Serum procalcitonin as a tumor marker in lung adenocarcinoma with ovarian metastasis: a case report

Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The major sites of lung cancer metastasis are the bones, liver, brain, lung, and adrenal glands. However, secondary localizations in the genital tract are extremely rare.

CASE PRESENTATION

The authors report the case of a 36-year-old woman who consulted for a right scapular swelling evolving for 4 months associated with a chronic cough. Clinical examination showed a hard fixed right scapular mass with any inflammatory signs. The extension assessment followed by histological analysis concluded in a secondary ovarian location of a lung adenocarcinoma. A very high serum procalcitonin level unrelated to sepsis was detected in the patient along with a substantial hematological paraneoplastic disease. The patient died after 6 months of palliative chemotherapy.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Ovarian localization is found in only 0.4% of metastatic ovarian tumors, which is extremely low, the differentiation between primary and secondary ovarian adenocarcinoma is fundamental since the treatment and prognosis are very different. The serum procalcitonin can be elevated in lung adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSION

This case report highlights the interest to encourage doctors to look for ovarian metastasis during the clinical course of lung cancer, and explain the elevation of serum procalcitonin during lung adenocarcinoma.

Polyphenol-Based Nanoparticles: A Promising Frontier for Enhanced Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant challenge in healthcare, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. Natural compounds such as polyphenols with inherent anticancer properties have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents. This review highlights the need for novel therapeutic approaches in CRC, followed by a discussion on the synthesis of polyphenols-based nanoparticles. Various synthesis techniques, including dynamic covalent bonding, non-covalent bonding, polymerization, chemical conjugation, reduction, and metal-polyphenol networks, are explored. The mechanisms of action of these nanoparticles, encompassing passive and active targeting mechanisms, are also discussed. The review further examines the intrinsic anticancer activity of polyphenols and their enhancement through nano-based delivery systems. This section explores the natural anticancer properties of polyphenols and investigates different nano-based delivery systems, such as micelles, nanogels, liposomes, nanoemulsions, gold nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and metal-organic frameworks. The review concludes by emphasizing the potential of nanoparticle-based strategies utilizing polyphenols for CRC treatment and highlights the need for future research to optimize their efficacy and safety. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the synthesis, mechanisms of action, intrinsic anticancer activity, and enhancement of polyphenols-based nanoparticles for CRC treatment.

The tale of TILs in breast cancer: A report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC.

Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ovary: A rare entity

BACKGROUND

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the ovary is rare, highly aggressive tumor and diagnosed at advanced stages. Immunohistochemistry is required for the diagnosis. The optimal treatment management is not codified because of its rarity.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with a locally advanced stage LCNEC of the ovary managed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin. She remained disease free until now four years after the end of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

This report suggests the necessity of immunohistochemical analysis in the diagnosis of LCNEC of the ovary. Due to the rarity of LCNC, the general consensus on treatment is not standardized. We used adjuvant chemotherapy regimen similar to large cell carcinoma of the lung.

[Primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: a rare tumor in humans]

Le carcinome neuroendocrine à grandes cellules primitif du sein est une entité extrêmement rare. Moins de dix cas ont été rapportés dans la littérature. Nous présentons un nouveau cas survenu chez un homme de 61 ans qui s’est présenté pour une tumeur localement avancée du sein droit d’emblée métastatique aux poumons et à la plèvre, classée cT4bN1M1. Le patient avait reçu huit cycles de chimiothérapie à base de Docetaxel tous les 21 jours, avec une bonne réponse clinique et radiologique (>50%), puis mis sous hormonothérapie à base de tamoxifène avec une stabilisation pendant 18 mois. L’étude immuni-histochimique reste indispensable pour déterminer la nature neuroendocrine de cette tumeur. Le traitement n’est pas bien codifié vu la rareté de ce type de cancer.

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma: A case report and literature review

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma is extremely rare, with few published cases in the literature. We report the case of an adolescent aged 13 years with primary pericardial synovial sarcoma discovered during tamponade, confirmed by molecular biology, and for whom treatment combined radiosurgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. The particularity of the case we are reporting stems from the young age of our patient (13 years) as well as the duration of remission, which is quite long (21 months) prior to a superior mediastinal relapse compared to cases reported in the literature. <Learning objective: Synovial sarcoma is difficult to diagnose and has a poor prognosis. Here, a 13-year-old diagnosed with primary pericardial synovial sarcoma was treated with combined radiosurgery and adjuvant chemotherapy leading to continuous remission for 21 months. This regimen could be used to successfully manage future patients. Molecular biology is useful in the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma through the identification of t(X;18) translocation in atypical locations as in the present case.>.

Nephrotic syndrome revealing a disseminated Langerhans' cell histiocytosis

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal disorder of proliferating histiocytes, which can affect various organs. The clinical picture ranges from localized to disseminated disease with multiple organ involvement and severe organ dysfunction. Renal involvement is uncommon and the association with glomerulonephritis is unusual. We report here a case of nephrotic syndrome caused by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in a 20-year-old woman, which revealed a disseminated form of LCH. Surgical removal of the LCH process and high doses of corticosteroids led to the remission of the basic disease and the renal involvement. The occurence of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in the course of LCH might be mediated by circulating immune complexes, composed at least in part of antigens or neoantigenes which may cause the abnormal proliferation of the Langerhans' cells.

[Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate: case report and review of the literature]

Ductal adenocarcinoma is a histological variant of prostate cancer. The authors report the case of a 53-year-old man, in whom the tumour was revealed by acute urinary retention and haematuria. In the light of this case and a review of the recent literature, the authors discuss the histological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this rare entity.