Secondary Breast Burkitt Lymphoma Involving the Stomach, Ovary, Pancreas, and Bones: A Case Report.

Breast lymphomas are rare, malignant breast neoplasms with a heterogeneous pattern of clinical symptoms. Burkitt's lymphoma is a rare, highly aggressive, and rapidly growing B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We report about a 27-year-old woman diagnosed as having secondary breast Burkitt's lymphoma, probably originating from the stomach, with multiple distant metastases. Breast ultrasonography revealed multiple, variable sized, heterogeneous masses with posterior acoustic enhancement and echogenic rims. These imaging findings may sometimes overlap with those of other breast malignancies. However, unlike other breast malignancies, lymphoma can be diagnosed by biopsy and does not require surgical excision. To avoid unnecessary treatment, radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the characteristic imaging features of breast lymphomas.

Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation on Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study analyzed the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) results in lung cancer and the pathological findings in patients subjected to surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 210 patients diagnosed with lung cancer by F-18 FDG PET/CT at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital between January 2018 and December 2023 were recruited. EGFR mutation tests were performed on biopsy specimens. Overall, 78 patients (37.1%) with EGFR mutations were included in this study. Twenty-seven patients (12.9%) had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Of all patients, 69 (32.9%) underwent surgery at our hospital, and their pathological findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of F-18 FDG PET/CT was <10 in patients with EGFR mutations. Patients with EGFR mutations were not commonly diagnosed with diabetes. When analyzing the pathological findings after surgery in the 69 patients, adenocarcinoma was more common in those with EGFR mutations. In contrast, perineural invasion was more common in patients without EGFR mutations. When analyzing the results of 69 patients with postoperative pathology, 25 relapsed during the median follow-up of 21.7 months (range=0.9-58.4 months). Patients who underwent surgery and had EGFR mutations (n=26) exhibited lower recurrence rates compared to those without EGFR mutations. Disease-free survival was longer in patients with EGFR mutations. CONCLUSION: In non-small-cell lung cancer with an EGFR mutation, the F-18 FDG PET/CT SUVmax value and the probability of recurrence were lower. EGFR mutations are associated with low-glucose metabolism.

The Association of Chronic Periodontitis as a Potential Risk Factor with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nested Case-Control Study Using a Korean National Health Screening Cohort.

Growing research has proposed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP) share similar pathophysiological mechanisms involving inflammation and tissue destruction. However, the potential correlation of CP as a contributing factor for the occurrence of RA warrants validation in the Korean population, where both diseases are prevalent, especially considering the increasingly aging demographic in Korea. This study examined 5139 RA cases and 509,727 matched controls from a Korean national cohort dataset (2002-2019) by carefully employing propensity score matching to ensure comparability between groups. Baseline characteristics were compared using standardized differences, and logistic regression was employed to estimate the impact of CP history on RA likelihood while controlling for covariates. We fully examined medical records documenting CP occurrences within the two-year period leading up to the index date, conducting comprehensive subgroup analyses. While a 1-year history of CP did not show a significant association with likelihood of RA, a 2-year history of CP increased RA likelihood by 12%, particularly among older adults, females, rural residents, and those with certain comorbidities such as hypercholesterolemia. Interestingly, this association persisted even among individuals with non-smoking habits, normal weight, and infrequent alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that chronic CP exposure for at least 2 years may independently elevate RA risk in Korean adults. The association in certain subgroups appears to suggest a predisposition toward genetic susceptibilities over lifestyle and environmental factors. Predicting RA in CP patients may be challenging, emphasizing the importance of regular RA screening, especially in high-risk subgroups.

Mitigation effect of hesperidin on X-ray radiation-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in Caco-2 cell monolayers.

The tight junctions (TJs) and barrier function of the intestinal epithelium are highly sensitive to radiation. However, polyphenols can be used to reverse the effects of radiation. Here, we investigated the effects of hesperidin (hesperetin-7-rhamnoglucoside) on X-ray-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in human epithelial Caco-2 monolayers. To examine whether hesperidin mitigated the effects of X-ray exposure (2 Gy), cell survival was evaluated and intestinal barrier function was assessed by measuring the transepithelial flux, apparent permeability coefficient (Papp), and barrier integrity. Hesperidin improved the survival of Caco-2 cell monolayers and attenuated X-ray exposure-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction. For fluorescein transport experiments, transepithelial flux and Papp of fluorescein in control group were significantly elevated by X-ray, but were restored to near control by 10 µM hesperidin pretreatment. Further, X-ray exposure decreased the barrier integrity and TJ interruption by reducing TJ-related proteins occludin and claudin-4, whereas cell monolayers pretreated with hesperidin before X-ray exposure were reinstated to control level. It was concluded that hesperidin treatment before X-ray exposure alleviated X-ray-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction through regulation of TJ-related proteins. These results indicate that hesperidin prevents and mitigates X-ray-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Potential Molecular Markers Related to Lymph Node Metastasis and Stalk Resection Margins in Pedunculated T1 Colorectal Cancers Using Digital Spatial Profiling: A Pilot Study with a Small Case Series.

There is a debate regarding the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pedunculated T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study with four cases of pedunculated T1 CRCs, we aimed to investigate gene expression variations based on the distance from the Haggitt line (HL) and identify potential molecular risk factors for LNM. By leveraging the Cancer Transcriptome Atlas and digital spatial profiling technology, we meticulously analyzed discrete regions, including the head, HL, proximal stalk region (300-1000 µm from HL), and distal stalk region (1500-2000 µm from HL) to identify spatially sequential molecular changes. Our findings showed significant overall gene expression variations among the head, proximal stalk, and distal stalk regions of pedunculated T1 CRCs compared to the control adenoma. Compared to LNM-negative T1 CRCs, LNM-positive T1 CRC showed that the expression of genes involved in immune-related pathways such as B2M, HLA-B, and HLA-E were significantly downregulated in the distal stalk region compared to the proximal stalk region. In summary, our results may tentatively suggest considering endoscopic resection of the stalk with a minimum 2000 µm margin from the HL, taking into account the gene expression alterations related to immune-related pathways. However, we acknowledge the limitations of this pilot study, notably the small case series, which may restrict the depth of interpretation. Further validation is imperative to substantiate these findings.

Blood Concentrations of Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury Are Associated With Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: An association between environmental pollutants and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) has not been determined until now. The objectives of this study were to examine the association of the pollutants with ALD, and whether the pollutants together increased the risk of ALD. METHODS: Data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2013 and 2016-2017; n = 11,993). Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury were measured. ALD was defined by a combination of excessive alcohol consumption and ALD/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease index > 0. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis (FIB)-4 score were used to evaluate ALD FIB. RESULTS: The odds ratios (ORs) of ALD for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of exposure were for lead, 7.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.51-9.91); cadmium, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.32-2.14); and mercury, 5.03 (95% CI, 3.88-6.53). Adjusting for age, gender, smoking, occupation, education, and personal income attenuated the associations but indicated significant positive trends (all Ptrend < 0.001). A positive additive interaction between cadmium and lead was observed. The relative excess OR due to the interaction was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.41-1.51); synergy index = 2.92 (95% CI, 0.97-8.80). Among 951 subjects with ALD, advanced FIB was associated with lead and cadmium (OR, 3.46, 95% CI, 1.84-6.53; OR, 8.50, 95% CI, 2.54-28.42, respectively), but not with mercury. The effect estimates for lead and cadmium remained significant even after adjustment for daily alcohol intake. CONCLUSION: Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury were significantly associated not only with the risk of ALD but also with ALD FIB. Cadmium and lead have synergistic effects that increase the risk of ALD.

Serum KL-6 levels predict the occurrence and severity of treatment-related interstitial lung disease in lung cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) as a potential biomarker for treatment-related ILD (TR-ILD) in lung cancer. We recruited patients with lung cancer in whom KL-6 was measured to differentiate between pneumonia and ILD (category 1), diagnose and assess the severity of suspicious ILD (category 2), or evaluate baseline levels before cancer treatment (category 3). Among 1,297 patients who underwent KL-6 testing, 422 had lung cancer, and TR-ILD was detected in 195 patients. In categories 1-2, median KL-6 level was higher in drug-induced ILD or acute exacerbation of underlying ILD than in no ILD or radiation-induced pneumonitis, and it was correlated with the severity of TR-ILD. High KL-6 level (cut-off: > 436U/mL) was an independent risk factor for severe TR-ILD, and low KL-6 level with high procalcitonin level (> 0.5 ng/mL) could exclude severe TR-ILD. Patients with severe TR-ILD had worse overall survival than those without, whereas high baseline KL-6 level was associated with worse survival, especially in patients without severe TR-ILD. Therefore, serum KL-6 may be a surrogate marker for predicting the occurrence and assessing the severity of TR-ILD at the time of suspected ILD and before lung cancer treatment.

Dysregulated microRNA Expression Relevant to TERT Promoter Mutations in Tonsil Cancer-A Pilot Study.

Tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCCs) exhibit high rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) positivity. The expression profiles of microRNA (miRNA), which are small RNA molecules that play pivotal roles in biological processes, in TSCC in relation to the HPV status and cancer-related genetic mutations are not well investigated. Herein, we expanded our previous research, which was focused on established clinicopathological and genetic mutational data, to profile miRNA expression in TSCC, aiming to identify clinically relevant targets for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. The miRNA profiles were analyzed using the nCounter Nanostring miRNA Expression assay in 22 surgically resected TSCC tissues and their contralateral normal tonsil tissues. The TERT promoter (TERTp) gene was the only relevant candidate gene associated with differentially expressed miRNAs in TSCC. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed high expression levels of hsa-miR-1285-5p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-1303, hsa-miR-33a-5p, and hsa-miR-3615 coupled with low expression levels of hsa-miR-3182, hsa-miR-219a-2-3p, and hsa-miR-767-3p, which were associated with HPV-positive TSCC (p = 0.009). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these dysregulated miRNAs tended to be involved in protein binding (molecular function) and cellular components (biological processes). Therefore, hsa-miR-1285-5p and hsa-miR-663a may be associated with HPV-positive TERTp-mutated tumors and may serve as potential treatment targets and biomarkers for early detection.

X-ray radiation-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in human epithelial Caco-2 cell monolayers.

Radiation therapy and unwanted radiological or nuclear exposure, such as nuclear plant accidents, terrorist attacks, and military conflicts, pose serious health issues to humans. Dysfunction of the intestinal epithelial barrier and the leakage of luminal antigens and bacteria across the barrier have been linked to various human diseases. Intestinal permeability is regulated by intercellular structures, termed tight junctions (TJs), which are disrupted after radiation exposure. In this study, we investigated radiation-induced alterations in TJ-related proteins in an intestinal epithelial cell model. Caco-2 cells were irradiated with 2, 5, and 10 Gy and harvested 1 and 24 h after X-ray exposure. The trypan blue assay revealed that cell viability was reduced in a dose-dependent manner 24 h after X-ray exposure compared to that of non-irradiated cells. However, the WST-8 assay revealed that cell proliferation was significantly reduced only 24 h after radiation exposure to 10 Gy compared to that of non-irradiated cells. In addition, a decreased growth rate and increased doubling time were observed in cells irradiated with X-rays. Intestinal permeability was significantly increased, and transepithelial electrical resistance values were remarkably reduced in Caco-2 cell monolayers irradiated with X-rays compared to non-irradiated cells. X-ray irradiation significantly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin-3, and claudin-4, with ZO-1 and claudin-3 protein levels decreasing in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, the present study reveals that exposure to X-ray induces dysfunction of the human epithelial intestinal barrier and integrity via the downregulation of TJ-related genes, which may be a key factor contributing to intestinal barrier damage and increased intestinal permeability.

Human Neuralized is a novel tumour suppressor targeting Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in colon cancer.

While there is growing evidence that many epigenetically silenced genes in cancer are tumour suppressor candidates, their significance in cancer biology remains unclear. Here, we identify human Neuralized (NEURL), which acts as a novel tumour suppressor targeting oncogenic Wnt/ß-catenin signalling in human cancers. The expression of NEURL is epigenetically regulated and markedly suppressed in human colorectal cancer. We, therefore, considered NEURL to be a bona fide tumour suppressor in colorectal cancer and demonstrate that this tumour suppressive function depends on NEURL-mediated oncogenic ß-catenin degradation. We find that NEURL acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacting directly with oncogenic ß-catenin, and reducing its cytoplasmic levels in a GSK3ß- and ß-TrCP-independent manner, indicating that NEURL-ß-catenin interactions can lead to a disruption of the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. This study suggests that NEURL is a therapeutic target against human cancers and that it acts by regulating oncogenic Wnt/ß-catenin signalling.

Secondary diffuse large B-cell breast lymphoma developed in subcutaneous fat layer of the breast with cardiac involvement.

We present a rare case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma developed in subcutaneous fat layer of the breast with cardiac involvement. Radiologists should perform an image-guided biopsy for pathologic confirmation of breast lymphomas and avoidance of unnecessary invasive treatment.

Case Report: A case of ultra-late recurrence of KIF13A-RET fusion non-small cell lung cancer response to selpercatinib.

Background: Cancer recurrence remains a significant problem, and most postoperative recurrences of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develop within 5 years after resection. We present a rare case of ultra-late recurrence of NSCLC accompanying choroidal metastasis with KIF13A-RET fusion 14 years after the definitive surgery. Case description: A 48-year-old female patient who had never-smoked presented with decreased visual acuity. She had been treated with right upper lobe lobectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy 14 years prior. Fundus photographs revealed bilateral choroidal metastatic lesions. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans showed extensive bone metastases and focal hypermetabolism in the left uterine cervix. An excision biopsy of the uterus showed primary lung adenocarcinoma with immunohistochemistry of TTF-1+. Plasma next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified the presence of KIF13A-RET fusion. After 6 months of selpercatinib therapy, PET-CT revealed a partial response for bone and uterine metastasis and stable disease for choroidal lesions. Conclusion: In this case report, we are reporting a rare case of ultra-late recurrence of NSCLC in a patient with choroidal metastasis. Furthermore, the diagnosis of NSCLC with RET fusion was based on liquid-based NGS rather than tissue-based biopsy. The patient showed a good response to selpercatinib, which supports the efficacy of selpercatinib as a treatment for RET-fusion-positive NSCLC with choroidal metastasis.

Different miRNAs Related to FBXW7 Mutations or High Mitotic Indices Contribute to Rectal Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Pilot Study.

Recent studies suggest that miRNA may be involved in the development of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We explored the frequency of clinicopathologically relevant mutations and miRNA expression in rectal NETs to examine molecular profiles related to prognosis and behavior. Twenty-four eligible specimens with endoscopically excised rectal NETs were selected. Next-generation sequencing and an miRNA expression assay were used to evaluate the expression profile relevant to common genetic mutations in rectal NETs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis predicted that the possible target signaling pathways were correlated with dysregulated miRNAs. Nineteen rectal NETs harbored more than one mutation in the 24 cancer-related genes. Seven miRNAs (hsa-miR-769-5p, hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-181c-5p, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-324-5p, and hsa-miR-361-3p) were significantly down-regulated in tumors harboring the FBWX7 mutation. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis showed that up-regulation of these seven miRNAs may result in high mitotic indices, indicating the role of miRNAs in tumor progression. Among the down-regulated miRNAs, hsa-miR-769-5p was strongly correlated with extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and lysine degradation. Among the clinicopathological factors, up-regulated hsa-miR-3934-5p was linked to an increased mitotic count. No change in miRNA expression was associated with a tumor size >1 cm, lymphovascular invasion, or Ki-67 index. In summary, we identified different miRNA signatures involved in FBXW7 mutations or high mitotic indices in rectal NETs, which may play a critical role in tumor behavior.

A Case of Cavernous Hemangioma on the Lateral Wall of the Inferior Nasal Meatus.

Hemangiomas, which originate in the sinonasal area, are not common among the various types of tumors from the head and neck region. Mechanisms for the formation of the tumor are yet to be discovered, and a few factors such as trauma, infection, oncogene, and some hormones are considered to take a role in the occurrence and growth of the tumor. Hemangiomas are classified for their histologic features as cavernous, capillary, and mixed types. There are a few reported cases of cavernous hemangiomas of the maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, middle and inferior nasal turbinate, and nasal septum. However, a case of cavernous hemangioma from the inferior nasal meatus, on the lateral wall to be precise, has never been reported. The authors are the first to report a case of a 69-year-old female patient who had cavernous hemangioma which was originated from the lateral wall of the inferior nasal meatus and successfully managed.

Assessment of the Mutation Profile of Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinomas Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing.

Data regarding driver mutation profiles in tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas (TSCCs) remain scarce, limiting the understanding of its pathogenesis and unexpected behavior in the updated staging system. We investigated the incidence of clinically relevant mutations and their contribution in the prognosis of the condition, and their association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and adjuvant therapy. We subjected 43 surgically resected TSCC samples to targeted next-generation sequencing, determined their HPV status using polymerase chain reaction, and performed The Cancer Genomic Atlas and Gene Set Enrichment analyses. Thirty-five TSCC samples (81.4%) showed at least one oncogenic/likely oncogenic mutation among twenty-nine cancer-related genes. The top five mutated genes were TP53 (46.5%), PIK3CA (25.6%), PTEN (18.6%), EGFR (16.3%), and SMAD4 (14.0%). The EGFR pathway was the most frequently affected (51.2%), followed by the p53 (48.8%), PI3K (39.5%), and RTK (34.9%) pathways. The gene set enrichment analysis confirmed that the genes involved in signal transduction, such as growth factor receptors and second messengers, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and PI3K signaling pathways, were mostly related with TSCCs. TP53 mutation was an independent prognostic factor predicting worse overall survival in the adjuvant therapy group. RTK mutations were related to survival in all patients and in the HPV-positive group, but multivariate analyses showed no significance. In conclusion, oncogenic/likely oncogenic mutations were relatively high in TSCCs, and TP53 and RTK mutations may be candidate predictors for poor prognosis in the adjuvant therapy and HPV-positive groups, respectively, under the updated staging system.

Effective Timing of Introducing an Inpatient Smoking Cessation Program to Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE: We aimed to identify factors influencing smoking cessation success among cancer patients registered in an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic medical records of enrolled patients with solid cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated factors associated with 6-month smoking cessation. RESULTS: A total of 458 patients with cancer were included in this study. Their mean age was 62.9±10.3 years, and 56.3% of the participants had lung cancer. 193 (42.1%) had not yet begun their main treatment. The mean number of counseling sessions for the participants was 8.4±3.5, and 46 (10.0%) patients were prescribed smoking cessation medications. The 6-month smoking cessation success rate was 48.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (<65 years), cohabited status, early stage, and the number of counseling sessions were statistically significant factors affecting 6-month smoking cessation success (p<0.05). Initiation of a cessation program before cancer treatment was significantly associated with cessation success (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.70; p=0.040). CONCLUSION: Smoking cessation intervention must be considered when establishing a treatment plan immediately after a cancer diagnosis among smokers.

Efficacy of Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Promoting the Healing of Diabetic Wounds in a Murine Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes: A Pilot Experiment.

We assessed the efficacy of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in accelerating the healing of diabetic wounds in a murine model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. After the creation of diabetic wounds, the mice of the PDRN SC, PDRN IP and PBS groups received a subcutaneous, an intra-peritoneal injection of PDRN and a subcutaneous injection of PBS, respectively. After euthanasia, time-dependent changes in the wound diameter and histologic scores were measured and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and collagen types I and III were assessed for their expression levels. The PDRN SC and the PDRN IP groups showed a significantly smaller diameter of diabetic wounds, significantly higher histologic scores, a significantly greater expression of VEGF, a significantly lower expression of TGF-ß1 and a significantly greater expression of collagen types I and III as compared with the PBS group (p < 0.05 or 0.0001). In conclusion, PDRN might be effective in promoting the healing of diabetic wounds in a murine model of STZ-induced diabetes.

Risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary disease. Although most patients with PAVMs are asymptomatic, cerebral complications associated with PAVMs are often fatal. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with PAVMs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients with PAVMs between 2003 and 2021 at two tertiary referral hospitals and one secondary hospital. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients diagnosed with PAVMs were enrolled in this study. Most patients were female (89.1%), and the median age was 53 years. Thirty patients (54.5%) had incidentally detected PAVMs without symptoms. Twenty-four patients (43.7%) with PAVMs were treated with embolotherapy or surgery. Thirteen patients (23.6%) had cerebral complications. There was no significant difference in the development of cerebral complications according to treatment; however, older age (≥ 65 years) was associated with the development of new cerebral complications in untreated patients with PAVMs (odds ratio, 17.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-250.31; P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Older age (≥ 65 years) was a risk factor for the development of cerebral complications in patients with PAVMs; therefore, treatment should be considered in older patients with PAVMs.

Promoter Methylation of Cancer Stem Cell Surface Markers as an Epigenetic Biomarker for Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Growing evidence suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors, including environmental factors, contribute to the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Here, we investigated the transcriptional silencing of the CD24, CD44, CD133, and CD147 genes, which are well-known cancer stem cell surface markers in various cancer types, including OSCC. We first examined the correlation between the transcriptional expression level and reactivation by 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and the promoter methylation levels of the four genes in several OSCC cell lines. We observed promoter hypermethylation for the CD24, CD133, and CD147 genes at 70%, 75%, and 70%, respectively, in OSCC cell lines compared to normal oral mucosa tissues (<53%), indicating that this methylation pattern is cancer-specific, which was confirmed by bisulfite sequencing analysis. More specifically, the expression and methylation profiles of CD133 and CD147 extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were negatively correlated, supporting their epigenetic regulation in primary OSCC tumors. The methylation status of CD133 and CD147 was associated with poor survival in patients with OSCC using the TCGA database. Our findings provide additional insight into the abnormal DNA methylation of CD133 and that CD147 could be used for the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of patients with OSCC.

A method for early diagnosis of lung cancer from tumor originated DNA fragments using plasma cfDNA methylome and fragmentome profiles.

Early detection is critical for minimizing mortality from cancer. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) contains the signatures of tumor DNA, allowing us to quantify the signature and diagnose early-stage tumors. Here, we report a novel tumor fragment quantification method, TOF (Tumor Originated Fragment) for the diagnosis of lung cancer by quantifying and analyzing both the plasma cfDNA methylation patterns and fragmentomic signatures. TOF utilizes the amount of ctDNA predicted from the methylation density information of each cfDNA read mapped on 6243 lung-tumor-specific CpG markers. The 6243 tumor-specific markers were derived from lung tumor tissues by comparing them with corresponding normal tissues and healthy blood from public methylation data. TOF also utilizes two cfDNA fragmentomic signatures: 1) the short fragment ratio, and 2) the 5' end-motif profile. We used 298 plasma samples to analyze cfDNA signatures using enzymatic methyl-sequencing data from 201 lung cancer patients and 97 healthy controls. The TOF score showed 0.98 of the area under the curve in correctly classifying lung cancer from normal samples. The TOF score resolution was high enough to clearly differentiate even the early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients from the healthy controls. The same was true for small cell lung cancer patients.