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Cancer metastasis remains responsible for the vast majority of cases of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Metastasis, by its definition, is the spread of cancer from the primary site to the distant tissues. Advancing the scientific and clinical understanding of cancer metastasis is a high priority. The prerequisite requirement for pathological consistency may be compromised during metastasis. The present study reports the case of a cancer patient with different pathological types. The patient presented with pain in the neck and right hip, as well as weight loss. He underwent whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography, which identified a mass in the lung and abnormal metabolism of the bone. Biopsies of the ilium and lung were performed and he was shown to have lung adenocarcinoma and bone squamous carcinoma. The morphology and immunohistochemical patterns were completely different, while each lesion harbored an identical genetic profile. The bone lesion was identified to be a metastasis from the lung cancer. The patient was prescribed an epithelial growth factor receptor inhibitor, which resulted in a partial response in the lung mass and alleviation of the patient's bone pain. Through this case study, we advocate the importance of using genetic testing in addition to pathological assessment.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of leading causes of cancer-associated mortality, with a high number of cases caused by metastasis. The early diagnosis of cancer contributes to the successful treatment of patients with lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of marker gene detection and computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing human lung cancer. Lung cancer marker genes, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRB), cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (Cyfra21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), were analyzed in patients with lung cancer. The tumor size was evaluated using CT, and the association between lung serum levels of marker gene protein expression and tumor size was investigated. A total of 328 patients with lung cancer were identified, including 204 adenocarcinoma, 75 large cell carcinoma and 49 squamous cell carcinoma cases. All patients were indicated to have a high serum level of CEA, CA125, TPA, ProGRB, Cyfra21-1 and NSE, compared with the normal range. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated higher expression levels of CEA, CA125, TPA, ProGRB, Cyfra21-1 and NSE in lung tumor tissues, compared with the normal range. Results indicated that CT was able to diagnose tumor size for patients with lung cancer. The CEA and CA125 expression levels were associated with CT-diagnosed adenocarcinoma tumor size. Large cell carcinoma tumor size was associated with serum levels of CEA, TPA and ProGRB. Results indicated that Cyfra21-1 and NSE were associated with the squamous cell carcinoma cases, as demonstrated using CT. In conclusion, these results indicated that comprehensive analysis of marker gene detection and CT results may be used to diagnose human lung cancer.

Few cases of testicular metastases from prostate carcinoma have been reported, and asymptomatic metastases of prostate carcinoma to both the testis and epididymis are extremely rare. The current study presents the case of a 69-year-old male with testicular and epididymal metastases from prostate carcinoma. The patient was admitted to The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang with a 2-year history of lower urinary tract symptoms. Digital rectal examination revealed an enlarged multinodular prostate, and the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was >100 ng/ml. Magnetic resonance imaging showed prostate carcinoma with seminal vesicle involvement. A prostate biopsy showed prostate gland adenocarcinoma. The Gleason score was 3+3. The immunohistochemistry results were as follows: Prostatic acid phosphatase (+++), PSA (+++), P504s (+++), p63 (-) and cytokeratin 34βE12 (-), with a Ki-67 of ~5%. The patient was treated with a bilateral orchiectomy. The testicular pathology showed that the right testis and epididymis were invaded with metastatic adenocarcinoma. The left testis and epididymis were normal. The patient was treated with conventional flutamide endocrine therapy. At present the patient remains in a stable condition after 24 months of follow-up.