THSD7B promotes tumor progression and is associated with prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma

by Xinying Quan, Wei Cheng, Yao Pu, Hong Deng

THSD7B (thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7B) has been implicated in several malignancies; however, its role in gastric adenocarcinoma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern, clinical significance, and biological function of THSD7B in gastric adenocarcinoma. Public datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analyzed to evaluate THSD7B expression and its association with clinical outcomes. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to explore potential biological processes. In vitro assays, including cell proliferation, colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell invasion, were conducted following THSD7B knockdown or overexpression in gastric cancer cell lines. In addition, a xenograft model was established to assess tumor growth in vivo. THSD7B expression was significantly elevated in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues compared with normal controls and was associated with patient survival. Functional analyses suggested that THSD7B-related genes were mainly enriched in cell adhesion and cytoskeleton-associated processes. In vitro experiments showed that THSD7B knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas overexpression produced the opposite effects. Consistent with these findings, THSD7B modulation was accompanied by alterations in adhesion-related signaling molecules and phenotype-associated protein expression. In vivo, THSD7B promoted tumor growth in xenograft models. In conclusion, THSD7B is associated with tumor progression and clinical outcomes in gastric adenocarcinoma and may be involved in the regulation of cell motility-related processes. These findings suggest that THSD7B may serve as a potential biomarker in gastric cancer.

Real-world optimization of tunnel lengths in tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters for cancer patients: A multi-center retrospective cohort study

by Yinyin Wu, Wei Ding, Yuying Liu, Qianhong Deng, Fengqin Tao, Hanbin Chen, Chang Chen, Meng Xiao, Bilong Feng

Background

Standardized guidelines for optimal tunnel length in tunneled peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are lacking.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the real-world impact of tunnel length on clinical outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 207 cancer patients who received tunneled PICCs, categorized into a control group (tunnel length > 4 cm, n = 134) and an observation group (tunnel length ≤ 4 cm, n = 73). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to address baseline heterogeneity. Cox regression analyses were used to assess the risk of complication during a 120-day follow-up.

Results

Compared to the control group (tunnel length > 4 cm), the observation group (tunnel length ≤ 4 cm) had a significantly higher adjusted overall complication risk (HR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.07–7.94, P = 0.036) and unplanned catheter removal rate (4.4% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.027), confirming the safety of longer tunnels despite comparable comfort levels between groups. After PSM, Cox regression analysis showed results consistent with those from the unmatched cohort. Subgroup analyses revealed a reduced risk of complications with longer tunnels in patients with BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² (HR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.11–0.82), without hypertension (HR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–1.00), without diabetes (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15–0.97), and with solid tumors (HR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.85).

Conclusion

The results show that tunnel lengths > 4 cm reduce overall complications and prolong catheter retention, supporting the implementation of standardized protocols while advocating for personalized adjustments based on BMI, comorbidities, and cancer type.