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• NEK2 expression was upregulated in GC and was a predictor of a poor prognosis. • Multiple tumor pathways were hyperactivated in patients with high NEK2 expression. • NEK2 expression was negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration. • Patients with high NEK2 responded to drugs targeting cell cycle/DNA replication. • NEK2-derived genomic model and nomogram can better estimate survival probability. Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common form of gastrointestinal cancer, with a high mortality rate and limited treatment options. High levels of NEK2 are associated with malignant progression and a poor prognosis in several tumors; however, the role of NEK2 in GC remains unclear. We aimed to explore the potential role of NEK2 in the oncogenesis of GC and in the shaping of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The expression levels of NEK2 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We found that NEK2 expression was upregulated in GC and was a predictor of a poor prognosis. Based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment and gene set enrichment analyses, multiple tumor pathways were hyperactivated in patients with high NEK2 mRNA expression. Immunological characteristics indicated that NEK2 upregulation might lead to decreased immune cell infiltration and weakened immune activity in the cancer immunity cycle. Additionally, higher frequencies of amplifications and deletions were observed in the high NEK2 expression subpopulation. Based on the TME classification, patients with high expression of NEK2 were more susceptible to targeted therapy with drugs targeting the cell cycle and DNA replication. Following verification, a NEK2-derived genomic model reliably predicted the patient prognosis; A nomogram (radiation therapy, tumor/node/metastasis staging, and the NEK2-derived risk score) was used to better estimate an individual's survival probability. In summary, our findings indicate that NEK2 plays a vital role in the tumorigenesis of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the relationship and prognostic significance between preoperative serum albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Materials and Methods: Demographic parameters, laboratory values including AGR and other clinical variables were evaluated in 180 patients with NSCLC, and 72 of these patients had results of radiology parameters detected with HRCT [including emphysema, tumor disappearance rate (TDR), CT values and CT enhanced values of the tumor mass] were assessed for survival analyses. The 72 patients were divided into two groups: normal lung group and emphysema group. The discriminatory values for AGR between these two groups were assessed by Mann-Whitney U test The relationship between TDR and AGR in NSCLC patients was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.Results: In multivariate analysis, TDR (p = 0.033), AGR (p = 0.038), emphysema (p = 0.009), and N stage (P = 0.026) were independent predictors of overall survival (OS). AGR was higher in NSCLC patients without emphysema than NSCLC patients with emphysema (z = -2.979, P = 0.003). TDR demonstrated that there was a positive relationship with AGR (r = 0.307, p = 0.009). A nomogram with AGR, TDR, emphysema, and N stage was established to predict 5-year survival.Conclusions: There is a relationship between CT features and AGR in NSCLC. The integrative nomogram combined with CT images, clinical and hematologic features improved survival prediction in NSCLC patients, which offers a non-invasive, comprehensive, and convenient evaluation for individualized management of NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]