[Clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer in adolescents aged 10-24 years: 17-year experience of 17 years in a single institute].

Objective: Gastric cancer in adolescents is rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric cancer in adolescents aged 10-24 years. Methods: A case-controlled study was performed. The clinicopathological data of gastric cancer patients aged 10-24 years who were treated at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2000 to February 2017 were retrospectively collected and compared with those patients over 40 years old at the same period, which were randomly selected in a ratio of 1:2. All the patients were followed up until June 2019 and Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze prognostic factors in the adolescent patients. Results: A total of 63 adolescent gastric cancer patients (0.4% of all 14 794 gastric cancer patients) were enrolled, including 31 males (49.2%) and 32 females (50.8%), with a mean body mass index of (19.5±4.3) kg/m(2). Before diagnosis, Only 35 cases (55.6%) had warning symptoms such as weight loss, ascites, obstruction, hematemesis, black stool, etc.; 5 cases (7.9%) had a family history of gastrointestinal tumor. The median duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 3 months. At diagnosis, 58 cases (92.1%) were poorly differentiated, 57 cases (90.5%) were T3-4 stage, 19 cases (30.2%) were signet ring cell cancer or mucous adenocarcinoma, 57 cases (90.5%) had lymph node metastasis, and 36 cases (57.1%) had distant metastasis. Twenty-nine patients (46.0%) underwent radical surgery, 12 patients underwent palliative surgery, 5 patients underwent exploratory laparotomy, 17 patients were unable to operate due to late stage. Of 56 cases (88.9%) with TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, 51 patients (81.0%) received chemotherapy. Of the 126 patients over 40 years old, 98 cases (77.8%) were male and 28 cases (22.2%) were female, and the mean body mass index was (23.8±3.2) kg/m(2). There were 60 cases (47.6%) with low differentiation, 90 cases (71.4%) with T3-4, 16 cases (12.7%) with signet ring cell cancer and mucous cell cancer, 79 cases (62.7%) with lymph node metastasis, and 12 cases (9.5%) with distant metastasis. A total of 115 cases (91.3%) underwent radical surgery. Of 74 cases (58.7%) with TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, 67 cases received (53.2%) chemotherapy. The 63 adolescent gastric cancer patients had lower body mass index, and higher proportion in female, poorly differentiation, signet ring cell cancer and mucous cell cancer, T3-4 stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ and receiving chemotherapy compared with 126 gastric cancer patients over 40 years old (all P<0.05). Among the 63 adolescent gastric cancer patients, 52 cases (82.5%) were followed up with median follow-up time of 72.1 (36.1, 100.8) months, and the median survival time was 10.4 months (95% CI: 6.5-15.1). The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 44.2%, 25.0% and 18.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the depth of tumor invasion (HR=7.15, 95% CI:1.71-29.89, P=0.007), lymph node metastasis (HR=6.00, 95% CI:1.42 - 25.42, P=0.015), distant metastasis (HR=7.25, 95% CI: 3.25 - 16.18, P<0.001), TNM stage (HR=5.49, 95% CI: 1.67-18.12, P=0.005) and tumor resection (HR=0.18, 95% CI: 0.09-0.37, P<0.001) were the risk factors affecting the prognosis of adolescent gastric cancer patients. Multivariate survival analysis showed that distant metastasis was an independent factor for gastric cancer survival in adolescents (HR=3.67, 95% CI: 1.32-10.19, P=0.012). Conclusions: Gastric cancer in adolescents is insidious and progresses rapidly. Most of them are in the advanced stage at diagnosis and have low rate of radical excision.

[Clinicopathologic features and prognostic analysis of 240 patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms].

Objective: To investigate clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of gastric neuroendocrine tumors (G-NEN). Methods: Clinical and pathological data of patients with G-NEN diagnosed by pathological examination in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2000 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed in this case-control study. Patients with complicated visceral lesions, other visceral primary tumors, mental disorders and incomplete clinicopathological data were excluded. Finally, 240 hospitalized patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Physical examination information, tumor characteristics and pathological characteristics of patients were summarized. The Cox regression models were used to analyze the risk factors affecting G-NEN and the survival conditions were described by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank test. Results: In 240 patients with G-NEN, the mean age was (60.3±10.1) years; 181 were male (75.4%) and 59 females (24.6%); mean tumor diameter was (4.2±2.8) cm; 51 cases (21.2%) were neuroendocrine tumor (NET), 139 cases (57.9%) neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), 50 cases (20.8%) mixed neuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC); 28 cases (11.7%) were G1 low grades, 34 cases (14.2%) G2 medium grades, and 178 cases (74.2%) G3 high grades; tumor infiltration depth T1 to T4 were 44 cases (18.3%), 27 cases (11.2%), 60 cases (25.0%) and 109 cases (45.4%) respectively; 163 cases (67.9%) developed lymphatic metastasis and 46 patients (19.2%) distant metastasis; tumor stage from stage I to stage IV were 55 cases (22.9%), 42 cases (17.5%), 94 cases (39.2%) and 53 cases (22.1%) respectively. Of the 240 G-NEN patients, 223 cases (92.9%) were followed up. The median survival time of the patients was 39.2 (95% CI: 29.1 to 47.5) months. Univariate survival analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years, tumor diameter ≥ 4.2 cm, tumor grade G3, lymphatic metastasis, distant metastasis, and tumor stage III-IV were risk factors for G-NEN patients. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that lymphatic metastasis (HR=1.783, 95%CI: 1.007-3.155, P=0.047) and distant metastasis (HR=2.288, 95% CI: 1.307-4.008, P=0.004) were independent risk factors of the prognosis. Further analysis of the G3 subgroup of G-NEN showed that the 5-year survival rate of NET-G3 was 76.19%, which was significantly higher than that of NEC-G3 and MANEC-G3 (15.60% and 24.73%, P=0.012). Conclusions: Most G-NEN patients are in advanced stage at diagnosis. Lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis indicate poor prognosis. The prognosis of high proliferation NET-G3 patients is better as compared to those of NEC-G3 and MANEC-G3. This classification is worth further attention.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 is associated with invasion, metastasis, and could be a potential therapeutic target in human gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), which is identified as a novel intestinal stem cell marker, is overexpressed in various tumours. In this study, we explore Lgr5 expression in gastric carcinoma and analyse its role in invasion, metastasis, and prognosis in carcinoma. METHODS: A combination of immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of Lgr5 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). Small interfering RNA against Lgr5 was designed, synthesised, and transfected into AGS cells. The effects of Lgr5 siRNA on cell invasion were detected by transwell invasion chamber assay and wound healing assay. RESULTS: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 expression was significantly higher in gastric carcinomas than in normal mucosa. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 expression positively correlated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distance of metastasis, and MMP2 expression levels. Multivariate analysis showed that Lgr5 had an independent effect on survival, and that it positively correlated with MMP2. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 siRNAs inhibited Lgr5 mRNA and protein expression. Transwell assays indicated that these siRNAs resulted in significantly fewer cells migrating through the polycarbonate membrane, and wound healing assay also indicated that siRNAs decreased the migration of cells. Inhibition of Lgr5 resulted in a significant decrease in MMP2 and ß-catenin levels compared with those in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 was correlated with invasion and metastasis. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 inhibition could serve as a novel therapeutic approach.