bims-netuvo 2024-02-25 papers

bims-netuvo

Biomed News

on Nerves in tumours of visceral organs

Issue of 2024–02–25
eight papers selected by
Maksym V. Kopanitsa, The Francis Crick Institute

Schwann cells in pancreatic cancer: Unraveling their multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis and neural interactions.
Central nervous system metastasis in gynecologic cancers: Seeking the prognostic factors.
Perianal schwannoma: An unusual location.
Predicting the recurrence of usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma using a nomogram based on clinical and pathological factors: a retrospective observational study.
Gastric schwannoma: The gastrointestinal tumor simulator - case report and review of the literature.
Clinico-epidemiological profile and treatment outcome in adolescents and young patients of rectal cancer attending a tertiary cancer center.
Involvement of neuronal factors in tumor angiogenesis and the shaping of the cancer microenvironment.
Ileal Schwannoma: A Rare Cause of Pelvic Mass.

Cancer Lett. 2024 Feb 15. pii: S0304-3835(24)00082-X. [Epub ahead of print] 216689

Schwann cells in pancreatic cancer: Unraveling their multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis and neural interactions.

Zhiwei Cai, Hongfei Yao, Jiahao Chen, Abousalam Abdoulkader Ahmed, Chunjing Li, Xiao Hu, Xiaoyan Tang, Chongyi Jiang.

  Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by heightened neural density, presents a challenging prognosis primarily due to perineural invasion. Recognized for their crucial roles in neural support and myelination, Schwann cells (SCs) significantly influence the process of tumorigenesis. This review succinctly outlines the interplay between PDAC and neural systems, positioning SCs as a nexus in the tumor-neural interface. Subsequently, it delves into the cellular origin and influencers of SCs within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, emphasizing their multifaceted roles in tumor initiation, progression, and modulation of the neural and immune microenvironment. The discussion encompasses potential therapeutic interventions targeting SCs. Lastly, the review underscores pressing issues, advocating for sustained exploration into the diverse contributions of SCs within the intricate landscape of PDAC, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of their involvement in this complex malignancy.

Keywords:  Cancer neuroscience; Crosstalk; Neural invasion; Tumor innervation; Tumor neurobiology; Tumor-associated Schwann cell

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216689
J Cancer Res Ther. 2023 Jan 01. 19(Suppl 2): S523-S529

Central nervous system metastasis in gynecologic cancers: Seeking the prognostic factors.

Yagmur Minareci, Naziye Ak, Ozgur Aydın Tosun, Hamdullah Sozen, Pinar Mualla Saip, Samet Topuz, Mehmet Yavuz Salihoglu.

OBJECTIVE: Central nervous system (CNS) metastasis originating from gynecological cancer is a very rare and late manifestation of the disease. Therefore, there is still limited data on prognostic factors for survival. The objective of the present study is to identify prognostic factors for survival in patients with CNS metastasis originating from gynecological cancer.
STUDY DESIGN: The present retrospective study analyzed the patients with gynecological cancers who were treated due to CNS metastases between January 1999 and December 2019 at Istanbul University Hospital.
RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with CNS metastasis of gynecological origin were included in the study. The median age at the time of CNS metastasis was 59 (range 34-93). The median time from initial cancer diagnosis to CNS metastasis was 24.9 (range: 0-108.2) months. Most patients had epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) (76.6%), followed by endometrial cancer (EC) (14.8%), cervical cancer (CC) (4.3%), and vulvar cancer (VC) (4.3%). By multivariate analysis, the presence of extracranial metastasis (HR: 5.10; 95% CI: 1.71-15.18), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥3 (HR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.36-6.26), palliative care only for the treatment of CNS metastasis (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.58-4.11), and treatment-free interval (TFI) <6 months (HR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.23-6.08) were independent factors that associated with worse survival.
CONCLUSION: Patients with CNS metastasis who have favorable prognostic factors are considered to be appropriate candidates for aggressive and long-term treatment strategies. Extracranial metastasis, ECOG performance status, treatment history of CNS metastasis, and TFI were determined as independent prognostic factors that improved survival. TFI might be taken into account as a prognostic factor for patients with CNS metastasis in gynecological cancer.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_499_22
Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2023 Jul 10.

Perianal schwannoma: An unusual location.

Chandrashekher Chaturvedi, Himani Tiwari Chaturvedi, Paresh Kumar Damor, Varsha Patel.

ABSTRACT: Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm of the peripheral nerve sheath, arising from Schwann cells. Perianal schwannomas are very rare tumors with few cases reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of a perianal schwannoma in 26-year-old male, close to the anal sphincter, which was perceived as cavernous hemangioma radiologically on magnetic resonance imaging. Complete excision is necessary to avoid recurrences. A cautious and skillful surgical resection was performed with preservation of anal sphincter to avoid anal incontinence. We provide a short summary of clinical, radiological and surgical, and histopathological features of this rare entity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_596_22
Front Oncol. 2024 ;14 1320265

Predicting the recurrence of usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma using a nomogram based on clinical and pathological factors: a retrospective observational study.

Yuting Liu, Ningning Zhang, Qing Yang.

   Background: Usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type of adenocarcinoma, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Tumor recurrence is the leading cause of mortality; therefore, recognizing the risk factors for cervical cancer recurrence and providing effective therapy for recurrent cervical cancer are critical steps in increasing patient survival rates. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological data of patients with usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma by combining the diagnosis and treatment records after the initial treatment and recurrence.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between June 2013 and June 2022. We constructed a nomogram-based postoperative recurrence prediction model, internally evaluated its efficacy, and performed internal validation.
Results: This study included 395 participants, including 87 individuals with recurrence. At a 7:3 ratio, the 395 patients were divided into two groups: a training set (n = 276) and a validation set (n = 119). The training set was subjected to univariate analysis, and the risk variables for recurrence included smoking, ovarian metastasis, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, lymphovascular space invasion, perineural invasion, depth of muscular invasion, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and postoperative HPV infection months. The aforementioned components were analyzed using logistic regression analysis, and the results showed that the postoperative HPV infection month, tumor size, perineural invasion, and FIGO stage were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence (p<0.05). The aforementioned model was represented as a nomogram. The training and validation set consistency indices, calculated using the bootstrap method of internal validation, were 0.88 and 0.86, respectively. The model constructed in this study predicted the postoperative recurrence of usual-type cervical cancer, as indicated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The model demonstrated good performance, as evidenced by the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity values of 0.90, 0.859, and 0.844, respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the FIGO staging, peripheral nerve invasion, tumor size, and months of postoperative HPV infection, the predictive model and nomogram for postoperative recurrence of usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma are precise and effective. More extensive stratified evaluations of the risk of cervical adenocarcinoma recurrence are still required, as is a thorough assessment of postoperative recurrence in the future.

Keywords:  nomogram; observational; recurrent cervical cancer; retrospective; usual-type cervical adenocarcinoma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1320265
Int J Surg Case Rep. 2024 Feb 14. pii: S2210-2612(24)00170-6. [Epub ahead of print]116 109389

Gastric schwannoma: The gastrointestinal tumor simulator - case report and review of the literature.

Amine Majdoubi, Anass El Achchi, Mohamed El Hammouti, Tareq Bouhout, Badr Serji.

   INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Gastric schwannoma is a rare and benign tumor originating from the peripheral nerves of the stomach. Despite its benign nature, this tumor typically remains asymptomatic for an extended period, and its radiological and endoscopic presentation poses challenges in distinguishing it from other gastric mesenchymal tumors.
CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present a rare case of a patient experiencing gastric pain and melena secondary to a gastric mass. The initial preoperative diagnosis indicated a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, but subsequent pathological and immunohistochemical staining of the surgical specimen confirmed the presence of gastric schwannoma.
DISCUSSION: To gain insights into this uncommon condition, we conducted an electronic search on PubMed using the keywords "gastric schwannoma" and "gastric neurinoma." Our focus centered on case series containing more than five cases of gastric localization, resulting in the analysis of 14 case series involving a total of 321 patients. Our review aims to comprehensively discuss the clinical, radiological, and therapeutic aspects associated with this rare disease.
CONCLUSION: In the absence of a definitive preoperative diagnosis, the surgical approach is considered the primary treatment for resectable gastric schwannoma, given its excellent long-term outcomes. However, further studies are imperative to better define the role of endoscopic resection in managing this condition.

Keywords:  Gastric schwannoma; Immunochemical staining; Neurolemmas; S 100 positive; Schwann cell

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109389
J Cancer Res Ther. 2023 Oct 01. 19(7): 2005-2011

Clinico-epidemiological profile and treatment outcome in adolescents and young patients of rectal cancer attending a tertiary cancer center.

Ritusha Mishra, Ankita Pandey, Himanshu Mishra, Tej B Singh, Abhijit Mandal, Anupam K Asthana.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults is on an increasing trend. It is observed that this subgroup of patients has an aggressive disease and carries a poorer prognosis compared to its older counterpart. This study aimed to analyze the incidence, treatment outcome, and prognostic factors in adolescents and young adults with rectal cancer attending a tertiary cancer center in North India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients of histologically proven rectal cancer, aged up to 30 years, treated at our center between 2015 and 2019. The clinical, demographic, and pathological parameters were studied in all these patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to find out survival. Univariate analysis was performed to assess prognostic factors.
RESULTS: The incidence was 26.4% at our center with a median age of 28 years. Bleeding per rectum was the commonest complaint. Most of them had signet ring cell histology (26%). The median overall survival was 16 months. Survival was significantly better in patients having bleeding per rectum as an initial complaint (P = 0.009), absence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (P = 0.005), and perineural invasion (PNI) (P = 0.002), who received complete planned treatment compared to patients who could not receive either of the modality (P < 0.001). Patients who did not receive radiotherapy (RT) had the worst outcomes compared to those who received RT in any form. RT dose of 50.4 Gy was found to be superior as compared to other schedules. There was no significant difference in survival with gender, tumor stage, grade, type of surgery, or chemotherapy regimen.
CONCLUSION: The majority of patients presented in an advanced stage. Therefore, bleeding per rectum should be properly and timely investigated in all these young patients. Early detection and complete treatment are paramount to improving the outcome.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_319_22
Front Immunol. 2024 ;15 1284629

Involvement of neuronal factors in tumor angiogenesis and the shaping of the cancer microenvironment.

Sharif Shalabi, Ali Belayachi, Bruno Larrivée.

  Emerging evidence suggests that nerves within the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in regulating angiogenesis. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides released by nerves can interact with nearby blood vessels and tumor cells, influencing their behavior and modulating the angiogenic response. Moreover, nerve-derived signals may activate signaling pathways that enhance the production of pro-angiogenic factors within the tumor microenvironment, further supporting blood vessel growth around tumors. The intricate network of communication between neural constituents and the vascular system accentuates the potential of therapeutically targeting neural-mediated pathways as an innovative strategy to modulate tumor angiogenesis and, consequently, neoplastic proliferation. Hereby, we review studies that evaluate the precise molecular interplay and the potential clinical ramifications of manipulating neural elements for the purpose of anti-angiogenic therapeutics within the scope of cancer treatment.

Keywords:  angiogenesis; growth factors (angiogenesis factors); neurovascular crosstalk; tumor microenvironment; tumorigenesis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1284629
Case Rep Surg. 2024 ;2024 5572087

Ileal Schwannoma: A Rare Cause of Pelvic Mass.

Martin Jezovit, Hasan Bakirli, Ifrat Bakirov, Khalid Hureibi, Gultakin Bakirova, Roman Okolicany, Pavol Janac, Iveta Meciarova, Nasser Alhwaymel, Ilkin Bakirli, Augustin Prochotsky.

The incidence of small bowel schwannomas is extremely low. In the current literature, we found just a few reported small intestine schwannomas that were located in the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. This study reports a surprising finding of a relatively large size ileal schwannoma in a patient whose preoperative magnetic resonance imaging described a tumour in the lesser pelvis probably derived from the right adnexa. Pfannenstiel incision was made by the gynaecology team, which found a large mass lesion arising from the small intestine and occupying nearly the entire lesser pelvis. The general surgeon was invited, and pathology was successfully managed by segmental resection of the small bowel with primary end-to-end anastomosis. The histopathology study reported a submucosal tumour composed of S-100 protein-positive spindle cells, and the diagnosis of ileal schwannoma was made. The possibility of intestinal neoplasms, including schwannomas, might be contemplated in the differential diagnosis of any pelvic mass lesions. A detailed histology study and immunohistochemical stain are required for the final diagnosis of intestinal schwannomas and to rule out malignant changes, which are extremely important for the further management of patients. To the best knowledge, our case is one of the biggest intestinal schwannomas reported in the current literature.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5572087