Precision oncology platforms: practical strategies for genomic database utilization in cancer treatment.

In recent years, the expansion of molecularly targeted cancer therapies has significantly advanced precision oncology. Parallel developments in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have also improved precision oncology applications, making genomic analysis of tumors more affordable and accessible. Targeted NGS panels now enable the rapid identification of diverse actionable mutations, requiring clinicians to efficiently assess the predictive value of cancer biomarkers for specific treatments.

Loss of heterozygosity impacts MHC expression on the immune microenvironment in CDK12-mutated prostate cancer.

Background: In prostate cancer (PCa), well-established biomarkers such as MSI status, TMB high, and PDL1 expression serve as reliable indicators for favorable responses to immunotherapy. Recent studies have suggested a potential association between CDK12 mutations and immunotherapy response; however, the precise mechanisms through which CDK12 mutation may influence immune response remain unclear. A plausible explanation for immune evasion in this subset of CDK12-mutated PCa may be reduced MHC expression.

Investigating the Role of and Expression in Prostate Cancer Progression and Immune Modulation of the Tumor Microenvironment.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an immunologically cold tumor and the molecular processes that underlie this behavior are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated a primary cohort of intermediate-risk PCa ( = 51) using two NanoString profiling panels designed to study cancer progression and immune response. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways associated with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and clinical risk.

Identification of tumor-agnostic biomarkers for predicting prostate cancer progression and biochemical recurrence.

The diverse clinical outcomes of prostate cancer have led to the development of gene signature assays predicting disease progression. Improved prostate cancer progression biomarkers are needed as current RNA biomarker tests have varying success for intermediate prostate cancer. Interest grows in universal gene signatures for invasive carcinoma progression.

Precision medicine for prostate cancer-improved outcome prediction for low-intermediate risk disease using a six-gene copy number alteration classifier.

A multiplex 6-gene copy number classifier was used to distinguish between low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. The study analysed a cohort of 448 patients and previously published datasets from radical prostatectomies. The classifier performs better than conventional stratification methods, is low cost, and can be performed easily in clinical laboratories.

The Role of Somatic Mutations on the Immune Response of the Tumor Microenvironment in Prostate Cancer.

Immunotherapy has improved patient survival in many types of cancer, but for prostate cancer, initial results with immunotherapy have been disappointing. Prostate cancer is considered an immunologically excluded or cold tumor, unable to generate an effective T-cell response against cancer cells. However, a small but significant percentage of patients do respond to immunotherapy, suggesting that some specific molecular subtypes of this tumor may have a better response to checkpoint inhibitors.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment by neutralization: Evaluation of physical-chemical performance and ecotoxicological effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) development.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) represents a major problem in the mining industry worldwide due to the risk of water and soil pollution. Its active treatment involves the addition of alkaline reagents such as NaOH or Ca(OH) to increase the pH and precipitate the dissolved metals, although substantial amounts of dissolved ions might persists. Under a remediation approach, the aim of this work was to assess the chemical and physical characteristics of treated effluent and to evaluate its ecotoxicological effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic and larval stages, through developmental, functional, morphological, and behavioral end-points.