Current treatment strategies and future perspectives for gastrointestinal stromal tumors

EZH2 as a potential therapeutic target for gastrointestinal cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers continue to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Understanding the molecular pathways associated with cancer progression and severity is essential for creating effective cancer treatments. In cancer research, there is a notable emphasis on Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a key player in gene expression influenced by its irregular expression and capacity to attach to promoters and alter methylation status. This review explores the impact of EZH2 signaling on various GI cancers, such as colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatocellular, esophageal, and cholangiocarcinoma. The primary function of EZH2 signaling is to facilitate the accelerated progression of cancer cells. Additionally, EZH2 has the capacity to modulate the reaction of GI cancers to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Numerous pathways, including long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs, serve as upstream regulators of EZH2 in these types of cancer. EZH2's enzymatic activity enables it to attach to target gene promoters, resulting in methylation that modifies their expression. EZH2 could be considered as an independent prognostic factor, with increased expression correlating with a worse disease prognosis. Additionally, a range of gene therapies including small interfering RNA, and anti-tumor agents are being explored to target EZH2 for cancer treatment. This comprehensive review underscores the current insights into EZH2 signaling in gastrointestinal cancers and examines the prospect of therapies targeting EZH2 to enhance patient outcomes.

Premature senescence and cardiovascular disease following cancer treatments: mechanistic insights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among the aging population. The "response-to-injury" model proposed by Dr. Russell Ross in 1999 emphasizes inflammation as a critical factor in atherosclerosis development, with atherosclerotic plaques forming due to endothelial cell (EC) injury, followed by myeloid cell adhesion and invasion into the blood vessel walls. Recent evidence indicates that cancer and its treatments can lead to long-term complications, including CVD. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, is implicated in CVD pathogenesis, particularly in cancer survivors. However, the precise mechanisms linking premature senescence to CVD in cancer survivors remain poorly understood. This article aims to provide mechanistic insights into this association and propose future directions to better comprehend this complex interplay.

Diagnostic Significance of hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-199a-5p Panel and Ratios in Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Top of Liver Cirrhosis in HCV-Infected Patients

Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis is challenging. Moreover, for patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-negative HCC, this challenge is augmented. MicroRNAs (miRs) profiles may serve as potential HCC molecular markers. We aimed to assess plasma homo sapiens-(hsa)-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, and hsa-miR-199a-5p-expression levels as a panel of biomarkers for HCC in chronic hepatitis C virus (CHCV) patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), especially AFP-negative HCC cases, as a step toward non-protein coding (nc) RNA precision medicine.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

79 patients enrolled with CHCV infection with LC, subclassified into an LC group without HCC (n = 40) and LC with HCC (n = 39). Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure plasma hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, and hsa-miR-199a-5p.

RESULTS

Plasma hsa-miR-21-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p demonstrated significant upregulation, while hsa-miR-199a-5p demonstrated significant downregulation in the HCC group (n = 39) when compared to the LC group (n = 40). hsa-miR-21-5p expression was positively correlated with serum AFP, insulin, and insulin resistance (r = 0.5, p < 0.001, r = 0.334, p = 0.01, and r = 0.303, p = 0.02, respectively). According to the ROC curves, for differentiating HCC from LC, combining AFP with each of hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, and miR199a-5p improved the diagnostic sensitivity to 87%, 82%, and 84%, respectively, vs. 69% for AFP alone, with acceptable specificities of 77.5%, 77.5%, and 80%, respectively, and AUC = 0.89, 0.85, and 0.90, respectively vs. 0.85 for AFP alone. hsa-miR-21-5p/hsa-miR-199a-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p/hsa-miR-199a-5p ratios discriminated HCC from LC at AUC = 0.76 and 0.71, respectively, with sensitivities = 94% and 92% and specificities = 48% and 53%, respectively. Upregulation of plasma hsa-miR-21-5p was considered as an independent risk factor for HCC development [OR = 1.198(1.063-1.329), p = 0.002].

CONCLUSIONS

Combining each of hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-199a-5p with AFP made it possible to identify HCC development in the LC patients' cohort with higher sensitivity than using AFP alone. hsa-miR-21-5p/hsa-miR-199a-5p and hsa-miR-155-5p/hsa-miR-199a-5p ratios are potential HCC molecular markers for AFP-negative HCC patients. hsa-miR-21-5p was linked, clinically and via in silico proof, to insulin metabolism, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and tumorigenesis in the HCC patients' group as well as for an upregulated independent risk factor for the emergence of HCC from LC in the CHCV patients.

Advances of endoscopic and surgical management in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

As one of the most common mesenchymal malignancies in the digestive system, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) occur throughout the alimentary tract with diversified oncological characteristics. With the advent of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor era, the treatment regimens of patients with GISTs have been revolutionized and GISTs have become the paradigm of multidisciplinary therapy. However, surgery resection remains recognized as the potentially curative management for the radical resection and provided with favorable oncological outcomes. The existing available surgery algorithms in clinical practice primarily incorporate open procedure, and endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery together with combined operation techniques. The performance of various surgery methods often refers to the consideration of risk evaluation of recurrence and metastases; the degree of disease progression; size, location, and growth pattern of tumor; general conditions of selected patients; and indications and safety profile of various techniques. In the present review, we summarize the fundamental principle of surgery of GISTs based on risk assessment as well as tumor size, location, and degree of progress with an emphasis on the indications, strengths, and limitations of current surgery techniques.

A rare synchrony of adenocarcinoma of the ampulla with an ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A case report

BACKGROUND

This is a unique case of a patient who was found to have two extremely rare primary malignancies synchronously, i.e., an ampullary adenocarcinoma arising from a high-grade dysplastic tubulovillous adenoma of the ampulla of Vater (TVAoA) with a high-grade ileal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Based on a literature review and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this synchronicity. Primary ampullary tumors are extremely rare, with an incidence of four cases per million population, which is approximately 0.0004%. Distal duodenal polyps are uncommon and have a preponderance of occurring around the ampulla of Vater. An adenoma of the ampulla ( AoA) may occur sporadically or with a familial inheritance pattern, as in hereditary genetic polyposis syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome (FAPS). We report a case of a 77-year-old male who was admitted for painless obstructive jaundice with a 40-pound weight loss over a two-month period and who was subsequently diagnosed with two extremely rare primary malignancies, i.e., an adenocarcinoma of the ampulla arising from a high-grade TVAoA and a high-grade ileal GIST found synchronously.

CASE SUMMARY

A 77-year-old male was admitted for generalized weakness with an associated weight loss of 40 pounds in the previous two months and was noted to have painless obstructive jaundice. The physical examination was benign except for bilateral scleral and palmar icterus. Lab results were significant for an obstructive pattern on liver enzymes. Serum lipase and carbohydrate antigen-19-9 levels were elevated. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography were consistent with a polypoid mass at the level of the common bile duct (CBD) and the ampulla of Vater with CBD dilatation. The same lesions were visualized with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Histopathology of endoscopic forceps biopsy showed TVAoA. Histopathology of the surgical specimen of the resected ampulla showed an adenocarcinoma arising from the TVAoA. Abdominal and pelvic CT also showed a coexisting heterogeneously enhancing, lobulated mass in the posterior pelvis originating from the ileum. The patient underwent ampullectomy and resection of the mass and ileo-ileal side-to-side anastomosis followed by chemoradiation. Histopathology of the resected mass confirmed it as a high-grade, spindle cell GIST. The patient is currently on imatinib, and a recent follow-up positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed a complete metabolic response.

CONCLUSION

This case is distinctive because the patient was diagnosed with two synchronous and extremely rare high-grade primary malignancies, i.e., an ampullary adenocarcinoma arising from a high-grade dysplastic TVAoA with a high-grade ileal GIST. An AoA can occur sporadically and in a familial inheritance pattern in the setting of FAPS. We emphasize screening and surveillance colonoscopy when one encounters an AoA in upper endoscopy to check for FAPS. An AoA is a premalignant lesion, particularly in the setting of FAPS that carries a high risk of metamorphism to an ampullary adenocarcinoma. Final diagnosis should be based on a histopathologic study of the surgically resected ampullary specimen and not on endoscopic forceps biopsy. The diagnosis of AoA is usually incidental on upper endoscopy. However, patients can present with constitutional symptoms such as significant weight loss and obstructive symptoms such as painless jaundice, both of which occurred in our patient. Patient underwent ampullectomy with clear margins and ileal GIST resection. Patient is currently on imatinib adjuvant therapy and showed complete metabolic response on follow up PET scan.

Development of an innovative nomogram of risk factors to predict postoperative recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

BACKGROUND

There are many staging systems for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and the risk indicators selected are also different; thus, it is not possible to quantify the risk of recurrence among individual patients.

AIM

To develop and internally validate a model to identify the risk factors for GIST recurrence after surgery.

METHODS

The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was performed to identify the optimum clinical features for the GIST recurrence risk model. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to develop a prediction model that incorporated the possible factors selected by the LASSO regression model. The index of concordance (C-index), calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the predictive model. Internal validation of the clinical predictive capability was also evaluated by bootstrapping validation.

RESULTS

The nomogram included tumor site, lesion size, mitotic rate/50 high power fields, Ki-67 index, intracranial necrosis, and age as predictors. The model presented perfect discrimination with a reliable C-index of 0.836 (95%CI: 0.712-0.960), and a high C-index value of 0.714 was also confirmed by interval validation. The area under the curve value of this prediction nomogram was 0.704, and the ROC result indicated good predictive value. Decision curve analysis showed that the predicting recurrence nomogram was clinically feasible when the recurrence rate exceeded 5% after surgery.

CONCLUSION

This recurrence nomogram combines tumor site, lesion size, mitotic rate, Ki-67 index, intracranial necrosis, and age and can easily predict patient prognosis.

Sequential multidisciplinary minimally invasive therapeutic strategy for heart failure caused by four diseases: A case report

BACKGROUND

The coexistence with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), mitral valve prolapse (MVP), atrial fibrillation (AF) and hyperthyroidism is extremely rare and complex. The optimal therapeutic strategy is difficult to develop.

CASE SUMMARY

A 27-year-old female with PDA, MVP, AF and hyperthyroidism presented with severe dyspnea. Given that a one-stage operation for PDA, MVP and AF is high risk, we preferred a sequential multidisciplinary minimally invasive therapeutic strategy. First, PDA transcatheter closure was performed. Hyperthyroidism and heart failure were simultaneously controlled via medical treatment. Video-assisted thoracoscopic mitral valve repair and left atrial appendage occlusion were performed when heart failure was controlled. Under this therapeutic strategy, the patient’s sinus rhythm was restored and maintained. Two years after the treatment, the symptoms of heart failure were relieved, and the enlarged heart was reversed.

CONCLUSION

Sequential multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies, which take advantage of both internal medicine and surgical approaches, might be reasonable for this type of disease.