Characterizing and forecasting neoantigens-resulting from MUC mutations in COAD

Prognostic implications of glucose metabolism pathways in colon adenocarcinoma: a comprehensive outlook on the molecular landscape and immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a common and aggressive cancer characterized by significant metabolic alterations, particularly in glucose metabolism. Identifying key genes and pathways involved in glucose metabolism could provide valuable prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

METHODS

Clinical and transcriptomic data for patients with COAD were obtained from TCGA and validated using external datasets (GSE17536 and GSE39582). Seventeen glucose metabolism-related pathways were selected from the MSigDB and analysed using ssGSEA. WGCNA was used to identify key gene modules. Prognostic genes were selected via univariate Cox regression, Lasso-Cox regression, and multivariate Cox regression. Model validation was conducted using independent datasets. Immunotherapy prediction and immune infiltration analyses were also performed. A-NEK9 knockdown cell line was established using SW1116 and SW480 cell lines. The effect of NEK9 on COAD was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. The effects of NEK9 on glucose uptake and lactate production were also assessed.

RESULTS

A prognostic model based on five glucose metabolism-related genes (NEK9, HS2ST1, AC016394.3, H2BC21, and MIR23A) was developed. The model demonstrated strong predictive value, with high-risk patients showing poorer survival outcomes in both the TCGA and external validation cohorts. Additionally, lower risk scores were associated with better responses to immunotherapy, as indicated by TIDE and SubMap analyses. These findings were further validated through ROC analysis, which revealed robust predictive performance for immunotherapy response across multiple cohorts. NEK9 promoted the proliferation and tumour angiogenesis of SW1116 and SW480 cells, inhibited apoptosis, and enhanced glucose uptake and lactate production in tumour cells. NEK9 knockdown significantly inhibited the tumorigenic ability of COAD in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the role of glucose metabolism in COAD and presents a novel prognostic model based on glucose metabolism-related genes. The model has potential clinical applications for predicting survival and guiding immunotherapy decisions in patients with COAD.

Primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast: A case report and literature review

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (MCA) is a rare breast cancer. The present study reports a case of primary MCA of the breast with a comprehensive evaluation of this rare tumour. A 51-year-old woman sought medical attention for a mass in the left breast. A core needle biopsy revealed an infiltrating adenocarcinoma with mucus secretion and papillary formation. The macroscopic appearance was of a greyish-white, tough and well-circumscribed solid mass, without a notable cyst. Microscopically, the tumour consisted of ducts and cysts of varying sizes. Varying degrees of branching papillary structures were observed in the lumen and cyst cavities. The tumour cells were highly columnar in shape, with high-grade nuclei arranged in a single-layer. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumour was a basal-like triple-negative breast cancer with a high proliferation index and tumour protein p53 diffuse strong expression. Mutations in breast cancer 1-associated RING domain 1 (BARD1), kinase domain containing receptor (KDR), mucin-6 (MUC6), tumour protein 53 (TP53) and breast cancer 1-interacting protein C-terminal helicase 1 (BRIP1) were identified using DNA analysis. The patient was followed up for 26 months and showed no signs of recurrence or metastasis. In conclusion, the current study presents a case of MCA of breast accompanied by mutations in the BARD1, KDR, MUC6, TP53 and BRIP1 genes, with no recurrence after a 26-month follow-up. Combining this case with a review of the literature helps us to better understand the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of MCA, and guide treatment.