Lung cancer is the most frequently occurring type of cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Environmental and genetic factors play important roles in lung carcinogenesis. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer in East Asian populations. Related articles were identified through searching literature databases, such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedicine and CNKI. The odds ratio (OR) values in those studies were incorporated by meta-analysis to assess lung cancer susceptibility associated with the MTHFR mutation genotype. The MTHFR C677TT genotype exhibited a significantly increased risk of lung cancer compared to the MTHFR 677CC/CT genotype (OR=1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.52). No relationship was identified between the other MTHFR C677T genetic models and the risk of lung cancer and there was no significantly increased risk of lung cancer in A1298C genetic models. In a subgroup of hospital-based controls, according to the source of controls, the C677TT genotype exhibited a significantly increased risk of lung cancer, compared to the C677CC genotype (OR=3.01; 95% CI, 1.07-8.46). In the stratified analysis, the study indicated that the MTHFR 677TT genotype was associated with a significant increase in the risk of lung squamous carcinoma (OR=1.53; 95% CI, 1.09-2.14), whereas no association was observed between the MTHFR C677TT genotype and the risk of lung adenocarcinoma. No association was observed between MTHFR C677TT polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer when smoking was considered. In conclusion, the meta-analysis results suggested that MTHFR C677T polymorphisms exhibit a significantly increased risk of lung cancer and that the MTHFR 677TT genotype is associated with a significantly increased risk of lung squamous carcinoma.

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Backgroud:Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family play important roles in the development of cancers by inhibiting the transmission of the Janus kinases–signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway. However, the expression patterns and prognostic value of SOCS family genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Methods: The SOCS family genes expression profiles were explored using ONCOMINE and GEPIA online tools. The mutation and copy number alterations of SOCS family genes in NSCLC were assessed by cBioportal for Cancer Genomics. The methylation status of SOCS family members were analyzed through MEXPRESS and UCSC Xena website. The prognostic values of SOCS family genes in NSCLC were explored through Kaplan-Meier Plotter database. Results: The expression levels of SOCS2, SOCS3, and cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS/CISH) were significantly reduced in NSCLC tissues compared to normal lung tissues. The aberrant DNA methylation of SOCS family genes were frequent in NSCLC. CISH methylation was negatively correlated with gene expression in NSCLC. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter analysis demonstrated high expression of SOCS1 may be a predictor of poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) but served as a favorable prognostic marker of lung squamous cell carcinoma. The high expression levels of SOCS2 and SOCS4-7 were significantly correlated with better overall survival (OS) in LUAD but not in lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC) patients. Conclusions:Our findings indicated that the aberrant gene expression and DNA methylation of SOCS family members are common in NSCLC and contribute to tumorigenesis. SOCS family genes may serve as therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC patients

The present study reports the case of a 53-year-old male who had been suffering from coughing and the presence of a blood-streaked sputum for >1 month. Chest computed tomography (CT) and a bronchoscopic brush smear were performed. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (limited stage). The patient developed polyarthritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a purpuric rash at 14 days post thoracotomy surgery for lung cancer. Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms. The patient received chemotherapy with steroid therapy, which resulted in complete remission of the HSP.

BackgroundPleural effusion (PE) caused by lung cancer is prevalent, and it is difficult to differentiate it from PE caused by tuberculosis. Exosome-based liquid biopsy offers a non-invasive technique to diagnose benign and malignant PE. Exosomal miRNAs are potential diagnostic markers and play an essential role in signal transduction and biological processes in tumor development. We hypothesized that exosomal miRNA expression profiles in PE would contribute to identifying its diagnostic markers and elucidating the molecular basis of PE formation in lung cancer.MethodsThe exosomes from PE caused by lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and pulmonary tuberculosis were isolated and verified by transmission electron microscopy. The exosomal miRNA profiles were identified using deep sequencing and validated with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We performed bioinformatic analysis for differentially expressed miRNAs to explore how exosomal miRNAs regulate pleural effusion.ResultsWe identified 99 upregulated and 91 downregulated miRNAs in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) compared to tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). Seven differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were validated by qRT-PCR, out of which 5 (71.4%) were confirmed through sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that most exosomal miRNAs target genes were involved in regulating cellular processes and nitrogen compound metabolism. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, the exosomal miRNAs target genes were mainly involved in Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, Rap1 signaling pathway, and breast cancer. The hub genes, including ITGAM, FOXO1, MAPK14, YWHAB, GRIN1, and PRF1, were screened through plug-in cytoHubba. The PFR1 was identified as a critical gene in MPE formation using single-cell sequencing analysis. Additionally, we hypothesized that tumor cells affected natural killer cells and promoted the generation of PE in LUAD via the exosomal hsa-miR-3120-5p-PRF1 axis.ConclusionsWe identified exosomal miRNA profiles in LUAD-MPE and TPE, which may help in the differential diagnosis of MPE and TPE. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these miRNAs might affect PE generation through tumor immune response in LUAD. Our results provided a new theoretical basis for understanding the function of exosomal miRNAs in LUAD-MPE.