Critical considerations for the management of gastrointestinal mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms and pure neuroendocrine carcinomas

Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms constitute rare tumors that are located mainly in the gastrointestinal(GI)tract and have high degrees of malignancy,and the frequency of these tumors has been increasing.They consist of a neuroendocrine neoplastic component with another component of adenocarcinoma usually and have a dismal prognosis.The rare GI pure neuroendocrine carcinoma is highly aggressive and requires complex and extensive management since a genetic distinction exists between it and GI non-neuroendocrine neoplasms,which are generally slow-growing lesions.The most common GI-mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms are colorectal,followed by gastric,mainly in the gastroesophageal junction.Current imaging modalities of nuclear medicine and radiology play important roles in the accuracy of diagnosis.Liquid biopsy may contribute to early detection and timely diagnosis.Ultrasonography,either endoscopic or abdominal,is a technique that contributes to a diagnosis;additionally,contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is very helpful in followup appointments.Histopathology establishes a definite diagnosis and stage by evaluating the cell differentiation grade and the cell proliferation index Ki67.The genetic profile can be valuable in diagnosis and gene therapy.Surgical resection with wide lymphadenectomy,whenever possible,and adjuvant chemotherapy constitute the main therapeutic management strategies.Targeted therapy and immunotherapy achieve encouraging results.

New trends in diagnosis and management of gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder(GB)carcinoma,although relatively rare,is the most common biliary tree cholangiocarcinoma with aggressiveness and poor prognosis.It is closely associated with cholelithiasis and long-standing large(>3 cm)gallstones in up to 90%of cases.The other main predisposing factors for GB carcinoma include molecular factors such as mutated genes,GB wall calcification(porcelain)or mainly mucosal microcalcifications,and GB polyps≥1 cm in size.Diagnosis is made by ultrasound,computed tomography(CT),and,more precisely,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Preoperative staging is of great importance in decisionmaking regarding therapeutic management.Preoperative staging is based on MRI findings,the leading technique for liver metastasis imaging,enhanced three-phase CT angiography,or magnetic resonance angiography for major vessel assessment.It is also necessary to use positron emission tomography(PET)-CT or ^(18)F-FDG PET-MRI to more accurately detect metastases and any other occult deposits with active metabolic uptake.Staging laparoscopy may detect dissemination not otherwise found in 20%-28.6%of cases.Multimodality treatment is needed,including surgical resection,targeted therapy by biological agents according to molecular testing gene mapping,chemotherapy,radiation therapy,and immunotherapy.It is of great importance to understand the updated guidelines and current treatment options.The extent of surgical intervention depends on the disease stage,ranging from simple cholecystectomy(T1a)to extended resections and including extended cholecystectomy(T1b),with wide lymph node resection in every case or IV-V segmentectomy(T2),hepatic trisegmentectomy or major hepatectomy accompanied by hepaticojejunostomy Roux-Y,and adjacent organ resection if necessary(T3).Laparoscopic or robotic surgery shows fewer postoperative complications and equivalent oncological outcomes when compared to open surgery,but much attention must be paid to avoiding injuries.In addition to surgery,novel targeted treatment along with immunotherapy and recent improvements in radiotherapy and chemotherapy(neoadjuvant-adjuvant capecitabine,cisplatin,gemcitabine)have yielded promising results even in inoperable cases calling for palliation(T4).Thus,individualized treatment must be applied.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder:A case report

BACKGROUND Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma(LCNEC)of the bladder is a rare nonurothelial tumor of the bladder.The treatment of LCNEC of the bladder is different from that of urothelial carcinoma(UC);therefore,early and accurate diagnosis is particularly important.As LCNEC of the bladder is rare and its clinical symptoms and radiographic features are similar to those of urothelial tumors,the clinical diagnosis of the disease remains challenging.CASE SUMMARY We report a 72-year-old female patient who presented with gross hematuria for 3 mo.A solitary tumor located in the anterior wall of the bladder was found by cystoscopy.Pathological examination after biopsy suggested UC of the bladder in the absence of immunohistochemical assessment.The patient underwent partial cystectomy and was finally diagnosed with LCNEC(pT2bN0M0)based on the results of postoperative immunohistochemical examination.During the 10-mo follow-up,no signs of tumor recurrence or metastasis were found.CONCLUSION Immunohistochemical examination is essential for diagnosing LCNEC of the bladder.Accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment in the early stage of the disease are crucial for improving the prognosis.

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder:A case report

BACKGROUND Bladder neuroendocrine tumors are few and exhibit a high degree of aggressiveness.The bladder is characterized by four distinct forms of neuroendocrine tumors.Among them,large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is the least prevalent,but has the highest level of aggressiveness.The 5-year survival rate for large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is exceedingly poor.To date,only a few dozen cases have been reported.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report the case of a 65-year-old man with large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder.The patient presented to the Department of Urology at our hospital due to the presence of painless hematuria without any identifiable etiology.During hospitalization,abdominal computed tomography revealed the presence of an irregular mass on the right anterior wall of the bladder.A cystoscopic non-radical resection of the bladder lesion was performed.The postoperative pathological examination revealed large-cell neuroendocrine bladder cancer.Previous reports on cases of large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma cases were retrieved from PubMed,and the present paper discusses the currently recognized best diagnostic and treatment options for large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma based on the latest research progress.CONCLUSION Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is an uncommon malignancy with a highly unfavorable prognosis.Despite ongoing efforts to prolong patient survival through multidisciplinary therapy,the prognosis remains unfavorable.Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma continues to be a subject of uncertainty.

Metachronous urothelial carcinoma in the renal pelvis,bladder,and urethra:A case report

BACKGROUND Urothelial carcinoma(UC)is a common malignancy of the urinary system that can occur anywhere from the renal pelvis to the proximal urethra.Most UCs are in the bladder and have multifocal growth.Upper urinary tract UC(UTUC),which occurs in the renal pelvis or ureter,accounts for only 5%to 10%of UCs.CASE SUMMARY In March 2015,a 70-year-old male who initially presented to a local hospital with a complaint of painless hematuria was diagnosed with UTUC of the right renal pelvis.The doctors administered radical nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision.Although the doctors recommended intravesical chemotherapy and regular follow-up,he rejected this advice.In December 2016,the patient presented at our hospital with dysuria.We identified UC in the residual bladder and administered radical cystectomy and left cutaneous ureterostomy.In November 2021,he presented again with urethral bleeding.We detected urethral UC as the cause of urethral orifice bleeding and administered radical urethrectomy.Since then,he has visited regularly for 6-mo follow-ups,and was in stable condition as of December 2022.CONCLUSION UTUC is prone to seeding and recurrence.Adjuvant instillation therapy and intense surveillance are crucial for these patients.

Classificatory updates in verrucous and cuniculatum carcinomas:Insights from the 5^(th) edition of WHO-IARC head and neck tumor classification

The International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)and World Health Organization(WHO)collaboratively produce the'WHO Blue Books'essential tools standardizing the diagnostic process for human cancers.Regular updates in this classification accommodate emerging molecular discoveries,advances in immunohistochemical techniques,and evolving clinical insights.The 5th edition of the WHO/IARC classification of head and neck tumors refines the'Oral Cavity and Mobile Tongue'chapter,including sections for non-neoplastic lesions,epithelial tumors,and tumors of uncertain histogenesis.Notably,the epithelial tumors section is rearranged by tumor behavior,starting with benign squamous papillomas and progressing through potentially malignant oral disorders to oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).The section on OSCC reflects recent information on epidemiology,pathogenesis,and histological prognostic factors.Noteworthy is the specific categorization of verrucous carcinoma(VC)and carcinoma cuniculatum(CC),both associated with the oral cavity and distinct in clinical and histologic characteristics.This classification adjustment emphasizes the oral cavity as their predominant site in the head and neck.Designating specific sections for VC and CC aims to provide comprehensive insights into these unique subtypes,elucidating their clinical features,distinct histological characteristics,prevalence,significance,and clinical relevance.By categorizing these subtypes into specific sections,the 5th edition of the WHO classification aims to provide a more nuanced and detailed account,enhancing our understanding of these specific variants within the broader spectrum of head and neck tumors.

Metastatic stomach lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(PLELC)is a rare type of nonsmall-cell lung cancer.Stomach lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(LELC)metastasis secondary to PLELC has not been reported recently.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for a regular gastroscopy examination with a 6-year history of surgical resection for left PLELC.Positron emission tomography/computed tomography suggested high accumulation of 18F-fludeoxyglucose in the gastric cardia region.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed a large mass at the stomach fundus.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)of the biopsy suggested metastatic stomach LELC.Proximal gastrectomy showed that this 6.5 cm×5.0 cm mass was located in the stomach fundus near the cardia.Histopathological examination showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma with prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltration.IHC demonstrated that the tumor was positive for CK(AE1/AE3),p63,p40,p53,Ki-67(70%),and EGFR(3+)and negative for CK7,CK20,Her2,and CD10.In situ hybridization analysis showed positive staining Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA.Tumor programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1)expression score was 98%,and the combined positive score was 100,with no evidence of microsatellite instability.Thus,the patient was unequivocally diagnosed with metastatic stomach LELC secondary to pulmonary LELC.After discharge,this patient underwent PD-1 inhibitor treatment(toripalimab,240 mg)every 3 wk for ten cycles,and she has had no tumor recurrence.CONCLUSION For gastric LELC metastasis,PD-1 inhibitor therapy could become a new therapeutic approach,though there is still no evidence from large data sets to support this.

Hyperprogression after anti-programmed death-1 therapy in a patient with urothelial bladder carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors,including programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)and programmed death-1(PD-1)have recently been approved to treat locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma(UC).However,some patients experience rapid tumor progression rather than any clinical benefit from anti-PDL1/PD-1 therapy.CASE SUMMARY A 73-year-old woman with bladder UC showed the progression of multiple metastases after surgery and chemotherapy for over 12 mo.The patient could not tolerate further chemotherapy.Next-generation sequencing was performed,and the results indicated that the tumor mutational burden was 6.4 mutations/Mb.The patient received the anti-PD-L1 agent toripalimab combined with albuminbound paclitaxel.Compared with the baseline staging before immunotherapy,the patient had a treatment failure time of<2 mo,an increase in tumor burden of>50%,and a>2-fold increase in progression,indicating hyperprogression.CONCLUSION Selecting patients most likely to respond to treatment with immunotherapeutic agents remains challenging.For older patients with advanced UC who have already exhausted multi-line chemotherapy options,immunotherapy should be used prudently if no effective biomarker is available.Further studies are required to clarify the causes and mechanisms of hyperprogression.

A Case of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Arising from Struma Ovarii and Extending into the Bladder

Ovarian goiter is a form of single tissue teratoma of the ovary, accounting for 2% - 3% of mature ovarian teratomas. Malignant transformation may occur in rare cases. Papillary thyroid-type carcinoma represents the most common type of malignant struma ovarii, followed by follicular carcinoma. Malignant struma ovarii is commonly seen in women in the fifth decade. The diagnosis is often made post-operatively after histological examination. Histology also helps assess tumor aggressiveness (mitoses, necrosis, poorly differentiated subtype, etc.). Given the rarity of these lesions, no therapeutic consensus or prognostic value had yet been formally established. We report herein, the case of a 76-year-old woman with a cystic tumor of the right ovary and a nodular lesion of the bladder. The clinical symptomatology is nonspecific, associating abdomino-pelvic pain and a right latero-uterine mass on abdominal palpation. After total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma arising from struma ovarii and extending into the bladder was made. Through this observation, we suggest to discuss the anatomoclinical particularities of this rare pathological entity.

Diagnosing upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A review of the role of diagnostic ureteroscopy and novel developments over last two decades

Objective: The role of ureteroscopy in the diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma is yet to be fully determined. We aimed to provide an up to date evaluation of its role and the emerging technologies in the field.Methods: A literature search of the last two decades (from 24th May, 2001 to 24th May, 2021) was carried out identifying 147 papers for potential inclusion within this narrative review.Results: Diagnostic ureteroscopy is undeniably useful in its ability to visualise and biopsy indeterminate lesions, and to risk stratify malignant lesions that may be suitable for kidney sparing surgery. However, an increased risk of intravesical recurrence following nephroureterectomy when a prior diagnostic ureteroscopy has been performed, inadequate sampling at biopsy, complications from the procedure, and difficult ureteric access are all potential drawbacks. Furthermore, whilst generally an accurate diagnostic procedure, it risks missing carcinoma in-situ lesions. Despite this, evidence shows that routine use of ureteroscopy changes the management of patients in a large proportion of cases, preventing unnecessary surgery or facilitating kidney sparing surgery. The overall rate of complications is low, and improved biopsy techniques and the use of tissue biomarkers for improved staging and grading are encouraging. The risks of delays to definitive management and post-ureteroscopy intravesical recurrence do not seem to affect survival, and trials are in progress to determine whether intravesical therapy can mitigate the latter. Further promising techniques are being investigated to improve shortcomings, particularly in relation to improved diagnosis of carcinoma in situ and preoperative staging.Conclusion: Ureteroscopy has a role in the diagnosis of upper tract malignancy, though whether it should be used routinely is yet to be determined.

Hepatocellular carcinoma:An analysis of the expression status of stress granules and their prognostic value

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a global popular malignant tumor,which is difficult to cure,and the current treatment is limited.AIM To analyze the impacts of stress granule(SG)genes on overall survival(OS),survival time,and prognosis in HCC.METHODS The combined The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma(TCGA-LIHC),GSE25097,and GSE36376 datasets were utilized to obtain genetic and clinical information.Optimal hub gene numbers and corresponding coefficients were determined using the Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model approach,and genes for constructing risk scores and corresponding correlation coefficients were calculated according to multivariate Cox regression,respectively.The prognostic model’s receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was produced and plotted utilizing the time ROC software package.Nomogram models were constructed to predict the outcomes at 1,3,and 5-year OS prognostications with good prediction accuracy.RESULTS We identified seven SG genes(DDX1,DKC1,BICC1,HNRNPUL1,CNOT6,DYRK3,CCDC124)having a prognostic significance and developed a risk score model.The findings of Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the group with a high risk exhibited significantly reduced OS in comparison with those of the low-risk group(P<0.001).The nomogram model’s findings indicate a significant enhancement in the accuracy of OS prediction for individuals with HCC in the TCGA-HCC cohort.Gene Ontology and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis suggested that these SGs might be involved in the cell cycle,RNA editing,and other biological processes.CONCLUSION Based on the impact of SG genes on HCC prognosis,in the future,it will be used as a biomarker as well as a unique therapeutic target for the identification and treatment of HCC.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the common hepatic duct coexisting with distal cholangiocarcinoma:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC)of the extrahepatic bile duct is very rare,and the treatment and prognosis are unclear.Herein,we report the case of a middleaged female with primary large cell NEC(LCNEC)of the common hepatic duct combined with distal cholangiocarcinoma(dCCA).Additionally,after a review of the relevant literature,we summarize and compare mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasm(MiNEN)and pure NEC to provide a reference for selecting the appropriate treatment and predicting the prognosis of this rare disease.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old female presented to the hospital due to recurrent abdominal pain for 2 months.Physical examination showed mild tenderness in the upper abdomen and a positive Courvoisier sign.Blood tests showed elevated liver transaminase and carbohydrate antigen 199 levels.Imaging examination revealed node dissection was performed,and hepatic duct tumours were unexpectedly found during surgery.Pathology suggested poorly differentiated LCNEC(approximately 0.5 cm×0.5 cm×0.4 cm),Ki-67(50%),synaptophysin+,and chromogranin A+.dCCA pathology suggested moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.The patient eventually developed lymph node metastasis in the liver,bone,peritoneum,and abdominal cavity and died 24 months after surgery.Gene sequencing methods were used to compare gene mutations in the two primary bile duct tumours.CONCLUSION The prognosis of MiNEN and pure NEC alone is different,and the selection of treatment options needs to be differentiated.

Clinical Significance of Cytokeratin 19 and Cytokeratin 20 in Predicting Recurrence of Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Objective： To investigate the expressions of cytokeratin 19 （CK19） and cytokeratin 20 （CK20） in bladder transitional cell carcinoma （TCC） and their clinical significance. Methods： The expression of CK19 and CK20 was detected in 54 cases of TCC by immunohistochemical methods and image processing techniques. Results： The expression of CK19 and CK20 was significantly stronger in the recurrent group than in the non-recurrent group （P〈0.01, P〈0.001, respectively）. Conclusion： The expression of CK19 and CK20 was obviously related with biological behaviors of TCC, suggesting that CK19 and CK20 could be used to predict the recurrence of TCC.

Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Vulva: Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Neuroendocrine neoplasms are those that develop from a neuroendocrine cell. They most commonly affect the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas, being rare conditions in the female genital tract. When present, these neoplasms often manifest with nonspecific signs and symptoms such as pain, itching, swelling, single-focus lesions, bleeding, and enlargement of inguinal lymph nodes, in addition to the presence of progressively enlarging vulvar nodules. Consequently, the diagnostic investigation involves histopathological examination and confirmation through immunohistochemistry. Objective: To present a comprehensive understanding of this rarely studied pathology. The primary objective is to provide valuable insights that could aid in the future development of universally applicable treatment guidelines. Case Presentation: A 57-year-old female, with no prior comorbidities, menopause at 36, who presented with a left vulvar nodule accompanied by intense pain and swelling, later diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the vulva. Conclusion: This case report highlights the importance of enhancing our knowledge regarding small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the vulva, given its scarcity in medical literature. The information presented here underscores the need for standardized diagnostic and treatment approaches, paving the way for future consensus on managing this uncommon but challenging neoplasm.

Global trends in hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma mortality:A public database analysis(1999-2019)

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and it significantly contributes to the burden of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,there are marked variations in the incidence and mortality rates of HCC across different geographical regions.With the advent of new widely available treatment modalities,such as direct-acting antivirals,it is becoming increasingly imperative to understand the temporal and geographical trends in HCC mortality associated with Hepatitis C.Furthermore,gender disparities in HCC mortality related to Hepatitis C are a crucial,yet underexplored aspect that adds to the disease's global impact.While some studies shed light on gender-specific trends,there is a lack of comprehensive data on global and regional mortality rates,particularly those highlighting gender disparities.This gap in knowledge hinders the development of targeted interventions and resource allocation strategies.DISCUSSION The results of our study show an overall decline in the mortality rates of patients with hepatitis C-related HCC over the last two decades.Notably,females exhibited a remarkable decrease in mortality compared to males.Regionally,East Asia and the Pacific displayed a significant decline in mortality,while Europe and Central Asia witnessed an upward trend.Latin America and the Caribbean also experienced an increase in mortality rates.However,no significant difference was observed in the Middle East and North Africa.North America exhibited a notable upward trend.South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa significantly declined throughout the study period.This raises the hope of identifying areas for implementing more targeted resources.Despite some progress,multiple challenges remain in meeting the WHO 2030 goal of eliminating viral hepatitis[24].

Expression of connexin43 and its correlation with the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

Objective: To study the expression of connexin43 (Cx43) gene and its correlation with the apoptosis related genes Bcl-2 and Bax in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (BTCC), and to investigate the role of Cx43 in the BTCC. Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of Cx43 mRNA and immunocytochemistry technique was used to detect the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in 60 cases of BTCC tissues, and compared with that of 15 cases of pericancerous tissues and 15 cases of normal bladder tissues. Results: The positive expression rate of Cx43 mRNA in 60 cases of BTCC tissues was 43.33% which was significantly lower than that in pericancerous tissues (73.33%) and normal tissues (100%) (χ2 = 17.58, P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 had significant negative correlation with the pathological degree and lymph node metastasis of BTCC (χ2 = 9.33 and 9.74, respectively, P < 0.01). However, no correlation was found between the expression and patient sex, age, clinical staging and diameter and growth pattern of BTCC (P > 0.05). Expression of Cx43 negatively correlated with Bcl-2 protein (r = -0.63, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with Bax protein (r = 0.52, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The down-regulated expression of Cx43 gene was closely associated with the development, invasion and metastasis of BTCC. It could be used as a prognostic indicator for BTCC. Cx43 gene may have antagonistic effects with Bcl-2 gene and synergic with Bax gene in the initiation and progression of BTCC.

Surgical therapy and prognosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder

BACKGROUND: Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder is rare and its characteristics are poorly understood. This study aimed to understand the behavior and prognosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder as well as its clinical manifestations and survival rate of patients after radical or palliative surgery, and to review the reported data worldwide and our 10 patients. METHODS: From 2004 to 2009, ten patients were pathologically diagnosed with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder and underwent operation at our center. These characteristics, clinical presentations, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, surgical modes, and prognosis were reviewed, retrospectively. We collected the data of 46 patients reported in the English-language literature worldwide and analyzed the survival with ours. The survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and was compared using the log-rank test. RESULTS: The median age of the 10 patients was 67 years (inter-quartile range 59-74 years), and the size of tumor inter-quartile ranged from 3.1 to 7.9 cm. In this series, 9 patients received radical surgery, and one undewent palliative surgery. There was no surgical mortality, and one patient underwent a second operation because of liver metastasis. The median survival time of the patients was 9 months (inter-quartile range 6-12 months), with 3 patients still being alive until follow-up; however, two patients had tumor recurrence. The data from the 56 patients (10 patients in our series and 46 reported elsewhere) statistically indicated that the median age was 66 years (inter-quartile range 61-74.5 years) and the overall median survival was 5.5 months (inter-quartile range 2.5-10 months). The survival time in the patients undergoing radical surgery (n=42) was significantly longer than that in the patients undergoing palliative surgery (n=14) (P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The survival of the patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder is poor. Some patients may die shortly after the surgery because of recurrence or metastasis. However, radical surgery is still necessary if possible. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 175-179)

Expression of KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Bladder

The expression of KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder （TCCB） and its clinical significance were investigated. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 protein expression in 52 TCCB specimens. Correlation between the expression of KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 to clinicopathologic factors was statistically analyzed. The results showed that the positive rate of KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 in TCCB was 50% and 61.5%, respectively. The MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 expression was significantly associated with grade of TCCB （P〈0.05）, but no correlation was found between MRP-1/CD9 or KAI1/CD82 expression and clinical stage of TCCB （P〉0.05）. The expression level of MRP-1/CD9 and KAI1/CD82 in recurrent TCCB samples was lower than that in non-recurrent samples （P〈0.05）. Meanwhile, the correlation between the KAI1/CD82 expression and MRP-1/CD9 expression was statistically significant （r=0.316, P〈0.05）. It was concluded that KAI1/CD82 and MRP-1/CD9 expression may be important prognostic indicators and potentially useful for assessing the biological behavior of TCCB.

Intraluminal versus infiltrating gallbladder carcinoma:Clinical presentation,ultrasound and computed tomography

AIM： To compare clinical presentation and ultrasound （US） and computed tomography （CT） sensitivity between intraluminal and infiltrating gallbladder carcinoma （GBCA）. METHODS： This retrospective study evaluated 65 cases of GBCA that were categorized morphologically into the intraluminaI-GBCA （n = 37） and infiltrating-GBCA （n = 28） groups. The clinical and laboratory findings, presence of gallstones, gallbladder size, T-staging, nodal status, sensitivity of preoperative US and CT studies, and outcome were compared between the two groups. RESULTS： There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to female predominance, presence of abdominal pain, serum aminotransferases level, T2-T4 staging, and regional metastatic nodes. Compared with the patients with intraluminaI-GBCA, those with infiltrating-GBCA were significantly older （65.49 ± 1.51 years vs 73.07 ± 1.90 years）, had a higher frequency of jaundice （3/37 patients vs 13/28 patients） and fever （3/37 patients vs 10/28 patients）, higher alkaline phosphatase （119.36 ± 87.80 IU/L vs 220.68 ± 164.84 IU/L） and total bilirubin （1.74 ± 2.87 mg/L vs 3.50 ± 3.51 mg/L） levels, higher frequency of gallstones （12/37 patients vs 22/28 patients）, smaller gallbladder size （length, 7.47± 1.70 cm vs 6.47 ± 1.83 cm; width, 4.21 ± 1.43 cm vs 2.67 ± 0.93 cm）, and greater proportion of patients with 〈 12 mo survival （16/37 patients vs 18/28 patients）. The sensitivity for diagnosing intraluminal- GBCA with and without gallstones was 63.6% and 91.3% by US, and 80% and 100% by CT, respectively. The sensitivity for diagnosing infiltrating-GBCA with and without gallstones was 12.5% and 25% by US, and 71.4% and 75% by c-r, respectively. CONCLUSION： In elderly women exhibiting small gallbladder and gallstones on US, especially those with jaundice, fever, high alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels, CT may reveal concurrent infiltrating-GBCA.

The role of aberrant promoter hypermethylation of DACT1 in bladder urothelial carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between hypermethylation of DACT1 gene pro-moter and lower mRNA expression in bladder urothelial carcinoma tissue.The methylation status of 29 urothelial carcinoma samples and 29 normal tissue samples were examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reac-tion（MSP）.The DACT1 mRNA transcript levels and DACT1 protein levels in all samples were then evaluated to define the relationship between the methylation status of the DACT1 promoter and its expression at the transcrip-tional and translational levels.Decreased expression of DACT1 was detected in 89.66% of urothelial carcinomas（26/29;P 〈 0.005）.Promoter hypermethylation was found in 58.62%（17/29） urothelial carcinomas and 25%（7/29） normal tissues,respectively（P 〈 0.05）.DACT1 expression was lower in tissues where the DACT1 gene promoter was hypermethylated than in unmethylated tissues（0.25±0.17 vs 0.69±0.30,P 〈 0.05）.DACT1 gene hyper-methylation was closely related to tumor size,grade and stage（P 〈 0.05）.Our results indicate that silencing and downregulation of DACT1 mRNA may be implicated in carcinogenesis and the progression of bladder urothelial carcinoma,and may be a potential prognostic factor.