International journal of clinical and experimental pathology最新文献

Myopericytoma (MPC) is a rare, benign, and cellular mesenchymal neoplasm. Histologically, it is characterized by concentric perivascular proliferation of spindle-shaped tumor cells. While MPCs predominantly occur in the subcutaneous or superficial soft tissues of distal extremities, oral MPCs are exceptionally rare. Herein, we present a case of MPC located in the sublingual region of a 74-year-old male. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review of 29 previously reported cases to delineate the clinicopathological and molecular features of MPC. This comprehensive analysis aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance the cognition of this uncommon tumor entity's clinicopathological characteristics and biological behavior.

Objective: To investigate the expression of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) in ovarian cancer tissues and its correlation with clinicopathologic features, chemotherapy sensitivity, and prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Paraffin tissue blocks were collected from 227 ovarian cancer patients, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to analyze the expression of ROR1. The associations between ROR1 expression and clinicopathologic features, treatment response, and prognosis were evaluated.

Results: ROR1 expression and tumor load: higher expression of ROR1 was associated with a heavier tumor load in ovarian cancer patients. ROR1 and chemotherapy: the expression of ROR1 was significantly higher in patients who underwent interval debulking surgery (IDS) compared to primary debulking surgery (PDS) and subsequent chemotherapy (SSC). This suggests that chemotherapy may promote increased ROR1 expression in tumor tissues. Additionally, a trend of higher ROR1 expression was observed in platinum-sensitive patients. Nuclear expression in clear cell ovarian cancer: positive nuclear expression of ROR1 was unexpectedly detected in clear cell ovarian cancer, suggesting a link between ROR1 nuclear translocation and poor prognosis.

Conclusion: ROR1 expression may be related to treatment strategy and history of platinum-based chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients. Targeting ROR1 could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of ROR1 nuclear translocation in prognosis.

Objectives: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is an advanced stage of AMD and is associated with an increased risk of visual impairment. Disturbances in lipid metabolism have been proposed as a major contributing factor to the pathogenesis of AMD. This study aims to investigate whether lipid profiles in the serum and components of dyslipidemia can be used as indicators for predicting progression to nAMD.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 125 participants with nAMD. 125 non-AMD controls, matched by age, sex, and BMI, were incorporated into the study. The comparative analysis between the groups involved six lipid biomarkers in the serum: HDL-C, LDL-C TG, TC, ApoA1, and ApoB. Moreover, the existence of dyslipidemia and its constituents was assessed through t-tests, as well as univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: Individuals with nAMD exhibited significantly higher serum HDL-C (P = 0.02) compared to the controls without AMD. Furthermore, the concentrations of ApoB were significantly less in the nAMD cohort (P < 0.01) when compared to the control group. During the investigation of the correlation between levels of serum HDL-C (P < 0.01) and serum ApoB (P < 0.01) with nAMD through logistic regression analysis, notable findings indicated a significant association between both variables and nAMD. However, by multivariate logistic regression analysis, neither serum HDL-C nor serum ApoB was an independent risk factor for nAMD.

Conclusions: While individuals with nAMD demonstrated elevated serum HDL-C and reduced serum ApoB levels, these lipid markers may not be suitable as biomarkers for monitoring or preventing nAMD.

Background: Pilonidal sinus is a chronic inflammatory condition that typically occurs in the sacrococcygeal region and rarely in other locations. Scalp pilonidal sinus is extremely uncommon, making this case noteworthy as it expands the differential diagnosis for scalp nodular lesions.

Case presentation: A 16-year-old girl presented with a persistent fluid-draining nodule on the top of her head, present for over a decade. She had a history of scalp injury at birth. Examination revealed a 1×2 cm mobile, tough nodule with a central opening and sparse surrounding hair. Imaging showed a gas density under the scalp but no bone involvement. The nodule was surgically excised. Histopathology confirmed pilonidal sinus, showing embedded hair, sebaceous gland involvement, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The patient recovered fully, with no recurrence or complications during three years of follow-up.

Conclusions: This rare case of pilonidal sinus on the scalp highlights the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis of scalp nodular lesions, particularly in patients with a history of trauma. It emphasizes the need for surgical treatment and careful follow-up to prevent recurrence.

Objective: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a significant threat to the health of women. Biglycan (BGN) plays a crucial role in the oncogenesis and progression of various human cancers. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of BGN in OC.

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect BGN levels in the OC tissues of 68 patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery. Normal ovarian tissues were collected from 21 patients with benign gynecological tumors who underwent oophorectomy. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect BGN levels in human OC and normal ovarian cells. The functions of BGN in OC cells were assessed with the Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing, and transwell migration assays following upregulation or downregulation of BGN in vitro.

Results: BGN expression was elevated in OC tissues as compared to normal tissues. The basal level of BGN was also higher in OC cells than in normal cells. Knockdown of BGN reduced the proportion of surviving OC cells, increased wound healing, and decreased cell migration, while overexpression produced the opposite effects.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that high BGN expression enhances proliferation and migration of OC cells, indicating that BGN is a potential target for treatment of OC.

Background: Colon cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Copper-induced cell death, known as cuproptosis, is a form of apoptosis that has been extensively studied in human diseases and is widely associated with tumor progression, prognosis, and immune response. However, the role of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of colon cancer remains unclear.

Objective: This study aims to explore the role of cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in predicting the prognosis of colon cancer and to establish a risk prediction model based on these lncRNAs to guide clinical decisions and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: A total of 19 cuproptosis-related genes were collected, and 1330 lncRNAs associated with cuproptosis were identified. Seven cuproptosis-related lncRNAs with prognostic value were selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Using R software (version 4.1.0), the expression levels of the 19 genes were extracted, and the subjects were divided into high- and low-risk subgroups. A risk score model was developed based on cuproptosis-related genes and the seven co-expressed lncRNAs. The dataset was randomly split into a training set and a validation set. Analysis of clinicopathologic features, TME infiltration, and mutations was conducted, and nomogram predictions were validated using calibration plots to assess the predictive accuracy of the model.

Results: The high-risk group had significantly shorter overall survival compared to the low-risk group (P<0.001), and the risk score was an independent prognostic factor (P<0.001). In the training set, the AUC values at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.666, 0.621, and 0.669, respectively. Furthermore, low-risk patients had a higher survival rate. The genetic markers also correlated with tumor immune cell infiltration, clinical features, and prognosis.

Conclusion: This study established a novel method based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs to predict the prognosis of colon cancer. The model has potential clinical applications in identifying patients sensitive to immunotherapy and antitumor treatments, thereby enhancing precision treatment strategies for colon cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the effects of naphthoquinone scaffold-derived compounds on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Methods: We screened candidate compounds from the ASINEX database and evaluated their drug likeness and toxicity. They identified 80 compounds with naphthalenone structures, focusing on 1,4-naphthoquinone and 1,2-naphthoquinone scaffolds. The possible targets of these compounds were predicted using databases like SwissTargetPrediction and Similarity Ensemble Approach Database (SEA).

Results: The common targets between the compounds and HNSCC were identified, yielding 65 overlapping targets. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and 20 hub genes were identified based on centrality metrics. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that these compounds' protective effects against HNSCC are associated with cancer-related pathways, such as those in cancer and proteoglycans in cancer. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding affinity between the compounds and hub genes. The results showed that the compounds had strong binding affinities with key targets like MET and TYK2, with binding energies < -5 kcal/mol.

Conclusions: The study suggests that naphthoquinone derivatives could serve as novel chemotherapy agents for HNSCC, warranting further research for clinical application.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct (IPMN-B) is a rare malignant tumor originating from the bile duct epithelium, characterized by its ability to secrete large amounts of mucin, which can lead to biliary obstruction. This paper presents a case involving a 69-year-old woman presenting with intermittent right upper abdominal pain, imaging revealed dilation of the left intrahepatic bile duct and the presence of a solid mass. We performed left lateral hepatectomy on the patient, and the postoperative pathological diagnosis was intraductal papillary tumor with associated invasive carcinoma. At the 6-month postoperative follow-up, the patient showed no signs of recurrence and was in good condition. This case underscores the high malignant potential of IPMN-B, emphasizing the importance of early surgical resection following diagnosis to achieve a favorable prognosis and improve patient outcomes.

Background: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with toripalimab in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: We conducted a thorough search for relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Effect estimates were computed utilizing Stata software (version 14.0) and either random or fixed effects models, as applicable. A subgroup analysis was undertaken to assess the effect of various combination therapies on overall response rate (ORR). Begg and Egger's tests were employed to assess publication bias.

Results: The study consisted of 8 trials, which included 277 participants with advanced gastric cancer. The overall ORR was 41.4% (95% CI, 32.4%-50.3%), with a disease control rate (DCR) of 83.6% (95% CI, 74.6%-92.7%), a median overall survival (mOS) of 11.0 months (95% CI, 9.6-12.4), and a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 4.2 months (95% CI, 2.5-6.0) for the combination therapy with toripalimab. Subgroup analysis revealed that the combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy achieved a greater ORR compared to the non-chemotherapy group, with ORR rates of 49.8% (95% CI, 42.2%-57.4%) and 31.9% (95% CI, 26.7%-37.1%), respectively. The combination therapy with toripalimab led to adverse events (AEs) of any grade at 94.0% of cases (95% CI, 89.5%-98.5%) and grade 3 AEs at 32.4% (95% CI, 17.8%-47.1%). The sensitivity analysis indicated that no single study affected the overall results.

Conclusions: Combination therapy of toripalimab can improve clinical efficacy, although with increased but manageable toxicity. Additional clinical trials are required to assess comprehensively the efficacy and safety of alternative toripalimab regimens. The review agreement has been recorded with PROSPERO (CRD42024585696).

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) still has a poor prognosis and is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Recently, a close correlation between glycolysis and the progression of CRC has been reported. Hence, explorations of the prognostic value of glycolysis-associated long noncoding RNAs in CRC patients are urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the role of glycolysis-associated lncRNAs for predicting the prognosis and treatment response of CRC, thereby identifying more biomarkers for CRC.

Methods: RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data for CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were used. A glycolysis-associated long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) signature was estimated by Cox regression analysis, and its predictive capacity was assessed by constructing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and performing a gene set enrichment analysis.

Results: One of our constructed glycolysis-related clusters was strongly correlated with an immunosuppressive tumor environment. Moreover, a signature consisting of 14 glycolysis-associated lncRNAs was used as a prognostic model, and CRC patients were classified into a low-risk group and a high-risk group based on the average risk score of this signature. In addition, the low-risk group experienced longer overall survival (OS) than the high-risk group. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) validated the sensitivity and specificity of the signature. The signature was identified as an individual element and was closely related to the progression of CRC. Finally, two glycolysis-associated lncRNAs, namely, TNFRSF10A-AS1 and ZKSCAN2-DT, were further clinically verified to effectively predict the prognosis of CRC patients.

Conclusion: Glycolysis-associated lncRNAs may be employed as prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers for CRC.