No abstract

Background Despite improvements in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment, patients with recurrence and metastasis still have a poor prognosis. Thus, the identification of novel biomarkers is urgently needed to predict outcomes and tailor treatment for NPC. Methods Four data sets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, and one data set GSE68799 of which was applied to filtrate key modules and hub genes by construction of a co-expression network. Other data sets (GSE12452 and GSE53819) were used to verify hub genes. The data set GSE102349 was devoted to identify prognostic hub genes by survival analysis. To explored whether prognostic hub genes are related to hypoxia signatures in NPC, correlation analysis was carried out, and followed by functional verification experiments of those genes in vitro. Results By co-expression network analysis, blue module was regarded as a key module in the benign and malignant group, and IGSF9 of the blue module was identified as a prognostic hub gene. Moreover, IGSF9 is expected to be a innovative hypoxia-related gene in NPC based on the strong associativity between expression of IGSF9 and hypoxia scores of three signatures (99-gene, 26-gene and 15-gene). Further functional studies verified that down-regulated expression of IGSF9 could reduce the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of NPC cells, and hypoxia could induce the expression of IGSF9. Conclusion IGSF9 was identified to be relevant to prognosis and involved in hypoxia in NPC. IGSF9 might serve as one novel prognostic indicator of NPC in the future.

Cutaneous metastasis from a primary visceral malignancy is a relatively uncommon clinical manifestation that occurs as an initial presentation in 1% to 12% of patients with internal malignancies. Additionally, cutaneous metastases are often late signs of an internal malignancy, and in very rare cases they may occur at the same time or before the primary cancer has been detected. Metastasis to the skin has a poor prognosis and is often a sign of widespread malignant tumors. In the present study, we report a 72-year-old male who presented with multiple rapidly growing subcutaneous nodules. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed a hypermetabolic concentration of radiotracer in the left lower lung and multiple organ metastases associated with multiple skin masses. Biopsy of one of the skin nodules and gene detection indicated metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with a primary lung origin with a BRAF mutation. BRAF mutations are emerging therapeutic targets in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as they are present in 2–4% of NSCLC cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report to show that BRAF-mutant lung adenocarcinoma can be associated with cutaneous metastasis. Early diagnosis and individualized treatment strategies may prolong patient survival.

Background: China is an esophageal cancer high incidence country, with more than 50% esophageal cancer case of the world. Screening and diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early stage cancer are main measures of decreasing incidence rate and mortality rate. Methods: High-risk population (40-69 years old) in Cixian a high risk area of esophageal cancer was screened, and 3053 cases were included. They were devided into 3 groups: normal group, esophageal neoplasia low-level group and esophageal neoplasia high-level group, according to pathology and electronic gastroscope diagnosis. Diagnostic testing lingual information collection system (DS01-B) was used and tongue image were collected, including tongue color, coating color, fur character, tongue shape, local ecchymosis, et al. Difference of tongue image information was analyzed, related clinical variants were analyzed by multi-factor logistic regression. Results: Incidence of local ecchymosis in tongue image was 1.58% (45/2840) in normal group, 2.98% (4/134) in esophageal neoplasia low-level group and 6.32% (5/79)in esophageal neoplasia high-level group. Significant difference was found in 3 groups (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, male, red tongue, tongue local ecchymosis, yellow and white coated tongue were risk factors for precancerous lesions and early stage esophageal cancer. Logistic regression model was established and this model had diagnostic specificity (80.35%), sensitivity (63.41%) and total coincidence rate (79.51%) for early esophageal cancer screening. Conclusions: Red tongue, tongue local ecchymosis, yellow and white coated tongue were risk factors for precancerous lesions and early stage esophageal cancer. Multi-factor (including tongue image information) logistic regression model has clinical value of prediction precancerous lesions and early stage esophageal cancer.Legal entity responsible for the study: China-Japan friendshop hospital Funding: National "twelfth five"science and technology support plan Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.