ABSTRACT
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the most challenging diseases, with a very poor 5-year overall survival of around 11.5%. Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) mutation is seen in 90%-95% of PC patients and plays an important role in cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and survival, making it an essential mutation for targeted therapy. Despite extensive efforts in studying this oncogene, there has been little success in finding a drug to target this pathway, labelling it for decades as "undruggable". In this article we summarize some of the efforts made to target the KRAS pathway in PC, discuss the challenges, and shed light on promising clinical trials.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a common site for malignant melanoma metastasis, with small bowel being the most common. It is usually difficult to diagnose at an early stage because of the anatomical location of the disease. It is also challenging for pathologists to diagnose due to the small amount of biopsy samples. Survival rates of melanoma patients with distant metastasis are very poor. CASE PRESENTATION: This study presents two males, aged 67 and 69 years old, who have metastatic melanoma within the GIT. One was metastasis to the esophagus and another with metastasis to the jejunum presenting as intraluminal masses. Their clinical history and pathologic features of the metastasis are evaluated to give an insight into this disease. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Gastrointestinal melanoma is hard to detect due to its anatomical location and limited ability to biopsy. Typically, they present at an advanced stage when diagnosed. Approximately 60 % of patients with cutaneous melanoma will have GIT metastasis at the time of autopsy. The small bowel was found to have an affinity for malignant melanoma due to the expression of the CCR9 ligand, CCL25. BRAF mutations are much less observed in GIT mucosal melanomas as compared to cutaneous melanomas. Furthermore, AKAP13-NTRK3 fusion has been reported specifically in the GIT mucosal melanomas. NTRK fusions in general can be observed in metastatic melanomas and have been reported in GIT metastatic melanomas. CONCLUSION: GIT malignant melanomas are difficult to detect due to their anatomical location, with poor prognosis, and have a unique genetic profile.
ABSTRACT
Thyroid cancers exist in multiple forms. Papillary and follicular carcinomas of the thyroid are often referred to as well-differentiated thyroid cancers. Well-differentiated thyroid cancers rarely present as a distant metastatic cancer on initial diagnosis. Papillary thyroid cancer tends to have a good prognosis; however, if distant metastasis of PTC is present, there is usually a poor clinical outcome with a less favorable prognosis. In this study, we report a 90-year-old female who presented with right-sided abdominal discomfort. A renal ultrasound revealed bilateral upper pole renal masses. A percutaneous biopsy was ordered, and the microscopic examination revealed bilateral renal metastasis with a follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient underwent thyroidectomy and sustained radiation therapy for her bilateral renal metastases. She died 6 years after her initial diagnosis, due to sepsis. This is the second study in literature to report bilateral renal metastasis of follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer.
