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Angiogenesis is important in the development of solid tumors. Vasohibin-1 (VASH-1) is an endothelium-derived protein that acts as an inhibitor of angiogenesis in many different types of cancer. However, the expression of VASH-1 and its clinical value in bladder cancer remain unknown. The current study analyzed the expression of VASH-1, as well as the expression of the angiogenesis-related factors vascular endothelial growth factor-A, hypoxia inducible factor-1a and cluster of differentiation 34 in bladder cancer tissues from 50 patients using immunohistochemistry. The associations between the expression of these factors and the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were assessed. The current study demonstrated that VASH-1 is primarily expressed in the cytoplasm of bladder cancer cells and in a fraction of vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, the expression of VASH-1 was positively associated with the tumor stage (P<0.01), pathological grade (P<0.01) and distant metastasis (P<0.05) but not with patient age or sex (P>0.05). Spearman rank correlation tests indicated that levels of those four factors were positively correlated with each other. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that high expression of these four factors was significantly associated with lower 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates. Collectively, the results of the current study suggest that VASH-1 is clinically significant in bladder cancer and its high expression may predict the progression and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. The present study also implies that VASH-1 may be a novel target for vascular targeting therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma is a rare type of invasive lung carcinoma. Its morphology and immunohistochemistry are those of colorectal carcinoma, but there is no associated primary colorectal carcinoma. The present study describes the case of a 53-year-old female who presented with an irritating cough and a mass around the right sternoclavicular joint. Comprehensive evaluation revealed involvement of the mediastinum, lungs, right sternoclavicular joint and right kidney. Biopsies from the mediastinal and right sternoclavicular joint tumors showed features of adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was positive for cytokeratin (CK)20 and caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2, and negative for CK7, thyroid transcription factor-1 and napsin A. Genotypic analysis identified the expression of wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog, serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1-1. There was no expression of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase and a moderate expression of excision repair cross-complementation group 1, ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase large subunit and tubulin β-3 chain. A strong expression of thymidylate synthase and 677TC genotype expression of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase was observed. Gastroscopy, enteroscopy, colorectal colonoscopy and positron emission tomography-computed tomography failed to find evidence of a gastrointestinal malignancy and primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma was diagnosed. The presence of multiple metastases did not permit curative surgery. The patient was treated with 3 monthly cycles of the XELOX chemotherapy regimen; the response was poor with progression of supraclavicular lesions. Treatment was switched to the TP regimen for 4 monthly cycles, which resulted in a significant reduction in the size of the lung lesions; however, the supraclavicular lesion responded poorly to the treatment. The patient then received 2 cycles of the FOLFIRI regimen; however, the lung and right supraclavicular lesions progressed, causing increased right upper limb pain. The pain was alleviated by palliative surgery. Following surgery, the DP regimen was employed. Follow-up of the patient remains ongoing. The present findings suggest that the early diagnosis and treatment of primary lung enteric adenocarcinoma is likely to improve patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]