Purpose: Primary cell lines are a valuable tool for evaluation of tumor behavior or sensitivity to anticancer treatment and appropriate dissociation of cells could preserve genomic profile of the original tissue. The main aim of our study was to compare the influence of two methods of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell derivation (mechanic—MD; enzymatic—ED) on basic biological properties of thus derived cells and correlate them to the ones obtained from stabilized GBM cell line A-172. Methods: Cell proliferation and migration (xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis), expression of microRNAs and protein markers (RT-PCR and Western blotting), morphology (phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy), and accumulation of temozolomide (TMZ) and its metabolite 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AIC) inside the cells (LC-MS analysis) were carried out in five different samples of GBM (GBM1, GBM2, GBM32, GBM33, GBM34), with each of them processed by MD and ED types of isolations. The same analyses were done in the A-172 cell line too. Results: Primary GBM cells obtained by ED or MD approaches significantly differ in biological behavior and properties of these cells. Unlike in primary MD GBM cells, higher proliferation, as well as migration, was observed in primary ED GBM cells, which were also associated with the acquired mesenchymal phenotype and higher sensitivity to TMZ. Finally, the same analyses of stabilized GBM cell line A-172 revealed several important differences in measured parameters. Conclusions: GBM cells obtained by MD and ED dissociation show considerable heterogeneity, but based on our results, MD approach should be the preferred method of primary GBM cell isolation

Background: Although several prognostic factors for survival have been identified in glioblastoma, there are numerous other potential markers (such as hemoglobin) whose role has not yet been confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate a wide range of potential prognostic factors, including HIF-1α and hemoglobin levels, for survival in glioblastoma. A secondary aim was to determine whether hemoglobin levels were associated with HIF-1α expression. Methods: A retrospective study of 136 patients treated for glioblastoma at our institution between 2012 and 2021 was performed. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated. In addition, bivariate non-parametric correlation analyses were performed for key variables. Results: Median survival was 11.9 months (range: 0–119.4). According to the univariate analysis, 13 variables were significantly associated with survival: age, performance status, extent of surgery, tumor depth, tumor size, epilepsy, postoperative chemoradiotherapy, IDH mutations, CD44, HIF-1α, HIF-1β, vimentin, and PDFGR. According to the multivariate regression analysis, only four variables remained significantly associated with survival: age, extent of surgery, epilepsy, and HIF-1α expression. No significant association was observed between hemoglobin levels (low <120 g/L in females or <140 g/L in males vs. high ≥120 or ≥140 g/L) and survival or HIF-1α/HIF-1β expression. Conclusions: In this retrospective study of patients with glioblastoma, four variables—age, extent of surgery, HIF-1α expression, and epilepsy—were significant prognostic factors for survival. Hemoglobin levels were not significantly associated with survival or HIF-1α expression. Although hypoxia is a well-recognized component of the glioblastoma microenvironment, more research is needed to understand the pathogenesis of onset tumor hypoxia and treatment implication.

Background Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is an exceptionally rare adnexal malignancy with limited evidence to guide systemic treatment. Androgen receptor (AR) expression is common, but durable responses to AR-targeted therapy have been reported only in isolated cases. This case highlights a uniquely reproducible and profound complete metabolic response to AR blockade in metastatic PCAC, offering valuable insight into its potential hormonal dependence. Case presentation A 57-year-old man with AR-strong PCAC of the axilla developed metastatic relapse involving mediastinal and axillary lymph nodes, lung lymphangitic spread, and a lytic vertebral lesion. Treatment with enzalutamide combined with goserelin resulted in a rapid and complete metabolic response on PET-CT. After therapy interruption due to cumulative fatigue and vasomotor symptoms, mild nodal progression and a new cutaneous recurrence occurred. Re-induction with the same regimen again resulted in complete metabolic and radiologic remission, which remained durable on follow-up. Conclusion This case demonstrates that AR-targeted therapy may induce deep, durable, and reproducible metabolic responses in AR-positive metastatic PCAC, even after treatment re-challenge. Comprehensive molecular and immunohistochemical profiling is essential for identifying actionable pathways in this rare tumour. The findings contribute meaningful evidence to the limited literature and may support further investigation of AR signalling as a therapeutic target in PCAC.

Introduction: Subcortical motor mapping thresholds are routinely used during glioblastoma resection to reduce the risk of permanent neurological injury, but their association with survival is not well established. We evaluated whether the final subcortical motor mapping threshold recorded at the end of resection is associated with overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing mapping-guided resection of motor-eloquent glioblastoma, including exploratory evaluation by residual fluorescence adjacent to the motor pathway. Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center cohort study of consecutive adults with newly diagnosed IDH-wild-type glioblastoma (2018–2024) who underwent motor mapping-guided resection with a documented final subcortical stimulation threshold and received adjuvant oncological therapy. The prespecified exposure was stimulation threshold ≤ 5 mA versus >5 mA. OS was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox regression. To reduce overfitting, the primary adjusted Cox model included stimulation threshold, age, and temozolomide exposure; a fully adjusted model including age, sex, extent of resection, radiotherapy regimen, and temozolomide was established for sensitivity analysis. Because proportional hazards assumptions were not fully satisfied, restricted mean survival time (RMST) differences were also estimated at prespecified horizons. Results: Among 36 patients, stimulation threshold ≤ 5 mA was associated with shorter OS compared with >5 mA (log-rank p = 0.001). In the primary adjusted Cox model, stimulation threshold > 5 mA remained associated with lower mortality risk (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.82, p = 0.016); results were directionally consistent in the fully adjusted model (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.089–0.643, p = 0.0046). RMST analyses favored the >5 mA group at 12, 18, and 24 months. In exploratory analyses, the association appeared most evident in patients without residual fluorescence adjacent to the motor pathway. Conclusions: Lower final subcortical stimulation thresholds were associated with shorter overall survival after mapping-guided resection of motor-eloquent glioblastoma. These findings suggest that the final intraoperative stimulation threshold was associated with overall survival in adjusted exploratory models and may provide prognostic information in addition to its established role in surgical safety; however, prospective validation in larger cohorts is warranted.