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BioMed Research International 2015Gynecologic cancers are the unregulated growth of neoplastic cells that arise in the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva. Although gynecologic... (Review)
Review
Gynecologic cancers are the unregulated growth of neoplastic cells that arise in the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva. Although gynecologic cancers are characterized by different signs and symptoms, studies have shown that they share common risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, age, exposure to certain chemicals, infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). Despite recent advancements in the preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions for gynecologic cancers, many patients still die as a result of metastasis and recurrence. Since mounting evidence indicates that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process plays an essential role in metastatic relapse of cancer, understanding the molecular aberrations responsible for the EMT and its underlying signaling should be given high priority in order to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality.
Topics: Animals; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Gynecology; HIV; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Papillomaviridae
PubMed: 26356073
DOI: 10.1155/2015/420891 -
The British Journal of Radiology Dec 2021Advanced ovarian and endometrial cancers have historically been associated with poor prognosis and few treatment options, limited to single or doublet chemotherapy... (Review)
Review
Advanced ovarian and endometrial cancers have historically been associated with poor prognosis and few treatment options, limited to single or doublet chemotherapy regimens. The introduction of novel target therapies has transformed the management of these cancers. In contrast to chemotherapy, which inhibits DNA replication and mitosis, targeted therapies target cancer signalling pathways, stroma, immune-microenvironment and vasculature in tumour tissues. The most notable advances in gynaecological cancers have come from the introduction of PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors for ovarian and endometrial cancer, respectively. Several PARP inhibitors, which target defective DNA repair, have been approved as maintenance therapy for advanced ovarian cancer in both the first line and platinum-sensitive relapsed settings. Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies have proven successful in advanced mismatch repair deficient endometrial cancers with use now being investigated beyond this population. This review will explore the biological rationale and clinical evidence behind the use of PARP inhibitors and immunotherapy in ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Topics: Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Ovarian Neoplasms; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
PubMed: 33882241
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20210002 -
Ageing Research Reviews Nov 2015Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process characterized by the accumulation of many forms of damage at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level with advancing age.... (Review)
Review
Ageing is a complex and multifactorial process characterized by the accumulation of many forms of damage at the molecular, cellular, and tissue level with advancing age. Ageing increases the risk of the onset of chronic inflammation-associated diseases such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease. In particular, ageing and cancer share some common origins and hallmarks such as genomic instability, epigenetic alteration, aberrant telomeres, inflammation and immune injury, reprogrammed metabolism, and degradation system impairment (including within the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagic machinery). Recent advances indicate that damage-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) such as high mobility group box 1, histones, S100, and heat shock proteins play location-dependent roles inside and outside the cell. These provide interaction platforms at molecular levels linked to common hallmarks of ageing and cancer. They can act as inducers, sensors, and mediators of stress through individual plasma membrane receptors, intracellular recognition receptors (e.g., advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptors, AIM2-like receptors, RIG-I-like receptors, and NOD1-like receptors, and toll-like receptors), or following endocytic uptake. Thus, the DAMP Hypothesis is novel and complements other theories that explain the features of ageing. DAMPs represent ideal biomarkers of ageing and provide an attractive target for interventions in ageing and age-associated diseases.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Humans; Neoplasms; Receptors, Pattern Recognition
PubMed: 25446804
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2014.10.004 -
Cancer Letters Feb 2015The extracellular matrix is increasingly recognized as an essential player in cancer development and progression. Collagens are one of the most important components of... (Review)
Review
The extracellular matrix is increasingly recognized as an essential player in cancer development and progression. Collagens are one of the most important components of the extracellular matrix, and have themselves been implicated in many aspects of neoplastic transformation. Collagen XI is a minor collagen whose main physiologic function is to regulate the diameter of major collagen fibrils. The α1 chain of collagen XI (colXIα1) has known pathogenic roles in several musculoskeletal disorders. Recent research has highlighted the importance of colXIα1 in many types of cancer, including its roles in metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance, as well as its potential utility in screening tests and as a therapeutic target. High levels of colXIα1 overexpression have been reported in multiple expression profile studies examining differences between cancerous and normal tissue, and between beginning and advanced stage cancer. Its expression has been linked to poor progression-free and overall survival. The consistency of these data across cancer types is particularly striking, including colorectal, ovarian, breast, head and neck, lung, and brain cancers. This review discusses the role of collagen XIα1 in cancer and its potential as a target for cancer therapy.
Topics: Collagen Type XI; Extracellular Matrix; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms
PubMed: 25511741
DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.12.011 -
Clinical Therapeutics Jul 2016Innovations in genetic medicine have led to improvements in the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer for patients with inherited risks of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Innovations in genetic medicine have led to improvements in the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer for patients with inherited risks of gastrointestinal cancer, particularly hereditary colorectal cancer and hereditary pancreatic cancer.
METHODS
This review provides an update on recent data and key advances that have improved the identification, understanding, and management of patients with hereditary colorectal cancer and hereditary pancreatic cancer.
FINDINGS
This review details recent and emerging data that highlight the developing landscape of genetics in hereditary colorectal and pancreatic cancer risk. A summary is provided of the current state-of-the-art practices for identifying, evaluating, and managing patients with suspected hereditary colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer risk. The impact of next-generation sequencing technologies in the clinical diagnosis of hereditary gastrointestinal cancer and also in discovery efforts of new genes linked to familial cancer risk are discussed. Emerging targeted therapies that may play a particularly important role in the treatment of patients with hereditary forms of colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer are also reviewed. Current approaches for pancreatic cancer screening and the psychosocial impact of such procedures are also detailed.
IMPLICATIONS
Given the availability of new diagnostic, risk-reducing, and therapeutic strategies that exist for patients with hereditary risk of colorectal or pancreatic cancer, it is imperative that clinicians be vigilant about evaluating patients for hereditary cancer syndromes. Continuing to advance genetics research in hereditary gastrointestinal cancers will allow for more progress to be made in personalized medicine and prevention.
Topics: Colorectal Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis; Genetic Testing; Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Risk
PubMed: 27045993
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2016.03.017 -
Pharmacology & Therapeutics Sep 2022Recent advances in bulk sequencing approaches as well as genomic decoding at the single-cell level have revealed surprisingly high somatic mutational burdens in normal... (Review)
Review
Recent advances in bulk sequencing approaches as well as genomic decoding at the single-cell level have revealed surprisingly high somatic mutational burdens in normal tissues, as well as increased our understanding of the landscape of "field cancerization", that is, molecular and immune alterations in mutagen-exposed normal-appearing tissues that recapitulated those present in tumors. Charting the somatic mutational landscapes in normal tissues can have strong implications on our understanding of how tumors arise from mutagenized epithelium. Making sense of those mutations to understand the progression along the pathologic continuum of normal epithelia, preneoplasias, up to malignant tissues will help pave way for identification of ideal targets that can guide new strategies for preventing or eliminating cancers at their earliest stages of development. In this review, we will provide a brief history of field cancerization and its implications on understanding early stages of cancer pathogenesis and deviation from the pathologically "normal" state. The review will provide an overview of how mutations accumulating in normal tissues can lead to a patchwork of mutated cell clones that compete while maintaining an overall state of functional homeostasis. The review also explores the role of clonal competition in directing the fate of normal tissues and summarizes multiple mechanisms elicited in this phenomenon and which have been linked to cancer development. Finally, we highlight the importance of understanding mutations in normal tissues, as well as clonal competition dynamics (in both the epithelium and the microenvironment) and their significance in exploring new approaches to combatting cancer.
Topics: Carcinogenesis; Clone Cells; Epithelium; Humans; Mutation; Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 35850404
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108251 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2016This paper reviews recent advances in graphene-based biosensors development in order to obtain smaller and more portable devices with better performance for earlier... (Review)
Review
This paper reviews recent advances in graphene-based biosensors development in order to obtain smaller and more portable devices with better performance for earlier cancer detection. In fact, the potential of Graphene for sensitive detection and chemical/biological free-label applications results from its exceptional physicochemical properties such as high electrical and thermal conductivity, aspect-ratio, optical transparency and remarkable mechanical and chemical stability. Herein we start by providing a general overview of the types of graphene and its derivatives, briefly describing the synthesis procedure and main properties. It follows the reference to different routes to engineer the graphene surface for sensing applications with organic biomolecules and nanoparticles for the development of advanced biosensing platforms able to detect/quantify the characteristic cancer biomolecules in biological fluids or overexpressed on cancerous cells surface with elevated sensitivity, selectivity and stability. We then describe the application of graphene in optical imaging methods such as photoluminescence and Raman imaging, electrochemical sensors for enzymatic biosensing, DNA sensing, and immunosensing. The bioquantification of cancer biomarkers and cells is finally discussed, particularly electrochemical methods such as voltammetry and amperometry which are generally adopted transducing techniques for the development of graphene based sensors for biosensing due to their simplicity, high sensitivity and low-cost. To close, we discuss the major challenges that graphene based biosensors must overcome in order to reach the necessary standards for the early detection of cancer biomarkers by providing reliable information about the patient disease stage.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Biosensing Techniques; Graphite; Humans; Neoplasms; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 26805845
DOI: 10.3390/s16010137 -
Cancer Research Apr 2016The most exciting recent advance for achieving durable management of advanced human cancers is immunotherapy, especially the concept of immune checkpoint blockade.... (Review)
Review
The most exciting recent advance for achieving durable management of advanced human cancers is immunotherapy, especially the concept of immune checkpoint blockade. However, with the exception of melanoma, most patients do not respond to immunotherapy alone. A growing body of work has shown that epigenetic drugs, specifically DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, can upregulate immune signaling in epithelial cancer cells through demethylation of endogenous retroviruses and cancer testis antigens. These demethylating agents may induce T-cell attraction and enhance immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in mouse models. Current clinical trials are testing this combination therapy as a potent new cancer management strategy. Cancer Res; 76(7); 1683-9. ©2016 AACR.
Topics: Combined Modality Therapy; Epigenomics; Humans; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms
PubMed: 26988985
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-2125 -
Life Sciences Nov 2023Thyroid cancer continues to exhibit a rising incidence globally, predominantly affecting women. Despite stable mortality rates, the unique characteristics of thyroid... (Review)
Review
Thyroid cancer continues to exhibit a rising incidence globally, predominantly affecting women. Despite stable mortality rates, the unique characteristics of thyroid carcinoma warrant a distinct approach. Differentiated thyroid cancer, comprising most cases, is effectively managed through standard treatments such as thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy. However, rarer variants, including anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, necessitate specialized interventions, often employing targeted therapies. Although these drugs focus on symptom management, they are not curative. This review delves into the fundamental modulators of thyroid cancers, encompassing genetic, epigenetic, and non-coding RNA factors while exploring their intricate interplay and influence. Epigenetic modifications directly affect the expression of causal genes, while long non-coding RNAs impact the function and expression of micro-RNAs, culminating in tumorigenesis. Additionally, this article provides a concise overview of the advantages and disadvantages associated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions in thyroid cancer. Furthermore, with technological advancements, integrating modern software and computing into healthcare and medical practices has become increasingly prevalent. Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques hold the potential to predict treatment outcomes, analyze data, and develop personalized therapeutic approaches catering to patient specificity. In thyroid cancer, cutting-edge machine learning and deep learning technologies analyze factors such as ultrasonography results for tumor textures and biopsy samples from fine needle aspirations, paving the way for a more accurate and effective therapeutic landscape in the near future.
Topics: Humans; Female; Artificial Intelligence; Iodine Radioisotopes; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 37734434
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122110 -
BJS Open May 2024Neoadjuvant therapy has an established role in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. However, its role continues to evolve due to both advances in the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Neoadjuvant therapy has an established role in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer. However, its role continues to evolve due to both advances in the available treatment modalities, and refinements in the indications for neoadjuvant treatment and subsequent surgery.
METHODS
A narrative review of the most recent relevant literature was conducted.
RESULTS
Short-course radiotherapy and long-course chemoradiotherapy have an established role in improving local but not systemic disease control in patients with rectal cancer. Total neoadjuvant therapy offers advantages over short-course radiotherapy and long-course chemoradiotherapy, not only in terms of increased local response but also in reducing the risk of systemic relapses. Non-operative management is increasingly preferred to surgery in patients with rectal cancer and clinical complete responses but is still associated with some negative impacts on functional outcomes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be of some benefit in patients with locally advanced colon cancer with proficient mismatch repair, although patient selection is a major challenge. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with deficient mismatch repair cancers in the colon or rectum is altering the treatment paradigm for these patients.
CONCLUSION
Neoadjuvant treatments for patients with colon or rectal cancers continue to evolve, increasing the complexity of decision-making for patients and clinicians alike. This review describes the current guidance and most recent developments.
Topics: Humans; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Colorectal Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Rectal Neoplasms; Chemoradiotherapy
PubMed: 38747103
DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrae038