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Simple Summary: Annexin A2 is a protein that plays a role in many important cell functions, but when its levels are not properly regulated, it can contribute to the development of cancer, particularly in the digestive system. This review looks at the current understanding of how Annexin A2 is involved in cancers of the digestive system, including its potential to help diagnose cancer, predict how a patient will respond to treatment, and even serve as a target for new therapies. Some early studies suggest that blocking this protein or stopping it from interacting with other molecules could slow down cancer growth, prevent the spread of cancer, and make cancer cells more responsive to treatment. By exploring this protein further, scientists hope to develop better tools to diagnose and fight cancer, ultimately benefiting society by improving survival rates and quality of life for patients. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a protein that is involved in many physiological and pathological cellular processes. There is compelling evidence that its dysregulated expression, be it up- or downregulation, contributes to the oncogenesis of various neoplasms, including those of the digestive system. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of ANXA2 in the main tumors of the digestive system. The clinical significance of ANXA2 is primordial, due to its potential use as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, and as a part of therapeutic protocols. Certain preclinical studies have shown that inhibiting ANXA2 or disrupting its interactions with key molecules can suppress tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, as well as increase the cancer cells' sensitivity to treatment in various cancers. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex role of ANXA2 in the carcinogenesis of tumors of the digestive system, and to translate these findings into clinical applications for improved diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the optimal volume of serous fluid needed for accurate diagnosis using The International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology (TIS), as well as to provide information on the distribution of serous effusion cases in the TIS categories (ND: non-diagnostic, NFM: negative for malignancy, AUS: atypia of undetermined significance, SFM: suspicious for malignancy, MAL: malignant) and relevant epidemiological data. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2340 serous effusion cases (pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial) from two hospitals between 2018 and 2020 was conducted. TIS categories were assigned to each case, and for 1181 cases, these were correlated with the volume of the analyzed fluid. Results: Our study found statistically significant differences in volume distributions between certain TIS categories. Statistically lower volumes were observed in NFM compared to MAL, in UNCERTAIN (ND, AUS, SFM) compared to both MAL and NFM, and in NOT MAL (ND, NFM, AUS, SFM) compared to MAL. However, these differences were not substantial enough to hold any clinical relevance. Conclusions: This study suggests that while fluid volume may slightly influence the TIS category, it does not impact the diagnostic accuracy of serous effusion cytology. Therefore, the ideal serous effusion specimen volume can be defined solely by practical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]