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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Cancer Biology and Endocannabinoid System
The various components of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), such as the cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), cannabinoid ligands, and the signalling network behind it, are implicated in several tumour-related states, both as favourable and unfavourable factors.
679
09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Wnt Pathway: A Tailored Target
Cancer represents one of the greatest public health challenges. One of the most cancer-driving events embodies the dysregulation of both the canonical and the non-canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The impact of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been widely reviewed in colorectal, breast, and ovarian cancers. Genetic and epigenetic alterations are commonly detected in colorectal cancers (CRCs). As a matter of fact, 70% of CRCs are connoted by the APC mutations and almost all patients display an overactive Wnt/β-catenin pathway also mediated by oncogenic miRNAs. Therefore, miRNAs have been proposed as anti-cancer and/or diagnostic/prognostic tools. Among cancers, breast cancer (BC) is one of the most expensive health care costs with a high rate of diagnosis and deaths per year. The Wnt/β-catenin cascade and in particular the β-catenin content has been correlated with a dismal prognosis, high tumour grade, and metastasis formation. In addition in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) both the canonical and the non-canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathways have been reported as drivers of cancer dissemination, aggressiveness, early age of onset, and poor outcome. To add further complexity, the Wnt5a ligand was found to display both anti-tumour and tumour promoting properties depending on the tumour microenvironment (TME), the activation of specific signalling pathways, and the receptor availability in BC. Likewise, an abnormal Wnt/β-catenin cascade has been shown to strongly contribute to ovarian cancer (OC) growth, stemness, and drug resistance. In the last decades, particular attention has been dedicated to investigate the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released in the TME in cancer growth and progression. EVs are heterogeneous small membrane-bound carriers with a complex cargo contributing to cell-to-cell communication, tumour growth, invasion, and chemoresistance. Since EVs can be detected in the majority of biological fluids and in the TME, EVs have been proposed as diagnostic and/or prognostic tools, as well as useful therapeutic options. Indeed, EVs engineered with specific anti-tumour molecules or loaded with conventional anti-tumour drugs have been proposed as novel anti-cancer options. Based on these notions, in the last decades, Wnt/β catenin targeting approaches have been explored to hinder tumour expansion. However so far, the most relevant limitation relies on the crucial role played by the Wnt/β catenin cascade in tissue homeostasis. Therefore, to develop targeting approaches the identification of the specific EV cargo driving tumour progression and the mechanisms accounting for the unbalanced Wnt/β catenin pathway in cancer should be considered as the most challenging issues.
679
03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Management of COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which comes with several comorbidities, was declared a pandemic in early 2020 by World Health Organization (WHO). Glucocorticoids that are used in severe cases of COVID-19 as therapeutic measures may lead to opportunistic fungal infections in such patients. Mucormycosis is one of these infections and mostly occurs in immune-compromised patients such as those who undergo transplant surgeries.
679
26 May 2022
Topic Review
Experimental Pharmacotherapy for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a range of chronic conditions characterized by excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, defined by the presence of steatosis in >5% of hepatocytes, in the absence of significant alcohol consumption or other causes of liver injury.
679
14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Asthma Pathogenesis
Asthma is a widespread chronic disease of the bronchopulmonary system with a heterogeneous course due to the complex etiopathogenesis. Natural-climatic and anthropogenic factors play an important role in the development and progression of this pathology.
679
28 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Metformin in Immunosuppressed Ovarian Cancer
Growing evidence suggests that the immune component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) may play a significant role in the progression of the disease. The poor prognosis of HGSOC necessitates development of novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. The type 2 diabetes medication, metformin, has been associated with significant improvement to overall survival in a number of retrospective clinical analyses. Recent data summarized here suggest that metformin may provide such a benefit through modulating the immune TME of HGSOC.
678
10 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Angiocrine Factors Control Tumor Progression
A solid tumor mass consists not only of cancer cells, but of numerous other resident and infiltrating cells and the extracellular matrix, which together form the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME contains three main cell entities: fibroblasts, immune cells and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells control their microenvironment through the expression of membrane-bound and secreted factors. Such angiocrine functions are frequently hijacked by cancer cells, which deregulate the signaling pathways controlling the expression of angiocrine factors.
678
23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Gut and Intratumoral Microbiomes in Tumor Metastasis
Cancer cell dissemination involves invasion, migration, resistance to stressors in the circulation, extravasation, colonization, and other functions responsible for macroscopic metastases. By enhancing invasiveness, motility, and intravasation, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process promotes the generation of circulating tumor cells and their collective migration. Preclinical and clinical studies have documented intensive crosstalk between the gut microbiome, host organism, and immune system. According to the findings, polymorphic microbes might play diverse roles in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and therapy response. Microbial imbalances and changes in the levels of bacterial metabolites and toxins promote cancer progression via EMT and angiogenesis. In contrast, a favorable microbial composition, together with microbiota-derived metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), can attenuate the processes of tumor initiation, disease progression, and the formation of distant metastases.
678
15 Apr 2024
Topic Review
Nanotechnology-Based Topical Delivery of Natural Products for AD
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous inflammatory disease that may arise from environmental, genetic, and immunological factors. Despite the efficacy of current treatment options such as corticosteroids, such approaches are mainly focused on symptom relief and may present certain undesirable side effects. Isolated natural compounds, oils, mixtures, and/or extracts have gained scientific attention because of their high efficiency and moderate to low toxicity.
678
07 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Intravitreal Delivery Systems for Sustained Drug Release
Slow-release delivery systems are needed to ensure long-term sustained treatments for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are currently treated with anti-angiogenic agents that require frequent intraocular injections. These can cause serious co-morbidities for the patients and are far from providing the adequate drug/protein release rates and required pharmacokinetics to sustain prolonged efficacy.
678
17 May 2023
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