Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors and plays a critical role in cancer progression. A thorough understanding of tumor hypoxia is essential for gaining deeper insights into various aspects of cancer biology. This review examines the key factors contributing to tumor hypoxia, such as inadequate blood supply and oxygen delivery resulting from rapid tumor growth. We present a detailed classification of hypoxic regions and provide an overview of current methods used to identify these areas—from molecular techniques to imaging approaches—offering a comprehensive and multifaceted perspective. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms by which hypoxia drives tumor progression. Under low-oxygen conditions, tumor cells can alter their biological behavior, influencing processes such as cell proliferation, immune evasion, and the maintenance of tumor stem cells. By addressing these dimensions, we aim to enhance understanding of how hypoxia contributes to cancer development. Through this in-depth exploration, we hope this review will offer valuable insights to guide future research and clinical applications.

Background: Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is known to have a pivotal role in the progression of various solid tumors, among which prostate cancer stands out. However, the extent of PTHrP expression and its clinical implications in prostate cancer patients remain shrouded in obscurity. The primary objective of this research endeavor was to shed light on the relevance of PTHrP in the context of prostate cancer patients and to uncover the potential underlying mechanisms. Methods: The expression of PTHrP, E-cadherin, and vimentin in tumor tissues of 88 prostate cancer patients was evaluated by immunohistochemical technique. Subsequently, the associations between PTHrP and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of patients with prostate cancer were analyzed. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression rates of PTHrP, E-cadherin, and vimentin in prostate cancer tissues were 95.5%, 88.6%, and 84.1%, respectively. Patients with a high level of PTHrP had a decreased expression of E-cadherin (P = .013) and an increased expression of vimentin (P = .010) compared with patients with a low level of PTHrP. Besides, the high expression of PTHrP was significantly correlated with a higher level of initial prostate-specific antigen (P = .026), positive lymph node metastasis (P = .010), osseous metastasis (P = .004), and Gleason score (P = .026). Moreover, patients with a high level of PTHrP had shorter progression-free survival (P = .002) than patients with a low level of PTHrP. Conclusion: The present study indicates that PTHrP is associated with risk factors of poor outcomes in prostate cancer, while epithelial-mesenchymal transition may be involved in this process.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of completely retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (CRNU) for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Methods: A systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify trials comparing the outcomes of CRNU and other surgical procedures. A total of 6 case-control studies were selected for analysis. The efficacy and safety of CRNU were evaluated using mean difference or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CIs, employing continuous or dichotomous method with a random or fixed-effect model. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 11.0 software. Results: The meta-analysis indicated that CRNU in subjects with UTUC was significantly associated with a shorter operation time (standardized mean difference, −1.36; 95% CI, −1.61 to −1.11, P < .001) and lower blood loss (standardized mean difference, −0.54; 95% CI, −0.77 to −0.31, P < .001) when compared to traditionally retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (TRNU). No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of grade I & II complications (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.49–2.2, P = .915) and total complications (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.38–1.27, P = .238) between CRNU and TRNU. Conclusion: The findings suggest that CRNU is an advanced surgical technique that is safe and effective for the treatment of UTUC. We recommend that CRNU be further employed for patients with UTUC. Further randomized, multicenter trials are needed to validate these results, given the limitations of this study.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays a significant role in various tumor types, including prostate cancer. However, its specific role and underlying mechanisms in prostate cancer remain unclear. This study investigates the role of PTHrP and its interaction with the c-Met in prostate cancer. PTHrP was overexpressed and knocked down in prostate cancer cell lines to determine its effect on cell functions. Xenograft tumor models were employed to assess the impact of PTHrP overexpression on tumor growth. To delve into the interaction between PTHrP and c-Met, rescue experiments were conducted. Clinical data and tissue samples from prostate cancer patients were gathered and analyzed for PTHrP and c-Met expression. PTHrP overexpression in prostate cancer cells upregulates c-Met expression and augments cell functions. In contrast, PTHrP-knockdown diminishes c-Met expression and inhibits cell functions. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that PTHrP overexpression promoted tumor growth in xenograft models.Moreover, modulating c-Met expression in rescue experiments led to concurrent alterations in prostate cancer cell functions. Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples displayed a significant positive correlation between PTHrP and c-Met expression. Additionally, PTHrP expression correlated with clinical parameters like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, tumor stage, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and Gleason score. PTHrP plays a crucial role in prostate cancer progression by upregulating c-Met expression. These insights point to PTHrP as a promising potential biomarker for prostate cancer.

To assess the feasibility and safety of suprapubic incision antegrade endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy with preservation of the great saphenous vein and