Novel insights on gut microbiota manipulation and immune checkpoint inhibition in cancer (Review).

Cancer affects millions of individuals worldwide. Thus, there is an increased need for the development of novel effective therapeutic approaches. Tumorigenesis is often coupled with immunosuppression which defeats the anticancer immune defense mechanisms activated by the host.

Antitumor activity of larotrectinib in tumors harboring gene fusions: a short review on the current evidence.

The development of deep-sequencing methods is now unveiling a new landscape of previously undetected gene fusion across different tumor types. Chromosomal translocation involving the gene family occur across a wide range of cancers in both children and adults. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that chimeric proteins encoded by rearrangements have oncogenic properties and drive constitutive expression and ligand-independent activation.

Targeting indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase in cancer: Scientific rationale and clinical evidence.

Immunotherapy through immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) is quickly transforming cancer treatment by improving patients' outcomes. However, innate and acquired resistance to ICBs remain a major challenge in clinical settings. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases (IDOs) are enzymes involved in tryptophan catabolism with a central immunosuppressive function within the tumor microenvironment.

The safety of nivolumab for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Immune checkpoint blockaders (ICBs) act by unbalancing the immune system, thus favoring the development of an immune-mediated antitumor effect. ICBs targeting the programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) have recently been investigated in a number of advanced tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 kappa directed against PD-1, has been the first ICB to be approved for second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Malignant giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura metastatic to the thyroid gland.

Purpose: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm arising from mesenchymal cells in the areolar tissue subjacent to the mesothelial-lined pleura and accounting for less than 5% of primary pleural tumors. SFTs are generally benign and asymptomatic, with 10-year survival rates of up to 98%. Unfortunately, approximately 10% have malignant potential, leading to local recurrence after radical surgery and/or metastatic spread.

Ductal Breast Carcinoma Metastatic to the Stomach Resembling Primary Linitis Plastica in a Male Patient.

Breast cancer metastases to the gastrointestinal tract are very rare occurrences. Among the histological subtypes of breast cancer, invasive lobular carcinomas have a high capacity of metastasis to uncommon sites including the stomach. Conversely, there has not been sufficient evidence supporting the gastric metastasis of invasive ductal carcinoma.

Targeting the KRAS variant for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: potential therapeutic applications.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80% of all lung cancers. Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is one of the deadliest cancer-related proteins and plays a pivotal role in the most aggressive and lethal human cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma where it represents one of the most frequently mutated oncogene. Although therapeutic progresses have made an impact over the last decade, median survival for patients with advanced lung cancer remains disappointing, with a 5-year worldwide survival rate of <15%.

miRNAs and resistance to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer: beyond 'traditional mechanisms' of resistance.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically changed the prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) that harbour specific EGFR activating mutations. However, the efficacy of an EGFR-TKI is limited by the onset of acquired resistance, usually within one year, in virtually all treated patients. Moreover, a small percentage of EGFR-mutant NSCLCs do not respond to an EGFR-TKI, thus displaying primary resistance.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration associated with ovarian cancer.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a widespread loss of Purkinje cells associated with a progressive pancerebellar dysfunction. PCD often precedes the cancer diagnosis by months to years. Here, we report the case of a 64-year-old woman who developed PCD symptoms, associated with high levels of anti-Yo antibodies, one year after a previous diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

microRNAs and thyroid cancer: biological and clinical significance (Review).

Despite recent advances in the management of thyroid cancer, the survival rate of this tumor may still be improved. Therefore, the identification of biological and molecular features of indolent and aggressive disease would be critical to define clinically useful predictors of high-risk lesions. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules with regulatory function and marked tissue specificity that modulate multiple targets belonging to several pathways.

BRAF mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma and emerging targeted therapies (review).

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common histotype among the thyroid cancer types. Although PTC is a curable malignancy, many patients relapse after treatment. Thus, there is a need to identify novel factors involved in the pathogenesis of PTC that may be used as targets for new therapies.

Correlation of the risk of breast cancer and disruption of the circadian rhythm (Review).

Breast cancer is the worldwide leading cause of cancer incidence among women. Night shift work exposure has been recently considered one of the significant breast cancer risk factors in industrialized countries. The mechanisms by which this work exposure may be responsible for cancer development is still discussed.

The tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma (review).

The tumor microenvironment has been largely studied as a dynamic system orchestrated by inflammatory cells, including cancer cells, stroma as well as the extracellular matrix. It is useful to describe and predict the phenotypic characteristics of cancer. Furthermore, a better understanding of its interplay with the various aspects of the tumor cells may be utilized for the discovery of novel molecular targets.