Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
NK Cell Immunotherapy using Nanoparticles
Among various immunotherapies, natural killer (NK) cell cancer immunotherapy using adoptive transfer of NK cells takes a unique position by targeting tumor cells that evade the host immune surveillance. As the first-line innate effector cell, it has been revealed that NK cells have distinct mechanisms to both eliminate cancer cells directly and amplify the anticancer immune system. Over the last 40 years, NK cell cancer immunotherapy has shown encouraging reports in pre-clinic and clinic settings. In total, 288 clinical trials are investigating various NK cell immunotherapies to treat hematologic and solid malignancies in 2021. However, the clinical outcomes are unsatisfying, with remained challenges. The major limitation is attributed to the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), low activity of NK cells, inadequate homing of NK cells, and limited contact frequency of NK cells with tumor cells. Innovative strategies to promote the cytolytic activity, durable persistence, activation, and tumor-infiltration of NK cells are required to advance NK cell cancer immunotherapy. As maturing nanotechnology and nanomedicine for clinical applications, there is a greater opportunity to augment NK cell therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of cancers. Active molecules/cytokine delivery, imaging, and physicochemical properties of nanoparticles are well equipped to overcome the challenges of NK cell cancer immunotherapy.
  • 2.0K
  • 26 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Angiogenesis and de novo Arteriogenesis
Arteriogenesis supply oxygen and nutrients in tumor microenvironment (TME), which may play an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Current anti-angiogenetic targeted treatments have not shown substantial clinical benefits and they are poorly tolerated, and even lead to more malignant relapse. The heterogeneity of tumor-associated endothelial cells (TAECs) and tumor vasculature may be important and should be appreciated in therapeutic targeting the TME. In this regard, the de novo arteriogenesis within the TME may be associated with tumor progression, stemness of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and therapeutic resistance and relapse. Targeting tumor arteriogenesis may thus be a potential novel therapeutic target. Specifically, targeting the FoxO1-CD36-Notch pathway could show the clinical potential by acting on arteriolar niche and CSCs at the same time in a variety of cancers including neuroendocrine cancers, breast cancers, lung cancers and malignant melanoma.
  • 2.0K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
CAR-T Cells in Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis and lowest survival rate among all types of cancers and thus, there exists a strong need for novel therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells present a new potential option after successful FDA-approval in hematologic malignancies, however, current CAR T cell clinical trials in pancreatic cancer failed to improve survival and were unable to demonstrate any significant response. The physical and environmental barriers created by the distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) as a result of the desmoplastic reaction in pancreatic cancer present major hurdles for CAR T cells as a viable therapeutic option in this tumor entity. Cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts express extracellular matrix molecules, enzymes, and growth factors, which can attenuate CAR T cell infiltration and efficacy. Recent efforts demonstrate a niche shift where targeting the TME along CAR T cell therapy is believed or hoped to provide a substantial clinical added value to improve overall survival.
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Vulvar and Vaginal Melanomas
Melanomas of the skin are poorly circumscribed lesions, very frequently asymptomatic but unfortunately with a continuous growing incidence. In this landscape, one can distinguish melanomas originating in the mucous membranes and located in areas not exposed to the sun, namely the vulvo-vaginal melanomas. By contrast with cutaneous melanomas, the incidence of these types of melanomas is constant, being diagnosed in females in their late sixties. While hairy skin and glabrous skin melanomas of the vulva account for 5% of all cancers located in the vulva, melanomas of the vagina and urethra are particularly rare conditions. The location in areas less accessible to periodic inspection determines their diagnosis in advanced stages, often metastatic. 
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
(Endo)Cannabinoids and Gynaecological Cancers
Gynaecological cancers can be primary neoplasms, originating either from the reproductive tract or the products of conception, or secondary neoplasms, representative of metastatic disease. For some of these cancers, the exact causes are unknown; however, it is recognised that the precise aetiopathogeneses for most are multifactorial and include exogenous (such as diet) and endogenous factors (such as genetic predisposition), which mutually interact in a complex manner. One factor that has been recognised to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of gynaecological cancers is the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS consists of endocannabinoids (bioactive lipids), their receptors, and metabolic enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation.
  • 1.9K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
GADD45A
The growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45 alpha (GADD45A) gene encodes a 165 aa protein localized in the nucleus, whose level is highest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, with a substantial reduction in S. The involvement of GADD45A in the cell cycle regulation and interaction with other proteins underline its function in the cellular DNA damage response and maintaining genomic stability, which, in turn, determines its high potential in cancer transformation. The protective role of GADD45A in DNA damage-induced tumorigenesis is the main biological function of this protein, but exact mechanism of it is not known. Emerging evidence suggests that GADD45A may be important in breast cancer and several molecular pathways were reported to underline this importance, including Ras, mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38. GADD45A may play a tumor-suppressor role by induction of senescence and apoptosis in cancer cells. However, it was also shown that GADD45A may promote tumorigenesis via the GSK3 β (glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta)/β-catenin signaling. Therefore, GADD45A may function as either a tumor promotor or suppressor, depending on the kind of oncogenic stress, and these two functions are mediated by different signaling pathways.
  • 1.8K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Androgen Receptor Structure and Function
The Androgen Receptor (NR3C4, nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, gene 4) is a member of the steroid hormone group of nuclear receptors along with the oestrogen receptors (ERα and β isoforms, NR3A1 and NR2A2, respectively), glucocorticoid receptor (GR, NR3C1), progesterone receptor (PR, NR3C3) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR, NR3C2).
  • 1.8K
  • 08 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Epigenetic Associations between lncRNA/circRNA, miRNA
The three major members of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), named microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Recently, the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation model described lncRNA/circRNA as a sponge for miRNAs to indirectly regulate miRNA downstream target genes. Accumulating evidence has indicated that ceRNA regulatory networks are associated with biological processes in HCC, including cancer cell growth, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, and chemoresistance.
  • 1.8K
  • 29 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Prostate Cancer Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers
Prostate cancer biomarkers can be measured in urine, blood or tissue. A variety of tests that analyse patients' biomarkers have been developed to improve diagnosis, prognosis and to help stratify individual's risk of prostate cancers. Liquid biopsy biomarkers are easy-to-use and non-invasive. They guide the decision-making process, determine whether the patient requires treatment or can be monitored under active surveillance, and help choose the best treatment option.
  • 1.8K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Lung Cancer
Currently, lung cancer is a disease that acquired an impressive change in the clinical manangement due to the recent inovations regarding targeted therapies and immunne check point inhibitors.
  • 1.8K
  • 17 Apr 2021
Topic Review
AP-1 Transcription Factors in Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow. Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors (TFs), comprised of the JUN, FOS, ATF and MAF multigene families, are implicated in a plethora of physiologic processes and tumorigenesis including plasma cell differentiation and MM pathogenesis. Depending on the genetic background, the tumor stage, and cues of the tumor microenvironment, specific dimeric AP-1 complexes are formed. For example, AP-1 complexes containing Fra-1, Fra-2 and B-ATF play central roles in the transcriptional control of B cell development and plasma cell differentiation, while dysregulation of AP-1 family members c-Maf, c-Jun, and JunB is associated with MM cell proliferation, survival, drug resistance, bone marrow angiogenesis, and bone disease. The present review article summarizes our up-to-date knowledge on the role of AP-1 family members in plasma cell differentiation and MM pathophysiology. Moreover, it discusses novel, rationally derived approaches to therapeutically target AP-1 TFs, including protein-protein and protein-DNA binding inhibitors, epigenetic modifiers and natural products.
  • 1.8K
  • 25 May 2021
Topic Review
Y RNA
Y RNA are a class of small non-coding RNA that are largely conserved. Although their discovery was almost 40 years ago, their function is still under investigation. This is evident in cancer biology, where their role was first studied just a dozen years ago. Since then, only a few contributions were published, mostly scattered across different tumor types and, in some cases, also suffering from methodological limitations. Nonetheless, these sparse data may be used to make some estimations and suggest routes to better understand the role of Y RNA in cancer formation and characterization.
  • 1.7K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Circular RNAs in Metastasis in Breast Cancer
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded closed non-coding RNA molecules that are aberrantly expressed and produce tumor-specific gene signatures in human cancers. They exert biological functions by acting as transcriptional regulators, microRNA sponges, and protein scaffolds, regulating the formation of protein–RNA complexes and, ultimately, regulating gene expression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive cancers of the mammary gland and has a poor prognosis. Studies of circRNAs in TNBC are limited but have demonstrated these molecules’ pivotal roles in cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemo/radiotherapy, suggesting that they could be potential prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. 
  • 1.7K
  • 20 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Targeting NF-κB Signaling for MM
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy in the world. Even though survival rates have significantly risen over the past years, MM remains incurable, and is also far from reaching the point of being managed as a chronic disease.
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Multiplex Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence (mIHC/IF) Techniques
Multiplex imaging techniques and digital image analysis are powerful tools that could overcome some issues concerning tumour-microenvironment studies. This novel approach to biomarker assessment offers a better understanding of the complicated interactions between tumour cells and their environment. Multiplex labelling enables the detection of multiple markers simultaneously and the exploration of their spatial organisation. 
  • 1.7K
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Targeting hypoxia-driven metabolic reprogramming
Hypoxia-driven metabolic adaptation of cancer cells revolutionizes the current understanding of hypoxia-associated tumor development and progression. Several hypoxia-responsive molecular determinants, such as hypoxia-inducible factors, guide the cellular adaptation to hypoxia by gene activation, which is critical for promoting malignant progression in the hostile tumor microenvironment. This article fully recaps the major research progress in this topic in order to assess its potential as a targetable pathway to better combat cancer and overcome treatment resistance. Knowledge from this article facilitates cancer researchers to sharpen their focus on gaining mechanistic insights into metabolic transformation in hypoxic cancers and developing novel strategies to target tumor metabolic rewiring driven by hypoxia, which would open avenues to improve the management of tumor hypoxia.
  • 1.7K
  • 11 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Fabrication of Organ-on-Chip
Organ-on-chips (OOCs) are microfluidic devices used for creating physiological organ biomimetic systems. OOC technology brings numerous advantages in the current landscape of preclinical models, capable of recapitulating the multicellular assemblage, tissue–tissue interaction, and replicating numerous human pathologies.
  • 1.7K
  • 26 Apr 2022
Topic Review
FTIR Spectroscopy as Diagnostic Tools
Infrared spectroscopy has long been used to characterize chemical compounds, but the applicability of this technique to the analysis of biological materials containing highly complex chemical components is arguable. However, recent advances in the development of infrared spectroscopy have significantly enhanced the capacity of this technique in analyzing various types of biological specimens. Consequently, there is an increased number of studies investigating the application of infrared spectroscopy in screening and diagnosis of various diseases. The lack of highly sensitive and specific methods for early detection of cancer has warranted the search for novel approaches. Being more simple, rapid, accurate, inexpensive, non-destructive and suitable for automation compared to existing screening, diagnosis, management and monitoring methods, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy can potentially improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes by detecting biochemical changes in cancer patients at the molecular level. Besides the commonly analyzed blood and tissue samples, extracellular vesicle-based method has been gaining popularity as a non-invasive approach. Therefore, infrared spectroscopic analysis of extracellular vesicles could be a useful technique in the future for biomedical applications.
  • 1.7K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
PD-1/PD-L1 antibody plus Anti-VEGF Inhibitors
A successful phase III trial for the combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (the IMbrave150 trial) in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has recently been reported to show better survival benefit over sorafenib, standard of care for more than 12 years. This is a practice changing results and scientific rationale of this combination, PD-1/PD-L1 antibody plus anti-VEGF inhibitors is very important.
  • 1.7K
  • 18 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Stimuli-Responsive Drug Delivery Systems
Recent advancements in the arena of onco-targeted therapies have enabled safe and effective tumor-specific localization through stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems. Owing to their promising characteristic features, stimuli-responsive drug delivery platforms have revolutionized the chemotherapy-based treatments with added benefits of enhanced bioavailability and selective cytotoxicity of cancer cells compared to the conventional modalities. The insensitivity of stimuli-responsive drug delivery platforms when exposed to normal cells prevents the release of cytotoxic drugs into the normal cells and therefore alleviates the off-target events associated with chemotherapy. Contrastingly, they showed amplified sensitivity and triggered release of chemotherapeutic payload when internalized into the tumor microenvironment causing maximum cytotoxic responses and the induction of cancer cell necrosis.
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Mar 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 128
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback