FTIR monitoring of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for lung cancer patients: Changes in amides vibrations correlated with biochemical assays.

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal cancers. Unfortunately, respiratory tract infections are very common in lung cancer patients, delaying appropriate anticancer therapy. To increase therapy efficiency, in this study we examined the effect of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on the immune response in lung cancer patients, which indirectly affects the success of anticancer therapy.

Toll-like Receptors: Key Players in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression.

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the major subtypes of lung cancer, characterized by diverse molecular pathways and variable clinical outcomes. This study focused on assessing the levels of TLR-2, TLR-3, TLR-4, TLR-7, TLR-8, and TLR-9 on peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with newly diagnosed SCC compared to a group of healthy controls, in the context of disease development and patient survival, conducted over three years. The study aimed to investigate the differences in TLR expression between SCC patients and healthy people and to understand their role in the development of the disease and patient survival over three years.

Analysis of Selected Toll-like Receptors in the Pathogenesis and Advancement of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

(1) Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents a significant global health challenge, contributing to numerous cancer deaths. Despite advances in diagnostics and therapy, identifying reliable biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic stratification remains difficult. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), crucial for innate immunity, now show potential as contributors to cancer development and progression.

Enhancing Immune Response in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Impact of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases among all types of lung cancer. Infectious diseases contribute to morbidity and mortality by delaying appropriate anti-cancer therapy in patients with NSCLC. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in 288 newly diagnosed NSCLC patients.

Pembrolizumab-combination therapy for NSCLC- effectiveness and predictive factors in real-world practice.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy has become the standard of care for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in <50% of tumour cells (TC).

Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of the treatment in real-world practice, paying attention to the predictive factors, with a special focus on low level of PD-L1 expression. This study is a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients with stage IV NSCLC.

Exploring the Significance of Immune Checkpoints and EBV Reactivation in Antibody Deficiencies with Near-Normal Immunoglobulin Levels or Hyperimmunoglobulinemia.

This study delves into the intricate landscape of primary immunodeficiencies, with a particular focus on antibody deficiencies characterized by near-normal immunoglobulin levels or hyperimmunoglobulinemia. Contrary to the conventional focus on genetic dysregulation, these studies investigate the key roles of immune checkpoints, such as PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4/CD86, and CD200R/CD200, on selected subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes and their serum concentrations of soluble forms in patients recruited for the studies in healthy volunteers. In addition, the studies also show the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and interactions with tested pathways of immune checkpoints involved in the immunopathogenesis of this disease.

Could Immune Checkpoint Disorders and EBV Reactivation Be Connected in the Development of Hematological Malignancies in Immunodeficient Patients?

Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) and secondary immunodeficiencies (SIDs) are characterized by compromised immune function, rendering individuals susceptible to infections and potentially influencing cancer development. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a widespread herpesvirus, has been linked to cancer, particularly in those with weakened immune systems. This study aims to compare selected immune parameters, focusing on immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4/CD86, CD200R/CD200), and EBV reactivation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL, a representative of SIDs) and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID, a representative of PIDs).

Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer.

Estrogen receptor (ER) signaling is a critical regulator of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in breast cancer (BC) and other hormone-sensitive cancers. In this review, we explore the mechanism of ER-dependent downstream signaling in BC and the role of estrogens as growth factors necessary for cancer invasion and dissemination. The significance of the clinical implications of ER signaling in BC, including the potential of endocrine therapies that target estrogens' synthesis and ER-dependent signal transmission, such as aromatase inhibitors or selective estrogen receptor modulators, is discussed.

Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Analysis of Clinical and Pathological Features of -Mutated Breast Cancer.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha () is a well-known oncogene with a high prevalence of mutation in breast cancer patients. The effect of the mutation is a deregulation in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related pathways, and, consequently, in unrestricted cell growth and differentiation. With the advent of precision oncology, has emerged as a pivotal treatment target, culminating in the recent approval of alpelisib.

The Importance of the Immune System and Molecular Cell Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is a disease that in recent years has become one of the greatest threats to modern society. Every year there are more and more new cases and the percentage of deaths caused by this type of cancer increases. Despite many studies, scientists are still looking for answers regarding the mechanisms of lung cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on the role of the immune system.

Expression of CTLA-4 and CD86 Antigens and Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia-Any Link with Known Prognostic Factors?

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) worsens the prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but the underlying mechanisms are not yet established. We intended to assess whether EBV affects the course of CLL by the deregulation of the CTLA-4/CD86 signaling pathway. We used polymerase chain reaction to measure the load of EBV DNA in the blood of 110 newly diagnosed patients with CLL.

Toll-like Receptor 2 as a Marker Molecule of Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a global problem that affects women of all ages. Due to the lack of effective screening tests and the usually asymptomatic course of the disease in the early stages, the diagnosis is too late, with the result that less than half of the patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer (OC) survive more than five years after their diagnosis. In this study, we examined the expression of TLR2 in the peripheral blood of 50 previously untreated patients with newly diagnosed OC at various stages of the disease using flow cytometry.

Differential molecular response of larynx cancer cell lines to combined VPA/CDDP treatment.

Successful treatment of advanced larynx squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains a challenge, mainly due to limited response to chemotherapy and the phenomenon of the drug resistance. Therefore, new chemotherapeutic solutions are needed. The aim of this study was to explore benefit of combined cisplatin (CDDP) and valproic acid (VPA) therapy in patients' derived LSCC cell lines.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and its Oncogenic Variant in Benign and Malignant Brain Tumors.

Background/aim: Tumorigenesis and cancer progression might be driven by abnormal activation of growth factor receptors. Importantly, molecular changes in EGFR-dependent signaling is one of the most common characteristics of brain tumors.

Patients And Methods: HER1 and EGFRvIII variants in meningiomas and glioblastomas were evaluated at the RNA level.

Assessment of Age-Induced Changes in Body Fat Percentage and BMI Aided by Bayesian Modelling: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background: Loss of fat-free mass (FFM) and gain in body fat (BF) are the key disability risk factors, also instrumental in perpetuating already existing functional disorders. Obesity construed in terms of body mass index (BMI) values, in view of undesirable gain in BF, is a risk factor for cardio-metabolic disorders. Both detrimental processes clearly evidence a scope of involutionary changes characteristic of an aging population, also standing for one of its greatest burdens.

Competing Risks of Cancer and Non-Cancer Mortality When Accompanied by Lifestyle-Related Factors-A Prospective Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background: The study aimed to identify the association between the lifestyle-related factors and the cancer-specific, or non-cancer-specific mortality, when accompanied by a competing risk. Two statistical methods were applied, i.e.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia-Induced Humoral Immunosuppression: A Systematic Review.

Secondary immunodeficiency is observed in all patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in varying degrees. The aim of the study was to review the available literature data on patients with CLL, with particular regard to the pathogenesis of the disease and the impact of humoral immunity deficiency on the clinical and therapeutic approach. A systematic literature review was carried out by two independent authors who searched PubMed databases for studies published up to January 2020.

Predictors of new-onset heart failure and overall survival in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with liposomal doxorubicin.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of morbidity/mortality among breast cancer (BC) patients. Observation of the daily practice in eight experienced Polish oncology centers was conducted to find all possible predictors of new cases of heart failure (HF) and overall survival (OS) of metastatic BC patients treated with liposomal doxorubicin, taking into account the impact of pre-existing CVDs. HF was the cause of premature discontinuation of liposomal doxorubicin therapy in 13 (3.

A Two-Year Follow-Up Cohort Study-Improved Clinical Control over CVD Risk Factors through Weight Loss in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Modest weight loss enhances clinical control over cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight and obese individuals. This study aimed to assess the associations between individual weight loss and predefined criteria for clinical improvement in blood pressure, lipid levels, and glycemia. A two-year follow-up study involved 3388 (37.

Optimal cut-off values for anthropometric measures of obesity in screening for cardiometabolic disorders in adults.

Excessive accumulation of body fat (BF) promotes obesity, whilst posing a significant health hazard. There being no agreed, optimal quantifying methods, application of BF variable in clinical practice is not deemed an effective assessment option. The study, involving 4,735 patients (33.

Changes in survival of colorectal cancer patients in Świętokrzyskie Province (Southern Poland) from the second half of the 1990s to the early 21st century - a population-based study.

Introduction And Objectives: For years, the increase in cancer incidence and deaths has constituted a significant health and social problem. Variation in the burden in cancers in different regions of the world requires constant monitoring of the epidemiological situation in this regard. Assessing survival in cancer patients is a valuable source of information for patients and physicians alike, as well as for politicians who have a direct impact on the shaping of health policy and health systems.

CAR-T Cell Therapy-An Overview of Targets in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and, unfortunately, still has a high mortality rate. Recent research points to CAR-T immunotherapy as a promising treatment for this disease. Using genetically engineered T cells designed to target a previously selected antigen, researchers are able to harness the natural anti-tumor activity of T cells.

Imperatorin as a Promising Chemotherapeutic Agent Against Human Larynx Cancer and Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells.

Naturally occurring coumarins are bioactive compounds widely used in Asian traditional medicine. They have been shown to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, and/or enhance the cytotoxicity of currently used drugs against a variety of cancer cell types. The aim of our study was to examine the antiproliferative activity of different linear furanocoumarins on human rhabdomyosarcoma, lung, and larynx cancer cell lines, and dissolve their cellular mechanism of action.

Paving the Way toward Successful Multiple Myeloma Treatment: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy.

Despite the significant progress of modern anticancer therapies, multiple myeloma (MM) is still incurable for the majority of patients. Following almost three decades of development, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy now has the opportunity to revolutionize the treatment landscape and meet the unmet clinical need. However, there are still several major hurdles to overcome.

Age-Dependent Disparities in the Prevalence of Single and Clustering Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide; with age acknowledged as an independent cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) in adults. Appreciating the association between age and classic CRFs is believed to boost all potential benefits of prevention.

Purpose: Assessment of the prevalence of single and clustered CRFs and their association with age.