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Upregulation of CircXPO1 Promotes the Progression of Gastric Cancer and May Serve as a Potential Auxiliary Biomarker for Its Diagnosis.3 days agoGastric cancer (GC) has a high incidence in China. There is a closed-loop structure in circRNAs, which is involved in various cellular biological processes such as tumor development. However, there is a lack of research on the function of circRNAs in GC. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential of circXPO1 as a diagnostic biomarker and the role of circXPO1 in the progression of GC. We screened out circXPO1 through circRNA sequencing. Using exonuclease digestion assay, agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), Sanger sequencing, and gDNA experiment, we proved that circXPO1 contained a cyclic structure. Quantitative real-time fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circXPO1 in plasma and GC tissues. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was established to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of circXPO1. The role of circXPO1 was assessed in vitro. The binding sites between circXPO1 and miRNAs were predicted by CircBank, Circinteractome, CircAtlas and miRanda databases. CircXPO1 was up-regulated in 67 GC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.0002). It was stable and hard to be degraded, which made it an ideal tumor biomarker. Compared with the patients in the normal control group, the expression level of circXPO1 in plasma was higher in GC patients (p < 0.001) and those with benign lesions (p = 0.0031) with statistically significant differences. CircXPO1 was proved to have satisfactory diagnostic efficacy in distinguishing GC patients from healthy donors (AUC = 0.813, 95% CI: 0.749-0.877). Besides, the diagnostic efficacy, sensitivity, and specificity could achieve 0.853, 78% and 86%, respectively, when circXPO1, CEA and CA199 were used together in diagnosis. In addition, in vitro experiments indicated that circXPO1 knockdown significantly weakened the proliferation, invasion and migration of GC cells. It was also predicted that circXPO1 could serve as a sponge of miR-1248 to regulate the progression of GC.CancerCare/ManagementPolicy
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Pitfalls in diagnosing neuroblastoma: a case of unusual "adrenal tumor" accumulating [123I]I -MIBG.3 days agoThe "gold standard" for neuroblastoma (NB) imaging is [¹²³I]I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine ([¹²³I]I-MIBG) scintigraphy. This article presents a case of a child with an abdominal tumor that was suspected to be neuroblastoma. At the age of 2 months, a positive [¹²³I]I-MIBG scan initially supported the diagnosis. Active surveillance was initiated, and a follow-up [¹²³I]I-MIBG study at the age of 7 months revealed no radiotracer accumulation in the tumor. Despite the imaging findings, surgery was performed, and the tumor was found to be a subdiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration. This case highlights the importance of correlating imaging findings with clinical and laboratory data to ensure an accurate diagnosis.CancerCare/Management
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[18F]FDG PET/CT revealing extensive cutaneous involvement in Sézary syndrome.3 days agoSézary syndrome is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by erythroderma and circulating malignant T cells. This study presents the case of a 31-year-old man with extensive skin involvement detected by 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT), demonstrating widespread hypermetabolic lesions across the body. In contrast to computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which may overlook subtle or millimetric cutaneous lesions, [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT accurately delineated the extent of disease and provided critical information for staging, therapeutic decision-making, and response assessment. This case underscores the clinical value of [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT in evaluating extensive cutaneous involvement in Sézary syndrome.CancerCare/Management
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Masculinity and Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review.3 days agoMasculinity has been identified as a potential influence on psychological and physical health outcomes among male cancer survivors. This systematic review synthesized quantitative research examining associations between masculinity-related constructs and survivorship outcomes, including mental health, physical functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
A systematic search of PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed was conducted through March 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they quantitatively assessed masculinity-related variables in male cancer survivors and reported associations with HRQoL, mental health, or physical health outcomes. Study quality was assessed and a narrative synthesis was conducted.
Thirty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Traditional masculine norms (e.g., self-reliance, dominance, stoicism) and cancer-related masculine threat were consistently associated with poorer mental health, lower HRQoL, and greater symptom burden. In contrast, masculine self-esteem, a positive appraisal of one's masculinity post-cancer, was linked to better psychosocial outcomes and HRQoL across samples. Most studies were cross-sectional and focused on prostate cancer survivors, often lacking demographic diversity.
Masculinity-related constructs are meaningfully associated with cancer survivorship outcomes. Future work should prioritize longitudinal designs, cultural diversity, and clinical translation to develop gender-sensitive interventions targeting masculine identity disruption and promoting adaptive self-concepts.CancerMental HealthCare/ManagementAdvocacy -
Exploring the key functions of T cells and the regulation of the immune microenvironment in prostate cancer using single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing.3 days agoThe incidence of prostate cancer continues to increase, making it the second most common malignant tumor among men worldwide. Immunotherapy has emerged as a key therapeutic strategy for treating tumors. Numerous studies have established that the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy is closely associated with the tumor microenvironment and T cell subsets. However, the specific functions of certain T cell subsets in prostate cancer remain incompletely characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically investigate the distribution patterns of T cell subsets within the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer patients and their correlations with clinicopathological parameters. Therefore, we investigated the impact of T cells on the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer at the single-cell level. We employed a variety of analytical methods to reveal the functions of T cells, including cell interaction analysis, time-series analysis, enrichment analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and other analytical approaches. By integrating bulk RNA-seq data, we constructed and validated a prognostic risk model based on T cell marker genes. Finally, we utilized the ssGSEA and ESTIMATE algorithms to explore the relationship between the prognostic risk model and immunotherapy. After quality control, 16,999 cells from the single-cell data were retained for downstream analysis. Our study focused on T cells, revealing the communication between various cell types and T cells. Pseudotime analysis showed that different T cell marker genes exhibited differential expression at various time points, corresponding to distinct biological processes. Enrichment analysis indicated that T cell marker genes were enriched in several immune-related pathways. From our analysis, BCAS2, EIF2S2, RIOK3, and ATP6V1E1 were ultimately identified as prognostic markers. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that high-risk patients had lower immune scores, stromal scores, and ESTIMATE scores and greater tumor purity compared to low-risk patients. We analyzed the mechanisms involving T cells in prostate cancer from multiple perspectives, constructed a prognostic model, and conducted immune infiltration analysis. Our findings contribute to the understanding of prostate cancer and its prognosis, providing valuable insights for future research and prognostic assessments in prostate cancer.CancerCare/ManagementPolicy
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Liquid biopsies for risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.3 days agoCancerCare/Management
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Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1 arise from distinct nodular lesions: A retrospective imaging analysis.3 days agoPeople with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an 8%-13% lifetime risk of developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Atypical neurofibromas (AN) and atypical neurofibromatous neoplasms of uncertain biologic potential (ANNUBP) have been described as precursors to MPNST. AN/ANNUBP often appear as distinct nodular lesions (DNL) that are ≥3 cm in longest diameter. To assess the hypothesis that most MPNST originate in preexisting DNL, we performed a retrospective review of MRIs obtained prior to the MPNST diagnosis in people with NF1.
Study subjects were identified at two NF centers, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. We confirmed the location of MPNST on the MRI performed at the time of histopathological diagnosis and analyzed distinguishing imaging features at the site of MPNST on prior MRIs.
Thirty subjects with NF1 and 35 histologically confirmed MPNST were included in the analysis. Twenty-six MPNST (74%) were detected incidentally on surveillance MRI. In 32 of 35 MPNST (91%), a pre-existing DNL could be detected at the site of subsequent malignancy on prior MRIs. Thirteen DNL gradually emerged within a plexiform neurofibroma (PN) during observation, and 19 DNL were already established on the first available scan. The median time from DNL detection to MPNST diagnosis was 5.1 years (range 0.5-15.7).
Most NF1-related MPNST develop from preexisting DNL. However, we cannot estimate what percentage of DNL will transform to MPNST. Assessing the risk of malignant transformation of DNL in NF1 requires prospective studies.CancerCare/Management -
Metal Nanoparticles: From Endophytic Fungi-Mediated Biosynthesis to Their Therapeutic Applications in Oncology.3 days agoMetal nanoparticles possess unique properties and usage patterns compared to traditional materials owing to their distinctive structures. In recent years, their application scenarios and dosages have considerably expanded. Biosynthetic nanoparticles, particularly those derived from endophytic fungi that help host organisms in adapting to heavy metal environments, hold substantial value and potential for application. This is largely attributed to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency. The present review provides an overview of the entire process of metal nanoparticle biosynthesis by plant endophytic fungi and illustrates various scenarios of their applications in oncology treatment. In addition to focusing on the preparation of metal nanoparticles using plant endophytic fungi, this review also explores the characterization of these nanoparticles and clarifies the synthesis mechanisms, including the synthetic pathways and the roles of fungal enzymes. It also comprehensively summarizes the application of biosynthetic metal nanoparticles in cancer, covering their role in diagnosis, enhancement of drug biocompatibility, and improvement of therapeutic efficacy. These nanoparticles exhibit toxicity toward cancer cells by generating reactive oxygen species and inducing oxidative stress, ultimately leading to the death of malignant cells. The biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles by plant endophytic fungi represents a promising, green, and environmentally friendly approach with potential applications in various fields, including cancer treatment, in the future.CancerCare/Management
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Biochemical evaluation of X-linked hypophosphatemia and tumor-induced osteomalacia: insights into diagnosis and management.3 days agoX-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) are characterized by alterations in phosphate metabolism due to elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). These conditions cause significant morbidity due to chronic hypophosphatemia and resulting musculoskeletal disorders.
This study aims to provide clinical strategies for supporting the diagnosis and management of the biochemical profile of patients with XLH and TIO, addressing key considerations beyond the hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphaturia commonly observed in these conditions and addressing the variability and limitations of current biochemical marker detection methods.
A literature search focused on studies published in the last ten years. A multidisciplinary team analyzed the data to integrate the findings into clinical best practices.
The proposed approach emphasizes correctly performing and interpreting tests for serum phosphate, phosphaturia, FGF23, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, serum calcium, and the calcium-corrected excretion rate. More standardization in screening methods is needed, which affects diagnostic accuracy and management. The recommendations include detailed protocols for patient preparation, sample collection, and interpretation of results.
The recommendations for performing biochemical screening for XLH and TIO promote better clinical practices in patient diagnosis and management. Future research should focus on validating diagnostic methods in diverse populations and standardizing biochemical tests. Multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of these patients through the close collaboration of professionals of laboratory medicine and clinical specialties would be pivotal.CancerCare/Management -
Nutritional factors and survival in a cohort of patients with myelofibrosis.3 days agoMyelofibrosis (MF) is classified among the chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms and presents unique nutritional challenges. Inflammation can trigger metabolic changes that lead to malnutrition and, ultimately, cachexia. Splenomegaly, which may occupy much of the abdomen and compress the stomach, can cause early satiety and further contribute to malnutrition. We investigated associations between nutritional parameters, clinical features, and survival in individuals with MF.
Forty-five individuals with MF (21 males, 24 females) were included and compared with a healthy control group of 351 individuals (157 males, 194 females). Body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), resting metabolic rate (RMR), and substrate oxidation (indirect calorimetry) were assessed.
The mean follow-up was 31 ± 8 months, during which seven deaths occurred. MF was associated with malnutrition; patients exhibited lower bioelectrical phase angle values and higher RMR (32.4 ± 4.2 vs. 28.5 ± 3.6 kcal/kg-fat-free mass/24 h; p < 0.001) compared with controls. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that a phase angle (PA) below the median was associated with a lower survival rate (p < 0.005). Similarly, spleen length above the median was linked to poorer survival (p < 0.05).
Nutritional factors may serve as important predictors of survival in individuals with MF and should be considered in future supportive interventions aimed at improving both survival and quality of life.CancerCare/Management