Identification of Genetic Variants Associated with Sex-Specific Lung-Cancer Risk

Identification of common factors among fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma by network analysis

Sarcoma cancers are uncommon malignant tumors, and there are many subgroups, including fibrosarcoma (FS), which mainly affects middle-aged and older adults in deep soft tissues. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), on the other hand, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and is located in the head and neck area. Osteosarcomas (OS) is the predominant form of primary bone cancer among young adults, primarily resulting from sporadically random mutations. This frequently results in the dissemination of cancer cells to the lungs, commonly known as metastasis. Mesodermal cells are the origin of sarcoma cancers. In this study, a rather radical approach has been applied. Instead of comparing homogenous cancer types, we focus on three main subtypes of sarcoma: fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma, and compare their gene expression with normal cell groups to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Next, by applying protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we determine the hub genes and crucial factors, such as transcription factors (TFs), affected by these types of cancer. Our findings indicate a modification in a range of pathways associated with cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and DNA repair in these three malignancies. Results showed that fibrosarcoma (FS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and osteosarcoma (OS) had 653, 1270, and 2823 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Interestingly, there were 24 DEGs common to all three types. Network analysis showed that the fibrosarcoma network had two sub-networks identified in FS that contributed to the catabolic process of collagen via the G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway. The rhabdomyosarcoma network included nine sub-networks associated with cell division, extracellular matrix organization, mRNA splicing via spliceosome, and others. The osteosarcoma network has 13 sub-networks, including mRNA splicing, sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair, etc. In conclusion, the common DEGs identified in this study have been shown to play significant and multiple roles in various other cancers based on the literature review, indicating their significance.

Burden of lung cancer along with attributable risk factors in China from 1990 to 2019, and projections until 2030

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify and project the epidemiological trends and the burden of lung cancer in China.

METHODS

We extracted incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and age-standardized rates of lung cancer in China, between 1990 and 2019, from the Global Burden of Disease Study (2019). The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was applied to quantify the trends of lung cancer burden. Furthermore, we used the Bayesian age-period-cohort model to project the incidence and mortality in the next decade.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the estimated national number of lung cancer incident cases increased by 224.0% to 832,920, deaths increased by 195.4% to 757,170 and DALYs increased by 146.1% to 17,128,580, respectively. Meanwhile, the ASIR, ASMR and ASDR showed an upward trend (EAPC of 1.33, 0.94 and 0.42, respectively). The ASIR and ASMR among males were about 2 times more than females, but the increase in ASIR in females (EAPC = 2.24) was more obvious than those in males (EAPC = 0.10) from 2020 to 2030. In China, smoking remained responsible for the highest burden of lung cancer, but the contribution of ambient particulate matter pollution to DALYs increased from 10.6% in 1990 to 22.5% in 2019 in total population. Moreover, we predicted that the number of deaths from lung cancer will increase by 42.7% in China by 2030.

CONCLUSION

In China, the burden of lung cancer has been increasing over the past three decades, which highlights more targeted intervention measures are needed to reduce the burden of lung cancer.

[Analysis on the Incidence and Economic Burden of Patients with Lung Cancer]

BACKGROUND

The previous study has indicated that lung cancer has a high incidence and mortality in China, and has caused a large economic burden. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and economic burden of lung cancer by analyzing the information on the home page of discharge history of lung cancer patients in Hebei Tumor Hospital, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of lung cancer.

METHODS

The information of all of the discharges, new cases, surgical patients, age, gender, length of stay and hospitalization cost of lung cancer patients in Hebei Tumor Hospital from January 2012 to December 2019 were retrieved based on the medical record management system, and the incidence trend, gender and age distribution as well as the economic burden of the disease were statistically described.

RESULTS

The number of new cases of lung cancer increased year by year, from 2,235 cases in 2012 to 5,012 cases in 2019. The number of males always outnumbered females, but the gender ratio decreased year by year, from 2.25 in 2012 to 1.56 in 2019. Among new cases of lung cancer, the proportion of surgical treatment increased year by year, from 28.14% in 2012 to 44.83% in 2019. Except for 2012, the proportion of surgical operations in female patients was higher than that in male patients from 2013 to 2019. The proportion of surgical operations in male and female patients was 23.52% and 28.07% in 2013, and 36.14% and 58.37% in 2019, respectively. The median age at the onset of lung cancer has increased year by year, from 61 years old in 2012 to 63 years old in 2019. The median age of onset in all lung cancer patients was higher in males than in females. The number of new lung cancer patients and surgical patients both showed an increasing trend with the increase of age, and both reached the maximum value in the age group of 60-69 years old. With the increase of age, the number of patients gradually decreased. The median length of hospital stay for all discharged lung cancer patients or surgical patients decreased year by year, from 10 d and 19 d in 2012 to 8 d and 17 d in 2019, respectively, while the median hospitalization cost increased year by year. It increased from 10,611.46 yuan and 38,750.13 yuan in 2012 to 17,187.15 yuan and 84,030.16 yuan in 2019, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Lung cancer is still one of the main cancers endangering the health of Chinese residents. The incidence of lung cancer is increasing year by year, and the distribution of gender and age has certain characteristics. In order to reduce the number of cases and the economic burden, effective prevention and control measures should be formulated and medical reform should be strengthened.