Helicobacter pylori infection in relation to E-cadherin gene promoter polymorphism and hypermethylation in sporadic gastric carcinomas

AIM: To study Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection in relation to E-cadherin (E-cad) promoter polymorphism and hypermethylation in GCs.METHODS: Specimens were taken from representative cancerous lesions and adjacent non-cancerous epithelia of 67 resected GCs. Hpyloriwas detected by real-time PCR of the cagA gene from non-neoplastic epithelium.E-cad promoter polymorphism and hypermethylation were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and methylation-specific PCR, respectively. Expression of E-cad protein was determined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Hpyloriwas found in 57% of patients with GC.H pylori infection was more frequently found in tumors with the -160C/C genotype than those with the -160C/A and -160A/A genotypes (74% vs47%, P = 0.02). Hpylori infection was associated with E-cad methylation in nonneoplastic epithelium; however, no significant difference in H pylori was observed between methylated and unmethylated cancerous lesions.CONCLUSION: Patients with the -160C/C genotype might require Hpyloriinfection to promote the inactivation of CDH1, suggesting that Hpylori infection might affect GC in an initial stage because polymorphism is germ line.Mechanism of hypermethylation of CDH1 promoter in GC is complex, and Hpyloriinfection might affect it in an initial stage.

Isolated gastric variceal bleeding caused by splenic lymphoma-associated splenic vein occlusion

Isolated gastric varices(IGV) can occur in patients with left-sided portal hypertension resulting from splenic vein occlusion caused by thrombosis or stenosis. In left-sided portal hypertension,blood flows retrogradely through the short and posterior gastric veins and the gastroepiploic veins,leading to the formation of an IGV. The most common causes of splenic vein occlusion are pancreatic diseases,such as pancreatic cancer,pancreatitis,or a pseudocyst. However,various other cancers,such as colon,gastric,or renal cancers,have also been known to cause splenic vein occlusion. Our patient presented with a rare case of IGV bleeding induced by splenic lymphoma-associated splenic vein occlusion. Splenectomy,splenic artery embolization,and stenting of the splenic vein are the current treatment choices. Chemotherapy,however,is an alternative effective treatment for splenic vein occlusion caused by chemotherapy-sensitive tumors. Our patient responded well to chemotherapy with a cyclophosphamide,hydroxydaunorubicin,oncovin,and prednisolone regimen,and the splenic vein occlusion resolved after the lymphoma regressed.

Methylation of IRAK3 is a novel prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To examine the methylation levels of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3(IRAK3) and GLOXD1 and their potential clinical applications in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: m RNA expression and promoter methylation of IRAK3 and GLOXD1 in HCC cells were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR) and methylation-specific PCR(MSP), respectively. Using pyrosequencing results, we further established a quantitative MSP(Q-MSP) system for the evaluation of IRAK3 and GLOXD1 methylation in 29 normal controls and 160 paired HCC tissues and their adjacent nontumor tissues. We also calculated Kaplan-Meier survival curves to determine the applications of gene methylation in the prognosis of HCC.RESULTS: IRAK3 and GLOXD1 expression was partially restored in several HCC cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine(DNA methyltransferase inhibitor; 5DAC). A partial decrease in the methylated band was also observed in the HCC cell lines after 5DAC treatment. Using GLOXD1 as an example, we found a significant correlation between the data obtained from the methylation array and from pyrosequencing. The methylation frequency of IRAK3 and GLOXD1 in HCC tissues was 46.9% and 63.8%, respectively. Methylation of IRAK3 was statistically associated with tumor stage. Moreover, HCC patients with IRAK3 methylation had a trend toward poor 3-year disease-free survival(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IRAK3 and GLOXD1 were frequently methylated in HCC tissues compared to normal controls and nontumor tissues. IRAK3 methylation was associated with tumor stage and poor prognosis of patients. These data suggest that IRAK3 methylation is a novel prognostic marker in HCC.

Combined immune checkpoint inhibitors of CTLA4 and PD-1 for hepatic melanoma of unknown primary origin: A case report

BACKGROUND Melanoma is uncommonly found in lymph nodes,subcutaneous tissue,or visceral organs without a primary lesion,where it is identified as metastatic melanoma with unknown primary(MUP).Hepatic MUP is extremely rare and has a poor prognosis.There is limited information on its pathogenesis,clinical and imaging features,and pathological findings.There are no guidelines for the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)in hepatic MUP,and the treatment outcome has rarely been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old woman presented to our hospital with hepatic tumors found incidentally during a routine check-up.Contrast-enhanced abdominal computerized tomography showed multiple mass lesions in the liver.Pathological results revealed melanoma,which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for HMB-45(+),Melan-A(+),S-100(+),and SOX10(+).There was no evidence of primary cutaneous,ocular,gastrointestinal,or anal lesion on a comprehensive examination.The patient was diagnosed with hepatic MUP.She received combined antibodies against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4(CTLA-4,ipilimumab)and programmed death protein-1(PD-1,nivolumab).She died of hepatic failure 9 mo after hepatic MUP was diagnosed.This the first case of hepatic MUP treated with combined ipilimumab and nivolumab,who showed better outcome than previous cases.CONCLUSIONCombined ICIs of PD-1 and CTLA-4 may be considered as the first-line therapyfor patients with hepatic MUP.

Outreach onsite treatment with a simplified pangenotypic directacting anti-viral regimen for hepatitis C virus micro-elimination in a prison

BACKGROUND Prisoners are at risk of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,especially among the people who inject drugs(PWID).We implemented an outreach strategy in combination with universal mass screening and immediate onsite treatment with a simplified pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals(DAA)regimen,12 wk of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir,in a PWID-dominant prison in Taiwan.AIM To implement an outreach strategy in combination with universal mass screening and immediate onsite treatment with a simplified pan-genotypic DAA regimen in a PWID-dominant prison in Taiwan.METHODS HCV-viremic patients were recruited for onsite treatment program for HCV micro-elimination with a pangenotypic DAA regimen,12 wk of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir,from two cohorts in Penghu Prison,either identified by mass screen or in outpatient clinics,in September 2019.Another group of HCV-viremic patients identified sporadically in outpatient clinics before mass screening were enrolled as a control group.The primary endpoint was sustained virological response(SVR12,defined as undetectable HCV ribonucleic acid(RNA)12 wk after end-of-treatment).RESULTS A total of 212 HCV-viremic subjects were recruited for HCV micro-elimination campaign;91 patients treated with sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir before mass screening were enrolled as a control.The HCV microelimination group had significantly lower proportion of diabetes,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,advanced fibrosis and chronic kidney diseases,but higher levels of HCV RNA.The SVR12 rate was comparable between the HCV microelimination and control groups,95.8%(203/212)vs 94.5%(86/91),respectively,in intent-to-treat analysis,and 100%(203/203)vs 98.9%(86/87),respectively,in perprotocol analysis.There was no virological failure,treatment discontinuation,and serious adverse event among sofosbuvir/velpatasvir-treated patients in the HCV micro-elimination group.CONCLUSION Outreach mass screening followed by immediate onsite treatment with a simplified pangenotypic DAA regimen,sofosbuvir/velpatasvir,provides successful strategies toward HCV micro-elimination among prisoners.