The Diagnostic Value of BRAF V600E Gene Detection Combined with DNA Ploidy Analysis in Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The thyroid cancer incidence has been experimenting an accelerated growth all over the world. The serine/threonine-protein kinase (BRAF) V600E gene detection or the DNA ploidy analysis has been employed in the identification of thyroid cancer type. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the BRAF V600E gene integrated with DNA ploidy analysis in thyroid cancer. METHODS: From August 2022 to May 2023, 400 individuals from the thyroid surgery outpatient department of our hospital were enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into low-risk groups (Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ group; n = 200) and high-risk groups (Ⅳ+Ⅴ group; n = 200) based on the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). A total of the patients were subjected to the DNA ploidy analysis, the BRAF V600E gene detection, or the combination of both techniques. We evaluated the diagnostic value of the above techniques and considered the postoperative pathology results as gold standard for cancer diagnosis. The negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of TI-RADS, BRAF V600E gene detection, DNA ploidy analysis, and BRAF V600E gene detection joined with DNA ploidy analysis were calculated. RESULTS: Among 400 subjects, 238 presented thyroid cancer and 162 had benign lesions, according to the postoperative pathology results. The obtained sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV values of TI-RADS were 55.88%, 58.64%, 57.00%, 66.50%, 47.50%, respectively; of BRAF V600E gene detection were 81.93%, 69.75%, 77.00%, 79.92%, 72.44%, respectively; of DNA ploidy analysis were 83.19%, 72.84%, 79.00%, 81.82%, 74.68%, respectively; of BRAF V600E gene combined with DNA ploidy analysis were 90.34%, 76.54%, 84.75%, 84.98%, 84.35%, respectively. Compared with TI-RADS, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV values of DNA ploidy analysis, BRAF V600E gene detection, and the conjunction of these last two methods were increased (p < 0.05). The combination of DNA ploidy analysis and BRAF V600E gene detection had the highest values among them all. CONCLUSIONS: BRAF V600E gene detection in conjunction with DNA ploidy analysis showed a better diagnostic value than both methods separately or TI-RADS.

Analyzing the Role of Septin9 Gene Methylation in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer in the Elderly.

Context: Because the early symptoms of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) aren't significant, it's difficult to diagnose it by routine inspection clinically, and if the lesion's diameter is small, less than 2.0 cm, false negatives can occur in pathological examinations. Researchers need to actively search for more diagnostic methods. Objective: The study intended to detect and analyze the value of plasma Septin9 gene methylation for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of PHC in older adults. Design: The research team performed a prospective controlled study. Setting: The study took place at the First Hospital of Qiqihar, an Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital at Southern Medical University in Qiqihar, China. Participants: Participants were 32 patients with PHC and 28 with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) who had been admitted to the hospital between January 2021 and July 2022 and 40 healthy individuals. Groups: The research team divided participants into three groups: (1) patients with PHC, the PHC group; (2) patients with CCA, the CCA group; and (3) healthy individuals, the control group. Outcome Measures: The research team: (1) determined the positive expression rate of Septin9 gene methylation; (2) measured liver function indicators-alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), albumin (ALB); and (3) measured tumor markers-alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199, CA125, and CA153. The team also: (1) established a binary logistic regression model based on levels of GGT and plasma Septin9 gene methylation to analyze risk factors and diagnosis accuracy, (2) created a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to analyze diagnostic values; and (3) during followup, analyzed the negative conversion rate of Septin9 gene methylation in participants. Results: The positive expression rate of Septin9 methylation in the PHC group was significantly lower than that that of the CCA group and significantly higher than that of the control group (P < .05). The PHC group's ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, ALP, and GGT were significantly higher than those of the control group but significantly lower than those of the CCA group (all P < .05). PHC group's ALB was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < .05). The PHC group's AFP, CA199, and CA125 were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the PHC group's CA199 and CA125 were significantly lower than those in the CCA group (all P < .05). The positive expression of Septin9 gene methylation and the high expression of GGT were risk factors for PHC (OR>1, P < .05). The AUC of the Septin9 gene methylation, the GGT level, and the combined detection of both variables (all AUC > 0.70), suggests that the variables have a diagnostic value in the detection of PHC, with the combined detection having the highest value. The negative conversion rate after surgery of Septin9 gene methylation was 87.10%, for 27 out of 31 participants in the PHC and CCA groups (χ2 = 29.405, P < .001). Conclusion: Plasma Septin9 gene methylation is a sensitive molecular marker for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of older adults with PHC, and combined with the serum GGT level, has a high diagnostic efficiency, which may reflect the treatment status of patients.

Overexpressed versican promoted cell multiplication, migration and invasion in gastric cancer.

Versican (VCAN) is verified to promote development among many cancers, whose function on gastric cancer (GC) is less studied. This work explored the effect of VCNA on GC. The differentially expressed VCAN between tumor and normal samples, among different cancer stages and the overall survival of GC patients with high and low VCAN levels were predicted through Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2). The association between VCAN and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed by clinical investigation. AGS and NCI-N87 cells were transfected with VCAN short hairpin RNA (shVCAN) and VCAN overexpression plasmid. The VCNA, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and Vimentin expression was detected through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed through MTT assay. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay and cell invasion was evaluated through Transwell assay. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry assay. VCAN was upregulated in GC and its high expression related to advanced TNM stage, Lymph node metastasis, Depth of invasion and Grade. VCAN knockdown inhibited multiplication, migration, invasion, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, N-Cadherin and Vimentin expression while induced cycle arrest and E-Cadherin level of GC cells, whereas overexpressed VCAN showed opposite results. VCAN had a potential to be a biomarker for GC and overexpressed VCAN promoted GC cell multiplication, migration and invasion.