Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors with the third highest mortality rate worldwide. This study aims to identify key genes associated with hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and provide a theoretical basis for discovering novel prognostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is characterized by complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis. In recent years, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor initiation and progression has attracted increasing attention. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which is aberrantly expressed in various tumors, may be closely related to the EMT process. This study aims to examine the expression and correlation of EZH2 and EMT markers in ESCC cells and tissues, evaluate the effects of EZH2 knockdown on ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and explore how EZH2 contributes to the malignant biological behavior of ESCC.

To construct a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) model based on ferroptosis and predict the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after radiotherapy, to develop a comprehensive framework that integrates genomic data with clinical outcomes, and to identify lncRNA associated with ferroptosis and evaluate their predictive power for patient survival and progression-free survival following radiotherapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the cornerstone of treatment for driver gene-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance is inevitable, and the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Histological transformation is a rare but emerging cause of acquired resistance to immunotherapy, with only sporadic case reports documented to date. Here, we report the first case of lung adenocarcinoma that underwent histological transformation to atypical carcinoid following first-line therapy with ICIs combined with chemotherapy, highlighting the critical role of histological lineage switching in mediating NSCLC resistance to ICIs. Notably, the patient harbored a rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion mutation. Subsequent targeted therapy with Selpercatinib after histological transformation demonstrated favorable efficacy, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for atypical carcinoid patients with co-occurring rare driver mutations. This case provides a potential therapeutic option for atypical carcinoid patients with rare mutations.
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Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating various malignancies; however, its clinical application remains challenged by low response rates and immune-related adverse events. Immunoglobulin superfamily member 11 (IGSF11), an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, serves as a specific ligand for the V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA). Through the IGSF11/VISTA axis, it suppresses T cell function and represents a promising novel target for cancer immunotherapy. IGSF11 is widely expressed across multiple tumor types, though its regulatory mechanisms vary depending on the malignancy. Studies have confirmed that blocking the IGSF11-VISTA interaction or specifically inhibiting IGSF11 exerts antitumor effects. While IGSF11 is closely associated with patient prognosis, its prognostic significance differs among cancer types. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics of IGSF11, its regulatory mechanisms, interaction with VISTA, and functional role within the tumor microenvironment.
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Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer. Due to the lack of effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma, the overall treatment of lung adenocarcinoma is not optimistic. Therefore, there is a need to find new ideas and methods for lung adenocarcinoma treatment. The 26S proteasome is a multiprotein complex responsible for degrading misfolded proteins and maintaining intracellular protein homeostasis. During the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the regulatory granule subunit of the 26S proteasome promotes the malignant progression of tumours by regulating tumour-associated proteins, immune cells, and related signalling pathways. The proteasome core particle is a key subunit for degrading proteins, and its inhibitors have shown promising anti-tumour effects when combined with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. However, limited by toxic side effects and tumour heterogeneity, targeted inhibitors against the 26S proteasome are still not widely used in NSCLC treatment. This article reviews the mechanism of action and related therapeutic research of 26S proteasome regulatory particle subunits and core particle subunits in NSCLC, and explores the potential of these inhibitors in clinical application.
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In epidemiological statistics, the incidence rate and mortality rate of malignant lung tumors rank among the top. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes an important part of lung cancer and has become a key focus of clinical research and treatment. Among the genomic characteristics of NSCLC, the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation is one of the main tumor drivers, accounting for approximately 25% of all NSCLC cases. The existence of this mutation is closely related to the treatment response and prognosis of patients. Therefore, the treatment strategy for KRAS-mutated NSCLC is an important topic in the field of tumor research. In the current era, immunomodulatory therapy has rapidly gained popularity and developed rapidly in oncology due to its unique mechanism of action and remarkable clinical efficacy. The treatment strategies targeting the KRAS-mutated of NSCLC have gradually become a research hotspot. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has opened up a new therapeutic avenue for patients with such cancers, and clinical studies have shown significant effects in improving survival rates. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges in the application of immunotherapy, such as the complexity of the tumor microenvironment, individual differences among patients, and drug resistance mechanisms. This article reviews the progress of immunotherapy for KRAS-mutated NSCLC, focusing on the specific application of immunotherapy, the exploration of combination therapies, and the results of related clinical trials. At the same time, it discusses the possible future development directions of KRAS-mutated NSCLC treatment, providing a reference for clinical treatment practice.
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For patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring sensitive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, guidelines prioritize the use of third-generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), which offer higher objective response rate (ORR), longer progression-free survival (PFS), and better quality of life. However, due to the low proportion of elderly patients enrolled in clinical trials, the existing evidence is insufficient to fully guide clinical practice. This review examines the efficacy and safety differences of third-generation EGFR-TKIs as monotherapy or in combination in the elderly NSCLC by integrating subgroup analyses or pre-specified research objectives from prospective and retrospective studies. The results show that third-generation EGFR-TKIs have comparable efficacy in elderly patients to younger populations and are well-tolerated. Although combination therapies may extend survival time, the associated increased toxicity necessitates careful risk-benefit assessment.
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Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with above 80% of cases be non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), among which lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) occupies a significant proportion. Although comprehensive cancer therapies have considerably improved the overall survival of patients, patients with advanced LUSC have a poorer prognosis. Therefore, there is a need for a biomarker to predict the progress of advanced LUSC in order to improve prognosis through early diagnosis. Previous studies have shown that miRNAs are differentially expressed in lung cancer tissues and play roles as potential oncogenes or tumor suppressors. The aim of this study is to identify differentially expressed miRNAs between early-stage and advanced-stage LUSC, and to establish a set of miRNAs that can predict the progress of advanced LUSC.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis of DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcoma. Methods: Five cases of DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcoma at Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China during May 2013 to November 2024 were collected. The clinical and imaging data were retrieved. Histological evaluation, immunohistochemical staining and next generation sequencing were performed. Additionally, a literature review was conducted. Results: All five DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcomas were located in the supratentorial region, with one case involving the basal ganglia. There were two males and three females. The median age at diagnosis was 25 (14.0, 30.5) years. Morphologically, they were characterized by high-grade spindle cell sarcoma, with brisk mitotic activity and cytoplasmic eosinophilic globules. Myxoid degeneration, necrosis, and invasion into surrounding brain tissue were observed in some cases. The tumor cells showed diffuse staining of vimentin and variable expression of myogenic marker (desmin), with or without focal MyoD1 and/or Myogenin expression. Four tumors exhibited diffuse, strong expression of TLE1 and p53, while only three tumors showed loss of ATRX (nuclear) expression. Two cases showed mosaic loss of H3K27me3 expression in neoplastic cells. The Ki-67 proliferation index was high (40%-80%). Various neuronal markers, such as synaptophysin, NF, SOX2 and MAP2, were expressed in all tumor samples. Genetically, all tumors samples harbored biallelic abnormalities of DICER1. One was a hotspot missense mutation in the RNase Ⅲb domain within exon 25 on one allele (p.E1813 or p.D1810), while the other allele had mutations including a germline mutation in one case, a somatic mutation in two cases, and a copy number deletion in two cases. In addition, these sarcomas showed alterations in TP53 (4/5), ATRX (3/5), and the genes of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (3/5). Finally, all five cases were diagnosed as DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcoma. All patients underwent craniotomy that led to complete tumor resection. Three patients received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with progression-free survival time of 28, 48, and 50 months, respectively. Patient 2 succumbed to the tumor after 3 months post-surgery due to rapid progression and tumor dissemination. Patient 5 was lost to follow-up 3 months after the surgery. Conclusions: DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcoma is a newly defined tumor entity in the fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System Tumors, and commonly occurs in children and young adults. High-grade malignant spindle cells are their typical morphological feature. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic globules and myogenic differentiation can help establish the diagnosis. This study suggests that DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcomas exhibit immunophenotypic neuronal differentiation. Rendering the diagnosis of DICER1-mutant primary intracranial sarcoma largely relies on detecting DICER1 pathogenic alterations or DNA methylation profiling.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological and molecular genetic characteristics of pan cytokeratin (CKpan)-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion malignant tumors in abdominopelvic cavity. Methods: Four cases of malignant tumor with CKpan-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion were selected from January 2019 to July 2024 in the Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Tianjin, China. Their clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics were examined. Their molecular genetic characteristics were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: Among the 4 patients, there were 2 males and 2 females, aged 44, 44, 48 and 66 years, respectively. The tumor sites included 1 case located between the stomach and transverse colon, 1 case on the serous surface of the gastric wall, 1 case in the transverse mesocolon, and 1 case in transverse mesocolon and small mesentery. The clinical manifestations were mostly abdominal distension and abdominal pain. The maximum diameter of the tumor in the surgical resection specimen was 3.5-8.5 cm. The tumor's cut surface was grayish-white and gray-yellow in color, with medium consistency. Microscopically, the tumor cells were mainly composed of epithelioid tumor cells, and 2 of the tumors showed that tumor cells arranged in a solid sheet or multinodular pattern, and the cytoplasm of the tumor cells was abundant, lightly stained, and the boundaries were unclear, accompanied by the formation of capsules or microcapsules, and lymphocyte and plasma cell sleeves were seen. In one case, the pseudopapillary arrangement was present, and the tumor cells were radially distributed around the fibrovascular axis. In another case, it was arranged in a pseudoacinar pattern, and the nest was surrounded by slender reticular fibers. Immunohistochemistry showed that tumor cells expressed CKpan (4/4) and WT1 (4/4, including 1 focal positive). Vimentin, CK8/18, D2-40 and S-100 were expressed in various intensities, while Calretinin was locally positive or negative. FISH showed that 2 cases had EWSR1 break-apart and 2 cases had FUS break-apart. NGS confirmed the presence of EWSR1::CREM fusion (1 case) and FUS::CREM fusion (2 cases), respectively. Except for 1 recently diagnosed case, 3 cases were followed up: 1 patient died due to tumor recurrence and metastasis (overall survival was 33 months), and 2 patients survived (1 case had recurrence 58 months after surgery, and 1 case had no recurrence or metastasis after surgery). Conclusions: CKpan-positive EWSR1/FUS::CREB fusion malignant tumor is a rare malignancy tumor with undetermined classification that tends to occur in the abdominopelvic cavity and often involves the gastrointestinal tract. Molecular testing such as FISH and NGS is helpful for a definitive diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate a new method for rapid detection of the MYOD1 L122R mutation and to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of mutation-positive rhabdomyosarcoma. Methods: A MYOD1 mutation detection kit was developed using allele-specific Taqman fluorescence probe technology. A total of 80 rhabdomyosarcoma samples diagnosed at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2022 to June 2023 were collected for testing. The detection sensitivity, specificity, and consistency rate of the kit were compared with those of the gold standard Sanger sequencing. The demographic, histopathological, and molecular genetic characteristics of patients with MYOD1 mutations were analyzed. Results: Among the 80 rhabdomyosarcoma cases, there were 46 males and 34 females, with an age of onset ranging from 0 to 16 years [mean (6.0±4.4) years], including 32 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, 18 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and 30 spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma. The new kit screened a total of 11 mutations, of which 10 were spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma and one was embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Patients with MYOD1 mutations were typically older (four cases over 10 years old) but could also occur in young children (the youngest being 3-year and 2-month-old). The primary sites were the head and neck region in eight cases, limbs in two cases, and pelvic cavity in one case. Among the six patients with available staging information at initial diagnosis, one was classified as stage 2 and five were stage 3, all of which were intermediate risk. Among the 11 mutation patients, six had recurrence and metastasis, with three deaths; the remaining patients had not shown tumor progression until last follow-up. Compared with the wild type group, the expression level of MYOD1 in mutation patients increased significantly (χ2=10.66, P=0.01), while the event-free survival rate (χ2=9.925, P<0.01) and overall survival (χ2=4.53, P=0.03) rate decreased. Compared with Sanger sequencing, the kit achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity. The kit had a minimum mutation content detection limit of 2% and the reaction could be finished within 2 hours. Additionally, this kit might also be used to detect the expression of MYOD1, thereby aiding the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. Conclusions: The study has established a new method for accurate and rapid detection of MYOD1 mutation in rhabdomyosarcoma, particularly suitable for the formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples in clinical settings. MYOD1 mutations more likely occur in spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma of the head and neck region in children. Patients with MYOD1 mutations have an extremely poor prognosis, which is independent of clinical staging and grading. MYOD1 mutation detection in rhabdomyosarcoma has significant value for auxiliary diagnosis and prognostic assessment.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of malignant transformation of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (FD) in long bone. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and morphological features was conducted from 4 cases of malignant transformation of FD diagnosed at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2016 to December 2023. Hotspot mutations for GNAS gene were tested in 4 cases by Sanger sequencing, in which both FD and malignant tissues were detected in 3 cases respectively. Results: There were 2 female and 2 male patients, aged 46 to 53 years [mean (49±3.2) years], and the course of the disease spanned from 2 months to 36 years. The tumor involved the femur (n=2), tibia (n=1) and humerus (n=1). Three of them were diagnosed with FD before surgery. Single photon emission computed tomography showed multiple increases in bone metabolism, CT showed poorly margin, cortical destruction and soft tissue mass with uneven enhancement. Three cases had both FD and sarcoma components, while the remaining case exhibited exclusively sarcoma. The sarcomas displayed significant morphological variation, with 1 case diagnosed as osteosarcoma and 3 cases classified as low to high grade spindle cell sarcoma. Immunohistochemical results did not provide any indications for clear classification. Sanger sequencing demonstrated GNAS mutations of p.R201H (c.CGT>CAT, n=2) and p.R201C (c.CGT>TGT, n=2). All 4 cases were followed-up for 18 to 76 months, and received chemotherapy after surgery; 2 cases maintained disease-free, one case was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer through a core needle biopsy 3 months after chemotherapy, and another one was found to relapse 18 months after surgery. Conclusions: Some cases of polyostotic FD occur in association with café-au-lait macules and/or endocrine hyperfunctioning in McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS); polyostotic FD and MAS have more malignant potential than monostotic FD, but they are not the risk factors for FD malignancy. GNAS mutations may be involved in the occurrence and development of FD. The histologic types of malignant transformation of polyostotic FD in long bone are diverse, the sarcoma components of FD also present the GNAS mutation, suggesting potential involvement in the pathogenesis of FD malignancy.