Objectives: To assess the role of soluble PD-L1 and PD-1 in combination with mRNA transcripts of PCA3, PSMA, AR genes in diagnostics of clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: For 68 PCa patients, plasma sPD-L1 and sPD-1 were measured by ELISA method and the urinary PSMA, PCA3 and AR were tested using RT-qPCR. Results: PSMA and AR were iden-tified as the most reliable biomarkers for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer, with AUCs of 0.81 and 0.78, respectively. Additionally, the expression levels of PSMA and PCA3 were associated with the pT3 stage. Despite the diagnostic potential of mRNA transcripts alone, the ad-dition of sPD-L1 and sPD-1 significantly enhanced diagnostic accuracy. Combination doubled the specificity of PCA3 from 44.1% to 88.0%, compared to PCA3 alone. sPD-L1, sPD-1 and AR resulted in the best distinction between clinically significant and insignificant prostate cancer, achieving an AUC of 0.97, an accuracy of 0.95, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 95%, revealing the potential of AR in distinguishing clinically significant PCa, more effectively than PSMA and PCA3. Our find-ings highlight the significant potential of sPD-1 in enhancing diagnostic accuracy when added to a triple gene panel, achieving an AUC of 0.90 compared to an AUC of 0.78 without sPD-1. This un-derscores the value of sPD-1, which has been less explored than sPD-L1 in cancer diagnostics. Con-clusions: sPD-L1 and sPD-1 has a potential to significantly enhance the accuracy of PCa diagnostics when added to the diagnostic panel, alongside PSMA, PCA3, and AR mRNA transcripts.

Aim: The aim in this study was to conduct a prospective survey regarding the socio-demographics and lifestyle risk factors for cancer of a population of Caribbean immigrants living in the U.S. Materials and Methods: The data were processed and analysed using SPSS software 27 and Excel. Crosstabulations were performed. The chi-square test was used to evaluate differ-ent hypotheses. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences in the country of birth of the Caribbean immigrants were found for sex (p = 0.038) and the cleanness of their neighbourhoods (p = 0.045). We found differences in occupations between men and women (p = 0.001). Men were less unemployed than women (p = 0.011). Sex also showed statistically significant differences in how easily the immigrants balanced their work and per-sonal life (p = 0.044). Age groups depicted differences in the physical health of the immigrants (p = 0.001). The use of alcohol and tobacco was not an important risk factor among participants (p = 0.529). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the sociodemographics risk factors for cancer among a population of Caribbean immigrants were significantly different between the sexes. However, the use of tobacco and alcohol showed insignificant differences among the immigrants.

Despite the role of metabolism in breast cancer metastasis, we still cannot predict which breast tumors will progress to distal metastatic lesions or remain dormant. This work uses metabolic imaging to study breast cancer cell lines (4T1, 4T07, and 67NR) with differing metastatic potential in a 3D collagen gel bioreactor system. Within the bioreactor, hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HP-MRS) is used to image lactate/pyruvate ratios, while fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of endogenous metabolites measures metabolism at the cellular scale. HP-MRS results showed no lactate peak for 67NR and a comparatively large lactate/pyruvate ratio for both 4T1 and 4T07 cell lines, suggestive of greater pyruvate utilization with greater metastatic potential. Similar patterns were observed using FLIM with significant increases in FAD intensity, redox ratio, and NAD(P)H lifetime. The lactate/pyruvate ratio was strongly correlated to NAD(P)H lifetime, consistent with the role of NADH as an electron donor for the glycolytic pathway, suggestive of an overall upregulation of metabolism (both glycolytic and oxidative), for the 4T07 and 4T1 cell lines compared to the non-metastatic 67NR cell line. These findings support a complementary role for HP-MRS and FLIM enabled by a novel collagen gel bioreactor system to investigate metastatic potential and cancer metabolism.

Radiotherapy remains a cornerstone in cancer treatment, leveraging ionizing radiation to eradicate malignant cells. Its efficacy, however, is frequently challenged by the heterogeneous sensitivity of tumors and surrounding tissues to radiation. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying radiosensitivity is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Among the myriad of molecular players involved, the tumor suppressor protein p53 stands out as a central regulator with significant implications for radiosensitivity. Known as the “guardian of the genome,” p53 plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability and orchestrating cellular responses such as cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and senescence in response to various stress signals, including radiation-induced DNA damage. Activation of p53 triggers the transcription of target genes involved in DNA repair pathways, such as p21, MDM2, and GADD45, facilitating the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage or the elimination of irreparably damaged cells. This, in turn, influences the overall radiosensitivity of tissues. Mutations in the TP53 gene, which encodes p53, are among the most frequent genetic alterations in human cancers. Loss or dysfunction of p53 can compromise the cellular response to radiation, leading to increased resistance to therapy and poorer clinical outcomes. Conversely, intact p53 function is associated with enhanced radiosensitivity due to its ability to promote cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to radiation-induced DNA damage. In conclusion, elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which p53 influences radiosensitivity is essential for advancing our understanding of radiation response in cancer cells and developing more effective therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted role of p53 in modulating cellular responses to radiation, emphasizing its influence on radiosensitivity.

Objective: To investigate the causal relationships between intestinal microbiome biomarkers and colorectal cancer (CRC) and its subtypes. Method: The meta-analysis method was used to integrate the largest genome-wide association study data from the MiBioGen consortium (n=18,340). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with intestinal microbial relative abundance were extracted as instrumental variables (IVs). Based on the Finnish database (R9 version) with 326,322 participants, the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was adopted to explore the causal relationships between intestinal microbes and CRC and its specific subtypes, such as colon cancer and rectal cancer. Result: A total of 3,310 SNPs were screened as IVs. The MR analysis revealed significant associations between various microbial traits and CRC, including its subtypes. Specific microbes, such as Erysipelotrichaceae, exhibited protective effects, while others, like Orato, were demonstrated as risk factors. Notably, specific biomarkers (e.g., Streptococcus thermophilus) for CRC were determined. This study provides new insights and potential targets for the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of CRC. Conclusion: Significant causal relationships exist between intestinal microbes and CRC and its pathological types. Specific microbes, such as Erysipelotrichaceae, play a protective role, whereas others, like Orato, serve as risk factors. These findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of CRC and provide a foundation for future prevention and treatment strategies.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and its two major types, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) present a severe global public health problem with an increasing incidence and mortality. Established risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits, but recent research highlights the substantial role of oral microbiota in EC pathogenesis. This review explores the intricate relationship between microbiome and esophageal carcinogenesis, focusing on eight significant mechanisms: chronic inflammation, microbial dysbiosis, production of carcinogenic metabolites, direct interaction with epithelial cells, epigenetic modifications, interaction with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), metabolic changes, and angiogenesis. Certain harmful bacteria, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, are specifically implicated in sustaining irritation and tumor progression through pathways including NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome. Additionally, the review explores how microbial byproducts, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), contribute to DNA harm and disease advancement. Furthermore, the impact of reflux on microbiota composition and its role in esophageal carcinogenesis is evaluated. By combining epidemiological data with mechanistic understanding, this review underscores the potential to target microbiota-immune system interplay for novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to prevent and treat esophageal cancer.

Men of African ancestry suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer (PCa) than other racial groups in South Africa. Equally concerning is that black South African men generally present later with higher stage and grade of the disease than their non-black counterparts. Despite this, South African black men continue to have little uptake in PCa screening behaviors. The objective of the study was to explore knowledge and beliefs of PCa among black South African survivors. A sample of 20 prostate cancer survivors, with ages ranging from 67 to 85 years (meanage = 76yrs; SD = 5.3) were selected through purposive sampling and requested to participate in the study. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings demonstrated that black South African men had poor knowledge of PCa and that this may create an unfortunate system that preclude this population group from taking part in life-saving PCa screening services. The results highlight a need to elevate knowledge and awareness of PCa among black South African men and ultimately enhance screening practices.

Recent advances in organoid technology have revolutionized cancer biology and thera-peutic interventions, offering personalized immunotherapy treatment. Organoids, three-dimensional cell cultures derived from patient tumors, accurately replicate the tumor microenvi-ronment, providing unprecedented insights into tumor-immune interactions and therapeutic re-sponses. In this literature-based study, we discuss various culture methods for the diverse appli-cations of organoids in cancer immunotherapy, including drug screening, personalized treatment strategies, and mechanistic studies. Additionally, we address the technological challenges asso-ciated with these methods and propose potential future solutions to accelerate the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. This review highlights the transformative potential of or-ganoid models in advancing preclinical cancer immunotherapy modeling, screening, and evalua-tion, paving the way for more effective and personalized cancer treatments.

Timely screening for breast cancer plays a pivotal role in early detection and treatment; however, Afghan refugee females face significant barriers that hinder their access to these life-saving screening services. Cultural norms, socioeconomic factors, proficiency with the English language, and the challenges of navigating foreign healthcare systems contribute to low screening rates within this population. The current review article seeks to identify barriers to breast cancer screening in the Afghan refugee population in the United States (US) and address possible measures to overcome these challenges.

The interplay between the human gut microbiota and the peripheral immune system significantly affects the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer therapy. Despite this profound connection, the practical implications of microbiota dysbiosis in cancer immunotherapy ICIs & and CAR-T remain intricate and poorly understood in practical terms. This paper offers a comprehensive review of current literature on the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in tumor development, and emerging microbiota modulation interventions, with a focus on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). FMT is a cost-effective therapeutic avenue, particularly in addressing diseases rooted in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile. Here we provided insights into the applications of FMT and other gut microbiota therapies in the landscape of cancer treatment, emphasizing their influence on the tumor microenvironment and the efficacy of ICIs with suggestions for future research directions and their implications for clinical practice.

Epigenetic changes regulate gene expression through histone modifications, chromatin remod-eling and proteins interpreter of these modifications. The PRC1 and PRC2 complexes shape gene repression via histone modifications. Specifically, the CBX protein family aids PRC1 recruitment to chromatin, impacting the progressive multistep process driving chromatin silencing. Among family members, CBX3 is a complex protein involved in aberrant epigenetic mechanisms that drive lung cancer progression. CBX3 promotes lung tumorigenesis by interacting with key pathways such as PI3K/AKT, Ras/KRAS, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, Notch, and p53, leading to in-creased proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and enhanced resistance to therapy. Given our current lack of knowledge, additional research is required to uncover the intricate mechanisms underlying CBX3 activity, as well as its involvement in molecular pathways and its potential biomarker evaluation. Specifically, the dissimilar roles of CBX3 could be reexamined in order to gain a greater insight into lung cancer pathogenesis. This review aims to provide a clear overview of the context-related molecular profile of CBX3, which could be useful for addressing clinical challenges and developing novel targeted therapies based on personalized medicine.

Abstract: Background: Gender dimorphism and marital status on colorectal cancer mortality have 9 been previously documented, but the relationship between these factors and DNA mismatch repair 10 protein (MMRP) expression status is unknown. Methods: Colectomy specimens were reviewed ret- 11 rospectively for patients between 2018 to 2023 with demographics including race/ethnicity, gender, 12 marital status, faith, body mass index, pathologic staging, and MMRP expression status. Statistical 13 analyses were performed by using baseline characteristics tables and various programs in R-pack- 14 age. Results: A total 1018 colectomies were reviewed, and the tumor stages were significantly higher 15 in right colon (stage 3 and 4) than those in left colon and rectosigmoid colon (p<0.01). Marital status 16 was significantly associated with patients’ gender, age, tumor size and tumor stages (all p<0.01). 17 MMRP status were available in 775 cases, and 139 (17.9%) were MMRP deficient, and 636 (82%) 18 MMRP proficient. MMRP deficiency was significantly associated with older female patients, larger 19 tumor in size, higher tumor stages, higher histologic grade and more common in right colon (all 20 p<0.01). In addition, MMRP deficiency was statistically associated with higher percentage of di- 21 vorced and widowed patients (p<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed persistent 22 association of MMRP deficiency with tumor size, tumor grade, tumor stage and nodal metastasis, 23 but the associations with gender and marital status no longer existed. Conclusion: The differences 24 in prevalence of CRC by gender and marital status and tumor MMRP status illustrate the im- 25 portance of these factors on tumor stages and nodal metastasis but these associations were more 26 complex with other confounding factors.

In genomics analysis, with the development of sequencing technology and the rapid growth of data volume, how to effectively identify and analyze important information in genomic data from massive data has become an important challenge. Identify key patterns and features in genomic data through advanced community testing methods. First, genomic data often contains a lot of noise and redundant information that needs to be processed through steps such as normalization, filtering, and dimensionality reduction. Normalization makes data at different scales comparable, filtering out data points with low quality or missing values, and dimensionality reduction reduces data dimensions through principal component analysis (PCA) and retains the main information. The gene co-expression network establishes the connection relationship between genes by calculating the expression similarity matrix between genes, and applies the Louvain algorithm to maximize the modularity of the network, aggregate nodes layer by layer, form a community structure, and identify the complex relationship and potential structure between genes. Finally, we utilize the cancer dataset to evaluate the proposed model. From our extensive experimental results, we can observe that Louvain's algorithm indicates outperformances and accuracy in the recognition and analysis of genomic data.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) can significantly impact mental health, increasing suicide risk. Variables such as pain and threat perception may be crucial. This study aims to identify predictors of suicide risk in individuals with CRC. Methods: A total of 71 participants (76.06% men) aged 27 to 88 years (M = 65.18, SD = 12.02) were assessed using the SF-36 for pain, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) for threat perception, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for emotional distress, and the Plutchik suicide risk scale for suicide risk. Descriptive, comparative, and correlational analyses were performed, followed by a linear regression analysis. Results: Nearly 20% of participants exhibited high suicide risk. There was a moderate to high association between suicide risk and the perception of threat, pain, and emotional distress. The linear regression model explained 39% of the variance in suicide risk, with threat perception, pain, and emotional distress as significant predictors. Conclusions: These results indicate the need for multidisciplinary care for individuals with CRC, including emotional support from health psychologists, and holistic, human-centered care from nursing and medical professionals. Future research is necessary to further explore these relationships and improve patient care strategies.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have accelerated the exploration of genotype-phenotype associations, facilitating the discovery of replicable genetic markers associated with specific traits or complex diseases. This narrative review explores the statistical methodologies developed using GWAS data to investigate relationships between various phenotypes, focusing on endometrial cancer, the most prevalent gynecological malignancy in developed nations. Advancements in analytical techniques such as genetic correlation, colocalization, cross-trait locus identification, and causal inference analyses have enabled deeper exploration of associations between different phenotypes, enhancing statistical power to uncover novel genetic risk regions. These analyses have unveiled shared genetic associations between endometrial cancer and many phenotypes, enabling identification of novel endometrial cancer risk loci and furthering our understanding of risk factors and biological processes underlying this disease. The current status of research in endometrial cancer is robust; however, this review demonstrates that further opportunities exist in statistical genetic that hold promise for advancing the understanding of endometrial cancer and other complex diseases.

ABSTRACT: Background: Virtual Reality (VR) emerges as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing symptoms and providing distraction during chemotherapy. This study aims to assess VR's effectiveness on cancer-related symptoms, vital signs, and patients' perception of the chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 patients. Participants were allocated into an intervention group (n = 55), which experienced immersive VR, and a comparison group (n = 45), which received usual care. Data were collected through questionnaires and checklists, including feedback on the VR experience, pain, vital signs, and common cancer symptoms, assessed through the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Results: VR had a significant impact on reducing the perception of the chemotherapy length. Patients reported high levels of satisfaction and tolerability. No adverse events were observed. VR did not have significant influence on pain intensity and vital signs. The only exceptions were oxygen saturation, where a significant difference (p = 0.02) was reported, and perception of chemotherapy duration. Conclusions: As a non-pharmacological intervention, VR proves beneficial in minimizing the perceived length of chemotherapy session for lung cancer patients, enhancing their overall treatment experience. The intervention showed to be a safe, feasible, and well-accepted distraction technique. Future research should explore VR's potential effects on a wider range of symptoms and evaluate its impact on long-term outcomes.

Abstract Introduction PCa is one of the cancers that exhibits the widest disparity gaps. Geographical place of residence has been shown to be associated with healthcare access/utilization and PCa outcomes. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are widely being utilized for PCa disparities research, however, inconsistencies in their application exist. This systematic review will summarize GIS application within PCa disparities research, highlight gaps in the literature and propose alternative approaches. Methods This paper followed the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration and the criteria set of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles published in peer-reviewed journals were searched through the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases till December 2022. The main inclusion criteria were employing a GIS approach and examining a relationship between geographical components and PCa disparities. The main exclusion criteria were studies conducted outside the US and those that were not published in English. Results A total of 25 articles were included, 23 focused on PCa measures as outcomes: incidence, survival, and mortality while only two examined PCa management. GIS application in PCa disparities research was grouped into three main categories: mapping, processing, and analysis. GIS mapping allowed for the visualization of quantitative, qualitative, and temporal trends of PCa factors. GIS processing was mainly used for geocoding and smoothing of PCa rates. GIS analysis mainly served to evaluate global spatial autocorrelation and distribution of PCa cases, while local cluster identification techniques were mainly employed to identify locations with poorer PCa outcomes, soliciting public health interventions. Discussion Varied GIS applications and methodologies have been used in researching PCa disparities. Multiple geographical scales were adopted leading to variation in associations and outcomes. Geocoding quality varied considerably leading to less robust findings. Limitations in cluster-detection approaches were identified especially when variations were captured using the Spatial Scan Statistic. GIS approaches utilized in other diseases might be applied within PCa disparities research for more accurate inferences. A novel approach for GIS research in PCa disparities could be focusing more on geospatial disparities in procedure utilization especially when it comes to PCa screening techniques. Conclusion This systematic review summarized and described the current state and trend of GIS application in PCa disparities research. Although GIS is of crucial importance when it comes to PCa disparities research, future studies should rely on more robust GIS techniques, carefully select the geographical scale studied, and partner with GIS scientists for more accurate inferences. Such interdisciplinary approaches have the potential to bridge the gaps between GIS and cancer prevention and control to further advance cancer equity.

Background. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy worldwide. Brain metastasis (BM) is quite an uncommon presentation. However, the likelihood of central nervous system (CNS) metastasization should be considered in the context of disseminated disease. The therapeutic management of BMs is an unmet clinical need, to date. Case presentation. We identified across different Cancer Centers six cases of both BRCA wild-type and BRCA-mutated EOC spreading to the CNS. They presented either with a single brain lesion or with multiple lesions and most of them had intracranial-only disease. All cases received Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance, as by clinical practice, for a long time within a multimodal treatment approach. We also provide an insight into the available body of work regarding the management of this intriguing disease setting, with a glimpse of future therapeutic challenges. Conclusion. Despite the lack of unanimous guidelines, multimodal care pathways should be encouraged for optimal disease control of this unfortunate patient’s subset. Albeit not being directly investigated in BM patients, the PARPi maintenance is deemed to have a valuable role in this setting. Prospective research, aimed to implement worthwhile strategies in the multimodal patient journey of BMs from EOC, is eagerly awaited.

The prospect of drinking water serving as a conduit for gut bacteria, artificially selected by disinfection strategies and lack of monitoring at the point of use, is concerning. Certain opportunistic pathogens, notably some nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), often exceed coliform bacteria levels in drinking water, posing safety risks. NTM and other microbiota resist chlorination and thrive in plumbing systems. When inhaled, opportunistic NTM can infect the lungs of immunocompromised or chronically ill patients, and the elderly, primarily postmenopausal women. When ingested with drinking water, NTM often survive stomach acidity, reach the intestines, migrate to other organs using immune cells as vehicles, potentially colonizing tumor tissue, including in breast cancer. The link between the microbiome and cancer is not new, yet the recognition of intratumoral microbiomes is a recent development. Breast cancer risk rises with age, and NTM infections emerged as a concern among breast cancer patients. In addition to studies hinting at a potential association between chronic NTM infections and lung cancer, NTM have also been detected in breast tumors at levels higher than normal adjacent tissue. Evaluating the risks of continued ingestion of contaminated drinking water is paramount, especially given the ability of various bacteria to migrate from the gut to breast tissue via entero-mammary pathways. This underscores a pressing need to revise water safety monitoring guidelines and delve into hormonal factors, which includes addressing the disproportionate impact of NTM infections and breast cancer on women and examining the potential health risks posed by the cryptic and unchecked microbiota from drinking water.

Even with 100% certainty of a complete cure for breast cancer (BC), there is still a long way to go toward more efficient treatment. This requires sensitive and timely detection and accurate pre/post-clinical characterizations. Despite the availability of advanced diagnostic tools, many cancer patients lack access to efficient diagnostics that are both highly reliable and affordable. The fluorescence-based optical technique aims to make another significant leap forward in improving patient safety. It offers a convenient operation that reduces healthcare costs compared to visual examination tools (VETs). The primary and metastatic stages of BC consider different cancerous cell lines (MDAs), meaning the highest number of cells in this research (up to 300,000) represents the metastatic stages of BC, and 50,000 represents the primary level of BC developments have been studied based on fluorescence-enhanced photodynamic characterizations. The ability to characterize the fluorescence caused by MDA with 50,000 cells compared to the dominant radiation of MDA with 300,000 cells is emphatic proof of the high potential of fluorescence technique in timely BC detections, specifically before it spreads to the axillary lymph nodes. The specific cell numbers of 50,000 and 300,000 were chosen arbitrarily based on the cultivation of common biological limitations. Comparing the outcomes between 50,000 and 300,000 cells allows for evaluating the fluorescence technique’s diagnostic capability across various stages of breast cancer. This assessment provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the fluorescence-based characterizing approach in detecting cancerous cells at different stages of the disease. Here, we have assessed fluorescence’s spectral shift and intensity difference as a diagnostic approach to distinguish between cancerous and normal breast cells. This study also presents a two-way structure of the 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) prodrug and Fluorescein Sodium (FS) effect in BC cell characterization from the perspective of photodynamical procedures and the detection side. 5-ALA induces an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) photosensitizer through a biosynthetic pathway, leading to red radiation of fluorescence measurements depending on different factors, such as temperature, incubation time, added glucose of the culturing medium, as well as photosynthesis processes. The presence and progression of breast cancer can be indicated by elevated levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are associated with the production of PpIX in cells following the administration of 5-ALA. Also, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) fluorophores are recognized as the main factors for fluorescence emissions at around 420-580 nm emission intervals. Considering the MDA’s high metastatic potential, the impact of 5-ALA on MDA’s cellular morphology and viability has been investigated. The molecular fluorophores are the primary probes to MDA’s cellular photodynamic considerations, allowing this widespread pre/post-clinical approach. The fluorescence signal reduction due to decreased cell viability and increased MDA’s cellular death rate after 24 hours of the 5-ALA-induced staining corresponds to the changes in lipid metabolism enzymes of MDAs cultured at different doses, which could be known as a cell death inducer function. Furthermore, statistical concerns have been studied using PCA multivariate component analysis to differentiate MDA cell lines administrated by 5-ALA.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have become the focus of antitumor immunity. However, the prognostic significance of TLSs in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treated with primary debulking surgery (PDS) or interval debulking surgery (IDS) remains unelucidated. This retrospective study examined the prognostic value of TLSs in tumor tissues obtained during PDS and IDS. Pathological specimens were collected from patients with EOC who underwent PDS or IDS between 2017 and 2020 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East. The correlation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte frequency, TLS presence, and PD-L1 expression with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and the correlation between TLS and PD-L1 expression were analyzed. Overall, 25 specimens (15 from PDS and 10 from IDS) were analyzed. The presence of TLS was associated with a significantly longer OS in patients who underwent PDS but not in patients who underwent IDS. No correlation was identified between TLS and PFS in patients with PDS or with IDS. However, TLS was positively correlated with PD-L1 positivity. The prognostic impact of TLS, specifically in pre-chemotherapy specimens, and a positive correlation between TLS and PD-L1 indicate the potential of TLS as a meaningful biomarker for understanding antitumor immunity and developing immunotherapy for EOC.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for over 85% of cases and poor prognosis in advanced stages. This study explored shifts in circulating metabolite levels in NSCLC patients versus healthy controls and examined the effects of conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We enrolled 91 NSCLC patients (38 CFRT and 53 SBRT) and 40 healthy controls. Plasma metabolite levels were assessed using semi-targeted metabolomics, revealing 32 elevated and 18 reduced metabolites in patients. Key discriminatory metabolites included ethylmalonic acid, maltose, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, taurine, glutamic acid, glycocolic acid, and d-arabinose, with a combined Receiver Operating Characteristics curve indicating perfect discrimination between patients and controls. CFRT and SBRT affected different metabolites, but both changes suggested a partial normalization of energy and amino acid metabolism pathways. In conclusion, metabolomics identified distinct metabolic signatures in NSCLC patients with potential as diagnostic biomarkers. The differing metabolic responses to CFRT and SBRT reflect their unique therapeutic impacts, underscoring the utility of this technique in enhancing NSCLC diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Globally, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Cancer are the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is considered to be one of the most significant public health concerns of the 21st century. Over the next two decades, the global burden is expected to increase by approximately 60%. Several observational studies as well as clinical trials have demonstrated the health benefits of consuming whole grains and lower the risk of several chronic non communicable diseases including T2D and cancer. Cereals grains are the primary source of energy in the human diet. The most widely consumed pseudo cereals include (quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat) and cereals (wheat, rice and corn). From a nutritional perspective, both pseudo cereals and cereals are recognized for their complete protein, essential amino acids, dietary fibres and phenolic acids. The bran layer of the seed contains the majority of these components. Greater intake of whole grains than refined grains has been consistently linked to a lower risk of T2D and cancer. Due to their superior nutritional compositions, whole grains make them a preferred choice over refined grains. The modulatory effects of whole grains on T2D and cancer are also likely to be influenced by several mechanisms, some of these effects may be direct; while others involve altering the composition of gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and lowering harmful bacteria, increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering solubility of free bile acids, protein broken down into peptides and amino acids, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other beneficial metabolites that promote the proliferation in the colon which modulate the anti-diabetic and anti-cancer pathway. Thus the present review are two folded; first summarizes the recent knowledge about the nutritional composition and bioactive acids in pseudo cereals (quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat) and cereals (wheat, rice and corn); the second section summarizes and discusses the progress in recent human studies, such as observational (cross-sectional studies, case-control studies and cohort studies) and intervention studies in understanding their role in T2D and cancer including the potential mechanism. Overall according to the scientific data, whole grain consumption may reduce the incidence of T2D and cancer. Future studies should carry out randomized controlled trials to validate observational results and establish causality; in addition the current manuscript encourages to investigate the specific mechanisms by which whole grains exert their beneficial effects on health by examining the effects of different types of specific protein, dietary fibres and phenolic acids that might help to prevent or treat T2D and cancer.

The role of the microbiome in cancer and its crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been extensively studied and characterized. An emerging field in the cancer microbiome research is the concept of the intratumoral microbiome, which refers to the microbiome residing within the tumor. This microbiome primarily originates from the local microbiome of the tu-mor-bearing tissue or from translocating microbiome from distant sites, such as the gut. Despite the increasing number of studies on intratumoral microbiome, it remains unclear whether it is a driver or a bystander of oncogenesis and tumor progression. This review aims to elucidate the intricate role of the intratumoral microbiome in tumor development by exploring its effects on reshaping the multi-leveled ecosystem in which tumors thrive, the TME. To dissect the complexity and the multitude of layers within the TME, we distinguish six specialized tumor microenvironments, namely the immune, metabolic, hypoxic, acidic, mechanical and innervated microenvironments. Accordingly, we attempt to decipher the effects of the intratumoral microbiome on each specialized microenvironment and ultimately decode its tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressive impact. Additionally, we portray the intratumoral microbiome as an orchestrator in the tumor milieu, fine-tuning the responses in distinct, specialized microenvironments and remodeling the TME in a multi-leveled and multi-faceted manner.

Indocyanine Green (ICG) has significantly advanced minimally invasive surgery. It is widely recognized for its ability to visualize blood vessel patency in real-time across various surgical specialties. While its primary use in colorectal surgery is to evaluate anastomoses for leaks, nu-merous other applications have been documented in the literature. In this review, we aim to explore both established and emerging applications of ICG fluorescence in colorectal surgery, with the goal of improving patient outcomes. This includes preoperative tumor marking and the detection of metastatic disease. Some applications, such as lymphatic mapping, require further research to determine their impact on clinical practices. Conversely, oth-ers, like the intraoperative localizations of ureters, necessitate additional procedures and are not yet widely accepted by the surgical community. However, the development of alternative com-pounds could offer better solutions. Future research should focus on areas like quantitative ICG and protocol standardization in prospective multicenter studies.

Background Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the world. Due to the prevalence and high morbidity, it is of key importance to make a quick and accurate diagnosis and effective therapy. The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of endometrial cancer is a significant challenge in conducting clinical trials. PDT is non-invasive, with few side effects, damaging only neoplastic tissue, leaving healthy adjacent structures intact. Thanks to numerous experiments (also in vitro), PDT is gaining more and more recognition as a potential tool in endometrium cancer treatment. Objective The aim of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy on endometrial cancer tissue samples Methods In the in vitro experiment of PDT, sections of endometrial cancer tissue taken from female patients were subjected to. Rose Bengal was used as a photosensitizer in order to assess the usefulness of the applied PDT and to introduce these solutions into the in vivo test procedure. Results Changes on the cellular substrate, such as: chromatin condensation, disturbed structure and shape of cell nuclei were observed in all tissues subjected to PDT. Conclusions The PDT experiment in vitro offers opportunities and hopes for using the chosen procedure also in vivo. Keywords endometrial cancer; photodynamic therapy; in vitro; treatment; rose bengal

In this multicenter, retrospective study we evaluated the added value of magnetic resonance dispersion imaging (MRDI) to standard multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) for PCa detection. The study included 76 patients - 51 with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), who underwent radical prostatectomy and had an mpMRI including dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI. Two radiologists performed three separate randomized scorings based on mpMRI, MRDI and mpMRI+MRDI. Radical prostatectomy histopathology was used as the reference standard. Imaging and histopathology were both scored according to the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System V2.0 sector map. Sensitivity and specificity for PCa detection were evaluated for mpMRI, MRDI and mpMRI+MRDI. Inter- and intra-observer variability for both radiologists were evaluated using Cohen’s Kappa. On a per patient level, sensitivity for csPCa for radiologist 1 (R1) for mpMRI, MRDI and mpMRI+MRDI were 0.94, 0.82 and 0.94, respectively. For the second radiologist (R2) these were 0.78, 0.94 and 0.96. R1 detected 4% additional csPCa cases using MRDI compared to mpMRI and R2 detected 20% extra csPCa cases using MRDI. Inter-observer agreement was significant only for MRDI (Cohen’s kappa = 0.4250, p=0.004). The results of this study show the potential of MRDI to improve interobserver variability and the detection of csPCa.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate a series of complete blood cell count – based biomarkers of systemic inflammation as predictors of clinical outcomes in patients who underwent first-line chemoimmunotherapy for advanced NSCLC. Methods: Consecutive patients with pathologically diagnosed stage III/IV NSCLC who underwent first-line chemoimmunotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical outcomes used for biomarker evaluation were Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Overall Survival (OS). Results: Non-responders had significantly higher values of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR, median: 5.36; IQR: 2.78–10.82 vs. 3.31; IQR: 2.15–4.12, p = 0.019), neutrophil to monocyte ratio (NMR, median: 14.00; IQR: 8.82–21.20 vs. 9.20; IQR: 7.45–11.20, p = 0.013), and systemic inflammation index (SII, median: 1,395; IQR: 929–3,334 vs. 945; IQR: 552–1,373, p = 0.025), but only NLR and NMR remained independently related with clinical response in multivariate logistic regression. In univariate analysis white blood cells (OR:1.2202; 95% CI: 1.0339 - 1.4400, p=0.019), neutrophils (OR:1.2916; 95% CI: 1.0692 - 1.5604, p=0.008), NLR (OR:1.3601: 95% CI: 1.0949 - 1.6896, p=0.005) and NMR (OR:1.2159; 95% CI: 1.00396 - 1.4221, p=0.015) were significantly associated with survival; Cox regression models confirmed that neutrophils, NLR and MLR were independently associated with survival; NLR at a cut-off value of 4.0 showed the better AUC (0.749) in predicting survival. Conclusions: Baseline complete blood cell count biomarkers, especially the NLR, can predict clinical outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy and the second most lethal malignancy of the general population. Right sided colon cancer is less common than left sided, occurring more frequently in females, and associated with an older age and poor prognosis. Intraabdominal abscess formation is a rare complication from colorectal cancer. Thus, we present a case of a 66-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with 4 days of sudden onset, intractable right lower quadrant abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. After further evaluation, he was diagnosed with right sided colon adenocarcinoma complicated by peri-colonic abscess formation. He was treated with hemicolectomy without immunotherapy. Considering the scarcity of data concerning colonic abscess formation and colorectal adenocarcinoma, more research is needed on this dual presentation. These authors reinforce that in older patients presenting with acute abdomen, colorectal cancer should be noted as a differential

Skeletal muscle (SKM), despite comprising ~40% of body mass, is rare. This review explores the mechanisms that help to explain this rarity, including unique SKM architecture and function, which prohibits development of new cancer as well as negates potential metastasis to SKM. SKM also presents a unique immune environment that may magnify the anti-tumorigenic effect. Moreover, the SKM microenvironment manifests characteristics such as decreased extracellular matrix stiffness and altered lactic acid, pH, and oxygen levels that may interfere with tumor development. SKM also secretes anti-tumorigenic myokines and other molecules. Collectively, these mechanisms help account for the rarity of SKM cancer.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, primarily affecting women, while histopathological image analysis is one of the possibilities used to determine tumor malignancy. Regarding image analysis, the application of deep learning has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. However, a significant issue is the unbalanced nature of available datasets, with some classes having more images than others, which may impact the performance of the models due to poorer generalisability. A possible strategy to avoid this problem is downsampling the class with the most images to create a balanced dataset. Nevertheless, this approach is not recommended for small datasets as it can lead to poor model performance. Instead, techniques such as data augmentation are traditionally used to address this issue. These techniques apply simple transformations, such as translation or rotation, to the images to increase variability in the dataset. Recently, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have emerged, which can generate images from a relatively small training set. This work aims to enhance the model’s performance in classifying histopathological images by applying data augmentation using GANs instead of traditional techniques.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a major prognostic and predictive marker overexpressed in 15- 20 % of breast cancers. The diagnostic reference standard for selecting patients for HER2-targeted therapy is by analysis of tumor biopsies for HER2 expression and amplification. Previously patients were either defined as HER2-positive or negative, however, with approval of novel treatment options, specifically the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan, many breast cancer patients with tumors expressing low levels of HER2 and lacking HER2 amplification have become eligible for HER2-targeted therapy. Such patients will need to be reliably identified by suitable diagnostic methods. Biopsy-based diagnostics are invasive, and repeat biopsies are not always feasible. They cannot visualize heterogeneity of HER2 expression, leading to a substantial number of misdiagnosed patients. An alternative and highly accurate diagnostic method is mo-lecular imaging with radiotracers. In case of HER2, various studies demonstrate the clinical utility and feasibility of such approaches. Affibody-based radiotracers are clinically validated molecules with favorable characteristics for imaging. In this article we summarize the HER2-targeted therapeutic landscape, describe the experience with imaging diagnostics for HER2, and review the currently available clinical data on HER2-Affibody-based molecular imaging as novel diagnostic tool in breast cancer and beyond.

.Background: Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) vary in severity from mild diarrhea to life-threatening conditions like pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon, often leading to sepsis and death. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted changes in healthcare practices, potentially affecting CDI incidence, though reported data are inconclusive. We studied factors influencing CDI incidence and outcomes at a university hospital throughout the COVID-19 pandemic years. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on all adult hospitalized CDI cases from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. We collected demographic information, comorbid conditions, and concurrent infections. Results: While overall CDI and COVID-19 rates decreased in 2022, a nota-ble increase in CDI infections was observed among oncological patients and those undergoing some aggressive treatments, such as colon or gastroscopies. The prevalence of comorbidities remained unmodified, and there were declines in prior gastrointestinal surgeries and proton pump inhibitor prescriptions. Factors associated with patient fatality or prolonged hospitaliza-tion included older age, cancer, chronic kidney disease, higher Charlson and McCabe indices, elevated C-reactive protein, and low albumin concentrations. Conclusion: Our study shows the evolving landscape of CDI during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the impact of de-layed diagnoses and treatments exacerbated by telemedicine adoption. Identified risk factors for CDI-related mortality or prolonged hospital stays underscore the importance of targeted inter-ventions in high-risk populations.

Histone demethylases, enzymes responsible for removing methyl groups from histone proteins, have emerged as critical players in regulating gene expression and chromatin dynamics, thereby influencing various cellular processes. LSD2 and LSD1 have attracted considerable interest among these demethylases because of their associations with cancer. However, while LSD1 has received significant attention, LSD2 has not been recognized to the same extent. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive comparison between LSD2 and LSD1, with a focus on exploring LSD2's implications. While both share structural similarities, LSD2 possesses unique features. Functionally, LSD2 shows diverse roles, particularly in cancer, with tissue-dependent roles. Additionally, LSD2 extends beyond histone demethylation, impacting DNA methylation and DNA damage repair pathways. This study underscores the distinct roles of LSD2, providing insights into their contributions to cancer and other cellular processes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that is commonly considered to be a potent driver of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and related mortality. A growing body of evidence supports the role of the immune system, mainly played by alveolar macrophages (AMs), as key axes regulating the development of COPD or NSCLC phenotypes in response to harmful agents. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that influence most biological processes and interfere with several regulatory pathways. The purpose of this study was to assess miRNA expression patterns in patients with COPD, NSCLC, and ever- or never-smoker controls to explore theirinvolvment in smoking-related diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were collected from a prospective cohort of 43 sex-matched subjects to determine expression of hsa-miR-223-5p, 16-5p, 20a-5p, -17-5p, 34a-5p and 106a-5p by RT-PCR. In addition, bioinformatic analysis of miRNA target genes linked to cancer was performed. Distinct and common miRNA expression levels were identified in each pathological group suggesting their possible role as an index of NSCLC or COPD microenvironment. Moreover, we identified miRNA targets linked to carcinogenesis using in silico analysis. In conclusion, this study identified miRNA signatures in AMs, allowing us to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying smoking-related conditions and potentially providing new insight for diagnosis or pharmacological treatment.

Metabolomics profiling for accurate and reliable quantification of organic acids that carry a carboxylic acid functional group in complex biological samples, remains a major analytical challenge in clinical chemistry research. Several procedural barriers associated with quantification of clinically important carboxylic containing metabolites (CCMs) including spontaneous decarboxylation during ionization, poor chromatographic resolution, and retention on a reverse-phase column, limit the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) based LC-MS assay development. We report a targeted metabolomics-based analytical method for the quantification of CCMs using phenylenediamine derivatization. Accurate and sensitive quantification of CCMs is successfully demonstrated in an array of biological matrices. Recovery of metabolites from different matrices (plasma, serum, urine, saliva, tissues, and cell extracts), ranged from 90% to 105%, with all the CVs ≤ 10%. The method showed linearity over a broad dynamic range from 0.1 ng/mL to 10 µg/mL with linear regression coefficients of 0.99 for most of the metabolites tested herein, that covers broad-based applicability with the analysis of biological samples. In most cases the LODs were as low as 0.01 ng/mL. The phenylenediamine-based derivatization of carboxyl acid library consisting of more than 70 endogenous metabolites was constructed for metabolite identification, which spanned more than 40 biological pathways. The library included a wide-variety of structurally variant CCMs such as amino acids/conjugates, short to medium chain organic acids, di/tri-carboxylic acids/conjugates, fatty acids and some ring-containing CCMs. We compared the CCMs profiles of pancreatic cancer cells with normal pancreatic epithelial cells to test and validate the biological utility of this method. The comparative profiling between cancerous and normal cells resulted in the identification of potential biomarkers in pancreatic cancer, and their correlation with several key metabolic pathways such as central carbon energy metabolism, protein metabolism, including TCA cycle, glycolysis, Gln-Glu pathway, and biosynthesis of amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids was established. The method, described herein, for the first time enables the sensitive and highly specific quantification of CCMs on small sample size with high reproducibility in a high throughput manner. Given the biological and functional significance of this class of metabolites, this mass spectrometry based targeted quantitative assay, fills an important gap and is likely to support a wide range of applications for basic, clinical, and translational research.

Bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis is reliant on cystoscopy, an invasive procedure associated with urinary tract infections. This has sparked interest in identifying non-invasive biomarkers in body fluids such as blood and urine. A source of biomarkers in these biofluids are extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized vesicles that contain a wide array of molecular cargo, including small non-coding RNA such as microRNA and transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRF). Here we performed small-RNA next-generation sequencing for urine EVs, serum EVs and serum supernatant from 41 patients with non-muscle invasive BC (27 stage Ta, 14 stage T1) and 15 non-cancer patients (NCP) with benign cystoscopy findings. Serum and urine samples were collected before transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TUR-b) and at routine postsurgery check-ups. Expression levels of tRFs in presurgery samples were compared to those at postsurgery check-ups and to NCPs. To strengthen the reliability of our results, samples from 10 patients with stage T1 disease were resequenced. When comparing tRF expression in urine EVs between BC patients with stage T1 disease and NCPs, 14 differentially expressed tRFs (DEtRFs) were identified. In serum supernatant, six DEtRFs were identified among stage T1 patients when comparing presurgery to postsurgery samples, and four DEtRFs were found when comparing presurgery samples to NCPs. By performing a blast search, we found that sequences of DEtRFs aligned with genomic sequences pertaining to processes relevant to cancer development, such as enhancers, regulatory elements and CpG islands. Our findings display a number of tRFs that may hold potential as biomarkers for the diagnosis and recurrence-free survival of BC.

Abstract: Exercise has been repeatedly shown to be safe and beneficial for cancer survivors. However, there is no normative guideline for exercise prescription, and it is under exploration. Therefore, this literature review aims to provide some advice for the formulation of exercise prescriptions for patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) from the perspective of reducing lymphedema severity. A review of relevant studies published before November 2023 was conducted using three scientific databases PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. A total of 2696 articles were found. Eventually, 13 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this literature review. We concluded daily, or nearly daily exercise at home can be recommended. Moreover, reduced lymphedema severity may not be maintained after ceasing the exercise program, so exercise should be a lifelong practice.

Rectal cancer presents a significant burden globally, often requiring multimodal therapy for locally advanced cases. Long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) and short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by surgery have been conventional neoadjuvant approaches. Recent trials favor LCRT due to improved local control. However, tumor distant recurrence remains a concern, prompting exploration of Total Neoadjuvant Therapy (TNT) as a comprehensive treatment strat-egy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show promise, particularly in mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, potentially revolutionizing neoadjuvant regimens. Non-operative management (NOM) represents a viable alternative post-neoadjuvant therapy for selected patients achieving clinical complete response (cCR). Additionally, monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) emerges as a non-invasive method for treatment response assessment. This review synthesizes current evidence on TNT, ICIs, NOM and ctDNA, elucidating their implications for rectal cancer management and highlighting avenues for future research and clinical application.

Atherosclerosis, a complex metabolic-immune disease characterized by a chronic inflammation driven by the buildup of lipid-rich plaques within arterial walls, has emerged as a pivotal factor in the intricate interplay between cancer and cardiovascular disease. This bidirectional relationship, marked by shared risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms, underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of how these two formidable health challenges intersect and influence each other. Cancer and its treatments can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis while atherosclerosis with its inflammatory microenvironment can exert profound effects on cancer development and outcomes. Both cancer and cardiovascular disease involve intricate interactions between general and personal exposomes. In this review we want to summarize the state-of-the-art of translational data and try to show how oncologic studies on cardiotoxicity can broaden our knowledge of crucial pathways in cardiovascular biology with a positive impact on precision cardiology and cardioncology.

This study was to identify clinical cancer biomarkers for recurrent gastric cancer survivors using artificial intel-ligence. From a hospital-based cancer registry database in Taiwan, the datasets of the incidence of recurrence and clinical risk features were included in 2476 gastric cancer survivors. We benchmarked Random forest with MLP, C4.5, AdaBoost, and Bagging algorithms on metrics and leveraged synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) for imbalanced dataset issues, cost-sensitive learning for risk assessment, and SHapley Additive ex-Planations (SHAP) for feature importance analysis in this study. Our proposed Random forest outperformed the other models with an accuracy of 87.9%, a recall rate of 90.5%, an accuracy rate of 86% and F1 of 88.2% on re-current category by a 10-fold cross-validation in a balanced dataset. We identified clinical features of recurrent gastric cancer, which are the top five features, stage, number of regional lymph node involvement, Helicobacter pylori, BMI(body mass index), and gender, which significantly affect the prediction model's output, are worth paying attention to in the following causal effect analysis. Using an artificial intelligence model, the risk factors for recurrent gastric cancer could be identified and cost-effectively ranked according to their feature importance. In addition, they should be crucial clinical features to provide physicians with the knowledge to screen high-risk patients in gastric cancer survivors as well.

Silybin is a natural compound extensively studied for its hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-cancer properties. Envisioning the enhancement of silybin potential by suitable modifications in its chemical structure, here, a series of new 7-O alkyl silybins derivatives were synthesized by Mitsunobu reaction starting from the silybins and tyrosol-based phenols, such as tyrosol (TYR, 3), 3-methoxytyrosol (MTYR, 4) and 3-hydroxytyrosol (HTYR, 5). This research sought to explore the antioxidant and anticancer properties of new eighteen derivatives and their mechanisms. In particular, the antioxidant properties of new derivatives outlined by DPPH assay, showed a very pronounced activity depending on the tyrosyl moiety (HTYR&gt;MTYR&gt;&gt;TYR). A significant contribution of the HTYR moiety was observed for silybins and 2,3-dehydro-silybin based derivatives. According to the very potent antioxidant activity, 2,3-dehydro-silybin derivatives 15ab, 15a and 15b exerted the most potent anticancer activity in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis for cell cycle and apoptosis revealed that 15ab, 15a and 15b induce strong G1 phase arrest and increase late apoptotic population in PC-3 cells. Additionally, western blotting for apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 confirmed apoptosis induction by these silybin derivatives in PC-3 cells. These findings hold significant importance in the investigation of anticancer properties of silybin derivatives and strongly encourage swift investigation in pre-clinical models and clinical trials.

(1) Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of cancer but how these two diseases associate is still debated. The goal was the assessment of the overall incidence of cancer among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM in Hungary. Summarizing, incident T2DM is associated with a significantly higher overall risk of incident cancer, with a reverse correlation of age. Newly registered T2DM patients were suggested to be screened for cancer within 6 months. (2) Methods: A nationwide, retrospective, longitudinal study was performed using a Hungarian database. The incident T2DM and diabetes free Hungarian population were included in the study. The primary endpoints were the overall and site-specific incidence and annual percentage change of the incidence of cancer in both populations. (3) Results: The overall incidence of cancer in patients amounted to 29.4/1000 and 6.6/1000 with or without T2DM, respectively, and the OR (95%CI) of cancer of the T2DM group was 4.32 (4.14-4.53), p&lt;0.0001. The risk of having cancer was age-dependent, having the highest odd in the age group 18-39. The incidence of cancer was declining in the non-diabetic but was unchanged in T2DM population. The average lag time of diagnosing a cancer after the detection of T2DM was 3.86 months.; (4) Conclusions: Iincident T2DM is associated with a significantly higher overall risk of incident cancer, with a reverse correlation of age. Newly registered T2DM patients were suggested to be screened for cancer within 6 months.

Black spot disease is associated with the breakdown of chitin by chitinolytic bacteria resulting in extensive black lesions across the body of crustaceans. Black spot is prevalent across most fished crustaceans worldwide. Severely infected individuals are rejected from the fishery resulting in financial loss to both fisher’s and seafood export and processing companies. Ecologically, populations with high infection rates may have increased mortalities resulting in fewer individuals surviving the population. The prevalence and severity of shell disease in the edible crab, Cancer pagurus, of various size classes, was assessed via scaled images taken from crabs sampled within the Berwickshire Marine Reserve, UK. A total of 22.4% of individuals across all size groups were found to contain black spot lesions. Male crabs were more commonly affected (26.21%), with more body parts showing lesions and a greater overall blackspot coverage (1.75%) than females (16.43% and 1% respectively). Crabs under the MLS (140mm) showed a significantly higher black spot coverage, but size did not significantly affect infection rates. Carapace and chelae were the most commonly affected areas. Compared to previous studies the Berwickshire Marine Reserve has a relatively low prevalence of black spot disease in Cancer pagurus.

Background This study aimed to determine the association between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) incidence in patients with lung cancer. Method We obtained national claims data of 51,021 patients from South Korea with lung cancer between August 2017 and December 2021. The study population was classified into ICIs and non-ICIs groups based on prescription of ICIs at least once during the study period. To estimate the effects of ICIs treatment compared with those without ICIs treatment on HZ incidence, we used the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for sex, age, comorbidities, and concomitant use of immunosuppressive drugs. Stratified analyses based on sex, age, and comorbidities were conducted to identify corresponding risk factors. Results Of the 51,021 study participants, 897 (1.8%) were prescribed ICIs, and 2,262 (4.4%) were diagnosed with HZ. Approximately 75.6% of the patients were male, and the prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease in the ICIs group was significantly lower than that in the non-ICIs group. The Kaplan–Meier plot showed that the probability of incidence of HZ in the ICIs group was lower than that in the non-ICIs group. Additionally, treatment with ICIs was associated with a 31% lower risk of developing HZ when compared to that seen without ICIs treatment (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48–1.00). This association was stronger in females (hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19–0.94) and those less than 68 years of age (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34–0.99). Conclusion In these real-world data from an Asian population with lung cancer, ICIs treatment might be associated with a reduced risk of HZ compared to that without ICIs treatment.

Recently, I described a novel approach for cancer therapy in an article entitled “Promoting Oncolytic Vector Replication with Switches that Detect Ubiquitous Mutations”. However, there are a few more design details that should potentially be taken into consideration. Also, multiregion, multisample tumor sequencing may be simplified by analyzing cell-free DNA in the blood of patients.

We developed an ovarian cancer-targeted drug delivery system based on a follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) peptide. The lipophilic chemotherapeutic drug SN38 and the photosensitizer IR820 were loaded into the phospholipid bilayer of liposomes. Near-infrared laser irradiation stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species, causing short-term reactive molecular species and spatial-temporal restricted photodamage to the biological targets. The reactive molecular species and spatial-temporal restricted photodamage enhanced the release and uptake of chemotherapy drugs and increased the sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs in ovarian cancer cells. FSH liposomes loaded with SN38 and IR820 (SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH) were prepared using thin-film hydration-sonication. FSH peptide binding was analyzed using 1H NMR spectrum and Maldi-Tof. The average size and zeta potential of SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH were 105.1 ± 1.15 nm (PDI: 0.204 ± 0.03) and −27.8 ± 0.42 mV, respectively. SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited good drug-loading properties and the in vitro release was slow. FSH significantly increased the uptake of liposomes, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis in A2780 cells. Moreover, SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited good tumor-targeting ability and anti-ovarian cancer activity in vivo. The SN38/IR820-Lipo@FSH exhibited specific targeting to A2780 ovarian cancer cells. The combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic treatment based on an FSH peptide-targeted delivery system may be an effective approach to treating ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality, necessitating effective screening and diagnostic methods. This study aimed to assess the performance of cervicovaginal smear (CVS) and Human papilloma virus (HPV)-DNA cotest. STUDY DESIGN: The pathology results of 225 female patients who underwent HPV-DNA testing with CVS between 2014 and 2022 and were subsequently diagnosed by colposcopic cervical biopsy or second CVS were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: CVS samples showed Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS), Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and cervical cancer. Concordance between the first and second diagnoses demonstrated moderate agreement for LSIL. ASCUS cases exhibited a significant correlation with HPV-DNA positivity and higher-grade cervical lesions. In biopsy, sensitivity and specificity for CIN 2 were 67.8% and 67.9%, respectively, while for CIN 3, they were 81.8% and 58.5%. HPV testing showed significant correlation with histopathologic results. In women over 40 years, more intraepithelial lesions were diagnosed compared to younger women (p<0.005). The conventional smear technique proved reliable in detecting high-grade lesions. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations of our study, our results emphasize the value of HPV-DNA testing to avoid unnecessary interventions and to establish appropriate follow-up strategies.

Skin cancer is a prevalent type of malignancy on a global scale, and the early and accurate diag-nosis of this condition is of utmost importance for the survival of patients. The clinical assessment of cutaneous lesions is a crucial aspect of medical practice, although it encounters several obsta-cles, such as prolonged waiting time and misinterpretation. The intricate nature of skin lesions, coupled with variations in appearance and texture, presents substantial barriers to accurate clas-sification. As such, skilled clinicians often struggle to differentiate benign moles from early ma-lignant tumors in skin images. Although deep learning-based approaches such as convolution neural networks have made significant improvements, their stability and generalization continue to confront difficulties, and their performance in accurately delineating lesion borders, capturing refined spatial connections among features, and using contextual information for classification is suboptimal. To address these limitations, we propose a novel approach for skin lesion classification which combines snake models of Active Contour (AC) Segmentation, ResNet50 for feature ex-traction and a Capsule Network with a fusion of lightweight attention mechanisms, to attain the different feature channels and spatial regions within feature maps, enhance the feature discrimi-nation, and improve accuracy. We employed the Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) optimization algorithm to optimize the model's parameters. The proposed model is implemented on publicly available datasets, namely HAM10000 and ISIC 2020. The experimental results showed that the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 98% and AUC-ROC of 97.3%, showcasing substantial potential in terms of effective model generalization compared to existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) approaches. These results highlight the potential for our approach to reshape automated derma-tological diagnosis and provide a helpful tool for medical practitioners.

Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is a challenging condition with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Understanding the interactions between tumor cells and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies. One promising target is estrogen receptor β (ERβ), which promotes the expression of key tight junction proteins, sealing the BBB and reducing its permeability. In this study, we investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and the selective ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) on endothelial and cancer cells. Western blot analysis revealed the expression patterns of ERs in these cell lines, and estrogen treatment upregulated claudin-5 expression in brain endothelial cells. Using in vitro models of the BBB, we found that DPN treatment significantly increased BBB tightness about suppressed BBB transmigration activity of representative HER2-positive (BT-474) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines. However, the efficacy of DPN treatment decreased when cancer cells were pre-differentiated in the presence of E2. Our results support ERβ as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of BCBM and suggest that targeted vector-based approaches may be effective for future preventive and therapeutic implications.

The treatment of cancer and associated healthcare procedures often impose a detrimental effect on patients’ quality of life. Symptoms stemming from treatment often hinder patients’ social interactions, emphasizing the crucial role of social support in preserving quality of life and alleviating stress. Moreover, patient resilience serves as a valuable asset in mitigating stress levels and upholding an optimal quality of life amidst the challenges posed by the illness. This study aims to explore the correlation between diverse sources and forms of social support, resilience, and their impact on the quality of life and stress levels among patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy. This study involved thirty patients undergoing immunotherapy at Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella. Resilience correlated with improved cognitive functioning and diminished symptoms. Informational support from healthcare providers and emotional support from friends were linked to symptom alleviation, such as reduced appetite and insomnia. Moreover, emotional support from friends emerged as a predictor for decreased perceived stress. Interventions targeting the improvement of quality of life and reduction of stress among cancer patients should prioritize assessing support needs and involving the patient's social network, especially during the treatment phase.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a non- malignant disease, characterized by the production of wart-like growths in respiratory tract, affecting both young and adults (Juvenile-Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, JORRP and Adult-Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, AORRP, respectively). Infection caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is known as the main factors involved in RRP development. Complications of RRP may rarely occur, including lung involvement and malignant transformation. The present systematic review was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of severe complications, as lung involvement and lung tumor in JORRP and AORRP patients, following the guideline for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA Statement). Among the 378 studies were found on PubMed and Scopus using the following MESH terms “recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and lung tumor” and “pulmonary tumor and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis”. Basing on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 11 studies were included in the systematic review. We found a pooled prevalence of 8% (95% CI:4%-14%; I2: 87.5%) for lung involvement in RRP patients. In addition, we found a pooled risk difference of 5% in lung involvement between JORRP and AORRP (95% CI: -7%-18%; I2 :85.6%, p-value: 0.41). Among patients with lung involvement, we observed a pooled prevalence of lung tumor of 4% (95% CI:1%- 7%; I2: 67.1%), and a pooled prevalence mortality for this group of 4% (95% CI:2%-6%; I2: 0%). Overall, the positivity rate for HPV-6 and -11 in patients with RRP was 91%. Considering only cases with pulmonary involvement, the pooled prevalence for HPV 11 was 21% (95% CI: 5%-45%; I2: 77.2%). Our results evidenced a low/middle risk of pulmonary involvement and lung tumor in JORRP and AORRP patients, with an increased risk for HPV-11 positive patients. Further studies should be performed to improve knowledge and adopt preventive measures to contrast the progression to severe diseases in RRP patients.

The accurate and timely assessment of lymph node involvement is paramount in the management of patients with malignant tumors, owing to its direct correlation with cancer staging, therapeutic strategy formulation, and prognostication. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), as a burgeoning imaging modality, has shown promising results in the diagnosis and prediction of preoperative metastatic lymph nodes in recent years. This article aims to explore the application of DECT in identifying metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) across various cancer types, including but not limited to thyroid carcinoma (focusing on papillary thyroid carcinoma), lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Through this narrative review, we aim to elucidate the clinical relevance and utility of DECT in the detection and predictive assessment of lymph node metastasis in malignant tumors, thereby contributing to the broader academic discourse in oncologic radiology and diagnostic precision.

Breast cancer has become the most diagnosed cancer in women globally with 2.3 million new diagnosis each year. Accurate early staging is essential for improving survival rates with metastatic spread from loco regional to distant metastasis decreasing rates by 50%. Current guidelines do not advice the routine use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Computed Tomography (CT) in staging of early breast cancer in the absence of symptoms. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that PET-CT used in this early stage can benefit the patient by improving staging and as a result treatment and outcome as well as psychological burden without increasing costs to the health service. Ongoing research in PET radiomics and artificial intelligence is showing promising future prospects in its use in diagnosis, staging, prognosticatication and assessing response to treatment in breast cancer. Furthermore ongoing research to address current limitations of PET-CT by improving techniques and tracers is encouraging.

The concept and policies of multiple early cancer detection (MCED) have gained significant attention from governments worldwide in recent years. In the era of burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the integration of MCED with AI has become a prevailing trend, giving rise to a plethora of MCED AI products. However, due to the heterogeneity of both the detection targets and the AI technologies, the overall diversity of MCED AI products remains considerable. The types of detection targets encompass protein biomarkers, cell-free DNA, or combinations of these biomarkers. In the development of AI models, different model training approaches are employed, including datasets of case-control researches or real-world cancer screening datasets. Various validation techniques, such as cross-validation, location-wise validation, and time-wise validation are used. All of the factors show significant impacts on the predictive efficacy of MCED AIs. After the completion of AI model development, deploying the MCED AIs in clinical practice presents numerous challenges, including presenting the predictive reports, identifying the potential locations and types of tumor, and addressing cancer-related information such as clinical follow-up and treatment. This study reviews several mature MCED AI products currently available in the market, detecting their composing factors from serum biomarkers detection, MCED AIs training/validation, and the clinical application. The review illuminates the challenges encountered by existing MCED AI products across these stages, offering insights into the continued development and obstacles within the field of MCED AI.

The Fas associated Death Domain (FADD) is an adaptor protein that predominantly transduces apoptosis signal from death receptor (DR) to activate caspases, leading to the initiation of apoptotic signaling and the coordinated removal of damaged, infected, or unwanted cells. In addition to its apoptotic functions, FADD is involved in signaling pathways related to autophagy, cell proliferation, necroptosis, and cellular senescence, indicating its versatile role in cell survival and proliferation. The subcellular localization and intracellular expression of FADD play a crucial role in determining its functional outcomes, thereby highlighting the importance of spatiotemporal mechanisms and regulation. Furthermore, FADD has emerged as a key regulator in inflammatory signaling, contributing to immune responses and cellular homeostasis. This review provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of cellular dynamics of FADD in regulating of programmed cell death and inflammation through distinct molecular mechanisms associated with various signaling pathways.

PIEZO1 plays a crucial role in the human body as a mechanosensory ion channel. It has been demonstrated that PIEZO1 is important in tissue development and regulating many essential physiological processes. Studies have suggested that the PIEZO1 ion channel plays a role in invasion and progression in cancer; elevated levels of PIEZO1 have been correlated with increased migration in breast cancer cells, chemo-resistance and invasion in gastric cancer cells, and increased invasion of osteosarcoma cells. In addition, high PIEZO1 expression levels were correlated with a worse prognosis in glioma patients. On the other hand, studies in lung cancer have attributed high PIEZO1 levels to better patient outcomes. However, the clinical impact of PIEZO1 in breast cancer is not well characterized. Therefore, our goal was to determine the clinical relevance of PIEZO1 in breast cancer. Analysis of breast cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was conducted to investigate PIEZO1 expression levels and correlation to survival, followed by validation in an independent dataset, GSE3494. We also performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and analyzed immune cell levels in breast tumors from TCGA through a CIBERSORT algorithm. Our results demonstrated that PIEZO1 expression levels are higher in hormone receptor (HR) negative than HR positive cohorts. High PIEZO1 expression is correlated with a significant decrease in survival in HR negative cohorts, suggesting that PIEZO1 could be utilized as a prognostic biomarker in HR negative breast cancer. GSEA showed that various signaling pathways associated with more invasive phenotypes and resistance to treatments, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), hypoxia, and multiple signaling pathways, are enriched in high PIEZO1 HR negative tumors. Our results also demonstrated a decrease in CD8+ and CD4+ T cell infiltration in high PIEZO1 HR negative tumors. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanistic roles of PIEZO1 in HR negative breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a global health concern, necessitating continuous advancements in diagnostic medical imaging technologies for early detection and improvement of treatment. This paper presents an overview of the past, present and future of breast cancer imaging using light and some results from the current studies. The paper specifically presents the role of Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) in breast cancer imaging. Conventional methods, such as X-ray mammography, face limitations. Diffuse Optical Tomography, a non-invasive light-based imaging modality can provide quantitative descriptive and architectural information about breast tissue. The paper discusses the key challenges and recent developments in breast cancer imaging using DOT to overcome some key challenges. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the evolving technological landscape in breast cancer imaging using light for improving early detection and patient outcomes.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) affects approximately 20% of women after breast cancer therapy. Advances in treatment have increased life expectancy, thus the prevalence of BCRL will continue to rise with the number of cancer survivors. Hence the need to develop strategies to prevent this condition. We provide a systematic review of the literature on primary prevention of BCRL by prophylactic lymphatic surgery (PLS). Between June and August 2022, we conducted a search of PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane. In the end a total of eighteen papers were selected. The eleven studies without a control group reported only 15 of 342 patients who developed lymphedema at least six months after PLS (4.59%). The seven studies with a control group included 569 patients, 328 cases and 241 controls. Among the cases, 36 (10%) developed lymphedema. In contrast, the incidence of lymphedema in controls was 40% (98 of 241 patients). Formulation of definite recommendations in favour of PLS is hindered by low-quality studies. There is no consensus on which technique should be preferred, nor on whether adjuvant radiotherapy might affect the efficacy of PLS. Randomized controlled trials are mandatory to conceive evidence-based recommendations.

Tumors are complex tissues of malignant cells surrounded by a diverse cellular micro-environment with which they interact. The molecular and cellular underpinnings of cancer cells have been increasingly understood during the last few decades. Nonetheless, a great deal remains unknown regarding the ways in which tumour cells modify their surroundings and impact the organisation and makeup of cells. This review aims to concentrate on recent advancements in molecular characterization of tumor cells and its immunology, provides recent and general insight into cancer immunity and immunotherapy, and discusses the immunobiology of human adaptive and innate immunity to malignant growth of cancer cells, the mechanisms that support human immune response from beneath, an up-to-date scientific development to cancer immunotherapy, and how tumor and host responses can Encircle as a military tactic effective anti-cancer immunity.

Some bispecific radiotracers have been developed to overcome the limitations of monospecific tracers and improve detection sensitivity for heterogeneous tumor lesions. Here we aim to synthesize two bispecific tracers targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which are key markers expressed in prostate cancer. A pyridine-based FAP-targeted ligand was synthesized through multi-step organic synthesis, and then connected to the 2-Nal-containing PSMA-targeted motif. Ki(PSMA) values of Ga-complexed bispecific ligands, Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088, were 11.6 ± 3.25 and 28.7 ± 6.05 nM, respectively, and the IC50(FAP) values of Ga-AV01084 and Ga-AV01088 were 10.9 ± 0.67 and 16.7 ± 1.53 nM, respectively. The uptake values for PSMA-expressing LNCaP tumor xenografts were 9.05 ± 1.54 and 8.85 ± 1.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV010184 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were lower than the monospecific PSMA-targeted tracer [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-617 (16.7 ± 2.30 %ID/g). The uptake values for FAP-expressing HEK293T:hFAP tumor xenografts were 1.90 ± 0.41 and 1.20 ± 0.25 %ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-AV01084 and [68Ga]Ga-AV01088, respectively, which were also lower than the monospecific FAP-targeted tracer, [68Ga]Ga-AV02070 (7.93 ± 1.88 %ID/g). Further investigations are needed to optimize the selection of linkers and targeted pharmacophores to improve the tumor uptake of PSMA/FAP bispecific tracers for prostate cancer imaging.

Cancer remains as a worldwide cause of death. Investigational research efforts have included the administration of tumors-derived extracts to healthy animals. Having previously demonstrated that administration of non-transmissible, human cancers-derived homogenates induced malignant tumors in mice; we examined here the consequences of administering 50 or 100 µg of protein of crude homogenates from samples of mammary carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and melanoma. The protocol conceived six inoculations per week during three months. Concurrent control group received homogenates of healthy donor skin cosmetic surgery fragments. Mammary carcinoma homogenate administration did not provoke animals’ deterioration or mortality. Multiple foci of lung adenocarcinomas with broad expression of malignity histomarkers, coexisting with small cell-like carcinomas were found. Disseminated cells, positive to classic epithelial markers were detected in lymphoid nodes. Pancreas tumor and melanoma homogenates administrations severely deteriorated animals’ health. Pancreas tumor induced lung poorly-differentiated adenocarcinomas, as a remarkable pancreatic islets hyperplasia. Melanoma affected lungs with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and solid pseudopapillary adenocarcinoma. Giant atypical hepatocytes with variegated nuclei were also observed. Kidney parenchyma exhibited dispersed foci of neoplastic cells within a desmoplastic matrix. A noticeable nuclear overlapping with hyperchromatic nuclei, mitotic figures, and prominent nuclear atypia was identified in epidermal cells. None of these changes were ever detected in any mouse of the control groups. This study confirms and extends our hypothesis that tumor homogenates contain and may act as a vector for “malignancy drivers”, which ultimately implement a carcinogenesis process in otherwise healthy mice.

Prostate cancer (PCa) used to be one of the most common nondermatologic cancers in men that can be treated only with surgery. However, a revolutionary breakthrough came in the 1980s with the introduction of long-acting luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists for the cu-rative treatment of PCa. This paradigm shift contributed to the combined use of androgen depri-vation therapy (ADT), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for the treatment. The latest data high-light the use of treatment intensification (TI), i.e., combined use of radiotherapy (RT) and hormo-nal or drug treatments, for localized or locally advanced PCa. Indeed, the results of combined modality treatments have shown a reduction in disease-specific mortality and improved overall survival. Although TI seems promising, more research studies are warranted to confirm its effi-cacy. This review summarizes the latest available outcome results of pivotal trials and clinical studies on the efficacy of TI.

This narrative review aims to clarify the role of tertiary lymphoid structures in breast cancer. We examine their development, composition, prognostic value and current ways of recognising them. A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed/Medline, Scopus and EMBASE databases. A significant area of interest in breast cancer research involves targeting immune checkpoint molecules, particularly in the triple-negative subtype, where treatment options remain limited. However, existing biomarkers have limitations in accurately predicting treatment response.  In this context, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) emerge as a prognostic biomarker and also as a promising predictive marker for response. TLS are ectopic lymphoid formations or neo-organogenesis that can develop after prolonged exposure to inflammatory signals mediated by chemokines and cytokines. Their presence is inversely correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) expression, but positively associated with a higher pathologic complete response rate and improved overall  survival. In certain scenarios, TLS-positive tumors were associated with improved outcomes regardless of the presence of PDL-1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) expression or and TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes).

Ovarian cancer affects thousands of women every year and represents the female cancer with the highest mortality rate. Surgery is currently the cornerstone of the treatment of this disease and several methods have been analyzed and developed to predict the possibility of obtaining a residual tumor of 0 (RT=0). The aim of this review is to analyze the data available in the literature about minimally invasive surgical methods to predict the optimal cytoreduction of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing primary debulking surgery (PDS). A review of the literature has been performed on the available data about the criteria of cytoreducibility during PDS for the surgical treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The assessment of the extent of intra and extrabdominal pathology is essential to guide the surgeon in the most appropriate therapeutic choice for patients with ovarian cancer, so radiological methods (MRI, PET-scan and CT), surgical (mini-laparotomy, laparoscopy) and serological (CA-125, HE4) can provide a huge help for tailoring the therapeutic approach of these patients.

Abstract Background: Gastric cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma, is a significant global health concern. Environmental risk factors, such as Helicobacter pylori infection and diet, play a role in its development. Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition and evaluate the in vitro antibacterial and antitumor activities of AOME. Additionally, morphological changes in gastric cancer cell lines were analyzed. Study design: AOME was analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS and its antibacterial activity against H. pylori was assessed using the broth microdilution method. MIC and MBC values were determined, and positive and negative controls were included in the evaluation. Methods: Anticancer effects were assessed through in vitro experiments using AGS, KATO-III, and SNU-1 cancer cell lines. The morphological changes were examined through SEM and TEM analyses. Results: AOME contained several compounds, including caffeic acid, rutin, and hyperoside. The extract displayed significant antimicrobial effects against H. pylori, with consistent MIC and MBC values of 3.70 ± 0.09 mg/mL. AOME reduced cell viability in all gastric cancer cell in a dose and time-dependent manner. Morphological analyses revealed significant ultrastructural changes in all tumor cells lines, suggesting the occurrence of cellular apoptosis. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that AOME possesses antimicrobial activity against H. pylori and potent antineoplastic properties in gastric cancer cell lines. AOME holds promise as a natural resource for innovative nutraceutical approaches in gastric cancer management. Further research and in vivo studies are warranted to validate its potential clinical applications.

The aim of this study is to prepare redox-sensitive nanophotosensitizers for targeted delivery of chlorin e6 (Ce6) against cervical cancer. For this purpose, Ce6 was conjugated with β-cyclodextrin (bCD) via disulfide bond creating nanophotosensitizers that were fabricated for redox-sensitive delivery of Ce6 against cancer cells. bCD was treated with succinic anhydride to synthesize suc-cinylated bCD (bCDsu). After that, cystamine was attached to the carboxylic end of bCDsu (bCDsu-ss) and the amine end group of bCDsu-ss was conjugated with Ce6 (bCDsu-ss-Ce6). Chemical composition of bCDsu-ss-Ce6 was confirmed with 1H and 13C NMR spectra. bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers were fabricated by dialysis procedure. They formed small particles with an average particle size of 152.0±23.2 nm and they showed improved singlet oxygen (SO) generation in the aqueous solution under light irradiation and was significantly higher than that of Ce6 alone. Ce6 release rate from bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers was accelerated by addition of glutathione (GSH), indicating that bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers have re-dox-sensitive photosensitizer delivery capacity. bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers have low in-trinsic cytotoxicity against CCD986Sk human skin fibroblast cells as well as Ce6 alone. However, bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers showed improved Ce6 uptake ratio, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phototoxicity compared to those of Ce6 alone. GSH addition resulted in higher Ce6 uptake ratio, ROS generation and phototoxicity than those of Ce6 alone, indicating that bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers have redox-sensitive biological activity in vitro against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. At tumor xenograft model using HeLa cells, bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers efficiently accumulated in the tumor rather than normal organs, i.e. fluores-cence intensity in tumor tissues was significantly higher than those of other organs while Ce6 alone did not specifically target tumor tissue. These results indicated higher anticancer activity of bCDsu-ss-Ce6 nanophotosensitizers, by efficiently inhibiting growth of tumor in in vivo animal tumor xenograft study.

In cancer patients, hyponatremia is detected in about 40% of cases at hospital admission and has been associated to a worse outcome. We have previously observed that cancer cells from differ-ent tissues show a significantly increased proliferation rate and invasion potential, when cul-tured in low extracellular [Na+]. We have recently developed an animal model of hyponatremia using Foxn1nu/nu mice. The aim of the present study was to compare tumor growth and inva-sivity of the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-AS in hyponatremic vs. normonatremic mice. Ani-mals were subcutaneously implanted with luciferase-expressing SK-N-AS cells. When masses reached about 100 mm3, hyponatremia was induced in a subgroup of animals via desmopressin infusion. Tumor masses were significantly greater in hyponatremic mice, starting from day 14 and until the day of sacrifice (day 28). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a more intense vascularization and higher levels of expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, chro-mogranin A and heme oxigenase-1 gene in hyponatremic mice. Finally, metalloproteases were also more abundantly expressed in hyponatremic animals compared to control ones. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo demonstration that hyponatremia is associated to increased cancer growth by activating molecular mechanisms that promote proliferation, angiogenesis and invasivity.

Background: Prostate cancer is a global health concern, necessitating ongoing research to enhance our comprehension of its molecular foundations and develop more efficacious therapeutic approaches. Among the emerging protagonists in this arena is Speckle-type POZ (pox virus and zinc finger protein) (SPOP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor protein. SPOP's recent ascent to prominence in prostate cancer research is attributed to its crucial role in regulating the Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling pathway. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge concerning SPOP mutations in prostate cancer. It seeks to elucidate their significance in characterizing the disease and their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus and google scholar to identify relevant studies published up to September 2023. Eligible studies included investigations of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer and their implications. Data extraction, quality assessment, and synthesis were performed in conformity to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: The review revealed that SPOP mutations are recurrent events in prostate cancer, with a notable prevalence in specific molecular subtypes. These mutations primarily affect the MATH domain of SPOP, disrupting its substrate recognition function. Notably, SPOP mutations have profound consequences on the AR signaling pathway, leading to increased AR protein stability and transcriptional activity. The clinical implications of SPOP mutations remain diverse, with varying associations with prognostic outcomes. Conclusion: SPOP mutations represent a significant facet of prostate cancer biology, influencing disease heterogeneity and clinical behavior. While their precise prognostic significance is evolving, their functional impact on the AR pathway highlights their potential as therapeutic targets. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer, contributing to our understanding of the disease's molecular landscape and therapeutic avenues.

The evolutionary conserved STING-cGAS pathway represents one of the most important cytosolic DNA sensing systems that is activated in response to viral invasion and/or damaged integrity of the nuclear envelope. The key outcome of this pathway is the production of IFN, which subsequently stimulates hundreds of genes. In oncology, the situation is a complex one since this pathway may serve either anti- or pro-oncogenic roles in a context-dependent fashion. The prevailing understanding is that when the innate immune response is activated by sensing cytosolic DNA, such as from ruptured micronuclei, it results in the production of interferon which attracts cytotoxic cells to destroy tumors. However, in tumor cells that have adjusted to significant chromosomal instability, particularly in relapsed, treatment-resistant cancers, the cGAS–STING pathway often supports cancer progression. In these cells, the pathway initiates a non-canonical nuclear factor κB transcriptional response, fostering the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we review this intricate pathway in conjunction with cancer progression and development of new treatment modalities.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Aerobic glycolysis precedes obtainment of oncogenic mutations and loss of tumor suppressors, promoting the progress of CRC. Although numerous biomarkers have been identified to be associated with prognosis and survival, a glycolysis-related gene signature in CRC has not been explored. Methods: mRNA expression profiling data in a group of CRC patients (n = 540) was extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Gene set enrichment analysis (GESA) was performed to identify gene sets that were significantly different between CRC tissues and normal tissues. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify genes significantly associated with overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to establish a prognostic risk parameter formula. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and the log-rank test were used to validate the significance of risk parameters for prognosis prediction. Results: Five glycolysis-related genes (ENO3, GPC1, P4HA1, IDUA, ANKZF1) were identified to be significantly associated with overall survival (AUC=0.754). Based on the five‑gene signature, patients with CRC were divided into high and low‑risk subgroups. CRC patients with a low-risk score had better survival benefits than those with a high one (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: A five-gene signature associated with glycolysis for predicting the outcome of CRC patients was generated, serving as a valuable prognosis model with high efficiency and potential targeted therapy of CRC patients.

Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected the whole world since the beginning and it continues to affect it. The main aim of this study is to show how Covid-19 affect other mortal diseases; cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes in near future. With this purpose two mathematical models are proposed via Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs); one for the relationship between Covid-19 and cancer and one for the relationship between Covid-19, diabetes and heart diseases. Afterwards, stability analyses of these models are demonstrated. In order to see the effect of parameters on the disease compartments, sensitivity analysis is applied. Results of sensitivity analysis revealed that huge percentage of people are still scared of visiting doctors and this may lead a massive increase in the diagnosis of other diseases for upcoming years. Moreover, figures displayed that there exists a relationship between diabetes and heart diseases. Especially, diabetes patients should be careful about their health situations and take care of their heart. In order to provide these, awareness of people should be developed.

Obesity, characterized by the excessive accumulation of body fat, contributes to a multitude of physiological dysfunctions. This paper explores the complex relationship between obesity and various risk factors and complications, shedding light on critical health implications. Obesity triggers alterations in insulin, leptin, adiponectin, cytokines, and insulin-like growth factors, fostering conditions conducive to cancer initiation. Aberrations in nutrient-dependent intracellular signaling pathways, driven by the excess nutrition characteristic of obesity, contribute to the neoplastic transformation of cells. The Body Mass Index (BMI) correlates directly with adiposity, underlining its significance in cancer risk. Furthermore, insulin and insulin-like growth factors, notably IGF-2, play pivotal roles in this relationship. The expression of IR-A receptors is elevated in cancer. Obesity and cardiovascular diseases share a strong association. Obesity elevates the risk of fatal events like myocardial infarction. High cholesterol levels contribute to atherosclerosis in the aorta and coronary arteries. The severity of coronary artery disease is influenced by plaque formation characterized by calcium deposits. Obesity is also linked to hypertension and increased ventricular mass, exacerbating cardiovascular risks. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertension correlate with a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity is intricately connected to insulin resistance, particularly evident in childhood obesity. It entails a gradual decline in insulin sensitivity, leading to elevated insulin levels in the bloodstream. Insulin resistance is a central factor in the development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Obesity also results in elevated triglyceride levels and reduced high-density lipoproteins, contributing to atherogenic dyslipidemia and a heightened risk of atherosclerosis. Additionally, obesity is associated with various other disorders, including epilepsy, depression, and neuropsychological problems. Beyond its physiological impact, obesity is associated with significant psychosocial challenges. Studies indicate that individuals with obesity face a higher risk of depressive symptoms, often related to overeating and unhealthy dietary patterns. The social withdrawal tendencies of obese individuals exacerbate these symptoms, with higher rates of depression observed in this group. OSA, a sleep disorder characterized by intermittent breathing cessation during sleep, is strongly correlated with obesity. Approximately 58% of obese individuals experience OSA, with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) associated with an increased risk. Weight reduction has been found to mitigate the severity of OSA and related arrhythmias. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy demonstrates effectiveness in reducing visceral fat accumulation and leptin levels. This comprehensive review underscores the intricate web of health implications associated with obesity, emphasizing the critical need for preventive measures and intervention strategies to address the multifaceted challenges posed by this global health concern.

Canine mammary tumors represent one of the leading malignant pathology in female dogs, displaying the importance of efficient therapeutic findings, beside the golden standard surgery, able to limit the development of the disease. Studies in human cancers demonstrated that Doxorubicin presents a good effect in different biological processes like apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle, cell invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Our study following the effects of Doxorubicin on two canine mammary cancer cell lines P114 and CMT-U27, showing an inhibitory effect in cell proliferation and an expression alteration of the EMT related genes.

The present studies were undertaken to address the role of fetuin-A in the growth and invasion potential in a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, MDA-MB-468. Basal like TNBC that express high levels of ectopic fetuin-A have poorer prognosis for the patients compared to those that express low levels of the protein. We overexpressed fetuin-A in MDA-MB-468 and then determined the invasive potential of fetuin-A overexpressing cells vs controls transfected with empty vector. We also determined the adhesion and growth potential of the cells in the presence of only fetuin-A in serum free medium and also in complete medium. Our data suggest that fetuin-A overexpression significantly enhances the invasive potential of the cells and also the expression of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) on these cells. More importantly, the cells rely on fetuin-A-TLR4 signaling network for growth and invasion because the specific TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095 (resatorvid) abrogates fetuin-A mediated growth and invasion. Taken together, the data suggest that fetuin-A-TLR4 signaling network plays a significant role in the growth and invasion potential of TNBC.

: Aim: The aim in this study was to conduct a prospective survey regarding the sociodemographics and lifestyle risk factors for cancer of a population of Caribbean immigrants living in the U.S. Materials and Methods: The data were processed and analysed using SPSS software 27 and Excel. Crosstabulations were performed. The chi-square test was used to evaluate different hypotheses. Statistical significance was defined as p &lt; 0.05. Results: Statistically significant differences in the country of birth of the Caribbean immigrants were found for sex (p = 0.038) and the cleanness of their neighbourhoods (p = 0.045). We found differences in occupations between men and women (p = 0.001). Men were less unemployed than women (p = 0.011). Sex also showed statistically significant differences in how easily the immigrants balanced their work and personal life (p = 0.044). Age groups depicted differences in the physical health of the immigrants (p = 0.001). The use of alcohol and tobacco was not an important risk factor among participants (p = 0.529). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the sociodemographics risk factors for cancer among a population of Caribbean immigrants were significantly different between the sexes. However, the use of tobacco and alcohol showed insignificant differences among the immigrants.

Over the past decade, significant developments have occurred in treatment strategies for ovarian cancer, yet targeted therapy with few side effects is still a major issue. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme family plays a vital role in the tumorigenesis process and metabolism of drugs, with a negative impact on therapy outcomes. Gaining more insight into CYP expression is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of ovarian cancer since many isoforms are essential for the metabolism of xenobiotics and steroid hormones, which drive the disease's development. The purpose of this review is to provide a clear understanding of differential CYP expression in ovarian cancer and its implications for the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients, together with their polymorphisms' effect on chemotherapy metabolism. Finally, we provide our thoughts on opportunities to exploit metabolic CYP expression for novel therapeutic development to treat ovarian cancer.

Background: Muscle wasting is a common phenomenon in oncology and appears to be alleviated by exercise training. This study aims to determine the degree of aggressiveness of cancer-induced muscle wasting in two different phenotypic muscles, and whether exercise training can attenuate this muscle dysfunction. Methods: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, two control groups (sedentary and exercised) and two breast cancer model groups (sedentary and exercised) induced by 1-methyl-1-nitrosoureia (MNU). After 35 weeks of endurance training the animals were sacrificed and the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were harvested for morphometric analysis. Results: A significant reduction in cross-sectional area (P < 0.05) was found in both muscles of sedentary tumor-bearing animals. Interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher in the gastrocnemius of sedentary tumor-bearing animals (P < 0.05), but not in the soleus. A shift from large to small fibers was observed in the gastrocnemius of sedentary tumor-bearing animals. Long-term exercise training was able to prevent this cancer-related mus-cle dysfunction. Conclusions: The Gastrocnemius muscle showed a very pronounced reduction in cross-sectional area and marked interstitial fibrosis in sedentary animals with tumors. The soleus muscle showed a less pronounced but significant reduction in cross-sectional area, and collagen deposition did not differ between tumor groups. These contrasting results confirm that can-cer-induced muscle wasting can affect specific fiber types, and specific muscles, namely fast glycolytic muscles, and that exercise training can act to improve it.

Research has shown the role of growth factors in lung cancer angiogenesis. Angiogenesis promotes lung cancer progression by stimulating tumor growth, enhancing tumor invasion, contributing to metastasis, and modifying immune system responses within the tumor microenvironment. As a result, new treatment techniques based on the anti-angiogenic characteristics of compounds have been developed. These compounds selectively block the growth factors themselves, their receptors, or the downstream signaling pathways activated by these growth factors. The EGF and VEGF families are the primary targets in this approach, and several studies are being conducted to propose anti-angiogenic drugs that are increasingly suitable for the treatment of lung cancer, either as monotherapy or as combined therapy. The efficacy results are encouraging, but a caution must be placed on the higher risk of toxicity, outlining the importance of personalized follow-up in the management of these patients.

(1) Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely accepted as the standard method for treating early-stage cancer or precancerous lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract, however it may be difficult in patients with liver cirrhosis due to coagulation dysfunction or presence of gastroesophageal varices. We aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ESD in these population. (2) Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data and analyzed. Patients inclusion criteria: 1) patients with liver cirrhosis; 2) patients who underwent ESD; 3) patients diagnosed of early-stage cancer or precancerous lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. (3) Results: Eight patients were enrolled from April 2019 to April 2023, of whom 3 were male and 5 female, with age ranging from 43 to 70 years old. Seven lesions were located in the stomach, and the other one lesion in the esophagus. ESD was performed successfully in all patients, and the resected lesion size ranged from 2 to 6 cm. Only one patient encountered postoperative complication, chest pain and fever. No recurrence of noticed during a follow-up of 6 to 36 months. (4) Conclusions: ESD is safe and effective for treating upper gastrointestinal early-stage cancer or precancerous lesions in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Multiple myeloma (MM) has witnessed improved patient outcomes through advancements in therapeutic approaches. Notably, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and monoclonal antibodies have contributed to enhanced quality of life. Recently, a promising avenue has emerged with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), expressed widely on MM cells. To mitigate risks associated with allogenic T cells, we investigated the potential of BCMA CAR expression in natural killer cells (NKs), known for potent cytotoxicity and minimal side effects. Using the NK-92 cell line, we co-expressed BCMA CAR and soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) employing the PiggyBac transposon system. Engineered NK cells (CAR-NK-92-TRAIL) demonstrated robust cytotoxicity against a panel of MM cell lines and primary patient samples, outperforming unmodified NK-92 cells with a mean difference in viability of 45,1% (± 26,1%, depending on the target cell line). Combination therapy was explored with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BZ) and γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI), leading to a significant synergistic effect in combination with CAR-NK-92-TRAIL cells. This synergy was evident in cytotoxicity assays where a notable decrease in MM cell viability was observed in combinatorial therapy compared to single treatment. In summary, our study demonstrate the therapeutic potential of the CAR-NK-92-TRAIL cells for the treatment of MM. The synergistic impact of combining these engineered NK cells with BZ and GSI supports further development of allogeneic CAR-based products for effective MM therapy.

Hydrogels can be considered as mimics of extracellular matrix (ECM).Cytoskeleton through integrins is connected with ECM and cytoskeleton tension depends on ECM stiffness.A number of age-related diseases depend on cellular processes related with cytoskeleton function.Some examples of cancer initiation and progression and heart disease in relationship with ECM stiffness has been analysed.Incorporation of rigid particles in ECM can increase ECM stifness and to promote formation of internal residual stresses. Water migration, changes of water binding energy to biomactomolecules, changes of the state of water from tightly bound water to free and loosely bound water changes stiffness of ECM. Risks related with rigid particles incorporation into ECM have been also iscussed.

According to cancer death rates for women worldwide, this form of cancer ranks fourth after breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancer, affecting around 570,000 women annually. About 270,000 women each year pass away from this illness, 85% of them are from underdeveloped nations where cervical cancer claims more lives than any other kind of cancer. In Romania, cervical cancer ranks fourth in terms of death, behind breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancers, and second in terms of incidence, behind breast cancer. Endometriosis in the cervical region is quite uncommon. Only a tiny fraction of women had the condition upon diagnosis. It might be challenging to detect cervical endometriosis since it rarely manifests any symptoms or markers. Women who are asymptomatic can manage the condition expectantly; however, if the symptoms return often, surgery may be required. As many patients have concurrent diseases such fibroids, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, and pelvic endometriosis, cervical endometriosis therapy appears to be straightforward. There ought to be surgical intervention. Symptomatic cervical endometriosis, such as irregular or post-coital bleeding, may be treated surgically using the LLETZ surgery or another cervical ablation approach. Background and Objectives: (1) To assess one's degree of knowledge on the signs, causes, and methods of preventing cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis, as well as screening for these conditions. (2) To ascertain how the responder behaves about cervical cancer screening and prevention, as well as endometriosis in the cervical region. Materials and Methods: A case report about cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis was conducted among a patient from Romania, Timisoara. Results: In this study, we report the patient with cervical endometriosis, although he was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer. Conclusions: Cervical cancer, a condition that can have serious repercussions on the patient's health, even if there is no clear picture of paraclinical investigations, to raise the suspicion of cervical endometriosis and not cervical cancer.

The molecular structure and vibrational spectra of six 1,2,3-triazoles-containing molecules with possible anticancer activity were investigated. In two of them, the optimized geometry was determined in the monomer, cyclic dimer and staking forms using the B3LYP, M06-2X and MP2 methods. The effect of the para-substitution in the aryl ring was evaluated based on the changes in the molecular structure and atomic charge distribution of the triazole ring. Several relationships were obtained that could facilitate the selection of the substituents on the triazole ring for their further synthesis. The observed IR and Raman bands in the solid state of two of these compounds were accurately assigned according to the functional calculations on the monomer and dimer forms, together with the polynomic scaling equation procedure (PSE).

In recent years, numerous approaches have been developed to comprehend the molecular altera-tions underlying thyroid cancer (TC) oncogenesis and explore novel therapeutic strategies for TC. It is now well established that the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) is overexpressed in cancer cells and that NK-1R is essential for viability of cancer cells. The binding of substance P (SP) to NK-1R in neoplastic cells plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by promoting neoplastic cell growth, protecting tumour cells from apoptosis, triggering invasion and metastasis through enhanced migration of cancer cells, and stimulating endothelial cell proliferation for tumour angiogenesis. Remarkably, all types of human TC (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic), as well as met-astatic lesions, exhibit overexpression of SP and NK-1R compared to the normal thyroid gland. TC cells synthesize and release SP, which exerts its multiple functions through autocrine, para-crine, intracrine, and neuroendocrine processes, including the regulation of tumour burden. Con-sequently, the secretion of SP from TC results in increased SP levels in plasma, which are signifi-cantly higher in TC patients compared to controls. Additionally, NK-1R antagonists have demonstrated a dose-dependent antitumour action. They impair cancer cell proliferation on one side and induce apoptosis of tumour cells on the other side. Furthermore, it has been demonstrat-ed that NK-1R antagonists inhibit neoplastic cell migration, thereby impairing both invasiveness and metastatic abilities, as well as angiogenesis. Given the consistent overexpression of NK-1R in all types of TC, targeting this receptor represents a promising therapeutic approach for TC. Therefore, NK-1R antagonists, such as the drug aprepitant, may represent novel drugs for TC treatment.

Aim: To improve risk stratification in early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), we performed mo-lecular classification, and L1CAM immunohistochemistry (IHC) for additional risk assessment. Method: We analyzed archival tumor tissue from 247 early-stage EC patients. POLE mutations were detected using a Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay and Sanger sequencing, while the mismatch repair (MMR) status was determined by MMR protein IHC and MSI test. Additionally, we conducted IHC of p53 and L1CAM. Results: The 247 ECs were categorized into four subgroups: POLE-mutated (13.0%), MMR-deficient (27.9%), p53-abnormal (8.5%), and non-specific molecular profile (NSMP, 50.6%). We further subcategorized NSMP subgroup into NSMP-L1CAMneg (44.9%) and NSMP-L1CAMpos (5.7%), which we refer to as the molecu-lar-L1CAM classification. The molecular-L1CAM classification was an independent prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (p <0.001, each). Similarly, the simplified L1CAM-p53 categorization, for practical use, remained an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS (p <0.001, p =0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Integrating the molecu-lar-L1CAM classification or the simplified L1CAM/p53 categorization can enhance risk stratifi-cation in early-stage EC, providing valuable prognostic information to guide treatment deci-sions and improve patient outcomes.

In order to provide a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer, the differentially expressed blood-based miRNAs in gastric carcinoma were obtained and analyzed from the datasets GSE113486, GSE112264 and GSE113740 by the SangerBox, the miRNA - target genes prediction, GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses with DAVID 6.8, and the STRING database with Cytoscape, respectively. The correlation between the key miRNAs expression and the prognosis and diagnostic value of gastric cancer patients were detected by survival prognosis and ROC curve. QRT-PCR was used to detect the possible key miRNAs expression in human blood species. The dataset GSE108307 which shows the miRNAs affected by H. pylori infection was analyzed by GEO2R. The expression level of CagA and the clinically used gastric cancer markers were detected in human blood species for contrast. Five key blood-based miRNAs were determined, including hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-29b-3p, hsa-miR-4276, and hsa-miR-575.The detection in human blood species as well as the cross analysis with H. pylori infection and clinically used markers expression suggested the importance and efficacy of the specific miRNAs in the early diagnosis and monitoring of gastric carcinoma. The study identified potential novel blood miRNA biomarkers of gastric cancer by bioinformatics and human blood species detection, which may give a new possibility of the important biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Different types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the advancements in targeted therapies, there is still a need for a safer, highly efficient approach to preventing and treating cutaneous malignancies. Spices have a rich history dating back thousands of years and are renowned for their ability to enhance the flavor, taste, and color of food. Derived from various plant parts like seeds, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers, spices are important culinary ingredients. However, their value extends beyond the culinary realm. Some spices contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are known for their significant biological effects. These compounds have attracted attention in scientific research due to their potential health benefits, including their possible role in disease prevention and treatment, such as cancer. This review focuses on examining the potential of spice-derived phenolic compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents for managing skin cancers. By compiling and analyzing the available knowledge, this review aims to provide insights that can guide future research in identifying new anticancer phytochemicals and uncovering additional mechanisms for combating skin cancer.

Despite numerous studies on cancer treatment, cancer remains a challenging disease to cure, even after decades of research. In recent years, cancer vaccine has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment, offering few unexpected side effects compared to existing therapies. How-ever, cancer vaccine faces obstacles to commercialization due to its low efficacy. Particularly, the Toll-like receptor (TLR) adjuvant system, specifically the TLR 7/8 agonist, has shown potential for activating Th1 immunity, which stimulates both innate and adaptive immune responses through T cells. In this study, we developed ProLNG-S, a cholesterol-conjugated form of resiquimod (R848), to enhance immune efficacy by stimulating the immune system and reducing toxicity. ProLNG-S was formulated as ProLNG-001, a positively charged liposome, and co-administered with oval-bumin (OVA) protein in the B16-OVA model. ProLNG-001 effectively targeted secondary lym-phoid organs, resulting in a robust systemic anti-tumor immune response and tumor-specific T cell activation. Consequently, ProLNG-001 demonstrated potential for preventing tumor progression and improving survival compared to AS01 by enhancing anti-tumor immunity.

Keywords: Convolutional Neural Network, Deep Learning, Skin cancer, Generative Adversarial Network

(1) Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that poses unique management challenges. This review aims to synthesize the current literature on IBC, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, while highlighting recent advances and ongoing issues in patient management.; (2) Methods: We outline the typical clinical presentation and diagnostic criteria of IBC. Additionally, we detail the main therapeutic strategies, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, hormonal therapies, and emerging treatments such as immunotherapy. The review is based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature.; (3) Results: Despite advancements in systemic therapy and a better understanding of IBC biology, the prognosis for patients with IBC remains poor. The overall survival rate has shown only marginal improvement over the past few decades. Future research directions, including the identification of novel biomarkers for early detection and personalized medicine strategies, are identified. The need for more high-quality clinical trials to address the challenges in IBC management is emphasized.; (4) Conclusions: Managing IBC is a complex task that necessitates multidisciplinary care and patient-centered communication. This review provides clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and future directions in IBC management. The goal is to guide treatment decisions and inform further research, ultimately improving patient outcomes and prognosis.

It has been previously shown that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) family member ALDH1A1 has a significant association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient risk group classification, and that AML cells lacking ALDH1A1 expression can be readily killed by chemotherapy. In the past, however, a redundancy between the activities of subgroup members of the ALDH family has hampered conclusive evidence for addressing the role of specific ALDH genes. We here describe the bioinformatics evaluation of all nineteen member genes of the ALDH family as prospective actionable targets for the development of methods aimed to improve AML treatment. We implicate ALDH1A1 in the development of recurrent AML, and we show that from the nineteen members of the ALDH family, ALDH1A1 and ALDH2 have the strongest association with AML patient risk group classification. Furthermore, we discover that the sum of the expression values for RNA from the genes ALDH1A1 and ALDH2 has a stronger association with AML patient risk group classification and survival than either one gene alone. In conclusion, we identify ALDH1A1 and ALDH2 as prospective actionable targets for the treatment of AML in high risk patients. Substances that inhibit both enzymatic activities can constitute potentially effective pharmaceutics.

Contamination of soil and crops with heavy metals (HMs) poses a significant environmental challenge in the United States. Hence, this study aimed to assess HM contamination levels from sampled Ohio and West Virginia soils using various pollution indicators analyses, including Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation index (lgeo), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI) and identify the Translocation Factor (TF) of HMs in the edible part of the vegetables and further evaluate health risks associated with dietary exposure through estimations of Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Hazard Index (HI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Cancer Risk (CR) and Target Cancer Risk (TCR) on adults and children. In this study, Fe was the most predominant contaminant, ranging from 28.41 to 67.36 g/kg in the soil. Cancer risk assessment revealed that Ni poses significant risks. Therefore, regular monitoring of metal concentrations in soil and vegetables grown in these regions might mitigate potential health hazards in the future.

We aimed to assess the prognostic value of BRAFV600E mutation in a series of 127 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases as a single factor, as well as in synergic interaction with other standard risk factors. All cases were tested for BRAFV600E mutation by real-time PCR. Event-free survival (EFS) was calculated between the date of the first evaluation and the date of occurrence of an adverse event (tumor recurrence/distant metastasis) or the date of the last known status. The prevalence of BRAFV600E mutation was 57.2%. The Kaplan-Meyer analysis showed a significant reduction of EFS among cases harboring BRAFV600E mutation compared to non-mutated cases (p=0.010). In addition, BRAFV600E mutation was found to better predict adverse outcomes when associated with the following risk factors: age≥55 years-old (p<0.001), male gender (p<0.001), conventional (p=0.005) and tall cell (p=0.014) histology, tumor size&gt;40mm (p=0.001), extrathyroidal extension (p=0.001), multifocality (p=0.001) and lymph node metastasis (p&lt;0.001). In univariate analysis, a 3.74-fold increased risk for a reduced EFS (p=0.018) was found for BRAFV600E mutated cases. Our results highlight the prognostic value of BRAFV600E mutation in PTCs. Moreover, the synergic interaction between BRAFV600E mutation and other risk factors seems more valuable in terms of prognosis, compared to BRAFV600E mutation alone.

Currently, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (LCNEC) is classified as a rare lung cancer subtype, but given the high incidence of lung cancer, the overall number of cases is considerable. The pathologic diagnosis is based on the microscopic appearance of the tumor cells, the amount of intra-tumoral necrosis, the mitotic rate, and the presence of positive neuroendocrine markers identified by immunohistochemistry. Recently, a subdivision into two main categories was proposed based on mutation signatures involving the RB1, TP53, KRAS, and STK11/LKB1 genes, into SCLC-like (small cell lung cancer-like) and NSCLC-like (non-small cell lung cancer-like) LCNEC. In terms of treatment, surgery remains the best option for resectable, stage I–IIIA cases. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have conflicting evidence. Etoposide/platinum remains the standard chemotherapy regimen. However, based on the newly proposed LCNEC subtypes, some retrospective series report better outcomes using a pathology-driven chemotherapy approach. Encouraging outcomes have also been reported for immunotherapy and targeted therapy, but the real impact of these strategies is still being determined in the absence of adequate prospective clinical trials. The current paper scrutinizes the epidemiology, reviews the reliability of pathologic diagnosis, discusses the need for molecular subtyping, and reviews the heterogeneity of treatment algorithms in LCNEC.

Gastric cancer is among the top 5 causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Preoperative chemotherapy has been established as an option in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. However, chemotherapy yields variable results, owing to the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of this disease. Identifying patients who did or did not respond to preoperative therapy can allow clinicians to alter treatment modalities and provide important information related to prognostication. Pathologic response to preoperative therapies, called Tumor Response Grade (TRG), has been evaluated to quantify treatment response. Multiple systems for TRG have been established. However, literature has demonstrated inconsistent results for TGR systems and prognosis, possibly due to variability in interpretation of tumor response between systems and interobserver variability. Radiographic response to preoperative therapies using RECIST 1.1 criteria and endoscopically-assessed tumor response have demonstrated association with survival; however their use in gastric cancer remains challenging given the inability to accurately and consistently identify and measure the tumor, especially in the setting of neoadjuvant therapy where treatment-related changes can obscure the gastric wall layers. This review is focused on summarizing the available literature related to evaluating TRG in gastric cancer, as well as providing a brief overview on the use of radiographic and endoscopic methods to assess response to preoperative therapies. Lastly, we outline future directions regarding the use of a universal TRG system to guide care and assist with prognosis.

Background: To implement the new marker in clinical practice, reliability assessment, validation, and standardization of utilization must be applied. This study evaluated the reliability of TILs and TSR assessment through conventional microscopy by comparing observers’ estimations. Methods: Intratumoral and tumor-front stromal TILs, and TSR were assessed by three pathologists using 86 HE slides CRC. TSR and TILs were categorized using one and four different proposed cut-off systems, respectively and agreement was assessed using the intraclass coefficient (ICC) and Cohen’s kappa statistics. Pairwise evaluation of agreement was performed using the Fliess Kappa statistic and the concordance rate and it was visualized by Bland-Altman plots. Results: For the evaluation of intratumoral stromal TILs, ICC of 0.505 (95% CI:0.35-0.64) was obtained, Kappa values were in the range of 0.21 to 0.38, and concordance rates in the range of 0.61 to 0.72. For the evaluation of tumor-front TILs, ICC was 0.52 (95% CI:0.32 - 0.67), the overall kappa value ranged from 0.24 to 0.30, and the concordance rate ranged from 0.66 to 0.72. For estimating the TSR, the ICC was 0.48 (95% CI:0.35 - 0.60), the kappa value was 0.49 and the concordance rate was 0.76. Conclusion: The agreement between pathologists in estimating these markers corresponds to poor to the moderate agreement, however, implementing immune scores in daily practice requires more concentration in inter-observer agreements.

Aim. To study the processes of lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant defense enzymes depending on the chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection, depending on the stage. Materials and methods. 39 patients with stage I-II gastric cancer and 30 patients with stage III-IV gastric cancer were examined. The study of the chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes was carried out, the parameters of the lipid peroxidation system and antioxidant protection in plasma were determined using the spectrophotometric method. Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica 7.0 software package (StatSoft, USA). Results. In patients with gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection, regardless of stage, the proportion of neutrophilic granulocytes with normal activity does not exceed 1/3 of the total number of patients, the remaining 2/3 of patients have an altered chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes: in patients with gastric cancer by I -II stage of the disease, the majority revealed a reduced function of neutrophilic granulocytes, and in patients with gastric cancer stage III-IV of the disease, the majority showed increased chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes. In all patients with gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection, regardless of the stage of the disease, an increase in lipid peroxidation processes with activation of antioxidant defense enzymes was detected. Conclusion. In all patients with gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection, regardless of the stage of the disease, an increase in lipid peroxidation processes with activation of antioxidant defense enzymes was detected. At the same time, there are no statistically significant differences between the indicators of the system lipid peroxidation - antioxidant protection depending on the stage of gastric cancer and the chemiluminescent activity of neutrophilic granulocytes, which probably indicates that all reactive oxygen species produced by neutrophilic granulocytes in the respiratory burst are consumed locally, minimally affecting the development of oxidative stress in the blood plasma.

Background: There is poor evidence about sensitivity to chemotherapy according to microsatellite instability (MSI)/mismatch repair (MMR) status in endometrial cancer (EC). Methodology: The RAME study is a retrospective analysis aiming to assess response to chemotherapy in MSI-high (h) /deficient (d) MMR and MSI- low (l)/proficient (p)MMR EC patients. Primary endpoints were recurrence-free survival (RFS) for patients with localized disease and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced/recurrent disease. Results: 312 patients treated between 2010-2022 in 4 high volume Multicenter Italian Trial in Ovarian cancer and gynecological malignancies (MITO) centers were selected. 239 patients had endometrioid EC (76.6%), 151 had FIGO stage I at diagnosis (48.9%) and 71 were MSI-h/dMMR (22.8%). Median age was 65 (range 31–91) years. Among patients with localized disease, median RFS was 100.0 months (95%CI 59.4–140.7) for MSI-l/pMMR and 120.9 months (60.0-181.8) for MSI-h/dMMR (p=0.39). Seventy-seven patients received first-line chemotherapy for advanced/recurrent disease. Patients with MSI-h/dMMR ECs had a significantly worse OS (p=0.039). In patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, no statistically significant difference in PFS (p=0.21) and OS (p=0.057) were detected, although PFS and OS were numerically longer in the MSI-l/pMMR population. Conclusion: Patients with metastatic MSI-h/dMMR EC receiving first-line chemotherapy had a significantly worse OS.

Neuroblastoma is the most common tumour in children under 1 year old, accounting for approximately 50% of infant cancer cases. Although current treatments are relatively efficacious against this cancer, associated adverse effects could be detrimental to growth and development. In contrast, glioblastoma accounts for 52% of brain tumours and has an extremely poor prognosis. Current chemotherapeutics include temozolomide, which has numerous negative side-effects and a low-effective rate. Previous studies have shown the manipulation of autophagy to be a promising method for targeting cancers, including glioblastoma. We sought to determine the effects of autophagic alterations in combination with current chemotherapies in both neuroblastoma and glioblastoma. Supplementing cisplatin or temozolomide with autophagy activator rapamycin stabilized cancer cell mitochondria, despite having little effect on apoptosis or oxidative stress. Autophagy inhibition via 3-methyladenine or hydroxychloroquine alongside standard chemotherapies enhanced apoptosis and oxidative stress, with 3-methyladenine also disrupting mitochondrial health. Importantly, combining hydroxychloroquine with 0.5 µM cisplatin or 50 µg/mL temozolomide was as or more effective than 2 µM cisplatin or 100 µg/mL temozolomide alone. Analyzing these interesting results, a combined treatment of autophagy inhibitor with a standard chemotherapeutic agent could help to improve patient prognosis and reduce chemotherapy doses and their associated side-effects.