Publications by authors named "Evangelia Chantzara"

The increased metastatic ability of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) necessitates the identification of new prognostic biomarkers for clinical evaluation during the disease course. Our previous research highlighted the clinical relevance of transcription factor JunB (JUNB), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in breast and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In the current study, we examined these biomarkers in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and plasma-derived exosomes from 100 treatment-naïve SCLC patients.

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  • * A study involving 52 stage III/IV NSCLC patients showed that 44% had detectable pre-existing T cells specific to tumors, and those patients had better median overall survival rates compared to those without these T cells.
  • * The research highlighted that patients with pre-existing T cells and low levels of certain immunosuppressive cells had a significant survival advantage, suggesting that evaluating these immune cell characteristics could help identify which patients are likely to benefit most from immunotherapy.
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  • The study investigated the clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who were receiving cabazitaxel treatment.
  • Results showed that a high number of CTCs detected at baseline and after the first treatment cycle were linked to shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
  • The presence of non-apoptotic CTCs at baseline was identified as an independent predictor of poorer OS, suggesting that monitoring CTCs could help gauge treatment effectiveness and patient prognosis.
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The Hippo pathway regulates and contributes to several hallmarks of prostate cancer (PCa). Although the elucidation of YAP function in PCa is in its infancy, emerging studies have shed light on the role of aberrant Hippo pathway signaling in PCa development and progression. YAP overexpression and nuclear localization has been linked to poor prognosis and resistance to treatment, highlighting a therapeutic potential that may suggest innovative strategies to treat cancer.

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Several lines of research are being investigated to better understand mechanisms implicated in response or resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in prostate cancer (PCa). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have emerged as a major mediator of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment that promotes progression of various tumor types. The main mechanisms underlying MDSC-induced immunosuppression are currently being explored and strategies to enhance anti-tumor immune response via MDSC targeting are being tested.

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