Down-Regulation of Cysteine-Glutamate Antiporter in ALDH1A1 Expressing Oral and Breast Cancer Stem Cells Induced Oxidative Stress-Triggered Ferroptosis.

Sulfasalazine, an xCT inhibitor, is being used as a repurposed antineoplastic drug to induce ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a regulated necrotic cell death pathway that is dependent on iron reserves. Interestingly, cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are regarded as major drivers of resistance to conventional therapies accompanied with tumor relapse and recurrence have bulk amount of iron reserves in the form of ferritin.

Cell-cell communications: new insights into targeting efficacy of phytochemical adjuvants on tight junctions and pathophysiology of various malignancies.

Cancer is a cellular impairment disorder characterized by the loss of cell cycle regulation leading to aberrant cell proliferation. Cell-cell communication plays a crucial role in cell signaling which is highly disrupted in various malignancies. Tight junctions (TJs) are major proteins that regulate the proper communication, and the dysregulation of TJ proteins makes these tumor cells more aggressive, leading to tumor invasion and metastasis.

Role of Lipoproteins in the Pathophysiology of Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and the leading cause of cancer mortality. Hypercholesterolemia and obesity are potential risk factors for the incidence of breast cancer, and their detection can enhance cancer prevention. In this paper, we discuss the current state of investigations on the importance of lipoproteins, such as low denisity lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL), and cholesterol transporters in the progression of breast cancer, and the therapeutic strategies to reduce breast cancer mortality.

Glioblastoma multiforme: a perspective on recent findings in human cancer and mouse models.

Gliomas are the most frequently occurring primary malignancies in the central nervous system, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive of these tumors. Despite vigorous basic and clinical studies over past decades, the median survival of patients with this disease remains at about one year. Recent studies have suggested that GBMs contain a subpopulation of tumor cells that displays stem cell characteristics and could therefore be responsible for in vivo tumor growth.

Neural and cancer stem cells in tumor suppressor mouse models of malignant astrocytoma.

Malignant astrocytomas are highly invasive brain tumors that portend poor prognosis and dismal survival. Mouse models that genetically resemble the human malignancy provide insight into the nature and pathogenesis of these cancers. We previously reported tumor suppressor mouse models based on conditional inactivation of human astrocytoma-relevant genes p53, Nf1, and Pten.