Ultraviolet light-induced collagen degradation inhibits melanoma invasion.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damages the dermis and fibroblasts; and increases melanoma incidence. Fibroblasts and their matrix contribute to cancer, so we studied how UVR modifies dermal fibroblast function, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and melanoma invasion. We confirmed UVR-damaged fibroblasts persistently upregulate collagen-cleaving matrix metalloprotein-1 (MMP1) expression, reducing local collagen (COL1A1), and COL1A1 degradation by MMP1 decreased melanoma invasion.

Female Immunity Protects from Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Cancer susceptibility and mortality are higher in males, and the mutational and transcriptomic landscape of cancer differs by sex. The current assumption is that men are at higher risk of epithelial cancers as they expose more to carcinogens and accumulate more damage than women. We present data showing women present with less aggressive primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and early strong immune activation.

Effect of a peer-led intervention combining mental health promotion with coping-strategy-based workshops on mental health awareness, help-seeking behavior, and wellbeing among university students in Hong Kong.

Background: The psychological well-being of university students is an important factor in successfully coping with the demands of academic life. This study aimed to assess the impact of a peer-led intervention of mental health promotion combined with coping-strategy-based group workshops on mental health awareness and help-seeking behavior among university students in Hong Kong.

Method: A mixed-method concurrent design was used for this study.

Emerging role of fatty acid binding proteins in cancer pathogenesis.

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are 15-kDa proteins responsible for the transport of fatty acids both intracellularly and extracellularly. Consisting of 12 different isoforms, some of the proteins have been found to be released in the serum and to be correlated with various diseases including cancer. Differential expression of these proteins has been reported to result in cancer pathogenesis by modulating various cancer signaling pathways; hence, in this review, we present the recent studies that have investigated the roles of different kinds of FABPs in different types of cancer and any possible underlying mechanisms to better understand the role of FABPs in cancer progression.

IRAK1 Augments Cancer Stemness and Drug Resistance via the AP-1/AKR1B10 Signaling Cascade in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Frequent relapse and drug resistance in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be attributed to the existence of tumor-initiating cells (TIC) within the tumor bulk. Therefore, targeting liver TICs may improve the prognosis of these patients. From transcriptome sequencing of 16 pairs of clinical HCC samples, we report that interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) in the TLR/IRAK pathway is significantly upregulated in HCC.