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Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Ultrasound elastography is widely used to assess tissue stiffness for lesion characterization, including differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. This study... (Review)
Review
Ultrasound elastography is widely used to assess tissue stiffness for lesion characterization, including differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. This study focuses on the use of elastography in the male pelvis, including the prostate, testicles, and rectum, by comparing elastography types (shear wave and strain). This article provides a summary of the existing literature on the use of elastography in the male pelvic region and outlines the clinical perspective. Ultrasound elastography is a good technique for evaluating and monitoring lesions in the male pelvic region.
PubMed: 38928634
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14121218 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are nucleotide sequences that participate in different biological processes and are associated with different pathologies, including...
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are nucleotide sequences that participate in different biological processes and are associated with different pathologies, including cancer. Long intergenic non-protein-coding RNA 662 (LINC00662) has been reported to be involved in different cancers, including colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer. However, its role in gallbladder cancer has not yet been described. In this article, we hypothesize that LINC00662 has an important role in the acquisition of aggressiveness traits such as a stem-like phenotype, invasion, and chemoresistance in gallbladder cancer. Here, we show that LINC00662 is associated with larger tumor size and lymph node metastasis in patients with gallbladder cancer. Furthermore, we show that the overexpression of LINC00662 promotes an increase in CD133/CD44 cell populations and the expression of stemness-associated genes. LINC00662 promotes greater invasive capacity and the expression of genes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition, the expression of LINC00662 promotes resistance to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, associated with increased expression of chemoresistance-related ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in gallbladder cancer (GBC) cell lines. Finally, we show that the mechanism by which LINC00662 exerts its function is through a decrease in microRNA 335-5p (miR-335-5p) and an increase in octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) in GBC cells. Thus, our data allow us to propose LINC00662 as a biomarker of poor prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for patients with GBC.
Topics: Humans; Gallbladder Neoplasms; MicroRNAs; RNA, Long Noncoding; Cell Line, Tumor; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Octamer Transcription Factor-3; Female; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Male; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Cisplatin; Middle Aged; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Fluorouracil; Lymphatic Metastasis
PubMed: 38928444
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126740 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in almost all disorders, including cancer. Many factors, including aging, a high-fat diet, a stressful lifestyle, smoking,... (Review)
Review
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in almost all disorders, including cancer. Many factors, including aging, a high-fat diet, a stressful lifestyle, smoking, infection, genetic mutations, etc., lead to elevated levels of ROS. Prostate cancer, the most prevalent type of cancer in senior American men and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in American men, results from chronic oxidative stress. The doubled incident rate as well as the doubled mortality numbers of prostate cancer have persisted in African Americans in comparison with Caucasian Americans and other racial groups, indicating a prostate cancer disparity in African American men. In this review, we mainly focus on the latest findings on ROS in prostate cancer development and progression within the last five years to update our understanding in this area, as several comprehensive literature reviews addressing oxidative stress and/or inflammation in prostate cancer before 2020 are available. In addition to other known factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage, cultural mistrust of the health care system, etc. that are long-existing in the African American group, we also summarize the latest evidence that demonstrated high systemic oxidative stress and inflammation in African Americans for their potential contribution to the racial prostate cancer disparity in this population.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Reactive Oxygen Species; Oxidative Stress; Black or African American; Black People; Health Status Disparities; Inflammation
PubMed: 38928370
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126665 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer diagnosed in men worldwide. Currently, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is resistant to androgen...
Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer diagnosed in men worldwide. Currently, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is resistant to androgen deprivation therapy, has a poor prognosis and is a therapeutic problem. We investigated the antitumor effects on PC of an antibody neutralizing secreted disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 9 (sADAM9), which is a blood-soluble form. We performed proliferation assays, wound healing assays, invasion assays, Western blot (WB), and an in vivo study in which a sADAM9 neutralizing antibody was administered intratumorally to PC-bearing mice. In invasion assays, the sADAM9 neutralizing antibody significantly inhibited invasion in all cell lines (TRAMP-C2: = 0.00776, LNCaP: = 0.000914, PC-3: = 0.0327, and DU145: = 0.0254). We examined epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, one of the metastatic mechanisms, in WB and showed downregulation of Slug in TRAMP-C2, LNCaP, and DU145 and upregulation of E-cadherin in TRAMP-C2 and PC-3 by sADAM9 neutralization. In mouse experiments, the sADAM9 neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed tumor growth compared to controls (1.68-fold in TRAMP-C2, 1.89-fold in LNCaP, and 2.67-fold in PC-3). These results suggested that the sADAM9 neutralizing antibody inhibits invasion, migration, and tumor growth in PC. Previous studies examined the anti-tumor effect of knockdown of total ADAM9 or sADAM9, but this study used the new technology of neutralizing antibodies for sADAM9. This may be novel because there was no animal study using a neutralizing antibody for sADAM9 to see the relationship between ADAM9 expression and prostate cancer.
Topics: Male; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Animals; Humans; Cell Movement; ADAM Proteins; Mice; Cell Line, Tumor; Prostatic Neoplasms; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Cell Proliferation; Membrane Proteins; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
PubMed: 38928352
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126646 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Breast cancer, known for its diverse subtypes, ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), primarily...
Breast cancer, known for its diverse subtypes, ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), primarily associated with prostate cancer, has also been identified in breast cancer, though its role remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate PSMA expression across different subtypes of early-stage breast cancer and investigate its correlation with clinicopathological factors. This retrospective study included 98 breast cancer cases. PSMA expression was examined in both tumor cells and tumor-associated blood vessels. The analysis revealed PSMA expression in tumor-associated blood vessels in 88 cases and in tumor cells in 75 cases. Ki67 expression correlated positively with PSMA expression in blood vessels ( < 0.0001, RSpearman 0.42) and tumor cells ( = 0.010, RSpearman 0.26). The estrogen and progesterone receptor expression correlated negatively with PSMA levels in blood vessels ( = 0.0053, R Spearman -0.26 and = 0.00026, R Spearman -0.347, respectively). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status did not significantly impact PSMA expression. We did not detect any statistically significant differences between breast cancer subtypes. These findings provide evidence for a heterogenous PSMA expression in breast cancer tissue and suggest its correlation with tumor aggressiveness. Despite the limited sample size, the study provides valuable insights into the potential of PSMA as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic target in the management of breast cancer.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II; Middle Aged; Antigens, Surface; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Retrospective Studies; Immunohistochemistry; Neoplasm Staging; Adult; Receptor, ErbB-2; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38928224
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126519 -
Cancers Jun 2024CtDNA is emerging as a non-invasive clinical detection method for several cancers, including genitourinary (GU) cancers such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and... (Review)
Review
CtDNA is emerging as a non-invasive clinical detection method for several cancers, including genitourinary (GU) cancers such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). CtDNA assays have shown promise in early detection of GU cancers, providing prognostic information, assessing real-time treatment response, and detecting residual disease and relapse. The ease of obtaining a "liquid biopsy" from blood or urine in GU cancers enhances its potential to be used as a biomarker. Interrogating these "liquid biopsies" for ctDNA can then be used to detect common cancer mutations, novel genomic alterations, or epigenetic modifications. CtDNA has undergone investigation in numerous clinical trials, which could address clinical needs in GU cancers, for instance, earlier detection in RCC, therapeutic response prediction in castration-resistant prostate cancer, and monitoring for recurrence in bladder cancers. The utilization of liquid biopsy for ctDNA analysis provides a promising method of advancing precision medicine within the field of GU cancers.
PubMed: 38927984
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122280 -
Cancers Jun 2024A prospective observational study was conducted in a cohort of older adults ≥65 years ( = 329), admitted to the acute medical unit (AMU) of a tertiary hospital, to...
A prospective observational study was conducted in a cohort of older adults ≥65 years ( = 329), admitted to the acute medical unit (AMU) of a tertiary hospital, to describe and compare characteristics including frailty status and clinical outcomes. Multivariable models compared older adults with and without a history of cancer to determine characteristics associated with frailty and pre-frailty. An adjusted Poisson regression model was used to compare the length of hospital stay (LOS) between the two groups. About one-fifth (22%) of the cohort had a history of cancer. The most common cancer types were prostate ( = 20), breast ( = 13), lung ( = 8) and gastrointestinal ( = 8). There was no difference in the prevalence of pre-frailty/frailty among patients with or without a history of cancer (58% vs. 57%, > 0.05). Pre-frailty/frailty was associated with polypharmacy (OR 8.26, 95% CI: 1.74 to 39.2) and malnutrition (OR 8.91, 95% CI: 2.15 to 36.9) in patients with a history of cancer. Adjusted analysis revealed that the risk of having a longer LOS was 24% higher in older adults with a history of cancer than those without (IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.41, < 0.001). Clinicians in the AMU should be aware that older adults with a history of cancer have a higher risk of a longer LOS compared to those without.
PubMed: 38927918
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122212 -
Cancers Jun 2024The therapeutic potential of cold physical gas plasma operated at atmospheric pressure in oncology has been thoroughly demonstrated in numerous preclinical studies. The...
The therapeutic potential of cold physical gas plasma operated at atmospheric pressure in oncology has been thoroughly demonstrated in numerous preclinical studies. The cytotoxic effect on malignant cells has been attributed mainly to biologically active plasma-generated compounds, namely, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species interferes strongly with the antioxidant defense system of malignant cells, activating multiple signaling cascades and inevitably leading to oxidative stress-induced cell death. This study aims to determine whether plasma-induced cancer cell death operates through a universal molecular mechanism that is independent of the cancer cell type. Using whole transcriptome data, we sought to investigate the activation mechanism of plasma-treated samples in patient-derived prostate cell cultures, melanoma, breast, lymphoma, and lung cancer cells. The results from the standardized single-cohort gene expression analysis and parallel multi-cohort meta-analysis strongly indicate that plasma treatment globally induces cancer cell death through immune-mediated mechanisms, such as interleukin signaling, Toll-like receptor cascades, and MyD88 activation leading to pro-inflammatory cytokine release and tumor antigen presentation.
PubMed: 38927892
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122186 -
Cancers Jun 2024The PRESERVE study (NCT04972097) aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the NanoKnife System to ablate prostate tissue in patients with intermediate-risk...
A Description and Safety Overview of Irreversible Electroporation for Prostate Tissue Ablation in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer Patients: Preliminary Results from the PRESERVE Trial.
The PRESERVE study (NCT04972097) aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the NanoKnife System to ablate prostate tissue in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa). The NanoKnife uses irreversible electroporation (IRE) to deliver high-voltage electrical pulses to change the permeability of cell membranes, leading to cell death. A total of 121 subjects with organ-confined PCa ≤ T2c, prostate-specific antigens (PSAs) ≤ 15 ng/mL, and a Gleason score of 3 + 4 or 4 + 3 underwent focal ablation of the index lesion. The primary endpoints included negative in-field biopsy and adverse event incidence, type, and severity through 12 months. At the time of analysis, the trial had completed accrual with preliminary follow-up available. Demographics, disease characteristics, procedural details, PSA responses, and adverse events (AEs) are presented. The median (IQR) age at screening was 67.0 (61.0-72.0) years and Gleason distribution 3 + 4 (80.2%) and 4 + 3 (19.8%). At 6 months, all patients with available data (n = 74) experienced a median (IQR) percent reduction in PSA of 67.6% (52.3-82.2%). Only ten subjects (8.3%) experienced a Grade 3 adverse event; five were procedure-related. No Grade ≥ 4 AEs were reported. This study supports prior findings that IRE prostate ablation with the NanoKnife System can be performed safely. Final results are required to fully assess oncological, functional, and safety outcomes.
PubMed: 38927884
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122178 -
Cancers Jun 2024G9a, also named EHMT2, is a histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase responsible for catalyzing H3K9 mono- and dimethylation (H3K9me1 and H3K9me2). G9a contributes to... (Review)
Review
G9a, also named EHMT2, is a histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase responsible for catalyzing H3K9 mono- and dimethylation (H3K9me1 and H3K9me2). G9a contributes to various aspects of embryonic development and tissue differentiation through epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, the aberrant expression of G9a is frequently observed in various tumors, particularly in prostate cancer, where it contributes to cancer pathogenesis and progression. This review highlights the critical role of G9a in multiple cancer-related processes, such as epigenetic dysregulation, tumor suppressor gene silencing, cancer lineage plasticity, hypoxia adaption, and cancer progression. Despite the increased research on G9a in prostate cancer, there are still significant gaps, particularly in understanding its interactions within the tumor microenvironment and its broader epigenetic effects. Furthermore, this review discusses the recent advancements in G9a inhibitors, including the development of dual-target inhibitors that target G9a along with other epigenetic factors such as EZH2 and HDAC. It aims to bring together the existing knowledge, identify gaps in the current research, and suggest future directions for research and treatment strategies.
PubMed: 38927881
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122175