Clinical pathological characteristics of“crawling-type”gastric adenocarcinoma cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a significant health problem worldwide,and early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for improving patient outcomes.Crawling-type gastric adenocarcinoma is a rare subtype of GC that has unique histopathological and clinical characteristics,and its diagnosis and management can be challenging.This pathological type of GC is also rare.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report the case of a patient who underwent ordinary endoscopy,na-rrow-band imaging,and endoscopic ultrasonography intending to determine the extent of tumor invasion and upper abdominal enhanced computed tomography and whether there was tumor metastasis.Then,endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed.After pathological and immunohistochemical examination,the pathological diagnosis was crawling-type gastric adenocarcinoma.This is a very rare and special pathological type of tumor.This case highlights the importance of using advanced endoscopic techniques and pathological examination in diagnosing and managing gastric crawling-type adenocarcinoma.Moreover,the findings underscore the need for continued research and clinical experience in this rare subtype of GC to improve patient outcomes.CONCLUSION The“crawling-type”GC is a rare and specific tumor pathology.It is difficult to identify and diagnose gliomas via endoscopy.The tumor is ill-defined,with a flat appearance and indistinct borders due to the lack of contrast against the background mucosa.Pathology revealed that the tumor cells were hand-like,so the patient has diagnosed with“crawling-type”gastric adenocarcinoma.

Clinicopathological significance and immunotherapeutic outcome of claudin 18.2 expression in advanced gastric cancer:A retrospective study

Objective: Immunotherapeutic outcomes and clinical characteristics of claudin 18 isoform 2 positive(CLDN18.2-positive) gastric cancer(GC) vary in different clinical studies, making it difficult to optimize antiCLDN18.2 therapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis to explore the association of CLDN18.2 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapeutic outcomes in GC.Methods: A total of 536 advanced GC patients from 2019 to 2021 in the CT041-CG4006 and CT041-ST-01clinical trials were included in the analysis. CLDN18.2 expression on ≥40% of tumor cells(2+, 40%) and CLDN18.2 expression on ≥70% of tumor cells(2+, 70%) were considered the two levels of positively expressed GC. The clinicopathological characteristics and immunotherapy outcomes of GC patients were analyzed according to CLDN18.2 expression status.Results: CLDN18.2 was expressed in 57.6%(cut-off: 2+, 40%) and 48.9%(cut-off: 2+, 70%) of patients.Programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) and CLDN18.2 were co-expressed in 19.8% [combined positive score(CPS)≥1, CLDN18.2(cut-off: 2+, 40%)] and 17.2% [CPS≥5, CLDN18.2(cut-off: 2+, 70%)] of patients.CLDN18.2 expression positively correlated with younger age, female sex, non-gastroesophageal junction(nonGEJ), and diffuse phenotype(P<0.001). HER2 and PD-L1 expression were significantly lower in CLDN18.2-positive GC(both P<0.05). Uterine adnexa metastasis(P<0.001) was more frequent and liver metastasis(P<0.001)was less common in CLDN18.2-positive GC. Overall survival and immunotherapy-related progression-free survival(ir PFS) were inferior in the CLDN18.2-positive group.Conclusions: CLDN18.2-positive GC is associated with poor prognosis and worse immunotherapeutic outcomes. The combination of anti-CLDN18.2 therapy, anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy, and chemotherapy for GC requires further investigation.

Analysis of vascular thrombus and clinicopathological factors in prognosis of gastric cancer:A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world,and its prognosis is closely related to many factors.In recent years,the incidence of vascular thrombosis in patients with GC has gradually attracted increasing attention,and studies have shown that it may have a significant impact on the survival rate and prognosis of patients.However,the specific mechanism underlying the association between vascular thrombosis and the prognosis of patients with GC remains unclear.AIM To analyze the relationships between vascular cancer support and other clinicopathological factors and their influence on the prognosis of patients with GC.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 621 patients with GC and divided them into a positive group and a negative group according to the presence or absence of a vascular thrombus.The difference in the 5-year cumulative survival rate between the two groups was compared,and the relationships between vascular cancer thrombus and other clinicopathological factors and their influence on the prognosis of patients with GC were analyzed.RESULTS Among 621 patients with GC,the incidence of vascular thrombi was 31.7%(197 patients).Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the degree of tumor differentiation,depth of invasion,and extent of lymph node metastasis were independent influencing factors for the occurrence of vascular thrombi in GC patients(P<0.01).The trend of the χ^(2) test showed that the degree of differentiation,depth of invasion,and extent of lymph node metastasis were linearly correlated with the percentage of vascular thrombi in GC patients(P<0.01),and the correlation between lymph node metastasis and vascular thrombi was more significant(r=0.387).Univariate analysis revealed that the 5-year cumulative survival rate of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group(46.7%vs 73.3%,P<0.01).Multivariate analysis revealed that age,tumor diameter,TNM stage,and vascular thrombus were independent risk factors for the prognosis of GC patients(all P<0.05).Further stratified analysis revealed that the 5-year cumulative survival rate of stage Ⅲ GC patients in the thrombolase-positive group was significantly lower than that in the thrombolase-negative group(36.1%vs 51.4%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION Vascular cancer status is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients with GC.The combination of vascular cancer suppositories and TNM staging can better judge the prognosis of patients with GC and guide more reasonable treatment.

Prognostic significance and relationship of SMAD3 phosphoisoforms and VEGFR-1 in gastric cancer:A clinicopathological study

BACKGROUND The TGF-β/SMAD3 and VEGFR-1 signaling pathways play important roles in gastric cancer metastasis.SMAD3 phosphorylation is a crucial prognostic marker in gastric cancer.AIM To determine the prognostic value and relationship of SMAD3 phospho-isoforms and VEGFR-1 in gastric cancer.METHODS This was a single-center observational study which enrolled 98 gastric cancer patients and 82 adjacent normal gastric tissues from patients aged 32-84 years(median age 65)between July 2006 and April 2007.Patients were followed up until death or the study ended(median follow-up duration of 28.5 mo).The samples were used to generate tissue microarrays(TMAs)for immunohistochemical(IHC)staining.The expressions of TGF-β1,pSMAD3C(S423/425),pSMAD3L(S204),and VEGFR-1 in gastric cancer(GC)tumor tissue and normal tissue were measured by IHC staining using TMAs obtained from 98 GC patients.Prognosis and survival information of the patients was recorded by Outdo Biotech from May 2007 to July 2015.The relationship between TGF-β1,pSMAD3C(S423/425),pSMAD3L(S204),and VEGFR-1 protein expression levels was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.The relationship between protein expression levels and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed using the Chi-squared test.A survival curve was generated using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.RESULTS TGFβ-1 and VEGFR-1 expression was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissue compared to adjacent noncancerous tissue.The positive expression of phosphorylated isoforms of Smad3 varied depending on the phosphorylation site[pSMAD3C(S423/425):51.0%and pSMAD3L(S204):31.6%].High expression of pSMAD-3L(S204)was significantly correlated with larger tumors(P=0.038)and later N stages(P=0.035).Additionally,high expression of VEGFR-1 was closely correlated with tumor size(P=0.015)and pathological grading(P=0.013).High expression of both pSMAD3L(S204)and VEGFR-1 was associated with unfavorable outcomes in terms of overall survival(OS).Multivariate analysis indicated that high expression of pSMAD3L(S204)and VEGFR-1 were independent risk factors for prognosis in GC patients.VEGFR-1 protein expression was correlated with TGF-β1(r=0.220,P=0.029),pSMAD3C(S423/425)(r=0.302,P=0.002),and pSMAD3L(S204)(r=0.201,P=0.047),respectively.Simultaneous overexpression of pSMAD3L(S204)and VEGFR-1 was associated with poor OS in gastric cancer patients.CONCLUSION Co-upregulation of pSMAD3L(S204)and VEGFR-1 can serve as a predictive marker for poor gastric cancer prognosis,and pSMAD3L(204)may be involved in enhanced gastric cancer metastasis in a VEGFR-1-dependent manner.

Immunotherapy of gastric cancer:Present status and future perspectives

In this editorial,we comment on the article entitled“Advances and key focus areas in gastric cancer immunotherapy:A comprehensive scientometric and clinical trial review(1999-2023),”which was published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.We focused on the results of the authors’bibliometric analysis concerning gastric cancer immunotherapy,which they analyzed in depth by compiling the relevant publications of the last 20 years.Before that,we briefly describe the most recent data concerning the epidemiological parameters of gastric cancer(GC)in different countries,attempting to give an interpretation based on the etiological factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of the neoplasm.We then briefly discuss the conservative treatment(chemotherapy)of the various forms of this malignant neoplasm.We describe the treatment of resectable tumors,locally advanced neoplasms,and unresectable(advanced)cases.Special attention is given to modern therapeutic approaches with emphasis on immunotherapy,which seems to be the future of GC treatment,especially in combination with chemotherapy.There is also a thorough analysis of the results of the study under review in terms of the number of scientific publications,the countries in which the studies were conducted,the authors,and the scientific centers of origin,as well as the clinical studies in progress.Finally,an attempt is made to draw some conclusions and to point out possible future directions.

Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy for early gastric cancer

Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy(PPG)has been widely accepted as a function-preserving gastrectomy for middle-third early gastric cancer(EGC)with a distal tumor border at least 4 cm proximal to the pylorus.The procedure essentially preserves the function of the pyloric sphincter,which requires to preserve the upper third of the stomach and a pyloric cuff at least 2.5 cm.The suprapyloric and infrapyloric vessels are usually preserved,as are the hepatic and pyloric branches of the vagus nerve.Compared with distal gastrectomy,PPG has significant advantages in preventing dumping syndrome,body weight loss and bile reflux gastritis.The postoperative complications after PPG have reached an acceptable level.PPG can be considered a safe,effective,and superior choice in EGC,and is expected to be extensively performed in the future.

Apatinib and gamabufotalin co-loaded lipid/Prussian blue nanoparticles for synergistic therapy to gastric cancer with metastasis

Due to the non-targeted release and low solubility of anti-gastric cancer agent,apatinib(Apa),a first-line drug with long-term usage in a high dosage often induces multi-drug resistance and causes serious side effects.In order to avoid these drawbacks,lipid-film-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles(PB NPs)with hyaluronan(HA)modification was used for Apa loading to improve its solubility and targeting ability.Furthermore,anti-tumor compound of gamabufotalin(CS-6)was selected as a partner of Apawith reducing dosage for combinational gastric therapy.Thus,HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs were constructed to synchronously transport the two drugs into tumor tissue.In vitro assay indicated that HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs can synergistically inhibit proliferation and invasion/metastasis of BGC-823 cells via downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9).In vivo assay demonstrated strongest anti-tumor growth and liver metastasis of HA-Apa-Lip@PB-CS-6 NPs administration in BGC-823 cells-bearing mice compared with other groups due to the excellent penetration in tumor tissues and outstanding synergistic effects.In summary,we have successfully developed a new nanocomplexes for synchronous Apa/CS-6 delivery and synergistic gastric cancer(GC)therapy.

Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the fifth most common type of cancer and has the fourth highest death rate among all cancers.There is a lack of studies examining the impact of liver metastases on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in individuals diagnosed with GC.AIM To investigate the influence of liver metastases on the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy in patients with advanced GC.METHODS This retrospective investigation collected clinical data of patients with advanced stomach cancer who had immunotherapy at our hospital from February 2021 to January 2023.The baseline attributes were compared using either the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact probability method.The chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and survival duration in GC patients with and without liver metastases.RESULTS The analysis comprised 48 patients diagnosed with advanced GC,who were categorized into two groups:A liver metastasis cohort(n=20)and a non-liver metastatic cohort(n=28).Patients with liver metastasis exhibited a more deteriorated physical condition compared to those without liver metastasis.The objective response rates in the cohort with metastasis and the cohort without metastasis were 15.0%and 35.7%(P>0.05),respectively.Similarly,the disease control rates in these two cohorts were 65.0%and 82.1%(P>0.05),respectively.The median progression-free survival was 5.0 months in one group and 11.2 months in the other group,with a hazard ratio of 0.40 and a significance level(P)less than 0.05.The median overall survival was 12.0 months in one group and 19.0 months in the other group,with a significance level(P)greater than 0.05.CONCLUSION Immunotherapy is less effective in GC patients with liver metastases compared to those without liver metastasis.

Genetic variants in C1GALT1 are associated with gastric cancer risk by influencing immune infiltration

Core 1 synthase glycoprotein-N-acetylgalactosamine 3-β-galactosyltransferase 1(C1GALT1)is known to play a critical role in the development of gastric cancer,but few studies have elucidated associations between genetic variants in C1GALT1 and gastric cancer risk.By using the genome-wide association study data from the database of Genotype and Phenotype(dbGAP),we evaluated such associations with a multivariable logistic regression model and identified that the rs35999583 G>C in C1GALT1 was associated with gastric cancer risk(odds ratio,0.83;95% confidence interval[CI],0.75-0.92;P=3.95×10^(-4)).C1GALT1 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in gastric tumor tissues than in normal tissues,and gastric cancer patients with higher C1GALT1 mRNA levels had worse overall survival rates(hazards ratio,1.33;95%CI,1.05-1.68;P_(log-rank)=1.90×10^(-2)).Furthermore,we found that C1GALT1 copy number differed in various immune cells and that C1GALT1 mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with the infiltrating levels of CD4^(+)T cells and macrophages.These results suggest that genetic variants of C1GALT1 may play an important role in gastric cancer risk and provide a new insight for C1GALT1 into a promising predictor of gastric cancer susceptibility and immune status.

Construction of an immune-related gene signature for overall survival prediction and immune infiltration in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Treatment options for patients with gastric cancer(GC)continue to improve,but the overall prognosis is poor.The use of PD-1 inhibitors has also brought benefits to patients with advanced GC and has gradually become the new standard treatment option at present,and there is an urgent need to identify valuable biomarkers to classify patients with different characteristics into subgroups.AIM To determined the effects of differentially expressed immune-related genes(DEIRGs)on the development,prognosis,tumor microenvironment(TME),and treatment response among GC patients with the expectation of providing new biomarkers for personalized treatment of GC populations.METHODS Gene expression data and clinical pathologic information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA),and immune-related genes(IRGs)were searched from ImmPort.DEIRGs were extracted from the intersection of the differentially-expressed genes(DEGs)and IRGs lists.The enrichment pathways of key genes were obtained by analyzing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGGs)and Gene Ontology(GO)databases.To identify genes associated with prognosis,a tumor risk score model based on DEIRGs was constructed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator and multivariate Cox regression.The tumor risk score was divided into high-and lowrisk groups.The entire cohort was randomly divided into a 2:1 training cohort and a test cohort for internal validation to assess the feasibility of the risk model.The infiltration of immune cells was obtained using‘CIBERSORT,’and the infiltration of immune subgroups in high-and low-risk groups was analyzed.The GC immune score data were obtained and the difference in immune scores between the two groups was analyzed.RESULTS We collected 412 GC and 36 adjacent tissue samples,and identified 3627 DEGs and 1311 IRGs.A total of 482 DEIRGs were obtained.GO analysis showed that DEIRGs were mainly distributed in immunoglobulin complexes,receptor ligand activity,and signaling receptor activators.KEGG pathway analysis showed that the top three DEIRGs enrichment types were cytokine-cytokine receptors,neuroactive ligand receptor interactions,and viral protein interactions.We ultimately obtained an immune-related signature based on 10 genes,including 9 risk genes(LCN1,LEAP2,TMSB15A mRNA,DEFB126,PI15,IGHD3-16,IGLV3-22,CGB5,and GLP2R)and 1 protective gene(LGR6).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,and risk curves confirmed that the risk model had good predictive ability.Multivariate COX analysis showed that age,stage,and risk score were independent prognostic factors for patients with GC.Meanwhile,patients in the low-risk group had higher tumor mutation burden and immunophenotype,which can be used to predict the immune checkpoint inhibitor response.Both cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen4+and programmed death 1+patients with lower risk scores were more sensitive to immunotherapy.CONCLUSION In this study a new prognostic model consisting of 10 DEIRGs was constructed based on the TME.By providing risk factor analysis and prognostic information,our risk model can provide new directions for immunotherapy in GC patients.

Impact of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on cognition and emotion in gastric cancer patients undergoing radical resection

BACKGROUND Propofol and sevoflurane are commonly used anesthetic agents for maintenance anesthesia during radical resection of gastric cancer.However,there is a debate concerning their differential effects on cognitive function,anxiety,and depression in patients undergoing this procedure.AIM To compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on postoperative cognitive function,anxiety,depression,and organ function in patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer.METHODS A total of 80 patients were involved in this research.The subjects were divided into two groups:Propofol group and sevoflurane group.The evaluation scale for cognitive function was the Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment(LOTCA),and anxiety and depression were assessed with the aid of the self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and self-rating depression scale(SDS).Hemodynamic indicators,oxidative stress levels,and pulmonary function were also measured.RESULTS The LOTCA score at 1 d after surgery was significantly lower in the propofol group than in the sevoflurane group.Additionally,the SAS and SDS scores of the sevoflurane group were significantly lower than those of the propofol group.The sevoflurane group showed greater stability in heart rate as well as the mean arterial pressure compared to the propofol group.Moreover,the sevoflurane group displayed better pulmonary function and less lung injury than the propofol group.CONCLUSION Both propofol and sevoflurane could be utilized as maintenance anesthesia during radical resection of gastric cancer.Propofol anesthesia has a minimal effect on patients'pulmonary function,consequently enhancing their postoperative recovery.Sevoflurane anesthesia causes less impairment on patients'cognitive function and mitigates negative emotions,leading to an improved postoperative mental state.Therefore,the selection of anesthetic agents should be based on the individual patient's specific circumstances.

Predictive model using four ferroptosis-related genes accurately predicts gastric cancer prognosis

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is a common malignancy of the digestive system.According to global 2018 cancer data,GC has the fifth-highest incidence and the thirdhighest fatality rate among malignant tumors.More than 60%of GC are linked to infection with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori),a gram-negative,active,microaerophilic,and helical bacterium.This parasite induces GC by producing toxic factors,such as cytotoxin-related gene A,vacuolar cytotoxin A,and outer membrane proteins.Ferroptosis,or iron-dependent programmed cell death,has been linked to GC,although there has been little research on the link between H.pylori infection-related GC and ferroptosis.AIM To identify coregulated differentially expressed genes among ferroptosis-related genes(FRGs)in GC patients and develop a ferroptosis-related prognostic model with discrimination ability.METHODS Gene expression profiles of GC patients and those with H.pylori-associated GC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.The FRGs were acquired from the FerrDb database.A ferroptosis-related gene prognostic index(FRGPI)was created using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator–Cox regression.The predictive ability of the FRGPI was validated in the GEO cohort.Finally,we verified the expression of the hub genes and the activity of the ferroptosis inducer FIN56 in GC cell lines and tissues.RESULTS Four hub genes were identified(NOX4,MTCH1,GABARAPL2,and SLC2A3)and shown to accurately predict GC and H.pylori-associated GC.The FRGPI based on the hub genes could independently predict GC patient survival;GC patients in the high-risk group had considerably worse overall survival than did those in the low-risk group.The FRGPI was a significant predictor of GC prognosis and was strongly correlated with disease progression.Moreover,the gene expression levels of common immune checkpoint proteins dramatically increased in the highrisk subgroup of the FRGPI cohort.The hub genes were also confirmed to be highly overexpressed in GC cell lines and tissues and were found to be primarily localized at the cell membrane.The ferroptosis inducer FIN56 inhibited GC cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION In this study,we developed a predictive model based on four FRGs that can accurately predict the prognosis of GC patients and the efficacy of immunotherapy in this population.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in elderly patients

BACKGROUND With advancements in the development of endoscopic technologies,the endo-scopic submucosal dissection(ESD)has been one of the gold-standard therapies for early gastric cancer.AIM To investigate the efficacy and safety ESD in the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in the elderly patients.METHODS Seventy-eight elderly patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University were se-lected and classified into two groups according to the different surgical therapies they received between January 2021 and June 2022.Among them,39 patients treated with ESD were included in an experimental group,and 39 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)were included in a control group.We compared the basic intraoperative conditions,postoperative short-term recovery,long-term recovery effects and functional status of gastric mucosa between the two groups;the basic intraoperative conditions included lesion resection,intra-operative bleeding and operation time;the postoperative short-term recovery assessment indexes were length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complic-ations;and the long-term recovery assessment indexes were the recurrence rate at 1 year postoperatively and the survival situation at 1 year and 3 years postoper-atively;and we compared the preoperative and predischarge serum pepsinogen I(PG I)and PG II levels and PG I/PG II ratio in the two groups before surgery and discharge.RESULTS The curative resection rate and the rate of en bloc resection were higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The intraoperative bleeding volume was higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The operation time was longer in the experimental group than that in the control group,and the rate for base residual focus was lower in the experimental group than that of the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).The length of hospital stay was longer in the experi-mental group than in the control group,and the incidence of surgical complications,1-year postoperative recu-rrence rate and 3-year postoperative survival rate were lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).However,the difference in the 1-year postoperative survival rate was not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).Before discharge,PG I and PG I/PG II ratio were elevated in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the above indexes were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05).Moreover,before discharge,PG II level was lower in both groups compared with the preoperative period,and the level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION Compared with EMR,ESD surgery is more thorough.It reduces the rate of base residual focus,recurrence rate,surgical complications,and promotes the recovery of gastric cells and glandular function.It is safe and suitable for clinical application.

Double role of depression in gastric cancer:As a causative factor and as consequence

In this editorial we comment on the article“Hotspots and frontiers of the rela-tionship between gastric cancer and depression:A bibliometric study”.Gastric cancer(GC)is a common malignancy in the digestive system with increased mortality and morbidity rates globally.Standard treatments,such as gastrectomy,negatively impact patients'quality of life and beyond the physical strain,GC patients face psychological challenges,including anxiety and depression.The prevalence of depression can be as high as 57%,among gastrointestinal cancer patients.Due to the advancements in treatment effectiveness and increased 5-year overall survival rates,attention has shifted to managing psychological effects.However,the significance of managing the depression doesn’t lie solely in the need for a better psychological status.Depression leads to chronic stress acti-vating the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis,leading release of catecholamines inducing tumor proliferation,migration,and metastasis,contributing to GC progression.The dysregulation of neurotrans-mitters and the involvement of various signaling pathways underscore the complex interplay between depression and GC.Comprehensive strategies are required to address the psychological aspects of GC,including region-specific interventions and increased monitoring for depression.Understanding the intricate relationship between depression and GC progression is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies and improving overall outcomes for patients facing this complex disease.In this Editorial we delve into double role of depression in the pathogenesis of GC and as a complication of it.

Modeling human gastric cancers in immunocompetent mice

Gastric cancer(GC)is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.GC is determined by multiple(epi)genetic and environmental factors;can occur at distinct anatomic positions of the stomach;and displays high heterogeneity,with different cellular origins and diverse histological and molecular features.This heterogeneity has hindered efforts to fully understand the pathology of GC and develop efficient therapeutics.In the past decade,great progress has been made in the study of GC,particularly in molecular subtyping,investigation of the immune microenvironment,and defining the evolutionary path and dynamics.Preclinical mouse models,particularly immunocompetent models that mimic the cellular and molecular features of human GC,in combination with organoid culture and clinical studies,have provided powerful tools for elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying GC pathology and immune evasion,and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.Herein,we first briefly introduce current progress and challenges in GC study and subsequently summarize immunocompetent GC mouse models,emphasizing the potential application of genetically engineered mouse models in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy studies.

Development and validation of a prognostic immunoinflammatory index for patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated the influence of immunity and inflammation on the development of tumors.Although single biomarkers of immunity and inflam-mation have been shown to be clinically predictive,the use of biomarkers integrating both to predict prognosis in patients with gastric cancer remains to be investigated.AIM To investigate the prognostic and clinical significance of inflammatory biomarkers and lymphocytes in patients undergoing surgical treatment for gastric cancer.METHODS Univariate COX regression analysis was performed to identify potential prognostic factors for patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical treatment.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-COX(LASSO-COX)regression analysis was performed to integrate these factors and formulate a new prognostic immunoinflammatory index(PII).The correlation between PII and clinical charac-teristics was statistically analyzed.Nomograms incorporating the PII score were devised and validated based on the time-dependent area under the curve and decision curve analysis.RESULTS Patients exhibiting elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio,and systemic immune inflammatory index displayed inferior progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS).Conversely,low levels of CD3(+),CD3(+)CD8(+),CD4(+)CD8(+),and CD3(+)CD16(+)CD56(+)T lymphocytes were associated with improved PFS and OS,while high CD19(+)T lymphocyte levels were linked to worse PFS and OS.The PII score demonstrated associations with tumor characteristics(primary tumor site and tumor size),establishing itself as an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS.Time-dependent area under the curve and decision curve analysis affirmed the effectiveness of the PII-based nomogram as a robust prognostic predictive model.CONCLUSION PII may be a reliable predictor of prognosis in patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical treatment,and it offers insights into cancer-related immune-inflammatory responses,with potential significance in clinical practice.

Current status of early gastric cancer screening research

Gastric cancer is a predominant threat to the health and well-being of China's residents. Data from the World Health Organization(WHO) in 2020 revealed that gastric cancer in China notably accounted for 44.0% of new cases worldwide and 48.6% of global deaths attributed to this malignancy~1.

Innate IgM antibodies to mannose in patients with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer(GC) remains one of the most common lethal diseases. Every year, about 1 million people fall ill and almost 800 thousand people die worldwide~1. Surgical treatment has reached its limit. The current advances in immunology and detection of epidermal growth factor molecules(EGFR) in gastric cancer cells allowed to improve the treatment results;however, the metastatic form of this disease is still incurable.

Success rate of current human-derived gastric cancer organoids establishment and influencing factors:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Human-derived gastric cancer organoids(GCOs)are widely used in gastric cancer research;however,the culture success rate is generally low.AIM To explore the potential influencing factors,and the literature on successful culture rates of GCOs was reviewed using meta-analysis.METHODS PubMed,Web of Science,and EMBASE were searched for studies.Two trained researchers selected the studies and extracted data.STATA 17.0 software was used for meta-analysis of the incidence of each outcome event.The adjusted Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies.Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to detect publication bias.Subgroup analyses were conducted for sex,tissue source,histo-logical classification,and the pathological tumor-node-metastasis(pTNM)cancer staging system.RESULTS Eight studies with a pooled success rate of 66.6%were included.GCOs derived from women and men had success rates of 67%and 46.7%,respectively.GCOs from surgery or biopsy/endoscopic submucosal dissection showed success rates of 70.9%and 53.7%,respectively.GCOs of poorly-differentiated,moderately-differentiated and signet-ring cell cancer showed success rates of 64.6%,31%,and 32.7%,respectively.GCOs with pTNM stages I-II and III-IV showed success rates of 38.3%and 65.2%,respectively.Y-27632 and non-Y-27632 use showed success rates of 58.2%and 70%,respectively.GCOs generated with collagenase were more successful than those constructed with Liberase TH and TrypLE(72.1%vs 71%,respectively).EDTA digestion showed a 50%lower success rate than other methods(P=0.04).CONCLUSION GCO establishment rate is low and varies by sex,tissue source,histological type,and pTNM stage.Omitting Y-27632,and using Liberase TH,TrypLE,or collagenase yields greater success than EDTA.

Dual primary gastric and colorectal cancer:The known hereditary causes and underlying mechanisms

In this editorial,I commented on the paper by Lin et al,published in this issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology.The work aimed at analysing the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of synchronous and metachronous cancers in patients with dual primary gastric and colorectal cancer(CRC).The authors concluded the necessity for regular surveillance for metachronous cancer during postoperative follow-up and reported the prognosis is influenced by the gastric cancer(GC)stage rather than the CRC stage.Although surveillance was recommended in the conclusion,the authors did not explore this area in their study and did not include tests used for such surveillance.This editorial focuses on the most characterized gastrointestinal cancer susceptibility syndromes concerning dual gastric and CRCs.These include hereditary diffuse GC,familial adenomatous polyposis,hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer,Lynch syndrome,and three major hamartomatous polyposis syndromes associated with CRC and GC,namely Peutz-Jeghers syndrome,juvenile polyposis syndrome,and PTEN hamartoma syndrome.Careful assessment of these syndromes/conditions,including inheritance,risk of gastric and colorectal or other cancer development,genetic mutations and recommended genetic investigations,is crucial for optimum management of these patients.