Health networking on cancer in the European Union: a 'green paper' by the EU Joint Action on Networks of Expertise (JANE).

Health networking is in principle a formidable instrument to address many challenges posed by cancer, one of the two most common and most lethal non-communicable chronic diseases. The European Union (EU)'s Beating Cancer Plan foresaw the addition of new health networks to the four already existing European Reference Networks on rare cancers: the Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres and several networks of expertise (NoEs), which will be shortly deployed on items as complex and poor-prognosis cancers, palliative care, survivorship, personalised primary and secondary prevention, omic technologies, hi-tech medical resources, and cancers in adolescents and young adults. The community of experts of the EU Joint Action, due to build such NoEs, has drafted this 'green paper', incorporating 13 open questions, in an effort to foster discussion on some open questions about health networking on cancer in the EU.

Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Compounds in Cancer Stem Cells from Solid Tumors: Insights into Colorectal, Breast, and Prostate Cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are known to be the main source of tumor relapse, metastasis, or multidrug resistance and the mechanisms to counteract or eradicate them and their activity remain elusive. There are different hypotheses that claim that the origin of CSC might be in regular stem cells (SC) and, due to accumulation of mutations, these normal cells become malignant, or the source of CSC might be in any malignant cell that, under certain environmental circumstances, acquires all the qualities to become CSC. Multiple studies indicate that lifestyle and diet might represent a source of wellbeing that can prevent and ameliorate the malignant phenotype of CSC.

Predicting Axillary Metastasis of Breast Cancer Patients with MRI Relaxometry.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Accurate staging, including the detection of axillary metastases, is vital for treatment planning. This study evaluates the efficacy of MRI relaxometry as a diagnostic tool for axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients.

Macrotrabecular-Massive Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma (MTM-HCC) is a rare and aggressive molecular subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with a poor prognosis. Unlike typical HCC, which commonly arises in the context of cirrhosis, MTM-HCC can develop in non-cirrhotic livers, presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report describes a 35-year-old male who presented with persistent epigastric pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

RAGE and its ligands in breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed worldwide and the leading cause of death in women globally, according to Globocan 2020. Hence, investigating novel pathways implicated in cancer progression and metastasis could lead to the development of targeted therapies and new treatment strategies in breast cancer. Recent studies reported an interplay between the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its ligands, S100 protein group, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and breast cancer growth and metastasis.

The Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antitumor Proprieties of Flavonol-Rich Extracts from (Wild Garlic) Leaves: A Comparison of Conventional Maceration and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction Techniques.

Despite the growing interest in using natural compounds for disease prevention and treatment, (wild garlic), known for its therapeutic properties, has not been extensively studied for its chemical composition and biological activities. Therefore, this study aims to explore the in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and antitumor activities of extracts according to their functional phytochemical profile, while assessing whether ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) enhances bioactive properties in comparison to conventional maceration (CM). Both extracts were characterized by spectrophotometric methods and LC-ESI+-MS.

Survival and Treatment Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) from gastric cancer (GC) are rare but associated with poor prognosis, significantly impacting patient survival and quality of life. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to consolidate existing research on BM from GC, evaluate the incidence and clinical outcomes, and explore the effectiveness of treatment options.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, following PRISMA guidelines.

In silico splicing analysis of the PMS2 gene: exploring alternative molecular mechanisms in PMS2-associated Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndrome in human populations, associated with germline variants in MLH1, MSH2/EPCAM, MSH6 and PMS2 genes. The advent of next generation sequencing has proven a significant impact in germline variant detection in the causative genes; however, a large proportion of patients with clinical criteria still receive uncertain or negative results. PMS2 is the least frequent reported gene, associated with up to 15% of LS cases with late-onset disease and low penetrance phenotype; however, the proportion of PMS2-LS cases is considered to be highly underestimated.

-Substituted AB-type phenothiazinyl porphyrins and their indium and zinc complexes photosensitising properties, cytotoxicity and phototoxicity on ovarian cancer cells.

New -substituted AB-type phenothiazinyl porphyrins and ferrocenylvinyl phenothiazinyl porphyrin were synthesised by Suzuki-Miyaura and Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions, respectively. The free porphyrins were further used in the synthesis of new indium(iii) or zinc(ii) porphyrin complexes. All porphyrins exhibit red fluorescence emission in solution, a property that remains unimpaired following internalisation in ovarian A2780 cancer cells, as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy images.

5-Azacytidine treatment inhibits the development of lung cancer models via epigenetic reprogramming and activation of cellular pathways with anti-tumor activity.

Background And Aims: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment is challenged by late detection and limited therapeutic options. Aberrant DNA methylation, a common epigenetic alteration in NSCLC, offers new therapeutic avenues. This study aims to evaluate the combined effects of 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza), an epigenetic modifier, and ionizing radiation (IR) on NSCLC, exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Intraoperative imaging of residual ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using indocyanine green.

Objectives: Interval debulking surgery has similar outcomes and less morbidity compared with primary debulking in advanced ovarian cancer. However, there is controversy regarding the selection of chemotherapy-resistant clones. Complete resection is an essential prerequisite, and near-infrared surgery combined with various techniques for highlighting malignant foci strives to achieve actual complete resection.

Challenges in the Management of Stage IV Clear Cell Sarcoma of Soft Tissue in Young Adults: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) of soft tissue is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma affecting usually lower extremities in young adults. The main challenges in the management of this disease include difficulties in diagnosis, aggressiveness of the cancer with rapid progression, and inadequate treatment, especially in small centers with few cases.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a young woman diagnosed with CCS of soft tissue, stage IV.

Identification of a central network hub of key prognostic genes based on correlation between transcriptomics and survival in patients with metastatic solid tumors.

Background: Dysregulated pathways in cancer may be hub addicted. Identifying these dysregulated networks for targeting might lead to novel therapeutic options.

Objective: Considering the hypothesis that central hubs are associated with increased lethality, identifying key hub targets within central networks could lead to the development of novel drugs with improved efficacy in advanced metastatic solid tumors.

The road to overcome pancreatic cancer: Where are we?

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an intricate malignancy with poor prognosis. In the present state of the art review paper and clinical trial trend analysis, we explore the current clinically employed state of pancreatic cancer body of knowledge and future research directions. When considering PDACs' molecular biology, we underline the role of PanIN in carcinogenesis and mutational gain, as well as the distinctive tumor microenvironment with the characteristic dense fibrotic stroma.

Hydrogel Matrix Containing Microcarriers for Dexamethasone Delivery to Protect Against Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss.

A functional hydrogel containing biopolymer microcarriers loaded with dexamethasone was developed to address the hearing loss that results from cisplatin ototoxicity. The drug delivery platform was tested both in vitro in the HEI-OC1 inner ear cell line and in vivo in a rat animal model. The newly described formula offered prolonged release of the contained dexamethasone for up to six days and transformed into a solid state at body temperature, thus counteracting its clearing through the Eustachian tube when injected into the middle ear.

Dysregulated MicroRNAs in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

MiRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs acting as gene expression regulators by modulating the lifespan of messenger RNA. Commonly referred to as the most frequent leukemia in the Western world, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of CD19, CD23, and CD5-positive mature B-cells. While this pathology is regarded as less aggressive and has a variety of treatment options, the cause of its clinical heterogeneity is not yet understood.