Ferroptosis biomarkers predict tumor mutation burden's impact on prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND Ferroptosis has recently been associated with multiple degenerative diseases.Ferroptosis induction in cancer cells is a feasible method for treating neoplastic diseases.However,the association of iron proliferation-related genes with prognosis in HER2+breast cancer(BC)patients is unclear.AIM To identify and evaluate fresh ferroptosis-related biomarkers for HER2+BC.METHODS First,we obtained the mRNA expression profiles and clinical information of HER2+BC patients from the TCGA and METABRIC public databases.A four gene prediction model comprising PROM2,SLC7A11,FANCD2,and FH was subsequently developed in the TCGA cohort and confirmed in the METABRIC cohort.Patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on their median risk score,an independent predictor of overall survival(OS).Based on these findings,immune infiltration,mutations,and medication sensitivity were analyzed in various risk groupings.Additionally,we assessed patient prognosis by combining the tumor mutation burden(TMB)with risk score.Finally,we evaluated the expression of critical genes by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)data from malignant vs normal epithelial cells.RESULTS We found that the higher the risk score was,the worse the prognosis was(P<0.05).We also found that the immune cell infiltration,mutation,and drug sensitivity were different between the different risk groups.The highrisk subgroup was associated with lower immune scores and high TMB.Moreover,we found that the combination of the TMB and risk score could stratify patients into three groups with distinct prognoses.HRisk-HTMB patients had the worst prognosis,whereas LRisk-LTMB patients had the best prognosis(P<0.0001).Analysis of the scRNAseq data showed that PROM2,SLC7A11,and FANCD2 were significantly differentially expressed,whereas FH was not,suggesting that these genes are expressed mainly in cancer epithelial cells(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Our model helps guide the prognosis of HER2+breast cancer patients,and its combination with the TMB can aid in more accurate assessment of patient prognosis and provide new ideas for further diagnosis and treatment.

Circulating tumor cells as prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Oncology.Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality and has the lowest survival rate among all solid cancers.It causes 227000 deaths annually worldwide,and the 5-year survival rate is very low due to early metastasis,which is 4.6%.Cancer survival increases with better knowledge of risk factors and early and accurate diagnosis.Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)are tumor cells that intravasate from the primary tumor or metastasis foci into the peripheral blood circulation system spontan-eously or during surgical operations.Detection of CTC in blood is promising for early diagnosis.In addition,studies have associated high CTC levels with a more advanced stage,and more intensive treatments should be considered in cases with high CTC.In tumors that are considered radiologically resectable,it may be of critical importance in detecting occult metastases and preventing unnecessary surgeries.

Sharpie marker在试管上标记对荧光PCR检测Ct值的影响

为了探明Sharpie marker在试管上标记对荧光PCR检测Ct值的影响,本试验模拟现实工作中可能遇到的各类情形,从Sharpie marker标记试管的各种方式,以对照组、全黑管、管壁全黑管、管壁和盖半黑管、管壁半黑管、盖半黑管和盖全黑管等为对象,通过荧光PCR检测,比较分析Ct值。结果显示,全黑管和盖全黑管对Ct值的影响最大,管壁和盖半黑管与盖半黑管对Ct值的影响较大,而管壁全黑管和管壁半黑管对反应Ct值没有影响。本研究为正确使用Sharpie marker,确保荧光PCR检测结果的准确提供了参考。

牛膝化学成分和药理作用研究进展及其质量标志物(Q-Marker)预测分析

牛膝在《神农本草经》中被列为上品,近几年研究证实牛膝的化学成分主要包括甾体、三萜皂苷、多糖、挥发油等化合物,具有抗炎镇痛、调节免疫、抗骨质疏松、保护心血管等药效。本文从牛膝的植物亲缘性,牛膝特有性、有效性、可测性化学成分和炮制后化学成分等方面,对牛膝的质量标志物(quality marker,Q-Marker)进行预测分析,牛膝甾酮A、25 S-牛膝甾酮、25 R-牛膝甾酮、齐墩果酸-3-O-β-D-(6′-丁酯)-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷、齐墩果酸-3-O-β-D-(6′-甲酯)-吡喃葡萄糖醛酸苷、β-蜕皮甾酮等可作为牛膝质量标志物,为建立牛膝质量评价体系和深入研究其药理作用提供依据。

Efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with thalidomide and S-1 for esophageal carcinoma and its influence on serum tumor markers

BACKGROUND Although the current conventional treatment strategies for esophageal carcinoma(EC)have been proven effective,they are often accompanied by serious adverse events.Therefore,it is still necessary to continue to explore new therapeutic strategies for EC to improve the clinical outcome of patients.AIM To elucidate the clinical efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT)with thalidomide(THAL)and S-1(tegafur,gimeracil,and oteracil potassium capsules)in the treatment of EC as well as its influence on serum tumor markers(STMs).METHODS First,62 patients with EC treated at the Zibo 148 Hospital between November 2019 and November 2022 were selected and grouped according to the received treatment.Among these,30 patients undergoing CCRT with cis-platinum and 5-fluorouracil were assigned to the control group(Con),and 32 patients receiving CCRT with THAL and S-1 were assigned to the research group(Res).Second,inter-group comparisons were carried out with respect to curative efficacy,incidence of drug toxicities,STMs[carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)and macrophage inflammatory protein-3α(MIP-3α)],angiogenesis-related indicators[vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF);VEGF receptor-1(VEGFR-1);basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF);angiogenin-2(Ang-2)],and quality of life(QoL)[QoL core 30(QLQ-C30)]after one month of treatment.RESULTS The analysis showed no statistical difference in the overall response rate and disease control rate between the two patient cohorts;however,the incidences of grade I–II myelosuppression and gastrointestinal reactions were significantly lower in the Res than in the Con.Besides,the post-treatment CA125,MIP-3α,VEGF,VEGFR-1,bFGF,and Ang-2 Levels in the Res were markedly lower compared with the pre-treatment levels and the corresponding post-treatment levels in the Con.Furthermore,more evident improvements in QLQ-C30 scores from the dimensions of physical,role,emotional,and social functions were determined in the Res.CONCLUSION The above results demonstrate the effectiveness of THAL+S-1 CCRT for EC,which contributes to mild side effects and significant reduction of CA125,MIP-3α,VEGF,VEGFR-1,bFGF,and Ang-2 Levels,thus inhibiting tumors from malignant progression and enhancing patients’QoL.

土鳖虫化学成分和药理作用的研究进展及其质量标志物(Q-Marker)的预测分析

土鳖虫是我国传统中药,分布于河南、河北、江苏、湖南等地,具有破血逐瘀、续筋接骨的功效。土鳖虫中化学成分种类丰富,主要包括蛋白质及多肽类、氨基酸类、脂肪酸类、生物碱、无机元素、核苷类等。现代药理研究表明,土鳖虫具备抗凝血并防止血栓形成、调节血脂的作用,此外,还具有抗肿瘤、抗炎、增强免疫力、抗氧化等作用。近年来,土鳖虫等动物类中药在临床应用方面备受关注。本文对土鳖虫化学成分和药理作用的研究现状进行总结,在此基础上分析功效作用与化学成分之间的联系,发现蛋白质及多肽类成分与抗凝血、调血脂作用关联紧密,生物碱类成分与抗菌抗炎作用相关。并从传统功效、现代药理、化学成分可测性、中药配伍等角度预测分析其质量标志物(quality marker,Q-Marker),初步确定土鳖虫活性肽组分、纤溶活性蛋白、脂肪酸类成分、生物碱、核苷类成分等可作为其质量标志物。中药质量标志物的研究为鉴定土鳖虫的真假优劣提供依据,也为后续开发土鳖虫新剂型、制定质量标准提供理论基础。

Percutaneous microwave ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for serum tumor markers and prognostics of middle-late primary hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatic carcinoma(PHC)has an insidious onset and is usually diagnosed in the middle and late stages.Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the preferred option for treating middle-and advanced-stage PHC,it has limited efficacy in killing tumor cells and poor long-term efficacy.TACE plus percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy(PMCT)is more effective than interventional therapy alone and can improve survival time.However,there are few reports on the effects of TACE and PMCT on serum marker levels and the prognosis of patients with advanced PHC.AIM To investigate the effect of PMCT+TACE on serum tumor markers and the prognosis of middle-late PHC.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with middle-late PHC admitted to Zhongshan People’s Hospital between March 2018 and February 2021.Patients were divided into a single group(treated with TACE,n=75)and a combined group(treated with TACE+PMCT,n=75).Before and after treatment,the clinical efficacy and serum tumor marker levels[carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)]of both groups were observed.The 1-year survival rates and prognostic factors of the two groups were analyzed.RESULTS The combined group had 21 and 35 cases of complete remission(CR)and partial remission(PR),respectively.The single group had 13 and 25 cases of CR and PR,decreased,with the decrease in the combined group being more significant(P<0.05).The 1-year survival rate of the combined group(80.00%)was higher than that of the single group(60.00%)(P<0.05).The average survival time within 1 year in the combined group was 299.38±61.13 d,longer than that in the single group(214.41±72.97 d,P<0.05).COX analysis revealed that tumor diameter,tumor number,and the treatment method were prognostic factors for patients with middle-late PHC(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TACE+PMCT is effective in treating patients with mid-late PHC.It reduces the levels of tumor markers,prolongs survival,and improves prognosis.

Value of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging combined with tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors

BACKGROUND Compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasound(US),magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and serum tumor markers alone or in combination for detecting ovarian tumors.AIM To investigate the diagnostic value of US,MRI combined with tumor markers in ovarian tumors.METHODS The data of 110 patients with ovarian tumors,confirmed by surgery and pathology,were collected in our hospital from February 2018 to May 2023.The dataset included 60 cases of benign tumors and 50 cases of malignant tumors.Prior to surgery,all patients underwent preoperative US and MRI examinations,as well as serum tumor marker tests[carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125),human epididymis protein 4(HE4)].The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic performance of these three methods individually and in combination for ovarian tumors.RESULTS This study found statistically significant differences in the ultrasonic imaging characteristics between benign and malignant tumors.These differences include echo characteristics,presence or absence of a capsule,blood flow resistance index,clear tumor shape,and blood flow signal display rate(P<0.05).The apparent diffusion coefficient values of the solid and cystic parts in benign tumors were found to be higher compared to malignant tumors(P<0.05).Additionally,the time-intensity curve image features of benign and malignant tumors showed significant statistical differences(P<0.05).The levels of serum CA125 and HE4 in benign tumors were lower than those in malignant tumors(P<0.05).The combined use of US,MRI,and tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors demonstrates higher accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity compared to using each method individually(P<0.05).CONCLUSION US,MRI,and tumor markers each have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to diagnosing ovarian tumors.However,by combining these three methods,we can significantly enhance the accuracy of ovarian tumor diagnosis,enabling early detection and identification of the tumor’s nature,and providing valuable guidance for clinical treatment.

TATA-box-binding protein-associated factor 15 is a novel biomarker that promotes cell proliferation and migration in gastrointestinal stromal tumor

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST)is a common neoplasm with high rates of recurrence and metastasis,and its therapeutic efficacy is still not ideal.There is an unmet need to find new molecular therapeutic targets for GIST.TATA-boxbinding protein-associated factor 15(TAF15)contributes to the progress of various tumors,while the role and molecular mechanism of TAF15 in GIST progression are still unknown.AIM To explore new molecular therapeutic targets for GIST and understand the biological role and underlying mechanisms of TAF15 in GIST progression.METHODS Proteomic analysis was performed to explore the differentially expressed proteins in GIST.Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis were used to verify the expression level of TAF15 in GIST tissues and cell lines.Cell counting kit-8,colony formation,wound-healing and transwell assay were executed to detect the ability of TAF15 on cell proliferation,migration and invasion.A xenograft mouse model was applied to explore the role of TAF15 in the progression of GIST.Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation level and total level of RAF1,MEK and ERK1/2.RESULTS A total of 1669 proteins were identified as differentially expressed proteins with 762 upregulated and 907 downregulated in GIST.TAF15 was selected for the further study because of its important role in cell proliferation and migration.TAF15 was significantly over expressed in GIST tissues and cell lines.Overexpression of TAF15 was associated with larger tumor size and higher risk stage of GIST.TAF15 knockdown significantly inhibited the cell proliferation and migration of GIST in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo.Moreover,the inhibition of TAF15 expression significantly decreased the phosphorylation level of RAF1,MEK and ERK1/2 in GIST cells and xenograft tissues,while the total RAF1,MEK and ERK1/2 had no significant change.CONCLUSION TAF15 is over expressed in GIST tissues and cell lines.Overexpression of TAF15 was associated with a poor prognosis of GIST patients.TAF15 promotes cell proliferation and migration in GIST via the activation of the RAF1/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.Thus,TAF15 is expected to be a novel latent molecular biomarker or therapeutic target of GIST.

Wilm′s tumor gene1肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用

目的为Wilm′s tumor gene1(WT1)肽疫苗Galinpepimut-S(GPS)用于肿瘤免疫治疗的后续研究提供参考。方法采用计算机检索中国知网、PubMed等数据库自建库起至2022年12月的肿瘤免疫治疗相关文献,总结GPS在肿瘤免疫治疗中的应用现状。结果GPS能激发自身免疫系统,对WT1抗原产生强烈免疫反应而发挥抗肿瘤作用,在卵巢癌、恶性胸膜间皮瘤、急性髓系白血病、多发性骨髓瘤的治疗中均显示出较好的疗效。结论以GPS为代表的肿瘤疫苗是未来肿瘤治疗的重要方向,需进一步进行临床研究,以获取更多数据。

Serum Tumor Markers Combined with 18F-FDG PET/CT Volumetric Metabolic Parameters in the Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most fatal gynecological malignancy, and identifying reliable prognostic indicators can help guide therapeutic treatment. Various tumor marker-guided treatment regimens can considerably improve patient prognosis with a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of ovarian cancer recurrence and metastasis. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is a molecular imaging tool that provides anatomical and functional information about the tumor, and its volume-based metabolic parameters allow for quantifiable observation of ovarian cancer recurrence, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy. The combined utilization of serological and radiologic markers has been found to provide increased clinical benefit. This article reviewed the predictive value of serum tumor markers and 18F-FDG PET/CT volumetric metabolic parameters for the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Fecal Occult Blood Test and Tumor Marker Combined Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Objective:To analyze the screening effectiveness of combining the fecal occult blood test with tumor marker detection for colorectal cancer.Methods:A total of thirty patients with colorectal cancer and thirty patients with benign colon hyperplasia who received treatment from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected.These patients were assigned to the observation group and the control group,respectively.All patients in both groups underwent both fecal occult blood tests and tumor marker detection.The levels of tumor markers between the two groups were compared,the tumor marker levels in different stages were assessed within the observation group,and the positive detection rates for single detection and combined detection were compared.Results:The levels of various tumor markers in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Furthermore,as the Duke stage increased within the observation group,the levels of various tumor markers also increased(P<0.05).The positive detection rate of the combined test was notably higher than that of single detection(P<0.05).Conclusion:Combining the fecal occult blood test with tumor marker detection in colorectal cancer screening can significantly improve the overall detection rate.

Evaluating combined bevacizumab and XELOX in advanced colorectal cancer: Serum markers carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 199 analysis

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer ranks third and second among common and fatal cancers.The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC)is generally based on XELOX in clinical practice,which includes capecitabine(CAP)and oxaliplatin.Serum tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)125 and CA199 are prognostic factors for various tumors.AIM To investigate evaluating combined bevacizumab(BEV)and XELOX in advanced colorectal cancer:Serum markers CEA,CA125,CA199 analysis.METHODS In this retrospective study,a total of 94 elderly patients diagnosed with mCRC were recruited and subsequently categorized into two groups based on the distinct treatment modalities they received.The control group was treated with XELOX plus CAP(n=47),while the observation group was treated with XELOX plus CAP and BEV(n=47).Several indexes were assessed in both groups,including disease control rate(DCR),incidence of adverse effects,serum marker levels(CEA,CA125,and CA19)and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS After 9 wk of treatment,the serum levels of CEA,CA199 and CA125 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the PFS of the observation group(9.12±0.90 mo)was significantly longer than that of the control group(6.49±0.64 mo).Meanwhile,there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions and DCR between the two groups during maintenance therapy(P>0.05).CONCLUSION On the basis of XELOX treatment,the combination of BEV and CAP can reduce serum tumor marker levels and prolong PFS in patients with mCRC.

Marker Ki-67 is a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer based on two cohorts

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer(PCa)is a widespread malignancy,predominantly affecting elderly males,and current methods for diagnosis and treatment of this disease continue to fall short.The marker Ki-67(MKI67)has been previously demonstrated to correlate with the proliferation and metastasis of various cancer cells,including those of PCa.Hence,verifying the association between MKI67 and the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa,using bioinformatics databases and clinical data analysis,carries significant clinical implications.AIM To explore the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of antigens identified by MKI67 expression in PCa.METHODS For cohort 1,the efficacy of MKI67 diagnosis was evaluated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEx)databases.For cohort 2,the diagnostic and prognostic power of MKI67 expression was further validated using data from 271 patients with clinical PCa.RESULTS In cohort 1,MKI67 expression was correlated with prostate-specific antigen(PSA),Gleason Score,T stage,and N stage.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve showed a strong diagnostic ability,and the Kaplan-Meier method demonstrated that MKI67 expression was negatively associated with the progression-free interval(PFI).The time-ROC curve displayed a weak prognostic capability for MKI67 expression in PCa.In cohort 2,MKI67 expression was significantly related to the Gleason Score,T stage,and N stage;however,it was negatively associated with the PFI.The time-ROC curve revealed the stronger prognostic capability of MKI67 in patients with PCa.Multivariate COX regression analysis was performed to select risk factors,including PSA level,N stage,and MKI67 expression.A nomogram was established to predict the 3-year PFI.CONCLUSION MKI67 expression was positively associated with the Gleason Score,T stage,and N stage and showed a strong diagnostic and prognostic ability in PCa.

New roles of tumor-derived exosomes in tumor microenvironment

Throughout tumorigenesis, the co-evolution of tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment leads to the development of malignant phenotypes. Cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment(TME) plays a critical role in influencing various aspects of tumor progression, including invasion and metastasis. The release of exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle, by most cell types in the body, is an essential mediator of intercellular communication. A growing body of research indicates that tumor-derived exosomes(TDEs) significantly expedite tumor progression through multiple mechanisms, inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and macrophage polarization, enhancing angiogenesis, and aiding in the immune evasion of tumor cells. Herein, we describe the formation and characteristics of the TME, and summarize the contents of TDEs and their diverse functions in modulating tumor development. Furthermore, we explore potential applications of TDEs in tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Laparoscopic vs open surgery for gastric cancer: Assessing time, recovery, complications, and markers

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common cancers worldwide.Morbidity and mortality have increased in recent years,making it an urgent issue to address.La-paroscopic radical surgery(LRS)is a crucial method for treating patients with GC;However,its influence on tumor markers is still under investigation.The data of 194 patients treated at Chongqing University Cancer Hospital bet-ween January 2018 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients who underwent traditional open surgery and LRS were assigned to the control(n=90)and observation groups(n=104),respectively.Independent sample t-tests andχ2 tests were used to compare the two groups based on clinical efficacy,changes in tumor marker levels after treatment,clinical data,and the incidence of posto-perative complications.To investigate the association between tumor marker levels and clinical efficacy in patients with GC,three-year recurrence rates in the two groups were compared.RESULTS Patients in the observation group had a shorter duration of operation,less in-traoperative blood loss,an earlier postoperative eating time,and a shorter hospital stay than those in the control group(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the number of lymph node dissections(P>0.05).After treatment,the overall response rate in the control group was significantly lower than that in the observation group(P=0.001).Furthermore,after treatment,the levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9,cancer antigen 72-4,carcinoembryonic antigen,and cancer antigen 125 decreased significantly.The observation group also exhibited a significantly lower incidence rate of postoperative complications compared to the control group(P<0.001).Additionally,the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of three-year survival and recurrence rates(P>0.05).CONCLUSION LRS effectively treats early gastric cancer by reducing intraoperative bleeding,length of hospital stays,and postoperative complications.It also significantly lowers tumor marker levels,thus improving the short-term prognosis of the disease.

Tumor deposits in axillary adipose tissue in patients with breast cancer:Do they matter?

Tumor deposits(TDs)are defined as discrete,irregular clusters of tumor cells lying in the soft tissue adjacent to but separate from the primary tumor,and are usually found in the lymphatic drainage area of the primary tumor.By definition,no residual lymph node structure should be identified in these tumor masses.At present,TDs are mainly reported in colorectal cancer,with a few reports in gastric cancer.There are very few reports on breast cancer(BC).For TDs,current dominant theories suggest that these are the result of lymph node metastasis of the tumor with complete destruction of the lymph nodes by the tumor tissue.Even some pathologists classify a TD as two lymph node metastases for calculation.Some pathologists also believe that TDs belong to the category of disseminated metastasis.Therefore,regardless of the origin,TDs are an indicator of poor prognosis.Moreover,for BC,sentinel lymph node biopsy is generally used at present.Whether radical axillary lymph node dissection should be adopted for BC with TDs in axillary lymph nodes is still inconclusive.The present commentary of this clinical issue has certain guiding significance.It is aimed to increase the awareness of the scientific community towards this under-recognized problem in BC pathology.

CD93 serves as a potential biomarker of gastric cancer and correlates with the tumor microenvironment

BACKGROUND The tumor microenvironment(TME)plays an important role in the growth and expansion of gastric cancer(GC).Studies have identified that CD93 is involved in abnormal tumor angiogenesis,which may be related to the regulation of the TME.AIM To determine the role of CD93 in GC.METHODS Transcriptomic data of GC was investigated in a cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas.Additionally,RNA-seq data sets from Gene Expression Omnibus(GSE118916,GSE52138,GSE79973,GSE19826,and GSE84433)were applied to validate the results.We performed the immune infiltration analyses using ESTIMATE,CIBERSORT,and ssGSEA.Furthermore,weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA)was conducted to identify the immunerelated genes.RESULTS Compared to normal tissues,CD93 significantly enriched in tumor tissues(t=4.669,95%CI:0.342-0.863,P<0.001).Higher expression of CD93 was significantly associated with shorter overall survival(hazard ratio=1.62,95%CI:1.09-2.4,P=0.017),less proportion of CD8 T and activated natural killer cells in the TME(P<0.05),and lower tumor mutation burden(t=4.131,95%CI:0.721-0.256,P<0.001).Genes co-expressed with CD93 were mainly enriched in angiogenesis.Moreover,11 genes were identified with a strong relationship between CD93 and the immune microenvironment using WGCNA.CONCLUSION CD93 is a novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for GC,that is closely related to the immune infiltration in the TME.Although this retrospective study was a comprehensive analysis,the prospective cohort studies are preferred to further confirm these conclusions.

Potential and application of abortive transcripts as a novel molecular marker of cancers

Abortive transcript(AT)is a 2-19 nt long non-coding RNA that is produced in the abortive initiation stage.Abortive initiation was found to be closely related to RNA polymerase through in vitro experiments.Therefore,the distribution of AT length and the scale of abortive initiation are correlated to the promoter,discriminator,and transcription initiation sequence,and can be affected by transcription elongation factors.AT plays an important role in the occurrence and development of various diseases.Here we summarize the discovery of AT,the factors responsible for AT formation,the detection methods and biological functions of AT,to provide new clues for finding potential targets in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Tumor budding as a potential prognostic marker in determining the behavior of primary liver cancers

Hepatocellular(HCC)and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC),the most common primary tumors of the liver,are among the most important causes of cancer deaths worldwide.Because patients with primary liver tumors are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage and have high mortality,many efforts have been made to identify new markers to determine their behavior and treatment,similar to those in other solid organ tumors.Recently,morphological assessment of tumor budding(TB)has been revealed as a promising prognostic finding to predict tumor behavior and survival across several different tumor types.Currently,the TB score in colorectal cancer has been revealed as an important parameter in pathology report protocols to determine the course of the disease.Regarding the liver,despite enormous data showing that many mechanisms involved in TB are associated with tumor behavior in both HCC and ICC,studies focusing on the role of TB in predicting the behavior and prognosis of these tumors have started to be investigated very recently.The purpose of this review is to present data about TB in primary tumors of the liver,pointing out the potential role of this parameter in determining the course of the disease,and emphasize the need to increase the number of further studies focusing on the evaluation of this parameter with an overview of the mechanisms involved in TB.