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Topic Review
Linking Obesity with Colorectal Cancer
The incidence of obesity and colorectal cancer (CRC) has risen rapidly in recent decades. More than 650 million obese and 2 billion overweight individuals are currently living in the world. CRC is the third most common cancer. Obesity is regarded as one of the key environmental risk factors for the pathogenesis of CRC. In the present review, we mainly focus on the epidemiology of obesity and CRC in the world, the United States, and China. We also summarize the molecular mechanisms linking obesity to CRC in different aspects, including nutriology, adipokines and hormones, inflammation, gut microbiota, and bile acids. The unmet medical needs for obesity-related CRC are still remarkable. Understanding the molecular basis of these associations will help develop novel therapeutic targets and approaches for the treatment of obesity-related CRC.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Oct 2020
Topic Review
P53
While viewed as the “guardian of the genome”, the importance of the tumor suppressor p53 protein has increasingly gained ever more recognition in modulating additional modes of action related to cell death. Slowly but surely, its importance has evolved from a mutated genetic locus heavily implicated in a wide array of cancer types to modulating lysosomal-mediated cell death either directly or indirectly through the transcriptional regulation of the key signal transduction pathway intermediates involved in this. Taken with its ability to directly modulate mitochondrial outer-membrane permeabilization (and cell death) collectively highlights the complex role that this protein undertakes at the molecular level
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Dec 2020
Topic Review
STEAP1–4 and Prostate Cancer
Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1–4 (STEAP1–4) compose a family of metalloproteinases involved in iron and copper homeostasis and other cellular processes. In prostate cancer, STEAP1, STEAP2, and STEAP4 are overexpressed, while STEAP3 expression is downregulated. STEAP1–4 can be used as a biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer.
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Medicinal Plants with Anti-Leukemic Effects
Leukemia is a leukocyte cancer that is characterized by anarchic growth of immature immune cells in the bone marrow, blood and spleen. There are many forms of leukemia, and the best course of therapy and the chance of a patient’s survival depend on the type of leukemic disease. Different forms of drugs have been used to treat leukemia. Due to the adverse effects associated with such therapies and drug resistance, the search for safer and more effective drugs remains one of the most challenging areas of research. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are important to improving outcomes. Almost half of the drugs utilized nowadays in treating cancer are from natural products and their derivatives. Medicinal plants have proven to be an effective natural source of anti-leukemic drugs. The cytotoxicity and the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of these plants to leukemic cells and their isolated compounds were investigated.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
CCL21/CCR7 in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, predominantly caused by metastasis. It is generally accepted that the pattern of breast cancer metastasis is largely determined by the interaction between the chemokine receptors on cancer cells and the chemokines expressed at the sites of metastatic disease. Chemokine receptors belong to the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family that appear to be implicated in inflammatory diseases, tumor growth and metastasis. One of its members, C-C Chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), binds chemokines CCL19 and CCL21, which are important for tissue homeostasis, immune surveillance and tumorigenesis. These receptors have been shown to induce the pathobiology of breast cancer due to their ability to induce cellular proliferation and migration upon the binding of the cognate chemokine receptors. The underlying signaling pathways and exact cellular interactions within this biological system are not fully understood and need further insights.
  • 1.6K
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Genomics-Driven Precision Medicine in Pediatric Solid Tumors
The detection of genomic aberrations in cancers has yielded a wealth of information to discover oncogenic drivers or pathogenic variants that are relevant for the development of precise treatment strategies. Studies have shown promising outcomes in adult cancer patients with well characterized cancer genetic biomarkers.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Myokine Irisin in Cancer
Regular exercise/physical activity is beneficial for the health of an individual and lowers the risk of getting different diseases, including cancer. How exactly exercise results in these health benefits is not known. Recent studies suggest that the molecule irisin released by muscles into the blood stream after exercise may be responsible for these effects.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Cytokines
Cytokines are key molecules within the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can be used as biomarkers to predict the magnitude of anti-tumor immune responses. During immune monitoring, it has been customary to predict outcomes based on the abundance of a single cytokine, in particular IFN-γ or TGF-β, as a readout of ongoing anti-cancer immunity. However, individual cytokines within the TME can exhibit dual opposing roles. For example, both IFN-γ and TGF-β have been associated with pro- and anti-tumor functions. Moreover, cytokines originating from different cellular sources influence the crosstalk between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, while the array of cytokines expressed by T cells is also instrumental in defining the mechanisms of action and efficacy of treatments. Thus, it becomes increasingly clear that a reliable readout of ongoing immunity within the TME will have to include more than the measurement of a single cytokine.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Anticancer Activity of Berberine
Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Targeting PI3K/Akt/mTOR in AML
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy, characterized by excessive proliferation and accumulation of immature myeloid blasts in the bone marrow. While reductions of bulk malignant cells can be achieved in the majority of patients by standard chemotherapy consisting of cell cycle active drugs, such as cytarabine and anthracyclines, approximately two-thirds of patients relapse after the induction therapy, highlighting an unmet need for a more targeted therapeutic approach. A rare population of therapy-resistant cells are believed to be the origin of relapse, termed leukemia stem cells (LSCs), also referred to as leukemia-initiating cells (LICs). These cells acquire enhanced self-renewal capacity and exhibit a block in differentiation.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Chemo-Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment
Chemoimmunotherapy is an emerging treatment option for cancer that combines traditional chemotherapy with immunotherapy. This approach aims to increase the efficacy of cancer treatment by simultaneously targeting cancer cells through chemotherapy and boosting the immune system’s ability to fight cancer through immunotherapy.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 May 2023
Topic Review
Alpha-Ketoglutarate and 5-HMF
Clinical and pre-clinical studies of an anti-tumoral solution containing aKG, 5-HMF, N-acetyl-selenomethionine, and N-acetylmethionine for treating tumors showed, on one hand, good therapeutic efficacy during infusion therapy in prostate cancer patients by increasing the PSA doubling time; on the other hand, a reduction of tumoral mass was shown in lung cancer patients.
  • 1.6K
  • 19 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Roles of Copper in Cancer
Copper is an essential element for human life. However, its redox activity can be detrimental for the cell that developed highly coordinated pathways to chelate and traffic copper through the cell or the organism. Owing to its important role in functions essential for cell growth and metabolism, copper concentrations are frequently dysregulated in tumors.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity
Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent with proven efficacy in treating various malignancies, including testicular, ovarian, cervical, breast, bladder, head and neck, and lung cancer. Cisplatin is also used to treat tumors in children, such as neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and hepatoblastoma.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Proteoglycans in the hormone-dependent cancers
The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits unique characteristics that differ among various tumor types. It is composed of cancerous, non-cancerous, stromal, and immune cells that are surrounded and supported by components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, the interactions among cancer cells, stromal cells, and components of the ECM determine cancer progression and response to therapy. Proteoglycans (PGs), hybrid molecules consisting of a protein core to which sulfated glycosaminoglycan chains are bound, are significant components of the ECM that are implicated in all phases of tumorigenesis. These molecules, secreted by both the stroma and cancer cells, are crucial signaling mediators that modulate the vital cellular pathways implicated in gene expression, phenotypic versatility, and response to therapy in specific tumor types. Specific inputs from the endocrine and immune systems are some of the characteristics of hormone-dependent cancer pathogenesis. Notably, the mechanisms involved in various aspects of cancer progression are executed in the ECM niche of the TME, and its' PG components crucially mediate these processes including cancer metastasis, angiogenesis, immunobiology, autophagy, and response to therapy. Hormone-dependent cancers exhibit high morbidity and mortality. In spite of advances in therapy, the treatment  of hormone-dependent cancers remains an unmet health need. The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits unique characteristics that differ among various tumor types. It is composed of cancerous, non-cancerous, stromal, and immune cells that are surrounded and supported by components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, the interactions among cancer cells, stromal cells, and components of the ECM determine cancer progression and response to therapy. Proteoglycans (PGs), hybrid molecules consisting of a protein core to which sulfated glycosaminoglycan chains are bound, are significant components of the ECM that are implicated in all phases of tumorigenesis. These molecules, secreted by both the stroma and cancer cells, are crucial signaling mediators that modulate the vital cellular pathways implicated in gene expression, phenotypic versatility, and response to therapy in specific tumor types. A plethora of deregulated signaling pathways contributes to the growth, dissemination, and angiogenesis of hormone-dependent cancers. Specific inputs from the endocrine and immune systems are some of the characteristics of hormone-dependent cancer pathogenesis. Importantly, the mechanisms involved in various aspects of cancer progression are executed in the ECM niche of the TME, and the PG components crucially mediate these processes.
  • 1.6K
  • 31 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Colon Fibroblasts and Inflammation
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Patients suffering inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of CRC. It is admitted that CRC found its origin within crypts of the colon mucosa, which host the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) responsible of the tissue renewal. ISC behavior is controlled by the fibroblasts that surround the crypt. During inflammation, the signals delivered by fibroblasts are altered, leading to stem cells’ dysregulation, possibly turning them into cancer-initiating cells.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Thrombospondin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment
The identification of thrombospondin-1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor in 1990 prompted interest in its role in cancer biology and potential as a therapeutic target. Decreased thrombospondin-1 mRNA and protein expression are associated with progression in several cancers, while expression by nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment and circulating levels in cancer patients can be elevated. THBS1 is not a tumor suppressor gene, but the regulation of its expression in malignant cells by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes mediates some of their effects on carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. In addition to regulating angiogenesis and perfusion of the tumor vasculature, thrombospondin-1 limits antitumor immunity by CD47-dependent regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Conversely, thrombospondin-1 is a component of particles released by immune cells that mediate tumor cell killing. Thrombospondin-1 differentially regulates the sensitivity of malignant and nonmalignant cells to genotoxic stress caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Inhibitors Targeting the 80S ribosome
Protein biosynthesis is a vital process for all kingdoms of life. The ribosome is the massive ribonucleoprotein machinery that reads the genetic code, in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA), to produce proteins. The mechanism of translation is tightly regulated to ensure that cell growth is well sustained. In bacteria, the ribosome is a major target of inhibitors, as demonstrated by the high number of small molecules identified to bind to it. In eukaryotes, the design of ribosome inhibitors may be used as a therapy to treat cancer cells, which exhibit higher proliferation rates compared to healthy ones. 
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Proteasome Inhibitors
Proteasome inhibitors have shown relevant clinical activity in several hematological malignancies, namely in multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma, improving patient outcomes such as survival and quality of life, when compared with other therapies. However, initial response to the therapy is a challenge as most patients show an innate resistance to proteasome inhibitors, and those that respond to the therapy usually develop late relapses suggesting the development of acquired resistance. The mechanisms of resistance to proteasome inhibition are still controversial and scarce in the literature.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Genetic and Molecular Basis of Von Hippel-Lindau Disease
Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL disease or VHL syndrome) is a familial multisystem neoplastic disorder, stemming from germline disease-associated variants of the VHL tumor suppressor gene. VHL protein is involved in oxygen sensing and adaptive response to hypoxia through the EPO-VHL-HIF signaling axis. In recent years, numerous HIF-independent pathways of VHL have been identified, expanding the role of VHL throughout several cellular processes. In addition to VHL syndrome-associated tumors, VHL variations have also been associated with the development of eythrocytosis. Research indicated that there is a distinction between erythrocytosis-causing VHL variations and VHL variations causing VHL disease with tumor development. Therefore, elucidating the molecular background of the pathogenic effects of VHL variants could help determine the best approach to VHL disease management.  
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Mar 2022
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