IKZF3 amplification predicts worse prognosis especially in intestinal-type gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: IKAROS family zinc finger 3 (IKZF3) is an oncogene involved in different malignancies, particularly in the development and malignant progression of lymphocytes. However, IKZF3 amplification and clinical significance in gastric cancers (GCs) remain unexplored. METHODS: We examined IKZF3 amplification status in 404 GCs with HER2 amplification status using tissue microarray (TMA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays. RESULTS: IKZF3 amplification was detected in 6.9% (28/404) of all GC patients, with higher rates in intestinal-type gastric cancer (IGC) (11.22%, 22/196) compared to other types (2.88%, 6/208). HER2 amplification was identified in 16.09% (65/404) of all GC patients, with higher rates in IGC (20.92%, 41/196) compared to other types (11.54%, 24/208). Co-amplification of IKZF3 and HER2 was detected in 8.16% (16/196) of IGC patients and in 2.40% (5/208) of other types. IKZF3 amplification showed significant correlation with IGC (P = 0.001) and HER2 amplification (P = 0.0001). IKZF3 amplification exhibited significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.014) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.018) in GC patients, particularly in IGC (DFS: P < 0.001; OS: P < 0.001), rather than other types. Cox regression analysis demonstrate IKZF3 amplification as an independent poor prognostic factor in all GCs (P = 0.006, P = 0.004 respectively) and in IGC patients, regardless of stages I-II or III-IV (P = 0.007, P = 0.004 respectively). On the other hand, HER2 amplification was significantly associated with worse DFS (P = 0.008) and OS (P = 0.01) in IGC patients, but not in all GCs and in multivariate analysis. Within the subset of patients with HER2 amplification, those also exhibiting IKZF3 amplification displayed potential poorer prognosis (P = 0.08, P = 0.11 respectively). CONCLUSION: IKZF3 amplification was detected in minority of GC patients, especially in IGC, and was an independent indicator of poor prognosis. Our study, for the first time, found the prognostic value of IKZF3 was superior to HER2 for GC patients.

Amlodipine inhibits Synaptotagmin-4's oncogenic activity on gastric cancer proliferation by targeting calcium signaling.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Synaptotagmin-4 (SYT4), a calcium-sensing synaptic vesicle protein, has been implicated in the oncogenesis of diverse malignancies. PURPOSE: This study delineates the role of SYT4 in modulating clinical outcomes and biological behaviors in GC. METHODS: We evaluated SYT4 expression in GC specimens using bioinformatics analyses and immunohistochemistry. Functional assays included CCK8 proliferation tests, apoptosis assays via flow cytometry, confocal calcium imaging, and xenograft models. Western blotting elucidated MAPK pathway involvement. Additionally, we investigated the impact of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine on cellular dynamics and MAPK pathway activity. RESULTS: SYT4 was higher in GC tissues, and the elevated SYT4 was significantly correlated with adverse prognosis. Both univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed SYT4 as an independent prognostic indicator for GC. Functionally, SYT4 promoted tumorigenesis by fostering cellular proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and enhancing intracellular Ca2+ influx, predominantly via MAPK pathway activation. Amlodipine pre-treatment attenuated SYT4-driven cell growth and potentiated apoptosis, corroborated by in vivo xenograft assessments. These effects were attributed to MAPK pathway suppression by amlodipine. CONCLUSION: SYT4 emerges as a potential prognostic biomarker and a pro-oncogenic mediator in GC through a Ca2+-dependent MAPK mechanism. Amlodipine demonstrates significant antitumor effects against SYT4-driven GC, positing its therapeutic promise. This study underscores the imperative of targeting calcium signaling in GC treatment strategies.

Clinicopathological and therapeutic analysis of PDGFRA mutated gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha (PDGFRA) mutation has causes a rare subgroup of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and not too much attention has been paid on it until the appearance of Avapritinib. This study aims to explore the clinicopathological features, therapy and prognosis of PDGFRA-mutant GIST for better understanding and clinical practice. METHOD: 119 PDGFRA-mutant GIST patients were retrospectively collected from 2038 patients who underwent genetic testing. Kaplan-Meier method was used. RESULTS: The incidence rate of PDGFRA-mutant GIST in our center was 5.8 %, with 79 males, 40 females, and a median age of 57 (25⁃80) years old. All the tumors were in the stomach, among which 60 were epithelioid type, 25 were spindle type and 34 were mixed type. There were 13 cases of exon 12 mutation and 106 cases of exon 18 mutation including 83 cases of D842V mutation (69.7 %). During a median follow⁃up of 49.6 (range, 1⁃154) months, progression could be observed in 12 patients with gene mutation at the codon 842 of exon 18, another case was V561D mutation in exon 12. The 5-year diseases⁃free survival (DFS) was 90.1 %, which was associated with the loss of CD34 expression (P＜0.001). Patients in D842V group showed a marginal worse prognosis than those in non-D842V group (P = 0.163). According to the NIH criteria, high risk group showed a poorer prognosis than non-high risk group (P = 0.003), however, there were no significant differences among the three non-high risk groups (P = 0.495, P = 0.652). Among 13 advanced patients, 5 cases (treated with Avapritinib) achieved partial remission. CONCLUSION: PDGFRA-mutant GIST mostly derived from stomach, with a relative indolent behavior. D842V mutation and lose of CD34 expression were adverse prognostic factors. Avapritinib can effectively control advanced patients in a certain period of time.

The LINC00623/NAT10 signaling axis promotes pancreatic cancer progression by remodeling ac4C modification of mRNA.

BACKGROUND: Although a substantial increase in the survival of patients with other cancers has been observed in recent decades, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest diseases. No effective screening approach exists. METHODS: Differential exosomal long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) isolated from the serum of patients with PDAC and healthy individuals were profiled to screen for potential markers in liquid biopsies. The functions of LINC00623 in PDAC cell proliferation, migration and invasion were confirmed through in vivo and in vitro assays. RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays and rescue experiments were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of the LINC00623/NAT10 signaling axis in PDAC progression. RESULTS: A novel lncRNA, LINC00623, was identified, and its diagnostic value was confirmed, as it could discriminate patients with PDAC from patients with benign pancreatic neoplasms and healthy individuals. Moreover, LINC00623 was shown to promote the tumorigenicity and migratory capacity of PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00623 bound to N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) and blocked its ubiquitination-dependent degradation by recruiting the deubiquitinase USP39. As a key regulator of N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification of mRNA, NAT10 was demonstrated to maintain the stability of oncogenic mRNAs and promote their translation efficiency through ac4C modification. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed the role of LINC00623/NAT10 signaling axis in PDAC progression, showing that it is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC.

Clinicopathologic features of gastric glomus tumor: A report of 15 cases and literature review.

Objective: Glomus tumor is a relatively uncommon soft tissue neoplasm predominantly occurring in upper extremity (fingers), less reported in stomach. This study aimed to discuss the clinicopathologic features of gastric glomus tumor (GGT) and then provide reference for clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cases pathologically diagnosed of GGT was performed, pathological findings were correlated with clinical information, immunohistochemical studies, next-generation sequencing, and patient follow-ups. A review of literature by searching similar cases was conducted to summarize previous knowledge of GGTs. Results: Our study identified 15 GGTs included 5 males and 10 females, aged between 35-75 years old (median, 49 years old). The tumor was located to the gastric corpus in 6 cases (40%) and to the antrum in 9 cases (60%). The maximum tumor diameter ranged between 1-4 cm (median, 1.5 cm). There were 11 cases (73%) of solid glomus tumor, 3 cases (20%) of mixture of solid glomus tumor and glomangioma, and 1 case (7%) of glomangiomyoma. Partial spindle cell area was observed in 3 cases (20%), moderate cellular atypia in 1 case (7%), atypical mitosis in 1 case (7%), vascular invasion in 5 cases (33%), neural invasion in 6 cases (40%) and tumor necrosis in 1 case (7%). Tumor cells expressed Collagen type IV, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and synaptophysin in most cases. The Ki67 index varied from 1% to 30%. Next-generation sequencing reported EGFR, PIK3CA, KEAP1 and TP53 mutation. The outcome information was obtained in 12 (80%) cases, followed for 6-63 months, 11 patients (92%) had tumor-free survival and 1 patient (8%) developed liver metastasis 26 months after surgery. Literature review obtained 16 previously reported malignant GGT cases. In terms of the total 31 cases, univariate analysis revealed that the atypical mitosis (OS: p = 0.009; DFS: p = 0.010) and severe cellular atypia (OS: p = 0.007; DFS: p = 0.004) were significantly associated with poor prognosis (patient death). Conclusion: GGT is indolent, while long-term close follow-up should be required in the presence of increasing number of risk factors. Malignant GGT is relatively uncommon and predisposes to liver metastasis, calling for accumulation of large-sample data and experience.

Pathologic T1 and T2 encapsulated invasive carcinomas arising from mucinous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas have favorable prognosis and might be treated conservatively.

Carcinoma arising from a mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas is termed MCN with associated invasive carcinoma (MCN-AIC) in the fifth WHO classification of digestive tumors (2019). The prognosis of this malignancy varies depending on the relationship of the invasive carcinoma to the cyst capsule, but limited data are available. This study identified 165 surgically resected MCNs including 15 MCN-AICs from a single center between 2008 and 2018 and analyzed their clinicopathologic features. The results confirmed that non-invasive MCNs were completely cured by surgery. All MCN-AICs showing an encapsulated invasion pattern (defined as invasive carcinoma limited to the ovarian-type stroma, cystic septa, and capsule) had an excellent prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of 100%, even when the size of the invasive component was up to stage T2. By contrast, MCN-AICs with extracapsular involvement had unfavorable clinical outcomes. Our study demonstrates that the pattern of invasion of MCN-AIC can predict patient prognosis. Pathologic stage T1 and T2 encapsulated MCN-AICs may be completely cured with surgical resection alone or when combined with postoperative chemotherapy.