Clinical analysis of secondary penile cancer:a case series at a tertiary referral center in China

Dear Editor,Secondary penile cancer is an extremely rare condition that refers to the metastasis of other malignancies to the penis.There are limited reports on secondary penile cancer in Asian populations,and perceptions about this disease are extremely scarce.We reviewed and analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with secondary penile cancer based on the pathological findings at Peking University First Hospital in Beijing,China,aiming to expand the clinical reference for this rare disease.

An accurate diagnostic approach for urothelial carcinomas based on novel dual methylated DNA markers in small-volume urine

Diagnostic methods for urothelial carcinomas(UCs)are often invasive or have suboptimal accuracy.Methylation of exfoliated cell DNA or cell-free DNA in urine has shown great promise in the diagnosis of UCs.However,most current studies have focused on bladder cancer(BCa),and only a few high-plex methylated DNA panels based on large-volume urine have been reported to exhibit both high sensitivity and specificity.[1,2]The purpose of this study was to identify universal biomarkers for BCa and upper tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC)using a small volume of urine.We developed a dual-target diagnostic panel comprising the novel marker AL021918.2 and the well-known BCa biomarker Vimentin(VIM).This panel can accurately detect UCs using only 1.8 mL of full-voided urine.

Proteomic analysis and miRNA profiling of human testicular endothelial cell-derived exosomes:the potential effects on spermatogenesis

Testicular endothelial cells have been found to play an important role in spermatogenesis and fertility,but their mechanism is obscure.Exosomes released by various cells are recognized as cell–cell communication mediators during the initiation and progression of many diseases.Therefore,the current study aimed to investigate the protein and miRNA components of human testicular endothelial cell-derived exosomes(HTEC-Exos)and to explore their potential effects on spermatogenesis.In this study,HTEC-Exos were first isolated by the ultracentrifugation method,and then identified by nanoparticle tracking analysis,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and western blotting.The characteristics of HTEC-Exos were examined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and microRNA(miRNA)chip analysis.Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the potential role of the exosomal content on spermatogenesis.A total of 945 proteins were identified,11 of which were closely related to spermatogenesis.A total of 2578 miRNAs were identified.Among them,30 miRNAs demonstrated potential associations with male reproductive disorders,such as azoospermia,and spermatogenesis disorders.In particular,11 out of these 30 miRNAs have been proven to be involved in spermatogenesis based on available evidence.This study provides a global view of the proteins and miRNAs from HTEC-Exos,suggesting that HTEC-Exos may function as potential effectors during the process of spermatogenesis.