SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Ki-67”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Immunohistochemical evaluation of Ki-67 and GLI1 in sporadic and nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome-associated odontogenic keratocysts.

INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a developmental odontogenic cyst that may occur sporadically (OKCsp) or in association with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) (OKC-sy). NBCCS is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by morphological abnormalities and an increased predisposition to several neoplasms, including basal cell carcinomas. Mutations in the tumour suppressor gene PTCH1 have been reported in patients with OKC and NBCCS. PTCH1 participates in a signalling cascade that culminates in the translocation of GLI transcription factors to the nucleus, thereby activating target genes involved in cell proliferation. Aberrant GLI1 expression has been associated with increased proliferation in lung adenocarcinoma and other cancers. OBJECTIVE: To compare GLI1 and Ki-67 protein expression in OKCs associated with NBCCS versus sporadic OKCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 13 OKCsp and 9 OKCsy from a children's hospital and university ... Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-GLI1 and anti-Ki-67 to assess GLI1 expression and cell proliferation. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in GLI1 or Ki-67 expression in the epithelial component of OKCsy versus OKCsp. A positive correlation between GLI1 and Ki-67 expression was detected in the total sample (r = 0.71, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The positive correlation between GLI1 and Ki-67 expression in OKCs suggests an association between SHH pathway activity and cell proliferation in both sporadic and syndromic lesions.

GLI1↗

PubMed2026

Diffusion MRI radiomics in meningiomas: imaging correlates of tumor grade and intraoperative consistency.

OBJECTIVE: Despite advancements in imaging studies, the preoperative prediction of the biological behavior and intraoperative consistency of intracranial meningiomas remains limited. This study evaluated the association of volumetric diffusion-based and texture-derived radiomic features extracted from routine MRI with histopathological aggressiveness and intraoperative tumor consistency. METHODS: Ninety-seven intracranial meningiomas resected at two tertiary centers were retrospectively analyzed. Volumetric segmentation was performed on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI and coregistered to apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Data on first-order diffusion metrics and selected texture features were collected. The associations between World Health Organization (WHO) grade and Ki-67 index were assessed using nonparametric tests and Spearman correlation analysis. Independent factors associated with intraoperative tumor consistency (Zada grades 1-5) were evaluated via multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis that adjusted for tumor volume, skull base location, calcification status, and WHO grade. Secondary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to differentiate solid (Zada grades 4-5) from soft (Zada grades 1-2) tumors. ROC analyses were performed within the study cohort and were intended as exploratory assessments of discriminative performance. RESULTS: The mean ADC (ADCmean) and the 10th percentile of the ADC decreased significantly with increasing WHO grade (p < 0.001). ADCmean had a moderate inverse correlation with the Ki-67 index (r = -0.42, p < 0.001) and intraoperative tumor consistency (r = -0.45, p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the ADCmean remained independently associated with increasing tumor firmness. Each 0.1 × 10-3 mm2/sec increase corresponded to a 38% reduction in the odds of belonging to a higher consistency category (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51-0.74, p < 0.001). The ROC analysis showed good discrimination for solid tumors (area under the curve 0.847, 95% CI 0.742-0.953) and soft tumors (area under the curve 0.824, 95% CI 0.714-0.935). Texture features had weaker associations with intraoperative tumor consistency. CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric diffusion-derived metrics, particularly ADCmean, are associated with both histopathological aggressiveness and intraoperative tumor firmness in meningiomas. Diffusion imaging may reflect a graded microstructural continuum rather than a purely dichotomous property, providing complementary preoperative insights into surgical complexity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Histopathologic, Genomic, and Clinical Characteristics of Primary Cutaneous Melanocytic Tumors With Concomitant NRAS Q61 and IDH1 R132C Mutations.

Cutaneous melanocytic tumors with concomitant NRAS Q61 and IDH1 R132C mutations have been described as intermediate-grade melanocytomas with characteristic biphasic morphology, but the malignant end of this genotype-defined spectrum remains poorly characterized. We assessed histopathologic, immunohistochemical, molecular, and clinical features of 16 primary cutaneous melanocytic tumors harboring both mutations. Following integrated review, 7 tumors were classified as melanocytoma and 9 as melanoma. Melanocytomas showed reproducible biphasic architecture with congenital nevus-like features, a biphasic HMB-45 pattern, low Ki-67, PRAME negativity, retained p16, and minimal copy number variations (CNVs). Melanomas retained partial morphologic overlap in a subset but were distinguished by higher-grade cytology, immunohistochemical features supportive of malignancy, and progression-associated genomic alterations, including TERT promoter mutation (9/9), 9p21/CDKN2A loss (4/7), and higher CNV burden. NRAS and IDH1 variant allele frequencies were strongly concordant (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), supporting their presence in the same dominant clone. Clinically, two patients presented with stage IIIB disease, but no distant metastasis or melanoma-related death occurred during a median melanoma follow-up of 3.9 years (IQR, 2.5-5.1). In exploratory analyses, moderate-to-severe atypia (RR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.0-38.8; P = .009), Ki-67 ≥10% (RR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.1-18.4; P = .003), lymphocytic infiltrate (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.3; P = .03), absence of the typical biphasic pattern (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.3; P = .03), and complete p16 loss (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.3; P = .03) were associated with molecular or clinical progression to melanoma, defined as the presence of at least one of the following: TERT promoter mutation, pathogenic CDKN2A mutation, 9p21/CDKN2A loss, ≥3 genome-wide segmental CNVs, or any metastasis. These findings support the existence of NRAS/IDH1 co-mutated melanoma as the malignant counterpart of NRAS/IDH1-mutated melanocytoma within a single genotype-defined spectrum.

IDH1 mutations↗

PubMed2026

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes differ across MammaPrint® classifications in breast cancer.

MammaPrint® refines risk stratification in early oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, evolving from a binary to a four-tier classification (UltraLow-Risk, Low-Risk, High-Risk 1, and High-Risk 2). The relationship between routine histopathological features, immune infiltration, and genomic risk within this framework remains incompletely characterized in luminal disease. We retrospectively analysed 492 luminal breast carcinomas with available MammaPrint® results. Clinicopathological variables (including histological subtype, grade, Ki-67, hormone receptor expression, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and HER2-low status) were recorded. Stromal tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were quantified according to the criteria of Salgado et al. and spatially categorized as immune-deserted, stromal-restricted, immune-excluded, or inflamed patterns. CD4 and CD8 infiltration was assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Associations with binary and four-tier MammaPrint® categories were examined using multivariable models. High-Risk tumours (41%) were enriched for increased grade, Ki-67, and LVI and lower PR expression. In High-Risk tumours, inflamed spatial patterns were more frequent and median TIL levels were significantly higher compared with Low-Risk tumours (15% vs 5%, P < 0.001). CD4 and CD8 infiltration increased with genomic risk, and CD4 retained a modest but statistically significant association after adjustment for conventional pathological variables. In the four-tier model, UltraLow-Risk/Low-Risk tumours showed minimal TILs and were enriched for invasive lobular carcinoma, whereas High-Risk 1/High-Risk 2 tumours displayed progressively higher proliferative and immune features. No association was observed between HER2-low status and genomic risk. Immune infiltration parallels proliferative and genomic risk gradients in luminal breast cancer. These findings indicate that immune descriptors align with the genomic risk continuum, although their independent prognostic contribution beyond established genomic assays requires further evaluation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evaluation of the clinical and mechanistic role of MCM2 expression in the prediction of meningioma recurrence after radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative radiotherapy is an effective treatment for meningiomas; however, treatment response varies among patients. In addition, practical methods for predicting tumor recurrence after radiotherapy have not been well established. Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2), a key regulator of DNA replication licensing, was recently implicated in highly proliferative molecular subtypes of meningioma. In this study, the authors evaluated whether MCM2 immunohistochemical expression predicts response to radiotherapy in patients with meningiomas. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with WHO grade 1-3 meningiomas treated with resection followed by radiotherapy at a single institution between July 2003 and November 2023. The MCM2 labeling index was assessed immunohistochemically, and patients were stratified into MCM2-high and -low groups using a cutoff of 35%. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the interval from the completion of radiation therapy to postoperative radiological tumor recurrence or regrowth. Patients who showed no progression were censored at their last follow-up. PFS was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and subsequently evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models. To further investigate the biological mechanisms associated with MCM2 expression, comprehensive transcriptomic analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis, was performed to elucidate the molecular processes that occur within MCM2-high tumors. RESULTS: The study population included 15 men (42%) and 21 women (58%), with a mean age of 63 years. Ten tumors (28%) were classified as MCM2-high meningiomas and 26 (72%) as MCM2-low meningiomas. High MCM2 expression was significantly associated with WHO grades 2-3 histology and higher Ki-67 labeling indices. During a median follow-up of 2.52 years, tumor progression after radiotherapy occurred in 47% of the patients. High MCM2 expression (HR 8.34, p = 0.03) was significantly associated with shorter PFS and remained an independent predictor of recurrence after adjustment for WHO grade, tumor size, and Ki-67 labeling index. Transcriptomic analyses of MCM2-high tumors revealed upregulation of cell proliferation-related pathways, accompanied by increased signaling through the E2F8-CHEK1 axis associated with radiation resistance and suppression of the TNF-α signaling pathway implicated in radiosensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: In meningiomas, high MCM2 expression is associated with early recurrence following radiotherapy. The study findings suggest that this association is driven by diverse biological mechanisms related to cell cycle regulation and radioresistance. Immunohistochemical assessment of MCM2 expression may serve as a practical and accessible biomarker for risk stratification and may support the future development of individualized postoperative radiotherapy strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Selective Omission of Oncotype Dx Genomic Testing in Ultra-Low-Risk Luminal A Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Older women with early-stage luminal A breast cancer have an excellent prognosis with a 5-year relative survival >99%. Research on curtailing overtreatment has challenged historical standards of care by reducing radiotherapy dose and volume, and selectively omitting sentinel lymph node biopsy. This study assessed the utility of Oncotype Dx genomic testing in ultra-low-risk luminal A breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A community hospital cancer registry was queried to identify consecutive breast cancer patients from 2014 to 2022. An ultra-low-risk population was defined as age ≥60 years, hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative, pathologic stage T1b-T2N0 without lymphovascular invasion, and Ki-67 ≤13.25%. Analyses examined the distribution of Oncotype Dx scores categorized as low risk (0-18), intermediate risk (19-25), or high risk (26-100), as well as recurrence and overall survival. RESULTS: Of 1711 patients, 91 met ultra-low-risk eligibility criteria with available Oncotype Dx results. The median age was 70 years with a median follow-up of 5.1 years, and no patients received chemotherapy. Only 1 patient (1.1%) had a high-risk Oncotype Dx score of ≥26, while 12 (13.2%) had intermediate scores and 78 (85.7%) were low risk. Five-year local control and overall survival were 100% and 93%, respectively. Ten non-breast cancer deaths occurred, and no patients developed distant metastases. CONCLUSION: We describe a pragmatic method using common clinical and pathological features to define an ultra-low-risk cohort. Older luminal A patients with favorable pathology have a very low probability of receiving a high-risk Oncotype Dx score and demonstrate an excellent prognosis with standard adjuvant therapy.

Chemotherapy↗

PubMed2025

Targeting FOXK2 in triple-negative breast cancer: Role of the P53/MCAS1/miR-211-5p regulatory axis.

Forkhead box K2 (FOXK2) is over-expressed in several human malignancies, yet how it is regulated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remained unclear. We aimed to clarify whether FOXK2 drives TNBC progression, and elucidate the upstream molecular circuitry that controls FOXK2 abundance. FOXK2 mRNA and protein were quantified by qPCR and Western blot in 30 paired TNBC and adjacent tissues. Some assays assessed proliferation, migration and invasion after FOXK2 knockdown or overexpression. Bioinformatics predicted miR-211-5p targeting FOXK2 and lncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 (MCAS1) targeting miR-211-5p. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase assays validated these interactions. RNA pulldown, mass spectrometry and ChIP identified p53 binding to the MCAS1 promoter. FOXK2 was upregulated in TNBC tissues as opposed to the para-carcinoma tissues. FOXK2 silencing significantly reduced proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas overexpression accelerated these phenotypes. Mechanistically, MCAS1 acts as a sponge for miR-211-5p, ultimately protecting its target gene FOXK2 from degradation. Furthermore, employing RNA pulldown, mass spectrometry, ChIP, and luciferase reporter assays, our studies revealed a direct interaction between P53 and the promoter of MCAS1. This interaction resulted in the suppression of MCAS1 transcription. Clinical samples from TNBC patients further confirmed a correlation between FOXK2 expression and tumor size, lymphatic involvement, as well as the expression level of Ki-67. Our findings unveil a novel P53/MCAS1/miR-211-5p/FOXK2 regulatory axis that dictates TNBC aggressiveness. FOXK2 may sever as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in TNBC.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Targeting pancreatic cancer progression: The formononetin and salvianolic acid B combination suppresses JAK/STAT signaling via MBOAT2 downregulation.

OBJECTIVE: Formononetin and salvianolic acid B (FcS) are the primary bioactive components of the Astragalus mongholicus-Salvia miltiorrhiza herbal pair, a classic combination for treating pancreatic cancer associated with qi deficiency and blood stasis. This study elucidates the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of FcS in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A zebrafish xenograft model was used to screen bioactive combinations derived from A. mongholicus and S. miltiorrhiza, identifying FcS as a candidate with antitumor activity. Its efficacy was evaluated in vivo using the zebrafish model, orthotopic LSL-KrasG12D/+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+ and Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mice, and subcutaneous xenograft models. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and colony formation assays, and migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays. Membrane-bound O-acyltransferase 2 (MBOAT2) was identified as a potential target through a molecular docking study and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis. MBOAT2 knockdown cells were used to explore its roles and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in FcS-mediated inhibition. RESULTS: In the zebrafish model, FcS strongly inhibited pancreatic tumor growth. FcS reduced tumor volume, the expression of proliferation marker Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in KPC mice. In vitro, FcS inhibited pancreatic cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, which was accompanied by downregulation of MBOAT2 expression. TCGA analysis linked high MBOAT2 expression to aggressive phenotypes. MBOAT2 knockdown reduced the survival, proliferation and invasion of BxPC-3 cells. Rescue experiments revealed that MBOAT2 knockdown attenuated the antitumor effects of FcS, possibly through modulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. FcS also inhibited tumor proliferation in xenograft models, and MBOAT2 expression was elevated in tumor tissues from pancreatic cancer patients. CONCLUSION: FcS suppresses pancreatic cancer progression via MBOAT2 downregulation and JAK/STAT pathway inhibition, which highlights MBOAT2 as a potential therapeutic target. Please cite this article as: Xu Y, Xu CS, Jin HB, Gu WG, Shen HZ, Lu L, Chen Y, Xu DC, Zhang XF, Yang JF, Wang Y. Targeting pancreatic cancer progression: The formononetin and salvianolic acid B combination suppresses JAK/STAT signaling via MBOAT2 downregulation. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(5):725-741.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

IASLC Update on Classification of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Since the publication of the 2021 WHO classification of thoracic tumors, our knowledge of pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has expanded significantly, particularly through the elucidation of molecular pathways and proposals to refine histopathologic classification. This expanded knowledge across all aspects of pulmonary NENs holds promise for more precise stratification of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the potential development of novel, subtype-specific therapeutic strategies for all NENs. Based on our comprehensive review of the current pulmonary NEN landscape, our multidisciplinary expert panel has deliberated on the modification and updating of the 2021 classification, resulting in the proposal of a new pulmonary carcinoid/NET classification presented in this position paper, which incorporates the following three major points: (1) The proposed framework continues the shift from the traditional carcinoid terminology toward broader adoption of the "NET" nomenclature as found in other organ systems while retaining the term "carcinoid" as the primary diagnostic term to ensure clear communication with thoracic clinical providers. (2) Ki-67 has been incorporated as a diagnostic criterion, aligning with practices in other NET classifications. (3) There is formal recognition of the concept of "carcinoid/NET G3," a rare subset of lung carcinoids characterized by increased proliferative activity but with molecular features more aligned with pulmonary NETs than with high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. This position paper on the current knowledge of pulmonary NENs, including the proposed carcinoid/NET classification, will aid in accurate tumor categorization and guide treatment strategies.

Carcinoid tumor↗

PubMed2025

Reconsidering the definition of triple-negative breast cancer in the immune checkpoint inhibitor era: an optimal cut-off value for hormone receptor percentage of HER2-negative invasive breast cancer.

The optimal cut-off values of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) expression to define the positivity of ER and PgR have been under discussion for over a decade but remain controversial. The American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) and the St. Gallen International Expert Consensus recommended that breast cancers with ≥1% of ER or PgR expression should be considered hormone receptor (HR)-positive tumors but ER/PR expression of 1% to 10% should be reported as HR-low positive; however, among HER2-negative disease, data on the overall benefit of adjuvant endocrine therapies for patients with HR-low positive disease is limited, resulting in the revisiting of the definition of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Defining HR-low positive disease by better understanding the biology is essential because of the recent advancement of neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic therapy strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for TNBC. Additionally, identifying who should be treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy, particularly those who have HR-low HER2-negative disease, which is currently treated as TNBC without adjuvant endocrine therapy, is a clinical unmet need. In clinical practice, treating physicians have tailored systemic treatment strategies using other clinical and pathological factors (i.e., age, grade, Ki-67, tumor size, lymph node involvement). There is no universal practice to treat patients with HR-low HER2-negative breast cancer. This review summarized the currently available data to define the clinically relevant optimal cut-off values of ER/PgR in neoadjuvant- and adjuvant-setting. We recommend considering creating a novel category of triple-negative like breast cancer (TN-like BC), which will require a therapeutic strategy different from conventional TNBC.

Humans↗

PubMed2017

Genome-wide analysis suggests a differential microRNA signature associated with normal and diabetic human corneal limbus.

Small non-coding RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs), regulate fine-tuning of gene expression and can impact a wide range of biological processes. However, their roles in normal and diseased limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC) remain unknown. Using deep sequencing analysis, we investigated miRNA expression profiles in central and limbal regions of normal and diabetic human corneas. We identified differentially expressed miRNAs in limbus vs. central cornea in normal and diabetic (DM) corneas including both type 1 (T1DM/IDDM) and type 2 (T2DM/NIDDM) diabetes. Some miRNAs such as miR-10b that was upregulated in limbus vs. central cornea and in diabetic vs. normal limbus also showed significant increase in T1DM vs. T2DM limbus. Overexpression of miR-10b increased Ki-67 staining in human organ-cultured corneas and proliferation rate in cultured corneal epithelial cells. MiR-10b transfected human organ-cultured corneas showed downregulation of PAX6 and DKK1 and upregulation of keratin 17 protein expression levels. In summary, we report for the first time differential miRNA signatures of T1DM and T2DM corneal limbus harboring LESC and show that miR-10b could be involved in the LESC maintenance and/or their early differentiation. Furthermore, miR-10b upregulation may be an important mechanism of corneal diabetic alterations especially in the T1DM patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Intramuscular patient-derived xenografts achieve high engraftment rates in gastric cancer: implications for pharmacodynamic testing and genomic biomarker discovery.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) exhibits marked inter-patient heterogeneity, limiting empirical chemotherapy efficacy. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models preserve the molecular features of parental tumors and can serve as pharmacodynamic surrogates, but conventional subcutaneous PDX suffers from low engraftment rates. This study evaluated an optimized intramuscular PDX platform for individualized drug testing in GC and applied whole exome sequencing (WES) for biomarker identification (Clinical trial registry: ChiCTR-OOC-17012731). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight treatment-naive GC patients were enrolled between April 2018 and December 2020. Fresh tumor tissues were engrafted into NCG mice by intramuscular transplantation. Drug efficacy was evaluated using tumor cell necrosis rate and Ki-67 expression. WES was performed on 32 engrafted tumorgrafts to characterize driver mutations in fast- and slow-growing subgroups. RESULTS: An engraftment rate of 71.7% (43/60) was achieved, substantially exceeding rates reported in prior studies. Clinical characteristics were independent of engraftment success and outgrowth time (all p > 0.05). Fast- and slow-growing tumorgrafts diverged in frequently altered genes: KMT2C, APOB, CDK12 and MSH2 predominated in fast-growing grafts, whereas TP53, CHD3 and TET2 were enriched in slow-growing grafts. Slow-growing tumorgrafts correlated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.02). PDX-guided treatment was associated with improved prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular transplantation into NCG mice yields high engraftment rates for GC PDX. PDX-guided chemotherapy selection is associated with favorable outcomes. Driver mutation divergence between fast- and slow-growing tumorgrafts provides candidate prognostic biomarkers.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

AGRN activates GPX4 via the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway to suppress ferroptosis in cervical cancer cells.

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Targeting ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death driven by lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which cervical cancer cells acquire resistance to ferroptosis. AGRN expression and its prognostic significance were analyzed in cervical cancer using TCGA and GTEx data. In vitro, AGRN levels were measured in HeLa, CaSki, and Ect1/E6E7 cells via qRT-PCR. mRNA and protein expression levels of AGRN, beta-catenin, and ferroptosis-related markers were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot (WB). Cell viability, RSL3 sensitivity (IC50), and lipid ROS were assessed via CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. In a xenograft model, RSL3's effect on tumor growth was examined. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analyses (qRT-PCR, WB, and flow cytometry) were performed on tumor tissues to evaluate AGRN, beta-catenin, Ki-67, ferroptosis-related genes, and lipid ROS. It is found through research that, AGRN was significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Its overexpression activated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, resulting in elevated GPX4 and SLC7A11 levels and reduced CHAC1 and PTGS2 expression levels. These alterations decreased lipid ROS accumulation and enhanced resistance to RSL3-induced ferroptosis, an effect further confirmed in xenograft models. In short, In short, AGRN promotes ferroptosis resistance in cervical cancer by activating the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and upregulating GPX4 expression. Targeting the AGRN-Wnt/beta-catenin-GPX4 axis may represent a novel therapeutic approach for cervical cancer.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

LDHC4 promotes ovarian cancer progression through H4K12 lactylation to regulate PGK1 expression and modulate glycolysis.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer (OC) pathogenesis involves metabolic and epigenetic alterations, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we sought to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of lactate dehydrogenase C4 (LDHC4) in OC progression. METHODS: Multi-omics approaches were employed, including analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) cohorts, tissue microarrays, molecular biology experiments, and in vivo mouse models. LDHC4 expression was modulated in OC cell lines (A2780 and ES-2) to assess its effects on proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Lactylproteomic profiling, cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag), and chromatin analyses were conducted to explore epigenetic mechanisms. The functional role of the downstream glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) was examined using pharmacological inhibition. Molecular docking and xenograft models were used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting H4K12lac (lactylation of histone H4 at lysine 12). RESULTS: LDHC4 was significantly overexpressed in OC tissues and associated with poor overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.017, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.308–6.989, P < 0.0001). It promoted proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. LDHC4 overexpression increased global lactylation, notably upregulating H4K12lac, which was enriched at the PGK1 promoter. Inhibition of PGK1 with CBR-470-1 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀] = 14.56 µM) suppressed OC growth and metastasis. Importantly, Elbasvir, identified as a high-affinity H4K12lac inhibitor, significantly reduced tumor burden in mouse xenografts across multiple doses (10–20 mg·kg⁻¹) and downregulated H4K12lac and Ki-67 expression. CONCLUSION: We conclude that LDHC4 promotes OC progression via lactylation-mediated epigenetic upregulation of PGK1. Targeting this pathway through H4K12lac inhibitors such as Elbasvir thus emerges as a viable therapeutic approach for OC.

Female↗

PubMed2026

Spinal low-grade ependymal tumors harboring telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation and chromosome 7 gain with methylation profile of spinal subependymoma.

Spinal intramedullary tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of entities with diverse histopathological features, making their diagnosis particularly challenging. With the introduction of DNA methylation profiling, the underlying biological diversity of these tumors has been increasingly clarified and systematized; however, owing to the rarity of these tumors, case accumulation remains limited, and significant challenges persist. In this study, we identified two cases of spinal ependymal tumors exhibiting a methylation profile of spinal (SP-) subependymoma (SEPN). Both cases occurred in elderly patients and demonstrated circumscribed growth consistent with low-grade ependymal tumors; however, these tumors did not exhibit the typical histopathological features required for a diagnosis of SEPN in the 2021 WHO classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors, showing indistinct cluster formation, an astrocytic immunohistochemical profile suggested by Olig2 expression, and relatively elevated Ki-67 labeling indices of 4.5% and 3.1%. At the molecular level, both cases harbored telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations and whole chromosome 7 gain. On two-dimensional t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis, both clustered within the SP-SEPN methylation class at its periphery, with low classifier calibration scores (0.70 and 0.69). According to the current WHO classification, these cases are designated as low-grade ependymal tumors (CNS WHO grade 2) with methylation profile of SP-SEPN because they do not meet the essential WHO histopathological criteria. Ependymal tumors exhibiting a methylation profile consistent with SEPN, but discordant histopathological features have been increasingly recognized, and the appropriate classification of such tumors remains a subject of ongoing debate. These cases provide important insights into the histopathological diversity of ependymal tumors and contribute to establishing a more comprehensive and systematic classification of ependymal tumors.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

What do you mean by PitNETs in WHO Classification 2022?

This review is aimed at clarifying the background and the meaning of new terminology "pituitary neuroendocrine tumours" (PitNETs) in WHO Classification 2022. The PitNETs share the unique structures of secretory granules (SG) with other neuroendocrine tumors, the good example of which is the pancreatic NETs which are now considered to be potentially aggressive, i.e., invasive and metastatic. The PitNETs share these features of pancreatic NETs and now are considered to be potentially aggressive tumors. The PitNETs are classified according to the functions (hormones) and transcription factors, PIT1, TPIT and SF1. The PitNETs are usually slow growing tumors with generally low (<3%) Ki-67 indices. PitNETs show some morphologic features which are more closely related to aggressive growths, such as Crooke cells. The questions how those particular PitNETs are aggressive have been approached by molecular techniques such as single cell RNA seq to clarify the genomic heterogeneity and the biology of individual tumor cells. It is expected that the PitNETs will be clarified and classified with more biologically and therapeutically oriented manner.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN)↗

PubMed2026

Cabozantinib for advanced grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors: subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET trial (Alliance A021602).

Well-differentiated grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have recently been described as a distinct category, and randomized data regarding efficacy of therapy for these patients are scarce. In the phase 3 CABINET trial, cabozantinib improved PFS compared with placebo in patients with advanced, previously treated, progressive extra-pancreatic NETs (epNETs) and pancreatic NETs (pNETs) of all grades. Here, we evaluate if these results remain consistent in a subgroup of patients with well-differentiated G3 NETs. Patients with locally advanced or metastatic epNETs or pNETs were randomized 2:1 in independent cohorts to receive cabozantinib 60 mg daily vs placebo. We analyzed outcomes of the subset of patients with G3 NETs (Ki-67 > 20%), combining patients in the pNET and epNET cohorts due to small sample sizes. Twenty-four patients had G3 NETs, 16 randomized to cabozantinib and 8 to placebo. Primary sites included pancreas (n = 12), GI tract (n = 7), unknown primary sites (n = 3), and lung/thymus (n = 2). Median PFS for patients with G3 NETs treated with cabozantinib was 7.9 vs 3 months with placebo (HR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.04-0.57, 1-sided log-rank P = 0.0034). The confirmed overall radiographic response rate was 25% (4/16) with cabozantinib vs 0% (0/8) with placebo. Safety outcomes were consistent with published data for the trial as a whole. Subset analysis of the CABINET trial showed improved PFS associated with cabozantinib vs placebo for G3 NETs of pancreatic and extra-pancreatic origin. Despite limited numbers, these results suggest that cabozantinib can be an effective option for patients with advanced G3 NETs. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03375320.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Grade progression and high-grade transformation in neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) comprise a biologically diverse group of malignancies that span a wide spectrum of differentiation, proliferative activity, and clinical behavior. Contemporary classifications distinguish well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) from poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). However, growing longitudinal data indicate that a subset of NETs may undergo temporal evolution characterized by rising Ki-67, increasing morphologic atypia, and acquisition of genomic alterations classically associated with NEC, particularly TP53 and, less commonly, RB1 inactivation. These phenomena, referred to as grade progression and high-grade transformation, can result in tumors with NEC-like behavior despite retention of a NET molecular backbone, creating diagnostic and therapeutic ambiguity. In this review, we synthesize recent evidence on the molecular, morphologic, and clinical features of gastroenteropancreatic NET grade progression and transformation, highlight the role of clonal evolution and treatment-associated selection pressure, and discuss implications for imaging, biopsy strategy, molecular profiling, and therapy selection.

Humans↗