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Topic Review
PIM Kinases in Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematologic malignancy in the United States. Eventually, all myeloma patients will relapse and develop resistance to currently available agents. There is an unmet medical need to identify novel therapeutic targets. PIM kinases play an important role in myeloma pathogenesis and disease relapse.
  • 584
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Vitamins and Cancer
There is a large body of evidence suggesting a strong correlation between vitamin intake as well as vitamin blood concentrations with the occurrence of certain types of cancer. The direction of association between the concentration of a given vitamin and cancer risk is tumor specific.
  • 584
  • 19 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Basic Principles and Mechanisms of Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality which uses visible light wavelengths, mainly in the red and near-infrared (NIR) regions, for the activation of photosensitizing molecules (PSs). The widespread diffusion of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a clinical treatment for solid tumors is mainly limited by the patient’s adverse reaction (skin photosensitivity), insufficient light penetration in deeply seated neoplastic lesions, unfavorable photosensitizers (PSs) biodistribution, and photokilling efficiency due to PS aggregation in biological environments.
  • 584
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Gastrointestinal-Neuroendocrine Tumors
The impact of race and ethnicity on survival characteristics in non-pancreatic gastrointestinal tract neuroendocrine tumors is understudied. We evaluated the survival outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in the gastrointestinal tract neuroendocrine tumors, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and appendix. Survival trends were determined among three groups: Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black. We analyzed a large national database and found that race/ethnicity is an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Hispanic patients had better overall survival than non-Hispanic White patients, whereas non-Hispanic Black patients had favorable cause-specific survival compared to non-Hispanic White patients. This survival disparity can be attributed to differences in the site of origin, age, and stage at presentation between various race/ethnicity. Understanding these differences between race and ethnicity is needed to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.
  • 583
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Stem and Cancer Stem Cell_Markers
The conversion of healthy stem cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs) is believed to underlie tumor relapse after surgical removal and fuel tumor growth and invasiveness. CSCs often arise from the malignant transformation of resident multipotent stem cells, which are present in most human tissues. Some organs, such as the gut and the brain, can give rise to very aggressive types of cancers, contrary to the dental pulp, which is a tissue with a very remarkable resistance to oncogenesis.
  • 583
  • 23 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer
The oligometastatic prostate cancer state is defined as the presence of a number of lesions ≤ 5 and has been significantly correlated with better survival if compared to a number of metastases > 5. In particular, patients in an oligometastatic setting could benefit from a metastates directed therapy, which could control the disease delaying the start of systemic therapies. For this reason, the selection of true-oligometastatic patients who could benefit from such approach is particularly important in this setting.
  • 583
  • 13 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Resistance to Immunotherapy
Cancer has a negative impact on patients’ health and livelihoods, making it one of the most formidable adversaries of humanity. Cancer immunoediting is a major mechanism for controlling cancer that consists of three sequential phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. The interactions between immune systems and cancer cells are dynamic and constantly evolve because of the surrounding living environment, medical interventions, or genetic factors.
  • 583
  • 12 Oct 2022
Topic Review
2-[18F]FDG PET/CT
PET (positron emission tomography) is a noninvasive functional imaging technique based on the detection of photons resulting from the annihilation of positrons emitted by a radioactive substance known as radiotracer or radiopharmaceutical. PET equipments usually incorporate a computed tomography scanner (PET/CT) in order to obtain hybrid functional-anatomical images. Different radiotracers are used to study different physiologic processes, such as blood flow, bone turnover or expression of certain cell receptors. The most common radiotracer used in clinical practice is 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (2-[18F]FDG), a glucose analogue binded to a radioactive isotope of fluor that informs about glucose metabolism in the body. As cancer cells have high energy requirements (and, therefore, high glucose consumption), this radiotracer is mostly used to evaluate oncologic processes (disease extension, response to treatment, etc.). However, some types of cancer have low 2-[18F]FDG uptake (e.g., well-differentiated or slow-growing neoplasms), and others can have a variable uptake due to the action of certain enzymes in the metabolic route of glucose (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma).  
  • 582
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Circulating Tumor DNA in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers appear as major health burdens worldwide with high incidences and mortality rates. For these cancers, stage at diagnosis remains the most important prognostic factor for clinical outcome. However, the emergence of simple and reproducible biomarkers is needed for the management of these diseases along their evolution.
  • 582
  • 10 Dec 2021
Topic Review
FDG-PET/CT in the Monitoring of Lymphoma Immunotherapy Response
Cancer immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer cells. Some of these treatments stimulate the immune system, while others prime the immune system to identify better and target cancer cells. In parallel with the implementation of cancer immunotherapy, therapy-specific FDG PET/CT response criteria were explicitly designed specifically for that purpose. FDG PET/CT plays a key role in the newly developed response criteria, and several FDG PET/CT-based criteria have been proposed to address all patterns of response to therapy, including indeterminate response, pseudoprogression, and hyperprogression using several metrics, such as SUV, MTV, and TLG. This research aims to discuss the effects and side effects of cancer immunotherapy and to correlate this with the proposed criteria and relevant patterns of FDG PET/CT in lymphoma immunotherapy as applicable. Additionally, the latest updates and future prospects will be explored.
  • 582
  • 24 Feb 2023
Topic Review
DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit
The DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a key component of the DNA-PK complex that has a well-characterized function in the non-homologous end-joining repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Since its identification, a large body of evidence has demonstrated that DNA-PKcs is frequently overexpressed in cancer, plays a critical role in tumor development and progression, and is associated with poor prognosis of cancer patients.
  • 582
  • 23 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Pharmacogenetics of Dox Metabolism
The effectiveness and safety of the anti-cancer agent doxorubicin (Dox) (anthracycline group medicine) depend on the metabolism and retention of the drug in the human organism. Polymorphism of cytochrome p450 (CYP)-encoding genes and detoxifying enzymes such as CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 were found responsible for variations in the doxorubicin metabolism. Transmembrane transporters such as p-glycoproteins were reported to be involved in cancer tissue retention of doxorubicin. The metabolic transformation of Dox may follow several pathways, including two-electron reduction with the formation of doxorubicinol, one-electron reduction with the formation of semiquinone, and deglycosylation with the formation of aglycone. Several enzymes have been shown to be involved in this process. Doxorubicinol is considered the most dangerous metabolite of Dox degradation, as it may disturb iron and calcium balances.
  • 582
  • 09 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Vitamin D3 Hydroxyderivatives in Human
itamin D3 (D3) is produced in the skin in two steps. Initially there is a photochemical reaction caused by the action of UVB radiation (290–315 nm) on 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) in which the B ring is broken producing pre-vitamin D3. In the second reaction, vitamin D3 is formed from pre-vitamin D3 by its thermal isomerization at 37 °C over several hours. Both the UVB intensity and the level of skin pigmentation affect the rate of vitamin D3 production. Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble prohormonal secosteroid that has endocrine, paracrine and autocrine functions. Melanin absorbs UVB limiting the production of D3, and the same effect is achieved with clothing and sunscreen. Skin, more specifically the epidermis, has the full capacity to produce and activate vitamin D3.
  • 581
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Myeloma–Bone Interaction
Multiple myeloma (MM) has a propensity to develop preferentially in bone and form bone-destructive lesions. MM cells enhance osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption through activation of the RANKL–NF-κB signaling pathway while suppressing bone formation by inhibiting osteoblastogenesis from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) by factors elaborated in the bone marrow and bone in MM, including the soluble Wnt inhibitors DKK-1 and sclerostin, activin A, and TGF-β, resulting in systemic bone destruction with loss of bone. Osteocytes have been drawn attention as multifunctional regulators in bone metabolism. MM cells induce apoptosis in osteocytes to trigger the production of factors, including RANKL, sclerostin, and DKK-1, to further exacerbate bone destruction. Bone lesions developed in MM, in turn, provide microenvironments suited for MM cell growth/survival, including niches to foster MM cells and their precursors. 
  • 581
  • 27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
CCR5 and CXCR4 Antagonists in Carcinomas
The interaction between malignant cells and the tumor microenvironment is critical for tumor progression, and the chemokine ligand/receptor axes play a crucial role in this process. The CXCR4/CXCL12 and CCR5/CCL5 axes, both related to HIV, have been associated with the early (epithelial–mesenchymal transition and invasion) and late events (migration and metastasis) of cancer progression. In addition, these axes can also modulate the immune response against tumors. Thus, antagonists against the receptors of these axes have been proposed in cancer therapy.
  • 581
  • 13 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Contribution of Epstein–Barr Virus to Cancer Hallmarks
The concept of ‘hallmarks of cancer’ was first introduced by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2000 and represented the cellular traits through which different cancers acquire the capabilities to survive, proliferate and disseminate. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), the first recognized human oncogenic virus in history, is one of the environmental factors that can drive oncogenesis of several lymphoid and epithelial malignancies through various hallmarks of cancer. This entry summarizes the contribution of EBV lytic proteins to cancer hallmarks and provide a framework to address the complexity of EBV-driven oncogenesis.
  • 581
  • 10 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Normalizing Tumor Vasculature
A basic requirement of tumorigenesis is the development of a vascular network to support the metabolic requirements of tumor growth and metastasis. Tumor vascular formation is regulated by a balance between promoters and inhibitors of angiogenesis. Typically, the pro-angiogenic environment created by the tumor is extremely aggressive, resulting in the rapid vessel formation with abnormal, dysfunctional morphology. The altered morphology and function of tumor blood and lymphatic vessels has numerous implications including poor perfusion, tissue hypoxia, and reduced therapy uptake. Targeting tumor angiogenesis as a therapeutic approach has been pursued in a host of different cancers. Although some preclinical success was seen, there has been a general lack of clinical success with traditional anti-angiogenic therapeutics as single agents. Typically, following anti-angiogenic therapy, there is remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and widespread tumor hypoxia, which is associated with development of therapy resistance. A more comprehensive understanding of the biology of tumor angiogenesis and insights into new clinical approaches, including combinations with immunotherapy, are needed to advance vascular targeting as a therapeutic area. 
  • 580
  • 17 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Sleep Disturbances in Pediatric Cancer Patients
Sleep disturbances represent an understudied yet common source of distress among pediatric cancer patients and survivors, with deleterious effects on quality of life. Sleep issues stem from multiple risk factors, yet individual contributors are difficult to isolate, consequently impeding the identification of targets for intervention.
  • 580
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cancer-Risk-Predictive Epigenetic Markers for Oral Premalignant Lesions
Epigenetic regulation has emerged as a mechanism of intense research interest that captures the early impact of environmental insults on the genome and may provide key information on the progression of complex diseases, such as cancers, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The keywords used to identify studies on epigenetic oral cancer risk-predictive markers include: (1) primary samples from pre-malignant dysplasia and/or leukoplakia of any grade (low-grade, high-grade, mild, moderate, or severe) collected before they either advanced to cancer (progressive OPLs) or remained OPLs (static OPLs); and (2) samples with longitudinally followed outcomes. Besides these two inclusion criteria, additional search terms used for identifying studies on epigenetic risk-predictive markers included risk-predictive, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), predictive biomarkers, pre-malignant oral lesions, epigenetic predictive biomarkers, epigenetic OSCC risk factors, epigenetic OSCC risk, epigenetic biomarkers oral dysplasia, methylation in oral dysplasia, methylation OSCC prediction, methylation OSCC risk, miRNA OSCC prediction, miRNA OSCC risk, and/or histone modification OSCC. 
  • 580
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
General Definitions and Concepts of Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia (SP) is a syndrome characterized by age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.
  • 580
  • 12 Dec 2022
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