World Journal of Clinical Oncology

Recent advancements in next generation sequencing have allowed for genetic information become more readily available in the clinical setting for those affected by cancer and by treating clinicians. Given the lack of access to geneticists, medical oncologists and other treating physicians have begun ordering and interpreting genetic tests for individuals with cancer through the process of "mainstreaming". While this process has allowed for quicker access to genetic tests, the process of "mainstreaming" has also brought several challenges including the dissemination of variants of unknown significance results, ordering of appropriate tests, and accurate interpretation of genetic results with appropriate follow-up testing and interventions...

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Zhu et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Oncology . We focus specifically on the characteristics and mechanisms of pyroptosis and the impact of changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) on cancer prognosis. Pyroptosis is a distinct form of programmed cell death; its occurrence can change the TIME and regulate the growth and spread of tumors and therefore is significantly correlated with cancer prognosis. Previous research has demonstrated that pyroptosis-related genes can be used in prognostic models for various types of cancer...

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis, even in the early stages, mainly due to metastatic progression. New diagnostic techniques that predict unfavorable outcomes are needed in order to improve treatment strategies. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are showing promising results as a predictive biomarker for various tumors. In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al , who published the first systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the prognostic value of CTCs as biomarkers in early-stage pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgery...

BACKGROUND: Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that plant-derived compounds from Puerariae flos (PF) has significant biological activities against liver damage, tumors and inflammation. Kakkatin is an isoflavone polyphenolic compound isolated from PF flower. However, the effect of kakkatin and its derivatives on anti-tumor has not been well explored. AIM: To design and synthesize a kakkatin derivative [6-(hept-6-yn-1-yloxy)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (HK)] to explore its anti-tumor biological activity...

BACKGROUND: Chemoresistance is the primary contributor to distant metastasis in the context of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for rectal cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. AIM: To detect the differential expression profiles of plasma exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in poor and good responders and explore the potential mechanisms of chemoresistance. METHODS: In this study, the profiles of plasma exosomal miRNAs were compared in two dimensions according to treatment responses (poor/good responders) and treatment courses (pre/post-nCRT) using RNA sequencing...

Gliomas originate from glial cells in the central nervous system. Approximately 80%-85% of malignant brain tumors in adults are gliomas. The most common central nervous system tumor in children is low-grade pediatric glioma. Diagnosis was determined by histological features until 2016 when the World Health Organization classification integrated molecular data with anatomopathological information to achieve a more integral diagnosis. Molecular characterization has led to better diagnostic and prognostic staging, which in turn has increased the precision of treatment...

BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a malignant tumor that originates from the lymphoid tissues and can potentially affect numerous organs within the body. Among these, the skin stands out as one of the primary sites affected by NHL, often presenting with multiple extra-nodal manifestations. In this report, we present an unusual case of NHL involving chronic wounds in the lower extremities that were difficult to heal. The scars were successfully treated using radiotherapy in combination with extended excision debridement and peroneal artery perforator flap grafting, resulting in satisfactory outcomes...

Bladder cancer is a urological tumor with high rates of recurrence despite recent advances in novel therapies. Many proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms are currently an enigma, especially the transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 which has an unclear function. Wei et al published the function and mechanism of this protein, and showed that it could participate in the proliferation, migration and invasion of tumor cells in bladder cancer, therefore treatments directed against this protein may be beneficial in avoiding this condition...

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is a common and widespread form of tumor, with colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy available to detect relevant precancerous polyps and lesions. However, many patients are already in the late stages when first diagnosed with such cancer, resulting in a poor prognosis. Thus, it is necessary to explore new methods and research directions in order to improve the treatment of GIC. Given the specific nature of the gastrointestinal tract, research should focus on the mechanisms of various inflammations and the interactions between food entering and exiting from the gastrointestinal tract and cancer cells...

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) constitute a pivotal class of immunotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment. However, their widespread clinical application has led to a notable surge in immune-related adverse events (irAEs), significantly affecting the efficacy and survival rates of patients undergoing ICI therapy. While conventional hematological and imaging tests are adept at detecting organ-specific toxicities, distinguishing adverse reactions from those induced by viruses, bacteria, or immune diseases remains a formidable challenge...

BACKGROUND: Imatinib (IMA) has received approval as the primary treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Nonetheless, approximately half of the patients with advanced GIST show disease advancement following IMA treatment. Presently, the efficacy of secondary and tertiary medications in addressing various GIST secondary mutations is somewhat restricted. Consequently, there is a significant medical demand for the creation of kinase inhibitors that extensively block secondary drug-resistant mutations in advanced GIST...

BACKGROUND: Primary vaginal cancer is rare and most vaginal tumors are metastatic, often arising from adjacent gynecologic structures. Primary vaginal cancers are also more common among postmenopausal women and most of these are squamous cell carcinomas, with adenocarcinomas being relatively rare. Vaginal bleeding is the most common clinical manifestation of vaginal adenocarcinoma. About 70% of vaginal adenocarcinomas are stage I lesions at the time of diagnosis, for which radical surgery is recommended...

BACKGROUND: Preoperative serum tumor markers have been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer patients. However, few studies have evaluated the prognosis of gastric cancer patients by establishing statistical models with multiple serum tumor indicators. AIM: To explore the prognostic value and predictive model of tumor markers in stage I and III gastric cancer patients. METHODS: From October 2018 to April 2020, a total of 1236 patients with stage I to III gastric cancer after surgery were included in our study...

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the immune response to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. Recent research has unveiled a heightened risk of developing specific malignant neoplasms (MN) and various malignancies, including gastrointestinal, lymphomas, skin, and others, in individuals with CeD. AIM: To investigate the prevalence of MN in hospitalized CeD patients in the United States. METHODS: Using data from the National Inpatient Sample spanning two decades, from January 2000 to December 2019, we identified 529842 CeD patients, of which 78128 (14...

Cancer, the second leading global cause of death, impacts both physically and emotionally. Conventional treatments such as surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have adverse effects, driving the need for more precise approaches. Precision medicine enables more targeted treatments. Genetic mapping, alongside other molecular biology approaches, identifies specific genes, contributing to accurate prognoses. The review addresses, in clinical use, a molecular perspective on treatment. Biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, programmed death-1, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 are explored, providing valuable information...

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation and nutrition play pivotal roles in cancer progression and can increase the risk of delayed recovery after surgical procedures. AIM: To assess the significance of inflammatory and nutritional indicators for the prognosis and postoperative recovery of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with PC and underwent surgical resection at our hospital between January 1, 2019, and July 31, 2023, were enrolled in this retrospective observational cohort study...

This editorial discusses the literature review article by Tonini and Zanni, the paper was published in January 2024, and the authors provided very interesting conclusions regarding existing barriers to the early diagnosis of colon cancer. Many cancers do not have identifiable precursors, or there are currently no screening tests to find them. Therefore, these cancers do not have preventive screening options. Early detection is crucial for reducing mortality rates by identifying cancer at an earlier stage through screening, as opposed to no screening...

BACKGROUND: Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, is known for its effects on anxiety and depression. It has recently gained increasing interest for its potential therapeutic effects, particularly in patients with advanced cancer. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the effects of psilocybin on adult patients with advanced cancer. AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of psilocybin in patients with advanced cancer...

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a malignancy that arises in the cells of the pancreas, is a devastating disease with unclear etiology and often poor prognosis. Locally advanced pancreatic cancer, a stage where the tumor has grown significantly but has not yet spread to distant organs, presents unique challenges in treatment. This article aims to discuss the current strategies, challenges, and future directions in the management of locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC)...

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) mutation and c-ros oncogene 1 ( ROS1 ) rearrangement are key genetic alterations and predictive tumor markers for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are typically considered to be mutually exclusive. EGFR/ROS1 co-mutation is a rare event, and the standard treatment approach for such cases is still equivocal. CASE SUMMARY: Herein, we report the case of a 64-year-old woman diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, with concomitant EGFR L858R mutation and ROS1 rearrangement...