The numerous studies of the effects of intravenous anesthetics on cancer have suggested potential effects on cell migration and postoperative outcomes. This study compared the direct effects of midazolam and dexmedetomidine on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

A549 cells were exposed for 2 hr to midazolam (5, 10, 15, 20 μM), dexmedetomidine (1, 10, 100 nM), or medium alone as a naïve control. Cell viability changes were assessed with a wound healing assay, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) analysis, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK) assay. Tumor metastasis-related gene expression was assessed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and qRT-PCR. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9), and β-catenin expressions were assessed by immunofluorescence staining.

Midazolam treatments promoted cell migration and metabolism but suppressed cell proliferation, whereas D treatments promoted cell migration only and had no effect on metabolism or cell proliferation. The PCR array of cancer-related genes revealed that five genes were upregulated by midazolam treatment relative to naïve controls: Frizzled-1 (FZD1), AKT serine/threonine kinase 2 (AKT2), E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit (FOS), and tumor protein p53 (TP53). Two genes were upregulated in the dexmedetomidine group: the CRK proto-oncogene, adaptor protein (CRK) and FZD1.

These findings clarify how dexmedetomidine and midazolam treatments affect lung cancer prognoses. Our data suggest that midazolam rather than dexmedetomidine should be recommended for lung cancer surgery.

Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests have been covered by insurance in Japan since 2019, and their use in cancer genomic medicine (CGM) has expanded since then. Although extensive data are available from core hospitals, real-world data from community-based cooperative hospitals are limited.

Using data from 514 consecutive patients with advanced cancer who underwent CGP testing at our institution between June 2019 and March 2025, we investigated the proportion of cases receiving therapeutic recommendations, the rate of drug administration based on CGP test results, and the prevalence and management of presumed germline pathogenic variants (PGPVs).

The most common cancer sites were the pancreas (18.7%), breast (16.9%), bowel (14.6%), lung (12.8%), and prostate (12.5%). An expert panel made up of molecular oncologists recommended 360 targeted therapies for 311 patients (60.5% of the total cohort). Ultimately, 80 patients (15.6%) received matched therapy, among whom 56 received medication under health insurance coverage, 22 through clinical trials, and 2 via the patient-requested medical treatment system. PGPVs were identified in 68 patients (13.2%). After discussion by the expert panel, confirmatory germline testing was offered to patients with PGPVs, and subsequent germline testing confirmed pathogenic variants in 18 patients (3.5% of the total cohort).

The proportion of patients who received targeted therapy at our cooperative hospital was comparable to proportions reported from core hospitals. However, disease progression was a significant barrier to accessing targeted therapies and genetic counseling. To maximize the benefits of CGM, the timing of CGP testing must be optimized and collaboration across departments and institutions must be strengthened.

The internal oblique muscle free flap, based on the deep circumflex iliac artery, has emerged as a valuable option for oral reconstruction, due to its flexibility and the option to use it as a composite flap with iliac crest bone, for simultaneous bone and soft tissue reconstruction. However, clinical studies on the epithelialization process and factors influencing healing are limited. This retrospective study was performed to analyse the healing process in 29 patients who underwent reconstruction using internal oblique muscle free flaps following oral cancer resection at Chosun University Dental Hospital, between 2013 and 2022. Clinical photographs were evaluated to determine the times to epithelialization and surface maturation. The mean time to epithelialization was 5.6 ± 1.6 weeks, while surface maturation required 19.4 ± 10.9 weeks. Tongue defects showed the longest surface maturation period (30.3 weeks) and floor of the mouth defects the shortest (11.3 weeks), although there was no significant difference in this period between the various lesion sites. Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive relationship between time to epithelialization and time to surface maturation (r = 0.530, P = 0.003). Secondary trimming procedures were necessary in eight (27.6%) patients and significantly prolonged both epithelialization (P = 0.016) and surface maturation (P = 0.003). Age, lesion size, and other clinical variables did not significantly affect healing. The internal oblique muscle free flap demonstrated excellent outcomes with a 97.2% success rate and predictable healing patterns. This study established important healing benchmarks for patient counselling in oral reconstruction.

In the era of precision medicine, the growing number of predictive biomarkers have modified the clinical paradigm for advanced tumor patients. Standard tissue specimens are often limited for comprehensive genomic profiling for testing biomarkers. Liquid biopsy became a milestone in clinical stratification of advanced tumor patients integrating tissue based molecular analysis. International societies routinely approved peripheral blood integrating genomic profile of actionable biomarkers but unexplored scenarios expanding potential applications are under investigations. Within the term liquid biopsy, we include each biological fluid where circulating free DNA and beyond (circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles, tumor-educated platelets, and microRNAs) may be isolated.

Recent advances in molecular profiling, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic approaches, have enabled detailed characterization of tumor biology and facilitated patient stratification based on prognostic and predictive factors associated with clinical outcomes and therapeutic response. This article summarizes key biomarkers with established clinical relevance in kidney, bladder, and prostate cancers. In bladder and prostate cancer, novel insights into tumor biology have reshaped therapeutic strategies and supported the approval of targeted therapies, thereby enhancing patient care. Selecting appropriate molecular tests-such as FGFR screening in urothelial carcinoma and BRCA1/2 testing in prostate cancer-has become critical for guiding treatment decisions.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the most prevalent malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract and remains a leading cause of cancer-related illness and death worldwide. Recently, new treatment strategies have emerged with the identification of important biomarkers in CRC. As the emphasis on precision medicine in oncology intensifies, testing tumor specimens for key genomic alterations is becoming standard-of-care. This article seeks review the key molecular changes in CRC with important therapeutic implications.

Endocrine gland tumors are characterized by a wide spectrum of pathologic, clinical, and molecular features. Next-generation sequencing technologies have greatly improved our knowledge of this group of neoplasms, showing robust genotype-phenotype correlation. This review summarizes the main molecular changes found in endocrine gland tumors, highlighting the interplay between tumor-specific somatic or germline genetic changes, pathology, and clinical features. The aim of the article is to provide essential information about the role of molecular pathology in defining diagnosis, prognosis, and identification of biomarkers for molecular targeted therapy.

In this article, the authors review the types of molecular alterations present in cancer and molecular methods used commonly in clinical diagnostic laboratories, including technologies such as next-generation sequencing and digital polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, the authors discuss considerations for test design, incorporating factors such as specimen type and biomarker type, to design a molecular test menu that delivers accurate and timely results in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

To carry out clinical and genetic analysis for a fetus with absent kidneys and bladder.

Clinical data of the fetus were collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were carried out on fetal tissue and peripheral blood samples from its family members. A RDDC online tool was used to predict the impact of the variant on the GREB1L gene splicing, which was further validated by in vitro minigene assays. Long-range PCR was employed to verify the exonic deletional variant. An I-TASSER server was used to predict the three-dimensional structure of the mutant protein. A systematic search of Chinese and English databases was conducted using "GREB1L gene" as the keyword to summarize the clinical phenotypic spectrum associated with GREB1L gene mutations. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Pearl River Hospital of South Medical University (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-016).

The fetus was confirmed to have bilateral renal agenesis by autopsy. WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that the fetus, its father and grandfather have all carried a heterozygous c.4369-3_4375del variant of the GREB1L gene (NM_001142966.3), whilst its mother and grandmother did not carry the same variant. Based on the guidelines from American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was rated as "pathogenic". As predicted by bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by the minigene assay, this deletional variant may lead to aberrant splicing of exon 26 and result in alteration in the protein's three-dimensional structure. Literature review indicated that GREB1L gene mutations mainly cause renal dysplasia with significant clinical heterogeneity.

The heterozygous c.4369-3_4375del variant of the GREB1L gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of renal dysplasia/hypoplasia in this fetus. Discovery of this novel splicing site variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the GREB1L gene and provided a basis for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping is widely available on modern magnetic resonance imaging platforms and is increasingly embedded in head and neck oncological pathways. The technique can refine lesion characterisation, support nodal assessment, and strengthen post-treatment surveillance when it is applied to specific clinical questions. In this narrative review, we synthesise practical applications of DWI/ADC across major head and neck malignancies, including lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), sinonasal tumours, and salivary gland neoplasms, with emphasis on common diagnostic pitfalls and the limits of cross-study threshold transferability. We also summarise evidence relevant to treatment monitoring, adaptive radiotherapy strategies, and the technical repeatability needed for longitudinal ADC interpretation. Across the literature, markedly low ADC values favour lymphoma, whereas substantial overlap constrains benign-malignant separation in salivary and sinonasal lesions. In the post-treatment setting, meta-analytic evidence supports lower ADC values in recurrent disease than in treatment-related change, with a commonly cited recurrence threshold near 1.10 x 10-3 mm2/s. Overall, DWI is best treated as a probability-modifying biomarker that complements morphology, endoscopy, pathology, and clinical trajectory rather than replacing them.