Advancing the enzymatic toolkit for 2'-fluoro arabino nucleic acid (FANA) manipulation: phosphorylation, ligation, replication, and templating RNA transcription.

2'-Fluoro arabino nucleic acid (FANA), classified as a xeno nucleic acid (XNA), stands as a prominent subject of investigation in synthetic genetic polymers. Demonstrating efficacy as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and exhibiting the ability to fold into functional structures akin to enzymes and aptamers, FANA holds substantial promise across diverse biological and therapeutic domains. Owing to structural similarities to DNA, the utilization of naturally occurring DNA polymerases for DNA-mediated FANA replication is well-documented.

Modular and automated synthesis of oligonucleotide-small molecule conjugates for cathepsin B mediated traceless release of payloads.

The reversible attachment of small molecules to oligonucleotides provides versatile tools for the development of improved oligonucleotide therapeutics. However, cleavable linkers in the oligonucleotide field are scarce, particularly with respect to the requirement for traceless release of the payload . Herein, we describe a cathepsin B-cleavable dipeptide phosphoramidite, Val-Ala(NB) for the automated synthesis of oligonucleotide-small molecule conjugates.

A red blood cell-derived bionic microrobot capable of hierarchically adapting to five critical stages in systemic drug delivery.

The tumour-targeting efficiency of systemically delivered chemodrugs largely dictates the therapeutic outcome of anticancer treatment. Major challenges lie in the complexity of diverse biological barriers that drug delivery systems must hierarchically overcome to reach their cellular/subcellular targets. Herein, an "all-in-one" red blood cell (RBC)-derived microrobot that can hierarchically adapt to five critical stages during systemic drug delivery, that is, circulation, accumulation, release, extravasation, and penetration, is developed.

Subregion-specific F-FDG PET-CT radiomics for the pre-treatment prediction of EGFR mutation status in solid lung adenocarcinoma.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of fluor-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/CT using sub-regional-based radiomics in predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in pretreatment patients with solid lung adenocarcinoma. A retrospective analysis included 269 patients (134 EGFR+ and 135 EGFR-) who underwent pretreatment F-FDG PET/CT scans and EGFR mutation testing. The most metabolically active intratumoral sub-region was identified, and radiomics features from whole tumors or sub-regional regions were used to build classification models.

Case report: Emerging BRCA mutation confers benefit from olaparib after chemotherapy intolerance in advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Key Clinical Message: In a patient with metastatic breast cancer, an acquired BRCA mutation in the BRCA gene was detected, resulting in benefits from olaparib treatment. This underscores the importance of ongoing genetic phenotype testing after paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis and elevated mortality risk.

Unexpected Tc-pertechnetate avidity of lymph node metastases predicts better response to radioiodine therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer patients with lymph node metastases.

Objective: To investigate the value of Tc-pertechnetate scan in postoperative differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with lymph node (LN) metastases (LNM) uptake Tc-pertechnetate, especially the predictive value to their response to radioiodine-131 (I) therapy.

Methods: This retrospective study collected 752 patients with DTC and LNM treated at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between May 2012 and December 2017. Depending on the ability of LNM uptake Tc-pertechnetate, the patients were grouped as the Tc-pertechnetate-avid (n=88) vs.

High-dose remifentanil exacerbates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through activation of calcium-sensing receptor-mediated pyroptosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) was involved in HRF-mediated exacerbation of MI/R injury through NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. , a rat MI/R model was established by ligating the left coronary artery, and short-term HRF exposure was induced during reoxygenation. Then, TUNEL, H&E, Masson staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) and serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK), as well as the expression levels of CaSR and pyroptosis-related proteins in heart tissues, were measured.

Tumor regression grade in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: influencing factors and prognostic significance.

Objective: The extent of tumor regression varies widely among patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery. We evaluated the tumor regression grade (TRG) classification of patients and analyzed factors related to TRG and its value in predicting prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic data of 269 consecutive patients with LARC treated from February 2002 to October 2014.

Effects of systemic inflammation and frailty on survival in elderly cancer patients: Results from the INSCOC study.

Background: Frailty and systemic inflammation are parameters, which are easy to evaluate, can be used to predict disease outcomes, and are potentially modifiable. The combination of frailty and inflammation-based data may help identify elderly cancer patients predisposed to adverse clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the association of systemic inflammation and frailty at admission, and to determine whether these risk factors interact and may predict the survival of elderly cancer patients.

Advances in breast cancer screening modalities and status of global screening programs.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, and a continued upward trend has been predicted in the coming decades. Screening in selected targeted populations, which is effective in reducing cancer-related mortality, has been widely implemented in many countries. This review summarizes the advances in BC screening techniques, organized or opportunistic BC screening programs across different countries, and screening modalities recommended by different academic authorities.

Effect of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy on parotid gland function and quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the effects of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on parotid gland function and quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Ninety-six patients with NPC diagnosed and treated in our hospital were divided into two groups using a random number table. The control group was treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and the research group was treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Self-Activated Cascade-Responsive Sorafenib and USP22 shRNA Co-Delivery System for Synergetic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy.

Resistance to sorafenib severely hinders its effectiveness against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cancer stemness is closely connected with resistance to sorafenib. Methods for reversing the cancer stemness remains one of the largest concerns in research and the lack of such methods obstructs current HCC therapeutics.

[Curcumin mediates IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway to repair intestinal mucosal injury induced by 5-FU chemotherapy for colon cancer].

This study aims to investigate the potential mechanism of curcumin in mediating interleukin-6(IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3) signaling pathway to repair intestinal mucosal injury induced by 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) chemotherapy for colon cancer. SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with 60 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) 5-FU for 4 days to establish a model of intestinal mucosal injury. Then the rats were randomly divided into model group(equal volume of normal saline), curcumin low, medium and high dose groups(50, 100, 200 mg·kg~(-1)), and normal SD rats were used as control group(equal volume of normal saline).

New insights of extrachromosomal DNA in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance of cancer.

In the past few decades, the studies of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), which existed independently of chromosomes, were tepid. However, recent studies on ecDNA rekindled the enthusiasm of oncologists for further studying ecDNA. In this review, we summarized the recent advances of ecDNA in oncogenesis and oncotherapy.

Extracellular vesicles: Natural liver-accumulating drug delivery vehicles for the treatment of liver diseases.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are excellent potential vectors for the delivery of therapeutic drugs. However, issues with biological safety and disease targeting substantially limit their clinical application. EVs from red blood cells (RBC-EVs) are potential drug delivery vehicles because of their unique biological safety.

2019-nCoV may create complications in colon cancer patients with ACE2 expression.

Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has emerged from Wuhan, China, causing symptoms in humans. Much remains unknown about 2019-nCoV, especially the additional risks that 2019-nCoV infection may pose for colon cancer patients. Many reports show that angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) is the cell receptor through which 2019-nCoV enters host cells, and this is similar to the cell entry mechanism of SARS coronavirus.

Knockdown of PHGDH potentiates 5-FU cytotoxicity in gastric cancer cells via the Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 signaling pathway.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used in the treatment of cancers, but resistance to 5-FU results in the failure of chemotherapy. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) has been reported to play a vital role in the development of 5-FU resistance in cancer cells.

Thyroid metastasis from non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-thyroid malignancies to the thyroid gland resulting from distant metastases are extremely rare, and such cases are rarely seen in clinical settings. The question of how a tumor metastasizes to the thyroid remains unanswered. Here we report a case of lung adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the thyroid gland.

Serum lncRNA-UFC1 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Early diagnosis is important to improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PC). Identifying potential biomarkers is essential for the monitoring and treatment of PC. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) UFC1 has been identified as an oncogenic factor in many cancers.

Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Immune Microenvironment and Cancer Immunotherapy.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by almost all cells. They contain proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids which are delivered from the parent cells to the recipient cells. Thereby, they function as mediators of intercellular communication and molecular transfer.