Intracranial malignant solitary fibrous tumor metastasized to the chest wall:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Solitary fibrous tumor(SFT)is a rare fibroblastic mesenchymal neoplasm that affects spindle cell soft tissues with broad-spectrum biological behavior;it is predominantly benign,and rarely metastasizes.SFT occurs mainly in the tissue structure of the serosa in the pleura and the thorax,and can be found throughout the body,though extra-thoracic localization,including the cephalic region,is uncommon.We reported the first case of intracranial malignant SFT metastasized to the chest wall.CASE SUMMARY An 81-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital due to progressive gait disturbance and appetite loss.His medical history included partial resection due to brain tumor,four times,and 50-Gray radiation therapy at another hospital,starting when he was 74 years old.An unenhanced head computed tomography(CT)scan revealed an 8 cm×5.1 cm×6.5 cm mixed-density mass at the left frontal lobe,accompanying a midline shift,and an unenhanced chest-abdomen CT scan revealed a 6 cm×4.1 cm×6.5 cm low-density mass in the left chest wall.A CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was performed,and the pathological findings were SFT corresponding to brain tumor.Finally,the correct diagnosis of his brain tumor in history of past illness revealed to be SFT,and the unremovable tumor,namely present brain lesions enlarged and metastasized to the chest wall.We established a definitive diagnosis of intracranial malignant SFT metastasized to the chest wall.We notified him and his family of the disease,and offered palliative care.He passed away on the 29 th hospital day.CONCLUSION This case suggests the need for careful,detailed examination,and careful followup when encountering patients presenting with a mass.

EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY ON METASTASIZED LYMPH NODES IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA

Objective To investigate the effect and clinical value of preoperative chemotherapy on the treatment of metastasized lymph nodes in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods We studied the pathological results of primary lesions and lymph nodes of 97 patients with advanced esophageal cancer between 1996 and 1999,62 patients were treated by preoperative chemotherapy and 35 patients were treated by surgery only. Results The metas- tasized rate and degree of mediastinum in preoperative group were 16.1% and 4.7% ,whereas 65.7% and 34.2% in the surgery only group (P<0.05) ;That of abdomen in preoperative group were 25.8% and 6.6% ,whereas 48.6% and 12.0% in the surgery only group (P<0.05). Conclusion Preparative chemotherapy is effective not only against the primary lesions but also the metastasized lymph nodes. The lower complete response rate of the metastasized lymph may account for the unsatisfied long-term results. Whole resection of primary lesions and lymph nodes are still very important for a better prognosis even for patients who have a good response for the preoperative chemotherapy.

Ductal breast carcinoma metastasized to the rectum: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal(GI)metastasis from breast cancer(BC)is rarely encountered in clinical practice.Nonspecific symptoms and long intervals make early diagnosis difficult.Therefore,increased awareness of GI metastasis secondary to BC and a deep understanding of the clinical and pathological features,and intervention for GI metastasis are fundamental to avoid delay in correct diagnosis and management.CASE SUMMARY The present report discusses the case of a Chinese female patient aged 36 years.The patient presented with difficult defecation along with bloody stools and hypogastralgia.In 2015,she had undergone right modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection in another hospital to treat the infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma pT1N1M0.The presenting symptoms were investigated by colonoscopy,which indicated a circumferential stricture in the lower rectum at 3 cm from the anal edge.Further investigation with positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed an uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose within the distal rectum as well as in the left acetabulum.The samples from laparoscopic exploration were biopsied,which revealed metastases of BC.Immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor confirmed that the patient had rectal metastasis of infiltrating ductal BC.CONCLUSION Rectal metastasis should be considered when patients with a history of BC present with changed bowel habits.

Liver transplantation as an alternative for the treatment of non-resectable liver colorectal cancer: Advancing the therapeutic algorithm

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancerrelated mortality,with nearly half of the affected patients developing liver metastases.For three decades,liver resection(LR)has been the primary curative strategy,yet its applicability is limited to about 20%of cases.Liver transplantation(LT)for unresectable metastases was attempted unsuccessfully in the 1990s,with high rates of perioperative death and recurrence.There is now more interest in this strategy due to improvements in systemic therapies and surgical techniques.A significant study conducted by the Oslo group showed that patients receiving liver transplants had a 60%chance of survival after five years.Significantly better results have been achieved by using advanced imaging for risk stratification and further refining selection criteria,especially in the Norvegian SECA trials.This review carefully charts the development and history of LT as a treatment option for colorectal cancer liver metastases.The revolutionary path from the early days of exploratory surgery to the current situation of cautious optimism is traced,highlighting the critical clinical developments and improved patient selection standards that have made LT a potentially curative treatment for such challenging very well selected cases.

Liver transplantation as an alternative for the treatment of neuroendocrine liver metastasis: Appraisal of the current evidence

Background:Liver transplantation(LT)for neuroendocrine liver metastases(NELM)is still in debate.Studies comparing LT with liver resection(LR)for NELM are scarce,as patient selection is heterogeneous and experience is limited.The goal of this review was to provide a critical analysis of the evidence on LT versus LR in the treatment of NELM.Data sources:A scoping literature search on LT and LR for NELM was performed with PubMed,including English articles up to March 2023.Results:International guidelines recommend LR for NELM in resectable,well-differentiated tumors in the absence of extrahepatic metastatic disease with superior results of LR compared to systemic or liver-directed therapies.Advanced liver surgery has extended resectability criteria whilst entailing increased perioperative risk and short disease-free survival.In highly selected patients(based on the Milan criteria)with unresectable NELM,oncologic results of LT are promising.Prognostic factors include tumor biology(G1/G2)and burden,waiting time for LT,patient age and extrahepatic spread.Based on low-level evi-dence,LT for low-grade NELM within the Milan criteria resulted in improved disease-free survival and overall survival compared to LR.The benefits of LT were lost in patients beyond the Milan NELM-criteria.Conclusions:With adherence to strict selection criteria especially tumor biology,LT for NELM is becoming a valuable option providing oncologic benefits compared to LR.Recent evidence suggests even stricter selection criteria with regard to tumor biology.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and musculoskeletal system: A narrative literature review

Musculoskeletal alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)are less common than liver-related complications.However,they can significantly impact the quality of life and overall prognosis of patients with HCC.The main obstacle in the clinical assessment of HCC-induced musculoskeletal alterations is related to effective and timely diagnosis because these complications are often asym-ptomatic and unapparent during routine clinical evaluations.This narrative literature review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the contem-porary literature related to the changes in the musculoskeletal system in patients with HCC,focusing on its clinical implications and underlying etiopathogenetic mechanisms.Osteolytic bone metastases are the most common skeletal alterations associated with HCC,which could be associated with an increased risk of low-trauma bone fracture.Moreover,previous studies reported that osteopenia,sarcopenia,and myosteatosis are associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with HCC.Even though low bone mineral density and sarcopenia are consistently reported as reliable predictors of pretransplantation and post-transplantation mortality in HCC patients,these complications are frequently overlooked in the clinical management of patients with HCC.Taken together,contemporary literature suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is essential for early recognition and clinical management of HCC-associated musculoskeletal alterations to improve patient prognosis.Further research into the mechanisms and treatment options for musculoskeletal complications is warranted to enhance our understanding and clinical management of this aspect of HCC.

Colorectal cancer and dormant metastases:Put to sleep or destroy?

After reading the review by An et al“Biological factors driving colorectal cancer metastasis”,which covers the problem of the metastasis of colorectal cancer(CRC),I had a desire to discuss with readers one of the exciting problems associated with dormant metastases.Most deaths from CRCs are caused by metastases,which can be detected both at diagnosis of the primary tumor and several years or even decades after treatment.This is because tumor cells that enter the bloodstream can be destroyed by the immune system,cause metastatic growth,or remain dormant for a long time.Dormant tumor cells may not manifest themselves throughout a person’s life or,after some time and under appropriate conditions,may give rise to the growth of metastases.In this editorial,we will discuss the most important features of dormant metastases and the mechanisms of premetastatic niche formation,as well as factors that contribute to the activation of dormant metastases in CRCs.We will pay special attention to the possible mechanisms involved in the formation of circulating tumor cell complexes and the choice of therapeutic strategies that promote the dormancy or destruction of tumor cells in CRCs.

Incidence,Risk Factors,and Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Brain Metastases

Objective Brain metastases significantly impact the clinical course of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This study aimed to examine the age-related incidence,demographics,and survival of patients with HCC and brain metastases.Methods Data of HCC patients from 2010 to 2015 in the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)Registry were screened for the presence of brain metastases.They were stratified by age and ethnicity.Multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with brain metastases and those with overall survival(OS)and liver cancer-specific survival(CSS),respectively.Results A total of 141 HCC patients presenting with brain metastases were identified,accounting for 0.35% of all HCC patients and 2.37% of patients with metastatic disease.Among all HCC patients,the incidence rate was the highest among patients aged 30-49 years old(0.47%).Ethnicity was not associated with the presence of brain metastases at the time of HCC diagnosis.However,African-American patients presented with a significantly lower disease-specific survival[median time:1 month;interquartile range(IQR):0-3.0 months].Initial lung or bone metastasis was independently associated with an increased risk of the presence of brain metastases[odds ratio(OR):12.62,95% confidence interval(CI):8.40-18.97]but was not associated with a worse OS or CSS among those with brain metastases.Conclusion This study identified the age-related incidence and risk factors of brain metastases in HCC patients.These results may contribute to the consideration of brain screening among patients with initial metastatic HCC with lung or bone metastases,and influence the counseling of this patient population regarding their prognosis.

Risk stratification for radioactive iodine refractoriness using molecular alterations in distant metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer

Objective: Patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(RAIR-DTC) are often diagnosed with delay and constrained to limited treatment options. The correlation between RAI refractoriness and the underlying genetic characteristics has not been extensively studied.Methods: Adult patients with distant metastatic DTC were enrolled and assigned to undergo next-generation sequencing of a customized 26-gene panel(Thyro Lead). Patients were classified into RAIR-DTC or non-RAIR groups to determine the differences in clinicopathological and molecular characteristics. Molecular risk stratification(MRS) was constructed based on the association between molecular alterations identified and RAI refractoriness, and the results were classified as high, intermediate or low MRS.Results: A total of 220 patients with distant metastases were included, 63.2% of whom were identified as RAIRDTC. Genetic alterations were identified in 90% of all the patients, with BRAF(59.7% vs. 17.3%), TERT promoter(43.9% vs. 7.4%), and TP53 mutations(11.5% vs. 3.7%) being more prevalent in the RAIR-DTC group than in the non-RAIR group, except for RET fusions(15.8% vs. 39.5%), which had the opposite pattern. BRAF and TERT promoter are independent predictors of RAIR-DTC, accounting for 67.6% of patients with RAIR-DTC. MRS was strongly associated with RAI refractoriness(P<0.001), with an odds ratio(OR) of high to low MRS of 7.52 [95%confidence interval(95% CI), 3.96-14.28;P<0.001] and an OR of intermediate to low MRS of 3.20(95% CI,1.01-10.14;P=0.041).Conclusions: Molecular alterations were associated with RAI refractoriness, with BRAF and TERT promoter mutations being the predominant contributors, followed by TP53 and DICER1 mutations. MRS might serve as a valuable tool for both prognosticating clinical outcomes and directing precision-based therapeutic interventions.

Complementary comments on metastatic liver lesions with exceptional and rare cases

Liver metastases can appear in different forms in magnetic resonance imaging.Contrary to popular belief,while radiologists report hypovascular or hypervascular metastatic lesions,exceptional examples may be detected in various tumors.The aim of this article is to improve this review by presenting rare and atypical examples of liver metastasis,as well as cases that might potentially be misdiagnosed as metastases during the process of differential diagnosis.

Mapping the metabolic responses to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with in vivo spatiotemporal metabolomics

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves the survival outlook for patients undergoing operations for lung metastases caused by colorectal cancer (CRC). However, a multidisciplinary approach that evaluates several factors related to patient and tumor characteristics is necessary for managing chemotherapy treatment in metastatic CRC patients with lung disease, as such factors dictate the timing and drug regimen, which may affect treatment response and prognosis. In this study, we explore the potential of spatial metabolomics for evaluating metabolic phenotypes and therapy outcomes during the local delivery of the anticancer drug, oxaliplatin, to the lung. 12 male Yorkshire pigs underwent a 3 h left lung in vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) with various doses of oxaliplatin (7.5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L), which were administered to the perfusion circuit reservoir as a bolus. Biocompatible solid-phase microextraction (SPME) microprobes were combined with global metabolite profiling to obtain spatiotemporal information about the activity of the drug, determine toxic doses that exceed therapeutic efficacy, and conduct a mechanistic exploration of associated lung injury. Mild and subclinical lung injury was observed at 40 mg/L of oxaliplatin, and significant compromise of the hemodynamic lung function was found at 80 mg/L. This result was associated with massive alterations in metabolic patterns of lung tissue and perfusate, resulting in a total of 139 discriminant compounds. Uncontrolled inflammatory response, abnormalities in energy metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction next to accelerated kynurenine and aldosterone production were recognized as distinct features of dysregulated metabolipidome. Spatial pharmacometabolomics may be a promising tool for identifying pathological responses to chemotherapy.

Diagnostic challenges and individualized treatment of cervical adenocarcinoma metastases to the breast:A case report

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is a rare primary tumor resulting in metastases to the breast with few cases reported in literature.Breast metastases are associated with poor prognosis.The following case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with metastatic cervical cancer to the breast along with individualized treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old G7P5025 with no significant past medical or surgical history presented with heavy vaginal to an outside emergency department where an exam and a pelvic magnetic resonance imaging showed a 4.5 cm heterogenous lobulated cervical mass involving upper two thirds of vagina,parametria and lymph node metastases.Cervical biopsies confirmed high grade adenocarcinoma with mucinous features.A positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT)did not show evidence of metastatic disease.She received concurrent cisplatin with external beam radiation therapy.Follow up PET/CT scan three months later showed no suspicious fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the cervix and no evidence of metastatic disease.Patient was lost to follow up for six months.She was re-imaged on re-presentation and found to have widely metastatic disease including breast disease.Breast biopsy confirmed programmed death-ligand 1 positive metastatic cervical cancer.The patient received six cycles of carboplatin and paclitaxel with pembrolizumab.Restaging imaging demonstrated response.Patient continued on pembrolizumab with disease control.CONCLUSION Metastatic cervical cancer to the breast is uncommon with nonspecific clinical findings that can make diagnosis challenging.Clinical history and immunohistochemical evaluation of breast lesion,and comparison to primary tumor can support diagnosis of metastatic cervical cancer to the breast.Overall,the prognosis is poor,but immunotherapy can be considered in select patients and may result in good disease response.

Stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer with multiple metastases to the small intestine leading to intussusception: A case report

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal tract metastasis from lung cancer is rare and compared to small cell lung cancer(SCLC),non-SCLC(NSCLC)is even less likely to metastasize in this manner.Additionally,small intestinal tumors can also present with diverse complications,some of which require urgent intervention.CASE SUMMARY In this report,we detail a unique case of stage IV lung cancer,where the presence of small intestine tumors led to intussusception.Subsequent to a small intestine resection,pathology confirmed that all three tumors within the small intestine were metastases from adenocarcinoma of the lung.The postoperative follow-up period extended beyond 14 mo.CONCLUSION In patients with stage IV NSCLC,local tumor control can be achieved with various treatments.However,if small intestinal metastasis occurs,surgical intervention remains necessary,as it may improve survival.

Effect of magnetic resonance imaging in liver metastases

This letter to the editor is a commentary on a study titled"Liver metastases:The role of magnetic resonance imaging."Exploring a noninvasive imaging evaluation system for the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the key to achieving precise diagnosis and treatment and improving prognosis.This review summarizes the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and evaluation of liver metastases,describes its main imaging features,and focuses on the added value of the latest imaging tools(such as T1 weighted in phase imaging,T1 weighted out of phase imaging;diffusion-weighted imaging,T2 weighted imaging).In this study,I investigated the necessity and benefits of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid for HCC diagnostic testing and prognostic evaluation.

Establishment and evaluation of a prognostic model for patients with unresectable gastric cancer liver metastases

BACKGROUND Liver metastases(LM)is the primary factor contributing to unfavorable outcomes in patients diagnosed with gastric cancer(GC).The objective of this study is to analyze significant prognostic risk factors for patients with GCLM and develop a reliable nomogram model that can accurately predict individualized prognosis,thereby enhancing the ability to evaluate patient outcomes.AIM To analyze prognostic risk factors for GCLM and develop a reliable nomogram model to accurately predict individualized prognosis,thereby enhancing patient outcome assessment.METHODS Retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data pertaining to GCLM(type III),admitted to the Department of General Surgery across multiple centers of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2010 to January 2018.The dataset was divided into a development cohort and validation cohort in a ratio of 2:1.In the development cohort,we utilized univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify independent risk factors associated with overall survival in GCLM patients.Subsequently,we established a prediction model based on these findings and evaluated its performance using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis,calibration curves,and clinical decision curves.A nomogram was created to visually represent the prediction model,which was then externally validated using the validation cohort.RESULTS A total of 372 patients were included in this study,comprising 248 individuals in the development cohort and 124 individuals in the validation cohort.Based on Cox analysis results,our final prediction model incorporated five independent risk factors including albumin levels,primary tumor size,presence of extrahepatic metastases,surgical treatment status,and chemotherapy administration.The 1-,3-,and 5-years Area Under the Curve values in the development cohort are 0.753,0.859,and 0.909,respectively;whereas in the validation cohort,they are observed to be 0.772,0.848,and 0.923.Furthermore,the calibration curves demonstrated excellent consistency between observed values and actual values.Finally,the decision curve analysis curve indicated substantial net clinical benefit.CONCLUSION Our study identified significant prognostic risk factors for GCLM and developed a reliable nomogram model,demonstrating promising predictive accuracy and potential clinical benefit in evaluating patient outcomes.

Tumour response following preoperative chemotherapy is affected by body mass index in patients with colorectal liver metastases

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy globally and ranks second in cancer-related mortality,with the liver being the primary organ of metastasis.Preoperative chemotherapy is widely recommended for initially or potentially resectable colorectal liver metastases(CRLMs).Tumour pathological response serves as the most important and intuitive indicator for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy.However,the postoperative pathological results reveal that a considerable number of patients exhibit a poor response to preoperative chemotherapy.Body mass index(BMI)is one of the factors affecting the tumori-genesis and progression of colorectal cancer as well as prognosis after various antitumour therapies.Several studies have indicated that overweight and obese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer experience worse prognoses than those with normal weight,particularly when receiving first-line chemotherapy regimens in combination with bevacizumab.AIM To explore the predictive value of BMI regarding the pathologic response following preoperative chemotherapy for CRLMs.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed in 126 consecutive patients with CRLM who underwent hepatectomy following preoperative chemotherapy at four different hospitals from October 2019 to July 2023.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to analyse potential predictors of tumour pathological response.The Kaplan-Meier method with log rank test was used to compare progression-free survival(PFS)between patients with high and low BMI.BMI<24.0 kg/m^(2) was defined as low BMI,and tumour regression grade 1-2 was defined as complete tumour response.RESULTS Low BMI was observed in 74(58.7%)patients and complete tumour response was found in 27(21.4%)patients.The rate of complete tumour response was significantly higher in patients with low BMI(29.7%vs 9.6%,P=0.007).Multivariate analysis revealed that low BMI[odds ratio(OR)=4.56,95%confidence interval(CI):1.42-14.63,P=0.011],targeted therapy with bevacizumab(OR=3.02,95%CI:1.10-8.33,P=0.033),preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level<10 ng/mL(OR=3.84,95%CI:1.19-12.44,P=0.025)and severe sinusoidal dilatation(OR=0.17,95%CI:0.03-0.90,P=0.037)were independent predictive factors for complete tumour response.The low BMI group exhibited a significantly longer median PFS than the high BMI group(10.7 mo vs 4.7 mo,P=0.011).CONCLUSION In CRLM patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy,a low BMI may be associated with better tumour response and longer PFS.

Endobronchial metastasis secondary to renal clear cell carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Endobronchial metastases(EBMs)are tumours that metastasise from a malignant tumour outside the lungs to the central and subsegmental bronchi,and are visible under a bronchofibrescope.Most EBMs are formed by direct invasion or metastasis of intrathoracic malignant tumours,such as lung cancer,oesophageal cancer or mediastinum tumours.Renal cell carcinoma(RCC),accounting for 2%to 3%of all tumours,is a common malignant tumour of the urinary system.Renal clear cell carcinoma(RCCC)constitutes the predominant pathological subtype of RCC,comprising approximately 70%to 80%of all RCC cases.RCCC can spread and metastasise through arterial,venous and lymphatic circulation to almost all organs of the body.Moreover,lung,bone,liver,brain and local recurrence are the most common metastatic neoplasms of RCCC.However,EBM from RCCC has a low complication rate and is often misdiagnosed as primary lung cancer.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old male patient who had undergone radical left nephrectomy 7 years prior due to RCCC was referred to our hospital due to a 1-mo history of productive cough.The results of an enhanced chest CT scan indicated the presence of a soft tissue nodule in the upper lobe of the left lung,and flexible bronchoscopy revealed a hypervascular lesion in the bronchus of the left lung's superior lobe.Therefore,the patient underwent thoracoscopic left superior lobe wedge resection,and pathology confirmed EBM from the RCCC.CONCLUSION EBM from RCCC has a low incidence and no characteristic clinical manifestations in the early stage.If a bronchial tumour is found in a patient with RCCC,the possibility of bronchial metastatic cancer should be considered.

Retrospective Study Immune function status of postoperative patients with colon cancer for predicting liver metastasis

BACKGROUND Colon cancer(CC)has a high incidence rate.Radical resection is the main treatment method for CC;however,liver metastasis(LM)often occurs post-surgery.The liver contains both innate and adaptive immune cells that monitor and remove abnormal cells and pathogens.Before LM,tumor cells secrete cytokines and exosomes to adjust the immune microenvironment of the liver,thus forming an inhibitory immune microenvironment for colonization by circulating tumor cells.This indicates that the immune state of patients with CC plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of LM.AIM To observe and analyze the relationship between immune status and expression of tumor factors in patients with LM of CC,and to provide a scientific interven-tion method for promoting the patient prognosis.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed.The baseline data of 100 patients with CC and 100 patients with CC who suffered from postoperative LM and were admitted to our hospital from May 2021 to May 2023 were included in the non-occurrence and occurrence groups,respectively.The immune status of the pa-tients and the expression of tumor factor-related indicators in the two groups were compared,and the predictive value of the indicators for postoperative LM in patients with CC was analyzed.RESULTS Compared with the non-occurrence group,the expression of serum carcinoem-bryonic antigen(CEA),CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and CA50 in patients in the occurrence group were significantly higher,while the expression of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,natural killer(NK)and CD4+/CD25 in patients in the occurrence group were significantly lower(P<0.05).No significant difference was observed in other baseline data between groups(P>0.05).Multivariate logistic regression model analysis revealed that the expressions of CEA,CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4,CA50,CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,NK,and CD4+/CD25 were associated with the LM in patients with CC.High expressions of serum CEA,CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4 and CA50,and low expressions of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,NK,and CD4+/CD25 in patients with CC were risk factors for LM(OR>1,P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under curve for CEA,CA19-9,CA242,CA72-4,CA50,CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,NK,and CD4+/CD25 in the prediction of LM in patients with CC were all>0.80,with a high predictive value.CONCLUSION The expression of tumor factors and immune state-related indices in patients with CC is closely associated with the occurrence of LM.

Molecular targets and mechanisms of different aberrant alternative splicing in metastatic liver cancer

Metastasis remains a major challenge in the successful management of malignant diseases.The liver is a major site of metastatic disease and a leading cause of death from gastrointestinal malignancies such as colon,stomach,and pancreatic cancers,as well as melanoma,breast cancer,and sarcoma.As an important factor that influences the development of metastatic liver cancer,alternative splicing drives the diversity of RNA transcripts and protein subtypes,which may provide potential to broaden the target space.In particular,the dysfunction of splicing factors and abnormal expression of splicing variants are associated with the occurrence,progression,aggressiveness,and drug resistance of cancers caused by the selective splicing of specific genes.This review is the first to provide a detailed summary of the normal splicing process and alterations that occur during metastatic liver cancer.It will cover the role of alternative splicing in the mechanisms of metastatic liver cancer by examining splicing factor changes,abnormal splicing,and the contribution of hypoxia to these changes during metastasis.

Erdafitinib and checkpoint inhibitors for first-line and second-line immunotherapy of hepatic,gastrointestinal,and urinary bladder carcinomas:Recent concept

Cancer immunotherapy is administered for first-line,second-line,neoadjuvant,or adjuvant treatment of advanced,metastatic,and recurrent cancer in the liver,gastrointestinal tract,and genitourinary tract,and other solid tumors.Erdafitinib is a fibroblast growth factor receptor(FGFR)inhibitor,and it is an adenosine triphosphate competitive inhibitor of FGFR1,FGFR2,FGFR3,and FGFR4.Immune checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that block programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and its ligand that exert intrinsic antitumor mechanisms.The promising results of first-line treatment of advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma with PD-1 blockades with single or combined agents,indicate a new concept in the treatment of advanced,metastatic,and recurrent hepatic and gastrointestinal carcinomas.Cancer immunotherapy as first-line treatment will improve overall survival and provide better quality of life.Debate is arising as to whether to apply the cancer immunotherapy as first-line treatment in invasive carcinomas,or as second-line treatment in recurrent or metastatic carcinoma following the standard chemotherapy.The literature in the field is not definite,and so far,there has been no consensus on the best approach in this situation.At present,as it is described in this editorial,the decision is applied on a case-by-case basis.