Pathology, research and practice最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of the effects of melanin bleaching in different steps of immunohistochemistry on an automated platform","authors":"Chih-Ching Yeh ,&nbsp;Yi-Jing Li ,&nbsp;Jang-Shian Liang ,&nbsp;Jia-Bin Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melanin is a granular brown-black pigment unevenly distributed in tissues. Severe melanin deposition can obscure cellular morphological features and tissue structures, hindering the evaluation of melanocytic lesion. This condition is particularly prone to interfering with the evaluation of immunohistochemistry (IHC), thereby affecting diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, melanin bleaching techniques have become a crucial step, enabling pathologists to better examine melanin-rich tissue specimens. In this study, we utilized low-concentration 1 % hydrogen peroxide for melanin bleaching and integrated the bleaching process into IHC on the same platform to establish a continuous workflow. We compared melanin bleaching in different steps to see the effect of bleaching on IHC. Three different bleaching protocols were designed: bleaching (i) before antigen retrieval, (ii) after antigen retrieval, and (iii) after IHC staining. The effects of melanin bleaching on tissue morphology preservation and IHC quality in heavily pigmented melanocytic lesions were evaluated. The results showed that melanin bleaching before antigen retrieval ensured accurate localization of expression of HMB45, Melan A, and SOX10. This method showed no background staining, preserved tissue morphology without detachment, and maintained antigen immunogenicity. The pre-retrieval bleaching protocol allowed for clearer IHC staining result and can be applied on automated platform and routine staining workflows.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 156047"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances of circulating biomarkers with potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value in pancreatic cancer: Limitations of clinical application","authors":"Zahra Yousefli ,&nbsp;Nilofar Rafiee ,&nbsp;Tanin Nourollahian ,&nbsp;Amirreza Alipour ,&nbsp;Zahra Haghshenas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Islampanah ,&nbsp;Majid Khazaei ,&nbsp;Hamid Fiuji ,&nbsp;Seyed Mahdi Hassanian ,&nbsp;Gordon A. Ferns ,&nbsp;Elham Nazari ,&nbsp;Amir Avan","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several genetic and immunologic biomarkers have shown promise in detecting pancreatic cancer, predicting its progression, monitoring the treatment, and evaluating responses. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in biomarker discovery and liquid biopsy for pancreatic cancer. We summarized the biomarkers with prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic value, highlighting their individual and combined utility in pancreatic cancer. Moreover, the clinical value of the biomarkers remains to be fully established, and this review discusses the current limitations and complexities associated with these biomarkers and their clinical interpretation. The future direction of novel approaches is discussed, which could shed light on early diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatic cancer. Given the low sensitivity and the impact of co-morbidities on biomarker levels, no single biomarker is sufficient for detection, and establishing an appropriate approach that consists of conventional and non-conventional biomarkers is crucial to obtaining a standardized diagnostic method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From histopathology to clinical success: Johnsen score as predictors in micro-TESE outcomes of idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia","authors":"Shengjia Shi ,&nbsp;Yang Lv ,&nbsp;Jianhua Sun ,&nbsp;Tianwei Wang ,&nbsp;Mingjuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The purpose of our study was to explore the influence of Johnsen score on the sperm retrieval outcome (SRO) in idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) patients treated with micro-TESE.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were collected and analyzed from a single reproductive center using a retrospective cohort study design, involving 265 male patients with iNOA who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) between January 2017 and December 2024. The associations between SRO and Johnsen score were investigated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, supplemented with stratified subgroup assessments. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were performed to evaluate the predictive performance of the Johnsen score-based model for successful SRO probability.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 265 iNOA patients undergoing micro-TESE, successful SRO were achieved in 108 cases (40.75 %), while 157 patients (59.25 %) showed negative surgical outcomes. Multivariate logistic analyses showed iNOA patients with higher Johnsen scores of testicular tissues obtained during micro-TESE were more likely to have successful SRO, this trend did not change after stratifying by age, body mass index (BMI), testis volume (TV), and testosterone (T). FSH and LH stratification revealed differential predictive capacity: significant association in FSH &lt; 22.29 or LH&lt; 8.55 IU/L subgroups versus null effect in FSH≥ 22.29 or LH≥ 8.55 IU/L cohorts. The predictive performance evaluation demonstrated that the Johnsen score-based nomogram achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.69 in per-patient analysis, with corresponding sensitivity and specificity values of 56.9 % and 74.9 %, respectively. Decision curve analysis further confirmed the clinical superiority of this composite model, showing significantly greater net benefit across threshold probability ranges (30–85 %) compared to isolated Johnsen score assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While Johnsen scoring provides a quantitative histopathological assessment of testicular spermatogenic function and demonstrates significant association with sperm retrieval outcomes (SRO), its standalone predictive capacity for micro-TESE success in idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) patients remains suboptimal, necessitating integration with clinical parameters to establish a robust prognostic model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156043"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144178439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The activation of the NF-κB p65/PD-L1 signaling pathway in AIDS-related PCNSL is related to TNF-α and IFN-γ but not to MYD88 and CD79B mutations","authors":"Man Li ,&nbsp;Xinghuan Ding ,&nbsp;Bo Liang ,&nbsp;Jiamin Chen ,&nbsp;Xingang Zhou ,&nbsp;Enshan Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>AIDS-related primary central nervous system lymphoma (AR-PCNSL) differs from immunocompetent PCNSL (IC-PCNSL) due to its immune function and higher mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for new treatment targets. This study aimed to investigate the role of the NF-κB p65/PD-L1 signaling pathway in AR-PCNSL. A total of 56 PCNSL tissue samples, including 32 AR-PCNSL cases and 24 IC-PCNSL cases, were analyzed for clinicopathological and imaging features. Histopathological examination was conducted using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, PD-L1 immunohistochemistry and Epstein-Barr encoding region (EBER) in situ hybridization. Differentially expressed molecules (DEMs) were identified via bulk RNA-Seq analysis, while functional pathways were explored through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. <em>MYD88</em> L265P and <em>CD79B</em> mutations were detected using sanger sequencing. Additionally, RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in frozen tissues, while western blotting assessed the protein expression levels of p-NF-κB p65, NF-κB p65, and PD-L1 in cell lines. Compared with IC-PCNSL tissues, AR-PCNSL tissues demonstrated significantly more necrosis (p = 0.001). Imaging analysis showed that AR-PCNSLs had lower ADC (Apparent Diffusion Coefficient, ADC) values (p = 0.000) and more frequent annular enhancement signals (p = 0.007) on DWI (diffusion weighted imaging, DWI). The PD-L1 and EBER positivity rates were higher in AR-PCNSL patients. Co-occurring mutations in <em>MYD88</em> L265P and <em>CD79B</em> were rare in AR-PCNSL, and were found in only 6.7 % (1/15) of samples, while these mutations appeared in 60.0 % (9/15) of the IC-PCNSL patients (p = 0.005). The RNA levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly higher in AR-PCNSL patients than in IC-PCNSL patients (p = 0.001). Western blot analysis after TNF-α and IFN-γ treatment revealed increased expression of p-P65 protein and PD-L1. This study provides new evidence indicating that TNF-α and IFN-γ mediated activation of the NF-κB p65/PD-L1 signaling pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of AR-PCNSL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156050"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting CDH11 with celecoxib and derivatives to suppress esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and invasion","authors":"Lin Xiao ,&nbsp;Bingbing Yang ,&nbsp;Yijuan Zhou ,&nbsp;Jiarui Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Zhang ,&nbsp;Wanjing Yang ,&nbsp;Minjing Sun ,&nbsp;Mengmeng Li ,&nbsp;Xueyan Zhao ,&nbsp;Fang Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Cadherin-11 (CDH11) has been implicated in tumor progression, but its role in ESCC remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>CDH11 expression was analyzed in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays (proliferation, migration, invasion) and xenograft models were employed to assess CDH11’s role. Celecoxib and its derivative 2,5-dimethyl celecoxib (DMC) were evaluated as CDH11-targeted inhibitors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CDH11 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues and correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Knockdown of CDH11 suppressed ESCC proliferation and invasion (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), while overexpression exacerbated these phenotypes. Celecoxib and DMC directly bound CDH11 and inhibited ESCC growth in vitro and in vivo (IC₅₀: 21.61–43.34 μM). Mechanistically, CDH11 knockdown attenuated JAK-STAT3 and AKT signaling.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CDH11 is a novel therapeutic target in ESCC, and its inhibition by celecoxib/DMC offers a promising strategy for ESCC treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156042"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144194966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The paradoxical role of IFN-γ in cancer: Balancing immune activation and immune evasion","authors":"Xiaojuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is recognized for its ability to inhibit cell growth, promote programmed cell death, and stimulate immune responses against tumor progression. However, cancerous cells exploit IFN-γ by producing factors that suppress anti-tumor immune responses. Exploring the diverse functions of IFN-γ can offer fresh perspectives for cancer research and the development of immune-based therapies. IFN-γ plays a multifaceted role in the immune system, which includes aiding in boosting the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, by triggering the expression of checkpoint molecules like PD-L1 on tumor cells. Conversely, it can also diminish the effectiveness of immunotherapy by contributing to tumor resistance. Moreover, the level of IFN-γ present inside the microenvironment of the tumor appears to dictate whether IFN-γ acts as a pro-tumor or anti-tumor response. Therefore, enhanced comprehension of IFN-γ's multifaceted actions can revolutionize approaches to cancer biology and intervention strategies targeting the immune system. This review provides an overview of the regulatory roles of IFN-γ in cancer and immunology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156046"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nuclear receptors in cancer: Unveiling theranostic potentials and innovative therapeutic strategies","authors":"Tarik Aanniz ,&nbsp;Saad Bakrim ,&nbsp;Mohammed Amanullah ,&nbsp;Abdelhakim Bouyahya","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nuclear receptors (NRs) include a family of 48 transcription factors (TFs) that regulate gene expression implicated in biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and immune response. Cancer development has been widely linked to the dysregulation of NRs and their signaling pathways, providing promising targets for therapeutic applications. Recent progress in OMIC approaches and high-throughput drug screening has facilitated the emergence of biomolecules, especially phytochemicals, as potential substitutes for synthetic anti-cancer drugs. This review aims to highlight the anticancer potency of diverse classes of biocompounds that target NRs, including phytocompounds, dietary components, venom constituents, microbial metabolites, as well as many small molecules generated from computer-aided drug design (CADD) approaches in the design of innovative and safe treatments. We examine critically the preclinical and clinical trials investigating these candidates for preventing and treating cancer, focusing on their modes of action, their proven efficacy, and their limitations. In addition, we underline significant molecular processes modulated by these natural compounds, highlighting their ability to surmount drug resistance and minimize the toxic effects of standard treatments. Overall, we believe this work has the potential to pave the way for new paradigms in identifying innovative therapeutic options for NR-mediated management of specific types of cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144178437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Innovative implications of botulinum toxin in head and neck cancer: Exploring novel opportunities and future prospects","authors":"Mina Alimohammadi ,&nbsp;Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi ,&nbsp;Reza Mirnejad ,&nbsp;Seyedeh Mana Alavioun ,&nbsp;Amir Vaghari ,&nbsp;Najma Farahani ,&nbsp;Amirhosein Abbasi ,&nbsp;Kiavash Hushmandi ,&nbsp;Seyedeh Mahdieh Khoshnazar","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a significant global health challenge, with over 660,000 annual diagnoses and a mortality rate exceeding 49 %, making it the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Current standard treatments, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, often result in significant side effects, underscoring the need for innovative and personalized therapeutic approaches. In recent years, botulinum toxin (BoNT) has emerged as a transformative adjunctive therapy in HNC management. Initially recognized for its neuromuscular blocking properties, BoNT has expanded its applications to alleviate complications such as sialorrhea, gustatory sweating, and neuropathic pain associated with HNC treatment. Beyond symptomatic relief, emerging evidence suggests that BoNT may influence tumor biology by modulating the tumor microenvironment, disrupting nerve-cancer interactions, and altering key molecular pathways to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. This article explores BoNT's achievements and therapeutic potential in treating HNC, examining its molecular mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and implications for future research. By elucidating BoNT's role in symptom management and its potential as an anti-tumor agent, this review highlights a promising avenue for advancing personalized medicine and improving outcomes for HNC patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"272 ","pages":"Article 156037"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144168865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"B-cell lymphoma: Advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and targeted therapies","authors":"Sneha Patil ,&nbsp;Sudarshan Rajput ,&nbsp;Shaktipal Patil ,&nbsp;Amrapali Mhaiskar","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>B-cell lymphomas (BCL) represent a heterogeneous group of blood cancers originating from B-lymphocytes, characterized by diverse clinical manifestations and molecular characteristics. This review highlights recent progress in understanding their pathogenesis, diagnostic approach advancements, and therapeutic strategies developments. Key genetic alterations such as chromosomal translocations (e.g., t(14;18), MYC rearrangements), mutations in tumor suppressor genes like TP53, and disruptions in critical signaling pathways including B-cell receptor (BCR), NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT are central to disease development. Additionally, non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs, play crucial regulatory roles in lymphomagenesis. Innovations in diagnostics, such as liquid biopsy technologies using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), have enhanced early detection, disease monitoring, and prognostication. Concurrently, molecular biomarkers and emerging classifiers improve risk assessment and guide treatment decisions. Treatment approaches have evolved beyond traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, kinase inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and CAR-T cell therapies have shown particular promise in relapsed or refractory cases. Stem cell transplantation remains a valuable option for select patients. Additionally, novel agents targeting epigenetic mechanisms and tumor angiogenesis are under active investigation. This review underscores both the significant advancements and ongoing challenges, such as therapy resistance and adverse effects. The integration of molecular diagnostics with precision-targeted and immune-based therapies is key to advancing personalized care. Future research should aim to characterize tumor heterogeneity better and optimize therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients with B-cell lymphomas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 156036"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144137957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression of TIM-3 in transitional cell carcinoma: A comparative study of tissue and serum levels","authors":"Farrukh Siddique,&nbsp;Naveed Sharif,&nbsp;Abdul Salam,&nbsp;Saleha Saeed,&nbsp;Ayesha Qadir,&nbsp;Ayesha Siffat","doi":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prp.2025.156031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the expression of TIM-3 in tissue and serum specimens of patients diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and to assess the correlation between local tissue expression and systemic serum levels.</div></div><div><h3>Material and method</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 74 tissue samples (49 TCC cases, 25 controls) and 42 serum samples (35 TCC, 7 controls) were analyzed based on non-probability convenient sampling. Tissue TIM-3 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), while soluble TIM-3 (sTIM-3) concentrations in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>TIM-3 expression was found to be significantly higher in TCC tissue samples compared to controls (p &lt; 0.001), and was associated with both higher tumor grade (p = 0.040) and stage (p = 0.008). Serum sTIM-3 concentrations were slightly elevated in TCC patients compared to healthy individuals, however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.449). Also, no meaningful correlation was found between tissue TIM-3 expression and serum sTIM-3 levels (ρ = −0.119, p = 0.494).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Elevated TIM-3 expression in tumor tissue correlates with aggressive features of TCC, supporting its utility as a potential tissue-based biomarker. Serum sTIM-3, however, lacks diagnostic reliability and does not reflect tissue expression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19916,"journal":{"name":"Pathology, research and practice","volume":"271 ","pages":"Article 156031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}