1.Application of holographic imaging digital localization technology in robotic partial nephrectomy for completely endophytic renal tumor
Zhengsheng LIU ; Shuaishuai SONG ; Xuegang WANG ; Kaiyan ZHANG ; Wei LI ; Zhun WU ; Bin CHEN ; Tao WANG ; Jinchun XING
Chinese Journal of Urology 2025;46(5):376-382
Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of holographic imaging-based digital localization technology in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy(RAPN)for the treatment of completely endophytic renal tumors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 23 patients with completely endophytic renal tumors who underwent RAPN at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between December 2022 and December 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of holographic imaging:the holographic imaging group(16 cases)and the conventional group(7 cases). There was no statistically significant difference between the holographic imaging group and the conventional group in terms of age[(41.9 ± 13.4)years vs.(46.9 ± 13.4)years],body mass index[(25.6 ± 4.8)kg/m2 vs.(24.7 ± 3.1)kg/m2],maximum tumor diameter[(3.1 ± 0.9)cm vs.(3.0 ± 9.0)cm],tumor volume[(13.2 ± 9.0)cm3 vs.(34.9 ± 9.9)cm3],R.E.N.A.L. score[(9.4 ± 1.2)points vs.(9.9 ± 0.7)points],PADUA score[(10.4 ± 0.7)points vs.(9.4 ± 0.7)points],proportion of T 1a stage patients[12 cases(75.0%)vs. 6 cases(85.7%)]and preoperative serum creatinine[(67.4 ± 9.5)μmol/L vs.(78.0 ± 16.0)μmol/L]. In the holographic group,holographic models were reconstructed based on preoperative enhanced CT or MRI images and used for preoperative planning and intraoperative localization. In the conventional group,surgeons relied on preoperative CT or MRI images for cognitive fusion during RAPN. Perioperative parameters such as warm ischemia time,operative time,tumor localization time,positive surgical margin rate,and renal function were compared between the two groups. Results:The operative time in the holographic group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group[(152.8 ± 12.9)min vs.(218.4 ± 105.5)min, P = 0.001]. Warm ischemia time[(26.9 ± 3.4)min vs.(30.7 ± 3.8)min, P < 0.001],localization time[(4.2 ± 0.9)min vs.(8.9 ± 1.7)min, P < 0.001],and estimated blood loss[(47.0 ± 17.7)ml vs.(128.6 ± 87.8)ml, P < 0.001]were also significantly lower in the holographic group. In the conventional group,one patient underwent radical nephrectomy,while no patient in the holographic imaging group required conversion to radical nephrectomy. No cases of positive surgical margins were identified in either group. Serum creatinine levels measured one month after surgery showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups[(79.5 ± 15.7)μmol /L vs.(104.9 ± 22.5)μmol /L]. Conclusions:The application of holographic imaging-based digital localization technology in RAPN for completely endophytic renal tumors significantly reduces operative time,localization time,warm ischemia time,and intraoperative blood loss. This technology improves surgical efficiency and success rates,offering distinct clinical advantages.
2.Metabolic adaptation and therapeutic resistance in breast cancer: challenges and future directions
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):773-777
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, and its recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance remain significant challenges in systemic treatment. Metabolic alterations are a hallmark of cancer, with breast cancer cells reprogramming glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism to adapt their nutrient acquisition pathways. This metabolic reprogramming enables cancer cells to meet the energy demands for rapid proliferation and adaption to the microenvironment of metastatic sites, which is closely associated with resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. This review summarizes the features of metabolic remodeling in breast cancer, the mechanisms by which metabolic adaptation contributes to treatment resistance, and emerging individualized strategies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities. Particular focus is placed on energy metabolism, cholesterol homeostasis, and glutamine utilization in relation to tumor invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. A better understanding of metabolic adaptation and accurate monitoring of metabolic dynamics may offer new insights into metabolic therapies and improve clinical outcomes.
3.Research progress of alternative splicing in the progression of malignant tumors
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):778-782
Abstract
Alternative splicing(AS) is one of the important ways of post-transcriptional regulation, which can generate multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene. In recent years, many studies have shown that AS can occur in almost all types of tumors, and the abnormal expression of splicing factors is related to the disease progression of tumor patients, which may become a potential marker for judging tumor progression. Therefore, this review summarizes the role, molecular mechanism, clinical relevance and treatment response of AS in tumors. It is found that AS can participate in the progression of malignant tumors by regulating tumor invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, cell metabolism, and promoting tumor immune escape and treatment resistance, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of AS. The precise identification of tumor-specific AS and the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting specific AS isoforms may provide a new direction for precise and personalized cancer treatment.
4.SEMA6D inhibits the malignant progression of triple-negative breast cancer through AURKA
Jingni Zhou ; Rongrong Zhao ; Wenwu Luo ; Xian Wang ; Qianying Guo ; Zhengsheng Wu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):788-795
Objective :
To explore the role of semaphoring 6d(SEMA6D) in the malignant progression of triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).
Methods :
Bioinformatics and Immunohistochemistry(IHC) were used to analyze the expression level of SEMA6D in TNBC and paracancer non-tumor tissues and its relationship with patients′ clinicopathological features. MDA-MB-231 cell line stably knocking down the expression of SEMA6D was constructed, and the effects of SEMA6D on migration and invasion of TNBC cells were investigated by Wound-healing assays and Transwell assays. cBioPortal and GEPIA2 databases were used to screen out the gene negatively associated with it, namely aurora kinase A(AURKA). Bioinformatics and IHC were used to analyze the expression level of AURKA in TNBC and paracancer non-tumor tissues and its relationship with patients' clinicopathological features. Western blot assay was used to analyze the expression of AURKA and the effect of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) makers Claudin-1, N-cadherin and Vimentin after knocking downSEMA6D.
Results:
Bioinformatics analysis and IHC results showed that the expression of SEMA6D in TNBC tissues was significantly lower than that in paracancer non-tumor tissues(bothP<0.05). The expression of AURKA in TNBC tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancer non-tumor tissues(bothP<0.05), SEMA6D and AURKA were significantly negatively correlated in TNBC(P<0.01). Both low expression of SEMA6D and high expression of AURKA were positively correlated with tumor size, tumor histological grade, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in TNBC patients(allP<0.05). The knockdown ofSEMA6Dsignificantly promoted the migration and invasion ability of TNBC cells(bothP<0.01). Western blot results showed that the knockdown ofSEMA6Dupregulated AURKA expression, promoted the expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin, and inhibited the expression of Claudin-1 in tumor cells.
Conclusion
Down-regulation of SEMA6D expression in TNBC may be involved in the malignant progression of TNBC through up-regulation of AURKA expression and promotion of EMT.
5.Expression of PHB2 in breast cancer and its effect on proliferation, migration, and invasion
Yating Pei ; Yuting Shen ; Juqin Wang ; Wenwu Luo ; Qianying Guo ; Zhengsheng Wu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):796-804
Objective :
To explore the expression of prohibitin2(PHB2) in breast cancer and its effect on the biological behaviors of tumor cells.
Methods :
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of PHB2 protein in breast cancer tissues and its relationship with clinicopathologic features. Breast cancer stable transient cell lines were constructed with knockdown and overexpression ofPHB2, respectively. The effects of PHB2 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability were detected by clone formation assay, scratch assay and Transwell assay. Western blot(WB) was used to detect the effects of PHB2 on the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related markers, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail family transcriptional repressor 1(Snail) protein, Vimentin, and Claudin-1. The effect of PHB2 on tumorigenicityin vivowas detected by subcutaneous tumor formation assay in nude mice.
Results:
The result of immunohistochemical showed that PHB2 was highly expressed in breast cancer and the expression of PHB2 was significantly positive correlated with tumor size, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER-2) status and proliferation index Ki-67 levels(P<0.05). Clone formation assay, scratch assay and Transwell assay revealed that knockdown ofPBH2significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of breast cancer cells(P<0.01), while the overexpression ofPHB2significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion(P<0.01). The result of subcutaneous tumor formation experiment in nude mice revealed a significant decrease in tumor volume and weight in knockdownPHB2mice(P<0.000 1), whilePHB2overexpression tumors significantly increased in volume and weight(P<0.001).WB assay showed that the protein expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin increased, while the expressions of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Snail and Vimentin decreased significantly afterPHB2knockdown with them in control cells(P<0.01). The expression of Claudin-1 decreased, while the expressions of N-cadherin, Snail and Vimentin increased significantly inPHB2overexpression cells(P<0.05).
Conclusion
PHB2 is highly expressed in breast cancer and promotes multiple malignant biological behaviors in tumor cells, suggesting PHB2 may be a potential target for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
6.KRT14 promotes the invasion and migration of basal-like breast cancer through activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Zheng Cheng ; Manman Zhang ; Jingni Zhou ; Qianying Guo ; Zhengsheng Wu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):805-815
Objective :
To investigate the expression of Keratin 14(KRT14) in Basal-like Breast Cancer(BLBC) and its biological functions and mechanisms.
Methods :
The expression levels of KRT14 mRNA in BLBC and para-cancer breast tissues were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database. qPCR, Western blot(WB), and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect KRT14 expression in BLBC and adjacent normal tissues, and its correlation with clinicopathological features was analyzed. KRT14 overexpression and knockdown were performed in breast cancer cells, and cell scratch and transwell assays were performed to evaluate changes in migration and invasion abilities. To investigate the expression of proteins related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, including catenin Beta 1(β-catenin), wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 1(Wnt1), matrix metallopeptidase 7(MMP7), and cellular myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog(c-Myc), as well as the cellular localization of β-catenin, WB and immunofluorescence(IF) techniques were employed. Additionally, a Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor was used to verify the mechanism of action of KRT14.
Results :
The expression of KRT14 was significantly higher in BLBC tissues compared to normal tissues(P<0.05), and was associated with higher T stage and histological grade(P<0.05). The overexpression of KRT14 significantly enhanced the migration and invasion abilities of breast cancer cells, while the knockdown of KRT14 significantly reduced those abilities(P<0.01). The overexpression of KRT14 can increase the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins β-catenin, Wnt1, MMP7, and c-Myc, thereby activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, the inhibition of this pathway can eliminate the effects of KRT14 on cell migration and invasion.
Conclusion
The high expression of KRT14 in BLBC may promote the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
7.Expression of HSPA8 in breast cancer and its biological function
Manman Zhang ; Zheng Cheng ; Jingni Zhou ; Qianying Guo ; Zhengsheng Wu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(5):816-825
Objective :
To investigate the expression of(heat shock protein a member 8,HSPA8) in breast cancer and its effect on tumor biological behaviors.
Methods:
Bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry assays were used to detect the expression of HSPA8 in breast cancer and adjacent non-tumor breast tissues,and the relationship between its expression and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer patients was analyzed.Correlation between HSPA8 expression and prognosis of breast cancer patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier Plotter database.HSPA8 knockdown and over expression breast cancer stabilized cells were constructed,respectively.CCK-8,clone formation,Transwell,cell scratch,Western blot and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the effects of HSPA8 on the proliferation,invasion and migration of breast cancer cells,and its effect on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).
Results :
Bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry assay revealed that the expression of HSPA8 in breast cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent non-tumour tissues(P<0.05),and its expression level of the protein was significantly and positively correlated with the tumor size,histological grade,lymph node metastasis and Ki-67 proliferation index(P<0.05).The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that high expression of HSPA8 was significantly associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients(P<0.05).CCK-8,clone formation,transwell,cell scratch,Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that knockdown of HSPA8 expression could significantly inhibit the proliferation,invasion,migration function and EMT of breast cancer cells(P<0.05),while overexpression of HSPA8 could significantly promote the proliferation,invasion,migration function and EMT of breast cancer cells(P<0.05).
Conclusion
HSPA8 is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues,which is closely related to disease progression and the malignant phenotype of breast cancer,suggesting that HSPA8 may be a potential biological target for breast cancer treatment.
8.Tumor-associated neutrophils promote stemness characteristics in breast cancer
Yuan'an LIU ; Shujing WANG ; Xian WANG ; Qiang WU ; Zhengsheng WU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(11):1417-1426,1445
Purpose To investigate the role of tumor-associated neutrophils(TANs)in the sternness characteris-tics of breast cancer cells.Methods Flow cytometry was used to identify and validate the successful generation of TANs.Breast cancer cell lines were co-cultured with TANs-conditioned supernatant,and their sphere-forming capacity was assessed.Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)were used to detect the expression of stem cell-associated markers.In breast cancer clinical specimens,immunohistochemistry(IHC)was performed to quantify TANs infiltration and the expression of sternness-related markers.Correlations be-tween TANs infiltration and sternness marker expression,as well as their associations with clinicopathological features of breast cancer patients,were analyzed.Results Flow cytometry results demonstrated a significantly higher survival rate of TANs compared to normal neutrophils(NEUs)(P<0.05).In vitro,TANs-derived supernatant significantly en-hanced the sphere-forming capacity of breast cancer cells compared to NEU-derived supernatant(P<0.05).RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression levels of sternness-related markers such as CD133 and SOX9 in tumor cells was significantly increased after TANs supernatant co-cultured with breast cancer cells(P<0.05).The results of western blot further confirmed that the protein expression levels of CD133 and SOX9 were markedly increased in the TANs supernatant group relative to the NEU supernatant group(P<0.01).Immunophenotypic analysis showed that the infiltration density of CD66b+TANs in breast cancer tissues was positively correlated with the expression of CD133(r=0.429,P<0.001)and SOX9(r=0.561,P<0.001)in tumor cells.Prognostic and clinicopathological analy-ses indicated that patients in the high CD66b+TANs infiltration group,high CD133 expression group,and high SOX9 expression group had significantly shorter progression-free survival(PFS)than those in the corresponding low-expres-sion/infiltration groups(P<0.05).Furthermore,the infiltration density of CD66b+TANs was significantly associated with patient age,histological grade,and lymph node metastasis status(all with P<0.05).CD133 expression was cor-related with patient age,lymph node metastasis,and progesterone receptor(PR)status(all with P<0.05),while SOX9 expression was associated with patient age and lymph node metastasis status(all with P<0.05).Conclusion TANs can promote the acquisition and maintenance of sternness characteristics in breast cancer cells.These findings may provide novel insights into the development of neutrophil-targeted immunotherapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
9.Application value of part-cut jejunal transection in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy
Heng JIANG ; Yingfeng ZHANG ; Jiahao WANG ; Yuancan WANG ; Yue WANG ; Qiushi PEI ; Jingjing TANG ; Sanwei CHEN ; Weixiang LI ; Hui YUAN ; Zhengsheng WU ; Yan ZHANG ; Lianbang ZHOU ; Yiping MOU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(4):515-520
Objective:To explore the application value of part-cut jejunal transection in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 112 patients with gastric cancer who underwent totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2018 to September 2022 were collected. There were 81 males and 31 females, aged (70±8)years. Among the 112 patients, 60 patients undergoing diges-tive tract reconstruction by Roux-en-Y anastomosis with part-cut jejunum were set as the part-cut group, and 52 patients undergoing digestive tract reconstruction by traditional Roux-en-Y anasto-mosis were set as the traditional group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraopera-tive and postoperative conditions; (3) follow-up. Comparison of measurement data with normal dis-tribution between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Com-parison of ordinal data was conducted using the nonparametic rank sum test. Propensity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper value of 0.02. Results:(1) Propensity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 112 patients, 90 patients were successfully matched, with 45 cases in each of the part-cut group and the traditional group. After propensity score matching, the elimination of body mass index, clinical TNM staging confounding bias ensured comparability. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions. After propensity score matching, the total operation time and digestive tract reconstruction time of patients in the part-cut group were (217.0±15.1)minutes and (34.7±1.8)minutes, versus (252.6±21.9)minutes and (52.6±7.4)minutes in the traditional group, respectively, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=?8.97, ?15.66, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. After propensity score matching, 90 patients were followed up postoperatively for (47±15)months. During the follow-up, no patient in either group received secondary surgery, and there was no death. There were 3 cases and 10 cases of Roux stasis syndrome in the part-cut group and the traditional group, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=4.41, P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with traditional Roux-en-Y anastomosis, the Roux-en-Y anastomosis with part-cut jejunum in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy can signifi-cantly shorten the time for digestive tract reconstruction and reduce the incidence of postoperative Roux stasis syndrome.
10.Expression of FAM134B in hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance
Shan HUANG ; Xian WANG ; Jingjing WEI ; Zhengsheng WU
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(3):317-323,333
Purpose To investigate the expression of FAM134B in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and its clini-cal significance.Methods Immunohistochemical EnVision two-step method was used to detect the expression of FAM134B in 60 cases of HCC tissue and adjacent non-tumor liver tissue.The relationship between FAM134B expres-sion and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC was analyzed.Transwell assays,CCK-8 assays and clone formation assays were used to assess the effects of FAM134B knockdown on HCC cell migration,invasion and proliferation.Results FAM134B had a high expression rates of 70.0%(42/60)in HCC tissues and 40.0%(24/60)in adjacent normal tissues.Compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues,FAM134B expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues(P all<0.001),and it was positively correlated with vascular invasion,tumor maximum diameter,and early recurrence(P all<0.05).Survival analysis showed that high expression of FAM134B was an independent poor prognostic factor and a high recurrence risk factor for HCC patients(P all<0.05).In vitro experiments demonstrated that knockdown FAM134B inhibited HCC cell migration,invasion and proliferation(P all<0.05).GSEA analysis u-sing the TCGA database indicated that the expression of FAM134B was positively correlatied with the AKT/mTOR path-way.Conclusion High expression of FAM134B may be a marker of high recurrence risk and poor prognosis in HCC and holds potential as a therapeutic target for HCC.


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