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Topic Review
Microneedles for Cancer Treatment
Microneedles (MNs) are tiny needle like structures used in drug delivery through layers of the skin. They are non-invasive and are associated with significantly less or no pain at the site of administration to the skin. MNs are excellent in delivering both small and large molecules to the subjects in need thereof. There exist several strategies for drug delivery using MNs, wherein each strategy has its pros and cons. Research in this domain lead to product development and commercialization for clinical use. Additionally, several MN-based products are undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety, efficacy, and tolerability. 
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Jan 2021
Topic Review
The Warburg Effect
The pioneering observation by Otto Warburg that an elevated glucose consumption by cancer cells is associated with a restraint of oxygen consumption and elevated aerobic glycolysis, induced several researches on the molecular changes involved in the metabolic deregulation of cancer cells. This review analyzes the relationships between the deregulationn of respiration and glycolysis, the defective cancer mitochondria, the molecular and biochemical alterations involved in cancer pathogenesis and progression and  new approaches to cancer therapy aimed at the correction of the molecular and metabolic changes characterizing cancer cells.
  • 1.6K
  • 21 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Melatonin and Liver Cancer
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine with beneficial effects in a broad number of tumors, including the primary liver cancers hepatocarcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Among them, melatonin has shown to modulate different cancer-associated processes and enhance drug efficacy against HCC and CCA. Therefore, melatonin has a potential role in improving the current therapeutic landscape in these liver tumors.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Heterocyclic Crown Ethers
Crown ethers are heterocyclic compounds present as cyclic oligomers in their simple form. These are extremely versatile compounds exhibiting higher binding affinity towards metal ions, including s-block and transition metal ions. For example, 18-crown-6 has a cavity that fits the size of 4f transition metal ions and has reflected exceptional attraction for complexation with the lanthanide ions.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
ALBI Grades
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Selection of therapeutic modalities and the prognosis of affected patients are well known to be dependent not only on tumor burden, but also hepatic reserve function. Anti-viral treatments for chronic hepatitis related to a viral infection and an increase in cases of non-viral HCC associated with the aging of society have resulted in dramatic changes regarding the characteristics of HCC patients. With recent developments in therapeutic modalities for HCC, more detailed assessment of hepatic function has become an important need. Studies in which the relationship of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) with prognosis of HCC patients was investigated were reviewed in order to evaluate the usefulness of newly developed ALBI and modified ALBI (mALBI) grades for HCC treatment, as those scoring methods are considered helpful for predicting prognosis and selecting therapeutic modalities based on expected prognosis.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
DUX4-rearranged leukaemia
DUX4-rearrangement (DUX4r) is a recently discovered recurrent genomic lesion reported in 4-7% of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). The gene fusion most commonly links the hypervariable IGH gene to DUX4 a gene located within the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat on chromosome 4. DUX4r is cryptic to most standard diagnostic techniques and difficult to identify even with next-generation sequencing assays.
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an essential signaling system in mammal physiology regulating several biological and disease conditions. ECS’s three main components are (i) cannabinoids receptors (CBR) CBR-1 and CBR-2; (ii) signaling molecules that are lipid-based termed the “endocannabinoids” (EC), endogenous ligands of the CBRs; and (iii) enzymes responsible for synthesizing and degrading ECs. ECS regulates multiple physiological processes, such as brain plasticity and neuronal development, cell death, inflammation, sleep, appetite, pain, and anxiety.
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Transforming Growth Factor-β
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) was originally identified as an anti-tumour cytokine. However, there is increasing evidence that it has important roles in the tumour microenvironment (TME) in facilitating cancer progression. TGF-β actively shapes the TME via modulating the host immunity. These actions are highly cell-type specific and complicated, involving both canonical and non-canonical pathways. In this review, we systemically update how TGF-β signalling acts as a checkpoint regulator for cancer immunomodulation. A better appreciation of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms at the molecular level can lead to the discovery of novel and more effective therapeutic strategies for cancer.
  • 1.6K
  • 16 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Metastasis
Metastasis is the process of dissemination of a tumor, whereby cells from the primary site dislodge and find their way to other tissues where secondary tumors establish. Metastasis is the primary cause of death related to cancer. This process warrants changes in original tumoral cells and their microenvironment to establish a metastatic niche. Traditionally, cancer therapy has focused on metastasis prevention by systematic treatments or direct surgical re-sectioning. However, metastasis can still occur. More recently, new therapies direct their attention to targeting cancer stem cells. As they propose, these cells could be the orchestrators of the metastatic niche.
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Aspartate in Cell Proliferation and Survival
Aspartate is a precursor for nucleotide synthesis and  is indispensable for cell proliferation. Moreover, the malate–aspartate shuttle plays a key role in redox balance, and a deficit in aspartate can lead to oxidative stress. It is now recognized that aspartate biosynthesis is largely governed by mitochondrial metabolism, including respiration and glutaminolysis in cancer cells. Therefore, under conditions that suppress mitochondrial metabolism, including mutations, hypoxia, or chemical inhibitors, aspartate can become a limiting factor for tumor growth and cancer cell survival.
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Label-Free SERS Analysis of Exosomes
Exosomes are emerging as one of the most intriguing cancer biomarkers in modern oncology for early cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring. Concurrently, several nanoplasmonic methods have been applied and developed to tackle the challenging task of enabling the rapid, sensitive, affordable analysis of exosomes.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Tumor Temperature
The temperature of a solid tumor is often dissimilar to baseline body temperature and, compared to healthy tissues, may be elevated, reduced, or a mix of both. The temperature of a tumor is dependent on metabolic activity and vascularization and can change due to tumor progression, treatment, or cancer type.
  • 1.6K
  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Chemoresistance in Breast Cancers
Despite the leaps and bounds in achieving success in the management and treatment of breast cancers through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, breast cancer remains the most frequently occurring cancer in women and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Systemic therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, although beneficial in treating and curing breast cancer subjects with localized breast tumors, tend to fail in metastatic cases of the disease due to (a) an acquired resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug and (b) the development of intrinsic resistance to therapy. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) plays a crucial role in both acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. CSCs are less abundant than terminally differentiated cancer cells and confer chemoresistance through a unique altered metabolism and capability to evade the immune response system. Furthermore, CSCs possess active DNA repair systems, transporters that support multidrug resistance (MDR), advanced detoxification processes, and the ability to self-renew and differentiate into tumor progenitor cells, thereby supporting cancer invasion, metastasis, and recurrence/relapse. Hence, current research is focusing on targeting CSCs to overcome resistance and improve the efficacy of the treatment and management of breast cancer. Studies revealed that metformin (1, 1-dimethylbiguanide), a widely used anti-hyperglycemic agent, sensitizes tumor response to various chemotherapeutic drugs. Metformin selectively targets CSCs and improves the hypoxic microenvironment, suppresses the tumor metastasis and inflammation, as well as regulates the metabolic programming, induces apoptosis, and reverses epithelial–mesenchymal transition and MDR. Here, we discuss cancer (breast cancer) and chemoresistance, the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in breast cancers, and metformin as a chemo-sensitizing/re-sensitizing agent, with a particular focus on breast CSCs as a critical contributing factor to acquired and intrinsic chemoresistance. The review outlines the prospects and directions for a better understanding and re-purposing of metformin as an anti-cancer/chemo-sensitizing drug in the treatment of breast cancer. It intends to provide a rationale for the use of metformin as a combinatory therapy in a clinical setting.
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Role of Lactobacillus in the Female Reproductive Tract
The eubiotic vaginal microbiota of reproductive-aged women is composed mostly of various Lactobacillus species (spp.), which exert protective effects via the production of lactic acid, bacteriocins, polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), lowering pH, raising the viscosity of cervicovaginal mucus, and hampering both the adhesion of cells to epithelial tissue and the entry of HPV. The depletion of beneficial microorganisms could increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections. Emerging therapies involve mucosal, intranasal vaccines, which trigger systemic and mucosal immune responses, thus protecting against HPV-induced tumours.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a breast lump, a change in the shape of the breast, sunken skin, fluid leaking from the nipple, new sunken nipple, or red or scaly patches on the skin. Distant spread may present with bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellowing of the skin. Breast cancer is very complex and includes several subtypes with distinct pathological features. Most of the immunotherapy efforts have focused on the most immunogenic subtypes: triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Intersphincteric Resection for Low Rectal Cancers
Intersphincteric resection is an anus-preserving technique for low rectal cancers described by Schiessel et al. in 1994 as a combination of two techniques: the intersphincteric rectal excision for inflammatory bowel disease and the coloanal anastomosis for low rectal resections.
  • 1.6K
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia, BCR-ABL1 negative (aCML) is a rare myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) with a high rate of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia, and poor survival. Until now, the diagnosis has been based on morphological grounds only, possibly making the real frequency of the disease underestimated. Only recently, new insights in the molecular biology of MDS/MPN syndromes have deepened our knowledge of aCML, enabling us to have a better molecular profile of the disease. The knowledge gleaned from next generation sequencing has complemented morphologic and laboratory WHO criteria for myeloid neoplasms and can provide greater specificity in distinguishing aCML from alternative MDS/MPN or MPNs. The most commonly mutated genes (> 20%) in aCML are SETBP1, ASXL1, N/K-RAS, SRSF2, and TET2, and less frequently (< 10%) CBL, CSFR3, JAK2, EZH2, and ETNK1. Several of these mutations affect the JAK-STAT, MAPK, and ROCK signaling pathways, which are targetable by inhibitors that are already in clinical use and may lead to a personalized treatment of aCML patients unfit for allogeneic transplant, which is currently the only curative option for fit patients. 
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Adaptor CAR Platforms
The success of conventional chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy in the treatment of refractory hematologic malignancies has triggered the development of novel exciting experimental CAR technologies. Among them, adaptor CAR platforms have received much attention. They combine the flexibility and controllability of recombinant antibodies with the power of CARs. Due to their modular design, adaptor CAR systems propose answers to the central problems of conventional CAR therapy, such as safety and antigen escape.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cervical Epithelial Cells
Using Raman microscopy, we investigated epithelial cervical cells collected from 96 women with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or belonging to groups I, IIa, IIID-1 and IIID-2 according to Munich III classification (IIID-1 and IIID-2 corresponding to Bethesda LSIL and HSIL groups, respectively). All women were tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection using PCR. Subcellular resolution of Raman microscopy enabled to understand phenotypic differences in a heterogeneous population of cervical cells in the following groups: I/HPV−, IIa/HPV−, IIa/HPV−, LSIL/HPV−, LSIL/HPV+, HSIL/HPV−, HSIL/HPV+ and cancer cells (SCC/HPV+). We showed for the first time that the glycogen content in the cytoplasm decreased with the nucleus size of cervical cells in all studied groups apart from the cancer group. For the subpopulation of large-nucleus cells HPV infection resulted in considerable glycogen depletion compared to HPV negative cells in IIa, LSIL (for both statistical significance, ca. 45%) and HSIL (trend, 37%) groups. We hypothesize that accelerated glycogenolysis in large-nucleus cells may be associated with the increased protein metabolism for HPV positive cells. Our work underlines unique capabilities of Raman microscopy in single cell studies and demonstrate potential of Raman-based methods in HPV diagnostics.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Src and Hippo/YAP in NSCLC
The advancement of new therapies, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies, has improved the survival of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the last decade. Some NSCLC patients still do not benefit from therapies or encounter progressive disease during the course of treatment because they have intrinsic resistance, acquired resistance, or lack a targetable driver mutation. More investigations on the molecular biology of NSCLC are needed to find useful biomarkers for current therapies and to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Src is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase protein that interacts with cell surface growth factor receptors and the intracellular signaling pathway to maintain cell survival tumorigenesis in NSCLC. The Yes-associated protein (YAP) is one of the main effectors of the Hippo pathway and has been identified as a promoter of drug resistance, cancer progression, and metastasis in NSCLC. Here, we review studies that have investigated the activation of YAP as mediated by Src kinases and demonstrate that Src regulates YAP through three main mechanisms: (1) direct phosphorylation; (2) the activation of pathways repressing Hippo kinases; and (3) Hippo-independent mechanisms. Further work should focus on the efficacy of Src inhibitors in inhibiting YAP activity in NSCLC. In addition, future efforts toward developing potentially reasonable combinations of therapy targeting the Src–YAP axis using other therapies, including targeted therapies and/or immunotherapies, are warranted.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Oct 2020
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