Stereotactic brain biopsy is a fundamental procedure in neurosurgery that enables the histomolecular diagnosis of brain tumors and cryptogenic neurological diseases. Traditionally, this procedure requires hospitalization because of potential complications, particularly hemorrhagic events. However, the increasing emphasis on ambulatory surgery and its medico-economic benefits have led to the exploration of outpatient stereotactic brain biopsies. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of outpatient stereotactic brain biopsy in a large, real-world patient cohort. This retrospective study analyzed all adult patients who underwent stereotactic brain biopsy at our institution between November 2021 and October 2024. We compared the outpatient and inpatient groups based on demographics, clinical and radiological data, biopsy characteristics, and post-procedure outcomes. The primary endpoints were the rate of unplanned hospitalization following biopsy (failure of outpatient management), biopsy-related complications, and unplanned medical consultations or admissions within 30 days after biopsy. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate models to assess factors influencing outpatient eligibility and outcomes. Among the 565 patients who underwent stereotactic brain biopsy, 191 (33.8%) were managed as outpatients. The same-day discharge success rate was 95.8%. Post-biopsy complications were comparable between the outpatient and inpatient groups (p = 0.97), with only one outpatient requiring unplanned hospitalization within 30 days (0.5%). Multivariate analysis identified factors favoring outpatient management, including low ASA scores, high Karnofsky Performance Status, shorter travel distances, and diagnoses of lower-grade gliomas. Patients aged ≥ 75 years and those with high-risk biopsy locations (e.g., brainstem) were successfully managed in an outpatient setting. Outpatient stereotactic brain biopsy is a safe and feasible approach for carefully selected patients, with high success rates and no increase in complication risks compared with inpatient management. This study supports expanding outpatient stereotactic brain biopsy as a standard practice, improving healthcare efficiency while maintaining patient safety.

Gastric cancer (GC) has a high incidence and poor prognosis, often metastasizing to the liver. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a key indicator of liver damage, and its family members are associated with various cancers. However, their expression and prognostic significance in GC remain unclear. This study utilized R to analyze the expression and prognosis of GGT family members using RNA-seq and clinical data from the TCGA database, applying Lasso regression for key gene identification. We identified GGTLC2 as a significant gene related to GC prognosis. We examined the clinical relevance, methylation levels, and copy number variations of GGTLC2 using the MEXPRESS database and performed GSEA analysis to identify enriched pathways. Additionally, we explored the relationship between GGTLC2 and immune cell infiltration, as well as immune-related genes, and established GGTLC2 knockdown and overexpression cell lines. The results indicate that GGTLC2 is highly expressed in GC and is associated with DNA methylation, copy number variation, and liver metastasis. Functionally, GGTLC2 is primarily enriched in oxidative stress and immune-related pathways, affecting immune infiltration and the expression of inflammatory factors in the tumor microenvironment. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that knocking down GGTLC2 inhibits GC proliferation, invasion, and migration while promoting apoptosis and ferroptosis. Conversely, overexpressing GGTLC2 significantly increases the number of metastatic tumors in the liver. Overall, GGTLC2 may influence the occurrence, development, and liver metastasis of GC by inhibiting ferroptosis, making it a promising novel biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of GC and its metastasis.

The effectiveness of radioiodine therapy (RAI) in reducing recurrence and improving overall survival in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) remains debated. This systematic review evaluates the impact of RAI on DTC recurrence and survival.

Conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) for rectal cancer may sometimes be difficult. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) is expected to overcome these technical challenges of CLS and provide better short-term outcomes. However, previous randomized controlled trials indicated that the safety and feasibility of RALS compared to CLS remain controversial; therefore, we assessed the safety and feasibility of RALS for rectal cancer compared with CLS.

The global incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is increasing. Surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment. However, the long-term prognosis remains dismal. The role of serum ferritin in malignant diseases has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative serum ferritin levels and patient outcomes.

Sleep disturbances are a common yet overlooked symptom in patients with advanced cancer. Pharmacological interventions have been widely used to manage sleep disturbances; however, concerns related to their adverse effects have resulted in a need for alternative interventions. The purpose of this scoping review is to appraise the published literature on the non-pharmacological management of sleep disturbances in patients with advanced cancer.

Despite advances in cancer detection and treatment, metastatic breast cancer continues to carry a poor prognosis due to the lack of diagnostic and therapeutic resources that are specific to the metastatic process. MicroRNA-10b (miR-10b) is a small, noncoding RNA that is the focus of many studies due to its unique role as a driver of metastasis. The pathways it is involved in and the properties it confers have been reviewed previously and, collectively, are suggestive of the potential of miR-10b as a clinical marker and as a therapeutic target specific to metastatic disease. With the goal of application of our understanding of miR-10b to the clinic, in this mini-review, we highlight the studies that support the utility of miR-10b for these translational purposes.

The necessity of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for patients whose initially positive lymph nodes become node-negative (ypN0) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) is uncertain. This study analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to evaluate PMRT's effect on these patients. Women with unilateral breast cancer who achieved ypN0 status post-NAT from 2010 to 2019 were categorized into PMRT and non-PMRT groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) minimized confounding factors. Statistical tests and multivariate analysis identified survival prognostic factors, while Kaplan-Meier curves and forest plots assessed survival outcomes. The study involved 699 cases, with 458 receiving PMRT and 241 not. After matching, 194 patient pairs were examined. Multivariate analysis revealed stage III disease (hazard ratio: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.12-3.79, p = 0.02) and lack of PMRT (hazard ratio: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.31-4.62, p = 0.01) as independent survival risk factors. PMRT significantly improved overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26-0.72, p < 0.001), especially in patients with clinical node status cN+ (cN1, hazard ratio: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.25-0.88, p = 0.016; cN2-3 hazard ratio: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15-0.86, p = 0.017, respectively), grade 3 tumors(hazard ratio: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.25-0.88, p = 0.016), stage III disease (hazard ratio: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26-0.83, p = 0.007), and triplenegative breast cancer (hazard ratio: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05-0.42, p < 0.001). However, it did not significantly benefit those with grade 1-2 tumors, stage II disease, HER2-positive, or hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative tumors. The study suggests PMRT may not be necessary for these groups, particularly for HR-positive/HER2-negative grade 1-2 with stage II disease, due to limited short-term benefits.

Exosome roles in cellular cross-talking within tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical event in tumorigenesis. Type 2 macrophages (M2), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the three most important cells in cancer progression and metastasis, and targeting their connectome route can be an effective anti-cancer strategy. Exosomes mediate bidirectional cross-talking between the three cell types in which exosomes secreted from CSCs promote polarization of M2 macrophages and CAFs, and that M2- and CAF-derived exosomes promote cancer stemness through activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related signaling including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, WNT/β-catenin and epidermal growth factor (EGF). CSC-derived exosomal TGF-β is a key driver of CAF and M2 macrophage polarization, with the latter mediated through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). β-catenin activity also seems to take important role in exosomal cross-talk between CAFs and stemness state of cancer. Incubation of exosomes with inhibitors of signaling inter-connecting CSCs, M2 and CAFs is a key anti-cancer strategy and a promising supplementary to the routine immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer therapy.

The Papanicolaou (PAP) smear remains the cornerstone of early detection and prevention in cervical cancer screening, Today, liquid-based cytology (LBC) techniques are more widely used for this purpose. ThinPrep is one of the most effective of these methods. In this study, we aimed to investigate the contributions of the cell block method when using ThinPrep liquid-based cervical samples.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been shown to predict outcomes in several cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the density and location of regulatory T cells (Tregs) using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in urothelial carcinomas (UC) of the bladder and to assess their prognostic value.

Proline- and serine-rich coiled-coil 1 (PSRC1) has been implicated in various cancers, yet its role in breast cancer (BRCA) remains incompletely understood. Here, we employed the UALCAN database to explore PSRC1 expression in BRCA and obtained survival prognosis data from the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database. Additionally, PSRC1 expression was analyzed in 81 pairs of BRCA tissues and their corresponding adjacent noncancerous tissues through quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. We observed PSRC1 was overexpressed in BRCA tissues, especially in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Higher PSRC1 levels correlated with poorer outcomes for BRCA patients. In 81 BRCA tumor tissues, PSRC1 protein levels were significantly associated with positive vessel tumor embolus. Subsequently, the clinical relevance of PSRC1 in BRCA was assessed using the chi-square test, the Kaplan-Meier model with a Log-rank test, as well as univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with high PSRC1 had worse prognoses. Elevated PSRC1 expression served as an independent predictor of prognosis. Moreover, we investigated the effects of PSRC1 on BRCA cell phenotypes in MCF-7 and BT549 cells and used a mouse xenograft model with BT549 cells to determine its in vivo effect. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that silencing PSRC1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and tumor development. In summary, our results indicate that high PSRC1 expression is closely linked to BRCA patient survival and could be a valuable prognostic biomarker for this disease.

Nasopharyngeal cancer with central nervous system metastases is rare. True metastasis to the distal regions of the central nervous system, especially the spinal cord, is incredibly uncommon, although tumor invasion to intracranial locations through the skull base can be prevalent. We report on a 45-year-old male who had been suffering from progressive unsteady gait and numbness of lower limbs for 3 weeks. The numbness eventually ascended to the thigh area and the patient required a wheelchair. His muscle power was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple enhancing nodular lesions in the thoracolumbar spinal cord with mild mass effect, causing diffuse syringomyelia and cord edema. Metastasis was confirmed by pathology after tumor excision. The patient underwent concurrent radiotherapy and steroid therapy, after which he eventually could walk with crutches. Due to the complexity and rarity of such case, the standard treatment for this type of disease is unclear. Management should be individualized and multidisciplinary.

Over the past decade, remarkable improvements have been seen in oncology. The survival rate for breast cancer has more than doubled since 1975. Even diseases previously known for having poor prognoses, such as lung cancer, saw an improvement in survival over this period. To that end, the aim of this commentary is to evaluate how patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) fared during this period. By analyzing data from 21,948 patients with STS (excluding gastrointestinal stromal tumor [GIST]) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 registries, this study determined that the median survival has remained stagnant from 1999 to 2019 (66-68 months); even when stratified by localized or distant disease, no significant difference was seen. However, when looking specifically at GIST (n = 3716), there was a steady improvement in survival during the same period, with the median survival increasing from 105 months in 1999-2004 to 122 months in 2005-2011. These survival improvements were seen in both localized and distant settings. Multiple factors can be attributed to the stagnation of STS in comparison with other cancers, including the lack of understanding of its biological mechanisms, difficulties in conducting research in rare diseases, and lack of commercial interest in positioning drugs in this disease. The contrasting progress in GIST highlights that this reality can be changed; by understanding the biological drivers, actionable targets can be found and novel drugs can be positioned to improve survival.

Serum growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) suppresses anti-tumor immunity and predicts prognosis in several malignancies. Elevated GDF-15 levels are linked to cancer cachexia, characterized by weight loss and systemic inflammation, adversely affecting patient outcomes and therapy response. However, serum GDF-15 is not always derived from tumor tissues but also from multiple organs. Therefore, we evaluated whether intra-tumoral GDF-15 could be used as a biomarker for immunotherapy and its potential association with cancer cachexia.

The clinical application of lazertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has extended to the treatment of EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the effects of its dose modification on its efficacy and safety have not yet been adequately established.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis, including mesothelioma. D-Meso-Sonobe is a deciduoid-type mesothelioma cell line with morphological features similar to those of epithelioid cells. Here, we report that D-Meso-Sonobe cells exhibit spindle cell mesenchymal features under continuous confluent culture conditions. The spindle cell mesenchymal D-Meso-Sonobe expresses zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1), which is a master regulator of EMT in the nucleus. Xenoplanted D-Meso-Sonobe cells expressed nuclear Zeb1 and yes-associated protein at the cancer invasion front and focally expressed integrin subunit alpha V and actin alpha 2, which are molecular phenotypes acquired by EMT in mesothelioma. Subsequent RNA sequencing revealed that lysyl oxidase like 1 (LOXL1) was more highly expressed in cultured spindle mesenchymal D-Meso-Sonobe cells than in epithelioid cells. LOXL1 immunoreactivity was observed at the invasive front of xenoplanted D-Meso-Sonobe cells. The epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of D-Meso-Sonobe cells may be applicable for the development of candidate molecular agents targeting EMT in mesothelioma.

Although a role for ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) development is accepted, there is debate over the magnitude and mechanisms given its association with intermittent but not chronic exposure.

AKR1B1, a member of the aldo-keto reductase enzyme family involved in the polyol pathway of aldehyde metabolism, is aberrantly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous studies demonstrated that AKR1B1 knockdown reduced the motility and proliferation of CRC cell lines, and its elevated expression was correlated with increased mesenchymal marker expression, inflammation, and poor prognosis in CRC patient cohorts. However, whether stromal cells also express AKR1B1 and whether stromal expression can affect clinical outcomes has not been examined.

Tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) has been reported to be associated with prognosis and immunotherapy in certain cancers. The objective of our study was to investigate the prognostic significance of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) within the context of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC), while concurrently examining the clinicopathological and molecular determinants influencing TLS formation.