This study aimed to explore the effects of indwelling urinary catheters before brachytherapy on patient comfort and psychological stress in cervical cancer patients. A total of 140 patients with stage IIA or higher cervical cancer were randomly assigned to two groups: The indwelling catheter group (n = 70) and the non-indwelling catheter group (n = 70). Radiation exposure risks were compared using dose-volume histograms. Brachytherapy, a high-dose-rate micro-radiation therapy, was performed using the Utrecht applicator. Tumor treatment efficacy and levels of norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (Cor), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured. The patient’s fear, psychological state, comfort, and quality of life were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results showed that radiation exposure to healthy tissues was lower in the indwelling catheter group (P < 0.05), with a reduced rate of excessive radiation exposure compared to the non-indwelling catheter group. Before the intervention, the indwelling catheter group had higher Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF) scores, but no significant difference was observed between groups after the intervention. Tumor size was smaller in the indwelling catheter group, and treatment outcomes were significantly better. Levels of NE, Cor, and ACTH were higher in the indwelling catheter group. Comfort scores were lower in the indwelling catheter group, but their quality of life was better compared to the non-indwelling catheter group. In conclusion, the use of indwelling catheters in brachytherapy for cervical cancer improves treatment outcomes and quality of life. While it may cause temporary discomfort and psychological stress, no long-term negative effects were observed.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, and liquid biopsy, particularly the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), offers a promising non-invasive alternative for diagnosis. Despite significant research on ctDNA in lung cancer, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on this topic is lacking in the literature. This study systematically reviews ctDNA research trends in lung cancer using bibliometric methods to identify leading contributors, emerging themes, and underexplored areas for future research. We conducted a search of the Web of Science Core Collection database for ctDNA-related lung cancer publications up to 2023. The bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package “bibliometrix.” The results revealed a total of 2862 publications on ctDNA in lung cancer, comprising 1998 articles and 864 reviews. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of publications stabilized, with an average of approximately 360 publications per year. The countries with the highest number of published papers were China and the United States. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was the leading institution in terms of publication output. Among journals, Cancers published the highest number of papers, while Clinical Cancer Research had the highest citation impact. Lanman RB was the leading author by publication count, and Newman was the most co-cited author. Current research on ctDNA in lung cancer primarily focuses on areas such as minimal residual disease, prognosis and recurrence monitoring, adjuvant therapy decision-making, epidermal growth factor receptor and targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This bibliometric analysis highlights the impact of ctDNA in lung cancer, revealing key contributors and emerging research trends.

Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that extra virgin olive oil polyphenols act against different pathologies, including several types of cancer such as glioma. Emerging therapies targeting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have shown therapeutic promise. Here we analyze the effects of the oral administration of oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, and the mixture of both polyphenols in animals with gliomas to determine their effects on gliomagenesis and the regulatory proteolytic enzymes of the RAS of the aminopeptidase type, including the impact of sex differences. Gliomas were induced by the transplacental administration of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Aminopeptidases were assayed fluorometrically using aminoacyl-ß-naphthylamides as substrates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that these treatments significantly improve survival rates, with notable sex differences. In addition, their effects on tumor number and volume showed sex differences. Regarding the RAS-regulating aminopeptidases, our results support the idea of an increased effect of angiotensin III (AngIII) on untreated animals. In contrast, the findings with polyphenol treatments allow us to infer a decrease in AngIII and an increase of angiotensin 1 - 7, also with sex differences. A putative role on glucose uptake facilitation mediated by insulin-regulated aminopeptidase is also hypothesized. Our results demonstrated that local RAS significantly participates in gliomagenesis induced by transplacental ENU administration. In summary, orally administered extra virgin olive oil polyphenols, mainly hydroxytyrosol, showed differential effects against glioma, acting through the RAS-regulating aminopeptidase activities, and such differences were further compounded by sex disparity.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has a high incidence and poor prognosis. Carbohydrate and lactic acid metabolism drive tumor growth, highlighting the need to identify prognostic genes in these pathways for LUAD diagnosis and treatment. We conducted differentially expressed analysis in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD, applied Spearman analysis to correlate carbohydrate and lactic acid metabolism genes and identified key model genes using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Overlapping differential expression genes (DEGs), correlated genes, and key model genes yielded candidates. Hub genes were screened by molecular complex detection, prognostic genes by univariate Cox, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, constructing a risk model. TCGA-LUAD samples were stratified by median risk score. Finally, the prognostic genes’ impact on LUAD’s immune microenvironment was analyzed, and their expression in clinical samples was validated through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. From 7,252 DEGs, 189 correlated genes, and 3,900 key model genes, 20 candidates emerged. Nine hub genes led to five prognostic genes: ADH1A, Alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B), ALDOA, ENO1, and ACSS3. In addition, nine immune cells differed significantly between risk groups, with CD4 T, monocytes, and mast cells positively correlating with ADH1B. ADH1A, ADH1B, and ACSS3 were downregulated, contrasting ALDOA and ENO1. Consistent results were obtained by protein mapping. Eventually, ADH1A, ADH1B, ALDOA, and ENO1 expression trends in clinical samples were similarly consistent with the dataset. In summary, five prognostic genes related to carbohydrate and lactic acid metabolism (ADH1A, ADH1B, ALDOA, ENO1, and ACSS3) associated with LUAD have been identified. This model serves as an effective predictive tool and offers a new perspective for studying tumor metabolism.

Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex malignancy characterized by a highly heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) that influences tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Despite significant advancements in understanding HNSCC at the molecular level, comprehensive analyses of TME-related research within this domain remain limited. Hence, this study presents a bibliometric analysis of TME research in HNSCC, synthesizing data on publication trends, citation patterns, collaborative networks, and emerging research themes. The findings reveal an exponential growth in TME-related publications, reflecting a rising focus on immunotherapy, stromal biology, and molecular biomarkers. Medicine and molecular biology dominate the research output, with interdisciplinary collaborations contributing to innovative therapeutic strategies. Key themes include immune resistance, extracellular matrix modulation, and the role of stromal components, like cancer-associated fibroblasts, in shaping therapeutic outcomes. Emerging topics, such as novel cell death pathways (e.g., cuproptosis and pyroptosis) and artificial intelligence-driven prognostics, highlight future directions. Citation networks emphasize the centrality of immunotherapy and precision medicine, with leading institutions and journals playing pivotal roles in advancing the field. This analysis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and highlights critical gaps, offering a roadmap for future investigations to improve clinical outcomes through targeted TME manipulation in HNSCC.

Geraniin, an ellagitannin present in many seeds, nuts, fruits, and plants, has anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, cardiovascular protective, and hypoglycemic properties. Geraniin was tested for its anticancer and plasma protein-modifying properties in a syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer (BC). A mouse mammary cancer cell line (4T1) was injected into the mammary pad of female BALB/c mice to produce BC. Daily oral gavage of geraniin (0.5 mg) or soy oil was given to animals having visible tumors. For 6 - 7 weeks, tumor growth was evaluated. At postmortem, cancer tissue was removed for histopathology, and the plasma was analyzed using a commercial protein array platform. Geraniin supplementation reduced tumor growth and liver metastasis (p<0.05) and altered 20 plasma proteins, including Tropomyosin 3 (TPM3), catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1), hemopoietic lineage cell-specific protein 1 (HCLS1), and Serine/threonine-protein kinase 10 (STK10). Six biomarkers (RAD23 homolog B, HCLS1, CTNNB1, A type of type ll restriction enzyme, TPM3, and STK10) were higher in geraniin-treated samples than in control samples, regardless of tumor induction. Monitoring plasma protein expression in a BC model indicated tumor progression, metastasis, and potential diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers. The 4T1 cell line, an exceptionally invasive mammary cancer model, accurately replicates human triple-negative BC, making it valuable for investigating metastatic behavior and treatment. Plasma protein dynamics in this model may identify tumor aggressiveness regulators and therapeutic targets. Geraniin possesses antitumor and anti-metastasis characteristics and could be developed to treat BC. The autoantibody response toward these antigens and fluctuation in the response could suggest a potential marker or a predictive marker toward treatment with geraniin.

Current breast cancer (BC) treatments often cause side effects, and prolonged use can lead to drug resistance. Hence, there is a demand for alternative treatment options for BC, particularly those utilizing natural compounds with better selectivity and lower toxicity. Curcumin (Cur) is a natural compound with anticancer effects but suffers from low bioavailability, accentuating the need for improved delivery systems. Transdermal drug delivery offers better patient compliance and site-specific delivery for improved treatment. In this study, a formulation of Cur-nanoemulsion (Cur-NE) was developed and characterized. The anticancer potential of the Cur-NE was evaluated using a syngeneic BC mouse model. Cancer was induced by injecting 4T1 murine mammary cancer cells into the breast pad of female Bagg Albino/c (BALB/c) mice. Treatments were started when the tumor was palpable on day 11. Tumor growth was monitored regularly. Upon sacrifice, the tumor, lungs, and liver were harvested from all animals for histopathological, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and gene expression analysis. Histological assessment revealed a higher percentage of necrosis area (25 - 70%) in tumor tissues from mice fed with Cur compared to animals fed with vehicle (10 - 50%) and those that received topical application of the Cur-NE (10 - 40%). The IHC analysis of the BC for biomarkers such as CD9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 showed higher immunoreactivity scores in the animals that received topical application of Cur-NE compared to the vehicle-fed group. The expression of four candidate genes (CDH1, TWIST1, apoptosis inhibitor-5, and CD274) was downregulated (p<0.05) in the Cur-NE group compared to the group fed with Cur. These results suggest that topical application of Cur-NE had higher anticancer effects than oral administration of Cur, making it a promising approach for the treatment of BC.

In the practical work of radiologists or oncologists, particularly in individualized treatment, a rapid and accurate diagnosis, timely assessments of drug effects, and direction of disease progression are essential. Radiomics and neural networks offer significant help in analyzing data from diagnostic imaging studies. This study examines quantitative biomarkers derived from magnetic resonance imaging, tentatively categorized as mathematical morphological markers, and explores their relationship with osteoclast tumor regression in breast cancer. This study aims to determine the consistency of imaging biomarkers in the stabilization, healing, and progression of breast cancer bone metastases.

The current case is about a 62-year-old female presented with persistent fever for 10 days and yellowing of the skin for 5 days at our outpatient clinic. Laboratory tests revealed elevated levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. Abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a mass in the ampulla of Vater, as well as dilatation of the intra- and extra-hepatic bile and pancreatic ducts. The patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy under general anesthesia. Post-operative pathological and immunohistochemical results confirmed a tumor located in the ampulla, measuring 1.5 × 1 × 1 cm. The main component of the tumor was a moderately differentiated pancreaticobiliary adenocarcinoma (ADC), combined with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as well as small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC). The cancer tissue infiltrated the entire intestinal wall, with no invasion of microvessels, lymphatic vessels, or nerves observed. Until 46 months later, there was no tumor recurrence or distant metastasis. We present an uncommon case of ADC of the ampulla of Vater combined with SCC and SCNEC. Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater may have mixed histological components; therefore, in cases of ampullary carcinoma, appropriate specimen collection is necessary, and further studies with more focus on histological origins are required.

Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer that predominantly affects young adults without liver disease. Its typical symptoms include abdominal pain, palpable mass, and/or generalized signs such as weight loss and fatigue. Although patients with localized FLC frequently experience favorable outcomes after surgical resection, the recurrence rate is high. For patients with metastatic or unresectable FLC, alternative treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are considered; however, standardized treatment protocols remain scarce. This case report describes a 24-year-old man with de novo metastatic FLC and peritoneal involvement. The patient was administered various therapies, including atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy; lenvatinib, folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin; and folinic acid, fluorouracil, irinotecan plus bevacizumab. The response to each regimen varied, ranging from initial response followed by disease progression to no response at all. Although metastatic FLC is an uncommon disease, it presents a substantial challenge to patients and healthcare professionals due to the absence of well-established guidelines. In addition to numerous published cases, this case report may offer clinicians valuable insights into the management of FLC.