ObjectiveTo investigate the CT signs and clinicopathological features of peripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma with the largest diameter less than or equal to 3 cm.Methods From January 2015 to December 2017, the CT signs and clinicopathological fertures of 51 patients with ≤3 cm peripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed by chest CT and surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, CT signs and clinicopathological features of thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma were compared. There were 29 males and 22 females at age of 62 (56, 67) years.ResultsThere were 27 thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and 24 thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma. Thick-walled cavitary adenocarcinoma had greater SUVmax [6.5 (3.7, 9.7) vs. 2.2 (1.4, 3.8), P=0.019], larger cavity wall thickness (11.8±4.6 mm vs. 7.6±3.7 mm, P=0.001), larger tumor tissue size [2.1 (1.7, 2.8) cm vs. 1.6 (1.2, 2.0) cm, P=0.006], and more solid nodules (17 patients vs. 8 patients, P=0.035). Thin-walled cavitary adenocarcinoma had more smoking history (12 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.038), larger cavity size [12.3 (9.2, 16.6) mm vs. 4.4 (2.8, 7.1) mm, P=0.000], and larger proportion of cavities [0.30 (0.19, 0.37) vs. 0.03 (0.01, 0.09), P=0.000]. On CT signs, there were more features of irregular inner wall (19 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.000), intra-cystic separation (16 patients vs. 6 patients, P=0.001) and vessels through the cystic cavity (10 patients vs. 1 patient, P=0.001) in thin-walled caviraty lung adenocarcinoma.ConclusionPeripheral cavitary lung adenocarcinoma of ≤3 cm on chest CT has characteristic manifestations in clinical, imaging and pathology, and there is a statistical difference between thick-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma and thin-walled cavitary lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between histological subtypes of invasive lung adenocarcinoma and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation, and to provide a reference for clinical prediction of EGFR gene mutation status.MethodsFrom October 2017 to May 2019, 102 patients with invasive lung adenocarcinoma were collected, including 58 males and 44 females aged 62 (31-84) years. Invasive lung adenocarcinoma was classified into different histological subtypes. Scorpion probe amplification block mutation system (ARMS) real-time PCR was used to detect the mutation of EGFR gene in adenocarcinoma specimens, and the relationship between invasive lung adenocarcinoma subtypes and EGFR mutation status was analyzed.ResultsIn 102 patients with invasive lung adenocarcinoma, EGFR gene mutations were detected in 68 patients, and the mutation rate was 66.7% (68/102). The mutation sites were mainly concentrated in the exons 19 and 21; the mutation rate was higher in female patients (34/44, 77.3%) and non-smokers (34/58, 58.6%). EGFR mutation was mostly caused by acinar-like invasive lung adenocarcinoma, and was rare in solid-type lung adenocarcinoma. The EGFR gene mutation rates in different subtypes of adenocarcinoma were statistically different (P<0.05).ConclusionThe EGFR mutation status is related to gender, smoking status and histological subtype of invasive lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR mutation rates are higher in female, non-smoking and acinar-like invasive lung adenocarcinoma patients, and are lower in patients with solid type lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo explore the accuracy of machine learning algorithms based on SHOX2 and RASSF1A methylation levels in predicting early-stage lung adenocarcinoma pathological types. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens from patients who underwent lung tumor resection surgery at Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2021 to January 2023. Based on the pathological classification of the tumors, patients were divided into three groups: a benign tumor/adenocarcinoma in situ (BT/AIS) group, a minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) group, and an invasive adenocarcinoma (IA) group. The methylation levels of SHOX2 and RASSF1A in FFPE specimens were measured using the LungMe kit through methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR). Using the methylation levels of SHOX2 and RASSF1A as predictive variables, various machine learning algorithms (including logistic regression, XGBoost, random forest, and naive Bayes) were employed to predict different lung adenocarcinoma pathological types. ResultsA total of 272 patients were included. The average ages of patients in the BT/AIS, MIA, and IA groups were 57.97, 61.31, and 63.84 years, respectively. The proportions of female patients were 55.38%, 61.11%, and 61.36%, respectively. In the early-stage lung adenocarcinoma prediction model established based on SHOX2 and RASSF1A methylation levels, the random forest and XGBoost models performed well in predicting each pathological type. The C-statistics of the random forest model for the BT/AIS, MIA, and IA groups were 0.71, 0.72, and 0.78, respectively. The C-statistics of the XGBoost model for the BT/AIS, MIA, and IA groups were 0.70, 0.75, and 0.77, respectively. The naive Bayes model only showed robust performance in the IA group, with a C-statistic of 0.73, indicating some predictive ability. The logistic regression model performed the worst among all groups, showing no predictive ability for any group. Through decision curve analysis, the random forest model demonstrated higher net benefit in predicting BT/AIS and MIA pathological types, indicating its potential value in clinical application. ConclusionMachine learning algorithms based on SHOX2 and RASSF1A methylation levels have high accuracy in predicting early-stage lung adenocarcinoma pathological types.
Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics, prognosis and treatment strategies of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 489 patients with AIS and MIA in our hospital from January 2007 to August 2015. There were 122 males and 367 females with an average age of 26–78 (51±9) years. According to the pathological types, they were divided into the AIS group (246 patients) and the MIA group (243 patients). In the AIS group, there were 60 males and 186 females with an average age of 50±7 years. In the MIA group, there were 62 males and 181 females with an average age of 54±5 years. The clinicopathological features, surgical methods and prognosis of the two groups were compared. Results There were significant differences in age, value of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), nodule shape and nodule size between the AIS and MIA groups (P<0.05). AIS patients were mostly under the age of 60 years with the value of CEA in the normal range which often appeared as pure ground-glass opacity lung nodules <1 cm in diameter on the CT scan. MIA often appeared as mixed ground-glass nodules <1.5 cm in diameter, accompanied by bronchiectasis and pleural indentation. The 5-year disease-free survival rate of the AIS and MIA groups reached 100%, and there was no statistical difference in the prognosis between the two groups after subtotal lobectomy (pulmonary resection and wedge resection) and lobectomy, systematic lymph node dissection and mediastinal lymph node sampling. Conclusion The analysis of preoperative clinical and imaging features can predict the AIS and MIA and provide individualized surgery and postoperative treatment program.
Objective To analyze the expression of H2A histone family, member X (H2AFX) gene in lung adenocarcinoma and its influence on prognosis. Methods We analyzed the expression level of H2AFX gene in the tumor tissues (497 cases) and normal adjacent tissues (54 cases) of lung adenocarcinoma patients via The Cancer Genome Atlas. The patients were divided into high expression group and low expression group according to the expression level of H2AFX gene in lung adenocarcinoma samples. The relationship between H2AFX and clinicopathological features of patients was analyzed through logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to study the correlation between H2AFX expression and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Univariate and multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic significance of H2AFX expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The research also covered H2AFX-related pathways of genes in the development of lung adenocarcinoma with gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results The H2AFX expression was higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues than that in normal adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Besides, it was significantly correlated with age (P<0.001), T staging (P=0.007), and N staging (P=0.010), but had little to do with M staging or gender (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test showed that the survival rate of patients with high H2AFX expression was vastly lower than that of patients with low H2AFX expression (P<0.001). Multiple Cox regression analysis demonstrated that H2AFX could be an independent prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma [hazard ratio=1.41, 95% confidence interval (1.11, 1.78), P=0.004]. The results of GSEA displayed that H2AFX was involved in cell cycle, homologous recombination, DNA replication, base excision and repair, spliceosome, mismatch repair, p53 signaling pathway, nucleotide excision and repair, RNA degradation, RNA polymerase, and other pathways. Conclusions The expression of H2AFX gene is high in lung adenocarcinoma, and closely connected to the prognosis, occurrence, and evolution of lung adenocarcinoma. This gene can be one of the new molecular markers and therapeutic targets for lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of Ovol2 gene for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to offer some theory evidences for the targeted therapy in lung adenocarcinoma. MethodsA549 cells were treated with control and Ovol2 overexpressioned by lentivirus infection. Real-time PCR were performed to test the mRNA level of genes correlated to EMT. Western Blot was performed for protein level of the following makers:E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, ect. Moreover, we tested the migration and invasion ability of A549 cells by transwell and wound healing experiment. ResultsAfter treated with Ovol2 overexpressed, the expression level of E-cadherin raised, while the expression level of N-cadherin, vimentin and Twist1 declined in both mRNA and protein expression level. The results of wound healing and transwell experiment indicated that the migration and invasion ability of A549 cells weakened. ConclusionOverexpression of Ovol2 gene can suppress the distant metastasis ability and invasion ability of A549 cells by inhibiting the EMT.
Objective To investigate the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2),interleukin-8(IL-8)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)expression in peripheral blood of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and analyze the relationships among them. Methods Seventy-three cases diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma were collected in the First Affiliated Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from April 2014 to March 2015.All patients underwent lung function test preoperatively.Fourteen healthy volunteers without tobacco smoke exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)were recruited as healthy control.According to the lung function and tobacco smoke exposure,all cases were divided into four groups,ie. a healthy control group (group A,14 cases),a group without tobacco smoke exposure and COPD(group B,19 cases),a group with tobacco smoke exposure and without COPD(group C,33 cases),and a group with tobacco smoke exposure and COPD(group D,21 cases).The expressions of HDAC2 mRNA,IL-8 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The contents of IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with group A,the HDAC2 mRNA expression in PBMCs had no difference in group B(P>0.05),and was down-regulated significantly in group C and D (P<0.05),which in group D was the most obvious.Compared with group A,the expressions of IL-8 mRNA and TNF-α mRNA in PBMCs and the contents of IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were significantly higher in all lung adenocarcinoma patients(all P<0.05),and the up-regulation was more obvious in group D.The relative expression of HDAC2 mRNA in PBMCs showed no significant difference with respect to age,gender or TNM stage (P>0.05).IL-8 and TNF-α in PBMCs and serum showed no significant difference with respect to age and gender (P>0.05),and were higher in the patients with TNM stage Ⅲ lung adenocarcinoma than those with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ(P<0.05),with no obvious difference between stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ (P>0.05). Conclusion Tobacco smoke exposure causes lower expression of HDAC2 and over-expression of IL-8 and TNF-α in peripheral blood of patients with lung adenocarcinoma,can aggravate inflammatory response especially when complicated with COPD,which may be related to the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
Objective To identify the immune cell-related biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma using weighted gene co-expression network. Methods In this study, based on TCGA database, gene co-expression network was constructed in TCGA-LUAD by WGCNA package, and different gene modules were formed by clustering. At the same time, ESTIMATE analysis was performed on lung adenocarcinoma tumor samples in the TCGA-LUAD dataset. Gene enrichment pathways in the most significant related modules were evaluated by GO and KEGG assays. Candidate hub genes in the selected key modules were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for intersection to obtain hub genes. The prognostic properties of these hub genes and patient immune cell infiltration were verified by Kaplan-Meier curve and TIMER algorithm. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed on the acquired hub gene and a prognostic risk model was constructed. Results In the co-expression network, we observed that the brown module was closely related to ImmuneScore, StromalScore and ESTIMATE Score. Five immune-related hub genes CD53, PLEK, SPI1, IL10RA and C3AR1 were obtained. The enrichment analysis of brown module found that module genes were mainly enriched in GO items such as innate immune response regulation and KEGG pathways such as NF-kappa B signaling pathway. In addition, the results of this study also found that the expression levels of 5 hub genes were significantly positively correlated with the infiltration abundance of immune cells. IPS and TIDE validated the immune relevance of the model. At the same time, we found that the RiskScore we established has great potential in predicting immunotherapy. Conclusion In summary, the five key genes related to immune cells obtained may provide new and effective potential targets for the immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma, which is also beneficial to provide personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with lung adenocarcinoma in the later stage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) in determining acquired epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) resistance in lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsA total of 144 lung adenocarcinoma EGFR sensitive patients in People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University diagnosed from January 2016 to December 2016 were recruited in the study. According to the different time of taking drugs, the patients were divided into a non-medication group (31 cases), a 1 to 3 month treatment group (25 cases), a 4 to 6 month treatment group (19 cases), a 7 to 12 month treatment group (25 cases), a drug-resistant group (24 cases), and a nonresistant group up to 1 year of treatment (20 cases). The serum levels of sCD146, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were measured by ELISA and chemiluminescence and compared between different period of medication. The relationship of serum sCD146 with tumor markers (CEA, NSE) and tumor related clinical parameters (age, gender, tumor stage, metastasis, tumor diameter, number of the lesions) were analyzed.ResultsThe serum sCD146 level was minimum in the non-medication group that did not receive pioglitazone treatment, highest in the 1 to 3 month treatment group (early treatment period), and declined with duration of medication until resistance occurred without significant difference (P>0.05). The level of sCD146 of the drug-resistant group was significantly lower than that of all nonresistant groups, with significant difference (allP<0.05), but still higher than that of the non-medication group (P<0.05). The serum sCD146 levels in the nonresistant patients with medication over 1 year and within 1 year were similar (P>0.05), and significantly higher than the non-medication group and drug-resistance group (allP<0.05). The serum CEA levels did not differ significantly between 6 groups (P>0.05). The serum NSE level of the 4 to 6 month treatment group was lower than that of the 7 to 12 month treatment group (P<0.05), but both in the normal reference range. The NSE levels did not differ in any other groups (P>0.05). Serum sCD146 was associated with metastasis (P<0.05), but not associated with serum CEA or NSE, nor with sex, age, tumor staging, tumor diameter or lesion number (allP>0.05).ConclusionsCD146 may be involved in the mechanism of TKI killing tumor cells and the mechanism of TKI resistance, and may be a serological marker for monitoring the efficacy of TKI and judging the resistance of TKI.
Lung adenocarcinoma has become the most common type of lung cancer. According to the 2015 World Health Organization histological classification of lung cancer, invasive lung adenocarcinoma can be divided into 5 subtypes: lepidic, acinar, papillary, solid, and micropapillary. Relevant studies have shown that the local lobectomy or sublobectomy is sufficient for early lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma, while lobectomy should be recommended for tumors containing micropapillary and solid ingredients (≥5%). Currently, the percentage of micropapillary and solid components diagnosed by frozen pathological examination is 65.7%, and the accuracy of diagnosis is limited. Therefore, to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, it is necessary to seek new methods and techniques. This paper summarized the characteristics and rapid diagnosis tools of early lung adenocarcinoma subtypes.