Noggin contributes to brain metastatic colonization of lung cancer cells.

Background: Brain metastasis is a common complication among patients with lung cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of brain metastasis in lung cancer.

Methods: We established highly colonizing metastatic lung cancer cells, A549-M2, through multiple implantations of A549 human lung cancer cells in the carotid artery of athymic nude mice.

miR-199a and miR-199b facilitate diffuse gastric cancer progression by targeting Frizzled-6.

Pathological markers that can monitor the progression of gastric cancer (GC) may facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diffuse GC (DGC). To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that can differentiate between early and advanced DGC in the gastric mucosa, miRNA expression profiling was performed using the NanoString nCounter method in human DGC tumors. Ectopic expression of miR-199a and miR-199b (miR-199a/b) in SNU601 human GC cells accelerated the growth rate, viability, and motility of cancer cells and increased the tumor volume and weight in a mouse xenograft model.

A Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare Efficacy and Safety between Combination Therapy and Monotherapy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer (KCSG ST13-10).

Purpose: This study evaluated whether combination therapy is more effective than monotherapy in elderly patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer (MRGC) as first-line chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Elderly (≥ 70 years) chemo-naïve patients with MRGC were allocated to receive either combination therapy (group A: 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/oxaliplatin, capecitabine/oxaliplatin, capecitabine/cisplatin, or S-1/cisplatin) or monotherapy (group B: 5-FU, capecitabine, or S-1). In group A, starting doses were 80% of standard doses, and they could be escalated to 100% at the discretion of the investigator.

MicroRNA-769-3p Acts as a Prognostic Factor in Oral Squamous Cell Cancer by Modulating Stromal Genes.

miR-769-3p expression is suppressed in the stromal subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, its role in stromal HNSCC has not been fully elucidated. To investigate the biological relevance of miR-769-3p in the stromal phenotype, we established oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC) cell lines, namely CAL27, HSC3, and YD8, overexpressing miR-769-3p. miR-769-3p expression was positively and negatively correlated with interferon-gamma-related genes and MYC target gene sets, respectively.

Differential RNA expression of immune-related genes and tumor cell proximity from intratumoral M1 macrophages in acral lentiginous melanomas treated with PD-1 blockade.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) offer improved survival for patients with advanced malignant melanomas. However, only a subset of these patients exhibit an objective response rate of 10-40 % with ICIs. We aimed to ascertain the effects of RNA signatures and the spatial distribution of immune cells on the treatment outcomes of patients with malignant melanomas undergoing ICI therapy.

Unexpected Movement of the Esophagus across the Aorta.

Tumor regression throughout treatment would induce organ movement, but little is known of this in the esophagus. To achieve successful tumor regression, radiation therapy requires several weeks of radiation to be delivered accurately to the tumor. Usually, a 5-10 mm margin is allowed for set-up error and internal organ motion.

Identification and Characterization of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Subpopulations in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) reside within the tumor microenvironment, facilitating cancer progression and metastasis via direct and indirect interactions with cancer cells and other stromal cell types. CAFs are composed of heterogeneous subpopulations of activated fibroblasts, including myofibroblastic, inflammatory, and immunosuppressive CAFs. In this study, we sought to identify subpopulations of CAFs isolated from human lung adenocarcinomas and describe their transcriptomic and functional characteristics through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and subsequent bioinformatics analyses.

Efficacy of the granisetron transdermal system for the control of nausea and vomiting induced by highly emetogenic chemotherapy: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

Background/aims: We compared the efficacy of the granisetron transdermal system (GTS) with that of ondansetron for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients treated with highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).

Methods: We randomized a total of 389 patients to groups treated by GTS and ondansetron before HEC. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving complete response (CR; no retching/vomiting/rescue medication) of CINV from the time of chemotherapy initiation to 24 hours after the last administration of chemotherapy (prespecified non-inferiority margin of 15%).

ZEB1-regulated lnc-Nr2f1 promotes the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are differentially expressed in cancer cells compared with normal cells and are involved in tumor progression and metastasis. Metastasis is initiated by the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which can also be regulated by lncRNAs. Given that ZEB1 is an important transcription factor inducing EMT, we screened lncRNAs controlled by ZEB1 using RNA sequencing in murine lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Prognostic value of Dickkopf-1 and ß-catenin expression according to the antitumor immunity of CD8-positive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in biliary tract cancer.

The role of β-catenin and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is dependent on the specific immunobiology of T cell inflammation in biliary tract cancer (BTC). We aimed to analyze the role of DKK1 or β-catenin as a prognostic factor in BTC, and determine the clinical associations of ß-catenin and DKK1 with CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). We used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network and the clinicopathological data of 145 patients with BTC who had undergone primary radical resection between 2006 and 2016.

Inhibition of STAT3 enhances sensitivity to tamoxifen in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

Background: The mechanisms of endocrine resistance are complex, and deregulation of several oncogenic signalling pathways has been proposed. We aimed to investigate the role of the EGFR and Src-mediated STAT3 signalling pathway in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

Methods: The ER-positive luminal breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D, were used.

DeepCUBIT: Predicting Lymphovascular Invasion or Pathological Lymph Node Involvement of Clinical T1 Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer on Chest CT Scan Using Deep Cubical Nodule Transfer Learning Algorithm.

The prediction of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) or pathological nodal involvement of tumor cells is critical for successful treatment in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We developed and validated a Deep Cubical Nodule Transfer Learning Algorithm (DeepCUBIT) using transfer learning and 3D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to predict LVI or pathological nodal involvement on chest CT images. A total of 695 preoperative CT images of resected NSCLC with tumor size of less than or equal to 3 cm from 2008 to 2015 were used to train and validate the DeepCUBIT model using five-fold cross-validation method.

DeepRePath: Identifying the Prognostic Features of Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Multi-Scale Pathology Images and Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.

The prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), especially early-stage LUAD, is dependent on clinicopathological features. However, its predictive utility is limited. In this study, we developed and trained a DeepRePath model based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) using multi-scale pathology images to predict the prognosis of patients with early-stage LUAD.

Prognostic value of noggin protein expression in patients with resected gastric cancer.

Background: Noggin and RNA-binding protein for multiple splicing 2 (RBPMS2) are known to regulate the expression of smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and osteoblasts. However, the prognostic role of combined Noggin and RBPMS2 expression in resected gastric cancer (GC) is unclear.

Methods: A total of 163 patients with GC who underwent gastrectomy were included in this study.

Treatment Outcomes of 9,994 Patients With Extensive-Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer From a Retrospective Nationwide Population-Based Cohort in the Korean HIRA Database.

To investigate the efficacy of irinotecan-based (IP) and etoposide-based (EP) platinum combinations, and of single-agent chemotherapy, for treatment of extensive-disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC), we performed a large-scale, retrospective, nationwide, cohort study. The population data were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea database from January 1, 2008, to November 30, 2016. A total of 9,994 patients were allocated to ED-SCLC and analyzed in this study.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts activated by miR-196a promote the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.

Fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, known as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), promote the migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells when they are activated through diverse processes, including post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs). To identify the miRNAs that regulate CAF activation, we used NanoString to profile miRNA expression within normal mouse lung fibroblasts (LFs) and CAFs. Based on NanoString profiling, miR-196a was selected as a candidate that was up-regulated in CAFs.

Prevalence and Predictive Factors for Upfront Dose Reduction of the First Cycle of First-Line Chemotherapy in Older Adults with Metastatic Solid Cancer: Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) Multicenter Study.

Old age alone does not reflect an intolerability to chemotherapy. However, upfront dose reduction (UDR) of the first cycle of first-line palliative chemotherapy has sometimes been chosen by physicians for older adults with metastatic cancer due to concerns regarding adverse events. The development of predictive factors for UDR of palliative chemotherapy would be helpful for treatment planning among older adults.

The implications of clinical risk factors, CAR index, and compositional changes of immune cells on hyperprogressive disease in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) are characterized by a durable clinical response and better tolerability in patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors. However, we not infrequently encounter patients with hyperprogressive disease (HPD) exhibiting paradoxically accelerated tumor growth with poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate implications of clinical factors and immune cell composition on different tumor responses to immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Elevated serum substance P level as a predictive marker for moderately emetogenic chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A prospective cohort study.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is an unbearable side effect. Identifying high emetic risk patients and providing more active antiemetics strategies are mandatory to improve the tolerability of chemotherapy. In this prospective cohort study, leptin, ghrelin, and substance P were measured at baseline, day 3, and day 14 during the first cycle of chemotherapy.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications of microRNAs in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous suppressors of target mRNAs, are deeply involved in every step of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development, from tumor initiation to progression and metastasis. They play roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization, as well as immunosuppression. Due to their versatility, numerous attempts have been made to use miRNAs for clinical applications.

Rupture of carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in the modern era of definitive chemoradiation for head and neck cancer: Two case reports.

Background: Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a rupture of the carotid artery and is mainly caused by radiation and resection of head and neck cancers or direct tumor invasion of the carotid artery wall. It is a life-threatening clinical situation. There is no established and effective mode of management of CBS.

Integrative Analysis of miRNAs Identifies Clinically Relevant Epithelial and Stromal Subtypes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to characterize the role of miRNAs in the classification of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Experimental Design: Here, we analyzed 562 HNSCC samples, 88 from a novel cohort and 474 from The Cancer Genome Atlas, using miRNA microarray and miRNA sequencing, respectively. Using an integrative correlations method followed by miRNA expression-based hierarchical clustering, we validated miRNA clusters across cohorts.