Exosomes loaded with the anti-cancer molecule mir-1-3p inhibit intrapulmonary colonization and growth of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.

Background: The overall prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) is extremely poor. There is an urgent need to develop innovative therapeutic strategies. This study will investigate the anti-cancer effects of exosomes loaded with specific anti-cancer microRNAs in vivo and in vitro.

Advancing precision medicine in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using patient-derived organoids.

Background: Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) represent a promising approach for replicating the characteristics of original tumors and facilitating drug testing for personalized treatments across diverse cancer types. However, clinical evidence regarding their application to esophageal cancer remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of implementing PDOs in clinical practice to benefit patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

DNMT1-driven methylation of RORA facilitates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression under hypoxia through SLC2A3.

Background: The RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (RORA), a circadian clock molecule, is highly associated with anti-oncogenes. In this paper, we defined the precise action and mechanistic basis of RORA in ESCC development under hypoxia.

Methods: Expression analysis was conducted by RT-qPCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.

Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastases.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients often face a grim prognosis due to lymph node metastasis. However, a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular characteristics of metastatic lymph nodes in ESCC remains elusive. In this study involving 12 metastatic ESCC patients, we employed single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics (ST), and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) to explore the spatial and molecular attributes of primary tumor samples, adjacent tissues, metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes.

D-loop mutations in mitochondrial DNA are a risk factor for chemotherapy resistance in esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer is a highly aggressive disease, and acquired resistance to chemotherapy remains a significant hurdle in its treatment. mtDNA, crucial for cellular energy production, is prone to mutations at a higher rate than nuclear DNA. These mutations can accumulate and disrupt cellular function; however, mtDNA mutations induced by chemotherapy in esophageal cancer remain unexplored.