Encyclopedia
Scholarly Community
Encyclopedia
Entry
Video
Image
Journal
Book
News
About
Entry
Entry
Video
Image
Log in/Sign up
Submit
Entry
Video
Image
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:
Hottest
Latest
Alphabetical (A-Z)
Alphabetical (Z-A)
Type:
All
Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Cancer Spheroids and Organoids
Spheroids and organoids are important novel players in medical and life science research. They are gradually replacing two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. Indeed, three-dimensional (3D) cultures are closer to the in vivo reality and open promising perspectives for academic research, drug screening, and personalized medicine. A large variety of cells and tissues, including tumor cells, can be the starting material for the generation of 3D cultures, including primary tissues, stem cells, or cell lines.
361
18 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) is a subset of cancer cells with the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into non-CSC cancer cells within the tumor mass. The CSC field was shaped by great research done on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are hierarchically arranged with HSCs being the founder cells that undergo asymmetric cell division giving rise to differentiated daughter cells and one quiescent stem cell with self-renewal abilities. CSCs are a subpopulation of cancer cells known to be resistant to therapy and cause metastasis. CSCs have been characterized in many cancers with data illustrating that CSCs display great abilities to self-renew, resist therapies due to enhanced epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT) properties, enhanced expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane drug transporters, activation of several survival signaling pathways and increased immune evasion as well as DNA repair mechanisms. CSCs also display great heterogeneity with the consequential lack of specific CSC markers presenting a great challenge to their targeting.
1.1K
15 May 2023
Topic Review
Cancer-Associated Adipocytes in Cancer Progression
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in promoting and sustaining cancer growth. Adipose tissue (AT), due to its anatomical distribution, is a prevalent component of TME, and contributes to cancer development and progression. Cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), reprogrammed by cancer stem cells (CSCs), drive cancer progression by releasing metabolites and inflammatory adipokines. Several mediators released by cancer-associated adipocytes are considered promising therapeutic targets for anticancer therapy.
434
06 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, maintaining the extracellular matrix, while also being involved in intricate crosstalk with cancer cells and infiltrating immunocytes. Therefore, they are potential targets for developing therapeutic strategies against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, studies have demonstrated significant heterogeneity in CAFs with respect to their origins, spatial distribution, and functional phenotypes within the PDAC tumor microenvironment. Therefore, it is imperative to understand and delineate this heterogeneity prior to targeting CAFs for PDAC therapy.
536
07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Cannabis Biomolecule Effects on Cancer Cells
Cancer is a complex family of diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. Gliomas are primary brain tumors that account for ~80% of all malignant brain tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common, invasive, and lethal subtype of glioma. Therapy resistance and intra-GBM tumoral heterogeneity are promoted by subpopulations of glioma stem cells (GSCs). Cannabis sativa produces hundreds of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, terpenes, and phytocannabinoids. Cannabis is commonly used to treat various medical conditions, and is used in palliative care of cancer patients. The anti-cancer properties of cannabis compounds include cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory activities on cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Specific combinations of multiple phytocannabinoids act synergistically against cancer cells and may trigger different anti-cancer signaling pathways. Yet, due to scarcity of clinical trials, there remains no solid basis for the anti-cancer therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds.
697
06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Canonical and Non-Canonical Inflammasome Pathway in Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichia is an obligately intracellular bacterium which is responsible for causing human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), a potentially lethal disease similar to toxic shock syndrome and septic shock syndrome. Several studies have indicated that canonical and non-canonical inflammasome activation is a crucial pathogenic mechanism that induces dysregulated inflammation and host cellular death in the pathophysiology of HME. Mechanistically, the activation of canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways affected by virulent Ehrlichia infection is due to a block in autophagy.
132
27 Nov 2023
Topic Review
CAR T Cells
Cells are also used as a therapeutic tool. In this type of immunotherapy, the patient’s T cells are genetically engineered ex vivo to express a CAR that recognizes a specific antigen present on the surface of the tumor cells. After reinfusion of these cells in the patient’s circulation, the binding between the CAR T cells and the cancer cells induces a cytotoxic response. One example of this therapy currently being used in clinics is for the treatment of advanced B-cell lymphomas, resulting in complete remission in 30 to 40 % of the patients. Importantly, it needs to be emphasized that CAR T cells are used last in line as a therapeutic strategy to suppress tumor cells. This means that the T cells are often isolated from the patients after various treatments, including chemotherapy that can alter the metabolic phenotype of the T cells (mitochondrial damage and metabolic alterations). Therefore, metabolism is an important aspect in the conception and the anti-tumoral activity of a CAR T cell.
421
29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
CAR T-Cells
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells are T lymphocytes that have been specifically engineered to target malignant cells. CARs are synthetic molecules designed to activate T cells in response to a specific antigen, mimicking T cell activation through the T cell receptor (TCR) and associated costimulatory molecules.
477
18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Carbocysteine’s Effects in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients
Carbocysteine (R-2-amino-3[(carboxymethyl)thiol] propionic acid) is a biologically active dibasic amino acid. The carbocysteine molecule is characterized by the presence of a bound sulfhydrilic group. Carbocysteine can increase cilia beating in airway epithelial cells, thus improving the function of the mucociliary escalator and its function of removing harmful particles, viruses, and bacteria from the airway surface.
430
01 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Cardiac Connexins
Connexins are a family of transmembrane proteins that play a key role in cardiac physiology. Gap junctional channels put into contact the cytoplasms of connected cardiomyocytes, allowing the existence of electrical coupling. However, in addition to this fundamental role, connexins are also involved in cardiomyocyte death and survival. Thus, chemical coupling through gap junctions plays a key role in the spreading of injury between connected cells. Moreover, in addition to their involvement in cell-to-cell communication, mounting evidence indicates that connexins have additional gap junction-independent functions. Opening of unopposed hemichannels, located at the lateral surface of cardiomyocytes, may compromise cell homeostasis and may be involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, connexins located at non-canonical cell structures, including mitochondria and the nucleus, have been demonstrated to be involved in cardioprotection and in regulation of cell growth and differentiation.
889
13 May 2021
Page
of
161
Featured Entry Collections
>>
Featured Books
>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Chief Editor:
Michael McAleer
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Chief Editor:
Stephen Bustin
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Chief Editor:
Luis V. Lopez-Llorca
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Chief Editor:
Sandro Serpa
Entry
Video
Image
Journal
Book
News
About
Log in/Sign up
New Entry
New Video
New Images
About
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Advisory Board
Contact
Partner
Video Production Service
Feedback
Top
Feedback
×
Help Center
Browse our user manual, common Q&A, author guidelines, etc.
Rate your experience
Let us know your experience and what we could improve.
Report an error
Is something wrong? Please let us know!
Other feedback
Other feedback you would like to report.
×
Did you find what you were looking for?
Love
Like
Neutral
Dislike
Hate
0
/500
Email
Do you agree to share your valuable feedback publicly on
Encyclopedia
’s homepage?
Yes, I agree. Encyclopedia can post it.
No, I do not agree. I would not like to post my testimonial.
Webpage
Upload a screenshot
(Max file size 2MB)
Submit
Back
Close
×