prognosis

Anthropometrics, cancer risks, and survival outcomes in adult patients with glioma – a systematic review and meta‑analysis

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In a systematic review and meta‑analysis Ahn et al. from St. Mary’s Hospital, Seoul; The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul published in Acta Neurochirurgica to evaluate associations between height, body mass index (BMI), and both the risk and prognosis of glioma andglioblastoma through aggregated epidemiological data Taller stature increases risk of glioma/glioblastoma (HR per +10 cm ~1.19–1.25). Higher BMI modestly elevates incidence risk (RR ~1.08; HR per +5 kg/m² ~1.01–1.02) and correlates with improved survival in glioblastoma (HR ~0.75).

Critical Review

* Study design & scope:

  1. Solid use of PRISMA flow, Newcastle–Ottawa scoring. 23 studies from large databases until Jan 31, 2024.
  1. Random‑effects model appropriate given heterogeneity.

* Strengths:

  1. Broad dataset; consistency in directionality of height risk.
  1. Quantitative measures (HR/RR) allow clinical interpretation.

* Weaknesses:

  1. Residual confounding: socioeconomic status, comorbidities, treatment variations not fully accounted.

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Molecular insights into glioblastoma progression: role of CHCHD2P9 in tumor heterogeneity and prognosis

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In a translational research integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and in vitro functional assays. Ding et al. from the Anhui Medical University, Hefei; Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei. published in Frontiers in Immunology to elucidate the role of the pseudogene CHCHD2P9 in glioblastoma progression and tumor heterogeneity by leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing and functional assays. CHCHD2P9 is overexpressed in glioma and correlates with worse prognosis. It may influence glioma proliferation and migration and serve as a novel prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target 1).

Critical Review: This study attempts a multidimensional exploration of glioblastoma heterogeneity by integrating advanced single-cell transcriptomics with basic cellular assays. The identification of CHCHD2P9 as a putative prognostic marker is intriguing, but the study lacks depth in mechanistic validation. While the correlation between CHCHD2P9 expression and clinical outcome is statistically supported, causality remains speculative. The study’s reliance on a pseudogene raises biological plausibility concerns, especially without sufficient evidence for its protein-coding function or epigenetic regulation. The model’s translational utility is also not directly tested in patient-derived xenografts or organoids. The work is hypothesis-generating rather than definitive, with significant promise for future mechanistic follow-up.

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