Simplifying Tumor Volume Estimation from Linear Dimensions for Intra-Cranial Lesions Treated with Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Chondromyxoid fibroma: A retrospective evaluation of 31 cases

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to review a 35-year experience with chondromyxoid fibroma at our institution.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed the records of 31 consecutive patients (17 males, 14 females; mean age: 30.5±15.7 years; range, 6 to 63 years) with chondromyxoid fibroma who were treated between January 1988 and December 2021. The clinical and radiological characteristics of lesions, tumor volume, and recurrence rates were assessed using the tumor archive of the hospital.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up duration was 65.9±42.0 months. Pelvis, proximal tibia, and distal femur were the most common sites of localization. The initial surgical treatment was performed on 27 patients at our clinic, while four patients were referred to the clinic after recurrence. The overall recurrence rate was 16.1%. Intralesional curettage was applied to 21 (77.8%) out of 27 patients. The cavity created after curettage was filled with bone graft (autograft or allograft) in 15 (55.5%) cases. Bone cement was applied in four (14.8%) cases. Resection was applied to five (18.5%) patients. In two (7.4%) cases, intralesional curettage alone was performed. One of these two patients experienced recurrence, resulting in a recurrence rate of 50% in this patient group. No recurrence was observed in other treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Intralesional curettage and filling the defect with bone graft or cement were effective for local control in most cases. Curettage alone was associated with high recurrence rates.

Galectin-3 depletion tames pro-tumoural microglia and restrains cancer cells growth

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a multifunctional protein that plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of various central nervous system diseases, including cancer. Although the involvement of Gal-3 in tumour progression, resistance to treatment and immunosuppression has long been studied in different cancer types, mainly outside the central nervous system, its elevated expression in myeloid and glial cells underscores its profound impact on the brain's immune response. In this context, microglia and infiltrating macrophages, the predominant non-cancerous cells within the tumour microenvironment, play critical roles in establishing an immunosuppressive milieu in diverse brain tumours. Through the utilisation of primary cell cultures and immortalised microglial cell lines, we have elucidated the central role of Gal-3 in promoting cancer cell migration, invasion, and an immunosuppressive microglial phenotypic activation. Furthermore, employing two distinct in vivo models encompassing primary (glioblastoma) and secondary brain tumours (breast cancer brain metastasis), our histological and transcriptomic analysis show that Gal-3 depletion triggers a robust pro-inflammatory response within the tumour microenvironment, notably based on interferon-related pathways. Interestingly, this response is prominently observed in tumour-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs), resulting in the suppression of cancer cells growth.

Investigation of the effects of Gamma Knife radiosurgery on optic pathways using diffusion tensor MRI within the first year after treatment

PURPOSE

To investigate the radiation-induced effects of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for sellar-parasellar tumors on optic pathways using DTI parameters within the first year after treatment.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with sellar-parasellar tumors underwent MRI before and 3 months after GKRS, including T1WI, DTI, T2WI. Moreover, 21 patients underwent follow-up DTI 6-8 months after radiosurgery. ROIs were set on optic nerves, optic radiations, and control localizations; DTI parameters for each were calculated. Pre- and post-radiosurgery differences in DTI values were statistically compared and assessed with respect to tumor size changes.

RESULTS

Following GKRS, DTI parameters, notably ADC, FA, and RD, showed statistically significant changes in optic nerves and anterior optic radiations. DTI changes were more significant in the group of cases with tumor shrinkage. In this group, DTI of the anterior optic radiations further deteriorated 3 months post-GKRS, whereas acute changes in DTI parameters of the optic nerves resolved within 6-8 months. DTI of central and posterior optic radiations did not differ significantly following radiosurgery; 6-8 months after radiosurgery, visual function was stable in 14 (56%) patients and improved in 11 (44%), showing no correlation with tumor size changes or DTI parameters.

CONCLUSION

White Matter (WM) injury in the optic pathways can be induced by Gamma Knife radiosurgery targeted to sellar and parasellar tumors. Following GKRS, microstructural abnormalities occurred in the optic radiations as well as the optic nerves within the first post-treatment year. Our findings could support modifications to radiosurgical treatment strategies to minimize the risk of permanent WM injury.

A Mathematical Model of Stroma-Supported Allometric Tumor Growth

Mounting empirical research suggests that the stroma, or interface between healthy and cancerous tissue, is a critical determinate of cancer invasion. At the same time, a cancer cell's location and potential to proliferate can influence its sensitivity to cancer treatments. In this paper, we use ordinary differential equations to develop spatially structured models for solid tumors wherein the growth of tumor components is coordinated. The model tumors feature two components, a proliferating peripheral growth region, which potentially includes a mix of cancerous and noncancerous stroma cells, and a solid tumor core. Mathematical and numerical analysis are used to investigate how coordinated expansion of the tumor growth region and core can influence overall growth dynamics in a variety of tumor types. Model assumptions, which are motivated by empirical and in silico solid tumor research, are evaluated through comparison to tumor volume data and existing models of tumor growth.

Strategic Assessment of Boron-Enriched Carbon Dots/Naproxen: Diagnostic, Toxicity, and In Vivo Therapeutic Evaluation

Cancer is a significant global public health concern, ranking as the leading cause of mortality worldwide. This study thoroughly explores boron-doped carbon dots (B-CDs) through a simple/rapid microwave-assisted approach and their versatile applications in cancer therapy. The result was highly uniform particles with an average diameter of approximately 4 nm. B-CDs exhibited notable properties, including strong fluorescence with a quantum yield of 33%. Colloid stability tests revealed their robustness within a pH range of 6-12, NaCl concentrations up to 0.5 M, and temperatures ranging from 30 to 60 °C. The study also delved into the kinetics of naproxen release from B-CDs as a drug delivery system. The loading efficacy of naproxen exceeded 55.56%. Under varying pH conditions, the release of naproxen from B-CDs conformed to the Peppas-Sahlin model, demonstrating the potential of Naproxen-loaded CDs for cancer drug delivery. In vitro cytotoxicity assessments, conducted using the CCK-8 Assay and flow cytometry, consistently indicated low toxicity with average cell viability exceeding 80%. An in vivo toxicity test on female mice administered 20 mg/kg of B-CDs for 31 days revealed reversible histological changes in the liver and kidneys, while the pancreas remained unaffected. Importantly, B-CDs did not impact the mice's physical behavior, body weight, or survival. In vivo experiments targeting benzo(a)pyrene-induced fibrosarcoma demonstrated the efficacy of B-CDs as naproxen carriers in the treatment of cancer. This in vivo study provides a thorough comprehension of B-CDs synthesis and toxicity and their potential applications in cancer therapy and drug delivery systems.

Lung Micrometastases Display ECM Depletion and Softening While Macrometastases Are 30-Fold Stiffer and Enriched in Fibronectin

Mechanical changes in tumors have long been linked to increased malignancy and therapy resistance and attributed to mechanical changes in the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no mechanical studies on decellularized tumors. Here, we studied the biochemical and mechanical progression of the tumor ECM in two models of lung metastases: lung carcinoma (CAR) and melanoma (MEL). We decellularized the metastatic lung sections, measured the micromechanics of the tumor ECM, and stained the sections for ECM proteins, proliferation, and cell death markers. The same methodology was applied to MEL mice treated with the clinically approved anti-fibrotic drug nintedanib. When compared to healthy ECM (~0.40 kPa), CAR and MEL lung macrometastases produced a highly dense and stiff ECM (1.79 ± 1.32 kPa, CAR and 6.39 ± 3.37 kPa, MEL). Fibronectin was overexpressed from the early stages (~118%) to developed macrometastases (~260%) in both models. Surprisingly, nintedanib caused a 4-fold increase in ECM-occupied tumor area (5.1 ± 1.6% to 18.6 ± 8.9%) and a 2-fold in-crease in ECM stiffness (6.39 ± 3.37 kPa to 12.35 ± 5.74 kPa). This increase in stiffness strongly correlated with an increase in necrosis, which reveals a potential link between tumor hypoxia and ECM deposition and stiffness. Our findings highlight fibronectin and tumor ECM mechanics as attractive targets in cancer therapy and support the need to identify new anti-fibrotic drugs to abrogate aberrant ECM mechanics in metastases.