Long non-coding RNA C20orf56 as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant CCRT and survival rates of rectal cancers.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) improves survival and increases curative surgery rates in rectal cancer. C20orf56, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays diverse roles in cancer, but its association with neoadjuvant CCRT response and prognosis in rectal cancer remains unexplored.

Risk of Bladder Cancer in Patients with Chronic Indwelling Catheters: A Real-World Data Analysis.

Bladder cancer is the second most common urological malignancy worldwide, with significant morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the association between chronic indwelling catheter (CIDC) use and bladder cancer risk, particularly in relation to comorbidities and complications. Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 2007 and 2018 was used in this study.

6-Gingerol overcomes TMZ resistance in GBM by suppressing EMT and cell migration via the PI3K/Akt/β-catenin/c-Myc pathway.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and treatment-resistant primary brain tumor with acquired resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) posing a major clinical challenge. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of 6-gingerol, a bioactive compound from ginger, in overcoming TMZ resistance in GBM and delineates its molecular mechanisms. TMZ-resistant GBM cell lines (U87-TR and A172-TR) were established which exhibited enhanced migratory capacity and pronounced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features.

Prognostic role of claudin-18.2 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Claudins are key components of tight junctions, essential for maintaining cellular adhesion, regulating intercellular molecule transport, and preserving cell polarity. Altered claudin expression can lead to tight junction dysfunction, potentially disrupting signaling pathways and contributing to the development of epithelial cancers. This study aims to explore the understudied role of CLDN18.

Navigating the obesity paradox in bladder cancer prognosis-insights from the Taiwan National Health Insurance System Database.

Purpose: This study investigates the complex relationship between body mass index (BMI) and bladder cancer outcomes, utilizing Taiwan's national database. Bladder cancer remains a significant health concern, especially in Taiwan, prompting a comprehensive retrospective analysis to explore the impact of obesity on survival outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A meticulous exclusion process, based on Taiwan National Health Insurance System Database, refined the initial dataset of 15,086 bladder cancer patients to 10,352.

IMPA1-derived inositol maintains stemness in castration-resistant prostate cancer via IMPDH2 activation.

Acquisition of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) manifested during androgen ablation therapy (ABT) contributes to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, little is known about the specific metabolites critically orchestrating this process. Here, we show that IMPA1-derived inositol enriched in PCSCs is a key metabolite crucially maintaining PCSCs for CRPC progression and ABT resistance.

BRCA genetic testing and counseling in breast cancer: how do we meet our patients' needs?

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that have been linked to inherited susceptibility of breast cancer. Germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (gBRCAm) are clinically relevant for treatment selection in breast cancer because they confer sensitivity to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. BRCA1/2 mutation status may also impact decisions on other systemic therapies, risk-reducing measures, and choice of surgery.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) and concomitant inguinal hernioplasty: a single-center experience.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition in aging males, leading to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and associated urinary symptoms. With increasing life expectancy, the incidence of BPH and its co-morbidities, like inguinal hernia, has risen. This study explores the efficacy of combining transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and inguinal hernioplasty in a single surgical session to address both conditions, potentially reducing the need for multiple hospitalizations and surgical interventions.

Comprehensive genomic profiling and therapeutic implications for Taiwanese patients with treatment-naïve breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease categorized based on molecular characteristics, including hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression levels. The emergence of profiling technology has revealed multiple driver genomic alterations within each breast cancer subtype, serving as biomarkers to predict treatment outcomes. This study aimed to explore the genomic landscape of breast cancer in the Taiwanese population through comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and identify diagnostic and predictive biomarkers.

Clinicopathologic Features and Cytologic Correlation of ALK-Rearranged Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Series of Eight Cases.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusions are rare in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but may serve as a therapeutic target. This study aims to evaluate the preoperative cytologic findings and clinicopathologic features of a series of eight ALK-rearranged PTCs from our pathology archives and consultations. All cases were confirmed by ALK D5F3 immunohistochemistry and six with additional targeted RNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large adrenal tumors-analysis of tumor size and adverse events: a retrospective single-center study.

Introduction: Adrenal tumors are relatively common, and adrenalectomy is the third most common endocrine surgery. Patients with adrenal tumors were categorized into two groups for analysis: those with intermediate (4-6 cm, Group 1) and large (>6 cm, Group 2) tumors undergoing Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy (RLA). The primary outcome is to compare the surgical outcomes between these two groups.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) is a prognostic indicator for cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignant bile duct tumor in Southeast Asia. The special location of cholangiocarcinoma leads to it being difficult to diagnose. Currently, the progress in clinical prognosis outcomes remains abysmal owing to the lack of definitive diagnostic criteria.

Advantages of retrograde intrarenal incision versus laparoscopic surgery in management of pararenal cysts: a single-center experience.

Purpose: Renal cysts are typically a benign condition, and parapelvic cysts are a type of renal cyst that occur adjacent to the renal pelvis or renal sinus. Parapelvic cysts can increase the risk for injury to adjacent organs or urine leakage during laparoscopic surgery. Flexible ureteroscopes with laser assistance were used to make internal incisions in cysts.

LAMC2 is a potential prognostic biomarker for cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a common malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage with poor survival rate. Laminin subunit γ2 (LAMC2) is a heparin binding-associated gene involved in tumorigenesis and has been implicated in the prognosis of various types of cancers.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein overexpression is an independent poor prognostic indicator in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) interacts with various extracellular matrix proteins in tissues. Elevated COMP levels recently linked to worse overall survival in multiple cancer types. COMP's significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) remains uncertain.

Downregulation of CRTAC1 in Urothelial Carcinoma Promotes Tumor Aggressiveness and Confers Poor Prognosis.

Background: Cartilage acidic protein 1 (CRTAC1) is a glycosylated calcium-binding extracellular matrix protein. The oncological functions of CRTAC1 in urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the urinary bladder (UB) and upper urinary tract (UT) have not yet been elucidated. Based on the published UBUC transcriptome data, we re-evaluated the differential expression profile of calcium ion binding-related genes (GO:0005509), and we found that was the most significantly downregulated gene in UBUC progression.

PAK1 overexpression promotes myxofibrosarcoma angiogenesis through STAT5B-mediated transactivation: clinical and therapeutic relevance of amplification and nuclear entry.

Myxofibrosarcoma is genetically complex without established nonsurgical therapies. In public datasets, was recurrently gained with mRNA upregulation. Using myxofibrosarcoma cells, we explored the oncogenic underpinning of PAK1 with genetic manipulation and a pan-PAK inhibitor (PF3758309).

Upregulation of dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3) protein predicts poor prognosis in urothelial carcinoma.

Background: Dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3) is a cytosolic phosphoprotein expressed in the nervous system and is crucial for neurogenesis. A previous study showed that increased DPYSL3 expression promotes tumour aggressiveness in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, and colon cancer. However, the role of DPYSL3 in affecting the biological behaviour of urothelial carcinoma (UC) is not yet understood.

Aptamer/doxorubicin-conjugated nanoparticles target membranous CEMIP2 in colorectal cancer.

The objectives were to identify the functional domains of a potential oncoprotein, cell migration inducing hyaluronidase 2 (CEMIP2), evaluate its expression levels and roles in colorectal cancer (CRC), and develop an aptamer-based nanoparticle for targeted therapy. Data mining on TCGA identified that CEMIP2 might play oncogenic roles in CRC. In a local cohort, CEMIP2 mRNA levels significantly stepwise increase in CRC patients with higher stages, and high CEMIP2 confers worse disease-free survival.

A Shift in Molecular Drivers of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Following the 2017 World Health Organization Classification: Characterization of 554 Consecutive Tumors With Emphasis on BRAF-Negative Cases.

Most studies for comprehensive molecular profiling of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have been performed before the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) classification, in which the diagnostic criteria of follicular variants of PTC have been modified and noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features has been introduced. This study aims to investigate the shift in the incidence of BRAF V600E mutations in PTCs following the 2017 WHO classification and to further characterize the histologic subtypes and molecular drivers in BRAF-negative cases. The study cohort consisted of 554 consecutive PTCs larger than 0.