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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of malignant glioma. Bufothionine is one of the major active ingredients of Cinobufacini. Although the antitumor activities of bufothionine have been reported, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study showed that bufothionine exhibited antigrowth activities in GBM cell lines U87 and U373. Further investigation showed that bufothionine triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress to promote apoptosis in U87 and U373 cells. Moreover, our results showed that bufothionine exhibited synergistic activities with Temozolomide (TMZ) to suppress the growth of U87 and U373 cells. The findings in the present study provide basis for further investigation of the therapeutic potential of bufothionine in GBM.

BACKGROUND Splenosis is a rare benign disease that often disguises itself as a malignant tumor. There are few articles providing a comprehensive description of splenosis, especially cases located in the stomach being treated by laparoscopic surgery. CASE SUMMARY A 44-year-old man presented with recurrent upper abdominal pain for more than half a year. The patient had splenic rupture caused by trauma more than 10 years ago and underwent splenectomy. An abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed an irregular soft tissue density. Gastroscopy revealed an approximately 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm mucosal eminence at the posterior wall of the upper segment of the gastric body. Biopsy was not performed since the lesion was found under the mucosa and the gastric mucosa appeared normal. According to these findings, a diagnosis of gastric stromal tumor was made, although a definitive differential diagnosis was not known before surgery. When laparoscopic resection of the gastric stromal tumor was performed, an astonishing finding was made when postoperative pathology showed that the lesion comprised typical spleen tissue. CONCLUSION This case highlights the strong similarities between splenosis and malignant tumors. A detailed medical history combined with various effective auxiliary examinations can help improve differential diagnosis.

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