Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas and the thyroid gland 19 years after the primary tumour

C-Reactive Protein Signaling Pathways in Tumor Progression

Many cancers arise from sites of chronic inflammation, which creates an inflammatory microenvironment surrounding the tumor. Inflammatory substances secreted by cells in the inflammatory environment can induce the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, thereby promoting cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, it is important to identify the role of inflammatory factors in cancer progression. This review summarizes the signaling pathways and roles of C-reactive protein (CRP) in various cancer types, including breast, liver, renal, and pancreatic cancer, and the tumor microenvironment. Mounting evidence suggests the role of CRP in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is typically associated with a worse prognosis. Increased CRP in the inflammatory environment contributes to enhanced invasiveness and tumor formation in TNBC cells. CRP promotes endothelial cell formation and angiogenesis and contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In pancreatic and kidney cancers, CRP contributes to tumor progression. In liver cancer, CRP regulates inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism. CRP modulates the activity of various signaling molecules in macrophages and monocytes present in the tumor microenvironment, contributing to tumor development, the immune response, and inflammation. In the present review, we overviewed the role of CRP signaling pathways and the association between inflammation and cancer in various types of cancer. Identifying the interactions between CRP signaling pathways and other inflammatory mediators in cancer progression is crucial for understanding the complex relationship between inflammation and cancer.

Current Challenges in Diagnosis and Assessment of the Response of Locally Advanced and Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Locally advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) present a specific set of challenges to the radiologist. The detection of metastatic disease is confounded by the ability of RCC to metastasize to virtually any part of the human body long after surgical resection of the primary tumor. This includes sites not commonly included in routine surveillance, which come to light after the patient becomes symptomatic. In the assessment of treatment response, the phenomenon of tumor heterogeneity, where clone selection through systemic therapy drives the growth of potentially more aggressive phenotypes, can result in oligoprogression despite overall disease control. Finally, advances in therapy have resulted in the development of immuno-oncologic agents that may result in changes that are not adequately evaluated with conventional size-based response criteria and may even be misinterpreted as progression. This article reviews the common challenges a radiologist may encounter in the evaluation of patients with locally advanced and metastatic RCC. ^©RSNA, 2019.

The role of CRP and ATG9B expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation between the expression of C-reactive protein (CRP) and autophagy-related 9B (ATG9B) and pathological features of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) patients. We also intended to explore the effects of manipulated expression of CRP and ATG9B on the apoptosis and cell cycle progression of CCRCC cell line. ATG9B expression in CCRCC tissues and adjacent renal tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Gene expression was determined at transcription and translational levels using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. The association between CRP/ATG9B expression and clinical-pathological parameters including age, gender, pathological grades, TNM stage and distant metastasis of the patients was assessed by correlation analysis. siRNA and overexpression plasmids construction were used to manipulate the expression of CRP in human CCRCC cell line 786-O. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were determined using flow cytometry (FCM) and Hoechst 33258 staining. CRP expression correlates with ATG9B expression. The expression of CRP and ATG9B are significantly correlated with TNM staging, distant metastasis, and survival time of CCRCC patients. A high-level of CRP indicates a poor overall survival (OS). In addition, CRP expression influences cell cycle and apoptosis of CCRCC cells. The study reveals that CRP might be a CCRCC development promoter. In addition, there is a close relationship between CRP and ATG9B in CCRCC carcinogenesis.