Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: is less fractionation more effective in adrenal and renal malignant lesions?

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become an excellent non-invasive alternative for many patients with primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and adrenal malignancies (AM). The aims of this study were to analyse how tumor-, patient- and treatment-related factors may influence the outcomes and side effects of SBRT and to assess its benefits as an alternative to surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study included 25 lesions in 23 patients treated with SBRT using different devices (LINAC, CyberKnife and Tomotherapy).

Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors as Potential Prognostic Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer after Radiotherapy.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the ten most frequent tumours, with 5-year survival rates varying from 30% to 70% depending on the stage and location of the tumour. HNC is traditionally known as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), since 90% arises from epithelial cells. Metastasis remains a major cause of mortality in patients with HNSCC.

Sex differences in the biomechanical and biochemical responses of caudal rat intervertebral discs to injury.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of low back pain (LBP) worldwide. Sexual dimorphism, or sex-based differences, appear to exist in the severity of LBP. However, it is unknown if there are sex-based differences in the inflammatory, biomechanical, biochemical, and histological responses of intervertebral discs (IVDs).

Is the sustainability of exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation possible?

Technological advances imply an increase in artificially generating sources of electromagnetic fields (EMF), therefore, resulting in a permanent exposure of people and the environment (electromagnetic pollution). Inconsistent results have been published considering the evaluated health effects. The purpose of this study was to review scientific literature on EMF to provide a global and retrospective perspective, on the association between human exposure to non-ionizing radiation (NIR, mainly radiofrequency-EMF) and health and environmental effects.

β-Conglutins' Unique Mobile Arm Is a Key Structural Domain Involved in Molecular Nutraceutical Properties of Narrow-Leafed Lupin ( L.).

Narrow-leafed lupin (NLL; L.) has multiple nutraceutical properties that may result from unique structural features of β-conglutin proteins, such as the mobile arm at the N-terminal, a structural domain rich in α-helices. A similar domain has not been found in other vicilin proteins of legume species.

Narrow Leafed Lupin ( L.) β-Conglutin Seed Proteins as a New Natural Cytotoxic Agents against Breast Cancer Cells.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most widespread tumor in women and the second type of most common cancer worldwide. Despite all the technical and medical advances in existing therapies, between 30 and 50% of patients with BC will develop metastasis, which contributes to the failure of existing treatments. This situation urges the need to find more effective prevention and treatment strategies like the use of plant-based nutraceutical compounds.

TFG-β Nuclear Staining as a Potential Relapse Risk Factor in Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Nowadays, the impact of the tumor-immune microenvironment (TME) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) prognosis and treatment response remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the expression of PD-L1, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in NSCLC to identify differences in TME, detect possible new prognostic factors, and assess their relationship. We retrospectively analyzed 55 samples from patients who underwent NSCLC surgery and had over a 5-year follow-up.

Long-Term Outcomes of Dose-Escalated Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Localized Prostate Cancer.

This retrospective study aimed to provide some clinical outcomes regarding effectiveness, toxicity, and quality of life in PCa patients treated with dose-escalated moderately hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT). Patients received HFRT to a total dose of 66 Gy in 22 fractions (3 Gy/fraction) delivered via volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in 2011-2016. Treatment effectiveness was measured by the biochemical failure-free survival rate.

Metalloproteinases 1 and 3 as Potential Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development.

Breast cancer continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality globally and was the leading cause of cancer death in women in Spain in 2020. Early diagnosis is one of the most effective methods to lower the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer. The human metalloproteinases (MMP) mainly function as proteolytic enzymes degrading the extracellular matrix and plays important roles in most steps of breast tumorigenesis.

Survey of Radon Concentrations in the University of Granada in Southern Spain.

The objective of this pilot study was to gather and analyze data on radon concentrations in workplaces in three buildings of Granada University (Southern Spain) constructed in different centuries. All measurements were made at basement or ground floor level under normal use conditions except for one space (mineral store), in which measurements were compared between the door closed and open. Measurements were conducted during different time periods between October 2013 and March 2019 with a Radon-Scout PLUS portable Radonmonitor.

CSC Radioresistance: A Therapeutic Challenge to Improve Radiotherapy Effectiveness in Cancer.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a modality of oncologic treatment that can be used to treat approximately 50% of all cancer patients either alone or in combination with other treatment modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and therapeutic targeting. Despite the technological advances in RT, which allow a more precise delivery of radiation while progressively minimizing the impact on normal tissues, issues like radioresistance and tumor recurrence remain important challenges. Tumor heterogeneity is responsible for the variation in the radiation response of the different tumor subpopulations.

miRNAs as radio-response biomarkers for breast cancer stem cells.

In breast cancer (BC), the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been related to relapse, metastasis, and radioresistance. Radiotherapy (RT) is an extended BC treatment, but is not always effective. CSCs have several mechanisms of radioresistance in place, and some miRNAs are involved in the cellular response to ionizing radiation (IR).

Radiation and Stemness Phenotype May Influence Individual Breast Cancer Outcomes: The Crucial Role of MMPs and Microenvironment.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the mainstay treatments for cancer but in some cases is not effective. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor can be responsible for recurrence and metastasis after RT.

Matrix metalloproteases and TIMPs as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy: A pilot study.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common tumour in women and one of the most important causes of cancer death worldwide. Radiation therapy (RT) is widely used for BC treatment. Some proteins have been identified as prognostic factors for BC (Ki67, p53, E-cadherin, HER2).

PI3-kinase pathway biomarkers in oral cancer and tumor immune cells.

Background: This study investigated the hypothesis that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) pathway dysregulation in either head and neck cancer cells and/or tumor infiltrating immune cells would influence outcomes of patients with surgically treated oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

Methods: We constructed tissue microarrays containing 123 oral tongue SCC samples and performed immunohistochemistry using antibodies against 7 PI3-kinase pathway markers: phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), Akt, p-Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), survivin, and Ki-67). Expression levels in cancer cells or tumor infiltrating immune cells were correlated with outcomes.

AA-NAT, MT1 and MT2 Correlates with Cancer Stem-Like Cell Markers in Colorectal Cancer: Study of the Influence of Stage and p53 Status of Tumors.

The characterization of colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) may help to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. p53 loss increases the pool of CSCs in colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent reports suggest that the oncostatic effects of melatonin could be related to its ability to kill CSCs.

Valproic acid modulates radiation-enhanced matrix metalloproteinase activity and invasion of breast cancer cells.

Purpose: To evaluate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and invasion after ionizing radiation (IR) exposure and to determine whether MMP could be epigenetically modulated by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition.

Material And Methods: Two human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were cultured in monolayer (2D) and in laminin-rich extracellular matrix (3D). Invasion capability, collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activity, MMP and TIMP protein and mRNA expression and clonogenic survival were analyzed after IR exposure, with and without a HDAC inhibition treatment [1.

Patient and staff dosimetry during radiographic procedures in an intensive care unit.

The performance of radiography in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) may be associated with a certain level of radiation exposure for staff and patients in the unit. Little evidence on exposure levels is available in the literature. However, healthcare professionals in the ICUs at our centre tend to leave the room during radiographic examinations, potentially compromising patient care.

Receptor tyrosine kinase EphA5 is a functional molecular target in human lung cancer.

Lung cancer is often refractory to radiotherapy, but molecular mechanisms of tumor resistance remain poorly defined. Here we show that the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA5 is specifically overexpressed in lung cancer and is involved in regulating cellular responses to genotoxic insult. In the absence of EphA5, lung cancer cells displayed a defective G1/S cell cycle checkpoint, were unable to resolve DNA damage, and became radiosensitive.

Characterization of indoor extremely low frequency and low frequency electromagnetic fields in the INMA-Granada cohort.

Objective: To characterize the exposure to electric fields and magnetic fields of non-ionizing radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum (15 Hz to 100 kHz) in the dwellings of children from the Spanish Environment and Childhood-"INMA" population-based birth cohort.

Methodology: The study sample was drawn from the INMA-Granada cohort. Out of 300 boys participating in the 9-10 year follow-up, 123 families agreed to the exposure assessment at home and completed a specific ad hoc questionnaire gathering information on sources of non-ionizing radiation electric and magnetic fields inside the homes and on patterns of use.

Impact of decitabine on immunohistochemistry expression of the putative tumor suppressor genes FHIT, WWOX, FUS1 and PTEN in clinical tumor samples.

Background: Since tumor suppressor gene function may be lost through hypermethylation, we assessed whether the demethylating agent decitabine could increase tumor suppressor gene expression clinically. For fragile histidine triad (FHIT), WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), fused in sarcoma-1 (FUS1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), immunohistochemistry scores from pre- and post-decitabine tumor biopsies (25 patients) were correlated with methylation of the long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) repetitive DNA element (as a surrogate for global DNA methylation) and with tumor regression.

Results: With negative staining pre-decitabine (score = 0), the number of patients converting to positive staining post-decitabine was 1 of 1 for FHIT, 3 of 6 for WWOX, 2 of 3 for FUS1 and 1 of 10 for PTEN.

Membrane carbonic anhydrase IX expression and relapse risk in resected stage I-II non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy reduces recurrences of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To determine which patients need adjuvant chemotherapy, we assessed factors associated with time to relapse (TTR).

Methods: In 230 resected stage I-II NSCLCs, we correlated immunohistochemistry scores for factors associated with cell growth rate, growth regulation, hypoxia, cell survival, and cell death with TTR.

ESR1 gene promoter region methylation in free circulating DNA and its correlation with estrogen receptor protein expression in tumor tissue in breast cancer patients.

Background: Tumor expression of estrogen receptor (ER) is an important marker of prognosis, and is predictive of response to endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Several studies have observed that epigenetic events, such methylation of cytosines and deacetylation of histones, are involved in the complex mechanisms that regulate promoter transcription. However, the exact interplay of these factors in transcription activity is not well understood.

Decitabine impact on the endocytosis regulator RhoA, the folate carriers RFC1 and FOLR1, and the glucose transporter GLUT4 in human tumors.

Background: In 31 solid tumor patients treated with the demethylating agent decitabine, we performed tumor biopsies before and after the first cycle of decitabine and used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to assess whether decitabine increased expression of various membrane transporters. Resistance to chemotherapy may arise due to promoter methylation/downregulation of expression of transporters required for drug uptake, and decitabine can reverse resistance in vitro. The endocytosis regulator RhoA, the folate carriers FOLR1 and RFC1, and the glucose transporter GLUT4 were assessed.

Involvement of free radicals in breast cancer.

Researchers have recently shown an increased interest in free radicals and their role in the tumor microenvironment. Free radicals are molecules with high instability and reactivity due to the presence of an odd number of electrons in the outermost orbit of their atoms. Free radicals include reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are key players in the initiation and progression of tumor cells and enhance their metastatic potential.