Cancer Investigation最新文献

The cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) is an anti-apoptotic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in various cell types, including cancer cells. Our purpose was to assess the association of mRNA and protein expression of CIAPIN1 with clinicopathological factors and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The study utilized plasma samples from 198 patients and tumor and paired normal tissue from 165 CRC patients to determine CIAPIN1 protein concentration and mRNA expression using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-qPCR, respectively. CIAPIN1 mRNA expression differed between cancer and normal tissue, with cancer tissue showing a 55% up-regulation, and CIAPIN1 protein content in plasma was 11.5% lower than in healthy controls. Low relative CIAPIN1 mRNA expression between tumor and matching normal tissue was associated with lower cancer-specific survival in females and several clinicopathological variables. Moreover, worse cancer-specific survival was seen in patients with rectal cancer with low concentrations of CIAPIN1 protein in plasma. Our data suggests that CIAPIN1 might have a potential future role as a useful indicator for clinical prognosis and in the development of CRC.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignant head and neck tumors. Despite being sensitive to radiation, the prognosis of some NPC patients remains unoptimistic due to the resistance to therapeutic approaches. Ubiquitination is a crucial post-translational modification of proteins, and is key to maintaining protein homeostasis in vivo. Studies have shown that ubiquitination modification can regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and other processes, thereby affecting the development of NPC. In this review, we summarize the research on ubiquitination regulation in NPC, aiming to explore new therapeutic targets and provide feasible solutions to improve the prognosis of NPC patients.

This meta-analysis investigates the association between the p53 rs1042522 polymorphism and thyroid cancer, analyzing 18 case-control studies with 2,116 cases and 4,017 controls. It finds that the C allele is linked to a higher cancer risk (OR 1.572, 95% CI: 1.062-2.326, p = 0.024) but shows significant heterogeneity (I² = 94.15%). Subgroup analyses indicate protective effects in Caucasian, Asian, and mixed populations (ORs around 0.008 to 0.011). Notably, Follicular and Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas show strong protective associations, suggesting that while the C allele may increase risk, certain populations may experience reduced risk, emphasizing genetic complexity.

Introduction: Dysphagia is a well-established complication in cancer patients, often resulting from chemoradiation-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and neuromuscular dysfunction. However, little is known about the incidence and clinical impact of dysphagia in patients undergoing adoptive cellular therapies such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy.

Areas covered: In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 116 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who received CAR-T therapy between January 2017 and May 2023. The overall prevalence of dysphagia was 19.83%, with a median onset of 6 days and a median duration of 14 days. Dysphagia was significantly associated with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (p = 0.002), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) (p < 0.001), advanced tumor stage (p = 0.02), ICU admission (p < 0.001), and prolonged ICU stay (median 7 days). The Kaplan Meier analysis revealed significantly reduced 6-month overall survival in patients with dysphagia (59.01%) compared to those without (86.36%) (p = 0.001).

Expert opinion: Dysphagia is an underrecognized but clinically significant complication of CAR-T therapy. Its association with severe treatment-related toxicities and poorer survival suggests the need for routine dysphagia screening and multidisciplinary management in CAR-T treated patients. Early recognition may guide supportive interventions and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Introduction: Limited data exist for the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in oligometastatic uterine cancer. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of using SBRT for treating oligometastatic uterine cancer.

Methods: This is a single-institute retrospective study evaluating the use of SBRT in patients with oligometastatic uterine cancer. Survival Endpoints were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Twenty-three uterine cancer cases with 24 oligometastatic sites were identified, who received SBRT to metastatic sites between 2011 and 2022. The median follow-up period was 30 months (IQR 14-63). The median SBRT dose, fractions, and BED10 were 42 Gy (IQR: 35-45), 5 fx (IQR: 5-5), and 77 Gy (IQR: 60-86). The median time for reirradiation was 30 months (IQR 14-81). Nodal recurrences in 58% of cases were the most common site for SBRT use. The 6-month, 1-, and 2-year local control was 87%, 83%, and 77%, and locoregional control was 83%, 69%, and 64%, respectively. Acute toxicities were observed in 50% of cases with 42% of grade 1 fatigue. Late toxicities were observed in two cases (8%) of grade 2 bowel toxicity. No grade 3 or higher toxicity.

Conclusion: SBRT is a safe and effective tool for the management of oligometastatic uterine cancer.

Whether clinicopathological features of de novo Luminal A metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have evolved across recent diagnostic periods remains unclear. In this retrospective, multicenter cohort study, we evaluated temporal changes in tumor biology and outcomes among 401 women diagnosed with de novo Luminal A MBC (ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative, Ki-67 ≤ 14%) between 2017 and 2025. Patients were stratified into four consecutive diagnostic periods spanning pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic phases. A progressive increase in tumor proliferative activity was observed, with mean Ki-67 rising from 6.38% to 13.48% (p < 0.001), accompanied by declining ER/PR expression and increasing tumor size and histologic grade. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified 9.5% as the optimal Ki-67 cutoff for overall survival (AUC = 0.785; p < 0.001). Both Ki-67 ≥ 9.5% and later diagnostic period independently predicted poorer survival in multivariable models (HR: 2.106 and 2.412; both p < 0.001). These findings suggest a temporal shift toward a more aggressive biological phenotype, underscoring the clinical relevance of monitoring proliferation indices even within the Luminal A subtype. While causality cannot be inferred, identification of a clinically actionable Ki-67 threshold may aid risk stratification and supports future research integrating molecular profiling to clarify mechanisms underlying temporal biological change.

During the process of carcinogenesis, inflammation originating in the tumor or its microenvironment promotes tumor growth. An elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been considered a biomarker associated with reduced survival in several types of cancer. A retrospective study was conducted and the results of 49 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) biopsies from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: those with nonbasal subtype TNBC and those with basal-like TNBC. To differentiate TNBC tumors by subtype, cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) expression was assessed. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the association between the classical clinicopathological parameters and these two groups, revealing a statistically significant relationship with histological grade. For overall survival, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the data. The difference in survival was compared by univariate analysis. Patients with elevated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and a NLR less than 3 had prolonged survival. NLR is a cost-effective and reliable tool that can be exploited in a wide number of scenarios during daily clinical practice.

Prostate cancer places a heavy economic burden on health care in many countries globally. This is no exception in Africa. It is also described as one of the main factors in mortality rates among men of African descent. The fact that less than 40% of its patients usually present with localized disease may suggest that the projected data from above might have underestimated the disease condition in the sub-Saharan region. From the results of prostate cancer screening, an estimate can be made that most African men in the subregion do not have good information about the disease. Even though current treatment modalities for the disease are effective when used in combination, it largely remains incurable. In this review, we critically explore the impacts of prostate cancer for the benefit and future directions of the African continent. We highlight important detection and treatment strategies and summarize the economic impacts and epidemiological patterns with associated risk factors within the African population. We also discuss the potential of African medicinal plants in the fight against the disease. Furthermore, the application of artificial intelligence in enhancing detection and treatment outcomes is highlighted. This overview provides valuable insights for healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in African prostate cancer management and prevention efforts.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) influences breast cancer progression through immune system interactions, particularly by affecting the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. This study aims to explore how the TME affects the expression of transcription factors-Foxp3, RORγt, GATA3, and T-bet-in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and their implications for clinical outcomes. Forty-eight breast cancer patients were enrolled. Tumor tissues were collected, and quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess the expression of transcription factors. Patients with positive lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and high tumor grades exhibited significantly elevated Foxp3 expression. In contrast, RORγt expression decreased in patients with advanced disease. GATA3 levels correlated positively with LVI, tumor grade and advanced tumor stages, while T-bet expression was lower in patients with positive LVI, positive lymph node and larger tumor sizes. Multivariate analysis identified RORγt as a risk factor for lymph node involvement and stage of disease, while GATA3 emerged as a protective factor. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated GATA3's potential for late-stage detection, and RORγt as a reliable staging marker. Our findings highlight the critical role of TIL-derived transcription factors in breast cancer progression and their potential as prognostic biomarkers, emphasizing the importance of TME-mediated T cell differentiation in shaping disease outcomes.

At ASCO 2025, several practice-changing studies in breast cancer were presented. In HR+ early BC, the SOFT/TEXT 15-year update confirmed the benefit of ovarian suppression plus endocrine therapy, while OASIS-4 showed elinzanetant reduced endocrine-related vasomotor symptoms. In early TNBC, NRG-BR003 found no survival benefit from adding carboplatin. In HER2+ early breast cancer, omitting carboplatin preserved efficacy with better tolerability. In advanced disease, DESTINY-Breast09 established trastuzumab deruxtecan plus pertuzumab as superior first-line therapy. SERENA-6 and VERITAC-2 highlighted ESR1-targeted strategies, while ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 demonstrated sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab improved outcomes in PD-L1-positive advanced TNBC.