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Radiation Oncology (London, England) Oct 2023Head and neck cancer is a kind of cancer which can be eradicated from radical radiation therapy. However, with best efforts, nearly 40% patients will experience... (Review)
Review
Head and neck cancer is a kind of cancer which can be eradicated from radical radiation therapy. However, with best efforts, nearly 40% patients will experience locoregional recurrence. Locoregional recurrence is the main cause of cancer-related death in head and neck cancers, so local treatments play a key role in improving progression free survival. In the last decades, radiation techniques have been tremendously developed, highly conformal radiation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, brachytherapy and proton or heavy ion radiation therapy have their unique radiobiological advances. Although reirradiation is widely used in clinical practice, but little is known when comparing the different techniques. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the role of reirradiation in recurrent head and neck cancers including radiation techniques, patient selection, overall clinical benefits, and toxicities.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Radiotherapy, Conformal; Re-Irradiation; Radiosurgery; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Radiotherapy Dosage
PubMed: 37803477
DOI: 10.1186/s13014-023-02342-0 -
Journal of Hematology & Oncology Jul 2023Early detection and diagnosis of many cancers is very challenging. Late stage detection of a cancer always leads to high mortality rates. It is imperative to develop... (Review)
Review
Early detection and diagnosis of many cancers is very challenging. Late stage detection of a cancer always leads to high mortality rates. It is imperative to develop novel and more sensitive and effective diagnosis and therapeutic methods for cancer treatments. The development of new cancer treatments has become a crucial aspect of medical advancements. Nanobots, as one of the most promising applications of nanomedicines, are at the forefront of multidisciplinary research. With the progress of nanotechnology, nanobots enable the assembly and deployment of functional molecular/nanosized machines and are increasingly being utilized in cancer diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. In recent years, various practical applications of nanobots for cancer treatments have transitioned from theory to practice, from in vitro experiments to in vivo applications. In this paper, we review and analyze the recent advancements of nanobots in cancer treatments, with a particular emphasis on their key fundamental features and their applications in drug delivery, tumor sensing and diagnosis, targeted therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and other comprehensive treatments. At the same time, we discuss the challenges and the potential research opportunities for nanobots in revolutionizing cancer treatments. In the future, medical nanobots are expected to become more sophisticated and capable of performing multiple medical functions and tasks, ultimately becoming true nanosubmarines in the bloodstream.
Topics: Humans; Drug Delivery Systems; Nanotechnology; Neoplasms; Nanomedicine
PubMed: 37452423
DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01463-z -
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics : MCP Jul 2023Pancreatic cancer, in most cases being pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is one of the most lethal cancers with a median survival time of less than 6 months.... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic cancer, in most cases being pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is one of the most lethal cancers with a median survival time of less than 6 months. Therapeutic options are very limited for patients with PDAC, and surgery is still the most effective treatment, making improvements in early diagnosis critical. One typical characteristic of PDAC is the desmoplastic reaction of its stroma microenvironment, which actively interacts with cancer cells to orchestrate key components in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. A global exploration of cancer-stroma crosstalk is essential to decipher PDAC biology and design intervention strategies. Over the past decade, the dramatic improvement in proteomics technologies has enabled the profiling of proteins, post-translational modifications (PTMs), and their protein complexes at unprecedented sensitivity and dimensionality. Here, starting with our current understanding of PDAC characteristics, including precursor lesions, progression models, tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic advancements, we describe how proteomics contributes to the functional and clinical exploration of PDAC, providing insights into PDAC carcinogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance. We summarize recent achievements enabled by proteomics to systematically investigate PTMs-mediated intracellular signaling in PDAC, cancer-stroma interactions, and potential therapeutic targets revealed by these functional studies. We also highlight proteomic profiling of clinical tissue and plasma samples to discover and verify useful biomarkers that can aid early detection and molecular classification of patients. In addition, we introduce spatial proteomic technology and its applications in PDAC for deconvolving tumor heterogeneity. Finally, we discuss future prospects of applying new proteomic technologies in comprehensively understanding PDAC heterogeneity and intercellular signaling networks. Importantly, we expect advances in clinical functional proteomics for exploring mechanisms of cancer biology directly by high-sensitivity functional proteomic approaches starting from clinical samples.
Topics: Humans; Proteomics; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Carcinogenesis; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37209817
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100575 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Sep 2023Cancer is a complex disease with many contributing factors, and researchers have gained extensive knowledge that has helped them understand the diverse and varied nature... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a complex disease with many contributing factors, and researchers have gained extensive knowledge that has helped them understand the diverse and varied nature of cancer. The altered patterns of DNA methylation found in numerous types of cancer imply that they may play a part in the disease's progression. The human cancer condition involves dysregulation of the DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B) gene, a prominent de novo DNA methyltransferase, and its abnormal behavior serves as an indicator for tumor prognosis and staging. The expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which include microRNAs (miRNA), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), is critical in controlling targeted gene expression and protein translation and their dysregulation correlates with the onset of tumors. NcRNAs dysregulation of is a critical factor that influences the modulation of several cellular characteristics in cancerous cells. These characteristics include but are not limited to, drug responsiveness, angiogenesis, metastasis, apoptosis, proliferation, and properties of tumor stem cell. The reciprocal regulation of ncRNAs and DNMT3B can act in synergy to influence the destiny of tumor cells. Thus, a critical avenue for advancing cancer prevention and treatment is an inquiry into the interplay between DNMT3B and ncRNAs. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the ncRNAs/DNMT3B axis in cancer pathogenesis. This brings about valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms of tumorigenesis and provides a foundation for developing effective therapeutic interventions.
Topics: Humans; Clinical Relevance; DNA; DNA Modification Methylases; Neoplasms; RNA, Untranslated; DNA Methyltransferase 3B
PubMed: 37705098
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04510-y -
Journal of Neuro-oncology Jan 2017Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumour, associated with extremely poor prognosis and although there have been therapeutic advances, treatment options remain... (Review)
Review
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumour, associated with extremely poor prognosis and although there have been therapeutic advances, treatment options remain limited. This review focuses on the use of immunotherapy, harnessing the power of the host's immune system to reject cancer cells. Key challenges in glioma specific immunotherapy as with many other cancers are the limited immunogenicity of the cancer cells and the immunosuppressive environment of the tumour. Although specific antigens have been identified in several cancers; brain tumours, such as GBM, are considered poorly immunogenic. However, as detailed in this review, strategies aimed at circumventing these challenges are showing promise for GBM treatment; including identification of glioma specific antigens and endogenous immune cell activation in an attempt to overcome the immunosuppressive environment which is associated with GBM tumours. An up-to-date summary of current Phase I/II and ongoing Phase III GBM immunotherapy clinical trials is provided in addition to insights into promising preclinical approaches which are focused predominantly on increased induction of Type 1 helper T cell (T1) immune responses within patients.
Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Glioblastoma; Humans; Immunotherapy
PubMed: 27743144
DOI: 10.1007/s11060-016-2299-2 -
Cancer Control : Journal of the Moffitt... Jul 2015The use of radical prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate cancer has been increasing during the last decade partially due to the widespread adoption of the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The use of radical prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate cancer has been increasing during the last decade partially due to the widespread adoption of the robotic-assisted laparoscopic technique. Although no prospective, randomized controlled trials have compared open radical prostatectomy (ORP) with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP), numerous comparative studies have been retrospectively conducted.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed to clarify the role and advancement of RALRP. Studies comparing ORP with RALRP that measured outcomes of cancer control, urinary and sexual function, and complications were included. A nonsystematic review was utilized to describe the advancements in the techniques used for RALRP.
RESULTS
RALRP is the procedure of choice when treating localized prostate cancer. This preference is due to the observed improvement in morbidity rates, as evidenced by decreased rates of blood loss and postoperative pain and similar oncological outcomes when compared with ORP. Robotic assistance during surgery is continually being modified and the techniques advanced, as evidenced by improved nerve sparing for preserving potency and reconstruction of the bladder neck to help in the early recovery of urinary continence.
CONCLUSIONS
Morbidity rates should continue to improve with the advancement of minimally invasive techniques for radical prostatectomy. The adoption of robotic assistance during surgery will continue as the applications of robotic-assisted surgery expand into other solid organ malignancies.
Topics: Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Robotic Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 26351883
DOI: 10.1177/107327481502200305 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), recognized as a significant global health concern, ranks as the sixth most prevalent form of cancer and is the third leading cause of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), recognized as a significant global health concern, ranks as the sixth most prevalent form of cancer and is the third leading cause of cancer-associated mortality. Over half of HCC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, an unfortunate phenomenon primarily attributed to the liver's robust compensatory mechanisms. Given the limited availability of donor livers, existing clinical surgical approaches have yet to provide universally applicable treatment strategies offering substantial prognostic improvement for late-stage cancer. Although the past few decades have witnessed significant advancements in chemotherapy and targeted therapy for HCC, the emergence of drug resistance poses a substantial impediment to their successful execution. Furthermore, issues such as diminished quality of life post-treatment and high treatment costs warrant critical attention. Consequently, the imperative for an effective treatment strategy for advanced liver cancer is unequivocal. In recent years, notable progress in the development and application of immunotherapy has sparked a revolution in advanced liver cancer treatment. This study aims to elucidate a more comprehensive understanding of the current landscape, knowledge framework, research focal points, and nascent breakthrough trends in the domain of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma via bibliometric analysis.
METHOD
Our study involved conducting a comprehensive literature search spanning from 1999 through December 31, 2022, by utilizing the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) database. Our aim was to amass all the papers and reviews related to immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Our search strategy yielded a total of 4,486 papers. After exclusion of self-citations, we focused our analysis on 68,925 references. These references were cited 119,523 times (excluding 97,941 self-citations), boasting an average citation frequency of 26.64 times per paper, and achieved an h-index of 135. We employed analytical software tools like Citespace and VOSviewer to perform an intricate analysis of the amassed literature, covering various aspects, including geographical location, research institutions, publishing journals, authors, references, and keywords. Our method incorporated timeline analysis, burst detection, and co-occurrence analysis. The application of these tools facilitated a thorough evaluation of research hotspots, knowledge structure, and emerging advancements within the sphere of immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
RESULTS
Our bibliometric analysis disclosed a noteworthy escalation in the number of publications in the realm of hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy during the years 2021-2022, surpassing the aggregate number of papers published in the preceding decade (2011-2020). This surge underscores a sharp upturn in research interest within this field. Additionally, the research hotspot in hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy has perceptibly deviated from the preceding decade's trends. In terms of geographical distribution, China emerged as the leading country, producing 50.08% of the total publications. This was followed by the United States, with 963 papers, and Japan, contributing 335 papers. Among research institutions, Sun Yat-sen University was the most prolific, while Tim F. Greten stood out as the most published author with 42 papers to his credit. A co-reference network examination uncovered a shift in research emphasis within the field of hepatocellular carcinoma immunotherapy, highlighting the evolving nature of this important area of study.
CONCLUSION
Our bibliometric study highlights the significant evolution and growth in HCC immunotherapy research over the past two decades. Looking ahead, research will focus on improving the microenvironment post-drug resistance from immune combination therapy, harnessing adoptive cellular immunity (as CAR-T), subclassify the population and developing new tumor markers. Incorporation of technologies such as nanotechnology, microbiology, and gene editing will further advance HCC treatments. This progressive trajectory in the field promises a brighter future for individuals suffering from HCC.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Quality of Life; Liver Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Bibliometrics; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37600802
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1210802 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Jun 2019Most of the currently used diagnostics for cancerous diseases have yet to meet the standards of screening, as they are insufficiently accurate and/or invasive and... (Review)
Review
Most of the currently used diagnostics for cancerous diseases have yet to meet the standards of screening, as they are insufficiently accurate and/or invasive and risky. In this review, we describe the rationale, the progress made to date, and the potential of analysing the exhaled volatile organic compounds as a pathway for enabling early diagnosis of cancer and, therefore, for achieving better clinical prognosis and survival rates. The review highlights the major advancements made in this field, from fundamentals, up to translational phases and clinical trials, with a special emphasis on sensing platforms based on nanomaterials. The prospects for breath analysis in early cancerous disease are presented and discussed.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breath Tests; Diffusion of Innovation; Humans; Neoplasms; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 31243094
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0002-2019 -
Toxicological Sciences : An Official... Oct 2018An explosion of knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate carcinogenesis has occurred in recent years. Although cancer has existed for over a... (Review)
Review
An explosion of knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate carcinogenesis has occurred in recent years. Although cancer has existed for over a million years in the human species, effective cures for most cancers that target molecular and cellular pathways have not been achieved. Multiple cellular targets have been examined for preventing or treating cancers including, but not limited to, transcription factors, kinase-mediated cell signaling pathways, and more recently epigenetic targeting of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and immunomodulation such as chimeric antigen receptor-T cells. Even as the state of knowledge of cancer mechanisms increases, there is considerable room for improvement in preventing and treating cancers. Understanding how a normal cell is transformed into a cancer cell is known but there is considerable tissue and cell type specificity. This has given rise to the field of precision medicine as applied to cancer therapy. Thus, while the development of preventive and treatment regimens has increased, there are certain obstacles that need to be overcome in order to decrease cancer incidence and increase survival of cancer patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the advances made in cancer biology and how these advances have been used to develop, and hinder, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for cancer.
Topics: Anticarcinogenic Agents; Carcinogenesis; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Xenobiotics
PubMed: 30053205
DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy185 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jan 2024Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a fundamental tool in the prevention and early detection of one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers. Over the years, screening,... (Review)
Review
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a fundamental tool in the prevention and early detection of one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers. Over the years, screening, particularly in those settings where it is well organized, has succeeded in reducing the incidence of colon and rectal cancer and improving the prognosis related to them. Despite considerable advancements in screening technologies and strategies, the effectiveness of CRC screening programs remains less than optimal. This paper examined the multifaceted reasons behind the persistent lack of effectiveness in CRC screening initiatives. Through a critical analysis of current methodologies, technological limitations, patient-related factors, and systemic challenges, we elucidated the complex interplay that hampers the successful reduction of CRC morbidity and mortality rates. While acknowledging the advancements that have improved aspects of screening, we emphasized the necessity of addressing the identified barriers comprehensively. This study aimed to raise awareness of how important CRC screening is in reducing costs for this disease. Screening and early diagnosis are not only important in improving the prognosis of patients with CRC but can lead to an important reduction in the cost of treating a disease that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Spending more sooner can mean saving money later.
Topics: Humans; Colonic Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Prognosis; Rectal Neoplasms; Mass Screening; Colonoscopy
PubMed: 38314134
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i3.211