ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax and histological subtypes of ≤2 cm early peripheral lung adenocarcinoma (cN0).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of consecutive patients who received baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT and underwent anatomic lung resection for ≤2 cm early peripheral lung adenocarcinoma from 2011 to 2014 in our institute.ResultsA total of 195 patients were enrolled in this study, including 86 males and 109 females, with an average age of 59.96±9.19 years. Twenty-two patients were pathologically confirmed with lymph node metastasis. One hundred and fifty-seven patients were in the subtype group 1, which included lepidic, acinar, and papillary predominant tumors. Thirty-eight patients were in the subtype group 2, which included solid and micropapillary predominant tumors. The 5-year survival rate was 79.0% and 58.0% in the subtype group 1 and subtype group 2, respectively (P=0.006). The median SUVmax was 2.00 (0.30-13.10) and 4.15 (1.20-17.90) in the subtype group 1 and subtype group 2, respectively (P=0.000). Logistic regression suggested that baseline SUVmax≥2.5 was an independent risk factor for the subtype group 2 (OR=6.635, 95%CI 2.510-17.545, P=0.000). The receiver operating characteristic curve suggested that the continuous SUVmax had an moderate predictive value for subtypes (area under the curve was 0.792, 95%CI 0.717-0.866).ConclusionBaseline 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax has certain predictive value for histological subtypes of ≤2 cm early peripheral lung adenocarcinoma.
With the development of technology, the detection rate of ground-glass opacity (GGO) is rapidly increasing. GGO comprises of pure GGO and mixed GGO. Many researches have studied the characteristics of GGO, and they found that different malignant probability of GGO was associated with different image characteristics. It is obvious that there is a close relationship between the image characteristics of GGO and its prognosis. However, due to the various image characteristics of GGO, it is essential to assess the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients in a more comprehensive way. In this review, we summarize the correlation between the main GGO image features (solid proportion, size, mean CT value, shape characteristics) and the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients, to provide clinical reference for prognosis prediction and decision-making for patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in preoperative surgical diagnosis of new classification criteria for lung adenocarcinoma, which is helpful to develop a deep learning model of artificial intelligence in the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.MethodsThe clinical data of 173 patients with ground-glass lung nodules with a diameter of ≤2 cm, who were admitted from October 2018 to June 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 55 were males and 118 were females with a median age of 61 (28-82) years. Pulmonary nodules in different parts of the same patient were treated as independent events, and a total of 181 subjects were included. According to the new classification criteria of pathological types, they were divided into pre-invasive lesions (atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and and adenocarcinoma in situ), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and invasive adenocarcinoma. The relationship between 3D reconstruction parameters and different pathological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma, and their diagnostic values were analyzed by multiplanar reconstruction and volume reconstruction techniques.ResultsIn different pathological types of lung adenocarcinoma, the diameter of lung nodules (P<0.001), average CT value (P<0.001), consolidation/tumor ratio (CTR, P<0.001), type of nodules (P<0.001), nodular morphology (P<0.001), pleural indenlation sign (P<0.001), air bronchogram sign (P=0.010), vascular access inside the nodule (P=0.005), TNM staging (P<0.001) were significantly different, while nodule growth sites were not (P=0.054). At the same time, it was also found that with the increased invasiveness of different pathological subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma, the proportion of dominant signs of each group gradually increased. Meanwhile, nodule diameter and the average CT value or CTR were independent risk factors for malignant degree of lung adenocarcinoma.ConclusionImaging signs of lung adenocarcinoma in 3D reconstruction, including nodule diameter, the average CT value, CTR, shape, type, vascular access conditions, air bronchogram sign, pleural indenlation sign, play an important role in the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma subtype and can provide guidance for personalized therapy to patients in clinics.
ObjectiveTo assess the specific clinicopathological characteristics as well as prognostic value of prognostic significance of spread through air spaces (STAS) in lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsWe systematically searched the databases of PubMed, EMbase and Web of Science databases from their date of inception to March 2019. The quality of the included literature was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). The NOS of the study higher than 6 points was considered as high quality. Software of Stata 12.0 was used for meta-analysis.ResultsTwenty retrospective cohort studies involved with totally 6 225 patients were included. Quality of included studies was high with NOS score equal or higher than 6 points. STAS was associated with male sex, ever smoking history, abnormal carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) level, air bronchogram negative, anaplasticlymphoma kinase (ALK) arrangement positive, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation positive, advanced pathological tumor stage and more invasive pathological adenocarcinoma subtypes. The presence of STAS indicated significantly poor recurrence free survival (RFS) (HR=1.960, 95%CI 1.718-2.237, P<0.001) as well as poor overall survival (OS) (HR=1.891, 95%CI 1.389-2.574, P<0.001). Further subgroup analyses showed that exhibiting tumor size including diameter less than 2 cm (HR=2.344, 95%CI 1.703-3.225, P<0.001) and diameter over 2 cm (HR=2.571, 95%CI 1.559-4.238, P<0.001), resection type including lobectomy (HR=1.636, 95%CI 1.258-2.127, P<0.001) and sublobar resection (HR=3.549, 95%CI 2.092-6.021, P<0.001) in stageⅠ adenocarcinoma suggested that STAS had a bad effect on RFS.ConclusionPresence of STAS is associated with more aggressive clinicopathological features and independently associated with worse RFS and OS in lung adenocarcinoma. STAS positive has a negative effect on RFS whatever the tumor size (including the diameter<2 cm or >2 cm) and resection types in stageⅠ adenocarcinoma.
Objective The management of pulmonary nodules is a common clinical problem, and this study constructed a nomogram model based on FUT7 methylation combined with CT imaging features to predict the risk of adenocarcinoma in patients with pulmonary nodules. Methods The clinical data of 219 patients with pulmonary nodules diagnosed by histopathology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2021 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The FUT7 methylation level in peripheral blood were detected, and the patients were randomly divided into training set (n=154) and validation set (n=65) according to proportion of 7:3. They were divided into a lung adenocarcinoma group and a benign nodule group according to pathological results. Single-factor analysis and multi-factor logistic regression analysis were used to construct a prediction model in the training set and verified in the validation set. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of the model, the calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency of the model, and the clinical decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical application value of the model. The applicability of the model was further evaluated in the subgroup of high-risk CT signs (located in the upper lobe, vascular sign, and pleural sign). Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female, age, FUT7_CpG_4, FUT7_CpG_6, sub-solid nodules, lobular sign and burr sign were independent risk factors for lung adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). A column-line graph prediction model was constructed based on the results of the multifactorial analysis, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.925 (95%CI 0.877 - 0.972 ), and the maximum approximate entry index corresponded to a critical value of 0.562, at which time the sensitivity was 89.25%, the specificity was 86.89%, the positive predictive value was 91.21%, and the negative predictive value was 84.13%. The calibration plot predicted the risk of adenocarcinoma of pulmonary nodules was highly consistent with the risk of actual occurrence. The DCA curve showed a good clinical net benefit value when the threshold probability of the model was 0.02 - 0.80, which showed a good clinical net benefit value. In the upper lobe, vascular sign and pleural sign groups, the area under the ROC curve was 0.903 (95%CI 0.847 - 0.959), 0.897 (95%CI 0.848 - 0.945), and 0.894 (95%CI 0.831 - 0.956). Conclusions This study developed a nomogram model to predict the risk of lung adenocarcinoma in patients with pulmonary nodules. The nomogram has high predictive performance and clinical application value, and can provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and subsequent clinical management of pulmonary nodules.
ObjectiveTo analyze the expression of cold-induced RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) in lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical significance based on bioinformatics, in order to provide a new direction for the study of therapeutic targets for lung adenocarcinoma.MethodsThe CIRBP gene expression data and patient clinical information data in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. The expression of CIRBP in lung adenocarcinoma was analyzed. Furthermore, its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma was analyzed. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were carried out for the screened genes. The CIRBP protein interaction network was constructed by STRING, and the correlation analysis was carried out using the GEPIA online website.ResultsThe expression level of CIRBP gene in lung adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.01), and its expression level was correlated with T stage and N stage in clinicopathological features. The prognosis of patients with high CIRBP expression in lung adenocarcinoma was significantly better than that with low CIRBP expression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that CIRBP was an independent prognostic factor in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. GO functional annotation showed its enrichment in organelle fission, nuclear fission, chromosome separation, and DNA replication, etc. KEGG analysis showed that it was mainly involved in cell cycle and DNA replication. Protein interaction network and GEPIA online analysis showed that the expression level of CIRBP was negatively correlated with the expression level of cyclin B2.ConclusionCIRBP gene is down-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and its expression level is closely related to patient prognosis. CIRBP gene may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma.
ObjectiveTo predict the probability of lymph node metastasis after thoracoscopic surgery in patients with lung adenocarcinoma based on nomogram. MethodsWe analyzed the clinical data of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated in the department of thoracic surgery of our hospital from June 2018 to May 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a training group and a validation group. The variables that may affect the lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma were screened out by univariate logistic regression, and then the clinical prediction model was constructed by multivariate logistic regression. The nomogram was used to show the model visually, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and clinical decision curve to evaluate the calibration degree and practicability of the model. ResultsFinally 249 patients were collected, including 117 males aged 53.15±13.95 years and 132 females aged 47.36±13.10 years. There were 180 patients in the training group, and 69 patients in the validation group. There was a significant correlation between the 6 clinicopathological characteristics and lymph node metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in the univariate logistic regression. The area under the ROC curve in the training group was 0.863, suggesting the ability to distinguish lymph node metastasis, which was confirmed in the validation group (area under the ROC curve was 0.847). The nomogram and clinical decision curve also performed well in the follow-up analysis, which proved its potential clinical value. ConclusionThis study provides a nomogram combined with clinicopathological characteristics, which can be used to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma with a diameter≤3 cm.
Objective To explore the correlation between the imaging features of peripheral ground-glass pulmonary nodules and the invasion degree of lung adenocarcinoma, and the high risk factors for infiltrating lung adenocarcinoma under thin-slice CT, which provides some reference for clinicians to plan the surgical methods of pulmonary nodules before operation and to better communicate with patients, and assists in building a clinical predictive model for invasive adenocarcinoma. MethodsClinical data of the patients with peripheral ground-glass pulmonary nodules (diameter≤3 cm) in thin-slice chest CT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to January 2020 were continuously collected. All patients underwent thin-slice CT scan and thoracoscopic surgery in our center. According to the pathological examination results, they were divided into two groups: an adenocarcinoma lesions before infiltration group, and an invasive lung adenocarcinoma group. The thin-slice CT imaging parameters of pulmonary nodules were collected. The nodular diameter, mean CT value, consolidation tumor ratio (CTR), nodular shape, vacuolar sign, bronchial air sign, lobulation sign, burr sign, lesion boundary, pleural depression sign, vascular cluster sign and other clinical data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the independent risk factors for the infiltrating lung adenocarcinoma, and to analyze the threshold value and efficacy of each factor for the identification of infiltrating lung adenocarcinoma. Results Finally 190 patients were enrolled. There were 110 patients in the adenocarcinoma lesions before infiltration group, including 21 males and 89 females with a mean age of 53.57±10.90 years, and 80 patients in the invasive lung adenocarcinoma group, including 31 males and 49 females with a mean age of 56.45±11.30 years. There was a statistical difference in the mean CT value, nodular diameter, CTR, gender, smoking, nodular type, nodular shape, vacuolar sign, lobulation sign, burr sign, lesion boundary, pleural depression sign, vascular cluster sign between the two groups (P＜0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in age (P=0.081), lesion site (P=0.675), and bronchial air sign (P=0.051). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that nodular diameter, mean CT value, CTR and lobulation sign were independent risk factors for differentiating preinvasive adenocarcinoma from invasive adenocarcinoma. At the same time, the threshold value was calculated by Youden index, indicating that the CTR was 0.45, the nodal diameter was 10.5 mm and the mean CT value was –452 Hu. Conclusion In the peripheral ground-glass pulmonary nodules, according to the patient's CT imaging features, such as mixed ground-glass nodules, irregular shapes, vacuoles, short burrs, clear boundaries, pleural indentations, and vascular clusters, have a certain reference value in the discrimination of the invasion degree of ground-glass pulmonary nodules. At the same time, it is found in this research that peripheral ground-glass pulmonary nodules with diameter greater than 10.5 mm, CT value greater than –452 Hu, CTR greater than 0.45 and lobulation sign are more likely to be infiltrating lung adenocarcinoma.
Objective To investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) on lung adenocarcinoma bone metastasis in nude mice by regulating phosphatase and tensin homology/phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PTEN/PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Methods The bone metastasis model of lung adenocarcinoma in nude mice was established and mice were randomly divided into Control group, sh-NC group, sh-GDF15 group, sh-GDF15+sh-NC group and sh-GDF15+sh-PTEN group. The changes of 50% pain withdrawl threshold (PWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were observed. bone destruction was analyzed by Micro-CT. Bone morphology was observed by HE staining. The expression of osteoclast-related factors was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. Results The tibia tissue of nude mice in Control group and sh-NC group was destroyed, the continuity of bone cortex was interrupted, obvious bone tumor lesions were observed, the tumor cells were irregular in shape, densely distributed and disordered, and the nuclei were obviously deformed. Compared with sh-NC group, sh-GDF15 group had less tibial tissue destruction, the bone tumor cell density was significantly reduced, the pathological morphology was significantly improved, and 50% PWT, TWL, bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and PTEN expression were increased, the expressions of trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), cathepsin K (CTSK), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), p-PI3K PI3K and p-Akt/Akt were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with sh-GDF15+sh-NC group, sh-GDF15+sh-PTEN group had severe tibial tissue damage, the bone tissue tumor cells were dense and the pathological injury was aggravated, and 50%PWT, TWL, BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th and PTEN expression were decreased, the expressions of Tb.Sp, CTSK, MMP-9, p-PI3K /PI3K and p-Akt /Akt were increased (P<0.05). Conclusion GDF15 can promote bone metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in nude mice, and its mechanism is related to inhibition of PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Objective To investigate the expression of SAPCD2 in the lung adenocarcinoma cells, and to study the effect of SAPCD2 regulating Hippo signaling pathway on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of the lung adenocarcinoma cells and its mechanism. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of SAPCD2 mRNA and protein in four types of lung cancer cells (HCC827, H1650, SK-MES-1, A549) and human normal lung epithelial cells (BESA-2B), respectively. Then, lung cancer cells with relatively high levels of SAPCD2 expression were selected for subsequent experiments. The experiment cells were divided into a normal control group (NC group), a si-SAPCD2 group, and a pathway inhibitor group (si-SAPCD2+XMU-MP-1 group). Firstly, SAPCD2 mRNA was silenced using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, and then qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of SAPCD2 in transfected lung cancer cells; using clone plate assay to detect the proliferation of lung cancer cells after silencing; using flow cytometry to detect the apoptosis of lung cancer cells after silencing; observe the number of lung cancer cells at different stages through cell cycle experiments; then Transwell experiment was used to analyze the effect of silencing SAPCD2 on the migration and invasion of lung cancer cell migration. Finally, Western blot was used to detect the expression of ki-67, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, NF2, P-MST1, P-LATS1, P-YAP, YAP, and TAZ proteins.Results SAPCD2 had the highest expression level in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells (P<0.01). Silencing SAPCD2 significantly decreased the proliferation ability of A549 cells (P<0.01), inhibited their migration (P<0.05) and invasion (P<0.01), and promoted A549 cell apoptosis (P<0.01); more than half of the cells remained in the G0/G1 phase. Compared with the NC group, A549 cells showed a significant increase in G0/G1 phase cells (P<0.01), a significant decrease in G2/M and S phase cells (P<0.01), and a significant increase in the proportion of early apoptotic cells (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that silencing SAPCD2 down-regulated the expression of ki-67, Bcl-2, YAP, and TAZ proteins compared to the NC group (P<0.01), and up-regulated the expression of Caspase-3, NF2, P-MST1, P-LATS1, and P-YAP proteins (P<0.01). Conclusions The expression of SAPCD2 in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells is significantly higher than that in normal lung epithelial cells (BESA-2B), which promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 cells and inhibits apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Hippo signaling pathway.