Since its first identification in prostate cancers and prostate tissues, transient receptor potential melastatin-subfamily member 8 (TRPM8) is subsequently found to be overexpressed in a wide range of cancers and is shown to be implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Here, we used N-(3-aminopropyl)-2-[(3-methylphenyl) methoxy] -N-(2-thienylmethyl) benzamide hydrochloride (AMTB), a specific TRPM8 antagonist, to explore its antitumoral effect on osteosarcoma. We find that AMTB suppresses osteosarcoma cell proliferation, metastasis and induces cellular apoptosis. Xenograft model in nude mice experiments also define that AMTB can increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to cisplatin, the cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens in treating osteosarcoma. Molecularly, AMTB specifically antagonizes TRPM8 which is upregulated in osteosarcoma and its expression level in osteosarcoma tissues is negatively related to patients’ prognosis. Finally, RNA sequencing analysis was performed to explore the mechanism underlying the antitumoral effect of AMTB on osteosarcoma cells and the results prove that AMTB suppresses the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway. Our study provides evidence that TRPM8 could be a potential therapeutic target and AMTB can suppress growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells through repressing the TGFβ signaling pathway and increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to cisplatin.

This was a retrospective study. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and discuss the treatment options for epidermoid cysts in the lumbar spine. Epidermoid cysts are rare benign neoplasms, which account for less than 1% of all intraspinal tumors. Due to their rarity, there are only a few case reports in the literature. Complete excision is the recommended treatment for an epidermoid cyst, but this is difficult to achieve in the spine. In spite of their benign nature, local recurrence is not uncommon for spinal epidermoid cysts after incomplete excision. Six patients with an epidermoid cyst in the lumbar spine underwent surgical treatment in our center between 2004 and 2011. A total excision using microsurgical techniques and reconstruction was successfully undertaken in all patients. Clinical data and detailed pathologic results were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were followed up for a median time of more than 4 years. The clinical data and surgical efficacy were analyzed to suggest treatment options for epidermoid cysts in the lumbar spine on the basis of a literature review and our own experience. The mean age of the patients in this study was 37.7 years and the mean duration of pre-operative symptoms was 29.7 months (2 to 120 months). All patients were disease-free during their follow-up period. Radicular pain nearly disappeared, and patients suffering from neurologic deficits and defecation disorders recovered well. Although an epidermoid cyst is a benign tumor, it is apt to recur locally following inadequate removal. Therefore, complete excision with preservation of neural function is an ideal protocol for intraspinal epidermoid cysts. Microsurgical techniques are very useful.

Background. Sarcomas (SARC) have been found as rare and heterogeneous malignancies with poor prognosis. PTBP1, belonging to the hnRNPs family, plays an essential role in some biological functions (e.g., pre‐mRNA splicing, cell growth, and nervous system development). However, the role of PTBP1 in SARC remains unclear. In this study, the aim was to investigate the potential role of PTBP1 with a focus on SARC. Methods. The expression, prognostic value, possible biological pathways of PTBP1, and its relationship with immune infiltration and drug sensitivity were comprehensively analyzed based on multiple databases. PTBP1 was further validated in osteosarcoma as the most prominent bone SARC. The expression of PTBP1 was investigated through IHC. The prognostic value of PTBP1 was verified in TARGET‐OS databases. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated PTBP1 knockout HOS human osteosarcoma cell lines were used to assess the effect of PTBP1 on cell proliferation, migration, metastasis and cell cycle by CCK‐8, Transwell migration, invasion, and FACS experiment. Result. PTBP1 was highly expressed and significantly correlated with poor prognosis in several cancers, especially in SARC, which was validated in the clinical cohort and osteosarcoma cell lines. The genetic alteration of PTBP1 was found most frequently in SARC. Besides, PTBP1 played a role in oncogenesis and immunity through cell cycle, TGFB, autophagy, and WNT pathways at a pan‐cancer level. Knockout of PTBP1 was observed to negatively affect proliferation, migration, metastasis, and cell cycle of osteosarcoma in vitro. Furthermore, PTBP1 was significantly correlated with tumor immune infiltration, DNA methylation, TMB, and MSI in a wide variety of cancers. Moreover, the potential of the expression level of PTBP1 in predicting drug sensitivity was assessed. Conclusions. PTBP1 is highly expressed and correlated with prognosis and plays a vital pathogenic role in oncogenesis and immune infiltration of various cancers, especially for SARC, which suggests that it may be a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target in the future.

(1) Background: Primary intraspinal tumors account for 2–15% of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Most intraspinal tumors are benign, and about 40% of them occur intradurally, for which early surgery is the preferred treatment. Laminectomy with pedicle screw fixation is the conventional surgical treatment. However, laminectomy with pedicle screw fixation is likely to reduce the spinal range of motion (ROM), with many other complications, although it can maintain the stability of the spine. The aim of this study is to determine whether laminoplasty as a new surgical approach for thoracic and lumbar intradural tumors is superior to laminectomy in preserving spinal ROM, maintaining spinal stability and reducing postoperative complications. (2) Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients who received intradural tumor resection, including 23 who received traditional laminectomy with pedicle screw fixation and 27 who received new laminoplasty. Spinal ROM was evaluated by lumbar flexion/extension radiograph and biomechanical evaluation. Spinal stability was evaluated by imaging observations of the spinal Cobb angle and laminar bone fusion. Postoperative complications were evaluated according to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and the length of hospital stay. (3) Results: Compared with the laminectomy group, patients in the laminoplasty group exhibited a better spinal ROM (31.6 ± 12.0° vs. 21.7 ± 11.8°, p = 0.013), a smaller Cobb angle (9.6 ± 4.3 vs. 12.5 ± 5.3, p = 0.034), a lower incidence of CSF leakage (4/14.8% vs. 11/47.8%, p = 0.015), and a shorter length of hospital stay (13.1 ± 1.8 vs. 15.1 ± 2.3 days, p = 0.001). Most patients in the laminoplasty group had satisfactory bone fusion. The biomechanical experiment also demonstrated that spinal ROM in laminoplasty was larger than that in the laminectomy group. (4) Conclusions: Compared with the traditional surgery, the new laminoplasty surgery can better maintain the stability of the spine, preserve spinal ROM, and reduce postoperative complications. It is a surgical method that can be clinically popularized.