Primary parenchymal squamous cell carcinoma of the kidney:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)of the renal parenchyma is extremely rare,with only nine cases reported.CASE SUMMARY This study reports a 51-year-old man with primary SCC of the renal parenchyma.The patient was admitted with recurrent dull pain and discomfort in the right lumbar region,which had worsened over 2 weeks,accompanied by painful gross hematuria.SCC antigen(SCCA)levels were elevated,and imaging revealed a renal mass with associated calculi.The patient underwent laparoscopic unilateral nephrectomy and lymph node dissection.Postoperative pathology confirmed highly differentiated SCC with necrosis in the right renal parenchyma,with negative renal pelvis and ureter.The pathological stage was Pt3aN1M0.Four months after surgery,the tumor recurred with involvement of the liver,right psoas major muscle,and inferior vena cava.The patient refused chemotherapy and succumbed to the disease 6 months postoperatively due to disease progression.CONCLUSION We report a case of primary SCC of the renal parenchyma,a rare renal malignancy.The clinical symptoms,laboratory tests,and imaging findings are nonspecific,making accurate and timely diagnosis challenging.According to the literature,for patients with renal calculi accompanied by a renal mass,elevated serum SCCA levels,and magnetic resonance imaging showing cystic or cystic-solid masses within the kidney with pseudocapsules and heterogeneous mild enhancement,the possibility of this disease should be considered.

Cetuximab combined with chemotherapy for simultaneous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Multiple primary carcinomas(MPCs)are defined as two or more independent primary cancers that occur simultaneously or sequentially in the same individual.Synchronous MPCs are rarer than solitary cancers or metachronous MPCs.Accurate diagnoses of synchronous MPCs and the choice of treatment are critical for successful outcomes in these cases.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old patient presented with dysphagia,without obvious cause.A diagnosis of synchronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis was confirmed based on examination and laboratory results.After multi-disciplinary consultations,combination chemotherapy(a 3-wk cycle with oxaliplatin 212 mg administered on day 1 and capecitabine 1.5 g twice daily on days 1-14)and esophageal cancer radiotherapy were initiated.Based on the results of genetic testing,we switched to a regimen of leucovorin+fluorouracil+oxaliplatin and cetuximab regimen for 8 cycles.Subsequently,capecitabine and bevacizumab were administered until the most recent follow-up,at which the tumor remained stable.CONCLUSION Successful cetuximab chemotherapy treatment provides a reference for the nonoperative and homogeneous treatment of different pathological types of synchronous MCPs.

Bilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone:A report of two cases and a systematic review of the literature

Objective:two new cases of temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma(TBSCC)with a bilateral occurrence are presented.Furthermore,a review of the literature was performed and the yearly incidence was calculated.Methods:A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA guidelines.Results:Twenty-two more cases were found in literature.With a total of 24 cases,the calculated yearly incidence of bilateral TBSCC is 49:10^12 A history of chronic otitis or regional radiotherapy was found in respectively 50%and 12%of patients.In nine patients,the tumors developed synchronously(within 6 months)and in 13 metachronously.Conclusions:The calculated incidence is 89 times higher than mathematically expected considering the incidence of unilateral cases.An explanation might be a history of chronic otitis or prior radiotherapy.The tumor staging of both the first tumor group and the contralateral tumor group are similar to unilateral temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma series.

Plasma DNA methylation detection for early screening,diagnosis,and monitoring of esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND The early diagnosis rate of esophageal cancer(EC),one of the most prevalent digestive tract cancers worldwide,remains low.AIM To investigate the utility of plasma SHOX2,SEPTIN9,EPO,and RNF180 methylation in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of EC.Plasma samples were collected from 210 patients at Hubei Cancer Hospital,and TaqMan polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect plasma SHOX2,SEPTIN9,RNF180,and EPO methylation.The area under the curve was used to estimate their diagnostic value for EC.Cox and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the independent screening risk factors for patients with EC.RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of combined assessment of plasma SHOX2,SEPTIN9,RNF180,and EPO methylation for adenocarcinoma,squamous cell carcinoma(SCC),and EC detection were 66.67%and 86.27%,77.40%and 85.29%,and 76.19%and 86.27%,respectively;the area under the curve values for diagnosing adenocarcinoma,SCC,and EC were 0.737[95%confidence interval(CI):0.584–0.89],0.824(95%CI:0.775–0.891),and 0.864(95%CI:0.809–0.92),respectively.CONCLUSION According to our findings,plasma SHOX2,SEPTIN9,RNF180,and EPO methylation exhibits appreciated sensitivity for diagnosing EC.The precise measurement of plasma SHOX2,SEPTIN9,RNF180,and EPO methylation can improve EC diagnosis and therapy efficacy monitoring.

Advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR 19-del mutation transforms into squamous cell carcinoma after EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment

In this editorial we comment on the article by Ji et al.We focus specifically on the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor(EGFR-TKI)treatment and the development of drug resistance to EGFR-TKIs.

Rare primary squamous cell carcinoma of the intrahepatic bile duct: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tree and has a poor prognosis.Adenocarcinoma is the most common pathological type of cho-langiocarcinomas,but rare squamous,adenosquamous,and mucinous variants have been reported without adequate clinical data.CASE SUMMARY This report describes a rare case of primary squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)of the intrahepatic bile duct.The patient was admitted with a tumor in the hepatic caudate lobe with no obvious clinical symptoms.Examination revealed hepatitis B surface antigen positivity,a slight increase in alfa-fetoprotein to 16.34 ng/mL,and an irregular slightly heterogeneous enhancing lesion in the hepatic caudate lobe,which was initially thought to be hepatocellular carcinoma.Laparoscopic re-section was performed,and the final pathology suggested a rare primary SCC of the intrahepatic bile duct.Immunohistochemistry indicated positivity for villin,partial positivity for p63,and negativity for hepatocyte,CK7,CK8,CK19,and CK20.The Ki-67 index was approximately 60%.The patient received six cycles of Tegio chemotherapy.A new lesion was detected in the liver after 15 months.The surgery was performed,and the patient was followed-up at a local hospital.To date,no new lesions have been observed.CONCLUSION Surgery is the first choice for resectable lesions,and combined chemotherapy based on pathology is essential for increasing overall survival.

Comparative Analysis of Ki-67 Protein as a Proliferative Expression Index in Cutaneous Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Nigeria

Background: Evaluating the tumor proliferative index helps predict clinical behavior and provides prognostic insights for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (cBCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Objective: This study aimed to identify differences in the proliferative indices among variants of cBCC and cSCC diagnosed at a tertiary healthcare center. Method: Skin biopsies histologically diagnosed as cBCC and cSCC between 2012 and 2018 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, were analyzed. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks were retrieved along with clinical data, and were prepared on charged microscope slides and the immunohistochemical staining was carried out. The primary antibody used in this study was clone BioCare CRM325C (RM) and adenotonsillar tissue blocks/slides served as positive controls. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was performed on fresh 4µm sections of the tumor specimens. Results: The application of Ki-67 immunoperoxidase on both BCC and SCC cohort, yielded an intense observable brownish nuclear stain in areas of dense proliferating tumour cells on both cutaneous tumours. The average Ki-67 index for all cSCC cases was 24.7%, with a range of 2.3% - 80%, while the mean for cBCC was 15.8%, ranging from 1.2% - 45.6%. Variants with high proliferative indices were observed in 11.9% of cBCC cases and 29.1% of cSCC cases. Among the low proliferative index category, cSCC accounted for 5.4%, while cBCC represented 14.3%. For mild proliferative indices, cSCC cases made up 7.3% and cBCC, 11.9%. The majority of cases showed moderate proliferative indices, with 61.9% for cBCC and 58.2% for cSCC. Overall, there was a significant difference in proliferative indices between cSCC, cBCC, and their variants. Conclusion: The study found a significantly higher rate of cell proliferation, measured by Ki-67 immunostaining, in cSCC and its variants compared to cBCC. However, certain variants of cBCC also exhibited high Ki-67 expression, indicating they can be as aggressive as some cSCC variants.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma:A systematic review of phase-3 clinical trials

BACKGROUND The outcomes of patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)who are not candidates for local salvage therapy and of those diagnosed with recurrent or metastatic disease are dismal.A relatively new systemic therapy option that emerged in recent years in the treatment of advanced HNSCC is immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).The safety profile and anti-tumor activity of these agents demonstrated in early phase clinical trials paved the way to the initiation of several promising phase-3 trials in the field.AIM To evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of ICIs in HNSCC,based on published phase-3 clinical trials.METHODS We searched PubMed,Cochrane Library,Embase,and Scopus to identify published literature evaluating immunotherapy using ICIs in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC(R/M HNSCC)and locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(LAHNSCC).We used a combination of standardized search terms and keywords including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma,recurrent,metastatic,locally advanced,immunotherapy,immune checkpoint inhibitors,monoclonal antibodies,programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1),programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1),cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4(CTLA-4),and phase-3 clinical trial.A sensitive search filter was used to limit our results to randomized controlled trials.RESULTS Five phase-3 clinical trials have reported the data on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in HNSCC so far:Four in R/M HNSCC and one in LAHNSCC.In patients with R/M HNSCC,anti-PD-1 agents nivolumab and pembrolizumab demonstrated improved survival benefits in the second-line treatment setting compared to the standard of care(standard singleagent systemic therapy).While the net gain in overall survival(OS)with nivolumab was 2.4 mo[hazard ratio(HR)=0.69,P=0.01],that with pembrolizumab was 1.5 mo(HR=0.80 nominal P=0.0161).The anti-PD-L1 agent durvalumab with or without the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 agent tremelimumab did not result in any beneficial outcomes.In the first-line setting,in R/M HNSCC,pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy resulted in significant improvement in survival with a net gain in OS of 2.3 mo(HR=0.77,P=0.0034)in the overall population and a net gain in OS of 4.2 mo in the PD-L1 positive(combined positive score>20)population compared to standard of care(EXTREME regime).In patients with PD-L1 positive R/M HNSCC,monotherapy with pembrolizumab also demonstrated statistically significant improvement in survival compared to EXTREME.In LAHNSCC,immunotherapy using avelumab(an anti-PD-L1 agent)along with standard chemoradiation therapy did not result in improved outcomes compared to placebo plus chemoradiation therapy.CONCLUSION Anti-PD-1 agents provide survival benefits in R/M HNSCC in the first and second-line settings,with acceptable toxicity profiles compared to standard therapy.There is no proven efficacy in the curative setting to date.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor dynamics in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma:From immune modulation to therapeutic opportunities

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a substantial global health burden.Immune escape mechanisms are important in ESCC progression,enabling cancer cells to escape the surveillance of the host immune system.One key player in this process is the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor(AhR),which influences multiple cellular processes,including proliferation,differentiation,metabolism,and immune regulation.Dysregulated AhR signaling participates in ESCC development by stimulating carcinogenesis,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,and immune escape.Targeting AhR signaling is a potential therapeutic approach for ESCC,with AhR ligands showing efficacy in preclinical studies.Additionally,modification of AhR ligands and combination therapies present new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.This review aims to address the knowledge gap related to the role of AhR signaling in ESCC pathogenesis and immune escape.

The activation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase inhibits the migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting Claudin-1 via epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Background:The role of Claudin-1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma(TSCC)metastasis needs further clarification,particularly its impact on cell migration.Herein,our study aims to investigate the role of Claudin-1 in TSCC cell migration and its underlying mechanisms.Methods:36 TSCC tissue samples underwent immunohistochemical staining for Claudin-1.Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses were conducted to evaluate Claudin-1 expression and distribution in TSCC cells.Claudin-1 knockdown cell lines were established using short hairpin RNA transfection.Migration effects were assessed through wound healing assays.Furthermore,the expression of EMTassociated molecules was measured via western blotting.Results:Claudin-1 expression decreased as TSCC malignancy increased.Adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase(AMPK)activation led to increased Claudin-1 expression and membrane translocation,inhibiting TSCC cell migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition(EMT).Conversely,Claudin-1 knockdown reversed these inhibitory effects on migration and EMT caused by AMPK activation.Conclusions:Our results indicated that AMPK activation suppresses TSCC cell migration by targeting Claudin-1 and EMT pathways.

Identifying Comprehensive Genomic Alterations and Potential Neoantigens for Cervical Cancer Immunotherapy in a Cohort of Chinese Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix

Objective Genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for cervical cancer immunotherapy were identified in a cohort of Chinese patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC).Methods Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify genomic alterations and potential neoantigens for CSCC immunotherapy.RNA Sequencing was performed to analyze neoantigen expression.Results Systematic bioinformatics analysis showed that C>T/G>A transitions/transversions were dominant in CSCCs.Missense mutations were the most frequent types of somatic mutation in the coding sequence regions.Mutational signature analysis detected signature 2,signature 6,and signature 7 in CSCC samples.PIK3CA,FBXW7,and BICRA were identified as potential driver genes,with BICRA as a newly reported gene.Genomic variation profiling identified 4,960 potential neoantigens,of which 114 were listed in two neoantigen-related databases.Conclusion The present findings contribute to our understanding of the genomic characteristics of CSCC and provide a foundation for the development of new biotechnology methods for individualized immunotherapy in CSCC.

Latest insights into the global epidemiological features,screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

As a highly invasive carcinoma,esophageal cancer(EC)was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major histological subtype of EC,and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally.Due to the lack of specific early symptoms,ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis,and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries,especially in China.Therefore,enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC,and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC.Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated,certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making.With the advent and advancement of highthroughput technologies,such as genomics,proteomics and metabolomics,valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity,specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC.Herein,we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world,especially in China,and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening,early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Identification of ferroptosis-associated tumor antigens as the potential targets to prevent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSC)represents nearly 90%of all head and neck tumors.The current treatment modality for HNSC patients primarily involves surgical intervention and radiotherapy,but its therapeutic efficacy remains limited.The mRNA vaccine based on tumor antigens seems promising for cancer treatment.Ferroptosis,a novel form of cell death,is linked to tumor progression and cancer immunotherapy.Nevertheless,the effectiveness of ferroptosis-associated tumor antigens in treating HNSC remains uncertain.In this study,we identified three ferroptosis-associated tumor antigens,namely caveolin1(CAV1),ferritin heavy chain(FTH1),and solute carrier 3A2(SLC3A2),as being overexpressed and mutated based on data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases.These antigens were strongly associated with poor prognosis and infiltration of antigen-presenting cells in HNSC.We further identified two ferroptosis subtypes(FS1 and FS2)with distinct molecular,cellular,and clinical properties to identify antigen-sensitive individuals.Our findings indicate that FS1 exhibits an immune“hot”phenotype,whereas FS2 displays an immune“cold”phenotype.Additionally,differential expression of immunogenic cell death modulators and immune checkpoints was observed between these two immune subtypes.Further exploration of the HNSC's immune landscape revealed significant heterogeneity among individual patients.Our findings suggest that CAV1,FTH1,and SLC3A2 are potential targets to prevent HNSC in FS2 patients.Overall,our research reveals the potential of ferroptosis-associated mRNA vaccines for HNSC and identifies an effective patient population for vaccine treatment.

Tumor-derived DEFB1 induces immune tolerance by inhibiting maturation of dendritic cell and impairing CD8+T cell function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective:CD8+T cells are the key effector cells in the anti-tumor immune response.The mechanism underlying the infiltration of CD8+T cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)has not been clearly elucidated.Methods:Fresh ESCC tissues were collected and grouped according to the infiltration density of CD8+T cells.After the transcriptome sequencing on these samples and the combined analyses with The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)ESCC data,a secreted protein DEFB1 was selected to explore its potential role in the infiltration of CD8+T cells.Bioinformatics analyses,histological verification and in vitro experiments were then performed.Results:DEFB1 was highly expressed in ESCC,and the high expression of DEFB1 was an independent risk factor for overall survival.Since the up-regulation or down-regulation of DEFB1 did not affect the proliferation,migration and apoptosis of ESCC cells,we speculated that the oncogenic effect of DEFB1 was achieved by regulating microenvironmental characteristics.Bioinformatics analyses suggested that DEFB1 might play a major role in the inflammatory response and anti-tumor immune response,and correlate to the infiltration of immature dendritic cell(imDC)in ESCC.Histological analyses further confirmed that there were less CD8+T cells infiltrated,less CD83+mature DC(mDC)infiltrated and more CD1a+imDC infiltrated in those ESCC samples with high expression of DEFB1.After the treatment with recombinant DEFB1 protein,the maturation of DC was hindered significantly,followed by the impairment of the killing effects of T cells in both 2D and 3D culture in vitro.Conclusions:Tumor-derived DEFB1 can inhibit the maturation of DC and weaken the function of CD8+T cells,accounting for the immune tolerance in ESCC.The role of DEFB1 in ESCC deserves further exploration.

MicroRNAs:A novel signature in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a malignant epithelial tumor,characterized by squamous cell differentiation,it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.The increased mortality rate of ESCC patients is predominantly due to the advanced stage of the disease when discovered,coupled with higher risk of metastasis,which is an exceedingly malignant charac-teristic of cancer,frequently leading to a high mortality rate.Unfortunately,there is currently no specific and effective marker to predict and treat metastasis in ESCC.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules,approximately 22 nucleotides in length.miRNAs are vital in modulating gene expression and serve pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence,progression,and prognosis of cancer.Here,we have examined the literature to highlight the intimate correlations between miRNAs and ESCC metastasis,and show that ESCC metastasis is predominantly regulated or regulated by genetic and epigenetic factors.This review proposes a potential role for miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for metastasis in ESCC metastasis,with the ultimate aim of reducing the mortality rate among patients with ESCC.

Antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates for targeted treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Antibody-drug conjugates(ADCs)are a new type of targeting antibodies that conjugate with highly toxic anticancer drugs via chemical linkers to exert high specificity and efficient killing of tumor cells,thereby attracting considerable attention in precise oncology therapy.Cetuximab(Cet)is a typical antibody that offers the benefits of good targeting and safety for individuals with advanced and inoperable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma(cSCC);however,its anti-tumor activity is limited to a single use.Cisplatin(CisPt)shows good curative effects;however,its adverse effects and non-tumor-targeting ability are major drawbacks.In this study,we designed and developed a new ADC based on a new cytotoxic platinum(IV)prodrug(C8Pt(IV))and Cet.The so-called antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates,named Cet-C8Pt(IV),showed excellent tumor targeting in cSCC.Specifically,it accurately delivered C8Pt(IV)into tumor cells to exert the combined anti-tumor effect of Cet and CisPt.Herein,metabolomic analysis showed that Cet-C8Pt(IV)promoted cellular apoptosis and increased DNA damage in cSCC cells by affecting the vitamin B6 metabolic pathway in tumor cells,thereby further enhancing the tumor-killing ability and providing a new strategy for clinical cancer treatment using antibody-platinum(IV)prodrugs conjugates.

Role of deubiquitinase JOSD2 in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a deadly malignancy with limited treatment options.Deubiquitinases(DUBs)have been confirmed to play a crucial role in the development of malignant tumors.JOSD2 is a DUB involved in con-trolling protein deubiquitination and influencing critical cellular processes in cancer.AIM To investigate the impact of JOSD2 on the progression of ESCC.METHODS Bioinformatic analyses were employed to explore the expression,prognosis,and enriched pathways associated with JOSD2 in ESCC.Lentiviral transduction was utilized to manipulate JOSD2 expression in ESCC cell lines(KYSE30 and RESULTS )Preliminary research indicated that JOSD2 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues,which was associated with poor prognosis.Further analysis demonstrated that JOSD2 was upregulated in ESCC cell lines compared to normal esophageal cells.JOSD2 knockdown inhibited ESCC cell activity,including proliferation and colony-forming ability.Moreover,JOSD2 knockdown decreased the drug resistance and migration of ESCC cells,while JOSD2 overexpression enhanced these phenotypes.In vivo xenograft assays further confirmed that JOSD2 promoted tumor proliferation and drug resistance in ESCC.Mechanistically,JOSD2 appears to activate the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.Mass spectrometry was used to identify crucial substrate proteins that interact with JOSD2,which identified the four primary proteins that bind to JOSD2,namely USP47,IGKV2D-29,HSP90AB1,and PRMT5.CONCLUSION JOSD2 plays a crucial role in enhancing the proliferation,migration,and drug resistance of ESCC,suggesting that JOSD2 is a potential therapeutic target in ESCC.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as a prognostic biomarker in multiple tumors and its therapeutic potential in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background:Fibroblast activation protein(FAP),a cell surface serine protease,plays roles in tumor invasion and immune regulation.However,there is currently no pan-cancer analysis of FAP.Objective:We aimed to assess the pan-cancer expression profile of FAP,its molecular function,and its potential role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSC).Methods:We analyzed gene expression,survival status,immune infiltration,and molecular functional pathways of FAP in The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype Tissue Expression(GTEx)tumors.Furthermore,to elucidate the role of FAP in HNSC,we performed proliferation,migration,and invasion assays post-FAP overexpression or knock-down.Results:FAP expression was elevated in nine tumor types and was associated with poor survival in eight of them.In the context of immune infiltration,FAP expression negatively correlated with CD8+T-cell infiltration infive tumor types and positively with regulatory T-cell infiltration in four tumor types.Our enrichment analysis highlighted FAP’s involvement in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.In HNSC cells,FAP overexpression activated the PI3K-Akt pathway,promoting tumor proliferation,migration,and invasion.Conversely,FAP knockdown showed inhibitory effects.Conclusion:Our study unveils the association of FAP with poor tumor prognosis across multiple cancers and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target in HNSC.

Diagnostic Value of GDF10 for the Tumorigenesis and Immune Infiltration in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:Lung squamous cell carcinoma(LUSC)is associated with a low survival rate.Evidence suggests that bone morphogenetic proteins(BMPs)and their receptors(BMPRs)play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and progression.However,a comprehensive analysis of their role in LUSC is lacking.Our study aimed to explore the relationship between BMPs/BMPRs expression levels and the tumorigenesis and prognosis of LUSC.Methods:The“R/Limma”package was utilized to analyze the differential expression characteristics of BMPs/BMPRs in LUSC,using data from TCGA,GTEx,and GEO databases.Concurrently,the“survminer”packages were employed to investigate their prognostic value and correlation with clinical features in LUSC.The core gene associated with LUSC progression was further explored through weighted gene correlation network analysis(WGCNA).LASSO analysis was conducted to construct a prognostic risk model for LUSC.Clinical specimens were examined by immunohistochemical analysis to confirm the diagnostic value in LUSC.Furthermore,based on the tumor immune estimation resource database and tumor-immune system interaction database,the role of the core gene in the tumor microenvironment of LUSC was explored.Results:GDF10 had a significant correlation only with the pathological T stage of LUSC,and the protein expression level of GDF10 decreased with the tumorigenesis of LUSC.A prognostic risk model was constructed with GDF10 as the core gene and 5 hub genes(HRASLS,HIST1H2BH,FLRT3,CHEK2,and ALPL)for LUSC.GDF10 showed a significant positive correlation with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression.Conclusion:GDF10 might serve as a diagnostic biomarker reflecting the tumorigenesis of LUSC and regulating the tumor immune microenvironment to guide more effective treatment for LUSC.

Artificial intelligence enhances the management of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the precision oncology era

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the most common histological type of esophageal cancer with a poor prognosis.Early diagnosis and prognosis assessment are crucial for improving the survival rate of ESCC patients.With the advancement of artificial intelligence(AI)technology and the proliferation of medical digital information,AI has demonstrated promising sensitivity and accuracy in assisting precise detection,treatment decision-making,and prognosis assessment of ESCC.It has become a unique opportunity to enhance comprehen-sive clinical management of ESCC in the era of precision oncology.This review examines how AI is applied to the diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis assessment of ESCC in the era of precision oncology,and analyzes the challenges and potential opportunities that AI faces in clinical translation.Through insights into future prospects,it is hoped that this review will contribute to the real-world application of AI in future clinical settings,ultimately alleviating the disease burden caused by ESCC.