The influence of Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8, Interleukin-10, Interleukin-17, TNF-A, MIF, STAT3 on lung cancer risk in Moroccan population.

To date, several studies have reported that key cytokines in the inflammatory system have important roles in the pathogenesis of cancer, notably in lung cancer. The aim of this case-control study, conducted for the first time in Moroccan population, was to investigate and to analyze the association of the following inflammatory cytokine genes Interleukin (IL)-6, Interleukin (IL)-8, Interleukin (IL)-10, Interleukin (IL)-17, Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNFA), Macrophage migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) with lung cancer risk in our patients. Firstly, the mRNA expression was assessed by a quantitative real time PCR in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients and healthy subjects. Secondly, polymorphisms in the genes encoding cytokines were assessed in 160 lung cancer patients and 150 healthy controls. Genotyping analysis was performed with a Real-Time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan® genotyping assays on a 7500 FAST Real-Time PCR System and Restriction Fragment Length PolymorphismPCR. Our results revealed a significant difference in mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17 and TNFA genes in lung cancer patients compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Among the studied genes, we found a significant association between lung cancer risk in our patients and the following polymorphisms IL-6 (rs1800795, rs1800796), IL-8 (rs4075, rs2227306), IL-17F (rs763780, rs2397084) and MIF (rs755622). In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17 and MIF cytokine genes may aggravate lung cancer risk in the Moroccan population. However, further investigations are required to confirm our findings.

Association of Variants in IL6-Related Genes with Lung Cancer Risk in Moroccan Population.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is known to be a complex multifactorial disease, involving both genetic and environmental factors. The study of the different signaling pathways and the identification of the genes involved, will contribute to further understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, thus allowing the development of appropriate targeted treatments. Recently, the link between cancer and inflammation has become more evident and inflammation has been proposed as the seventh hallmark of cancer. Previous studies have suggested that key cytokines involved in inflammation may have an important role in the etiology of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether common variants in inflammation-related genes: IL-6, IL6-R, and IL6-ST, influence lung cancer risk in Moroccan population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-6, IL6-R, and IL6-ST genes were assessed in 120 controls and 120 patients with confirmed lung cancer diagnosis. Genotyping analysis was performed with the TaqMan® allelic discrimination technology. The results were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 software. RESULTS: Among the studied SNPs, we found a significant association for the IL-6 (rs2069840) (OR = 1.63; 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.47; p = 0.01). No significant association was observed for the remaining SNPs of IL-6R (rs2228145) and IL-6ST (rs2228044) genes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the IL-6 (rs2069840) polymorphism may influence the occurrence of lung cancer in Moroccan patients.

Serum procalcitonin as a tumor marker in lung adenocarcinoma with ovarian metastasis: a case report.

Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The major sites of lung cancer metastasis are the bones, liver, brain, lung, and adrenal glands. However, secondary localizations in the genital tract are extremely rare. Case presentation: The authors report the case of a 36-year-old woman who consulted for a right scapular swelling evolving for 4 months associated with a chronic cough. Clinical examination showed a hard fixed right scapular mass with any inflammatory signs. The extension assessment followed by histological analysis concluded in a secondary ovarian location of a lung adenocarcinoma. A very high serum procalcitonin level unrelated to sepsis was detected in the patient along with a substantial hematological paraneoplastic disease. The patient died after 6 months of palliative chemotherapy. Clinical discussion: Ovarian localization is found in only 0.4% of metastatic ovarian tumors, which is extremely low, the differentiation between primary and secondary ovarian adenocarcinoma is fundamental since the treatment and prognosis are very different. The serum procalcitonin can be elevated in lung adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: This case report highlights the interest to encourage doctors to look for ovarian metastasis during the clinical course of lung cancer, and explain the elevation of serum procalcitonin during lung adenocarcinoma.

Polyphenol-Based Nanoparticles: A Promising Frontier for Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant challenge in healthcare, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Natural compounds such as polyphenols with inherent anticancer properties have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents. This review highlights the need for novel therapeutic approaches in CRC, followed by a discussion on the synthesis of polyphenols-based nanoparticles. Various synthesis techniques, including dynamic covalent bonding, non-covalent bonding, polymerization, chemical conjugation, reduction, and metal-polyphenol networks, are explored. The mechanisms of action of these nanoparticles, encompassing passive and active targeting mechanisms, are also discussed. The review further examines the intrinsic anticancer activity of polyphenols and their enhancement through nano-based delivery systems. This section explores the natural anticancer properties of polyphenols and investigates different nano-based delivery systems, such as micelles, nanogels, liposomes, nanoemulsions, gold nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and metal-organic frameworks. The review concludes by emphasizing the potential of nanoparticle-based strategies utilizing polyphenols for CRC treatment and highlights the need for future research to optimize their efficacy and safety. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the synthesis, mechanisms of action, intrinsic anticancer activity, and enhancement of polyphenols-based nanoparticles for CRC treatment.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ovary: A rare entity.

BACKGROUND: Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the ovary is rare, highly aggressive tumor and diagnosed at advanced stages. Immunohistochemistry is required for the diagnosis. The optimal treatment management is not codified because of its rarity. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with a locally advanced stage LCNEC of the ovary managed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin. She remained disease free until now four years after the end of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: This report suggests the necessity of immunohistochemical analysis in the diagnosis of LCNEC of the ovary. Due to the rarity of LCNC, the general consensus on treatment is not standardized. We used adjuvant chemotherapy regimen similar to large cell carcinoma of the lung.

The tale of TILs in breast cancer: A report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group.

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC.

Oral White Sponge Nevus: An Exceptional Differential Diagnosis in Childhood.

White sponge nevus is an autosomal dominant skin disorder characterized by white, irregular, diffuse plaques mainly affecting the oral mucosa. Histological findings of white sponge nevus are characteristic but not pathognomonic. We report a case of an oral white sponge nevus in a 6-year-old girl, which poses a problem in differential diagnosis with oral candidiasis. No treatment was performed because of the benign and asymptomatic nature of the lesions.

Targeted methods for molecular characterization of EGFR mutational profile in lung cancer Moroccan cohort.

The study of EGFR gene mutational profile in NSCLC patients has a special clinical significance in the selection of patients for tyrosine-kinase inhibitors therapy. From 2017, the targeted therapy started to be accessible in public sector in Morocco, thus, the implementation of techniques for the molecular characterization of EGFR mutations in the laboratories became a necessity. The aim of this study was to present targeted methods "ADx-ARMS technology and the Idylla™ system" for the identification of EGFR mutational profile, methods that can be implemented in our clinical laboratories for routine analysis instead of outsourcing analysis to other countries. We conducted this study by processing 239 cases of NSCLC patients. Using the DNA extracted from the FFPE tissue, we evaluated somatic mutations in exons 18 to 21 of the tyrosine-kinase domain of EGFR gene by HRM-PCR combined to real time PCR "ADx-ARMS technology" and Idylla™ system. These sensitive methods showed that among the positive mutant cases, the distribution of mutations was as follows: 70% of patients having a deletion in exon 19, 15% in exon 21 (L858R), 7.5% in exon 20 and 7.5% in exon 18 (G719X). All of the positive EGFR mutations cases were adenocarcinoma and 42.1% of them were smokers. These results show the need to incorporate a quick and efficient method for the identification of EGFR mutation into routine practice in our laboratories, allowing more patients to benefit from targeted therapy.

[A rare cases of rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix: about a case and review of the literature]. / Cas rare d'un rhabdomyosarcome du col: à propos d'un cas avec revue de la littérature.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix is a rare histological type of cervical cancer, occurring commonly in young girls or sexually active women. Given the aggressiveness of the disease, therapeutic strategy is based on the combination of the three treatment modalities (chemotherapy - radiation therapy-surgery). We report the case of a 20-year old patient with rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix. The patient had a personal history of recurrent genital infections. Patient's first symptom was profuse metrorrhagias associated with the presence of a mass like "a bunch of grapes". Biopsy was in favor of a rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix. E Extension assessment showed locally advanced mass without metastasis. The patient underwent 5 administrations of VAC chemotherapy, exhibiting tumor regression of 90%. She underwent hysterectomy without adnexal conservation. Then she received postoperative pelvic radiation therapy. At 13-months' follow-up the patient was still in complete remission. Rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix is a rare tumor that develops most often in young girls. It mainly shows locoregional extension. Treatment is based on surgery including conservative treatment as well as radical treatment associated with perioperative chemotherapy. The role of radiation therapy remains poorly defined.

[Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: a rare tumor in humans]. / Carcinome neuroendocrine à grandes cellules primitif du sein: une tumeur rare chez l'homme.

Primitive large cell neuroendocrine tumor of the breast is an extremely rare entity. Less than ten cases have been reported in the literature. We report a new case of a 61-year old male patient presenting with locally advanced tumor of the right breast, immediately metastasized to the lungs and pleura, staged cT4bN1M1. The patient received eight cycles of Docetaxel-based chemotherapy every 21 days, with a good clinical and radiological response (>50%), followed by adjuvant tamoxifen with disease stabilization for 18 months. Immunohistochemistry is still essential to determine the neuroendocrine nature of this tumor. Treatment is not well codified due to the rarity of this type of cancer.

Nephrotic syndrome revealing a disseminated Langerhans' cell histiocytosis.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal disorder of proliferating histiocytes, which can affect various organs. The clinical picture ranges from localized to disseminated disease with multiple organ involvement and severe organ dysfunction. Renal involvement is uncommon and the association with glomerulonephritis is unusual. We report here a case of nephrotic syndrome caused by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in a 20-year-old woman, which revealed a disseminated form of LCH. Surgical removal of the LCH process and high doses of corticosteroids led to the remission of the basic disease and the renal involvement. The occurence of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in the course of LCH might be mediated by circulating immune complexes, composed at least in part of antigens or neoantigenes which may cause the abnormal proliferation of the Langerhans' cells.

[Inflammatory pseudotumors of the kidney. Report of 2 cases]. / Les pseudotumeurs inflammatoires du rein: à propos de 2 cas.

Inflammatory pseudotumours of the kidney are rare and raise a problem of differential diagnosis with renal cancer. The authors discuss the diagnostic difficulties of this disease in the light of two patients, aged 32 years and 60 years, admitted for left low back pain (2 cases), large kidney (1 case) and haematuria (1 case). The combination of renal ultrasound and CT suggested a renal tumour or a renal cyst, and MRI suggested a necrotic tumour. Surgical exploration led to tumour excision in one case and surgical biopsy in the other case due to the unresectable appearance of the tumour. Histological examination revealed an inflammatory mass with no signs of malignancy in the two cases. A favourable course was observed in both cases with a normal kidney on subsequent CT. The preoperative diagnosis of pseudotumour remains difficult, despite progress in medical imaging and often requires surgical exploration. The diagnosis is based on a correlation of radiological and histological findings.

[Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours of the bladder]. / Les tumeurs myofibroblastiques inflammatoires de la vessie.

The inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the bladder is a rare benign affection that interests mainly young adults. Its etiopathogeny remains unknown, but its tumoral origin was evocated recently by Griffin (1999), incriminating a chromosomic abnormality involving the ALK gene. We will discuss the etiopathogenic, anatopathological and therapeutical aspects of this lesion for which the diagnosis is histological and the treatment remains conservative with a good prognosis.

[Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate: case report and review of the literature]. / Adénocarcinome ductal de la prostate.

Ductal adenocarcinoma is a histological variant of prostate cancer. The authors report the case of a 53-year-old man, in whom the tumour was revealed by acute urinary retention and haematuria. In the light of this case and a review of the recent literature, the authors discuss the histological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this rare entity.

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma: A case report and literature review.

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma is extremely rare, with few published cases in the literature. We report the case of an adolescent aged 13 years with primary pericardial synovial sarcoma discovered during tamponade, confirmed by molecular biology, and for whom treatment combined radiosurgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. The particularity of the case we are reporting stems from the young age of our patient (13 years) as well as the duration of remission, which is quite long (21 months) prior to a superior mediastinal relapse compared to cases reported in the literature. .