Written by Suyeon Kim
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL), exhibiting divergent heterologous differentiation, is a rare entity with a variable reported incidence. These tumors typically arise in the retroperitoneum, often attaining substantial size and presenting at advanced stages, thereby posing significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a rare case of recurrent DDL with dual heterologous differentiation—osteosarcomatous and chondrosarcomatous—in an elderly male initially presenting with symptoms m
Written by Lesheng Huang
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Port-site metastasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder adenocarcinoma is an uncommon but serious concern in oncology. This disease is often challenging because of its delayed onset and the subsequent impact on prognosis. In this case, a 42-year-old woman developed a metastasis at the epigastric port site, 6 years following her laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The metastasis appeared as an ulcerative mass with features of squamous differen
Written by Nirmal Ghati
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Due to the widespread nature of breast cancer and its significant impact on the quality of life for those affected, this study aimed to evaluate how palliative care education affects the quality of life of women with breast cancer. In this clinical trial, 46 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. While the control group received standard care, the intervention group participated in 4 weeks of specialized palliative care training. The Mis
Written by Maria Lopez-Ramos
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Angiogenesis is a key factor in cancer progression, which is influenced by the expression of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3. Several therapeutic agents, including axitinib, regorafenib, cediranib, and sorafenib, are commonly used in treating cancer, although they can cause side effects such as thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. The current study sought to evaluate how bicyclo derivatives (1-27) interact with VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, using the 3hng, 2oh4, and 4sbj proteins, along with axitinib
Written by Mohammed Sayed Mohammed
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Oral cancer, a malignant growth originating in the tissues of the oral cavity, ranks as the eighth most common cancer globally. Its high mortality rate is largely attributed to diagnoses occurring at advanced stages. Although histological examination remains the gold standard of diagnostic, it necessitates invasive tissue sampling. In contrast, liquid biopsy has recently gained attention as a non-invasive and promising alternative for the diagnosis of oral cancer. This method analyzes tumor-deri
Written by Saeed Albalawi
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Access to accurate data concerning gynecological malignancies plays a critical role in effective health planning and policymaking. To date, no study has specifically examined the burden of gynecological cancer within the region of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. This study sought to address that gap by evaluating its prevalence. A retrospective analysis was conducted at King Fahd Specialists Hospital, one of the four randomly selected main healthcare institutions in Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The
Written by Meryem El Ouazzani
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive form of skin cancer that usually occurs in older individuals, often with a history of prolonged sun exposure. This rare malignancy has been associated with various factors, including ultraviolet light, compromised immune function, and the presence of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Despite ongoing discussions regarding the origin of the cancer cells, this tumor exhibits characteristics similar to the Merkel cells normally found in the skin, both
Written by Anke Maria Fischer
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a pivotal intracellular role in maintaining nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism, but it is also secreted into the extracellular space, where it functions as a cytokine (eNAMPT). Elevated circulating eNAMPT levels have been reported in inflammatory disorders and malignant diseases. In breast cancer patients, plasma eNAMPT concentrations are increased and show a strong association with disease stage and patient prognosis. On this
Written by Laura Beatrice Conti
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
The link between specific circulating tumor cell (CTC) phenotypes or genotypes and the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been clearly established. This investigation aimed to determine whether FTH1 gene–related CTCs (F-CTC), with or without epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, as well as their temporal variations, are associated with NAC outcomes in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. A total of 120 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer scheduled fo
Written by Patrick Aidan Murphy
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer, marked by frequent metastasis and limited targeted therapies. The mechanisms by which epigenomic regulation influences matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity—and thereby tumor invasiveness—remain incompletely understood. We integrated transcriptomic and chromatin conformation datasets to identify candidate insulator elements that might coordinate MMP gene expression and invasive potential. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we spe
Written by Viktor Andras Horvath
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a diverse subtype of breast cancer, constituting about 15–20% of all breast cancer cases. This study highlights KLHL29, an under-researched gene within the Kelch-like gene family, as an important tumor suppressor that influences chemoresistance in TNBC. Compared to adjacent normal tissues, KLHL29 expression was significantly reduced in breast cancer tissues, and lower levels of KLHL29 correlated with poor prognosis. Overexpression of KLHL29 inhibited, whil
Written by Emily Rachel Thompson
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
CD73 functions as an ecto-enzyme that converts extracellular ATP (eATP), released under stress by tumor cells, into immunosuppressive adenosine (ADO). Many solid tumors exploit CD73 overexpression to evade immune responses, positioning it as an immune checkpoint target. Antibodies such as oleclumab are currently being tested in clinical trials. However, standard monospecific CD73 antibodies may affect normal tissues due to widespread CD73 expression, limiting tumor selectivity. Hence, strategies
Written by Thabo Sipho Dlamini
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Aberrant phosphorylation in cancer cells results in the selective presentation of phosphorylated peptides by MHC molecules. Peptides bound to HLA-A02:01 demonstrate greater stability compared to their nonphosphorylated forms, which may enhance immune recognition. However, it remains uncertain if phosphopeptides displayed by other common alleles share similar structural or immunogenic traits. To investigate this, we analyzed the identity, structure, and immunogenic potential of phosphopeptides pr
Written by Tomas Enrique Paredes
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Retrospective evidence has suggested that removing the primary breast tumor in patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) might improve outcomes, yet randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have produced inconsistent findings. This analysis aimed to determine whether surgery of the primary tumor extends survival in this setting. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify RCTs comparing surgical excision of the primary breast tumor with no surgery in patients presenti
Written by Pedro Henrique Monteiro
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Previous research indicated a gradual reduction in the levels of S100P-binding protein (S100PBP) during the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this study, we show that the loss of S100PBP contributes to the transformation of pancreatic cells into oncogenic forms. Both computational and laboratory analyses revealed that deregulation of S100PBP expression impacts several genes involved in the regulation of the cytoskeleton, cell movement, and survival. Overexpression of S10
Written by Mark Anderson
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
The majority of persistent ground-glass nodules (GGNs) are ultimately identified as early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Investigating the molecular mechanisms driving the malignant progression of GGNs could support the development of preventive and therapeutic approaches to block the development and progression of early LUAD. Macrophages (Macs) play a key role in establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Yet, their specific contribution to the progression of early-stage
Written by Sara Al-Fahd
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) promote acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), an early step in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2, also known as MnSOD), the primary mitochondrial ROS detoxifier, shows reduced mitochondrial activity linked to higher PDAC risk, highlighting its clinical importance. Nevertheless, the precise function of SOD2 in PDAC development and progression remains unclear. We investigated SOD2’s involvement
Written by Youssef Hariri
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Uncontrolled RHOA signaling promotes cancer progression, but the mechanisms governing its activation beyond direct gene alterations remain poorly understood. Lactylation, a metabolic modification derived from lactate, connects altered cellular metabolism to cancer development. However, whether this modification can imitate the effects of cancer-causing mutations has not been examined. The present research explores lactylation of RHOA at key mutation-prone sites and its function as a reversible “
Written by David Osei
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
ITGB2 serves as a key integrin that drives immune cell activation and migration. It has long been regarded as expressed solely in hematopoietic cells. As a result, the potential role of ITGB2 expressed within cancer cells themselves in the advancement and treatment of solid tumors has received limited attention. We employed single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR, multiplex immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, and ICAM-1-dependent adhesion and proliferation
Written by Kristian Eriksen
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Throughout the last two decades, the clinical advancement of most cancer vaccines has encountered significant setbacks. Insufficient activation of immune responses using tumor-specific antigens, along with suboptimal adjuvants, likely accounts for these disappointing outcomes. MVX-ONCO-1 represents an individualized cell therapy vaccine that merges inactivated patient-derived tumor cells with allogeneic human cells enclosed in capsules and modified to secrete granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimul
Written by Mikko Lahtinen
Published in Vol 4 Issue 2, 2024
Roughly 30% of individuals with stage T1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibit mediastinal (N2) lymph node metastasis, yet the specific biological processes responsible for this phenomenon are still not well understood. Single-cell sequencing was used to identify the specific cell population most likely responsible for driving N2 lymph node metastasis in T1 NSCLC. Single-cell analysis further evaluated the expression patterns and functional significance of the primary gene of interest, fibr
