Sublingual Nodules: Diagnostic Markers of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Overview

Journal Chin J Integr Med

Date 2018 Apr 19

PMID 29667148

Citations 1

Authors

Xue Yang

Cui-Hong Zhu

Rui Cao

Jian Hao

Xiong-Zhi Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of sublingual nodules for metastasis of patients with breast cancer and further to explore the mechanisms of sublingual nodules.

Methods: The image data of 117 in-patients with breast cancer in stage I-IV in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from December 2009 to September 2011 were assessed retrospectively. All photos of patients' tongue were recorded by the digital camera of uniform type within 1 month after serological examination and regular re-examined by computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography CT. The presence of sublingual nodules was the positive standard. Chi square test and two-independent-sample test were used to determine the diagnostic value between the status of sublingual nodules and Clinico-pathological characteristics. The optimal cut-off of uric acid (UA) level to diagnose sublingual nodules was determined by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis.

Results: Breast cancer patients with sublingual nodules had a higher risk of recurrence and/or metastasis than patients without it (P<0.001). Sublingual nodules was significantly correlated with increased serum UA level (P=0.001). The optimal cut-off value of UA level to diagnose sublingual nodules was 290 μmol/L. Furthermore, the elevated serum UA level (≥290 μmol/L) was significantly related to breast cancer recurrence and/or metastasis (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Sublingual nodules were potential diagnostic markers for metastatic breast cancer. The formation of sublingual nodules was associated with elevated level of serum UA.

Citing Articles

Investigating the causal association between serum uric acid levels and gastric cancer risk: a Mendelian randomization study.

Zhao X, Ding N Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):26165.

PMID: 39478158 PMC: 11525654. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77788-7.

References

Berman C, Clark R . Diagnostic imaging in cancer. Prim Care. 1992; 19(4):677-713. View

Liu S, Hua Y, Sun Z, Tan S, Lu D . [Breast cancer pathogenesis of stagnation of phlegm, poison and blood stasis: rationale and clinical application in traditional Chinese medicine]. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2007; 5(2):122-5. DOI: 10.3736/jcim20070203. View

Liu Q, Yue X, Deng W, Ren R . [Quantitative study on tongue color in primary liver cancer patients by analysis system for comprehensive information of tongue diagnosis]. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2004; 1(3):180-3. DOI: 10.3736/jcim20030310. View

Jiang B, Liang X, Chen Y, Ma T, Liu L, Li J . Integrating next-generation sequencing and traditional tongue diagnosis to determine tongue coating microbiome. Sci Rep. 2012; 2:936. PMC: 3515809. DOI: 10.1038/srep00936. View

Yoo T, Sung K, Shin H, Kim B, Kim B, Kang J . Relationship between serum uric acid concentration and insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Circ J. 2005; 69(8):928-33. DOI: 10.1253/circj.69.928. View

Tampellini M, Berruti A, Gerbino A, Buniva T, Torta M, Gorzegno G . Relationship between CA 15-3 serum levels and disease extent in predicting overall survival of breast cancer patients with newly diagnosed metastatic disease. Br J Cancer. 1997; 75(5):698-702. PMC: 2063336. DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1997.124. View

DeSantis C, Siegel R, Bandi P, Jemal A . Breast cancer statistics, 2011. CA Cancer J Clin. 2011; 61(6):409-18. DOI: 10.3322/caac.20134. View

Cao R, Wang L, Chi J, Wu X . Nodule and eminence on frenulum labii superioris: diagnostic markers for metastatic colorectal cancer. Chin J Integr Med. 2014; 20(6):416-9. DOI: 10.1007/s11655-014-1681-1. View

Kim J, Han G, Ko S, Nam D, Park J, Ryu B . Tongue diagnosis system for quantitative assessment of tongue coating in patients with functional dyspepsia: a clinical trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014; 155(1):709-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.010. View

10.

Coussens L, Werb Z . Inflammation and cancer. Nature. 2002; 420(6917):860-7. PMC: 2803035. DOI: 10.1038/nature01322. View

11.

Osgood K, Krakoff J, Thearle M . Serum uric acid predicts both current and future components of the metabolic syndrome. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2013; 11(3):157-62. PMC: 3661030. DOI: 10.1089/met.2012.0151. View

12.

Lo L, Cheng T, Chen Y, Natsagdorj S, Chiang J . TCM tongue diagnosis index of early-stage breast cancer. Complement Ther Med. 2015; 23(5):705-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.07.001. View

13.

Hao J, Zhu C, Cao R, Yang X, Ding X, Man Y . [Purple-bluish tongue is associated with platelet counts, and the recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer]. J Tradit Chin Med. 2016; 36(3):321-5. DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(16)30044-9. View

14.

Kong D, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Liu G, Qi W . The association between blood lipid and phlegm turbidity syndrome of angina pectoris: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2014; 22(4):801-13. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.05.008. View

15.

Stotz M, Szkandera J, Seidel J, Stojakovic T, Samonigg H, Reitz D . Evaluation of uric acid as a prognostic blood-based marker in a large cohort of pancreatic cancer patients. PLoS One. 2014; 9(8):e104730. PMC: 4136788. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104730. View

16.

Clevert D, Jung E, Stock K, Weckbach S, Feuerbach S, Reiser M . Evaluation of malignant liver tumors: biphasic MS-CT versus quantitative contrast harmonic imaging ultrasound. Z Gastroenterol. 2009; 47(12):1195-202. DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1109396. View

17.

Cheung K, Graves C, Robertson J . Tumour marker measurements in the diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer. Cancer Treat Rev. 2000; 26(2):91-102. DOI: 10.1053/ctrv.1999.0151. View

18.

Cardoso F, Castiglione M . Locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: ESMO clinical recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2009; 20 Suppl 4:15-8. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdp115. View

19.

Boffetta P, Nordenvall C, Nyren O, Ye W . A prospective study of gout and cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2009; 18(2):127-32. DOI: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e328313631a. View

20.

Ruggiero C, Cherubini A, Ble A, Bos A, Maggio M, Dixit V . Uric acid and inflammatory markers. Eur Heart J. 2006; 27(10):1174-81. PMC: 2668163. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehi879. View