarian fibroma.ConclusionsOvarian metastatic signet ring carcinoma in a background of fibroma can pose a significant diagnostic challenge, as signet ring cells can mimic the ovarian stroma or theca cells, especially if they are only observed in a few foci of the sections.

Histone deacetylase upregulation of neuropilin-1 in osteosarcoma is essential for pulmonary metastasis

The lungs represent the most common site of metastasis for osteosarcoma (OS). Despite our advances in developing targeted therapies for treating solid malignancies, broad acting chemotherapies remain the first line treatment for OS. In assaying the efficacy of approved therapeutics for non-OS malignancies, we previously identified the histone deacetylase 1 and 2 (HDAC1 and 2) inhibitor, romidepsin, as effective for the treatment of established lung metastatic OS. Yet, romidepsin has noted toxicities in humans and so here we aimed to define the primary mechanisms through which HDAC1/2 mediate OS progression to identify more selective druggable targets/pathways. Microarray and proteomics analyses of romidepsin treated OS cells revealed a significant suppression of neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a known regulator of cancer cell migration and invasion. Silencing of NRP1 significantly reduced OS proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion in vitro. More strikingly, in vivo, reduced NRP1 expression significantly mitigated the lung metastatic potential of OS in two independent models (K7M2 and SAOS-LM7). Mechanistically, our data point to NRP1 mediating this effect via the down regulation of migration machinery, namely SRC, FAK and ROCK1 expression/activity, that is in part, related to NRP1 interaction with integrin beta 1 (ITGB1). In summary, our data indicate that romidepsin down regulation of NRP1 significantly mitigates the ability of OS cells to seed the lung and establish metastases, and that targeting NRP1 or its effectors with selective inhibitors may be a viable means with which to prevent this deadly aspect of the disease.

Cinobufotalin inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by triggering NOX4/NLRP3/GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis.

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that plays a significant role in tumorigenesis. Cinobufotalin (CB), a bufadienolide extracted from toad venom, is associated with antitumor effects in various cancers, including liver cancer. However, the role of CB in pyroptosis and its underlying mechanisms have not been well characterized. MTT, Colony formation, EdU, Wound healing and Transwell migration and invasion assays were applied to determine the effects of CB on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro. The subcutaneous xenograft mouse model and pulmonary metastasis model were used to evaluate the effect of CB on HCC cells in vivo. PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to verify the expression of proliferation, migration, pyroptosis, and inflammation related molecules after CB treatment. Using si-RNA and inhibitors to interfere with NOX4 and HLRP3 expression to validate the key signaling pathways of pyroptosis induced by CB treatment. In vivo experiments using nude mice with xenografted HCC cells and in vitro experiments with HCC cell lines demonstrated that CB treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of HCC cells. CB treatment also showed dose-dependent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex in HCC cells, leading to gasdermin D-induced pyroptosis. However, these effects were abrogated via the pretreatment of HCC cells with VX-765, a caspase-1 inhibitor. Additionally, CB increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and H₂O₂, along with upregulating NOX4 protein expression in HCC cells. Conversely, NOX4 silencing or pretreatment with VAS2870 (an NOX4 inhibitor) or NAC (an ROS scavenger) suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex and pyroptosis in CB-treated HCC cells. Our study demonstrated that CB suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of HCC cells by inducing pyroptosis through the activation of the NOX4/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway. Therefore, our results suggest that CB is a promising therapeutic agent for HCC.

High endothelial venules in the pleura: MECA-79 expression in mesothelioma, pleural metastasis and pleuritis

IntroductionHigh endothelial venules (HEVs) are vessels specialized in the extravasation of lymphocytes from the blood to the tissue implicated in the immune microenvironment of several tumors. Their presence has been never studied in the pleural tissue. Material and methodsWe retrospectively studied 149 surgical pleural biopsies by immunohistochemistry for MECA-79 expression, a marker specifically recognizing HEVs. The tissues included 44 (44 %) inflammatory and 105 (56 %) neoplastic diseases. The latter corresponded to 34 (22.8 %) mesotheliomas and 71 (47.7 %) metastases from lung (n=50) or breast (n=21) primaries. ResultsHEVs were present in 102 (68 %) of all pleural specimens with a mean number of foci containing HEVs of 13.33 (±20.64). Neoplastic pleural pathologies harbored HEVs in 73.3 % of the cases compared to the non-neoplastic pathologies which harbored HEVs in 56.8 % of the cases (p=0.048). Their presence did not differ between pulmonary or mammary metastasis (p=0.7). ConclusionWe show for the first time that HEVs are present in the pleural cavity probably participating in the immune microenvironment of inflammatory and neoplastic pleural disease.

Epidemio-Clinical, Anatomopathological, Computed Tomography Aspects from Breast Cancer to Imaging and Medical Oncology Departments at Chu – Mother-Child “Luxembourg”

Introduction: Cancer results from an anarchic proliferation of abnormal cells of the mammary gland and is the most common cancer in women in developed countries with 50,000 new cases in 2008. Objectives: The aim of our work was to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of patients, to determine the different sites and the frequency of metastases; and to describe the CT and histological aspects in the diagnosis of extension, therapy and assessment. Methods: Our study was retrospective descriptive over a period of 12 months from January 2020 to December 2020 in the radiology and medical oncology department of CHUME Luxembourg. It concerned all patients with histologically confirmed cancer who had undergone a scan before, during treatment or during therapeutic monitoring. The examinations were carried out with a HITACHI SUPRIA 16 BARRETTES CT scanner installed in 2015. Results: During the period of our study, the frequency of breast cancer was 10.7% (130 cases) out of 1204 scans carried out with a female predominance of 98%, an average age of 52 years and extremes of 12 to 90 years. The main metastases were: pulmonary (59%), followed by lymph node metastases (66%), bone (51%), liver (29%) and brain (2%). The association of pulmonary, lymph node, liver and bone metastasis represented 27% of the most frequent associations. As for the histological aspect, non-specific invasive carcinoma grade II SBR and TNM was the most frequent.

Resección pancreática por cáncer de células renales metastásico: experiencia de un hospital mexicano de alto volumen

Objective: The aim of our study was to report the oncological and surgical outcomes of the pancreatic resections due to solitary pancreatic metastasis of RCC in a tertiary care reference center for pancreatic masses in Mexico. Materials y methods: All pancreatic resections at our Institution from 2002 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We only included patients treated with pancreatic resections due to metastatic RCC to the pancreas. We evaluated symptoms, time from nephrectomy to pancreatic resection, type of surgery, complications and oncological outcomes. Results: Eight pancreatic resections due to solitary metastases of RCC were performed. The median age of presentation was 69 years. The most prevalent symptom was abdominal pain (50 %). 6 pancreatoduodenectomies (Whipple procedure), 1 distal pancreatectomy and 1 total pancreatomy were done. The median time between radical nephrectomy and pancreatic resection was 122 months (8-247 months). Seven had negative surgical margins. The median follow-up time after pancreatic surgery was 42 months (1-109 months). The only case that died had pulmonary metastases and the resection was R1. Originality and value: Original study demonstrating the survival outcomes of pancreatic resection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma in a high-volume hospital in Mexico. Limitations: Retrospective study and the limited number of cases. Conclusions: Pancreatic resections due to solitary metastases from CCR could offer some advantages on survival, as long as they are done in high volume centers.

Benign extracranial meningioma with pulmonary metastasis: a case report and review of literature

BackgroundMeningiomas are common central nervous system tumors, predominantly intracranial, they rarely develop extracranially. Moreover, benign meningiomas seldom metastasize.Case presentationThis article presents a case report of a 55-year-old Chinese male patient with a primary World Health Organization grade 1 meningioma originating from the petrous apex of the temporal bone, accompanied by pulmonary metastasis. Following two incomplete resections of the primary tumor, the patient underwent radiotherapy and has since maintained a stable condition.ConclusionThe case report highlights the rare occurrence of pulmonary metastasis in a benign World Health Organization grade 1 meningioma originating from an extracranial site. It also illustrates the important role of radiotherapy in treating patients with meningioma. Additionally, a review of related literature is provided to gain insights for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.