Identification and development of TP53 mutation-associated Long non-coding RNAs signature for optimized prognosis assessment and treatment selection in hepatocellular carcinoma

2-Dodecyl-6-Methoxycyclohexa-2,5-Diene-1,4-Dione from Averrhoa carambola L. roots: Suppressing hepatocellular carcinoma progression through ROS accumulation and p53 pathway-mediated apoptosis

This study explores the anti-tumor effects of 2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD), a compound derived from Averrhoa carambola L roots, on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and a xenograft mouse model, focusing on its underlying mechanisms. Cell viability following DMDD treatment was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry determined changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates, while migration and invasion capabilities were assessed using wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted to analyze differential gene expression and pathway enrichment. Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor, was used to confirm the apoptotic mechanism induced by DMDD. The expression levels of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase 3 were quantified via Western blot analysis. A xenograft mouse model was developed to assess the in vivo effects of DMDD on HCC. DMDD suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis in Huh7 and Hep3b cells. RNA-seq revealed significant enrichment of p53 and apoptosis signaling pathways among differentially expressed genes. DMDD downregulated Bcl-2 expression and upregulated p53, Bax and cleaved caspase 3. In addition, Z-VAD-FMK partially inhibited DMDD-induced apoptosis. DMDD also inhibited tumor growth in mice. DMDD effectively inhibited tumor growth in HCC cell lines and xenograft models, potentially through ROS elevation and p53-mediated activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

Case report: The first account of undifferentiated sarcoma with epithelioid features originating in the pleura

Undifferentiated epithelioid sarcoma (USEF) is a rare subtype of undifferentiated soft tissue sarcoma that presents unique challenges in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Here, we report a case of USEF occurring in the pleura of a 51-year-old man for the first time. Thoracoscopic examination revealed widespread nodular changes, and pathological analysis confirmed the presence of numerous epithelioid atypical cells. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis demonstrated an undifferentiated phenotype with distinct characteristics: epithelial membrane antigen (foci +), vimentin (+), Ki-67 (+70% +), TTF-1 (+), P53 (mutant type +90%), INI-1 (+), and CK5/6 (small foci +). Immunohistochemical examination of the tumor showed that the tumor was an undifferentiated epithelioid sarcoma. High-throughput DNA sequencing revealed pivotal mutations, including a nonsense mutation in the NF1 gene (c.641A > G(p.H214R)). and critical TP53 missense mutation (c.641A > G(p.H214R)). This TP53 mutation, with a tumor mutation burden of 16.5 Muts/Mb, signifies a high level of genomic instability, likely contributing to the rapid progression and aggressiveness of the disease. Detection of the TP53 mutation provides essential insights, indicating the disease's rapid progression and highlighting the potential for targeted therapies. Although the patient's disease progressed extremely rapidly and he tragically died within a week, we discussed the results of IHC and DNA sequencing in detail and discussed his possible treatment options. Insights gained from this case will be critical in shaping future diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms for USEF, particularly in the context of TP53 mutations.