Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with brain metastasis being one of the most common complications in advanced-stage disease. The development of noninvasive and efficient early diagnostic methods is therefore of critical clinical importance. In this study, untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to perform metabolomic profiling of 66 serum samples from patients with lung cancer brain metastasis, early-stage lung cancer, and healthy controls. A total of 719 metabolites were identified with high data reliability. Comparative analysis revealed 20 significantly upregulated and 12 significantly downregulated metabolites in the lung cancer brain metastasis group. These differentially expressed metabolites were primarily enriched in amino acid and energy metabolism pathways. This specific metabolic signature was highly associated with the brain metastatic state. Although not yet validated for clinical application, this profile demonstrated robust discriminatory power within the current cohort and serves as a potential set of risk-stratification biomarkers. These findings identify a distinct metabolic phenotype associated with brain metastasis, laying the critical groundwork for future research into noninvasive diagnostic strategies. Nevertheless, further validation within independent, longitudinal cohorts is required.

Commensal bacteria play a crucial role in modulating human immune responses in the intestine. Under homeostatic conditions, the gut microbiota is tightly regulated by interactions with the mucosal immune system. However, colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by an imbalance in bacterial composition and bacterial translocation across the intestinal barrier. The spatial distribution of bacteria and their interactions with immune cells in CRC tumors are poorly understood. By applying 3D light-sheet imaging, spatial transcriptomics, and imaging mass cytometry to patient-derived CRC and adjacent intestinal tissue, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can be visualized alongside immune cells and vessels. The results showed regional bacterial LPS accumulation and colocalization with distinct immune cell subsets. In CRC-adjacent tissue, bacterial LPS is mainly associated with CD11c+ dendritic cells, CD15+ neutrophils, and CD163+ macrophages. In matched CRC tissue, the number and LPS colocalization of CD163+ macrophages and CD11c+ dendritic cells decreased, while CD15+ neutrophils and their colocalization with LPS increased. Notably, immune cell composition and immune cell‒bacteria interactions differ between tumors and adjacent tissue, offering insights into host‒microbiota dynamics and mechanistic interactions.

Surgical precision is critical in oncology, where complete tumor resection while preserving healthy tissue directly influences patient outcomes. Traditional intraoperative diagnostic tools, such as frozen-section analysis, are limited by time constraints, tissue sampling, and interpretative variability. Intraoperative mass spectrometry (MS) has recently emerged as a transformative approach, enabling rapid, label-free molecular profiling of surgical specimens in real time. Several technologies-including Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS, "iKnife"), Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI-MS), Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI-MS) Imaging, Picosecond InfraRed Laser mass spectrometry (PIRL-MS), and novel devices such as the MasSpec Pen-offer unique strategies for intraoperative tumor characterization. Applications have been demonstrated across multiple cancer types, including brain, breast, gastrointestinal, and urogenital malignancies, where MS can improve margin assessment, tumor classification, and surgical guidance. Beyond its clinical promise, intraoperative MS faces technical and translational challenges, including high infrastructure costs, a lack of standardization, and the need for robust multicenter validation. Integration with artificial intelligence, imaging modalities, and multi-omics approaches may further enhance its clinical utility. This review summarizes current technologies, clinical applications, limitations, and future perspectives of intraoperative MS in oncology, highlighting its potential to reshape surgical oncology practice.

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare, aggressive tumors often discovered incidentally. These malignancies may present with abnormal hormone secretion or, as in some cases, as non-functioning masses causing discomfort. We present a case of brain metastasis in a patient with a giant ACC. A 50-year-old man presented with headache and dizziness. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed an intracranial lesion within the parenchyma measuring 73*60*46 mm with left internal temporal involvement, abundant vasogenic edema and compressing the lateral left ventricle. Further imaging investigations identified a large necrotic tissue mass measuring 15 cm, located on both sides of the right diaphragmatic dome, in the middle posterior region. Hormonal workup was conducted and excluded a functional adrenal tumor. A CT-guided biopsy was performed, confirming ACC. Despite medical management, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, with the cerebral metastasis proving fatal. This case underscores the challenges posed by advanced ACC, particularly when associated with atypical metastatic sites. Giant ACC, though rare, presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Surgical excision with appropriate oncologic management can lead to favorable outcomes. This report contributes to the limited literature on cerebral metastases in ACC, aiming to enhance awareness among clinicians managing this rare entity.

Pediatric brain tumors are rare and still represent the most common solid tumors in children and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the pediatric population. Compared to adult brain tumors, they exhibit distinct biology, anatomy, and clinical behavior, posing unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have the potential to improve diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment response assessment, but progress in pediatric neuro-oncology has been hampered by the lack of large, standardized, and publicly accessible datasets. We introduce the Brain Tumor Segmentation in Pediatrics (BraTS-PEDs) dataset, the first large-scale open-access benchmark data dedicated to pediatric brain tumor segmentation and analysis. The dataset comprises multiparametric MRI scans from 457 pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas, collected across multiple institutions and international consortia. Each case includes pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and T2-FLAIR MRI sequences. Tumor subregions were annotated following the Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) recommendations through a semi-automated process combining pediatric-specific auto-segmentation and expert manual refinement by neuroradiologists. The dataset is partitioned into training (n = 257), validation (n = 91), and hidden testing (n = 109) subsets to support reproducible benchmarking. BraTS-PEDs is the first large-scale, standardized resource for developing and evaluating AI algorithms in pediatric neuro-oncology. It provides a foundation for reproducible method comparison, model generalization across institutions, and future integration of imaging with molecular and clinical data for precision medicine applications.

Intracranial schwannomas account for approximately 8% of all primary brain tumors, and the majority arise in the cerebellopontine angle. Ectopic schwannomas that originate from non-cranial nerve sites, such as the dura mater or brain parenchyma, are rare, representing less than 1% of all intracranial schwannomas. These lesions often mimic meningiomas on neuroimaging, making preoperative diagnosis challenging. A woman in her 50s was referred to our department after a brain check-up incidentally revealed a mass lesion extending both above and below the tentorium. Neurological examination was unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-defined, heterogeneously enhancing extra-axial mass widely attached to the tentorium, suggestive of meningioma. The lesion was completely resected via a suboccipital approach. Histopathological examination revealed spindle-shaped tumor cells with palisading nuclei, positive for S-100 protein and negative for epithelial membrane antigen, confirming the diagnosis of schwannoma. The MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index was below 5%, consistent with a benign lesion. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed total resection, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. No recurrence was observed during a 7-month follow-up period. Tentorial ectopic schwannoma is an extremely rare entity that can closely resemble meningioma both radiologically and intraoperatively. Awareness of this entity is important when evaluating tentorial extra-axial tumors. Although the clinical course is generally favorable following complete resection, careful preoperative evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.

Intracranial ependymomas are rare neuroepithelial tumors that arise from the ependymal lining of the ventricular system. Although sporadically reported in domestic species, primary brain tumors remain exceptionally rare in Old and New World camelids. This report describes the clinico-pathological characteristics of an intracranial ependymoma associated with secondary hydrocephalus in an adult female camel (Camelus bactrianus). The animal presented with progressive neurological signs, including a unilateral circling gait and ataxia. Computed tomography (CT) revealed asymmetric enlargement of the lateral ventricles with a mass effect. Post-mortem findings were characterized by a well-circumscribed, expansive intraventricular mass obstructing the left lateral ventricle and causing ventricular dilatation. Histologically, the neoplasm consisted of polygonal cells arranged in layers and perivascular pseudorosettes, with occasional true rosettes. It contained multifocal areas of necrosis, affecting approximately 25% of the mass, and was surrounded by multinucleated giant cells. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells showed strong and diffuse cytoplasmic positivity for vimentin, while glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was sparse and showed scattered cytoplasmic positivity in neoplastic cells. These findings confirmed the diagnosis of ependymoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of intracranial ependymoma in a Bactrian camel.

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, formerly referred to as pituitary adenomas, are common intracranial neoplasms. Most are benign and slow-growing. Clinical manifestations typically arise from hormonal hypersecretion or mass effect on adjacent structures. Hyponatremia due to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion is an uncommon presentation of pituitary tumors and has been rarely reported. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman with a history of secondary amenorrhea and infertility who exhibited progressive headache and recurrent presyncope episodes. Laboratory tests showed that the patient had severe hyponatremia (sodium {Na}: 121 mmol/L), low serum osmolality (252 mOsm/kg), inappropriately elevated urine osmolality (748 mOsm/kg), elevated urinary sodium (112 mEq/L), hypouricemia (1.9 mg/dL), and a fractional excretion of uric acid of 11.66%, consistent with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Hormonal assessment indicated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism characterized by diminished levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a sellar mass measuring 19 × 31 × 32 mm with a suprasellar extension and compression of the optic chiasm. Visual field testing corroborated bitemporal hemianopsia. The patient had an endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of the lesion. Histopathological examination identified a plurihormonal mature pituitary neuroendocrine tumor of gonadotroph lineage, exhibiting positive immunohistochemical staining for SF-1 and INSM1, negative expression for Pit-1, and a Ki-67 proliferation index of 10%. This case illustrates an uncommon manifestation of a gonadotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumor presenting as severe hyponatremia secondary to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Identifying this unusual presentation is crucial, as prompt diagnosis and intervention may avert considerable neurological, metabolic, and visual complications.