bims-netuvo 2024-12-08 papers

Int J Cancer. 2024 Dec 03.

Assessment of pain prevalence in cancer patients undergoing anticancer treatments and in cancer survivors after completion of anticancer treatments: A French nationwide cross-sectional study.

Charles Ragusa, Bruno Pereira, David Balayssac.

Pain is a common and disabling symptom of cancer and its treatment. This study aimed to provide an update on the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of pain on quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients and survivors in France. Data were collected using self-assessment questionnaires as part of a nationwide web-based survey conducted between January and March 2023. Pain was reported by 44.7% of the study population (n = 1029), including by 49.2% (95% CI [44.8; 53.6]) of cancer patients (n = 255/518) and 40.1% (95% CI [35.8; 44.5]) of cancer survivors (n = 205/511). Chronic pain was more prevalent among survivors (99.0%) than patients (87%), but no between-group differences in the prevalence of neuropathic pain (66.8% vs. 67.5%, respectively) or other pain characteristics (pain intensity, location, etc.) were observed. Pain had a negative impact on QoL in both groups, but the impact on global health status, functioning, symptom severity, and depression was greater among cancer patients. Analgesic use was also more frequent among patients than survivors. Breast cancer, being overweight or obese, and having a poorer global health status were identified as main factors increasing the likelihood of pain. Pain therefore remains a common symptom among cancer patients and survivors in France. Further improvements to management are needed, including strategies to target chronic and neuropathic pain, and the high frequency of pain associated with breast cancer. Multimodal interventions to improve global health status, help individuals maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the impact of cancer pain on QoL could also be evaluated.

Keywords: cancer patients; cancer survivors; pain; quality of life

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35280

J Anesth. 2024 Dec 04.

Consensus statement on chronic pain treatment in cancer survivors.

Keiko Mamiya, Hiroki Iida, Masako Iseki, Shigeki Yamaguch, Hiroshi Yonekura, Hiroshi Ueno, Toshifumi Kosugi, Takeshi Sasara, Yumiko Takao, Toshifumi Takasusuki, Saori Hashiguchi, Naomi Hirakawa, Yoko Sugiyama, Keiko Yamada, Kenji Yamamoto.

In September 2023, the Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine (JSPM) issued this consensus statement on chronic pain treatment in cancer survivors. With recent advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, its prognosis has improved, so prolonged pain in cancer survivors is considered to represent chronic pain and should be addressed. In this statement, we emphasize that not all cancer survivor pain is cancer pain. Pain that is not cancer pain should be managed with analgesics other than opioids and nerve blocks, and pain that persists despite this approach should be treated as non-cancer chronic pain so as to prevent opioid overuse. In addition, cancer survivors at any stage of disease have a potentially life-threatening condition and constantly carry the fear of cancer recurrence. Therefore, even non-cancer pain should not be treated in the same way as general chronic pain, but should be managed with consideration of emotional distress. In the future, we plan to create educational tools for healthcare professionals and to conduct online seminars, both with the goal of providing cancer survivors with appropriate assessment and treatment of chronic pain.

Keywords: Cancer survivors; Chronic pain; Statement

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-024-03427-0

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Nov 28. pii: S0006-291X(24)01623-1. [Epub ahead of print]741 151087

Norepinephrine stimulates M2 macrophage polarization via β2-adrenergic receptor-mediated IL-6 production in breast cancer cells.

Hyun-Ji Park, Su-Chan Lee, Shin-Hyung Park.

Previous studies have demonstrated that norepinephrine (NE) released during chronic stress promotes breast cancer (BC) metastasis via adrenergic receptors (ARs). However, the effect of NE on tumor-associated macrophage polarization and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of NE on M2 macrophage polarization, with a particular focus on the crosstalk between macrophages and BC cells. Our results demonstrated that, although NE alone did not directly induce the expression of M2 macrophage markers, conditioned medium from NE-treated MDA-MB-231 human BC cells (NE CM) significantly promoted M2 macrophage polarization in THP-1 macrophages. We found that NE stimulated IL-6 production in MDA-MB-231 cells via β2-AR/NF-κB pathway, which activated STAT3 in THP-1 cells to induce M2 macrophage polarization. NE failed to induce IL-6 production and NF-κB activation when ADRB2 was knocked down in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, ADRB2 knockdown in cancer cells suppressed NE CM-induced M2 macrophage polarization, as well as M2 macrophage-induced cancer cell migration. Taken together, our results suggest that NE stimulates M2 macrophage polarization by inducing IL-6 secretion from BC cells through a β2-AR-dependent mechanism, which subsequently promotes cancer cell migration. Targeting β2-AR may represent a promising strategy to prevent chronic stress-induced BC metastasis.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer migration; Interleukin-6; M2 macrophage polarization; Norepinephrine; β2-adrenergic receptor

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.151087

Neurooncol Adv. 2024 Jan-Dec;6(1):6(1): vdae188

Multiomic analyses reveal new targets of polycomb repressor complex 2 in Schwann lineage cells and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) can arise from atypical neurofibromas (ANF). Loss of the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2) is a common event. Previous studies on PRC2-regulated genes in MPNST used genetic add-back experiments in highly aneuploid MPNST cell lines which may miss PRC2-regulated genes in NF1-mutant ANF-like precursor cells. A set of PRC2-regulated genes in human Schwann cells (SCs) has not been defined. We hypothesized that PRC2 loss has direct and indirect effects on gene expression resulting in MPNST, so we sought to identify PRC2-regulated genes in immortalized human Schwann cells (iHSCs).
Methods: We engineered NF1-deficient iHSCs with loss of function SUZ12 or EED mutations. RNA sequencing revealed 1327 differentially expressed genes to define PRC2-regulated genes. To investigate MPNST pathogenesis, we compared genes in iHSCs to consistent gene expression differences between ANF and MPNSTs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was used to further define targets. Methylome and proteomic analyses were performed to further identify enriched pathways.
Results: We identified potential PRC2-regulated drivers of MPNST progression. Pathway analysis indicates many upregulated cancer-related pathways. We found transcriptional evidence for activated Notch and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling in PRC2-deficient iHSCs. Functional studies confirm that Notch signaling is active in MPNST cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and transient cell models of PRC2 deficiency. A combination of MEK and γ-secretase inhibition shows synergy in MPNST cell lines.
Conclusions: We identified PRC2-regulated genes and potential drivers of MPNSTs. Our findings support the Notch pathway as a druggable target in MPNSTs. Our identification of PRC2-regulated genes and pathways could result in more novel therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: MPNST; NF1; PRC2; nirogacestat; notch signaling

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdae188

Cureus. 2024 Oct;16(10): e72753

Schwannoma of the Ankle: A Case Report of a Rare Clinical Entity.

Pedro Ribeiro, Ana Esteves, Joana Monteiro Pereira, Júlio Marinheiro.

A schwannoma is a soft tissue benign tumor that originates from Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. It is uncommon for it to occur in the foot. The tumor usually has an indolent presentation with a delayed diagnosis that may lead to irreversible nerve damage. The symptoms are related to the compression of the nerve due to the mass effect of the lesion. The authors report a case of a 62-year-old female with a history of breast cancer who was referred to the orthopedics department with pain in the dorsum of the right foot and a positive Tinel sign in the trajectory of the superficial peroneal nerve. The diagnosis of schwannoma of the superficial peroneal nerve was made, and the patient underwent surgery with complete resolution of symptoms. No deficits or recurrences were observed during the two-month follow-up period. The purpose of this report is to draw attention to the high index of suspicion and the need for a correct diagnosis for optimal clinical results.

Keywords: foot; mri; nerve sheath tumors; schwannoma; soft tissue tumors; superficial peroneal nerve

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72753

Acta Med Acad. 2024 Aug;53(2): 193-198

A Rare Case of Retroperitoneal Schwannoma in an Adult Male.

Marios Ponirakos, Areti Kalfoutzou, Christos Vrysis, Nicole Demetriou, Adam Mylonakis, Zannis Almpanis, Eleni Mostratou, Konstantinos Papadimitropoulos, Dimosthenis Chrysikos, Theodore Troupis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to illustrate a rare case of retroperitoneal schwannoma by presenting the clinical, imaging, and histological parameters.
CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old patient visited the outpatient clinic because of back pain experienced over the previous two months. There were no complaints regarding the nervous system or urinary system. Thorough imaging evaluation, including magnetic resonance for the lumbar spine, abdominal computed tomography, and positron emission tomography was conducted. An encapsulated mass was found in the retroperitoneal area, positioned in front of the O4 vertebra and in close proximity to the left psoas muscle, the left common iliac artery, and the left ureter. The lesion exhibited FDG radioisotope uptake, and a CT-guided biopsy confirmed a benign peripheral nerve tumor. The patient underwent laparotomy surgery, where the tumor was removed. The histological investigation, along with immunohistochemistry, confirmed the presence of a retroperitoneal schwannoma.
CONCLUSION: Schwannoma is a rare type of retroperitoneal tumor, with nonspecific clinical and radiological characteristics that make diagnosis difficult. Surgical resection is the primary treatment for symptomatic patients, with a favorable prognosis. Long-term follow-up is advised to reduce the chance of late recurrence.

Keywords: Case Report; Nerve Sheaths; Retroperitoneal Schwannoma; Retroperitoneal Tumor; Schwann Cells

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.447