Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biomedicines biomedicines	4.7	3.7	2013	15.4 Days	CHF 2600
Diagnostics diagnostics	3.6	3.6	2011	20.7 Days	CHF 2600
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	5.6	7.8	2000	16.3 Days	CHF 2900
Journal of Clinical Medicine jcm	3.9	5.4	2012	17.9 Days	CHF 2600
Journal of Molecular Pathology jmp	-	-	2020	24.9 Days	CHF 1000

13 pages, 2650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acetate-Mediated Odorant Receptor OR51E2 Activation Results in Calcitonin Secretion in Parafollicular C-Cells: A Novel Diagnostic Target of Human Medullary Thyroid Cancer

by Hyeon Jeong Lee, Cheol Ryong Ku, Arthur Cho, TaeHo Cho, ChaeEun Lee, Chan Woo Kang, Daham Kim, Yoon Hee Cho, JaeHyung Koo and Eun Jig Lee

Biomedicines 2023, 11(6), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061688 - 11 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

Medullary thyroid cancer originates from parafollicular C-cells in the thyroid. Despite successful thyroidectomy, localizing remnant cancer cells in patients with elevated calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels remains a challenge. Extranasal odorant receptors are expressed in cells from non-olfactory tissues, including C-cells. This study [...] Read more.

Medullary thyroid cancer originates from parafollicular C-cells in the thyroid. Despite successful thyroidectomy, localizing remnant cancer cells in patients with elevated calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels remains a challenge. Extranasal odorant receptors are expressed in cells from non-olfactory tissues, including C-cells. This study evaluates the odorant receptor signals from parafollicular C-cells, specifically, the presence of olfactory marker protein, and further assesses the ability of the protein in localizing and treating medullary thyroid cancer. We used immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, Western blot, RNA sequencing, and real time-PCR to analyze the expression of odorant receptors in mice thyroids, thyroid cancer cell lines, and patient specimens. We used in vivo assays to analyze acetate binding, calcitonin secretion, and cAMP pathway. We also used positron emission tomography (PET) to assess C¹¹-acetate uptake in medullary thyroid cancer patients. We investigated olfactory marker protein expression in C-cells in patients and found that it co-localizes with calcitonin in C-cells from both normal and cancer cell lines. Specifically, we found that OR51E2 and OR51E1 were expressed in thyroid cancer cell lines and human medullary thyroid cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that in the C-cells, the binding of acetate to OR51E2 activates its migration into the nucleus, subsequently resulting in calcitonin secretion via the cAMP pathway. Finally, we found that C¹¹-acetate, a positron emission tomography radiotracer analog for acetate, binds competitively to OR51E2. We confirmed C¹¹-acetate uptake in cancer cells and in human patients using PET. We demonstrated that acetate binds to OR51E2 in C-cells. Using C¹¹-acetate PET, we identified recurrence sites in post-operative medullary thyroid cancer patients. Therefore, OR51E2 may be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for medullary thyroid cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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19 pages, 3396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Histopathological Gastric Cancer Detection on GasHisSDB Dataset Using Deep Ensemble Learning

by Ming Ping Yong, Yan Chai Hum, Khin Wee Lai, Ying Loong Lee, Choon-Hian Goh, Wun-She Yap and Yee Kai Tee

Diagnostics 2023, 13(10), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13101793 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2064

Abstract

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, underscoring the need for early detection to improve patient survival rates. The current clinical gold standard for detection is histopathological image analysis, but this process is manual, laborious, and time-consuming. As a result, [...] Read more.

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, underscoring the need for early detection to improve patient survival rates. The current clinical gold standard for detection is histopathological image analysis, but this process is manual, laborious, and time-consuming. As a result, there has been growing interest in developing computer-aided diagnosis to assist pathologists. Deep learning has shown promise in this regard, but each model can only extract a limited number of image features for classification. To overcome this limitation and improve classification performance, this study proposes ensemble models that combine the decisions of several deep learning models. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed models, we tested their performance on the publicly available gastric cancer dataset, Gastric Histopathology Sub-size Image Database. Our experimental results showed that the top 5 ensemble model achieved state-of-the-art detection accuracy in all sub-databases, with the highest detection accuracy of 99.20% in the 160 × 160 pixels sub-database. These results demonstrated that ensemble models could extract important features from smaller patch sizes and achieve promising performance. Overall, our proposed work could assist pathologists in detecting gastric cancer through histopathological image analysis and contribute to early gastric cancer detection to improve patient survival rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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15 pages, 4760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ZNF750: A Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Metastatic Prostate Cancer

by Manuela Montanaro, Massimiliano Agostini, Lucia Anemona, Elena Bonanno, Francesca Servadei, Enrico Finazzi Agrò, Anastasios D. Asimakopoulos, Carlo Ganini, Chiara Cipriani, Marta Signoretti, Pierluigi Bove, Francesco Rugolo, Benedetta Imperiali, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello and Manuel Scimeca

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076519 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The clinical decision making for prostate cancer patients is based on the stratification of the patients according to both clinical and pathological parameters [...] Read more.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The clinical decision making for prostate cancer patients is based on the stratification of the patients according to both clinical and pathological parameters such as Gleason score and prostate-specific antigen levels. However, these tools still do not adequately predict patient outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ZNF750 could have a role in better stratifying patients, identifying those with a higher risk of metastasis and with the poorest prognosis. The data reported here revealed that ZNF750 protein levels are reduced in human prostate cancer samples, and this reduction is even higher in metastatic samples. Interestingly, nuclear positivity is significantly reduced in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, regardless of both Gleason score and grade group. More importantly, the bioinformatics analysis indicates that ZNF750 expression is positively correlated with better prognosis. Overall, our findings suggest that nuclear expression of ZNF750 may be a reliable prognostic biomarker for metastatic prostate cancer, which lays the foundation for the development of new biological therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 1862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning System for Lung Neoplasms Distinguished Based on Scleral Data

by Qin Huang, Wenqi Lv, Zhanping Zhou, Shuting Tan, Xue Lin, Zihao Bo, Rongxin Fu, Xiangyu Jin, Yuchen Guo, Hongwu Wang, Feng Xu and Guoliang Huang

Diagnostics 2023, 13(4), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13040648 - 09 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1630

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer. Recent research shows that the human eye can provide useful information about one’s health status, but few studies have revealed that the eye’s features are associated with [...] Read more.

Lung cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer. Recent research shows that the human eye can provide useful information about one’s health status, but few studies have revealed that the eye’s features are associated with the risk of cancer. The aims of this paper are to explore the association between scleral features and lung neoplasms and develop a non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI) method for detecting lung neoplasms based on scleral images. A novel instrument was specially developed to take the reflection-free scleral images. Then, various algorithms and different strategies were applied to find the most effective deep learning algorithm. Ultimately, the detection method based on scleral images and the multi-instance learning (MIL) model was developed to predict benign or malignant lung neoplasms. From March 2017 to January 2019, 3923 subjects were recruited for the experiment. Using the pathological diagnosis of bronchoscopy as the gold standard, 95 participants were enrolled to take scleral image screens, and 950 scleral images were fed to AI analysis. Our non-invasive AI method had an AUC of 0.897 ± 0.041(95% CI), a sensitivity of 0.836 ± 0.048 (95% CI), and a specificity of 0.828 ± 0.095 (95% CI) for distinguishing between benign and malignant lung nodules. This study suggested that scleral features such as blood vessels may be associated with lung cancer, and the non-invasive AI method based on scleral images can assist in lung neoplasm detection. This technique may hold promise for evaluating the risk of lung cancer in an asymptomatic population in areas with a shortage of medical resources and as a cost-effective adjunctive tool for LDCT screening at hospitals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 2034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and External Validation of a Radiomics Model Derived from Preoperative Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI for Predicting Histopathologic Grade of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

by Xiaojun Hu, Changfeng Li, Qiang Wang, Xueyun Wu, Zhiyu Chen, Feng Xia, Ping Cai, Leida Zhang, Yingfang Fan and Kuansheng Ma

Diagnostics 2023, 13(3), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13030413 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1448

Abstract

Histopathologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important predictor of early recurrence and poor prognosis after curative treatments. This study aims to develop a radiomics model based on preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting HCC histopathologic grade and to validate its predictive [...] Read more.

Histopathologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important predictor of early recurrence and poor prognosis after curative treatments. This study aims to develop a radiomics model based on preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting HCC histopathologic grade and to validate its predictive performance in an independent external cohort. Clinical and imaging data of 403 consecutive HCC patients were retrospectively collected from two hospitals (265 and 138, respectively). Patients were categorized into poorly differentiated HCC and non-poorly differentiated HCC groups. A total of 851 radiomics features were extracted from the segmented tumor at the hepatobiliary phase images. Three classifiers, logistic regression (LR), support vector machine, and Adaboost were adopted for modeling. The areas under the curve of the three models were 0.70, 0.67, and 0.61, respectively, in the external test cohort. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was the only significant clinicopathological variable associated with HCC grading (odds ratio: 2.75). When combining AFP, the LR+AFP model showed the best performance, with an AUC of 0.71 (95%CI: 0.59–0.82) in the external test cohort. A radiomics model based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI was constructed in this study to discriminate HCC with different histopathologic grades. Its good performance indicates a promise in the preoperative prediction of HCC differentiation levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 2377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Advantage of Using an Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Display in Ultrasonography-Guided Needle Biopsy Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Study

by Tadafumi Shimizu, Takaaki Oba and Ken-ichi Ito

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(2), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020512 - 08 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1338

Abstract

An optical see-through head-mounted display (OST-HMD) can potentially improve the safety and accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an OST-HMD in US-guided needle-puncture procedures. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study in which we compared the [...] Read more.

An optical see-through head-mounted display (OST-HMD) can potentially improve the safety and accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an OST-HMD in US-guided needle-puncture procedures. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study in which we compared the accuracy and safety of the US-guided needle puncture procedure and the stress on the practitioner when using OST-HMD versus standard US display (SUD). Inexperienced medical students were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. A breast phantom was used to evaluate the required time and accuracy of the US-guided needle puncture. Practitioner stress was quantified using a visual analog scale (VAS). When the procedure was performed for the first time, the time required to reach the target lesion at a shallow depth was significantly shorter in the OST-HMD group (39.8 ± 39.9 s) than in the SUD group (71.0 ± 81.0 s) (p = 0.01). Using the OST-HMD significantly reduced the unintentional puncture of a non-target lesion (p = 0.01). Furthermore, the stress felt by the practitioners when capturing the image of the target lesion (p < 0.001), inserting and advancing the needle more deeply (p < 0.001), and puncturing the target lesion (p < 0.001) was significantly reduced in the OST-HMD group compared with that in the SUD group. Use of OST-HMD may improve the accuracy and safety of US-guided needle puncture procedures and may reduce practitioner stress during the procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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16 pages, 2468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DNA Mismatch Repair Proteins and BRAF V600E Detection by Immunohistochemistry in Colorectal Cancer Demonstrates Concordance with Next Generation Sequencing

by Joel Yambert, Leigh A. Henricksen, June Clements, Andrew Hannon, Alyssa Jordan, Shalini Singh, Katerina Dvorak, Colin C. Pritchard and Eric Q. Konnick

J. Mol. Pathol. 2022, 3(4), 339-354; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmp3040029 - 02 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2446

Abstract

Background and Aims: Multiple laboratory methods are used to screen patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for mismatch repair (MMR) protein deficiency to identify possible Lynch syndrome patients. The goal of this study was to compare the agreement between ready-to-use immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays for [...] Read more.

Background and Aims: Multiple laboratory methods are used to screen patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for mismatch repair (MMR) protein deficiency to identify possible Lynch syndrome patients. The goal of this study was to compare the agreement between ready-to-use immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays for MLH-1, PMS-2, MSH-2, MSH-6, and mutated BRAF at V600E and molecular methods in CRC cases. The inclusion of the BRAF V600E mutation testing is important for the identification of patients with sporadic CRC, as the BRAF V600E mutation is very rarely observed in patients with Lynch syndrome tumors. Methods: CRC cases were analyzed by ColoSeq^TM tumor sequencing assay and VENTANA MMR IHC Panel that included anti-MLH1, anti-PMS2, anti-MSH2, anti-MSH6, and anti-BRAF V600E antibodies. Additionally, CRC cases with MLH1 IHC loss were evaluated for MLH1 promoter hypermethylation. Results: One hundred and eighteen cases were analyzed. The overall percent agreement (OPA) for each evaluated marker status compared to next-generation sequencing (NGS) exceeded 96%. Twenty-three cases were positive for the BRAF V600E mutation by IHC and NGS, and twenty cases showed loss of MLH1 protein and were positive for MLH1 hypermethylation. Samples with loss of MMR protein expression by IHC demonstrated genetic and/or epigenetic alterations that were consistent with the observed protein expression patterns. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that ready-to-use IHC assays can correctly identify the loss of MMR proteins and the presence of mutated BRAF V600E protein, supporting the utility of the VENTANA MMR IHC Panel as an aid to stratify patients with sporadic CRC vs. potential Lynch syndrome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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14 pages, 1409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical and Multimodal Imaging Features of Choroidal Nevi in the Korean Population

by Chul Hee Lee, Hansang Lee, Seung Min Lee, Eun Young Choi, Junwon Lee and Min Kim

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(22), 6666; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11226666 - 10 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1299

Abstract

Choroidal nevus is a precursor of choroidal melanoma. Multimodal imaging has become vital in predicting the malignant transformation of choroidal nevi. This single-center, retrospective study analyzed clinical characteristics and multimodal imaging findings of 168 choroidal nevi (164 patients) of the Korean population. The [...] Read more.

Choroidal nevus is a precursor of choroidal melanoma. Multimodal imaging has become vital in predicting the malignant transformation of choroidal nevi. This single-center, retrospective study analyzed clinical characteristics and multimodal imaging findings of 168 choroidal nevi (164 patients) of the Korean population. The mean age at presentation was 50 ± 15 (range, 13–85) (women, n = 88 [53.7%]). Choroidal nevi (melanotic, n = 164 [97.6%]; postequatorial, n = 160 [95.2%]) were densely located between the optic disc and foveola (65.5%). The mean maximum linear basal diameter on fundus photography and thickness on optical coherence tomography were 2.97 ± 1.51 mm and 521 ± 297 μm, respectively. On ultrasonography, the mean thickness was 0.87 ± 0.60 mm. Choroidal nevi in women were associated with a higher maximum linear basal diameter (3.23 ± 1.65 vs. 2.68 ± 1.21 mm; p = 0.033) and age at diagnosis (52 ± 14 vs. 47 ± 16 years; p = 0.046) than those in men. Choroidal nevi with associated subretinal fluid (23.2%) presented with larger basal diameter (p = 0.049) and thickness on B-scan and optical coherence tomography (p < 0.001), but a younger age at diagnosis (p < 0.001) than those of dry nevi. This multimodal imaging study of choroidal nevi revealed some distinct characteristics, including topographic distribution, sex-related differences, and a younger age at diagnosis of nevi with fluid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 1047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immunohistochemical Expression of CD44, MMP-2, MMP-9, and Ki-67 as the Prognostic Markers in Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinomas—A Prospective Cohort Study

by Magdalena Chrabańska, Magdalena Rynkiewicz, Paweł Kiczmer and Bogna Drozdzowska

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(17), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11175196 - 02 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1350

Abstract

CD44 is the most frequently reported marker of the cancer stem cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 are key regulators of tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic and prognostic values [...] Read more.

CD44 is the most frequently reported marker of the cancer stem cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 are key regulators of tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic and prognostic values of the immunohistochemical expression of CD44, MMP2, MMP9, and Ki-67 in papillary and chromophobe RCCs. In the case of papillary RCC, MMP-2 expression was positively correlated with patient age (p < 0.05), while CD44 expression was positively correlated with tumor stage (τ = 0.26, p < 0.05). Moreover, CD44 expression positively correlated with MMP-9 (τ = 0.39, p < 0.05). In the case of chromophobe RCC, only Ki-67 expression was negatively correlated with tumor stage (τ = −0.44, p < 0.05). During follow-up, a death was documented in 6 patients with papillary RCC. In these patients, CD44 expression was not a significant factor affecting the overall survival of patients (p > 0.05), whereas there was a positive correlation between increased MMP-9 expression and shorter overall survival (p < 0.05). Taken together, carcinogenesis in papillary RCC is probably dependent on both cancer stem cells and metalloproteinases activity. Expression of CD44 and MMP-9 can significantly improve the prediction of papillary RCC prognosis in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 4436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Segmentation and Recognition of the Pathological Features of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Based on Multispectral Imaging

by Cheng Wang, Qi Chen, Tijie Gao, Shijun Guo, Huazhong Xiang, Gang Zheng, Dawei Zhang and Xiuli Wang

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(13), 3815; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133815 - 01 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1509

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin cancers, a definitive diagnosis of cSCC is crucial to prevent patients from missing out on treatment. The gold standard for the diagnosis of cSCC is still pathological biopsy. Currently, its diagnostic [...] Read more.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin cancers, a definitive diagnosis of cSCC is crucial to prevent patients from missing out on treatment. The gold standard for the diagnosis of cSCC is still pathological biopsy. Currently, its diagnostic efficiency and accuracy largely depend on the experience of pathologists. Here, we present a simple, fast, and robust technique, a microscopic multispectral imaging system based on LED illumination, to diagnose cSCC qualitatively and quantitatively. The adaptive threshold segmentation method was used to segment the multispectral images into characteristic structures. There was a statistically significant difference between the average nucleocytoplasmic ratio of normal skin (4.239%) and cSCC tissues (15.607%) (p < 0.01), and the keratin pearls cSCC have well-defined qualitative features. These results show that the qualitative and quantitative features obtained from multispectral imaging can be used to comprehensively determine whether or not the tissue is cancerous. This work has significant implications for the development of a low-cost and easy-to-use device, which can not only reduce the complexity of pathological diagnosis but can also achieve the goal of convenient digital staining and access to critical histological information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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10 pages, 1329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The European Institute of Oncology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for Classification of Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective Study

by Elvio De Fiori, Carolina Lanza, Serena Carriero, Francesca Tettamanzi, Samuele Frassoni, Vincenzo Bagnardi and Giovanni Mauri

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(11), 3238; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113238 - 06 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3420

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the performance, quality and effectiveness of “IEO-TIRADS” in assigning a TI-RADS score to thyroid nodules (TN) when compared with “EU-TIRADS” and the US risk score calculated with the S-Detect software (“S-Detect”). The primary objective is the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy [...] Read more.

Background: To evaluate the performance, quality and effectiveness of “IEO-TIRADS” in assigning a TI-RADS score to thyroid nodules (TN) when compared with “EU-TIRADS” and the US risk score calculated with the S-Detect software (“S-Detect”). The primary objective is the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy (DA) by “IEO-TIRADS”, “S-Detect” and “EU-TIRADS”, and the secondary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performances of the scores, using the histological report as the gold standard. Methods: A radiologist collected all three scores of the TNs detected and determined the risk of malignancy. The results of all the scores were compared with the histological specimens. The sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and diagnostic accuracy (DA), with their 95% confidence interval (95% CI), were calculated for each method. Results: 140 TNs were observed in 93 patients and classified according to all three scores. “IEO-TIRADS” has an SE of 73.6%, an SP of 59.2% and a DA of 68.6%. “EU-TIRADS” has an SE of 90.1%, an SP of 32.7% and a DA of 70.0%. “S-Detect” has an SE of 67.0%, an SP of 69.4% and a DA of 67.9%. Conclusion: “IEO-TIRADS” has a similar diagnostic performance to “S-Detect” and “EU-TIRADS”. Providing a comparable DA with other reporting systems, IEO-TIRADS holds the potential of being applied in clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 4256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Serum Nardilysin as a Prognostic Biomarker in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

by Yongfeng Xu, Qunli Xiong, Yang Yang, Ningna Weng, Junjun Li, Jinlu Liu, Xiaojuan Yang, Zhu Zeng, Zhiwei Zhang and Qing Zhu

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(11), 3101; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113101 - 30 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1752

Abstract

Background: Nardilysin, (N-arginine dibasic convertase, NRDC) has been reported to play an important role in cancer progression, and is associated with tumor proliferation signals and inflammatory signals, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), through the [...] Read more.

Background: Nardilysin, (N-arginine dibasic convertase, NRDC) has been reported to play an important role in cancer progression, and is associated with tumor proliferation signals and inflammatory signals, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), through the activation of disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteases. NRDC has recently been revealed to be involved in the tumorigenesis of various types of cancer, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, malignant cerebral infarction, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and gastric cancer. However, the expression profiles and biological relevance of NRDC in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have rarely been reported. Methods: We analyzed the NRDC expression profile in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and identified NRDC as a circulating biomarker in the serum of 112 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients. The diagnostic value of NRDC was analyzed by the area under the curve (AUC) and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test. Results: Our results demonstrated that the clinical prognosis significance of NRDC with the clinical characteristics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). NRDC was notably decreased in PDAC patient serum compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the present study found that the NRDC expression level was correlated with T grade (p < 0.001), metastasis(p < 0.001), differentiation(p < 0.001), and TNM stage (p = 0.011). Further bioinformatics analysis revealed that NRDC correlated with proliferation and migration pathways; in particular, it mediated cell-matrix adhesion-dependent activation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Conclusions: Serum NRDC may play a useful diagnostic biomarker to evaluate the aggressive clinical features in PAAD patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 1331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein D Expression as a Diagnostic Marker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

by Vikas Kumar, Moien Rasheed Lone, Anurag Kumar, Vinnyfred Vincent, Himani Thakkar, Deepika Mishra and Shyam S. Chauhan

Diagnostics 2022, 12(6), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12061332 - 27 May 2022

Viewed by 1830

Abstract

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNPD) serves as a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD to differentiate between OSCC and normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry for hnRNPD and a routinely used diagnostic marker deltaNp63 (p40) was [...] Read more.

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNPD) serves as a prognostic marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD to differentiate between OSCC and normal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry for hnRNPD and a routinely used diagnostic marker deltaNp63 (p40) was performed in 32 normal mucosae and 46 OSCC specimens. Subsequently, receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of hnRNPD in comparison to that of p40. Immunostaining for p40 and hnRNPD was observed in 39 (84.78%) and 38 (82.60%) cases, respectively, in OSCC specimens. The poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma displayed 100% (eight cases) immunoreactivity for hnRNPD as compared to 87.5% (seven cases) for p40. Nuclear staining of p40 and hnRNPD was observed in all OSCC specimens. p40 staining was restricted to basal cells, whereas both basal and para-basal cells displayed hnRNPD staining in OSCC specimens. Areas under the curve for p40 and hnRNPD were 0.86 and 0.87, respectively. p40 and hnRNPD showed equal sensitivities (80.95%). However, hnRNPD displayed marginally higher (88.23%) specificity for tumor cells as compared to that of p40 (85.29%). Conclusion: In addition to being a well-established prognostic marker, hnRNPD can serve as a diagnostic marker for OSCC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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18 pages, 830 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Lifestyle on Prostate Cancer: A Road to the Discovery of New Biomarkers

by Catarina Leitão, Bárbara Matos, Fátima Roque, Maria Teresa Herdeiro and Margarida Fardilha

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(10), 2925; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102925 - 22 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3592

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men, and its incidence has been rising through the years. Several risk factors have been associated with this disease and unhealthy lifestyles and inflammation were appointed as major contributors for PCa development, [...] Read more.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men, and its incidence has been rising through the years. Several risk factors have been associated with this disease and unhealthy lifestyles and inflammation were appointed as major contributors for PCa development, progression, and severity. Despite the advantages associated with the currently used diagnostic tools [prostate-specific antigen(PSA) serum levels and digital rectal examination (DRE)], the development of effective approaches for PCa diagnosis is still necessary. Finding lifestyle-associated proteins that may predict the development of PCa seems to be a promising strategy to improve PCa diagnosis. In this context, several biomarkers have been identified, including circulating biomarkers (CRP, insulin, C-peptide, TNFα-R2, adiponectin, IL-6, total PSA, free PSA, and p2PSA), urine biomarkers (PCA3, guanidine, phenylacetylglycine, and glycine), proteins expressed in exosomes (afamin, vitamin D-binding protein, and filamin A), and miRNAs expressed in prostate tissue (miRNA-21, miRNA-101, and miRNA-182). In conclusion, exploring the impact of lifestyle and inflammation on PCa development and progression may open doors to the identification of new biomarkers. The discovery of new PCa diagnostic biomarkers should contribute to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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13 pages, 2003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Single-Institute Experience with C-ros Oncogene 1 Translocation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers in Taiwan

by Hsiang-Sheng Wang, Chien-Ying Liu, Sheng-Chi Hsu, Shih-Chiang Huang, Tsai-Hsien Hung, Kwai-Fong Ng and Tse-Ching Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5789; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105789 - 21 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1824

Abstract

(1) Background: The C-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene translocation is an important biomarker for selecting patients for crizotinib-targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to understand the incidence, diagnostic algorithm, clinical course and objective response to crizotinib in ROS1 translocated [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The C-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene translocation is an important biomarker for selecting patients for crizotinib-targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to understand the incidence, diagnostic algorithm, clinical course and objective response to crizotinib in ROS1 translocated lung non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) in Taiwan. (2) Methods: First, we retrospectively studied the ROS1 status in 100 NSCLC samples using break-apart fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to establish a diagnostic algorithm. Then, we performed routine ROS1 IHC tests in 479 NSCLCs, as crizotinib was available from 2018 in Taiwan. We analyzed the objective response rate and the survival impact of crizotinib. (3) Results: Four ROS1 translocations were clustered in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type adenocarcinomas but not in cases with EGFR mutations. Strong ROS1 expression was positively correlated with ROS1 translocation (p < 0.001). NSCLCs with ROS1 translocation had a poor prognosis compared to those without ROS1 translocation (p = 0.004) in the pre-crizotinib stage. Twenty NSCLCs were detected with ROS1 translocation in 479 wild-type EGFR specimens from 2018. Therefore, the incidence of ROS1 translocation is approximately 4.18% in EGFR wild-type NSCLCs. In these 20 ROS1 translocation cases, 19 patients received crizotinib treatment, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 78.95% (confidence interval = 69.34% to 88.56%), including 1 complete response, 14 partial responses, 3 stable cases and 1 progressive case. Overall survival and progression-free survival were better in the 19 ROS1-translocated NSCLCs of the prospective group with crizotinib treatment than the four ROS1-translocated NSCLCs of the retrospective group without crizotinib treatment. (4) Conclusions: ROS1-translocated NSCLCs had a poor prognosis and could have a beneficial outcome with crizotinib. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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15 pages, 1733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Class CNN for Classification of Multispectral and Autofluorescence Skin Lesion Clinical Images

by Ilze Lihacova, Andrey Bondarenko, Yuriy Chizhov, Dilshat Uteshev, Dmitrijs Bliznuks, Norbert Kiss and Alexey Lihachev

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(10), 2833; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102833 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

In this work, we propose to use an artificial neural network to classify limited data of clinical multispectral and autofluorescence images of skin lesions. Although the amount of data is limited, the deep convolutional neural network classification of skin lesions using a multi-modal [...] Read more.

In this work, we propose to use an artificial neural network to classify limited data of clinical multispectral and autofluorescence images of skin lesions. Although the amount of data is limited, the deep convolutional neural network classification of skin lesions using a multi-modal image set is studied and proposed for the first time. The unique dataset consists of spectral reflectance images acquired under 526 nm, 663 nm, 964 nm, and autofluorescence images under 405 nm LED excitation. The augmentation algorithm was applied for multi-modal clinical images of different skin lesion groups to expand the training datasets. It was concluded from saliency maps that the classification performed by the convolutional neural network is based on the distribution of the major skin chromophores and endogenous fluorophores. The resulting classification confusion matrices, as well as the performance of trained neural networks, have been investigated and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 2448 KiB

Open AccessReview

Vascular Complications Caused by Tibial Osteochondroma: Focus on the Literature and Presentation of a Popliteal Artery Thrombosis with Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

by Andrea Angelini, Mariachiara Cerchiaro, Carlo Maturi and Pietro Ruggieri

Diagnostics 2022, 12(5), 1191; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12051191 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3822

Abstract

Osteochondromas are common benign bone tumors, frequently found in adolescents or young adults. Most often asymptomatic and discovered by accidental findings, they may be diagnosed because of compression or dislocation. Vascular complications are an atypical presentation of osteochondromas, and include vessel perforation and [...] Read more.

Osteochondromas are common benign bone tumors, frequently found in adolescents or young adults. Most often asymptomatic and discovered by accidental findings, they may be diagnosed because of compression or dislocation. Vascular complications are an atypical presentation of osteochondromas, and include vessel perforation and thrombosis, arterial thromboembolic events and pseudoaneurysm formation. Popliteal artery thrombosis and acute lower limb ischemia caused by a tibial osteochondroma are rarely observed. Starting from a case of temporary lower extremity ischaemia caused by thrombosis of the subarticular popliteal artery due to an osteochondroma of the proximal tibial protruding in popliteal fossa, we focused a literature analysis on diagnostic and management aspects. A combined vascular-orthopedic approach was performed with intra-arterial locoregional thrombolytic therapy and then a surgical tangential resection of the tibial osteochondroma. The adequate approach for these patients includes clinical evaluation, plain radiographs, CT scan and MRI. The purpose of the present review article is to underline the importance of a combined vascular-orthopedic approach to correct diagnosis and prompt surgical management of vascular complications caused by tibial osteochondromas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 2465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Non-Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer Patients with ¹⁸F-FDG PET Radiomics Based Machine Learning Classification

by Roelof J. Beukinga, Floris B. Poelmann, Gursah Kats-Ugurlu, Alain R. Viddeleer, Ronald Boellaard, Robbert J. De Haas, John Th. M. Plukker and Jan Binne Hulshoff

Diagnostics 2022, 12(5), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12051070 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1930

Abstract

Background: Approximately 26% of esophageal cancer (EC) patients do not respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), emphasizing the need for pre-treatment selection. The aim of this study was to predict non-response using a radiomic model on baseline ¹⁸F-FDG PET. Methods: Retrospectively, 143 ¹⁸ [...] Read more.

Background: Approximately 26% of esophageal cancer (EC) patients do not respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), emphasizing the need for pre-treatment selection. The aim of this study was to predict non-response using a radiomic model on baseline ¹⁸F-FDG PET. Methods: Retrospectively, 143 ¹⁸F-FDG PET radiomic features were extracted from 199 EC patients (T1N1-3M0/T2–4aN0-3M0) treated between 2009 and 2019. Non-response (n = 57; 29%) was defined as Mandard Tumor Regression Grade 4–5 (n = 44; 22%) or interval progression (n = 13; 7%). Randomly, 139 patients (70%) were allocated to explore all combinations of 24 feature selection strategies and 6 classification methods towards the cross-validated average precision (AP). The predictive value of the best-performing model, i.e AP and area under the ROC curve analysis (AUC), was evaluated on an independent test subset of 60 patients (30%). Results: The best performing model had an AP (mean ± SD) of 0.47 ± 0.06 on the training subset, achieved by a support vector machine classifier trained on five principal components of relevant clinical and radiomic features. The model was externally validated with an AP of 0.66 and an AUC of 0.67. Conclusion: In the present study, the best-performing model on pre-treatment ¹⁸F-FDG PET radiomics and clinical features had a small clinical benefit to identify non-responders to nCRT in EC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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6 pages, 17661 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

POEMS Syndrome: Presented as Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease of Plasma Cell Variant for Eight Years and Dramatic Treatment with Siltuximab Followed by Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

by Yong-Moon Lee, Yoon Seok Choi and Jin-Man Kim

Diagnostics 2022, 12(4), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040998 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2147

Abstract

Background: POEMS syndrome (POEMS) is a rare plasma cell clonal paraneoplastic syndrome consisting of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes presenting with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) histology, the treatment of which has not yet been well established. iMCD is also [...] Read more.

Background: POEMS syndrome (POEMS) is a rare plasma cell clonal paraneoplastic syndrome consisting of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes presenting with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) histology, the treatment of which has not yet been well established. iMCD is also a distinctive rare non-clonal lymphoproliferative disorder, of which dramatic response to Siltuximab, a monoclonal anti-IL-6 antibody, has been reported recently. Methods: the differential diagnosis between POEMS and iMCD can be very challenging because of the identical histology, overlapping similar symptoms such as polyneuropathy, and vital signs insidiously presented to diagnose POEMS. Results: here, we report the case of a 53-year-old man with iMCD treated for 8 years developing sequential polyneuropathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and bone lytic lesions, all of which were confirmed after his iMCD achieved complete remission resulting from siltuximab administration and finally confirmed as POEMS. Conclusions: we describe the clinical ambiguity of disease presenting that we can face in the real world between iMCD and POEMS and emphasise careful, enduring observation lasting several years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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4 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Unusual Focal Lung Uptake without CT Abnormality on a Bone Scan: What Might It Mean?

by Marie-Claude Eberlé, Cyril Fersing, Sophie Guillemard, Diana Ilonca, Séverine Guiu and Emmanuel Deshayes

Diagnostics 2022, 12(4), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040934 - 08 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1929

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman was referred for a bone scan as an assessment of bone metastasis from breast cancer. Surprisingly, two hot spots of lung uptake were present in the left lung without any abnormality on CT slices. No history of pulmonary disease was [...] Read more.

A 48-year-old woman was referred for a bone scan as an assessment of bone metastasis from breast cancer. Surprisingly, two hot spots of lung uptake were present in the left lung without any abnormality on CT slices. No history of pulmonary disease was observed. An optimized CT scan with fine slices performed the same day was strictly normal (without any micronodule). A lung ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy showed no significant perfusion defect. A follow-up bone scan performed eight months later was normal and without any lung uptake. After exclusion of the main etiologies described in the literature, such as amylosis, sarcoidosis, abscess, or hypercalcemia, radiotracer microembolism seems to be the most likely hypothesis in this patient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 1414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Analytical Approach for the Alignment of Different HE4 Automated Immunometric Systems: An Italian Multicentric Study

by Antonio Angeloni, Corrado De Vito, Antonella Farina, Daniela Terracciano, Michele Cennamo, Rita Passerini, Fabio Bottari, Annalisa Schirinzi, Roberto Vettori, Agostino Steffan, Valerio Mais, Ferdinando Coghe, Luigi Della Corte, Giuseppe Bifulco, Valentina Baccolini, Elena Berardelli, Giuseppe Migliara and Emanuela Anastasi

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(7), 1994; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11071994 - 02 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

Human epididymal secretory protein 4 (HE4) elevation has been studied as a crucial biomarker for malignant gynecological cancer, such us ovarian cancer (OC). However, there are conflicting reports regarding the optimal HE4 cut-off. Thus, the goal of this study was to develop an [...] Read more.

Human epididymal secretory protein 4 (HE4) elevation has been studied as a crucial biomarker for malignant gynecological cancer, such us ovarian cancer (OC). However, there are conflicting reports regarding the optimal HE4 cut-off. Thus, the goal of this study was to develop an analytical approach to harmonize HE4 values obtained with different laboratory resources. To this regard, six highly qualified Italian laboratories, using different analytical platforms (Abbott Alinity I, Fujirebio Lumipulse G1200 and G600, Roche Cobas 601 and Abbott Architett), have joined this project. In the first step of our study, a common reference calibration curve (designed through progressive HE4 dilutions) was tested by all members attending the workshop. This first evaluation underlined the presence of analytical bias in different devices. Next, following bias correction, we started to analyze biomarkers values collected in a common database (1509 patients). A two-sided p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In post-menopausal women stratified between those with malignant gynecological diseases vs. non-malignant gynecological diseases and healthy women, dichotomous HE4 showed a significantly better accuracy than dichotomous Ca125 (AUC 0.81 vs. 0.74, p = 0.001 for age ≤ 60; AUC 0.78 vs. 0.72, p = 0.024 for age > 60). Still, in post-menopausal status, similar results were confirmed in patients with malignant gynecological diseases vs. patients with benign gynecological diseases, both under and over 60 years (AUC 0.79 vs. 0.73, p = 0.006; AUC 0.76 vs. 0.71, p = 0.036, respectively). Interestingly, in pre-menopausal status women over 40 years, HE4 showed a higher accuracy than Ca125 (AUC 0.73 vs. 0.66, p = 0.027), thus opening new perspective for the clinical management of fertile patients with malignant neoplasms, such as ovarian cancer. In summary, this model hinted at a new approach for identifying the optimal cut-off to align data detected with different HE4 diagnostic tools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 1851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Ultrasound-Based Point Shear Wave Elastography for Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Diseases

by Bozhidar Hristov, Vladimir Andonov, Daniel Doykov, Silvia Tsvetkova, Katya Doykova and Mladen Doykov

Diagnostics 2022, 12(4), 841; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040841 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1466

Abstract

Introduction: A variety of imaging techniques exists for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders. None of the broadly applied diagnostic methods utilizes elasticity as an indicator of tissue damage. A well-known fact is that both chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) are [...] Read more.

Introduction: A variety of imaging techniques exists for the diagnosis of pancreatic disorders. None of the broadly applied diagnostic methods utilizes elasticity as an indicator of tissue damage. A well-known fact is that both chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) are associated with the development of prominent fibrosis (increased tissue stiffness). Purpose: To prospectively assess the accuracy of point shear wave elastography (pSWE) in differentiating between benign and malignant pancreatic diseases, establish a cut-off value for the diagnosis of PDA, and evaluate the influence of certain variables on the obtained results. Materials and methods: The present study included 78 patients who were admitted at the Department of Gastroenterology at the university hospital “Kaspela” between December 2017 and August 2021 for diagnosis and/or treatment of pancreatic disorders. Based on the clinical criteria, diagnostic imaging, and histological findings, patients were divided into the CP and PDA group. The ultrasound based pSWE technique was applied and shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured. The depth of region of interest (ROI) and successful measurement rate were also recorded. Results: The mean ± SD SWV values established through pSWE were 1.75 ± 0.34 m/s and 2.93 ± 0.91 m/s for the CP and PDA, respectively. With a cut-off value of 2.09 m/s, we calculated the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and accuracy for differentiating between CP and PDA of 89.47%, 91.20%, and 88.60%, respectively. Of the examined variables, BMI and depth of ROI in the CP group and sex in the PDA group showed a statistically significant influence on the obtained results. Conclusions: pSWE may be utilized as a differential diagnostic modality in patients with suspected CP or PDA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 1916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Expressed MicroRNAs as Prospective Biomarkers for Detection of Breast Cancer

by Amal Ahmed Mohamed, Ahmed E. Allam, Ahmed M. Aref, Maha Osama Mahmoud, Noha A. Eldesoky, Naglaa Fawazy, Yasser Sakr, Mohamed Emam Sobeih, Sarah Albogami, Eman Fayad, Fayez Althobaiti, Ibrahim Jafri, Ghadi Alsharif, Marwa El-Sayed, Asmaa Sayed Abdelgeliel and Rania S. Abdel Aziz

Diagnostics 2022, 12(4), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12040789 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2469

Abstract

Background: Early detection and screening of breast cancer (BC) might help improve the prognosis of BC patients. This study evaluated the use of serum microRNAs (miRs) as non-invasive biomarkers in BC patients. Methods: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we evaluated the serum [...] Read more.

Background: Early detection and screening of breast cancer (BC) might help improve the prognosis of BC patients. This study evaluated the use of serum microRNAs (miRs) as non-invasive biomarkers in BC patients. Methods: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we evaluated the serum expression of four candidate miRs (miR-155, miR-373, miR-10b, and miR-34a) in 99 Egyptian BC patients and 40 healthy subjects (as a control). The miRs expression was correlated with clinicopathological data. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the miRs were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Serum miR-155, miR-373, and miR-10b expression were significantly upregulated (p < 0.001), while serum miR-34a was downregulated (p < 0.00) in nonmetastatic (M0) BC patients compared to the control group. In addition, serum miR-155 and miR-10b were upregulated in BC patients with large tumor sizes and extensive nodal involvement (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 1.0) when the four miRs were combined. Serum miR-373 was significantly upregulated in the human epidermal growth factor 2–negative (p < 0.001), estrogen receptor–positive (p < 0.005), and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive (p < 0.024) in BC patients, and serum miR-155 was significantly upregulated in PR-negative (p < 0.001) BC patients while both serum miR-155 and miR-373 were positively correlated with the tumor grade. Conclusions: Circulating serum miR-155, miR-373, miR-10b, and miR-34a are potential biomarkers for early BC detection in Egyptian patients and their combination shows high sensitivity and specificity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 1900 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Preoperative Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Values for Differentiation between Low and High Grade Meningiomas: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Yueh-Ting Tsai, Kuo-Chuan Hung, Yun-Ju Shih, Sher-Wei Lim, Cheng-Chun Yang, Yu-Ting Kuo, Jeon-Hor Chen and Ching-Chung Ko

Diagnostics 2022, 12(3), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030630 - 04 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2722

Abstract

The meta-analysis aimed to compare the preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between low-grade meningiomas (LGMs) and high-grade meningiomas (HGMs). Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases were screened up to January 2022 for studies investigating the ADC values of meningiomas. The study endpoint [...] Read more.

The meta-analysis aimed to compare the preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between low-grade meningiomas (LGMs) and high-grade meningiomas (HGMs). Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, and Embase databases were screened up to January 2022 for studies investigating the ADC values of meningiomas. The study endpoint was the reported ADC values for LGMs and HGMs. Further subgroup analyses between 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners, ADC threshold values, ADC in different histological LGMs, and correlation coefficients (r) between ADC and Ki-67 were also performed. The quality of studies was evaluated by the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2). A χ²-based test of homogeneity was performed using Cochran’s Q statistic and inconsistency index (I²). Twenty-five studies with a total of 1552 meningiomas (1102 LGMs and 450 HGMs) were included. The mean ADC values (×10⁻³ mm²/s) were 0.92 and 0.79 for LGMs and HGMs, respectively. Compared with LGMs, significantly lower mean ADC values for HGMs were observed with a pooled difference of 0.13 (p < 0.00001). The results were consistent in both 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners. For ADC threshold values, pooled sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 82%, and AUC of 0.84 are obtained for differentiation between LGMs and HGMs. The mean ADC (×10⁻³ mm²/s) in different histological LGMs ranged from 0.87 to 1.22. Correlation coefficients (r) of mean ADC and Ki-67 ranged from −0.29 to −0.61. Preoperative ADC values are a useful tool for differentiating between LGMs and HGMs. Results of this study provide valuable information for planning treatments in meningiomas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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4 pages, 6282 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Multichamber Involvement of Metastatic Cardiac Melanoma

by Maria S. Bonou, Panagiotis Diamantopoulos, Sofia Mavrogeni, Chris J. Kapelios, John Barbetseas and Helen Gogas

Diagnostics 2022, 12(3), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030587 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1496

Abstract

A 30-year-old man with a history of an in-situ melanoma of the forehead was referred for cardiac evaluation because of tachycardia and elevated levels of serum troponin. The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed multiple masses attached to the walls of both ventricles and the right [...] Read more.

A 30-year-old man with a history of an in-situ melanoma of the forehead was referred for cardiac evaluation because of tachycardia and elevated levels of serum troponin. The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed multiple masses attached to the walls of both ventricles and the right atrium (RA). A large mass was occupying almost one third of the right ventricle (RV), resulting in reduction of the end-diastolic RV volume and tachycardia. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed multifocal myocardial infiltration and intracavitary masses and excluded the presence of thrombus in any of the cardiac chambers. Diffuse metastatic involvement in the liver, the spleen, and the brain by computed tomography precluded surgical management. Being BRAF-unmutated, the patient was initially treated with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab. One month later, the cardiac metastases in RA and left ventricle were unchanged on echocardiogram, while the tumor in RV was enlarged occupying the majority of the chamber, resulting in further reduction of the cardiac output and tachycardia. The treatment was changed to a combination of dacarbazine and carboplatin, but the patient eventually died two months later. Heart is not a common metastatic site of melanoma and cardiac involvement is usually clinically silent making ante mortem diagnosis difficult. Multimodalidy imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnostic work up. Cardiac melanoma metastases indicate an advance stage disease with poor prognosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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7 pages, 1923 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma and Mature Cystic Teratoma Transformed to PNET and Carcinosarcoma: A Case Report with an Immunohistochemical Investigation

by Mikiko Matsuo, Chiemi Saigo, Tamotsu Takeuchi, Akane Onogi, Naoki Watanabe, Shinsuke Aikyo, Hiroshi Toyoki, Hiroyuki Yanai and Takuji Tanaka

Biomedicines 2022, 10(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10030547 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3184

Abstract

Ovarian tumors include neoplasms derived from somatic cells and germ cells, including teratoma. Sometimes, tumors of the somatic cell type may develop from teratoma, causing diagnostic perturbation. We experienced a case of a tumor composed of several types of tissue in the ovary [...] Read more.

Ovarian tumors include neoplasms derived from somatic cells and germ cells, including teratoma. Sometimes, tumors of the somatic cell type may develop from teratoma, causing diagnostic perturbation. We experienced a case of a tumor composed of several types of tissue in the ovary with a teratoma. When findings of teratoma and somatic tumor coexist in an ovary, it is difficult to differentiate whether a somatic tumor was mixed with a teratoma or a teratoma unitarily caused transformation to a somatic cell tumor. A 72-year-old Japanese woman (gravida, 3; para, 1) presented to our hospital with severe constipation and frequent urination, and a large intrapelvic tumor was detected by computed tomography (CT). Soon after admission, ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large multilocular cystic tumor on her left ovary. Based on the clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer, she underwent a left ovariectomy, appendectomy, and partial omentectomy. We observed an ovarian tumor consisting of teratoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), adenocarcinoma, various types of sarcomas, and clear cell carcinoma on the H and E-stained sections. The component of clear cell carcinoma showed a nuclear positive reaction against PAX8 and napsin A, as well as a loss of ARID1A, suggesting typical endometriosis-derived clear cell carcinoma. On the other hand, the expression of ARID1A was maintained in teratoma, PNET, non-specific adenocarcinoma, and various types of sarcomas, suggesting that these tumors had an origin different from that of clear cell carcinoma. These findings indicated that the ovarian tumor of this patient contained a clear cell carcinoma derived from a somatic cell and a teratoma that transformed to a wide variety of somatic cell types of tumors, which coexisted on one ovary. The appropriate use of immunohistochemistry was diagnostically effective in this case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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5 pages, 2721 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasized to the Ampulla of Vater 16 Years after Nephrectomy—A Rare Case

by Jun Lu, Weijiang Zhou, Xuyong Wei, Kai Wang, Lixin Zhou and Xiao Xu

Diagnostics 2022, 12(3), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030571 - 23 Feb 2022

Viewed by 1661

Abstract

Although clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is easy to diagnose early and most can be radically resected, nearly one-third of patients still experience metastases after radical nephrectomy. The most common distant metastases sites of ccRCC are lung, bone and liver. However, periampullary [...] Read more.

Although clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is easy to diagnose early and most can be radically resected, nearly one-third of patients still experience metastases after radical nephrectomy. The most common distant metastases sites of ccRCC are lung, bone and liver. However, periampullary metastasis of ccRCC is very rare and easy to misdiagnose. A 59-year-old male patient was hospitalized for recurrent hematochezia. He had a history of nephrectomy 16 years ago due to ccRCC. Enhanced upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) suggested a mass in the ampulla of vater, and active hemorrhage of duodenal papilla was observed by endoscopy. He underwent an emergency pancreaticoduodenectomy because endoscopic hemostasis and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) both failed. Intraoperatively, we found that the tumor located in the ampulla and invaded the pancreatic tissue. The operation was successful, with no postoperative complications. Postoperative pathology suggested metastatic ccRCC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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13 pages, 775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impaired Lung Function and Lung Cancer Incidence: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

by Hye Seon Kang, Yong-Moon Park, Seung-Hyun Ko, Seung Hoon Kim, Shin Young Kim, Chi Hong Kim, Kyungdo Han and Sung Kyoung Kim

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(4), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11041077 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

Background: It is unclear whether the presence of minimal lung function impairment is an independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer in general populations. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using nationally representative data from the Korean National Health and [...] Read more.

Background: It is unclear whether the presence of minimal lung function impairment is an independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer in general populations. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using nationally representative data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Results: Of 20,553 participants, 169 were diagnosed with lung cancer during follow-up (median, 6.5 years). Participants with obstructive lung function impairment had increased risk of lung cancer (aHR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.729–3.629) compared with those with normal lung function. The lower was the quartile or decile of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) or the FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, the significantly higher was the incidence rate of lung cancer (p for trend < 0.0001). With FEV1 values in the lowest quartile (Q4), the incidence of lung cancer was significantly increased regardless of FVC (FEV1 Q4 and FVC values in the higher three quartiles Q1–3: aHR 1.754; 95% CI 1.084–2.847, FEV1 Q4 and FVC Q4: aHR 1.889; 95% CI 1.331–2.681). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that minimal lung function impairment, as expressed by lower FEV1 or FEV1/FVC value, may be associated with increased risk of lung cancer Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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11 pages, 2298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Value of APTw CEST MRI in Routine Clinical Assessment of Human Brain Tumor Patients at 3T

by Julia P. Lingl, Arthur Wunderlich, Steffen Goerke, Daniel Paech, Mark E. Ladd, Patrick Liebig, Andrej Pala, Soung Yung Kim, Michael Braun, Bernd L. Schmitz, Meinrad Beer and Johannes Rosskopf

Diagnostics 2022, 12(2), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12020490 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

Background. With fast-growing evidence in literature for clinical applications of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this prospective study aimed at applying amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) CEST imaging in a clinical setting to assess its diagnostic potential in differentiation of [...] Read more.

Background. With fast-growing evidence in literature for clinical applications of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this prospective study aimed at applying amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) CEST imaging in a clinical setting to assess its diagnostic potential in differentiation of intracranial tumors at 3 tesla (T). Methods. Using the asymmetry magnetization transfer ratio (MTRasym) analysis, CEST signals were quantitatively investigated in the tumor areas and in a similar sized region of the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) on the contralateral hemisphere of 27 patients with intracranial tumors. Area under curve (AUC) analyses were used and results were compared to perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI). Results. Using APTw CEST, contrast-enhancing tumor areas showed significantly higher APTw CEST metrics than contralateral NAWM (AUC = 0.82; p < 0.01). In subgroup analyses of each tumor entity vs. NAWM, statistically significant effects were yielded for glioblastomas (AUC = 0.96; p < 0.01) and for meningiomas (AUC = 1.0; p < 0.01) but not for lymphomas as well as metastases (p > 0.05). PWI showed results comparable to APTw CEST in glioblastoma (p < 0.01). Conclusions. This prospective study confirmed the high diagnostic potential of APTw CEST imaging in a routine clinical setting to differentiate brain tumors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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13 pages, 5577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Ultrasound in Localized Intermediate- or High-Risk Soft Tissue Tumors of the Extremities (MUSTT): Final Results of a Prospective Comparative Trial

by Bianca Bignotti, Federica Rossi, Alessio Signori, Nicola Solari, Bruno Spina, Carlo Martinoli and Alberto Stefano Tagliafico

Diagnostics 2022, 12(2), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12020411 - 05 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3115

Abstract

Objectives: To report final results of the MUSTT trial, which has been designed to independently compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) for local recurrences of non-metastatic patients operated for malignant soft tissue tumors (STT). Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound in [...] Read more.

Objectives: To report final results of the MUSTT trial, which has been designed to independently compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) for local recurrences of non-metastatic patients operated for malignant soft tissue tumors (STT). Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound in soft tissue tumors (MUSTT) is a prospective monocentric study recruiting asymptomatic, non-metastatic patients operated on for localized soft tissue sarcomas between 2015 and April. Eligible patients had MRI and physician-performed ultrasound (US) with an independent interpretation of imaging. Outcome measures were compared using ROC analysis and the X² test. An analysis of all patients was performed on a per-follow-up event basis. Results: A total of n = 51 patients who met the inclusion criteria agreed to participate. Among them, n = 8 were lost to follow-up, n = 6 had US and MRI acquired after a time frame > 7 days and were therefore excluded. Complete data available for 37 patients with 232 MRI and 232 US scan were finally considered (men/women: 18/20; age range, 18–84 years). Recurrences within 5 years occurred in 10/37 patients (27%). ROC analysis comparing US and MRI showed an AUC with 95% confidence intervals of 0.909 (0.832 to 0.981) for US and 0.966 (0.939 to 0.989) for MRI with Prob > X² = 0. Conclusions: Each of these tests detected local recurrences with suitable accuracy. MRI did not result clearly superior to US in terms of diagnostic accuracy, but US showed some false positive or negative results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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12 pages, 1062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Echocardiographic Assessment of Patients with Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy First Diagnosed in the Emergency Department

by Minjoo Kim, Hee Yoon, Min Yeong Kim, Ik Joon Jo, Soo Yeon Kang, Guntak Lee, Jong Eun Park, Taerim Kim, Se Uk Lee, Sung Yeon Hwang, Won Chul Cha and Tae Gun Shin

Diagnostics 2022, 12(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12020259 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1750

Abstract

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal disease that obstructs pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right-sided heart failure causing rapid progressive dyspnea in patients with cancer. This retrospective chart review involved nine patients with PTTM who were first clinically [...] Read more.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal disease that obstructs pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right-sided heart failure causing rapid progressive dyspnea in patients with cancer. This retrospective chart review involved nine patients with PTTM who were first clinically diagnosed in a tertiary emergency department (ED) between January 2015 and June 2021. They underwent laboratory tests, chest radiography, chest computed tomography (CT), and echocardiography. All patients presented with severe and rapidly progressive dyspnea within a few days, a high oxygen demand. The right ventricle (RV): left ventricle ratio was >1 on chest CT, and no life-threatening pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) was observed. Echocardiographic findings indicated that all patients had moderate-to-severe RV dilatation with a D-shaped LV. The median tricuspid regurgitation maximum velocity was 3.8 m/s, and the median RV systolic pressure was 63 mmHg, indicating severe PH. The median value of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was 15 mm, showing a decrease in RV systolic function, and McConnell’s sign was observed in five patients. Two patients immediately underwent chemotherapy and are currently alive. PTTM should be suspected and evaluated using echocardiography in patients with cancer presenting to the ED with acute dyspnea and RV failure without PTE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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14 pages, 897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Primary Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Metabolic Parameters Obtained from ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT

by Sungmin Kang, Joo Dong Kim, Dong Lak Choi and Byungwook Choi

J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(2), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11020354 - 12 Jan 2022

Viewed by 1431

Abstract

This study evaluated the prognostic value of metabolic parameters based on the standardized uptake value (SUV) normalized by total body weight (bwSUV) and by lean body mass (SUL) measured on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for predicting tumor recurrence after [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the prognostic value of metabolic parameters based on the standardized uptake value (SUV) normalized by total body weight (bwSUV) and by lean body mass (SUL) measured on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) for predicting tumor recurrence after primary living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without transplantation locoregional therapy. This retrospective study enrolled 49 patients with HCC. The maximum tumor bwSUV (T-bwSUVmax) and SUL (T-SULmax) were measured on PET. The maximum bwSUV (L-bwSUVmax), mean bwSUV (L-bwSUVmean), maximum SUL (L-SULmax), and mean SUL (L-SULmean) were measured in the liver. All metabolic parameters were evaluated using survival analyses and compared to clinicopathological factors. Tumor recurrence occurred in 16/49 patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that all metabolic parameters were significant (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that prothrombin-induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II; T-stage; tumor number; tumor size; microvascular invasion; the Milan criteria, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and up-to-seven criteria; T-bwSUVmax/L-bwSUVmean; T-SULmax; T-SULmax/L-SULmax; and T-SULmax/L-SULmean were significant predictors. Multivariate analysis revealed that the T-SULmax/L-SULmean (hazard ratio = 115.6; p = 0.001; cut-off, 1.81) and UCSF criteria (hazard ratio = 172.1; p = 0.010) were independent predictors of tumor recurrence. SUL-based metabolic parameters, especially T-SULmax/L-SULmean, were significant, independent predictors of HCC recurrence post-LDLT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology in Cancer Research)

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