Expression of some circulating microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for prognosis and treatment response in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent, treatment-resistant, and fatal form of brain malignancy. It is characterized by genetic heterogeneity, and an infiltrative nature, and GBM treatment is highly challenging. Despite multimodal therapies, clinicians lack efficient prognostic and predictive markers.

Networks of pre-diagnostic circulating RNA in testicular germ cell tumour.

Testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) is a malignancy with known inherited risk factors, affecting young men. We have previously identified several hundred differentially abundant circulating RNAs in pre-diagnostic serum from TGCT cases compared to healthy controls. In this study, we performed Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) on mRNA and miRNA data from these samples.

Co-targeting of metabolism using dietary and pharmacologic approaches reduces breast cancer metastatic burden.

Patients with metastatic breast cancer face reduced quality of life and increased mortality rates, necessitating more effective anti-cancer strategies. Building on previous research that identified metastatic-niche-specific metabolic vulnerabilities, we investigated how a ketogenic diet enhances estrogen receptor (ER)-positive liver metastatic breast cancer's response to Fulvestrant (Fulv) treatment. Using in vitro cell lines and in vivo xenograft metastasis mouse models, we examined the molecular mechanisms of combining ER targeting with a ketogenic diet.

Helicobacter pylori CagA promotes gastric cancer immune escape by upregulating SQLE.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a well-established risk factor for gastric cancer, primarily due to its virulence factor, cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA). Although PD-L1/PD-1-mediated immune evasion is critical in cancer development, the impact of CagA on PD-L1 regulation remains unclear.

Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality associated with occasional positive screens following cancer screenings.

Positive results from cancer screenings, like a cancer diagnosis, can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality due to heightened psychological stress. However, positive screening results may also serve as a teachable moment to encourage the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Consequently, the overall association between positive screenings and CVD mortality risk remains unclear.

Enabling next-generation engineered TCR-T therapies based on high-throughput TCR discovery from diagnostic tumor biopsies.

Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate tumor regression, including complete and durable responses, in a range of solid cancers, most notably in melanoma. However, its wider application and efficacy has been restricted by the limited accessibility, proliferative capacity and effector function of tumor-specific TIL. Here, we develop a platform for the efficient identification of tumor-specific TCR genes from diagnostic tumor biopsies, including core-needle biopsies frozen in a non-viable format, to enable engineered T cell therapy.

Digestive cancers: mechanisms, therapeutics and management.

Cancers of the digestive system are major contributors to global cancer-associated morbidity and mortality, accounting for 35% of annual cases of cancer deaths. The etiologies, molecular features, and therapeutic management of these cancer entities are highly heterogeneous and complex. Over the last decade, genomic and functional studies have provided unprecedented insights into the biology of digestive cancers, identifying genetic drivers of tumor progression and key interaction points of tumor cells with the immune system.

DNA replication stress underpins the vulnerability to oxidative phosphorylation inhibition in colorectal cancer.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a therapeutic vulnerability in glycolysis-deficient cancers. Here we show that inhibiting OXPHOS similarly suppresses the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glycolytically competent colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro and in patient-derived CRC xenografts. While the increased glycolytic activity rapidly replenished the ATP pool, it did not restore the reduced production of aspartate upon OXPHOS inhibition.

Chimeric antigen receptor with novel intracellular modules improves antitumor performance of T cells.

The excessive cytokine release and limited persistence represent major challenges for chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in diverse tumors. Conventional CARs employ an intracellular domain (ICD) from the ζ subunit of CD3 as a signaling module, and it is largely unknown how alternative CD3 chains potentially contribute to CAR design. Here, we obtained a series of CAR-T cells against HER2 and mesothelin using a domain comprising a single immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif from different CD3 subunits as the ICD of CARs.

Genetic predisposition to altered blood cell homeostasis is associated with glioma risk and survival.

Glioma is a highly fatal and heterogeneous brain tumor with few known risk factors. Our study examines genetically predicted variability in blood cell indices in relation to glioma risk and survival in 3418 cases and 8156 controls. We find that increased platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) confers an increased risk of glioma (odds ratio (OR) = 1.

Selective utilization of medicinal polysaccharides by human gut Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species.

Human gut Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species play crucial roles in human health and are known for their capacity to utilize diverse polysaccharides. Understanding how these bacteria utilize medicinal polysaccharides is foundational for developing polysaccharides-based prebiotics and drugs. Here, we systematically mapped the utilization profiles of 20 different medicinal polysaccharides by 28 human gut Bacteroides and Parabacteroides species.

PKCα regulates the secretion of PDL1-carrying small extracellular vesicles in a p53-dependent manner.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), carrying PD-L1, have been implicated in immune evasion and tumor progression. However, understanding how PD-L1 sEVs are secreted still needs to be improved. We found that the secretion dynamics of PD-L1 sEVs is similar to that of other sEVs.

Orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 is a new molecular vulnerability in solid tumors by activating p53.

The orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 has emerged as a potential tumor suppressor, yet its precise mechanisms in tumorigenesis require further investigation. Here, we demonstrate that the full-length protein isoform of NR2E3 instead of its short isoform activates wild-type p53 and is capable of rescuing certain p53 mutations in various cancer cell lines. Importantly, we observe a higher frequency of NR2E3 mutations in three solid tumors compared to the reference population, highlighting its potential significance in tumorigenesis.

Familial History in Ovarian Teratomas Is a Frequent Event: 22 Years' Experience at a Single Center.

Background: Ovarian mature teratoma represents the most common benign neoplasm among pediatric germ cell tumors. This study reports the prevalence and characteristics of familial forms identified in a single center over 22 years in order to better understand possible familial predispositions to ovarian teratoma.

Methods: The records of all patients who were surgically treated for ovarian teratoma between 2000 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.

Schlafen 11 Expression in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Association With Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Schlafen 11 (SLFN-11) has been identified as a sensitizer of tumor cells to DNA-damaging agents. However, the relationship between SLFN-11 expression and clinical outcomes in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unexplored. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of SLFN-11 expression on survival in patients with limited-stage (LS) SCLC.

Successful Pregnancies During Crizotinib Therapy for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive Lymphoma.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK+) anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) typically affects young individuals and, despite high responsiveness to cytotoxic drugs, relapses occur in over 50% of patients. Crizotinib has improved outcomes, but its management in patients desiring parenthood remains an issue. This study presents the first description of four successful pregnancies during crizotinib treatment for ALK+ALCL: a female patient achieving two pregnancies through assisted reproductive technologies (ART), temporarily discontinuing crizotinib and maintaining a complete remission (CR), and a male patient conceiving naturally while on continuous therapy.

A library of proton lineal energy spectra spanning the full range of clinically relevant energies.

Purpose: In locations where the proton energy spectrum is broad, lineal energy spectrum-based proton biological effects models may be more accurate than dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET) based models. However, the development of microdosimetric spectrum-based biological effects models is hampered by the extreme computational difficulty of calculating microdosimetric spectra. Given a precomputed library of lineal energy spectra for monoenergetic protons, a weighted summation can be performed which yields the lineal energy spectrum of an arbitrary polyenergetic beam.

Rhabdomyosarcoma Surgical Update.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) tumors arise from mesenchymal tissue and represent half of pediatric sarcomas, which in turn make up 7% of pediatric tumors. Advances in local control therapy of RMS have improved outcomes after surgical resection of the primary tumor, either before or after induction chemotherapy, even in the setting of metastatic disease. The utilization of diagnostic core needle and sentinel node biopsy techniques for lymph node staging are becoming more widely used.

Achieving Language Justice in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology: A Multinational Perspective for Language-Concordant Equitable Patient- and Family-Centered Care and Research Inclusion.

Language-discordant healthcare encounters-when the patient/caregiver and clinician are not able to communicate directly in the patient's/caregiver's preferred language-are associated with worse quality of care, increased adverse events, and research exclusion. Here, we describe the current state of language justice in clinical practice and research in the United States, Canada, and Spain, discuss the role of social determinants of health and language, in patient safety and health outcomes and review an example of culturally and linguistically concordant interventions to increase research participation. We close with practical and global strategies to increase multilingual research participation and to provide equitable patient- and family-centered care in pediatric hematology-oncology.

Application of thrombopoietic agents in cancer therapy-induced thrombocytopenia: A comprehensive review.

Cancer therapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CT-IT) is one of the most common hematological toxicities of anti-cancer therapy, often leading to treatment dose reduced, postponed, or treatment plans altered or even discontinued. Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the only key regulatory factor in platelet production, and TPO receptor is considered an ideal target for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. Thrombopoietic agents, including recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) and thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), bind to different regions of the TPO receptor, activating downstream signaling pathways to increase platelet levels.

N-Acetylcysteine and Liver Transplant. Advantages of its Administration in Multi-Organ Donors Especially During World-Economical-Crisis. Long-Term Sub-Group Analysis in a Randomized Study.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is the main indication for the treatment of end-stage liver disease but have to face organ shortages. Using marginal donors is an option to increase the donor pool. Previous studies showed that the graft procured using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) provides a longer survival compared to perfusion with standard solutions, especially in marginal liver donors.

Impact of Endorectal Coil Use on Extraprostatic Extension Detection in Prostate MRI: A Retrospective Monocentric Study.

Rationale And Objectives: Accurate preoperative mpMRI-based detection of extraprostatic extension (EPE) in prostate cancer (PCa) is critical for surgical planning and patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of endorectal coil (ERC) use on the diagnostic performance of mpMRI in detecting EPE.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study with prospectively collected data included participants who underwent mpMRI and subsequent radical prostatectomy for PCa between 2007 and 2024.

Outcomes of peripherally inserted central catheter vs conventional central venous catheters in hematological cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This review aimed to examine if there is any difference in the risk of thrombosis and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) with the use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and conventional central venous catheters (CVC) in hematological cancer patients.

Methods: We searched the online databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for all types of studies comparing the risk of thrombosis and CLABSI between PICC and CVC. The search ended on 23rd September 2024.